WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2014

Congrats on
loosing 100 pounds!
on car/RV decisions and finding and using your voice
taking care of yourself via massages; dinners out'; vacations!

and on Electric bills - here in CA you get one bill that has both electric and natural gas I have done every trick I can to kept those bills low - and while weather is a HUGE issue there are things that help I hang my laundry on the clothes line when ever possible, I add a layer or 2 of clothes before the heat, all bulbs are florescent and some are LED, windows are upgraded, working on upgrading insulation... bill this winter was an all time high of $50....

So I made it through day one of company...3 more to go. it wasn't as bad as I expected but not as good as I hoped. Levi is asleep and I am jealous - so it is good night ladies!

Kim in CA

Good morning beautiful ladies:flowerforyou:

Margaret I love to watch laughing baby videos , there is nothing like a good laugh to help the soul:laugh: !!! Water:drinker: and coffee:drinker: !!!

Michele How much snow did you guys get? Between the snow and the sleet I got almost 2 ½ inches:grumble: . With the temp up to about 60 today, I`m hoping it will be gone soon!!! Noel and I went out for a walk in it, and it was light fluffy stuff. It`s hard to walk in the snow, I almost slipped twice on it:noway: !

Katla So DH passed the vision test, that really is a good sign:bigsmile: !!! Oh dear, now he wants a new car……

Joyce Oh no, yummy snack on the floor ! Hope DH feels better soon:flowerforyou: !

Alison Hope your hips are feeling better:flowerforyou: !

Cynthia Woo hoo!!! Congrats on a less fat face:bigsmile: !!! That was one of the first places it came off of me! I think I need a mojo injection too:frown: !

Heather Rhubarb Vanilla Vodka…..never heard of that, I don`t like Rhubarb:noway: , but I do like vanilla and vodka ! What is strimming? I’m guessing it’s a lot of noise? A white lacy top sounds gorgeous!!! Wouldn’t it be great if we could fine sparkly trainers, kind of like the ones I bought for my 7 yr. granddaughter that lights up and are bright and colorful:laugh: !

Juanita Happy anniversary:flowerforyou: !!!! Hope you share many many more !!!! Salmon and veggies sound perfect!

Beth in WNY Hope this weekend will be stress free for you:flowerforyou: !!!

Patty We`re supposed to have good weather this weekend too, you` ve given me a great idea to open the windows and let some fresh air in the house! I need to do spring cleaning too:grumble: . I like your attitude, I think I need to adopt it:bigsmile: !

Sylvia Congratulations:flowerforyou: :bigsmile: :flowerforyou: !!!!! 100 pounds gone, WOW…..that is so impressive! You should be very proud of yourself!!! Oh my goodness, not sure what I would have done coming face to face with a heron:noway: , they are gorgeous birds, but at a distance!

FitDonna You might need to eat a bit more. You`ve lost 5 pounds in a month, that`s fabulous:bigsmile: !!! A little over a pound a week, the less you have to lose the harder it is to get off. Stay with your program and give it time, you can do it:flowerforyou: !!!

Carol in NC (at the beach and I`m jealous) Oh my, I can hear the surf through your post, smell the salty air…ahhhhh . Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!!!!! Tons of people were without power yesterday and some still today! I was lucky, my power went out and then came right back on and stayed on, I`m very thankful!!! I got about 2 ½ inches of the nasty stuff .

Yanniejannie Hope DD made it home! I talked to one of my police officer friends yesterday afternoon, he said the main roads were clear! I have a gorgeous cherry tree in my front yard , it had about 5 or 6 blooms, then we got that nasty snow the first of the week, the buds looked fine, but the flowers turned brown, yesterday all the little pink buds were covered in ice , I hope it didn`t kill them!

Sue in TX Have a wonderful weekend at the ranch:glasses: !

Rita So glad your mom is getting a nice break and enjoying herself:flowerforyou: ! Glad that her DH has a stricter sitter now too!!! Hope your bloodwork is fine:flowerforyou: ! I need to get my thyroid tested again, I know when it`s off by the way I feel:grumble: !

Vicki Hope your dad is doing okay:flowerforyou: !!! Oh Jake is still a puppy , trying to see how much he can get away with without getting in trouble:laugh: !!! I tried a pineapple, strawberry, blueberry, honeydew and grape smoothie yesterday morning, put a tablespoon of non fat yogurt in it to make it a bit creamy, it was pretty good. Although I think I like just eating the fruit better:ohwell: .

Jill Happy anniversary to you too:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: !!!!

Carmenlampman Welcome! Hope you pop in often!

Kayak Kutie Oh my, that is a huge bill :noway: ! Look at that gorgeous bird! !!!

Pennie I saw that video on Youtube , it was so beautiful and so touching !

Sandy in ON Congrats on not being as sore as you thought you would be:flowerforyou: !!! You are making fantastic progress:bigsmile: !!!

Jane Hadji So nice to see your post!!! I`m glad you`re back to traveling, taking care of yourself will go a long way in taking care of your parents too:flowerforyou: !!! I need to hit the linen sales this month too, sheets and towels!!! My hubby also had wholesale license, one year we had 9 different cars:noway: :grumble: . I had a new car every two years. I told him I was just getting used to when he was getting a new one. After he passed away, I kept my car for 10 years, BMW 7 series; I only got rid of it because it had started giving me problems. I`ve had my current on for 6 years and it`s still perfect! I get it detailed every two weeks and it looks brand new !

MA A kettlebell instead of an Easter egg…love it!!!!

Barbie Sounds like you had a wonderful day, no rain, sunshine, walking the fur babies and line dancing !

Renny Are you not feeling well? You are up very early:yawn: ! Happy International Women`s Day!!!

Katla You bought a car already:huh: ? I`m guessing DH already knew what he wanted:laugh: !!!

Molly How very nice to see you again!!! Happy birthday:flowerforyou: !!!!

Healthymeemaw Welcome!!! Hope you`ll pop in often and chat with us!

Kim in CA Look at all the money you`re saving:bigsmile: !!!!

The sun is shining bright off the snow on the ground, almost blinding:glasses: ! High for today 64 degrees, woo hoo…I`m ready for it!

I plan on doing a bit of housework:grumble: and then I`m going to go play outside:bigsmile: :glasses: !!!!

Have a wonderful Saturday ladies! Drink your water:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: and log your food!

Hugs,
DeeDee in sunshiny NC:glasses:

Hi, I'm a newbie,

I started my weight loss journey(for the 100th time) last May. I lost 26 pounds and was 1.5 pounds from my goal. I went to Vegas in October for my 25th anniversary and never got back on track. I gained back 15 pounds. I'm determined to get back on track. I just joined the gym with a friend and my goals for March are to exercise at least 5 days a week and keep my food diary on MFP. I have learned that I have to stay vigilant and keep tracking and having a support system is very important.

Joyce: I routinely go to medical appointments with my DH because I want to know everything about how to support him. I would do just as you are planning to do.:flowerforyou: I used to take Lomotil but then I found Immodium. It is over the counter and works out fine for me. I took some yesterday as a precaution. My digestive system gets fussy when I am nervous, or when I eat the wrong things. Your DH has health problems that I don’t have to worry about, so he needs to do what the doctor orders. Sorry your Styrofoam bowl failed. I avoid that stuff whenever possible.:flowerforyou:

Heather: I need to thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement. They helped. I like the term “underbuyer.” I think it fits me. DH has the new car he craved, and I’ll survive the sticker shock. :grumble: It is nice, runs on diesel, and will get good mileage. I doubt that the reductions at the gas pump will cover much of the payment, but this is a LOT more sensible than an RV. Love the goal, “Take care of myself today so I have a healthier tomorrow.” Sorry the neighbor’s mowing is so irritating. This might be a good time to go shopping or to the gym.:flowerforyou:

Margaret: I think you’re wise to get to bed earlier in anticipation of the time change. Here I am, up at 3am. I got to bed early enough but didn’t manage to stay there. I’ve learned to get up rather than stay in bed tossing and turning. I want my body conditioned to sleep when in bed. It usually works for me.:flowerforyou:

Sylvia: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! 100 pounds gone is an accomplishment to be proud of. :drinker: How are you planning to celebrate? Your ticker looks fabulous. :drinker: I don’t know anyone who has had a lung transplant, but I did work with a man who had a heart transplant. It was a miracle and the gift of life. In his case it gave him a high quality of life. I’ll keep your son in my prayers.

FitDonna: I know it is hard to be patient but if your clothes fit better it is proof of success. It took me a year and a week to reach my goal and I learned a healthier way of life in the process. This is the race between the tortoise and the hare. You know who wins. Be patient and persistent and win. Meanwhile, hang around with us. Good luck to you.:flowerforyou:

Carol in NC: Enjoy yourself! You deserve a good time.:flowerforyou:

Rita: Good luck with the doctor appointment. I hope you’re able to feel better soon. As to the weight not dropping away, it appears you’ve hit a plateau. Keep on doing the right thing and the weight will eventually drop. :flowerforyou:

Vicki: Prayers for your dad. I hope you are able to see the DGD in her play. I have heard about covering the floor with brown bags. Back when (the 1970’s) we had friends who did their floor that way. They tore the bags into small, irregular pieces and glued them to the floor, then topped them with many layers of gym-thane. It looked like leather and was quite attractive. I have no idea how durable it was, but it lasted for at least a few years. We moved and lost track of them. DD was considering a similar treatment for her kitchen counters. I don’t know whether it is still under consideration. Their old house is always under construction. Friends who used to belong to the CMA graduated to the biggest Harley on the planet, then realized it was too much for them to handle and traded it in on a big 5th wheel RV. They’re happy with the choice but it was hard for T to give up what he loved for so long. He just wasn’t physically able to handle it safely any more. I give him a lot of credit for having the good sense to make a change.:flowerforyou:

Carmanlampman: You join by posting. You’re in! Welcome. Where are you from?:flowerforyou:

Kayak_kutie: Holy moly! $1042.22 is an enormous electric bill. Air-conditioned kennels explain a bunch. I love the heron picture.:flowerforyou:

Jill and Juanita: March 21 will be our 44th anniversary. We’re calling the new car our anniversary gift. 1970 was a very good year to get married. :flowerforyou:

Jane in CO: Post when you can. Don’t worry about it when you’re too busy. Our last two cars were pre-owned, and both worked out very well. We couldn’t find a used one with the features we want this time.:noway: :ohwell: I hope to keep it a decade or more. When I was in high school I never knew what kind of car to look for if my dad was coming to get me. He loved to trade. I’m not a fan of frequent trading. I had my last car for nearly a decade, & we’ve kept our boats longer than that. My dad would have had a lot in common with your DH. He loved the hunt and the deal.:flowerforyou:

Michele: I agree with your advice about going to the doctor with your DH. Having two people hear the information results in better understanding. The State of Washington charges its citizens auto licensing fees based on assessed value, so a lot of people hang on to older cars. Oregon has a flat rate for car licenses. :flowerforyou:

DeeDee: DH has known what he wanted for a LONG time, a diesel SUV. He’s had a diesel Passat for quite a few years and loves it. He was distracted by the motor home idea. That would have been a huge mistake for us and I’m glad I said no. This doesn’t seem like an “already” to me. It feels like a long drawn out ordeal.:ohwell:

Yanniejannie: I am not a fan of people who come to meetings and events with contagious diseases. :noway: :grumble: It seems selfish and unfair to me. Unfortunately, the workplace often demands it. Since your event was not work, the woman should have stayed home. Chicken noodle soup is a perfect meal to help fight a cold.:flowerforyou:



I’m wide awake, have been up a LONG time already, and it is only 5:46 am. I know I’m dealing with the stress of the car deal that followed so closely on the heels of the motor home conflict. :ohwell: I hope this will help my body get ready for the time change, so that I’ll at least get something good out of it. I wish we had year round daylight time. at our latitude, it gets dark before 4pm in December. I craved some light at the end of my workday and didn't get it for moths in the fall and winter. Now that we're both retired it doesn't make as much difference to me. I get to be out and about in the light.:bigsmile:


Katla in beautiful NW Oregon

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Thomas A. Edison


March goals:

1. Log every bite and swallow.
2. Move more: cardio at least 3 days a week and strength training as soon as I am able.
3. Find a way to have fun at least once every day.
4. Water: According to an article I saw on facebook, drinking water at certain times maximizes its effectiveness for the body. I’ll work toward following these guidelines:
* 2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs
* 1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion
* 1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure
* 1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

love my herons~ thanks Katie

Hi all

I'm not exactly new to MFP but I'm back. Love the motivation and support with this group of grand ladies.

How the heck did we get to be 50+???

So my goals for March;
Focus on being happier every day and nicer to be with
Logging every meal, snack, bite or swallow on MFP
Move more = treadmill for 20 minutes at least 3 times per week
Get a minimum of 8 glasses of water in Every Day
Be spontaneous and do something outside my comfort zone once per week
And finally......
Hold myself accountable by referring to these goals daily and measuring my progress.... If I missed one...get at it and get it done!

Lee

Hello to all: Well spent time figuring out when to take the antibiotics the doctor gave me for pneumonia. They are supposed to be taken alone and at least 2-3 hours before or after eating or taking anything with magnesium, calcium, iron or zinc in it. Apparently those minerals absorb the antibiotic and it will not work as well. They have to be taken twice a day so I am going to be a very scheduled eater for the next two weeks.

Silvia - 100 pounds. WooHoo!!!!!! Hope your son gets on the transplant list soon and things work out well. It is amazing what medical science can do these days.

Katla - Congrats on the new car. I tend to drive mine to death. A little over a year ago I traded in my 1993 pickup for a 2006. I will probably drive it until I no longer need it to haul my horse trailer.

Allison - So glad things seem to be looking up for you.

Healing angels to all who need them and congratulations to those with victories. Sue in SD

Happy day to all the Amazing women here!
I am getting set for tomorrow morning, 21 km, will let you know how it all went.Congrats to all celebrating and hugs to those who need it.
Deedee and Margaret :drinker:
Sylvia n Katla best wishes
Anamika from Mumbai

DeeDee...I am well, thanks for asking. Waking up around 3 a.m. is pretty typical for me. If I cannot fall back asleep, I will check my Facebook and MFP, as well as the news. Then I will fall asleep again eventually. Last night I ended up with a bad dream which woke me up again. Good thing it is Saturday and did not have to get up for work.

Lee...welcome. 50+ I agree with your question. And how did I get to be over 60 like...suddenly!? I like your goals and wish you well.

Mariabmb3 and healthymeemaw...welcome to you too. Come back and tell us some more about yourself.

Sylvia...100 lbs! Congratulations! You are inspiring.

Katla..my DH has been "shopping" for a car although our target purchase date is not until 2016. He just loves doing the shopping and comes back with information. I try to muster up the exitement, but my part does not happen until purchase time. Our next car will be our final one, which will mean going from 2 to 1 vehicle. At least that is the plan. In our area cars can last a long time, thanks to the climate.

I lost about a lb and a half since I last weighed in 2 weeks ago. That works for me. I broke through the 150 mark! Happy happy.

Renny
Vancouver island, BC

Hi everyone,

Wanted to share my blog post from this morning, stating my goals for March, and for the rest of my life

Ants in the Pants

Spring's coming. Ants are finding their way indoors, happens every March. When a stray one crawls across my hand at night in bed, though, ugh. No likey. The least they could do is stay in the kitchen. Ungrateful bums.

What I do like are the tiny little jonquils and cheery, tall daffodils that are blossoming in the yard and around town. Deep, dark purple primroses so gorgeous amidst the aftermath of winter's drab. Perennial plants are popping their heads out of the soil everywhere I look.

Red sky early this morning, brilliant hue, lighting up the whole world; proof positive we'll be getting rain, and yes, I'm sitting here wearing rose colored glasses.

Oh, my rosy little world - now mixed with ants in the pants - I'm itching to continue losing these pounds that have finally decided to dissipate over the last few weeks, not by magic as I would have liked, but by following a new set of personal guidelines.

More than a year of frustration, wondering why on earth I couldn't seem to lose anything...I grew so very tired of bothering with it all. In my heart of hearts I knew what had to be done, but I refused to accept it. I had to eat less. It just wasn't fair, I didn't want to believe it. But what happens when you don't follow your heart? You suffer.

Sick of suffering! It finally dawned on me that many others have reached goals much higher than mine, so there must be a way to get it done. What was my problem? Just hanging on in quiet desperation... BS. Nothing happens if you don't take action. I decided to cheer the hell up and get on with the program. It went deeper than food. This is my list.

*Change your thinking, shift gears

*Treat yourself kindly, with compassion

*Make time for self-care

*Plan plan plan

*Never eat until hungry

*Practice mindful eating, savor every bite

*Just as you don't overfeed plants, don't overfeed yourself

*Cut out weeknight wine

*Allow a fun night, goofing off, no logging

*Set a new, lower, personal calorie goal (1250)

*Allow very few exercise calories (50-100)

*Set daily exercise goals including at least 30 mins intense cardio

*Add yoga and strength-work to regular exercise

*Report daily to a journal or a friend, listing goals for the day

*Keep a positive attitude, be gracious and grateful

_____________________________________

Did I forget anything? Oh, that's right, 2 things:

*READ THIS LIST EVERY DAY AND DO IT

*THANK YOU MY FRIENDS

jb in cloudy Portland

Katla - "underbuyer" is the terminology used in The Happiness Project. Apparently the author is one. I am for most things, but not for cookery supplies!

Joyce - I loved your image of you out in your van seeking the chocolate. That would be me when DH is at football, except that he takes our only car with him! In my case I would be in search of runny, smelly French cheese. :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: Good job we've only got one car!

I went to the hairdresser's and found that she would not do the colour without a patch test. Good for her, but I think the manager could have told me when he phoned. So I had a blob of dye behind my ear , after she'd done a restyle. For the first time since my cancer meds, which gave me horrific hot flushes, I have a fringe, (bangs). It's only a half one,but I've been not liking my large shiny forehead in photos for quite some time. I will have the roots done on Thursday evening, the night before I go to Glasgow. The shorter appointment meant I had time to zap the weeds in the glorious sunshine while DH watched rugby and football on the TV. The sky is still cloudless as the sun begins to set.

Duck legs tonight. I'm cooking masses of broccoli to have with it and will have some cold in my grain mix tomorrow. There are a few sorrel leaves in the garden so might piick that and a bit of overwintered spinach. Spring is here!
Love Heather UK

It is a most beautiful day here! I walked a couple of miles down the road to a T-shirt store and bought a new mug for my office that came with its own spoon and spoon storage in the handle. I also bought two t-shirts--size medium!!!! It is still so weird to buy normal sizes. On the walk there, I got to really look around. I'm always driving when I'm here so I saw lots of things I didn't know existed, one of which was a little deli/bakery. I stopped there on my way back and had excellent fish tacos and a slice of caramel apple pie. YUM!! I had hit my 10,000 steps before I got back to the house. I've been inside for a bit, resting and catching up here before I go out to walk on the beach. Before I do that, though, I have to change into a short sleeved shirt! The computer says it's 57 but it feels like 67.

I asked my daughter to check on my house for me. She said it doesn't seem as if the power was off at all and there is no damage. However, the neighborhood is a disaster. Still lots of people without power in the area.

Going to take my walk now...

Carol in beautiful Emerald Isle, NC

:flowerforyou: Welcome Kimberly in Ft. Worth; sure looking forward to our Texas Spring only not the thunderstorms. I'm sure you will enjoy this thread but it's a daily effort to keep up which doesn't happen with me.

:flowerforyou: Heather hope that colour works out for you; I am delighted that Spring is on the horizon.

:bigsmile: Granddaughter - now there's a smile; hope your visit was awesome with yours Jane.

:flowerforyou: Carol a walk on the beach sounds fabulous! you are doing great in getting in your steps!

As for the Internal Women's Day I salute all women! and like most women it's a busy Saturday for me; a little work, a little play and I plan to sit on the couch relaxing for the evening.

Will catch up more later ~

Plano Teral :flowerforyou:

katla - my FIL ALWAYS bought preowned cars. For all the years I knew him (30+), I never ever knew him to buy him or MIL a new car. Actually, one that he got had been in an accident, was declared a total, but this mechanic fixed it up and FIL bought it. He had it for quite a few years.

Margaret - it sure does feel good when someone notices our hard work, doesn't it?

imerner - welcome back! Love your goals, especially the one about focusing on being happier.

Sylvia - WOOHOO. Get rid of those 4X's. I really don't like to buy clothes online because if it doesn't fit, its such a hassle to return. Even if they have free return. The exception is if I tried something on in the store and the only time I can get a different color is online. Or like the bathingsuit -- I know it fits me, I'd just like to get another one. Sounds like your son did a lot of thinking. Glad he has made a decision

Lee - I keep telling my daughter that I'm not old enough to have a 30 year old. That just never goes over

kimberly - welcome! you'll get that weight off and we'll be right here with ya.

jane - safe travels

carol - congrats on the smaller sizes, you deserve it

Sandy - congrats! You are getting there. It won't be too long now.

Did 45 minutes of these challenges (weights and cadio), then 15 minutes of a stretchin DVD today. Tomorrow I'm planning to do a 10 minute butt lift DVD that got.

Michele in NC