WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2014

Found this on another topic; fun to compare your weight loss with this!

QUOTE:
1 pound = a Guinea Pig
1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts
2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs
3 pounds = an average human brain
4 pounds = an ostrich egg
5 pounds = a Chihuahua
6 pounds = a human skin
7.5 pounds = an average newborn
8 pounds = a human head
10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year
11 pounds = an average housecat
12 pounds = a Bald Eagle
15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs
16 pounds = a sperm whale's brain
20 pounds = an automobile tire
23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year
24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super-premium ice cream
25 pounds = an average 2 year old
30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year
33 pounds = a cinder block
36 pounds = a mid-size microwave
40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of water or an average human leg
44 pounds = an elephants heart
50 pounds = a small bale of hay
55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner
60 pounds = an elephants penis
66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year
70 pounds = an Irish Setter
77 pounds = a gold brick
80 pounds = the Worlds Largest Ball of Tape
90 pounds = a newborn calf
100 pounds = a 2 month old horse
111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year
117 pounds = an average fashion model (and shes 5'11")
118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica
120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month
130 pounds = a newborn giraffe
138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year
140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year
144 pounds = an average adult woman (and shes 5'4½")
150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary
187 pounds = an average adult man
200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds
235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger
300 pounds = an average football lineman
400 pounds = a Welsh pony

Found this in another topic as well:

8 THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for. And that no matter how good or bad you have it, you must wake up each day thankful for every moments that you still alive to enjoy the pleasures and opportunities which life offers because someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for their life.

Truth be told, happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. Imagine all the wondrous things your mind might embrace if it weren’t wrapped so tightly around your struggles. Always look at what you have, instead of what you have lost.. Because it’s not what the world takes away from you that counts; it’s what you do with what you have left.

Here are a few reminders to help motivate you when you need it most:

1. PAIN IS PART OF GROWING.

Sometimes life closes doors because it’s time to move forward. And that’s a good thing because we often won’t move unless circumstances force us to. When times are tough, remind yourself that no pain comes without a purpose. Move on from what hurt you, but never forget what it taught you. Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle to get there. Good things take time. Stay patient and stay positive. Everything is going to come together; maybe not immediately, but eventually.

Remember that there are two kinds of pain: pain that hurts and pain that changes you. When you roll with life, instead of resisting it, both kinds help you grow and make you stronger version of yourselves..


2. EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS TEMPORARY.

Every time it rains, it stops raining. Every time you get hurt, you heal. After darkness there is always light – you are reminded of this every morning, but still you often forget, and instead choose to believe that the night will last forever. It won’t. Nothing lasts forever. There is always light at the end of the dark tunnel.

So if things are good right now, enjoy it. It won’t last forever. If things are bad, don’t worry because it won’t last forever either. Just because life isn’t easy at the moment, doesn’t mean you can’t laugh. Just because something is bothering you, doesn’t mean you can’t smile. Every moment gives you a new beginning and a new ending. You get a second chance, every second. You just have to take it and make the best of it.


3. WORRYING AND COMPLAINING CHANGES NOTHING.

Those who complain the most, accomplish the least. It’s always better to attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed. It’s not over if you’ve lost; it’s over when you do nothing but complain about it.

If you believe in something, keep trying. Don’t let the shadows of the past darken the doorstep of your future. Spending today complaining about yesterday won’t make tomorrow any brighter. Take action instead. Let what you’ve learned improve how you live. Make a change and never look back.

And regardless of what happens in the long run, remember that true happiness begins to arrive only when you stop complaining about your problems and you start being grateful for all the problems you don’t have.


4. YOUR SCARS ARE SYMBOLS OF YOUR STRENGTH.

Don’t ever be ashamed of the scars life has left you with. A scar means the hurt is over and the wound is closed. It means you conquered the pain, learned a lesson, grew stronger, and moved forward. A scar is the tattoo of a triumph to be proud of. Don’t allow your scars to hold you hostage. Don’t allow them to make you live your life in fear. You can’t make the scars in your life disappear, but you can change the way you see them. You can start seeing your scars as a sign of strength and not pain.

Rumi once said, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most powerful characters in this great world are seared with scars. See your scars as a sign of “YES! I MADE IT! I survived and I have my scars to prove it! And now I have a chance to grow even stronger.”


5. EVERY LITTLE STRUGGLE IS A STEP FORWARD.

In life, patience is not about waiting; it’s the ability to keep a good attitude while working hard on your dreams, knowing that the work is worth it. So if you’re going to try, put in the time and go all the way. Otherwise, there’s no point in starting. This could mean losing stability and comfort for a while, and maybe even your mind on occasion. It could mean not eating what, or sleeping where, you’re used to, for weeks on end. It could mean stretching your comfort zone so thin it gives you a nonstop case of the chills. It could mean sacrificing relationships and all that’s familiar. It could mean accepting ridicule from your peers. It could mean lots of time alone in solitude.

Solitude, though, is the gift that makes great things possible. It gives you the space you need. Everything else is a test of your determination, of how much you really want it.
And if you want it, you’ll do it, despite failure and rejection and the odds. And every step will feel better than anything else you can imagine. You will realize that the struggle is not found on the path, it is the path. And it’s worth it. So if you’re going to try, go all the way. There’s no better feeling in the world… there’s no better feeling than knowing what it means to be ALIVE.


6. OTHER PEOPLE’S NEGATIVITY IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM.

Be positive when negativity surrounds you. Smile when others try to bring or drag you down. It’s an easy way to maintain your enthusiasm and focus. When other people treat you poorly, keep being you..and stay calm.

Don’t ever let someone else’s bitterness (for example bad attitudes, hurtful words..etc) change the person you are.. Rarely do people do things because of you. They do things because of them.

Above all, don’t ever change just to impress someone who says you’re not good enough. Change because it makes you a better person and leads you to a brighter future. People are going to talk regardless of what you do or how well you do it. So worry about yourself before you worry about what others think. If you believe strongly in something, don’t be afraid to fight it. Great strength comes from overcoming what others think is impossible.

All jokes aside, your life only comes around once. This is IT. So do what makes you happy and be with whoever makes you smile and laugh often to brighten your days.


7. WHAT’S MEANT TO BE WILL EVENTUALLY, BE.

True strength comes when you have so much to cry and complain about, but you prefer to smile and appreciate your life instead. There are blessings hidden in every struggle you face, but you have to be willing to open your heart and mind to see them. You can’t force things to happen. You can only drive yourself crazy trying. At some point you have to let it go and let what’s meant to be, BE.

In the end, loving your life is about trusting your intuition, taking chances, losing and finding happiness, cherishing the memories, and learning through experience. It’s a long-term journey. You have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting every steps you have chosen to walk.. Laugh at the confusion, live consciously in the moment, and enjoy your life as it unfolds. You might not end up exactly where you intended to go, but you will eventually arrive precisely where you need to be..


8. THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS TO KEEP GOING.

Don’t be afraid to get back up – to try again, to love again, to live again, and to dream again. Don’t let a hard lesson harden your heart. Life’s best lessons are often learned at the worst times and from the worst mistakes.

There will be times when it seems like everything that could possibly go wrong is going wrong. And you might feel like you will be stuck in this rut forever, but you won’t. When you feel like quitting, remember that sometimes things have to go very wrong before they can be right. Sometimes you have to go through the worst, to arrive at your best.

Yes, life is tough, but you are tougher. Find the strength to laugh every day. Find the courage to feel different, yet beautiful. Find it in your heart to make others smile too. Don’t stress over things you can’t change. Live simply. Love generously. Speak truthfully. Work diligently. And even if you fall short, keep going. Keep growing.

Awake every morning and do your best to follow this daily TO-DO list:

Think positively.
Eat healthy.
Exercise today.
Worry less.
Work hard.
Laugh often.
Sleep well.
Repeat…

THE LIFE IS YOURS…

What helps you stay motivated when you’re struggling? What’s something positive you try to keep in mind when everything seems to be going wrong?

Cynthia ... Wow! Loved your two posts! Let me just wipe the coffee off my screen that I just spewed after reading what 60 pounds lost is equivalent to! :laugh:

I'm going to copy the "8 things to remember."

Carol ... why the ER? Praying today will be a better day.

I really need to keep a notebook nearby ... more I wanted to comment on.
Have a great day, ladies!

Beth in WNY

Good morning beautiful ladies:flowerforyou:

Cynthia Thanks for the posts:bigsmile: !!!!

Alison Hope you have a fantastic time at the concert!!!

Sylvia Where are the pics:huh: ???Would love to see them!!!

Carol Oh my, sending you a hug!!! I sure hope today will be a better day for you:flowerforyou: !

Eileen Would love to see pics of your grandson !!!

Heather Hope you have a safe and fun trip!!! Glad your knee is cooperating today!!!

Barbie I love the graph!!! So very true!!!

It has been one of those weeks where you wonder where the time went:grumble: ! I have been so busy and so exhausted:yawn: , I napped from 3:30 to 5:30 yesterday, would have slept even longer had the phone not kept ringing ! My oldest granddaughter is on spring break this week, I`m picking her up this morning and taking her birthday shopping, her birthday and her moms (my daughter) birthday is tomorrow. I haven`t even had time to buy birthday cards:sad: ! We`re meeting my daughter for lunch today and then I`ll take her shopping for her birthday present...sounds like a busy day again. I was planning on cooking dinner tomorrow night for their birthday, however I decided I just don`t have the energy to do it and I made reservations at one of their favorite restaurants !

Have a wonderful Friday!!! I`m so glad it`s Friday:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: !!! Drink your water:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: and log your food!!!

Hugs,
DeeDee in sunny NC

Hi All! I am new to this forum. Looks like you have some great camaraderie here! I am 52, soon to be 53, and have been on MFP sine Feb of 2011. I lost 42 pounds and kept it off for 2 1/2 years, then began packing on the pounds again. My ticker now stands at 28 lost. I have upped my goal weight a bit as those around me thought I got too thin there for a while. So I now have 8 pounds to go to get back to my goal weight. I struggle every single, solitary day with food. I feel like I just LOOK at food and gain weight, lol. Actually I don't think that is too far from the truth. I have a nasty habit of binge-ing every 4-6 weeks which I am really trying to get under control. I don't have any problem with exercise. I have been working out a minimum of once a day, six days a week for the past 3 years. I find that if I don't exercise, I am miserable. Well that's a bit about me, maybe even TMI.

I am looking forward to meeting you all through your posts and being supportive where I can. Best wishes to you all as you continue on your journey to health and fitness.

Kerrin

Sylvia: woweee! Do you have one where you're standing in one leg of those pants?
Proud of you!
Cynthia

Cynthia, no I can't quite fit in one leg yet. When I pulled those jeans out of their hiding place in the closet I couldn't believe those ever fit me, but they did! In fact they were a little tight. I have trouble mentally, recognizing that I have actually lost that much weight, but those jeans finally proved it to me. I had not looked at them for months.

I had to model my new yoga pants for hubby and ask him if they were too revealing, but he said no, they look fine. So I guess I don't need a long shirt to cover them up. Now I want another pair.

Hubby's sleep study went well. They tried various masks on him and the one he thought worked the best was one that covered just his nose. So we have to wait for the official results of the test. He said the Ambien helped, but he doesn't want to do it often.

Meg, A1at is a genetic disorder that destroys the lungs and liver. Apparently my ex husband and I were both carriers and didn't know it. My poor son got stuck with the full blown disease. He's been treated for emphysema for a while but was going downhill so fast that they finally thought of testing for it. It's supposedly "rare" but there seem to be a lot of people who have it. It's not curable, but they can do some kind of weekly infusion treatments that slow down the progression. He needs to have a double lung transplant, but is too scared to do that. He's having a lot of trouble coming to terms with it right now, which is common, from what I've read about it.

Today I'm going to shuttle the kids again, then this evening they are going back to their mother's for the weekend, so that will give him a little more time to rest. I think he will be able to deal with things better if he gets some rest. I'm going to try helping his wife with moving more of his stuff from the old house this weekend. Hubby said he will help, too. Hubby is afraid I'm taking on too much, with my heart trouble and all, but honestly, I feel stronger the more I do. And I really need to be helping.

So I'd better get around and get dressed. I hope you all have a great Friday!

Sylvia

Good morning everyone! Hope you all have a wonderful day. I see signs of spring coming. I am down another pound but official weigh in is on Monday. Next week our kitchen remodel begins, will be using the grill and microwave. Hopefully it will be finished by Friday.

Carol, praying for you, hang in there.
Georgette, welcome. Friends are found here!
Heather, safe travels.
Cynthia, thanks for the great posts!
TashaHem, welcome back!
DeeDee, happy Friday to you too!
Kerrie, welcome.
Sylvia, so proud for you! A great accomplishment. You are a true champ!

Have a terrific day!

Cindy in OK. :flowerforyou:

Good morning to all,

Deedee:drinker:

Welcome newcomers:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Sylvia WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barbie love the graph, so true.

Cynthia comparison was interesting to me. A year supply of cheese. Just when I am cutting way back on cheese.:laugh:

May everything go right today for everyone!

Goal to do something healthy for myself today, so I will have a healthier tomorrow.
A walk outside sounds lovely to me today!

2013 word: contentment

Margaret

Maggie – wow you have made some amazing changes! Good work… keep it up

Carol – I am so sorry to hear all that is going on, I can’t imagine how stressful it must be take care and know we are here cheering you on.. One day “shot all to hell” is not anything that bad, today is another day.

Georgette – this is the group! I have only been here a month and already feel the support!

Heather – have fun!

Alison – what a whirlwind! Take care of yourself!

Cynthia – great list! I hit 8 lbs today so I’ve lost my head –giggle

Barbie – graph is a great reminder!

Kerrin – welcome

Sylvia – you are not standing on your head and that is amazing! You look great. And you are a great mom, the advice and support you are giving your son makes me jealous I wish my mom could be ¼ as caring as you are. I know you need to help you family, but asking for and accepting extra help is good too!:happy:

My embroidery work room is crazy today - a big part of my business is letterman jackets and they are EVERYWHERE! I embroidered like a crazy woman yesterday so today is sewing on patches and billing --- and taxes!

Friday is my weigh in day and today is also my 1 month anniversary, I have lost 7.5 lbs (the ticker rounds up to 8) - 2lbs this week. And I really thought I would be lucky if I lost this much by the end of April - I would not have come this far without you all and the logging. Knowing that I need to be accountable to myself and to folks who are cheering me on not cutting me down has made all the difference. I am looking forward to taking on month 2. Thanks! And I am so glad I am doing this now that I am over 50 - as this is the most supportive thread on MFP and I could not have done it with out the support.

Kim in N. CAl (76 degrees yesterday and suppose to be the same today)

Well, I just came to the studio and looked at the thread on my desktop and the pics are NOT upside down. It must just be my iPad. Crazy!

I feel like such a fraud, holding up that huge pair of pants, and have to keep reminding myself that Yes, those WERE mine and yes, they DID fit. It feels so great, and I want to commit this feeling to memory so I never EVER go back there. I'm afraid of getting lazy and backsliding, which is what I have done in the past. Now I can look at that picture and it will remind me.

Do you think I should post it in the Success Story section or wait till I've lost the rest?

It was springtime here for a couple of days, but they are saying snow again on Sunday. Good grief!

My grandson is in the lounge area of my studio playing with my iPad. I wish they had those when my son was little. It's a really good babysitter. Of course, I won't let him do it for very long. I'd hate it if he figured out how to buy stuff. I downloaded some free games but they all seem to have screens that don't work unless you pay for them. Bait and switch, I think.

Cindy, you are having a kitchen remodeled in less than a week? When we did ours it was three months, or at least it seemed like it.

Katla, Im so glad you are having a fun trip. Drive safely!

Sylvia

Bump. (I'm a newbie and lurking on your thread, just getting to know you and appreciating your supportive chatter with each other. I'm bumping so I can come back to this topic ... If anyone is interested / willing, I'm looking for friends ....)

Lorraine in Toronto

Everyone in Ontario

---

Lee, Juanita, Sandy, LinC---and anyone from there I may have missed: they showed a ship cutting the ice on the Rideau River on the station I was watching this am..........looks terribly cold there and that ice was THICK; I know my cousin who lives on Lake Rideau is pretty sick of it this winter (she moved there from New Jersey!!!).

Cindy in OK...........love your bluebird!

Rita..........Nice to see you pop in.........hopes that your stress level is lowering. ((((Hugs))))

Heather.........A great hairdresser is always a plus in life!!! Safe travels and fun times.

Katla.........Safe travels and fun times to you too..........sounds like you are very happy with the SUV, glad that is the case!

DebA........Happy your power loss was short and your pipes didn't freeze.

Meg............YES!!!! Super that you took the day!

Sylvia.............AMAZING!!!!!! You look fabulous!!!!! So glad your son got that prn anti anxiety med; keeping his stress level down is important with all he is facing ((((Hugs))))) to you too.

Dee Dee..........Enjoy your birthday dinner out for your daughter!!!! How are your cherry blossoms coming? I must get back to the park and see just how ours are progressing.........however yesterday stayed in the 30's again, not promising.

Cynthia..........I'll be printing out "8 Things" It's brilliant!!!

Maggie.............Super congrats on a great start!!!

Welcome any newbies. I have notes to more people but can't read my chicken scratching and the memory is shot; done squinting at the piece of paper.

DD is reading for a class............skip that, just glanced at her...........eyes are closed.

Have healthy days everyone!
yanniejannie
mid-Atlantic............sunny with blue, blue skies and supposed to get in the 50's

Cynthia ... Wow! Loved your two posts! Let me just wipe the coffee off my screen that I just spewed after reading what 60 pounds lost is equivalent to! :laugh:

Beth in WNY

I'll let y'all know when I get there. :bigsmile:

Also wondering who would weigh such things!! :laugh:

SYLVIA!!! What an amazing photo!! You are an inspiration! Many people post progress success stories ... I'm sure there are a lot of people ... male and female .... who would be as inspired as we all are!

Sylvia, you are amazing! I don't see why you feel like a fraud though. You are the real deal, a success story. I know the future with your son will be stressfull though and come to us anytime to vent. PM me if you need to anytime.

Cynthia, well first of all I always have loved your picture, I love the youth-fullness in the hair. I guess I have lost a 5000 BTU air conditioner. I also love the copy you put up regarding how we see ourselves. I need to realize that I am in charge. A failure one day or even one week is just a step in my journey.

Watching a sappy romance I recorded off Hallmark. Got to go shed some tears!

Joyce, Indiana