I totally get the ring thing. I was able to put on a ring I haven't worn since my 20's, and my mom's wedding set fits...she was tiny, lol.

That's so great! I love these little things that help keep us motivated!

Just wanted to say today how glad I am that Cindy created this group and how thankful I am to be a part of a group of such awesome ladies.

A day or so ago I was reading one of the main forums here at mfp, and a woman had posted about how she was finding it harder to lose weight after age 40. One of the comments from another poster stated that it wasn't any harder, it was still just calories in versus calories out. While I agree to a certain point, I also believe that it does sometimes become harder at our age to lose weight and/or maintain our weight. Here are some of the reasons that I believe it has been harder in my case:

1. Children are older and require lots more driving around for activities so more eating on the run/skipping meals (I'm nearing the end of this stage)
2. My job got progressively more stressful/involved in the last few years
3. Parent/grandparents required more of my attention due to health concerns
4. My looks (primary reason for trying to lose weight before) became less of a priority to me than they were in my 20s and 30s
5. I've lost muscle/flexibility/fitness over the last 5-10 years

Here is how I'm trying to deal with these issues now:

1. As I mentioned, my children are getting older. I only have one left who is not driving and my two older children pitch in with that so time has taken care of this issue for me.
2. I made a career change that has been absolutely refreshing. My old job had engulfed my life, and I feel like I am now starting to slowly get it back.
3. Unfortunately, I lost one grandmother in October, 2012. Both my mother and mother-in-law were diagnosed with cancer in May 2013. Thankfully both of them are now in remission and doing well. However, throughout the summer months of 2013, I came to realize that I needed to get as healthy as possible myself to help take care of the people I love. I can't do anyone any good if I'm totally run down.
4. Realized that just because I'm 44, it doesn't mean I need to let myself go. However, my looks are no longer my top priority in getting to my goal weight. My health and well being are now the top priority.
5. Realized that now I want to be strong and fit and that it is never too late to become so! Started doing some reading a few months ago, and realized there had been quite a shift in thought about exercise. Seems like while I was adrift, lost in my own world, people realized that lifting weights was just as important (or more important) as doing cardio. Just makes sense that building muscles will help me maintain my weight without having to eat below 1200 calories.

Some of my accomplishments since deciding to become healthier:

1. Quit smoking in September, 2013 (this is a biggie!)
2. Quit bringing my work home with me (both literally and figuratively, if that makes any sense!)
3. Started treating myself to long soaks in the bathtub to relax once or twice a week (use epsom salts, essential oils, and other salts)
4. Started using essential oils in diffusers in my bedroom and the main living rooms. I really believe this helps create a calming atmosphere in the house
5. Started working out on May 26, 2014 - both cardio and strength training.
6. Started counting calories on May 26, 2014 - was trying to eat healthier before but was not paying attention to portions and calories
7. Setting personal goals for myself rather than feeling like I'm just along for the ride in life. I'm thinking crazy thoughts now - like what would it be like if I decided to run in a 5K, 10K, or even a half marathon or full marathon. In thinking these crazy thoughts, I realized just how long it had been since I thought about doing something like that for me, just me! Not thinking about goals for the children, or for work, or for our financial future, etc. but just thinking about me personally!

Just thought I would share this morning. I'm sad that Cindy had to step away for a little while, and I don't want to see our group get quiet with her absence. Let's keep up what she started, so that when she is able to come back, she will have a great support system in place and can feel good about what she started here.

Anyone else have any thoughts for the day?

Thanks for posting your thoughts Emy. I also hope this group stays together & keeps posting. It is a large group, and maybe some of the others will join in if we keep it interesting enough.

I think that the reason it is harder to lose weight now, is because it cannot be the only thing I focus on. I don't have the time I had in my 20s or even 30s when my kids napped in the afternoon. Now I juggle work, what other people want to eat, lack of sleep & hormonal changes, job stress, running to kids activities and just plain old fatigue.

I have been trying to lose weight since I gained it after quitting smoking in 2007. I gained A LOT, over 80lbs. Every year during the winter while we are slow, I have lost 10lbs or so. Then I would gain it back while we are busy & have no time to cook & meal plan during the summer. The weight is slow to come off this time (and every time I have tried over the past 6 years) because it is not my only focus. I don't have the luxury anymore to focus on how I am feeling, cutting up veggies if I am hungry or exercising every single minute. I try to carve out time for that, and to be grateful for the things that I have, that I am healthy, and that I have a great family.

It is different this time because I am keeping at it. I almost lost focus this week, but I was still aware. I still exercised (except Sunday when I was a lump!) I am probably in the best shape of my life and can't wait to uncover the body that is currently covered in fat & to see how fast I can actually run without dragging all of it with me.

I have a long way to go, so I hope everyone here keeps interested & posting as often as possible. My tracker only shows my 2014 goal, I have more to lose then that.

I may only be able to post, while I am busy, in the "Today, I will" section, but I do take the time most days to read what is going on. You can't discuss this weight loss thing with people in every day life without their eyes glossing over, or them looking at your body & judging. I feel very lucky to have a place to post everyday and feel encouraged by everyone for what we are doing.

This is mostly in response to emy r's post from yesterday. Obviously everyone's life is different, but I found your observations interesting in light of my own experience. I am the same age as you but there the similarity ends. I find I have more time to exercise and prepare healthy foods for myself now that my children are older. When they were young, I felt like it was all I could do to get a pot of macaroni cooked and into their stomachs and of course I wolfed down a few bowls myself standing of course. They would not eat much salads or veggies so it was not the priority. Even to the extent that they would eat them it was not going to satisfy them when they were starving. If I had a choice between salad and carbs, it was always carbs. Just so you wont think I'm a terrible mother we did always have "apple parties" for bedtime snacks.

I now have more time to exercise and prepare healthy foods for myself. And the logging. Until a little over a year ago I had no idea how many calories were in anything. Even if I did look at the nutrition facts, it meant nothing to me because I had no idea how much I should be eating. Now I am always thinking in terms of calories. This is not necessarily a good thing, but it is necessary.

I feel I am healthier now than I have ever been since becoming a mother at age 22.

The only downside is that now that they are older, they (actually it is only one daughter) are always buying nosh and cluttering up my cupboards with stuff I don't want. Sometimes I get really annoyed and throw it all out.

Michael833,

It is very interesting how we all experience life differently. I will say I am eating much healthier now than I did in 20 years ago, and I do have more time now to prepare healthier meals and focus on my fitness. I did a lot more home cooking though when my two oldest were young. By the time my third child came along, my two older children were involved in evening activities and I was working full time and trying to finish up my graduate degree. My oldest always complains that I let my youngest get away with too much: she watched more tv, ate more junk food, and I didn't push as many educational activities on her. The truth is that I was just tired! I can see benefits and disadvantages to how I raised each of them. I put a lot more pressure on my oldest and he now pushes himself. My youngest was allowed the freedom to relax, and I think that is a wonderful thing to learn at an early age.

I find the differences fascinating.

Emy, are you surprised that I do more out of the house activities with my younger kids than I did with my older ones? When I had younger kids I could hardly do anything extra (swimming was about it) but now that there are no babies my younger ones who are in elementary school are reaping the benefits.

I admire you for finishing your graduate degree.