WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JUNE 2014

Michele: Regarding plant choices, I’d need more information to make suggestions. (Questions coming.) Do you know your growing zone? What is the elevation where you live? How tall can the plants be? Do you want evergreen or is deciduous okay? Most important, what do you like? On another subject, I love rails to trails paths, too. Those I’ve been on have been made into bike/walking paths.:flowerforyou:

Yanniejannie: DGD is now three but was two in the picture.

Sylvia: You are so pretty! You’ve already transformed yourself and I wouldn’t have recognized you from your driver’s license picture, either, unless I studied the picture and your face for quite a while. :noway: My driver’s license doesn’t match me, either. It is in the middle, between my heaviest and now. :flowerforyou:



I’m having a quiet day today, and making turkey soup. We have a grocery store that sells half turkeys that are just the right size to grill on our barbecue. We cooked this one when our DS and DDIL visited, and the leftovers are soup just waiting for a few final ingredients, including noodles. It won’t be dinnertime for a few hours yet.

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


June Goals:
1. Log every bite and swallow.
2. Cardio exercise at least 3 days a week.
3. Have fun every day.
4. Drink at least two glasses of water daily, preferably more!

Adaniel, welcome dearie, hop on in and join the fun! :bigsmile: Let us know your name if you want. I'm Joanie, but I go by "jb" in rememberance of my dad who always called me that when I was a kid

Sylvia! Great pic.

This morning I processed and froze 10 single serving packages of spinach & water puree that I'll use in "neon" green smoothies this summer. I did 10 bags a few weeks ago, so I'll have plenty. Also gave huge bag of fresh spinach to the neighbor gal. Then, instead of making spinach quiche, which I'll do in the morning, I made cream of aparagus soup with asparagus from the garden. That was a first for me, and I must say it is a keeper recipe! I sauteed the asparagus with onion & celery, added chicken broth, simmered, then added a bit of roux made with a tablespoon each of butter & flour, and some milk. I added the saved asparagus tips at the end and let the soup simmer slowly just until they were tender. Verrrrrrry good.

Ok gotta scoot. Happiness is as happiness does :flowerforyou:

jb in cloudy, showery, cooler Portland - c'mon sun, we got gardens to grow!! :glasses:

Hi!

Yanniejannie -- "grease spot" is a PA saying I think. I grew up in Pittsburgh!

Sylvia -- you are a continual inspiration for me! Great pic!

jb -- thanks for the photo of Mariah ... like others, it's nice to put a face to the prayer ... and good idea to remember her sister!

Today was day 5 without headache for my son and then he developed a mid-range headache this afternoon ... arguing with his Dad seems to have brought it on ... since he and his Dad have since reconciled, hoping it will leave him soon.

Sat at a baseball game in the rain this afternoon ... forgot our umbrellas so we got pretty drenched. The temperatures have dropped and I'm drooping, so I'll head in early tonight.

Alison --- I seem to be in the same boat as you with the eating lately! Need to stop the mindless eating. I tracked and logged everything for the day and then just totally ignored it. Not too happy about that...

Have a good evening.
Beth

I went outside to look for the honey moon, but all I have is clouds with lightening, can anyone see it? This really intrigues me!!!

Sylvia............I can finally see both pics (only one was showing before, don't know why..............WOW,WOW,WOW..............you literally look like a different person, amazing change! Congratulations, your perseverance has really paid off big time! You look great.

Last pie in the oven; I'm off to bed after I get it out, a little reading, then, hopefully, sleep.
G'nite all,

yanniejannie.............missing the honey moon

Bump

Deb A in CNY

Greetings from beautiful Omaha! It was 74 and low humidity today and I took advantage of that and walked for an hour. Went to hyvee for their meat sale; I ended up with 68 cents off per gallon of gas…woo hoo! Worked on the book and got edits done for my last chapter. DH is shampooing carpet. It’s amazing we have top of the line stainmaster carpet and nothing comes out of it! And of course it’s “champaign” so everything shows.

Tomorrow is the start of the college world series and wouldn’t you know it, we are in a severe weather alert with the potential for more baseball sized hail. How appropriate…baseball sized hail at the baseball game. We are having company tomorrow for dinner and cards and then of course father’s day DD#1 and the BF supposedly are coming over. So we’ll see how that goes.

47Jacqueline: I seem to get headaches fairly frequently and they tend to be bad, but go away pretty easily. I get migraines occasionally so that’s not much of a problem. Keep plugging away on your fitness book! I really enjoy my aqua zumba class. Don’t care so much for “land” zumba…too crowded and people do not tend to be friendly if you get in their space….you know the spot on the gym floor with their name carved into it LOL

Jane: that must have been quite a scare! Glad it all turned out

Sylvia: well be sure to have a cell phone with you on those walks! I’d hate for you to pass out and be left on the sidewalk somewhere! Cute joke! How do you get your fitbit to carry on like that? Mine doesn’t but it does send me smooches

BJ: are you planning a sabbatical?

Alison: I got pooped reading your post! Rest up girlfriend!

Joyce: hooray for a good night’s sleep! I used to love to golf but haven’t in three years since my last gastroc tear.

Gmom: I forgot where you are going on your vacation?

Yanniejannie: wow that’s’ a lot of steps! I’m happy today I have nearly 8,000. We have a nesting pair of downy woodpeckers ( the smaller ones) but to see a pileated one would be wonderful. For some reason we have TONS of doves.

DeeDee: yes please bring smelly cheese. I also have jalapeno-cream cheese stuffed mushrooms to go with the steaks, so bring your appetite. I splurged and bought a Mrs. Smith’s peach pie for dessert! I can have a half a slice without going over my carbs too much. Oh, wait…Saturday is hamburgers and ice cream sundaes. Either one. I have tons of food! Stay safe in those storms!

Barbie: well that does sound like all the food groups except for beer!

Michele: our gas credits expire on a rolling basis every 30 days. So if you get something on the first and the tenth, the first of next month that first credit falls off if you don’t use it. I have three rose of sharons and do nothing for them and they are gorgeous.

Kim: for $5 US you should get gold plated rhubarb!

Cynthia: your “narrow” comment reminded me that when my parents lived in Arkansas, they had a gardener, a real Arkansas country boy. One day he told my dad “Excuse me sir (the guy was way older than my dad)…but you aren’t kindly as narrow as you used to be!” I always have found that funny

Heather: I think you should send me some authentic scones and clotted cream so I can try them!

Cheryl: I think most doctors are woefully ignorant about drugs. They usually prescribe what the drug rep who brings the best donuts is selling. But to not know about ibuprofen? That’s ridiculous!

Tere: I’m going to look up s** in the exercise section and see what it gets you!

Barbara: welcome to our group. Gail lives near Atlanta, I think

Jb: do you freeze any of your produce? If so what is the secret? I have tried everything including blanching things and they are still mushy. I am a horrible canner.

Carol: wow that was quite a recommendation! I agree about the pastoral counseling. DH has a cousin who is an alcoholic and went to her minister who was the “leave it to God” kind and she nearly drank herself to death.

Katla: glad you hear you are getting that needed rain! The biggest challenge with DD#1 is her cognitive problems. They are undiagnosed due to her language barrier ( and now I can’t make her be tested) and so they are untreated. I ran in circles weekly when she was in jr and sr high school trying to get her help to no avail.

Snagtop, Christine, Adainie: welcome to our group

Suzy: macaroni and pretzel salad? Now that sounds interesting!

Sylvia: WOW look at those pictures! You look amazing in the new one! Thanks for sharing!

Cindy: oh my do I love Italian and Mexican. Both dangerous for me because of the calories and the carbs!

Eileen: oh my the basement flood of yours is worse than both of mine! Sending you hugs

Sandy: fingers crossed for weigh in day!

Beth: 5 days without a headache and then not a too-bad one sounds pretty good to me! I hope DS continues to do well

Carol: welcome to our group. I have three hibiscus that look just like your picture!

Well I’m about to head to bed. Going to try to convince myself to go to the deep water class tomorrow, but omg I do love my sleep! Take care all, Meg from Omaha where the skies are clear….for now

Hi Friends.
I’m writing this sitting in bed with ice packs on my back and thigh. Had a fall two days ago tripping on the curb as I walked back from the gym. Both thumbs swelled up, and although they have responded to steady doses of ice and arnica, still painful. Have them in soft wrist supports to keep immobilized. Today is the first day I can type, albeit sloooowly.

Two weeks of virtually no wheat, and happy to report the plateau is broken! Down a pound. Whodathunkit? So for now, will keep testing this regime. For those who are new (welcome!), I read the book ‘Wheat Belly’ and was struck with how what used to be a wholesome grain has been engineered into a ‘frankenfood’ which the author believes is the core cause of every malady known to society. I’m cynical to much of it, but given that I had managed to stay within MFP calorie ranges for months, I had to give a wheat-free regime a try.

Got to see the full 'honey' moon last night at Red Rocks Ampitheatre. I got DH tix to Brit Floyd for his 70th bday last week. It was amazing music and a surreal setting to view the giant amber moon.

Tonight DH has the hockey game on. Is there a more chaotic looking sport?

Beth: Soooo happy to hear that your son is responding well to the home cooked food. I, too recently became a ‘scratch cooker’. Heather pointed me in the direction of Skinnytaste.com, and others here were very inspirational as I learned to cook for real. Proud of you!

Vicki: I fell in love with the Black Hills, and can’t wait to get back there. Have a great trip. Glad your scale has been found.

Sylvia: I LOVE the idea of a cruise with a bunch of MPFers. Say when! The almonds joke was hilarious!!!

Eileen: Oh so sorry about your plumbing issues. Your attitude is admirable.

Carol: I never get tired hearing about home improvements. Our little place is a constant work in progress. Best of luck.

Barbie: Don’t you just love the results of powerwashing. I’d love to get our own little hose for quick blasts of the concrete deck and sidings.

Meg: Good for you for walking and doing weights when you’re feeling less than great. Gas rewards galore for you.

Nanboot: Bravo for increasing your water intake. Keep coming back to this thread for more ideas and inspiration for your healthy lifestyle.

Michelle: I hope someday you get that lavender room you’ve always wanted. For now, is it feasible to get a lavender accent wall? Or curtains? I find it is such a soothing color for a bedroom.

Cynthia: Purge the oversized clothes. Make room for the fabulous new, better fitting outfits that will no doubt circulate into your closet as soon as room is made for them. Kudos to you for walking.

Heather: I love, love, love rhubarb, so if you don’t mind sharing your recipe for the dish you make with orange and Cointreau….also, cauliflower cake? Oh my…my mouth is watering. Every time you ask for visitors, I’m so tempted to cash in my United miles.

Grandmallie: Wishing you a fun vacation. Like you, I’m a list-maker. Unlike you, I’d be at a total loss for how to feed so many people, especially teen girls.

Pattie in Cincinnati: Self-awareness is the key. A pat on the back to you for your new resolve and recommitment. With you in spirit and friendship. Hang tough.

Gail: Glad your boss is better. I’m jealous of anyone who gets a new assistant.

Kathy in NJ: I love your goal of planning vacation. I’m notorious for not taking all the paid days off I’m entitled to, and you’re right…it’s important! Thanks.

JB: Mariah’s pictures are so heart-warming. Thank you for sharing and please add my voice to the prayerful chorus wishing her a full and speedy recovery.

Gloria: Yes, you gotta believe! Stay positive. You will unlock the perfect alchemy of diet and exercise to achieve your goals.

Suzy: Hoping the doctor sheds some light on the issues that are keeping you from losing weight. Meanwhile, rejoice in the fact that your stress levels are moderate! Life is good, and even if your efforts don’t show on the scales, I’ll bet there are other ways your health has improved.

Anamika: Great to see you! Best wishes for your new job. How lucky those students are to have you as a teacher, mentor and role model.

Jane: congrats on the news of a new gbaby.

DeeDee: Yikes! Glad you made it home safely in a bad storm. Our storms have been studded with hail-- yeech. Stay safe.

Barbie: A four minute plank – WOW!

So much more I'd like to comment on but I have to stop here for now. Hands cant handle any more keyboarding tonight.:noway:

Stay well,

Rori in the Colorado Foothills

June Goals and Progress to Date
Strength training 90 minutes per week.> not this week
Try out an aquatics class and check out Masters swim. > not yet
Three times a week, consume fewer than 50 carbs. Less wheat the better.> B+
Pick up the phone and call a friend or relative 1x per week just to check in. > B-
On a daily basis, list 5 things I’m grateful for. > C+
My word for 2014 = Release

On the subject of pastors and their inadequecy of handling counseling. My brother was a Southern Baptist minister, just like my Dad, that grew very weary of it after several churches he pastored had a lot of controversy. One was when a rumor started in the church that my dear SIL was having an affair with a member. Ludicrous. Anyway, after a short rest and a lot of prayer he took a course and internship in hospital chaplaincy. He served in a hospital for awhile and now is a chaplain at a hospice. He has been there for about 15 years. You would think that a chaplain would have the right to bring up a persons relationship with God or a higher power with the patients. But they can't. They visit, chat, hold hands, be a friend to the client and family. If they ask for prayer or for spiritual guidance then my brother is allowed to proceed talking to them about that. He now loves his job and has made some wonderful friends on the rest of the hospice team and families that he would not have had the opportunity to if he had not had that crisis of faith in his pastoral ministry. I guess God knows what He is doing sometimes!!!!

Joyce, Indiana

Good morning everyone!

Michele: “challenges”: sounds like a secret project. :glasses:
Sylvia: lovely photos! You look great.
Gloria: Zumba: I’ve always wanted do do some kind of African dance. Zumba would be fun, too. I didn’t do it earlier because I had back trouble; now I have knee trouble. Maybe after my knee replacement….
Barbie: thanks, yes, luckily I like biking, but I’d also like to just be able to take a normal walk like normal people. Still having to be patient about that.
Eileen: so sorry about your flooding.
Joyce: how cool, 100 pounds group loss!
Meg hear you on the carpet. Mine’s probably something like “champagne” too. Not a great choice when animals upchuck and stuff like that. AND: I will never, ever buy a wool carpet again. It holds onto stains for dear life.
Rori: ouch!



Yesterday I asked one of the trainers at the gym about my form on one lift, and he suggested going lower on weight and doing more reps. If it had been about form I would have listened, but his reason was: why do you want to lift so much? My answer was: because I can! He said, “you don’t want to get huge arms, do you?” I just went on with what I was doing. He’s very nice and knows a lot about nutrition, but I don’t think I’ll be asking him a lot of questions about exercise.

Being better than your partner at something: I don’t see what’s wrong with it. I’d be happy and my guy would be happy for me. Why not? (Though I could understand if an illness was an issue; I’d definitely pipe down then.) I may have missed part of the discussion though. Just my opinion.

Finally got a good night’s sleep. I’ve been so tired the last couple of weeks. I also dream a lot. Wonder whether that has anything to do with the beta blocker. So many questions for Tuesday!

Hope everyone has a good day.
Cynthia :flowerforyou: