WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR SEPTEMBER 2014

Checking in before bedtime...Thanks for all of the sympathetic comments on the open house. Tina, most of the pictures are pretty good. I hate the wide angle lens they all use--my house looks as long as a train in them!

Brenda- I had my gallbladder out in 1977--about two weeks after I graduated from high school. At 17, I was the youngest in the state to have the surgery. The pain is horrendous! The only thing worse is a ruptured disc. As something you have in advantage over me (since I had youth in my favor), there was no such thing as laproscopic surgery back then. I have have a six inch 'earthworm' on my stomach, not to mention the scar from the drainage tube! I hope things go well for you. Your hubby should be able to be by your side very soon after his procedure.

There were others I wanted to reply to but my eyes are closing...

Carol in rainy NC

Brenda, you take care of yourself girl. Pancreatitis used to be a very serious affair. I don't know if they still treat it as such or not. But when I was still working we put the drainage tube down the nose int o the stomach to keep the stomach empty, long term IV therapy. And then to need your gall bladder out also. And on top of that your hubbie having his procedure done. Hope everything turns around soon.

Sylvia, good grief, how long does a person has to have symptons like yours before a doctor takes you seriously. I hope you get answers real soon. Can you call the cardiologist office and be put on a cancellation list?

Well my dear cat's coat has been fine for months and I haven't had to give her the nightly dose of medicine. But i noticed today that she is balding again. I jsut hate to have to give her that. Plus it cost $120 per bottle and the bottle lasts about 6 weeks.

I don't know if any of you have seen the news about the woman that was kidnapped and held in a cage or not but she was from my city. She was one of 4 women that went missing at the same time. They have now found 2 of the womens bodies, this lady escaped and one is still missing.

Well we got my husbands bill for his orthotic. Insurance paid for the doctor and initial visit with the man who made it but not for the orthotic. So we will have to pay over $400. I guess if you pay $0/month for an insurance you need to expect that ou might not get the best of coverage. His insurance does not cover the Silver Sneakers program but does have a $34 rider that will cover it and the Y charges $35 for a non member visit so it is pretty much equal. But he doesn't want to join. He said all he would do is to play basketball if there was a game going on , not part of an organized team. We do have a basketball team of over men over 65. they have played all over and even gone to national finals. The oldest man is in his 90's.

Tried a new menu item at Hacienda tonight since I am so tired of the shredded beef burrito which is the only thing I want there that is low enough in calories and sodium I was looking at the menu on line and saw a chicken/mushroom. When I looked at the menu it said it was marinated in garlic butter and chili spices. So I asked for a plain chicken breast. She said they didn't have any, that as soon as they get these in they marinate them for 3 days. So I went ahead and ordered it. It came with mushrooms that wwere covered with a think layer of cheese and it is 1/2 pound! It also had this bread stick with some spices that I had never heard of much less pronounce. So I asked for a carry out box, cut the breast in half and wrapped it up in a couple of napkins to get as much of the butter sauce off. Then I rubbed the ****ens out of it to get as much of the spices off. The bread just got put in the box. I did try a teeny bite of the bread and immediately drank a full glass of water. Even the waitress said it is so spicy that very few people can eat it. So charlie has a meal if he wants it. It was low in calorie and sodium though.

Joyce, Indiana

The surprise party I helped plan for my brother couldn’t have gone better. I almost freaked out when I got to his house yesterday morning and saw that nothing had been done. Yikes. :noway: But family members descended and in 1-1/2 hours, the place looked amazing – ready for a fiesta for 60 or so people.

I got wonderful stripy tablecloths ($1 each) at the Dollar Store. My mom made about 2 dozen bright and cheerful bouquets (artificial but real-looking sunflowers, lupine, something red, nice weedy looking stuff (you can tell I’m not a gardener)) in mason jars, tied with twine.

We put up 6 umbrellas, the guys draped crepe paper everywhere and twined it around the deck railing, and my dad and one of the guys blew up balloons. I bought a big, bright fish piñata (in honor of my brother’s spear-fishing hobby) in Sacramento and filled it with candy.

Aside: My brother still does some spear fishing, even now. It involves free diving (no scuba) and going way, way down in murky water. I think he can actually go 60’ down. He can hold his breath for 5 minutes. He was the US champ a couple of times in the last few years. (Can you tell I think he’s pretty amazing?) He stole my share of athleticism :explode: , even though he was born after me! He never came in first in International competition though. There are some amazing divers in many other countries, particularly in the islands.

The “roasts” could not have been done more nicely. We heard lots of stories (some I’d never heard before) and some nice tributes. We count on my brother for his sense of humor and love of fun. He’s basically a big (6’7”) overgrown kid.

The best story was told by my niece. I won’t go into the details (probably best not!:laugh: ) but it had to do with setting off a very loud firecracker at the beach:explode: , sending everyone who was walking there running for cover. That included my brother who didn’t want to be identified as the culprit when the police arrived (which they did)!:laugh:

I don’t think anyone was more surprised by how loud the firecracker was than my brother himself. I enjoyed the sheepish look on his face, even 20 years after the event.

I arranged for the food. It worked out perfectly. The best part for me was that, although I tried everything, including the margaritas :drinker: , my eating was truly moderate. That is amazing to me. I am still smiling.

Gloria, congrats on the updated ticker! :flowerforyou: I’m sorry to hear about your kitty. Losing a pet is always hard.

MA in UK, the Welsh beach on your ticker is beautiful. The sky is so blue. It makes me want to be there.

Yanniejannie, the “nice” thing about black widows is that they don’t move fast. Mice on the other hand...

Meg, I wasn’t all that nice the first 10 times.

Kim, I missed the story (there MUST be a story!) GodMomKim…??? Oh, wait a minute. I think I get it. From everything I’ve heard, you are a great God Mother. Did I get it????

Everyone new…welcome! This is a great place for friendship and support. We’re all so different from each other. I’m always learning something new.

What? Barbie…32,000 steps. Aaargh. You are Wonder Woman.

About reading – I have devoured so many books since I first learned to read. I read much less now. When I get into the reading cycle, I sit too much. Then I eat too much. And so it goes. I haven’t given it up completely but I’m not staying up all night reading any more either.

When I weigh the joy of reading vs the joy of moving, moving wins. After reading for a few hours, I feel sluggish and a little down. I’d rather just keep reading and not do anything else. After exercising, I feel energized and upbeat. It took a long time for me to learn the whole cause and effect thing. In fact, I’m still learning. Doing better though.

Katia, congrats on the new grandbaby. :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: Being a grandmother has been one of the greatest joys of my life.

Sylvia, way to go on the pound lost. :flowerforyou: What a great feeling! Your joke about estate planning was terrific. Thank you for the chuckle. …I just read a later post and saw that you had a bad dizzy spell. I’m so glad you went in to be checked. I hope everything gets sorted out soon.

Umm. Wait a minute. I just read your post about your BP meds maybe being too effective. Is your BP consistently low? (If you don’t have a home monitor already, I recommend them highly. They are easy to use and not expensive.)

I took BP meds a few years ago. When my BP started getting low, I called the doc and lowered the meds immediately. If this is a continuing thing for you, I’ll be darned if I’d wait until the 24th to make an adjustment. No way.:noway: :noway: :noway:

Brenda, I hope you’re done and recovering soon. No fun. {{hugs}}

Michele, congrats on the NSV (throwing the other half of the snickerdoodle away). Isn’t that a good feeling?!:flowerforyou:

Mimi4boys, I had to pipe up when I saw that you were another Mimi. You absolutely can do it. I’ve lost more than 100 lbs from my highest point in 2001. Now, with MFP, I’m working on losing the last bit to get to where I want to be.

I’ve yo-yo’d even with MFP but mostly because I drifted away for a while. Eating right, exercising, and using MFP are the best ways I know to lose weight and keep it off.

I tried but I still haven’t caught up on the old posts! It may never happen!!

Mimi

Hello Everyone,

My name is Sue from sunny Melbourne, Australia and I would love to join your board... I find it hard at 56 (nearly 57) to lose the weight... I thought I'd gone through the dreaded menopause quite well with no problems except the weight gain ... I used to have it all over but mainly bum and legs but now it's on the waist and above the waist up to the girls now ... finding it so hard to stay motivated as it comes off so slowly.. I'm walking 45mins a day in my lunchbreak and eating carefully and keeping my diary up... I used to be a lovely size 6/8 before I had my kids... I lost it and more after my first born and then when my daughter was born 6 years later I never could lose weight and have steadily put it on over the years... the separation with my husband didn't help but then I found new friends, went dancing every Sat night and slowly slowly got a few pounds off so I was curvy but still a long way from slim... Now my son is getting married in November I want to look like a gorgeous Mother of the Groom not the fat depressed woman in the corner... I guess I need all the help and motivation I can get...

I wish I loved excercise

Sue, Melbourne, Australia

Ginnyneko, Karenmeyn, Kimberly, lkellandmay– welcome!

Margaret – do you know what variety your speckled squash is?

Carol – sounds like the grand nieces are a work out!

Michele and Alison – greek cream cheese? I have not seen that one, is it a cream cheese/ greek yogurt blend?

Alison –sounds like a work around for the DSIL’s DM would be good, and the living room can get busy.

Gloria – sorry to hear your older cat is not doing well

Katla – fresh wild caught salmon!!! I am on my way up there for dinner --- yum!

Sylvia – LOL --- really I sat here laughing Later post: Good thinking on your sons part… get them to see just what is going on.

Brenda – sending good thoughts, hope surgery is quick and easy!

Heather – sorry to hear you fell; hope the bruise area is not to painful… as for slobbery dogs, I have one… he loves to “kiss” everyone, and if you have sandals on he will lay on you feet and lick for as long as you will let him.

Kitty – stay safe, flooding can be dangerous

Anne from Mass, mimi4boys – welcome



this is a partial response...more later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


September goals:
Stretch 5 minutes 8 times done 2 times
Walk 100 miles -16.34 = 83.66 to go
Do 4 errands walking (from home or a 15 minute walk from the place the car is parked)
Do Heather’s abc balance 2 time a week – 1 done


Kim from N. California

Good morning everyone, still trying to get some kind of balance here. Dog is doing better but has a long way to go. Windows are being replaced this week. No job news. Lots of pain because I have had to walk with the dog instead of biking.
Heather: you might want to try the 13th-cent. pub at Zennor. So lovely there.

Good luck to everyone with health issues.

Cynthia :flowerforyou:

Good morning!:flowerforyou:
The cleaner is here and we are just hanging out waiting to go off to lunch with our friends.:happy:

Cynthia - I love that pub too. Zennor is one of my favourite places in the world. Patrick Heron lived there (a painter) in Eagles Nest and DH Lawrence lived there in WW1. The natives thought he was a German spy because his wife Freida was German and they thought the lights from their windows were signals to the ships. Helen Dunmore wrote a wonderful book called Zennor in Darkness about the Lawrences which I think you would like.
I love the granite there, it has a real presence and some of the fields still have the old Bronze Age field pattern. Ancient and evocative place.
We have visited Cornwall many times over the years because of our friends down here and one of the things I like about coming here is we don't feel compelled to rush around doing the "sights". We can just take it easy and do the things we like. Mainly that is the more gentle cliff top walks and National Trust houses and Gardens. I don't like being a tourist. You can get so worn out you need a holiday to recover! ! ! ! We feel like almost locals here!

Sue in Melbourne - I used to hate exercise too.:brokenheart: I recommend, if you have the space and the money, getting some equipment to help you. I have a rower, an elliptical, and a recumbent bike. Buy the very best you can afford. I am not a good walker with pronation, dodgy ankles and a rubbish knee, not to say arthritic hips, but I spend 1 hr 10 minutes on the machines every day. I started off just doing a little bit and built up slowly. Even one machine would help. I listen to the radio or you can watch tv on your wifi. For me it has been a life saver.:bigsmile: I also enjoy :noway: strength training with weights and yoga. Nobody could have hated exercise more than me.

Kayak kutie - so glad your friend is improving. Sounds horrible! We are all so close to something going seriously wrong. My friend broke her hip this spring, just slipping over. My fall yesterday reminded me to be grateful for my health. Just an achy bruise this morning and slightly sore wrists. I still have flashbacks to my head jerking forward and just missing that rock by a centimetre.

Well must get on. Want to put a coat of clear nail varnish on.:bigsmile:

Heather, looking forward to a lovely cliff side walk to Bedruthan Steps. (Google it)
Cornwall UK

September 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 three glasses of water daily, preferably more!

I think these are admirable goals. And I will use them for September.

Do any of you have blogs here which we can follow.

It's Tuesday!

Joyce: The SO also feels he is obligated to drive me on the highway, in the evenings, etc. so, I just let him. A week or so ago, he asked me why he always had to drive. I told him it was because he is “The Man”. :laugh:

SoftBlondeChi: Your vegetarian peppers sound delicious. I think I might try them. I can imagine they would be a really great side dish too.

Brenda in MD: Sending prayers for rapid recovery for you and your DH.:flowerforyou:

Heather: What are mushy peas?

Sylvia: Wow! I can’t believe your cardiologist! :mad: I love cooked kale as well as raw kale. I haven’t tried the chips though.

Kitty: Saw the flooding on the news last night. Hope you will stay dry.

MiMi4boys: Welcome!:flowerforyou: I used my Wii as a primary form of exercise for a long time before we joined a gym. I was pretty good at golf and bowling! A couple of years ago I bought the Wii Fit and I use it now on a daily basis mostly to monitor how I am doing. It’s a reality check for me sometimes. Make sure you consider what you want to do in the gym before joining one. We gave it a lot of thought. For me and the SO the primary consideration was the availability of a pool, jacuzzi, and sauna and the distance from our home. We really lucked up find all of this close to us and at a reasonable cost. If you are an AARP member most gyms have a discount price or will allow you a monthly membership.

Sue: Good for you! Finding a new life after a separation or divorce is really hard. I know no one will think you are the fat depressed woman sin the corner because you are working hard at it. One of my favorite memories is a chance encounter with my ex and son at a restaurant. I had on a spunky outfit and 4 inch heels. I asked my son later how I looked to him and he said “You’re a tough piece of leather but well put together!” :laugh: He also told me his father was in shock and couldn’t stop talking about how good I looked.

Tere in Rainy RVA

Looking to join and trying to stay in the habit of coming here daily! Whoo Hoo ... 2 day streak so far ... LOL

Anyway, gotta get back to work, but glad I found this group. Not exactly sure how to follow threads here yet, though.

Elizabeth

Happy Tuesday!

We ended up with near 6in. of rain; west of us had 10+ and the place I took DD for her recerts yesterday was flooded horribly; so glad we got out of there when we did. The sun just started peeking through a tiny bit and it's very breezy here but should be clear for a couple days according to the weather guy at noon. Thankfully, no deaths here.

My little tomatoes are having a bit of a surge

---

got 6 today!

Toying with the idea of running off to Staunton with DD to the Shakespeare Playhouse for a few days of plays and because I need to pick up a china cabinet I paid for there 2 years ago that has not been delivered yet.........I am so sick of this mans promises to deliver it and I want my china. I'll have to rent a minivan........add play tickets and food and hotel.........ouch. But I can't imagine going all the way there w/o seeing some plays; they are truly excellent............and it's a very nice little town. Would have to be back for a party Sat.

Anne..........Glad you are in a safe place; sounds like both you and Kitty made it through your flooding OK. I agree with you about the problem of uncontrolled reproduction......

Heather.............Yay for no major or lasting damage from your fall; nearly hitting your head is very upsetting. The photo of the cliff top is gorgeous. I need to look again at my family history to see just where in England they lived; seems to me it was on or near the coast close to Wales.

drkatiebug...........LOL; may well take you up on that offer.

Mimi..........Glad your party for your brother was a success.

Patty...............You need to bottle that trick to losing 8lbs. on vacation..............major congratulations!

Welcome newbies; Elizabeth---love your doggy!

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year." Ralph Waldo Emerson


Hi to everyone I missed!
yanniejannie
mid-Atlantic

Patty, congrats on 8 pound weight loss while on vacation!!!!! That is big. We are going to Panama City Beach in less than 5 weeks and I doubt we will be eating any of that healthy stuff you found. I will try the best I can.

Tere, 2 years to wait on a delivery???? Unheard of. You should go and pick ti up yourself and then charge HIM for the type of car you will have to rent to get it.

Well, need to go through this mess of mail sitting beside me and find bills. My procrastination is getting the worst of me

See my cardiologist tomorrow to get results of heart ultrasound and 1 month heart monitor. The bill was bad enough. It would be to bad if it didn't show at least something. I sure wish I had it on this past Sunday during church. Was sure glad to sit down so I didn't pass out. I think she will tell me I have to get a heavier compression stocking, that means a fitting and prescription. But if it helps.....

Joyce, Indiana

Hi friends. We just had a tremendous storm and got nearly 3” of rain in some 20-30 minutes! I was driving home and the visibility was nearly zero. Plus the sky was a color I have never seen before in my life! It was weird.

I have been really tired yesterday and went to bed early so that’s why I wasn’t here. Quiet day at work; getting closer to having my October class ready.

Kim what a great picture! I like your new name!

Sylvia: great joke….for some reason, hospitals have these rules for nurses! No wonder everyone is sick. Hooray for the weight loss! Oh my gosh about the dizziness and low blood pressure. I’m so glad your son took you to the dr instead of home! Sorry to say this but that cardiologist is an A** for what he said about your weight loss! We are all proud of you even if he/she is not.

Yanniejannie: the brownies were great!

Patceoh: I’m with you on the lazy Sundays!

Katla: I’m hoping my co-worker listens to me about moving! I can’t deal with another coworker leaving! I should tie her to her
office chair! :O

Brenda: oh my goodness! What a mess! I hope you are feeling better soon and that hubby’s colonoscopy went well.

Kitty: I saw your flooding on the news. Praying that all is cleaned up and back to normal soon

Ok sorry ladies I have been kicked off the internet three times in a row now so I'm going to leave it at this. Sorry to all I missed and welcome newbies! Take care, Meg from Omaha where there is standing water in my yard

Thank you for the warm welcome everyone and Tere you made me laugh with your comments ... doesn't it feel good to impress the "ex" I also saw mine at my daughter's birthday get together... he looked so miserable as I had my new partner on my arm and he has just separated from yet another of his conquests... I'm hoping to knock him out in November with my "new look" I have the dress .. it's a bit tight and it needs shortening a bit but hopefully it will need taking in too by then (see still staying positive). I am thankful in a way for what has happened as it's like a kick up the bum to get my life back on track... my favorite saying is

"A moment on the lips... a lifetime on the hips..."

Well I'd better get back to work... Heather, I remember mushy peas well coming from the Midlands we used to have pie and mushy peas all the time.. however back then I didn't worry about my weight

Anyway off to drink more water and think about what to have for lunch... another plus is I've cut down on my coffee addiction and suffering badly from side effects but heck it's only another thing to worry about, the end results are what's driving me forward...

have a great day everyone

Sue in Sunny Melbourne after a huge hailstorm yesterday evening

Hi ladies, my husband's colonoscopy went good. He's making out well,
Since I'm in the hospital friends have been taking him food and he's loving
it. I'm doing better, the plan is to go home tomorrow if I can handle solid food.
Today was broth. I better lose wght good this week. Guess what? They wanted me
To walk in the hall, it's a requirement so you don't get blood clots. Once I started walking I
ended up walking 65 min. They even stopped me at the nurses station to give
me a new IV bag. I over did it a little but it felt good to get up and out. Oh yeah I had to
walk with my trusty IV pole.
Brenda from Md