WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR SEPTEMBER 2014

Okay, about cutting calories. When I go to MFP and give in my age, height and weight it tells me that my BMR is 1090 calories. That means that if I do nothing all day and eat over 1090 calories I put on weight.

The other very frustrating thing is that the calorie counter for activities gives me a lot of calories burnt for my biking. If that would be true I would already be under 100 pounds. So something is not right, because I am very active and never eat over 1200 calories.

Like Barbie I am cutting more and more back on high calorie food. I have never been a friend of fast or junk food, but I liked bread and cakes and pasta. All of it is completely gone from my menu. I practically live from fruit, vegetables, nuts, eggs, oatmeal, brown rice and very little chicken and fish.

If I would have lived like this thirty years ago I would have dropped 10 pounds in 10 days. Now it takes me months to drop 10 pounds.

And Sylvia, if you watch shows like Extreme Weight loss you will see that the contestants only lose massive amounts of weight in eh first three months and from then on it goes much slower. The more weight you lose the more difficult it gets to drop the weight.

I am at home today doing nothing so I searched the internet and found the following which I think is important for all of us because in menopause we lose so much hormones.



Here are some factors that contribute to estrogen dominance and weight gain, along with what you can do about it:
Pesticides and herbicides. Check out the Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables so you know when to buy organic. For any of your non-organic produce, soak and wash in a vinegar and water solution.
Poultry or beef raised on hormones. As much as possible, eat free-range or grass-fed animals that are raised without hormones. When you’re eating out at restaurants, opt for the fish unless you know the beef and chicken is hormone-free.
Chemicals found in consumer products like creams, lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, hair sprays and deodorizers. The Silent Springs Institute has created a fabulous research report on which consumer products are safe and which are not. You can read the details here. Clean out your medicine cabinet and make-up drawer, and start over with a clean slate.
Industrial solvents found in products such as glues, paints, varnishes, fingernail polish and fingernail polish remover. This can be a tough one for women, but limit your exposure to places that smell like chemicals, including styling salons and nail spas, and try to use any chemicals in fresh air and open spaces (i.e., do your nails on the back porch).
Stress and lack of sleep. This factor actually decreases progesterone output. Easy ways to reduce stress include yoga, deep breathing and taking nature walks. Also, try planning out your day in advance so you have as much hectic-free time as possible to accomplish your daily tasks. For better sleep, limit all computer, phone and TV use before bed, stop snacking after dinner, and keep your bedroom dark and quiet.
Calorie overconsumption. Ingesting too many calories can cause body fat which converts steroids to estrogens. Choosing foods that are higher in proteins, healthy fats and fiber can keep your appetite satiated.
Poor liver function due to history of high alcohol intake or use of pharmaceuticals. Estrogen is metabolized primarily in the liver, so take care of it. Limit yourself to no more than one alcoholic drink per day, don’t use pharmaceutical drugs unless absolutely necessary, and introduce liver-supporting supplements into your diet, such as cucumber juice, milk thistle extract, calcium d-glucarate, folic acid and taurine.
Magnesium deficiencies from low vegetable and fruit consumption combined with high consumption of processed foods. Magnesium is necessary for metabolizing estrogen in the liver. Use a magnesium powder before you go to bed at night, and spray topical magnesium on any sore muscles after you exercise.


Vitamin D Deficiency Contributes to Weight Gain in Older Women
A new study of more than 4,600 women age 65 and older shows that having low vitamin D levels can contribute to mild weight gain.1 Previous research has already showed that obese individuals tend to have low vitamin D levels. Women who had insufficient levels of vitamin D gained about two pounds more compared to those with adequate blood levels of vitamin D during the 4.5-year long study. Those with insufficient levels also weighed more at the outset of the study.



I knew all this already, on the other hand I am getting old and forgetful, so it is good to remind myself of these things from time to time.


I also have to say that I think it is counterproductive to constantly exchange recipes on this site. it would be more helpful to exchange new ways how to move and be active. There are plenty of sites which gives you low calorie recipes if you need them, when you are trying to lose weight you should try to eat as simple as possible and not spend so much time in the kitchen. I know from myself that I tend to eat more while I am cooking.


Anne

Hello, I'm just trying to get started. Posting to get this into my topics (at least I hope that's what will happen). Looking to lose 100 lbs or so....seems like such a lot but, I know if I can do a little at a time it will add up. I always go gung ho and then feel so restricted I give up so I'm just trying to make small changes in hopes they will become more normal. First thing is to get my before work 30 minutes in on my bike. It seems like not much to do and maybe that's why I quite after a short time. I decided to just stick with that goal for a week or two and then add something else .. maybe some upper strength work with bands. I apparently loathe tracking...I'm working on that.....

I spent all day helping my daughter move. The movers just didn't bother to show up!!!!! She called to check with them and the guy said he would call back. Not only did he not call back, he started declining all of her calls. Very honest reviews will be posted to their website and anywhere else we can figure out to put them! However, she is in her condo tonight with both cats. We'll get the rest of the small stuff moved this week.

Anyway, I'm flat out exhausted and am going to bed. Catch y'all tomorrow.

Carol in NC

Hi everyone!

I had a lazy day today. I didn't work out. I made brunch for me and Hubby, took a nap then we went to church and out to dinner. I will be back at it tomorrow.

Michele, no trick to the lentil quinoa soup. I just added 1/2 cup of quinoa to the Barefoot Contessa's recipe and omitted the sausage. Rather than try to type it here, you can find it on Food Network under her recipes. It is one of my favorite soup recipes.

Have a great night all,

Cindy in OK

Journey - welcome!

Vicki - have fun at the wedding! I hope it warms up for you

barbie - glad you listened to your instincts and went to that restaurant

Sylvia - woohoo on the L fitting you. So happy for you

There's a pic of Jessica's cat cake if you click on my avatar. If you click on that pic (even tho the top is cut off), when you scroll up to see it, you'll see the entire picture. Heather (or really anyone else) - have a question for you since you make a lot of cakes with fondant. We made the cat and then made the bed, but had trouble getting the cat on top of the bed. We were afraid that it would break in two. How do you get one layer on top of the other? Any tricks?

Sylvia - I used to be an aide to a kid with CP. I would go to all his classes with him. I almost died at the things that they were served in the cafeteria! when I was working in the elementary schools, it was the same thing. I still say that food should be charged based on the calorie content of it. You can bet that a BK whopper would be much higher priced than a piece of fruit.

Jane - give Violet a high-five for me!

gmajacque - welcome. You CAN do it!

Sue in SD - let me know how Little Shop of Horrors is. Our community theater is doing it late next year and we're interested in seeing it. As far as I'm concerned, fall can take its sweet time coming because that means less time for my pool....lol

Carol - that's so nice of you to help your daughter like that. Glad she's in her condo.

Went to church tonight and lectored and then was a server. Came home and Vince made hamburgers/cheeseburgers for him, Jess and Kris while I had a salmon burger. I honestly thought mine was better!

Michele in NC

Journey: Welcome. This is a friendly and helpful group with lots of different situations and great perspective. You’ll need to count calories and move more if you want to lose weight. Take things one step at a time and do what you can do. You won’t have to sign up for a marathon or starve, but you can transform yourself if you are patient and persistent.:flowerforyou:

Sylvia: I am sure there is validity to school kids being unwilling to eat healthier foods, but I think that serving highly fatty and salted foods because “that is what they’re used to” is a cop out. Our school cafeteria was buying fast food and selling it to the kids the last few years I worked there.:grumble: I was not pleased with the health aspect, but it wasn’t my decision.:noway:

Barbie: I like your points about filling your day with nutritionally dense food and looking for opportunities to be active.:flowerforyou:

NC Carol: Congratulations to your and your daughter for getting so much of the move done. I’ve only used a professional mover to move my mom’s piano and our refrigerator. They scratched the piano. We have done all of our moves on our own up until now. Our health isn’t what it used to be, and I’m not sure we could move from here without help. Of course, we don’t want to move from here, so, maybe it won’t come up for years and years. :bigsmile: :glasses:

Michele: I’d rather have a salmon burger any day than hamburgers/cheeseburgers. One of these your family will notice that your food is tastier than theirs and you’ll have to make more of what you eat so they can have it, too.:flowerforyou:



I have a number of favorite authors, and consider myself a “read-a-holic.” One of my favorite authors has a new book out and I can’t find it locally, so I thought I’d get a Kindle version. The publisher refuses to let people share the Kindle version, so I returned it to Amazon. I guess I’ll need to get a print copy. I think it should be my right to loan out a book I’ve paid for. I’m not sure where I’ll find the print book, because our little town doesn’t have a bookstore anymore. I guess I’ll have to make a bookstore stop the next time we go to Portland.

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



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!

Journey: Welcome. This is a friendly and helpful group with lots of different situations and great perspective. You’ll need to count calories and move more if you want to lose weight. Take things one step at a time and do what you can do. You won’t have to sign up for a marathon or starve, but you can transform yourself if you are patient and persistent.

Sylvia: I am sure there is validity to school kids being unwilling to eat healthier foods, but I think that serving highly fatty and salted foods because “that is what they’re used to” is a cop out. Our school cafeteria was buying fast food and selling it to the kids the last few years I worked there. I was not pleased with the health aspect, but it wasn’t my decision.

Barbie: I like your points about filling your day with nutritionally dense food and looking for opportunities to be active.

NC Carol: Congratulations to your and your daughter for getting so much of the move done. I’ve only used a professional mover to move my mom’s piano and our refrigerator. They scratched the piano. We have done all of our moves on our own up until now. Our health isn’t what it used to be, and I’m not sure we could move from here without help. Of course, we don’t want to move from here, so, maybe it won’t come up for years and years.

Michele: I’d rather have a salmon burger any day than hamburgers/cheeseburgers. One of these your family will notice that your food is tastier than theirs and you’ll have to make more of what you eat so they can have it, too.



I have a number of favorite authors, and consider myself a “read-a-holic.” One of my favorite authors has a new book out and I can’t find it locally, so I thought I’d get a Kindle version. The publisher refuses to let people share the Kindle version, so I returned it to Amazon. I guess I’ll need to get a print copy. I think it should be my right to loan out a book I’ve paid for. I’m not sure where I’ll find the print book, because our little town doesn’t have a bookstore anymore. I guess I’ll have to make a bookstore stop the next time we go to Portland.

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



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!

Hello, all!

Made the trip to Staunton, Va. to pick up the never-got-delivered china which is now in my livingroom and I've started putting my mom's special pieces in it. It's one of those with curved glass sides and door. It still has the top of the back piece intact and the key which still works! Could not rent a vehicle (minivan, SUV) here since all were spoken for as replacements for those who got their cars flooded last week, so I had the man measure it (63") and we managed to (just!!!) fit it in the Cruiser with the back seats taken out and our seats pulled up as far as they would go---felt like I was hugging the steering wheel all the drive home. Did more shopping (small stuff; no room in the car!!) and saw two plays during our days there at the American Shakespeare Center

---

Hamlet and Edward II; the second is not Shakespeare, that one is by Marlowe. Arrived home about 2p and had to be at a BBQ/mtg. for the running club by 4p. Had an unintended nap this evening; sleep was awful last night, think I was worried about the trip home. DH was pretty much against us (DD and myself) bringing it in the car, but, after 2 yrears of promises of delivery, I wanted it here!! The shop owner really is a sweetheart, just not dependable when it comes to long distance delivery. He gifted DD with ruby and pearl drop earings to make up for the non-delivery and celebrate her college graduation (he's an ex-teacher). SO.........I'm wide awake at 1am. I have a Golden Corral breakfast in the am with the people from the gym.......may just skip that, LOL.

Also stopped in at Trinity Episcopal Church (1746) in Staunton.........always have to go sit in there for a bit and tour the Tiffany windows, well-kept, gorgeous old church, marvelous stained glass windows. Had it all to myself which was wonderful!!!

Caught up on reading, I think. Saw the 90yr. old dance.........amazing, just amazing!

Anne.........YAY for Tom Ford; a man with some sense.

Patty.............Congrats on your new job!

Linda...........Hope you win the $30.00 and stay on that bus!

Sylvia..........So sorry to hear about your friend; enjoy the time you have left with him. Loved the god joke!

Mimi...........I, too, adore estate sales. I've been known to buy stuff (like an old sewing box) just to keep it from being thrown out.

Jenn..........Big, big hugs to you.........I'm also one who wants answers NOW. Hoping everything is fine.

Heather ..........Welcome home from Cornwall; sounded like you thoroughly enjoyed yourself.

One of our clubs' women--Barb Mathewson--took first place in the 65 to 69 age group last weekend at the Mont -Tremblant Ironman 70.3 World Championships..............YAY!!!!!

Off for some Netflix, then (hopefully) sleep,
G'nite all
yanniejannie
mid-Atlantic, where we had rain most of the day

morning ladies~
had a lovely dinner out with our friends~ they looked at me cross eyed when I ordered warm lemon water....:laugh: I was freezing and didnt want tea... plus this was free..
I had a waldorf salad.. different than the usual doused with mayo, this was field greens, with thinly sliced apple,walnuts,dried cranberries,and crumbled gorgonzola cheese, with dressing on the side.. ate almost the whole thing.. had a cup of tomato bisque before the salad.. all was delish.. we brought a pie to our friends house and I ended up having a slice of that with a cup of tea, which put me over in calories .. oh well...
just having a cup of tea now and then off to grocery shop... my first stop is whole foods for stuff for me, then on to shoprite.. then home to cook..

Good morning! I forgot to tell you about my senior moment at the gym yesterday. I put my clothes, shoes, cell phone, purse and ipad into locker 116. When I finished swimming, and showering, I spotted my blue lock and saw that the door was ajar. I yanked open the door to find it completely empty. I thought I had been robbed. Then I realized that it was the wrong locker altogether. Somehow I had put my lock on locker 114 by mistake! My stuff was safely closed up - but unlocked - in the locker next door. Luckily it was a really slow day at the Y. Most days the locker room would be full of teenage dancing girls looking for lockers.

It's a beautiful morning here at the cabin. A little cool, but that's nice. We just finished breakfast and I am going to go walking while the dishes are in the dishwasher.

Last night I made a chicken enchilada pie that turned out very nice. I plugged the recipe into MFP and it said that 1/4 of the pie was about 430 calories, so I ate the whole fourth. We have half of it left, which will be good for lunches. The original recipe called for flour tortillas, and I used corn instead, which cut the calories and salt WAY down. Plus using chicken breast instead of beef helped. It called for black olives, which we hate, so I used black beans instead. Yummy and pretty. I made a fresh batch of homemade salsa and got it just a little too hot. Our eyes were watering and our lips were burning, but it was still good. It seems the older I get the more I like spicy food. Hubby has always liked spicy stuff. We considered going down to the marina to get a piece of pie, but decided against it.

I wish MFP had bigger quantities listed, so when you enter a recipe you could say 1 cup of salsa, or one can of beans, instead of having to calculate how many tablespoons in a cup or how many grams of beans are in a can.

Anne, I saw that report too, and noticed the researcher said that taking vitamins didn't make any difference. All these years taking vitamins, wasted? Oh well. At least it keeps my vitamin D level up. I've had trouble with that before.

Heather, I'm so glad you had such a good time on your trip. I enjoyed reading about it. Glad you got home safely too.

Michele, your cat cake is a work of art! How could you bear to cut it?

I found a new app for the ipad that is interesting. It's called buypartisan, and you scan a bar code on some product and the app tells you about the political leanings of the company. Which party they donate the most money to, etc. For example, Quilted a Northern bath tissue is owned by the Koch Brothers. I thought it was interesting. Just scanning items I already have shows me that I have a very republican kitchen. Hmmm. Gotta do something about that. The app is just for iPhone and ipad right now, but they are supposedly working on an android version.

And (speaking of partisan companies) another interesting app is the Walmart Savings Catcher. You scan the QR code at the bottom of your receipt and it checks competing stores prices. If any are lower, you get the difference back on a gift card. I scanned my first receipt and it notified me yesterday that I have 49 cents coming back. You can save it up in an account till you have enough to fool with. It would probably work better in bigger towns where there is more competition. Ours just compared prices at the Dillons store, because that's all we have locally. No Target, or Kmart, or anything.

Well, I'm off to go walking. Have a great Sunday.

Sylvia