WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR FEBRUARY

Hello ladies,

Been down to the gym today, getting on quite well with the Pilates, soon to start the main course exercises. I will be perfecting the earlier ones until I can do them by memory, thus I can put them with my regular workouts. Trying very hard to snow here, on and off, I sure wish for another 20cm or more, I am fearing we will not have enough to properly dampen the farm fields for spring crops. I am really wishing for the globes foods to level down again.


CHICKLET, hey gal, we are behind and beside you! You are not alone in the quest you have taken on. Draw strength on the thought of how you are making a difference in someone's life. Where would she be without you? The good Lord will help you and give you the daily strength, just have faith in yourself. Take a time out, go for a walk, sit in a quiet room, play with a pet, phone up someone you have lost contact with in a while. Distraction is not avoidence, it's peace of mind and blood pressure release. We are good distractors too, have you seen the pictures??? Keep in contact, we want to know how you are fairing out. <<<<HUGS>>>>

LDSPILL , welcome, yes this group of strong and good willed. We are here to help and see you through this journey. I have had several ups and downs and these ladies have given me some encouragement.

HOPEFUL53, hello, getting through a maze of events that are particularly negative can be a jungle run. I have had a rough year past and this one is not nice either. However this last bit of trouble for me has renewed my energy to fix me up. So too, I am at ground zero and working to the top level. Hang in there, be true to yourself and all will work out.

Okay gals, I've got work to do, best get at it.
Love from my house to yours...

Marilyn

Good Morning Ladies!

Got on the treadmill this morning and was watching TV as I walked and forgot to stop. That's just ridiculous! Nobody forgets to stop doing something they don't like. Oh, maybe this is an "Aha" moment, maybe I secretly do like it but my brain hasn't engaged yet. Not the first time I've heard that phrase. Sometimes we have to stop and rethink what we think we know. Is that too tongue twisty? Blame it on the Psycology degree (that I don't use), I'm always trying to figure myself out. This could take some time.

Thanks for the warm welcome, certainly is nice to sit down and talk to a group who is going through all the same kinda stuff I am. Sometimes it feels like you're the only one in the world with this problem (whatever it is) but I guarantee you're not. My heart goes out to all the ladies who are not only struggling with their own health and fitness issue but having to deal with others as well.

Chiclet...You're taking steps to help your Mom, don't ever feel like you're being mean. She can not make the decisions on her own....she needs you. My Mom and I spar (that's what I like to call it) quite a bit. She has just recently finished her 4th treatment session (over five years) for cancer. Her doctors tell her what to do and of course, she thinks she knows better. So she and I go round and round about how she does what she wants and then complains about how she's not getting any better. She got herslef one of those electric chairs and for the most part stopped walking, even after the doctor said, "you need to walk more". So we do what we can to make whatever time there is better and more comfortable. I told her "I can't fix stupid", she responded with "If I wasn't in this chair"...I said "yep, I know, that's why I felt safe saying it...I can out run your chair". Then she busted up laughing. You can only do so much.

Suezzzque...I love Joyce Meyer, I'm going to use that Chocolate Chip Cookie line with some of my friends.

Anniebnannie...I'll be 57 in June, don't sell yourself short with that..."younger folks" line. I believe...You don't stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing. Have fun, kick up your heels, do something goofy.

Marlouise...Thank you for the kind words of welcome, I look forward to possible carpal-tunnel...I'll be here so much.

Hopeful...Just be true to your name and everything will level out. I studied Metaphysics for a while (I'm an information glutten) and the minister once said.."Things just don't happen, they happen just". There is a reason for everything. You will either get stronger, smarter, more patient or healthier...something from what you're going through now. I know from reading the posts here that I can speak for these ladies too when I say, We're here.

The snow is gone, the temperature is up (69) and the lake is looking beautiful on this glorious sunday.

I wish you all Patience and Understanding.

Thanks for the inspiration, ladies. I just burned over 500 calories in under 42 minutes on the treadmill. I feel really good. Thanks for the encouragement. (I did have a piece of leftover stuffed pizza for lunch - which is a food that i love. Confession is good for the soul, right?)

I totally agree with you, ram58miller. That's always been my downfall. Do well - treat myself - feel guilty - kick myself in the butt - get back up and do well again - just to repeat the cycle over and over. It's time to stop the madness.

I am new to MFP. My daughter found the site two weeks ago and just loves it, so she got me interested and now I'm hooked! This evening is the first I've investigated the message board and I'm thrilled I found this thread. I had a yoyo weight history that was totally out of my control (I would fluxuate as much as 70 pounds) until 4 years ago when I was diagnosed with autoimmune disorders. Once we medically got that under control, my weight is more stable despite the maintenance prednisone I take. MFP is exactly what I need to monitor my nutrition and exercise since both have to be limited and I want to be sure I have enough. I would like to lose 11 more pounds, and increase my exercise slowly. I started tracking my eating several days ago....what fun and I love entering recipes.....tomorrow I'll start tracking exercise. I look forward to the support that I see you all give each other. I have a question.....anyone out there dealing with gastroparesis (mine is caused by scleroderma)? I am always looking for yummy soft foods and ways to handle the gastroparesis. About me personally....I am a retired 1st/2nd grade teacher who is a quilter, photographer and does digital scrapbooking. Have two kids, 4 grandkids and live in south central PA. Definitely looking forward to spring and making friends on this site. Life is good!

Good Evening All,

Thanks for all the support on this thread. I really find myself more motivated when I come and visit for a while.
I just returned from a week of work and I was very concerned about keeping on track away from home. I was working as a part of a time and my boss was chairing a conference so it was very busy. It was great to get to log in and keep track of my food so that I didn't lose sight of my goals. I did workout on the first day we were there but unfortunately the next four days were non-stop. I am really looking forward to getting into my schedule again at home. I find that I can really get myself psyched up to do well through a trip like this but when I come back, I can get sloppy or lose it...so I think by coming here and really holding myself accountable, I hope to avoid losing ground.

Lynn-- tornadoes.....My room mate at this conference was checking in on her family because they were dealing with that. Being from the Northeast, that is not something we deal with very often! The hotel did provide those breakfast options as a part of their usual selection for guests. It was great not to worry about choices. The conference was for humane educators and vegetarian and vegan meals were required by the group. Our group had to provide soy milk as that was not provided by the hotel but I don't think anyone had trouble with the hotel options.

Chicklet--- I am new on this thread but reading your post strikes a chord with me. It is so hard to take care of a parent, even when mental health is not an issue. I just want to send you positive thoughts ....I hope that you feel the support of the people of this board and use it for yourself. Taking care of yourself is so important.

Barbara---Pizza is a tough one for me too.

:flowerforyou: Thank you to all who responded to my post.

I really was just checking in so that people wouldn't think I had simply vanished. I must admit I was EXTREMELY down when I wrote it. I just can't understand why she is able to get me so upset and down even to this day!!:grumble: I get so frustrated with her when she purposely antagonizes me and gets sarcastic! I know she knows what she is doing to me, but she just doesn't care. When things get tough for her (exercise) the first thing that comes out of her mouth after I don't relent to her temper tantrums is, "I don't want to live here anymore, put me in a home!" I HATE THAT!!!! It drives me crazy after everything that I have done to get her the things she needs, therapists, counselors, massages, hospital equipment, moving out of my bedroom to let her have it while I sleep in a recliner, to taking care of all the things she's needed for over 2 years that my brother neglected to do for her! I simply cannot understand or relate to her way of thinking.:noway: I told my son the other day, if I ever have to be taken care of like this by him, that I promise I will do everything I can to get better and work with him. Seeing the way she is, has shown me what I don't want to become.

On a positive note, I have a new addition to my household. A much needed one......for Boo. I think I have told you all that Boo is a little overweight. Okay she is obese. But its not due to overeating, although she is not one to leave food behind in her dish. She actually ballooned up after her cousin passed away at the age of four. Boo and her used to play like crazy and run around the house. Boo has always been a more bigger Jack Russell than Chiclet was (yes that's where I got my name from ), but never overweight. When Chiclet passed, Boo had no one to play with, then we had to move to an apartment with a tiny patio, and she just started gaining weight. I walk her four times a day, but apparently it is not enough. While I was walking her one day a small dog (male) came up to us and followed us back to my apartment. Poor thing was so skinny, his bones were showing and boy did he stink. I took him in, leery about how Boo would take to him. She has been alone now for over 3 years and is very dominate. The first two days she kicked his tiny butt, and wouldn't share any of her toys. But over the past 2 weeks they now get along very well. They play all the time, he can totally out run her, as she pants heavily after him, but at least I know she is getting a workout. I caught them sleeping together a couple of times, and she has pretty much accepted him now. As a matter of fact, I think she gets along better with him than Chiclet because he is a male dog. Kind of like she accepts him acting like the head cheese in the family because he is a boy. Other girl dogs always knew their place with Boo. But not him. He accepts her when she gets bossy and lets her be, and when she is happy or playful he knows just what to do. A marriage made in heaven:drinker: I think she really likes him !
When I get the money together I will take him to the vet and see if he is chipped and has an owner, (kind of hoping he doesn't for Boo's sake) and if he doesn't, he will be getting snipped soon after. For a tiny dog, he has some big ones! He looks like a Jack Russell and a lot like the dog in the movie, "The Mask". I named him Scout. He is a very handsome young guy and prances when he walks outside. With the rainy weather we have had lately I had to buy him a raincoat and a hoodie for the cold weather. (He doesn't have the insulation (blubber) that Boo does against the cold weather. Though I must admit even though she is well insulated, she also has a raincoat and hoodie and sweaters too. She is my baby after all.

So I thought I would bring up Scout for a good thing to talk about. Lord knows I need to have something good to talk about.

Well I am off to bed now. Need to tuck in the puppies. :yawn:
Chiclet:flowerforyou:

Sipping a fruit smoothie before running out the door to take my FiL, who has myleoplastic syndrome, for a transfusion.

Last night I had my first true test since detoxing. It was ladies night at the movies at church and there was frito pie fixins and every kind of candy or theatre type snack imaginable. I took an apple and ate just chili and cheese. Felt so empowered sitting there munching on that apple during the movie while everyone else was stuffing their face with candy and popcorn!

I lost 6 pounds in the month of February, which is all but 2 of the pounds I put on since Thanksgiving. Will check back in later today to see how all of you are doing.

:flowerforyou: Hope you all had a good weekend! It is so refreshing to be able to get through the weekend and know I did what I should with my eating. That hasn't always been the case. It does feel good to know I can do what I should (SuzyQ, that was great that you could restrain yourself when others all around were eating whatever they wanted! :drinker: ) Now today is a new day and I need to eat and exercise like I should to end the day with success. I need to increase my time on the treadmill, but my mind balks at that. So much of this weight-loss life style seems to be mind over matter. I'll put in a DVD and maybe I can get past my token 20 minutes.
Thanks to Barbie for starting the March thread. I don't know where the time goes.:flowerforyou:

chicklet - I wish there was something I could say that would make you feel better. Know that you are a good daughter and doing your best, even if your mother doesn't appreciate it. It's good that your not gaining, I know if I were in the same situation I would be stress eating and thus gaining, so you are ahead of the game. And don't ever feel that you can't come here to vent, not one person here will take offense.

I don't know what it is, but even here at home I can't sleep late in the morning.

Jeannie - so glad for your son. Lets hope and pray things stay on an even keel.

hopeful - you sound like a real fighter. Nothing gets you down, no matter what life sends your way

Sat. did an hour of yoga, then Sun I did an hour of hula hoop on the Wii Fit. Remember I mentioned that lately I've been getting really low spin scores. Well, it turns out that the reason was because I was doing it with my sneakers on. Evidentally, the board is quite sensitive and doesn't pick up when I'm in my sneakers. I tried doing it in bare feet, and my score was much much better. Today I did a Jillian Michael's DVD shred it with weights. This is the first time I've done anything with the kettlebell. Well, I used a dumbbell since I don't have a kettlebell. Does anyone know if there is any difference? The only thing that I didn't like was when you had to lie down, put the weight over your head, then sit up, then stand up. I don't like constantly going up and down. Otherwise, it was pretty good, a good change.

Welcome to everyone new.

I can't believe that tomorrow is already going to be March! Where did Jan and Feb. go to????

Went and got my hair colored today, but first stopped at this one food store. They're having triple coupons and I had two coupons for 50 cents each on one box of Pop Secret popcorn, which was on sale buy two get three free. I also got some toothpaste which I'll most likely wind up donating since the toothpaste was on sale and I had coupons. In the end I saved $30 and spent something like $6. Before that I had to take my car to get my tire looked at. There was a nail in it, Vince told me to be at the car place at 7:30 when they opened since they get busy. Well, I was the first -- and only -- person there, then I went to KMart and WalMart to look for shirts for St. Pat's day. A friend of ours always has a party for St. Pat's day since her b-day is March 15. So my day was get up, go get the car taken care of, go to KMart, buy gas, go to WalMart, come home and workout for an hour, go food shopping, get my hair colored, on the way home go to Aldi's (I needed chocolate chips and it was on the way), stop at 2 other stores to look for shirts. I did find one at Old Navy -- but it was $14.50. I bought it, but I charged it. If I can find another shirt for less money, I'll return that one.

You know, ever since I went to France, I think I've been spoiled by the bread there. It's just soooooo good. There is a French bread that this one store makes, but it just isn't the same. I suspect some of it is because of the flour. I remember when my grandmother came to the states from Poland, she had to re-learn how to bake since the flour was so different. Unfortunately, I'm still spoiled by the Swiss chocolate.

Downloaded two new audiobooks onto my iPod so I can listen to them when I'm on the treadmill, etc.

chicklet - I'm so happy for Boo! I remember when we were living in the apt (before we bought this house) our one cat got quite overweight. He was always on the overweight side, that's the one that was diabetic. But being in that apartment he didn't have to go up and down stairs, etc. The food was close by. When we moved to this house he started to lose weight. He had to go upstairs to eat, use the litter box, etc. So I completely understand where you are coming from! I do hope you can keep Scout!

Tomorrow I'm going to do incline intervals on the treadmill. At night there is a Mexican Train Dominoes with the Newcomers that I'll go to. I made this triple chocolate cheesecake to take with me. I got the recipe from Prevention magazine. Each slice is ONLY 273 calories. For a cheesecake, that's not bad at all.

Hope everyone has a great evening.

Michele

Hello Everyone,

Looks like everyone has been busy. Well I am down 15lbs., but some days with fluid I go up a pound or so and then I am down 3!
Sometimes it can be an emotional roller coaster. I have 7 weeks before my son gets married, I want so bad to be down 19 more pounds. I got to work harder.:oh well: Ok I haven't been sticking strickly to my meal plan, But I am doing good and I will learn how to get it down pat. I hope all of you are doing well and having great results. Next Week is SPRING!!!:flowerforyou:

Hugs
Izzy

Just dropping in with a quick hello.
It's been a challenging tax season as....along with the long hours....my Mother in law is dying. She is 93 years old and has been in a nursing home for 18 months. Honestly, I wish the good Lord would take her and relieve her of this body she's been trapped in.
Because I sit for 6 days out of 7, My back is hurting and I had to go to the Chiropracters yeasterday. I have been exercising daily....accept for now because I have to rest my back for a few days.
I have had no time to put up a post or even read the posts for the last month, but if you are new.....give this MFP a serious shot! In my 63 years, I have not found anything that works so well, and makes so much sense, as tracking your food, exercising, drinking lots of water and being in touch with these great women from all over the world.
I track every day...no matter what...as I have been doing even during long hours and personal struggles!
So welcome!
And to all those, who may have heard of me (LOL) ....sending hugs and prayers.
1 more month and tax season will be over and I'll have my life back!!!
God Bless!
BirdieM