Golden Years

Monday morning rambling…

– HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! Hope 2015 is a great year of health and happiness for all.

_ My wife has been sick for a few days, so it’s off to the doctor soon. They had no openings yesterday. She is awesome but usually never gets sick more than 24 hrs – so it’s an adjustment for her.

_ Went to the gym around 4:30am. Love to people watch as I listen to my music while walking on the treadmill. Many just normal people and then there are those that are so self-focused it’s funny (looking in mirror constantly, checking out younger people, strutting, or looking aloof etc.)

The funniest observation – a first for me – was watching a young lady (20’s) about 5 feet tall and 100 pounds walk out of the locker room drinking her “jug of water” as she walked… I do mean a HALF-GALLON jug! It was as big as her head. I have never seen the biggest weight-lifters in the place even bring such a jug…let alone walk and drink it while climbing onto a stairmaster.

Here is a photo I snapped with my phone (all my music is on my phone) while on the treadmill – very shaky photo…but it was funny.

Felt bad for gym staff – it’s open 24/7 and no change in hours for the New Year. Guess I just think they could close from 10pm-5am or something – oh well. I worked many horrible hours like most in my younger days.

Stopped at Mickey D’s on the way home – picked up breakfast and dropped it on my sisters doorstep – and sent her a text “Happy New Year.” Before I got home she had texted back that she was starved and the food was history.

Oh well – time to head out for doctors…

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Good morning,

Happy New Year's Eve.

I am having a nice omelette made by my hubby this morning. I was supposed to make mini quiches which were on my eating plan but too tired this morning.

Anne - We are getting a snow storm starting today lightly and then heavier
- tomorrow. This might spoil our plans with our friends tomorrow. We were supposed to go biking on an ice pond. These are special bikes made for the ice. I guess we shall see what the weather brings.

Tonight is dinner and a show with our friend Tom who just lost his wife in November my BFF.

Enjoy your New Years whatever you are doing.

Shirley

Read an article on WebMD called Best Diet Tips Ever -- 22 Ways to Stay on Track (Thought I’d share a few)

Tip No. 1: Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.
Before you tear into that bag of potato chips, drink a glass of water first. People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger, so you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really all you needed. If plain water doesn't cut it, try drinking flavored sparkling water or brewing a cup of fruit-infused herbal tea.

Tip No. 2: Be choosy about nighttime snacks.
Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax. Snacking in front of the TV is one of the easiest ways to throw your diet off course. Either close down the kitchen after a certain hour, or allow yourself a low-calorie snack, like a 100-calorie pack of cookies or a half-cup scoop of low-fat ice cream.

Tip No. 13: Lose weight slowly.
If you're losing weight but not as fast as you'd like, don't get discouraged. Dropping pounds takes time, just like gaining them did. Experts suggest setting a realistic weight loss goal of about one to two pounds a week. If you set your expectations too high, you may give up when you don’t lose weight fast enough. Remember, you start seeing health benefits when you've lost just 5%-10% of your body weight.

Tip No. 14: Weigh yourself once a week.
People who weigh themselves regularly tend to have more weight loss success. But most experts suggest weighing yourself only once a week, so you're not derailed by daily fluctuations. When you weigh yourself, follow these tips: Weigh yourself at the same time of day, on the same day of the week, on the same scale, and in the same clothes.
I weigh daily to watch trends – but only “record” once a week as outlined.

Tip No. 20: Keep a food diary.
A simple pen and paper can dramatically boost your weight loss. Studies show the act of writing down what you eat and drink tends to make you more aware of what, when, and how much you're consuming -- leading you to ultimately take in fewer calories. One study found that people who kept a food diary six days a week lost about twice as much as those who only kept a diary one day a week or less.

"I've finished with the year", said God,
In gray, green, white and brown,
I've put the rime upon the sod,
Sealed the worm within the clod,
And let the last sun down.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY, Anne.

Good Morning, always happy and uplifting Marie!
Between nursing this virus and gobbling Christmas goodies I've managed to put on 3 lbs. I'm no longer in maintenance mode. Back to the drawing board, as they say.
Anne.

You are quite right Marie about staying on our toes. She is quite a remarkable lady, Barbie. She's got the gift of will power. We all have something, and YOU have the gift of giving happiness. ❤️ Anne.

Here's 17 year old Tabitha daisy. Well maybe. I'm practising posting photos. Happy new year Shirley. I don't think it's worked, but here goes.

A little New Year’s Day sharing:

Always think of my mother on New Year’s Day – her birthday. It’s been 43 years since my mother passed at the age of 57 after a long battle with cancer (I was barely a teenager) – she is missed by many and my memories are still intact. (That's me with her and also a Spiritual Bouquet I gave her - she said that is what she liked the most - not a material gift)



Started my day with a 2-mile walk. I couldn’t decide what to have for breakfast, so it ended up being a little bit of everything. Between the two – my net calories for the day are (-) 18



Looked back on this year’s progress and very happy…a total of 171 pounds no longer being lugged around. I successfully completed the “100 Days to 2015 Challenge” group I belonged to and surpassed my goal by 162.50% with a 39 pound loss.

Not much planned for today. Might do some cleaning out and then some planning re: expanding strength exercising. I never noticed until today the Planet Fitness didn’t have an area for floor exercises and I want to do them as well (I guess it will be at home). Been watching some youtubes on the topic of floor exercises for people over 50… I do plan Nautilus as well.

As Einstein said: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” Now it’s time to think about what to make for lunch. LOL

I hope this New Year brings immense happiness to all of you!

Tabs was saved from death row too Bob. She had been in a cage at the shelter for 7 months when I happened by. I'd just lost my much loved cat Miss Becky at the time. Those eyes got to me, plus the purring etc. however when we came home I swear I had got me a wild cat mix. Talk about a personality change. I tried to name her Daisy but it wasn't to be, she liked Tabitha and so we compromised. Today, much older, she is a lovely domesticated much loved cat just like all my past doggies and cats and other assorted pets were. Anne.

Bob, your story about your mother reduced me to wet eyes. We always miss our parents and especially so during the holidays don't we. My dad died Christmas, 1970, also from cancer and not much older than your Mom, but it's even harder losing a parent when one is so young as you were. Not a day goes by without me thinking of my lovely parents at some point.
Barbie - Bernie, another beautiful tabby cat, I love all creatures great and small. I even help spiders find the front door safely. I take after my Dad. Anne.

WOW!