WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MAY 2015

"Researchers from Oxford Brookes University in the UK have found that measuring a person’s height with string, folding that piece of string in half, and making sure that it can fit comfortably around the waist is a better indicator than BMI of whether someone has too much body fat."

Terewilliams- you got that right. ANY exercise blesses the body and helps the mind think clearly. I call it getting my magic back! Congratulations on the personal trainer and let us know how it goes.

My days been okay. Got in 6k steps and Classical Stretch (CS) then errands and running with kids. Dinner was fish. Still not sleeping well but calorie goals have been good. My Fitbit records my sleep and last night I got 7 hours with 5 times awake and 17 times restless. I really like seeing this information because I always felt tired but now I know why! Hope you all are all having a great day.

Did 1-1/4 hr of Leslie Sansons Walk at home DVD. Tomorrow's plan is to do Kelley Coffee Meyers 30 Minutes to Fitness Cardio Blast DVD. I'll probably do it twice for an hour.

Made these chocolate cookies, some to take to the Newcomer general meeting tomorrow and some to take to Denise. She's graduating (FINALLY, after like 7 years!) on the 21st. Then made a chocolate cake to take to her. It's cooling right now. Then made this spinach dip which is in the refrigerator right now. That's for the bowling party this Thursday. The interesting thing was that I found that it used to be where I couldn't resist raw dough, especially when you cream the sugars and butter, but today I wasn't that interested in it. Admitted, I did have some BLT's, but that seemed to be more out of the fact that I still have a deep seated feeling that it's wrong to throw out food, so I would eat it. But so many time when I previously would have nibbled, now I wanted to make more cookies and didn't care to nibble. That is....except for the spinach dip.

Lesley - weather isn't bad at all by me, it's been sunny and beautiful. How horrible about Karen! She's in my thoughts. I guess you can be thankful that it's the early stages. I don't go by BMI, either.

annr - the sodium alone justifies making your own granola bars. What size pan did you use?

Lisa in TX - have fun at the wedding and with your friend

terri - I usually don't go into WalGreens, I take food from home. Have fun at the movie

Carol/Peach - you are so good to your son

Heather - I'm so sorry your dinner was such a disaster. Even free food doesn't really make up for a poor meal. Hope your computer doesn't blow up when you write your review

Kim - I'm surprised that the name for Richard wasn't censored in your post. Maybe now that MFP is part of Armor All they aren't as strict or maybe they read the posts and see that it isn't meant in any sort of dirty way. Remember at one time Dick's Sport Goods was edited?

Have the general meeting for the Newcomers tomorrow. They bought this cabinet and the idea was that I could store my things in there. Well, I see problems potentially. the last time someone combined my things, I need my things separated, things that I use every month and things that I have extras of. I also have some of my own things that I really don't want others using. I can see someone using something and not telling me that they did. So...I'm going to bring most of my things home. I'll just keep this one basket for the money for the coffee there. The basket is quite large. And I really don't see anyone using it for something since it says on it "coffee $1". So this month since I don't have a lot to bring, I'll bring chocolate cookies along with brownies.

Just got an email about what others are bringing to the bowling party. Someone is bringing German potato salad (not my cup of tea at all), someone else is bringing a dessert (like she did last year, I probably won't have any), someone else is bringing baked beans and macaroni salad (I'm really not interested in either one of those). So looks like my veg tray and I'll bring a sandwich. she did say that they were going to have hamburgers and brats. Now when they asked me to send the invite they said they were going to have hot dogs and brats. either way, I don't care for either, but if it's hamburgers, maybe I can have the hamburger fixins. Maybe I'll make a sandwich and just keep it in my pocketbook depending on what fixins they have.

tere - welcome back! We've been missing you. It really sounds like your SO really cares for you. I can understand his feeling of fear for you.

Michele in NC

Slept a little better with the Melatonin but my Fitbit still says I was restless quite a bit. I do know that sometimes the eason I can't sleep is because I am cold. So my go to solution for that is a big baggy long sleeve shirt I have had for a while and a pair of my yoga pants. Then I put one of my favorite quilts on the bed. One of the reasons it shows I am restless is because I don't just sleep on my side, I have pillows between my legs, a pillow just for my hands. And when I turn, I have to readjust those. I did have to get up to go to a Sunday school fellowship. So tomorrow is nothing so I am planning on sleeping as long as I want to. I am sorry to say ear ladies that sometimes that is after 1 PM.

Allison, would it not be easier on your FIL and you and DH you to tape the graduation and show him the tape. That way the graduate can feel like he is the center of attention and not DIL who may or may not cooperate.

Lesley, so sorry about your daughters diagnosis. And yes, it may be a false positive but the worry and sleepless nights until they do a biopsy. What is the governmental or public insurance like where you live.

With my MS, sometimes I have incontinence of either bowel or bladder. Sorry ladies. Now with the ulcerative colitis my husband is learning what incontinence is like. His doctor for his Parkinson's has always told him that his daily 2 mile walk is one of the best things for him. So gets in the car, realizes he has the ever so familiar rumbling his tummy and decides not to risk going out. But he didn't make it in time. He didn't want me to clean anything up, said it was all his fault and his responsibility. I told him I wasn't doing it out of pity, responsibility or anything. I was doing it because he is my husband. I also told him that it happens not many times but sometimes with me. I also told him that I always remember what his Mom told me, just hold your head up high. When she was still able to get out and walk, she loved to sometimes just window shop in Walmart or K Mart. So she tells us she needs to go to the bathroom. So me as the woman has to go with her. As soon as she opens the door to the bathroom, numerous stall bathroom, her pants are already down and it is just flowing from her. I let housekeeping now that it needed to be cleaned up, got her cleaned up an offered to go buy a pair of sweat pants for her. She said no, I am going to walk out of here with my head held high. So we got it all cleaned up, cleaned the floor but he insisted that I not take care of his soiled clothes. I told him that as, or maybe not, my MS progresses, he may need to do the same for me. He has never hesitated at all doing something for me because of my MS. He is going to have to accept that I may have to do the same for him. His father had severe eye disease, had tunnel vision that was getting worse, then he had bladder cancer and his wife, 2nd wife, refused to help him with his catheter so my husbands youngest daughter would go over and do that cleaning. Anyway, he had nothing to live for and just gave up and the cancer took over. Charlie said he may just be like his Dad. I am going to have to find the sweetest picture of our two grand daughters and put it in his billfold so they can be the reason to keep on keeping on. Anyway, his first doctor's appointment is Thursday. We need a lot of direction about food and help with this diarrhea.

Safe travels to everyone still. Sylvia, you know we expect some pictures from Spain.

Joyce, Indiana

Good morning ladies!
Thankyou for welcoming me into your group.... a little outside contact will help keep me on the ball... too often I'm happy to stay in and just get on with my crafts. I'm an artist/ maker, selling what I create where possible. But must admit, even though it keeps me sane, I've struggled to even enjoy that over the last few months as I've put weight back on. I'm terrible for spiralling, me! Don't think I'm bipolar or the like, but at times it would seem that way.

Anyway, woken up to a beautiful day here in Kent, so do I get some washing done and stay indoors to do orders for 2 journals, or take the motorbike out and try my new lens?
Apparently it will be rain for the rest of the week so I should make hay... and get some summery pics.

I did get on the scales- thanks for pushing me into it! I'm relieved I'm not back to 290 lbs, but sad that I'm at 250, given that I did make it down to 234 in December. I've worked out if I lose 2lbs a week again, by xmas I'll be under 200lbs! What a joy that would be, not been there for about 7 years.. so many clothes I could fit back into!

My problem is I'm happy to spend all day sitting painting or sewing... so really need to get back into exercising. But it does hurt so... my knees are ruined, I have residual arthritis and pain from an old bike injury to my foot, I ripped my bicep somehow in October and in January I had a huge lump removed from my arm, so is now numb around my shoulder/ tricep. Bit of a wreck really All the more reason to get smaller/fitter, but I seem to hurt myself more in the long run ;(
I do have alot of Beachbody dvds, which I enjoy once I'm in the right mindset, it's that initial push of getting togged up, getting sweaty, showering, before I do anything else... half the day is gone.

I'll spend the next few days reading through old posts to try and get to know you all... have flitted through briefly, seems like youre all really on the ball and busy, busy.

Heather- Where are you staying in Wales? I used to live in the Prescelli mountains near Haverfordwest, that coastline looks like St. Davids/ west coast? My eldest daughter has just moved to outside Newport with her horses, bit closer to the bridge and all the horse shows.
Doesnt sound like you're having too good a time with the local cuisine? Shame, there were alot of lovely eateries around west wales, but imagine most are gone now. So much has changed there in last 2 decades.

Mary- We get ticks in the uk, horrible things, love the cats! But not heard much about lymes disease... sounds rather horrible. Hope you get it treated positively

Chris- Icecream, yum. Been a little too liberal with our eating since december, it's going to be hard cutting everything out again. I rarely eat sugar or flour, unless on a downward, then anythings game. Going to miss coffee icecream soooo much

Tere- I am so with you in the inconsistent club. I seem to go up and down in huge cycles, but I do also seem to scupper myself. Not that I am happy being where I am, as soon as anything positive happens I soon get a downturn. It's hard being consistent, especially as an artist- repetition, routine/ planning goes against every fibre of my being. Guess all we can do is plug away and accept that its a rollercoaster, as long as you keep getting back on, things will keep improving. Love the idea of a trainer though! Bootcamp would do me wonders...

Pip- That's a novel concept, but surely it would depend on your shape? Pear or apple would register differently... shall be trying it later, will let you know

Kim- Lol, spotted dick. Grew up on proper foods like that.. cant beat it drizzled with golden syrup... and you're right, a dick is a certain appendage here too, also a person can be a dick, or act like a dick- ie an idiot/ plonker/ tool. Gotta love the english language...

Katla- Thankyou for the welcome.. being 50 soon is scary enough, where did time go? I'd agree with you on the knees, I've had 4 ops since I was 35, 3 on right, one on left. Once they start playing in there things get worse quicker. Im too young for replacements apparently, which is another reason I am up and down with exercise. It hurts like crazy, but I know I need to... it's hard

Should I put my May goals up now?
Given we're halfway through I feel I'm at a loss, but had to start somewhere again

1 weigh and assess after 5 months of doldrums
2 start logging all foods again and keeping check on what we're eating
3 no more snack foods and bad stuff- till my birthday- 50 in June, then I can be naughty
4 get my head back into workouts and getting off my bum
5 start drinking water- something I rarely do, and never think about, lots of herb teas, or good coffee


Right, decided, going to get washing on, then go for a 40 mile blast on the bike, test that new lens

Good morning

Ann R – your granola bars sound amazing, I’ll have to throw the recipe in front of my husband and challenge him.

Joyce – Hope the sleeping thing gets straightened out soon.

Tere in VA – hope that you can do what’s necessary for you and your health. My inconsistencies are part of my struggle, too; it's a great point.

Sharon in Lethbridge – hope things get better soon…

Kal900 in UK – Congrats on getting on the scales. Owning that number is hard! On the physical side of things, and this is coming from someone who hurts everywhere, you don’t have to do it all at once—that’s how I’ve injured myself so many times… All you have to do is be a little bit better than last time. If you start with five minutes, then do six minutes tomorrow. Doing it that way has let me get to the point where I’m running for long periods of time on some really jacked-up knees, because I started really, really slow and got on some massive anti-inflammatories from the doc to help out. Starting out at high levels and long stretches always leads to injury for me, which gives me a great excuse to stop exercising and gain more weight. Just saying.

Mary from MN – sorry you didn’t get the transfer, but Texas might be an acquired taste for a Minnesotan. My Alaskan hubby (did I mention he's from Alaska?) loves it, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea…:)

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Woohoo!

The print version of This Little Pig, my murder mystery, is live! Happy dance! You can find it over at my web site if you’re not an e-book kind of person. Please don’t feel obligated to even go look at www.lisachannon.com. I just feel like I’ve given birth after a 12-year pregnancy, and I’m showing off pictures of my pointy-headed little baby, and I want to show the ugly little thing off to everybody.

That should be the last you’ll hear of Pig… There is a sequel bouncing around in my head set in West Texas (Pig is set in East Texas), but it’s way in the back of my brain. I just don’t have anyone I despise badly enough right now to want to kill off in the first paragraph. Writing can be very… therapeutic.

Halfway through proofing on the next book, a collection of my newspaper columns. Shooting for the print being live by the end of May, e-book up shortly afterward.

Exercise stuff

Ran in a light misting rain yesterday, which Daisy the dog loves. The weather system moved past during the night, but we’ll be running in mud this morning. We’re under a flash flood watch, but the house is about 50 feet higher than flood stage in the Big Canyon where we live, and Daisy and I don’t even cross the draw if it’s running fast. Of course, the weather-critters get all twitchy and call a flash flood watch anytime somebody spits twice here.

Weight stuff

I have yet to exceed 1200 calories on this regimen, but I am staying over 1,000 now (yay me!). The scale, however, says I have GAINED A POUND EVERY DAY since Sunday. Part of me is screaming that I should never have taken custody of the scale back from my husband… but I can't have him take responsibility for my obsessions. Right? So, to remind me, below are my May goals. Number one is the biggest one I'm failing at at this moment. The implication is that I need to stay OFF the scale the rest of the week. I'm such a goober.

Lisa H in West Texas

Failing is not failing unless I stop trying. That’s why I’m sitting here looking at my book. In my hands, with my name on the cover. Because I didn’t stop trying. I failed better and better until I got it right. Time to fail better at staying off that stupid scale!

Happy Wednesday Everyone ! ! !

The movie last night, Pitch Perfect 2, was equally as funny and intriguing as the first. It makes me want to sing for hours after.

Joyce – Thanks for sharing that story. I love the fact that my DH is the same in that regards. When I had pneumonia, the coughing gave me urinary trouble (natural fact given my age and multiple children, right?), and DH would just do whatever I asked for help, and once told me “one time I sharted at work, and had to buy new underwear, so I understand”. That’s a comfort level that can’t be faked. Hugs and prayers for both of you!

Sharon – welcome back, and happy belated Birthday. The evening turned out different than I expected. The 2 teenage girls we took only ate ½ of their sundaes, so my Dad and I finished them. Then, the small popcorn was free, so I had that with no butter and my JiffyPop flavored salt (5 calorie estimate). Yes, my hands, wrists, and knee are swollen and stiff today, but the popcorn was worth it, and I didn’t gain anything from yesterday morning. I understand the “annoying” relatives and keeping in the loop. When my Mom, then a few years later my sister, passed away, my Aunts threw big tantrums because they were not the first people to be notified. Silly me thought the children should be first. They no longer speak to me, and I don’t care. What’s important is for us to take care of ourselves and each other. Many Hugs and Prayers for you and your family. You have been through so much; I am impressed with your strength.


Kal9000 - I understand the desire to just sit around and do crafts or sewing or such. It is so much easier on my lower body to crochet in a chair, as opposed to walking 1/2 mile to wathc DS play baseball or something. I'm glad to get up and walk around every hour or so at work, and even that is a project some days. I get my exercise in 10 minute increments, so I don't get too sore or get an injury. Because we work on a schedule here, I don't need to set an alarm, but if I were at home, that would definitely be a requirement. I also learned on flylady a few years back to use TV commercials to time getting out of the chair, and doing housework. It doesn't seem so overwhelming when it is just 3 minute blocks a few times per hour. Now, to find the energy to stand up out of the chair . . . .

Michele - I rarely shop at Walgreens, but since I forgot to pack my single serving of lentil chips, I guessed that Walgreens might be a quick easy stop, and I found many selections of trail mix under the MFP search tab. I do prefer to prepare in advance. Since I never opened any of the bags I bought at Walgreens, I remembered to bring snack size ziplocs to work, so I can weight my servings on the Postal scale today, and be more prepared for next time. I still need to get a food scale for at home.

Lillian - I also don't wear shoes when home. In fact, I'd be shoeless every minute of every day if I could.

DS and I couldn't get out of the house early today, so I will use the handbike and do my planks during lunch. Then, since it is not supposed to get warmer than 50 today, I think I will not go to his baseball game, but instead stay a little late at work to ride the bike before going to the grocery store (salad fixings).

Hugs for Everyone, whether you are doing well or need support, I hope you are able to make wise choices.

Terri in Milwaukee

Happy hump day!!
Got a call last night from my son,that my younger son got hurt at work and was in the hospital.Added more grey hairs to my head.Thank God,it was a dislocated shoulder and nothing worse.
HUGS jane

My new cell phone cover with wristlet