WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JULY2015

Gilly - I had to look the acronym up, but I completely understand how you must feel! Awful thing to happen. I had a stillbirth of a full term girl and that was awful enough. I hope you will get used to the name as the baby grows. :flowerforyou: My baby was called Kate.

Heather UK

Mind, Body & Sole Read at Your Own Pace 2015-a reading/wellness experience

Lillian we got your hazy skies yesterday in Minnesota. We got a pollution alert to be careful with activities. This haze came after a 4 inch rainfall. I hope they get those fires under control soon.

Kim so happy for you that your mom came through for you!

Yanniejannie as I said most of my hosta is green or variegated. This is one of my favorite bunches near my patio that is different from most of the others I have.

Lisa find the idea of eating hosta interesting. I did try new milkweed last year too bitter for me. I guess the Native Americans would eat them like asparagus. I have yet to try fiddle head ferns from my garden too.

Michele you, pip, and barbie are inspiring in your consistency in exercising.

Becca my computer would not let me access your son's wedding picture.

Carol gentle ((((Hug))))

Chari poster :drinker:

Penny love the bouquet.

Heather the dance sounds like a blast.

Joyce love the sky lantern.

Sharon love how upbeat you sound.

Sylvia I have found that when I get into trouble with people pleasing is when I do something because I feel I have too. Before I do something for someone I ask myself is this something I really want to do. If it is not I still might do it depending on the situation. In some cases it make it easier for me to say NO! No is a wonderful word to establish boundaries.

I have mentioned this book before Emotional Genius. (Unfortunately out of print) I got a copy at a library.I liked how Karla MacKlaren (Not sure spelled correctly) discussed depression. The reasons for it are usually more than one and is personal to that individual. What works for one may not work for another. She does offer some interesting techniques to try. One of my favorites is to mentally write out your troubles. Then roll that paper up and send it off in flames. I can tell she believes in Chakra work, so if you have interest in that she might be worth checking out.

Gritsand sluts this is my Get Well wish for you. Since I could get the paper to print here I staged my own with a pair of my own flamingoes.

MNMargaret

Kirby says hey there ladies

I was gone for the weekend...watched what I was eating fairly well, though my logging was inconsistent. I'm back at it today.

I went for a long (sticky/humid) walk on Saturday morning with my sister and bro-in-law. They have been walking regularly for about 4-1/4 miles most mornings. For the first several minutes my back hurt a lot and my sciatica was creating a lot of pain as well. I kept plugging along at a good clip, though, thinking I might turn around and let my sister and bro-in-law finish without me, but then the pain lifted after about 15 minutes and I finished the walk. When I found out I had burned almost 200 calories, I thought, "Wow, I burn that much in 30 minutes on the Octane fitness machine at the gym--in air conditioning and without pain!" I got back home last night and was at the Y at noon to workout on the Octane machine. 235 calories burned in 30 minutes. As I walked out of the Y, I thought of how nice it is to workout this time of year in air conditioning!

Theresa, welcome. Be encouraged that you did not regain all of the weight you lost. You do have some serious challenges, but with determination and accountability here on MFP, you will lose the weight!

Christina

I thank my lucky stars each day that I've found such a supportive and sharing group of ladies to go on my health journey with. Thank you all for sharing your challenges, successes, wisdom and advice.

I feel like I've been travelling for weeks...oh wait I have! I can't remember driving this much in a long time. I've spent at least 44 hours driving in the last 2 weeks.

We had a great turn out for the reunion, even 3 of those currently having challenges with cancer were able to come for at least a few hours. I had a wonderful visit with them. Got a real kick out of my cousin's little boy who is 4 (going on 40) who talks a blue streak. He picked some flowers to give to mommy ( dandelions and little blue flowers with no stem). When we asked him why he got flowers for mommy he scrunched up his face in the cutest frown and said so mommy doesn't look like this. He's so adorable! Mommy had a smile the rest of the day...hangover or not. :laugh: A lot of family chose not to come to the reunion this year since there is also going to be a 75 birthday party for my aunt in 3 weeks and they couldn't get time off for both.


Thought for the day: "Man has never made any material as resilient as the human spirit." - Bernard Williams




Carey-Edmonton

July Goals:

1. Do menu planning for July - Increasing protein to 130g per day. Do one week at a time so that can adjust as I go.

2. Log all meals - try to pre-log to get a better handle on calories for the day

3.Plan and Do - 2 fun things every week (
W1: Family reunion - 3 days of fun and hard work
W2: Tai Chi with friend who will start beginners and needs some company. Hot Stone Massage
)

4. Ride stationary bike 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes.

Becca – Congrats on getting your license. A sense of power and control is a nice thing to have. Being able to take care of ourselves and others. Good Job ! ! !

Grits – congrats on that wonderful compliment from a stranger. Love those NSV’s !

Carol – sending hugs. I don’t know if it will help, but since breaking my arm last year, I keep all my bras hooked, and pull them up over my feet/legs. I am also only a “B” cup, so it doesn’t take much to get settled in. I know you really just need the hugs, so here is another (((Hug))). The roof, too? More (((((Hugs)))))

Tuliplor – I believe many of us struggle in the evening (I know I do). And I still fail more often than succeed. But when I am able to succeed, it is because of veggies already cut up, almonds to crunch, or lentil chips from Big Lots (DS and DH eat chips, so I pretend to join them with my lower fat/calorie options). I also crochet, and I can’t crochet with food in my fingers. I am also finally able to use the word “no” when DH asks if I want something from a fast food place (or choose the salad when available). For breakfast I am currently focusing on protein, so 2 eggs with mushrooms or onion or ham or turkey bacon or something. When I can’t afford eggs, I eat Old Fashioned Oatmeal, and try to add a fruit. Keep coming, and getting/giving all the support you need.

Bkrimpet – I like tankini because all that I have bought have at least a little bra built in, so if the loose fabric in the front flows up, nothing is exposed except the rotund belly. If I leave the pool area, I can put on a pair of shorts or something, and the top is looser, so it looks like a tank top and not a swimsuit.

Michele – in the most previous bag of cherries that I bought, the individual cherries are HUGE. I suppose I need to adjust my calorie count. I can weigh them at work, I think I will try that today. I can’t stop eating them  // Congrats on the planks.

Kim – Congrats on the business/mom situation. What a stress-reliever. // Parishoners for Carol – great thought. I belonged to a Church that was amazing that way, and another that was terrible.

Joyce – Well done on your admission and revelation. Hugs for the truth ! ! ! and Respect !

Allison – Congrats on not gaining. You can do this; today is a new day !

I’m with Janet about depression. When I was unhappy I lashed out on others, which was both exhausting and sad. Now that I am happy, it makes me happy to make other people happy, and if I keep the glass ½ full, I have something to strive for. When I was unhappy, I couldn’t think of anything besides making other people unhappy with me (misery loves company). My new motto is “Love the people who treat you right – Pray for the people who don’t” and that helps me move on when someone talks trash to me or about me. Maybe if a person is truly depressed it is cathartic to stand up for your rights and tell the truth ? Plus, there is a difference between being assertive and being aggressive, so I’m guessing that is a factor, also. I believe we should all do what works best for us, and we should continue being strong women.

Theresa – baby steps, and one day at a time. If it feels overwhelming, dump it on us, then “in the corner” and start over with new baby steps.

Gilly – it is NOT stupid to have confused feelings about deceased son and living grandson sharing a name. We all grieve in our own way, and you certainly have a right to your feelings. (mine was 6 mo gestation, and I named her Courtney)

Well, I bit the inside of my cheek so hard the taste of blood was making me nauseated, so I didn't finish my salad, but since I ate most of it I will still log it like I ate it all. Hopefully the cherries and yogurt I have planned for my snack won't cause any more pain (or stinging). I also stayed on the exercise bike for 20 minutes this morning, so that was a huge accomplishment. 10 minutes on the handbike added to that, and I'm feeling empowered. I need to keep my protein up for donating blood on Saturday, yet keep my calories and fat down so I still could stand a chance in this contest.

Work is getting toxic again, so I'm glad I have my "cave" to hide in, and keep worrying about keeping the patients happy (I suspect when I return at the end of next week, there will be at least a slight employee turn-over).

Counting down to leaving for Chicago. I hope the Hotel has a laundry room, because if DS qualifies, he and DH need to stay a few days longer, and I'm certain neither of them will pack for the maximum days.

More Hugs for Everyone ! ! !

Terri in Milwaukee (yesterday was 86 degrees, so Summer is over; I hope we have a warm Autumn).

Miriam I live in St. Paul. My oldest son went to the U of Iowa in Iowa City, so I am familiar with your area. I also have past through there many a time on the way to St. Louis. Hope you are having a good day.

Good afternoon! I can not thank you enough for all of the encouragement and hugs! I slept a lot last night and that has helped me feel better today. I slept for probably 4 hours or so before being awakened by the cat who decided it was prime time for going outside. I went back to sleep a little after 4 a.m. and was awakened by the doorbell at 10:20 a.m. I really wonder how long I would have slept if not for the doorbell ring!

My daughter is still really cranky but has removed herself to upstairs. I hope she pulls herself together!

As for all of the suggestions about bras...I wear a size 36HH bra. The girls have not been out in public without a bra since I was 10! I can not walk into a store and buy a bra unless it is a specialty bra shop that just happens to carry a bra in my size that actually fits my body shape. Bras in my size start at about $60, so I don't have many and take excellent care of the ones I do have. (I also shop eBay.) The potential for the weight of my breasts to pull on my surgical shoulder convinced my surgeon to put a bra on me before I woke up. No offense intended, but I have to giggle everytime I read about someone looking for a shelf bra in a shirt--my daughter and I are constantly searching for ones without the bra so that we don't have to cut it out. Terri (?)-I gave serious thought to your suggestion about pulling the bra up, but my hips are a lot bigger than 36 inches so I'm pretty sure that won't work.

Kim - You'd think that working at churches would give me an edge, wouldn't you? At one church, the members treat me more as if I'm one of their own, but most of the members are over 70 and not really up to the task. At the other church, I would have to search deep to find more than one or two people who would be willing to help out. They are THE First Baptist Church and absolutely don't get the whole helping thing. It's the most dysfunctional church I have ever come across. I AM asking for some help from my own church. I will be asking folks there for help in getting to PT appointments and, potentially, to work. I guess I don't think it is too much to ask to have my adult daughter who works less than 20 hours per week to do some basics for me. She is living in my house, eating my food, and driving my car during this time. My house was not dirty when she got here and I just expect her to keep it that way. I cleaned her FILTHY apartment top to bottom when she had surgery and was staying with me. I went to her place every day (twice on most days) to feed her cats, scoop their litter boxes, get the mail, and made sure she had everything she needed when she went home. This was on top of working 45-50 hours per week. She was not raised to have an entitlement attitude and she's not going to have one around me.

Sorry I'm so whiny!!

I'm reading a book called "Sugar" that I think is YA fiction, but is still good. It is about a very overweight teenaged girl and delves into her obsession with food and her feelings of worthlessness. Her family uses her and, even though they are all terribly obese, constantly berates her and calls her fat, stupid, ugly, etc. I empathize with her character so very much! However, if I remember correctly, the blurb about the book, written by the editor, says the main character is not likeable. If that is the case, the editor will get a piece if my mind!! The writer is so on target with the emotions of an emotionally miserable overweight person that I feel she is speaking from firsthand experience.

Okay, I've written a book here myself!! Off to walk a few laps around the house to get a bit of movement in. Hope everyone is having a great day!

Carol in NC

Lovely photo Heather!