WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JANUARY 2016

barbiecat wrote: »

I finally got "the life-changing magic of tidying up" from the library....it is a best seller and I was originally #38 in line to get the book.....the author criticizes the approaches to tidying up that are any variation of a little at a time--a process that has worked for me, but I plan to read the book with an open mind....until then I'll continue my plan to go through files for 15 minutes a day and put away 10 things and all the other tricks that have worked for me....I am a great believer in "outer order contributes to inner calm"--thank you, Gretchen Rubin

Barbie

I'm currently reading this book. I too was on a very long waiting list. Not sure yet if I agree with her process but do agree that the outer represents the inner. This last home move was an eye opener in how much STUFF we continue to carry forward with us. Like your approach and have been doing this in the past year. We have another move looming for 2016 and I've warned the hubs that all the STUFF ain't going forth with us.

Happy New Years Day!!!!!

Cheri

Happy New Year!

Penny yes I remember you mentioning your connection to St. Paul. The picture has a misty quality about it because it was taken in the morning of a cloudy day. Going to see the poinsettia show at the Conservatory is one of my holiday traditions.

December goals:

Will continue to eat many fruits and vegetables.
Watch portions better.
Exercise daily be it a walk or one of my many fitness videos
Continue to touch base with friends and ask about their lives
In that vein not to get so caught up in DH health issues that it is all I can talk about
Continue to stop and enjoy something Beautiful everyday
Continue in new choir

Word:Grace

Quote: Just because you see the hook does not mean you need to bite.
Need to watch my portions more closely. Having some weight creep. Sleeping better on the days I don't stand too long. If I am standing working at exercises that relieve some of the stress.

January goals:
Same as December goals
Add laugh daily

Didn't exercise enough in December and was not as careful with portions as I needed to be, so had more weight creep. I am finding I am the opposite we asked about DH health issues. I like to hear about and talk about other things.

Watched a Graham Norton video with Bennedict Cumberbatch posing with otters on you-tube that created tears of laughter.

I am making a New Year's Revolution...I refuse to let anyone or anything control my eating. I have gone through too much (gastric bypass 10 years ago next month and plastic surgery to remove excess skin this past year) to allow that to happen. This means I have to take back control over other aspects of my life...easier said than done. Being single, I HAVE to have a job and I have been out of work in the past for long periods of time. But I have to learn I cannot please everyone and I can't let stupid actions by incompetent leaders rule my life. I stress eat and I have gained 15 pounds very quickly. SOOOOO....my January goal:

I am 5' 1.5" and weigh 148.6 pounds. I was 132.6 at my lowest and it wasn't that long ago.

1. Keep track of my food intake on MyFitnessPal (it works very well for me when I do it) with a 1200 calorie limit
2. Begin a light exercise regimen (to begin actually doing something...and build up)
3. Keep anything I eat that has sugar in it to 7 grams or less per serving (and eat ONE serving)
4. Drink 8 glasses of water a day
5. Limit eating out to once a week
6. Start culling my house down by releasing stuff of unnecessary sentimental value (I am single and there will be no one to leave it all to anyway!)
7. NOTHING from a vending machine! Bring food and snacks to work.

THANK YOU to all you wonderful women who have been mentioning getting your home tidy and clean. :flowerforyou:
I have just used my new Dyson cordless to vacuum the hearth rug and sofa. Got some dust off the back of the sofa that has been lingering for a while. Then I spot cleaned the rug and got off some spots that have been annoying me for a while. Then, after reading Flylady (thank you Penny) I scrubbed the sink and washed down the outside of the front door. :drinker: I feel great!

I am someone who is tidy in the parts of my house that the public see, but not so good where it's out of sight. My utility room is messy and so is the office. Also garage. Some of my drawers and a closet could do with a sort out. I will have 5 minute goes at those - socks etc. Today I threw away a few magazines. :drinker: I have had this habit of hidden mess all my life. When I was a teenager it was particularly severe, in fact pathological. I think it represented the face I presented to the world, versus the "real me". Now I am not such a mess inside I might be able to sort out the cupboards. :laugh:

Lots of love and thanks, Heather UK

Happy 2016. May it be the healthiest year ever.

Lin

Is the name of the book - The Life Changing of Tidying Up? Who is the author? That's what I need to read. I always make up my bed; and empty dishes in sink to dishwasher; and, it makes house 'look' clean. I have 6 filing cabinet drawer to go through and chunk what is not important. All Christmas decorations have been down since yester, but not put out in the shed. Got to get a leave bag to hold my big wreath so it won't get messed up. It's too pretty to not treat it with care. I've decided to divide my ornaments to my sons, giving them at Thanksgiving next year; but not my manger scenes ... they can get them when both of us are gone.

Ate bacon for breakfast and now I'm nauseous - there has to be a connection. DH made brownies the other night and brought them into den - the smell of them also made me nauseous. I only ate about 2 - 2" squares the day he made them; after that I don't eat them. Like them warm.

Cracker tore up a 'new' stuffed animal last night; so I pulled the stuffing out of the head and sewed it back up; she liked it a lot because just about everything made it squeak. Next time (3rd) she tears it up, it'll go in the trash. Need to find her one that doesn't have stuffing in it. DOGD told me about one that you put am empty plastic bottle into it (and it is difficult for them to get the bottle out; but, it makes noise.

I'm reading a book; but, thinking it is only one that would interest a legal secretary - I'm wondering how it will end; so far it has been letters and memos between lawyers, staff, and client. Typical divorce action (so far). Typical dysfunctional family (rich).

DH is reading a much more interesting book; saying it is hard to put down. We both read a Sidney Shelton book (title escapes me) in 2 days.

House looking extremely messy at this point; and, too nauseous to start on it so far.

Sitting here wondering if DOGD is ever going to come down to help me to pay off borrowing $$$ to use for Christmas present for her step-mom. If not, then maybe the next time she comes home. I was gone most all day on Mon, Tues, and Wed - and too late for her to do anything. I think I will get her to start de-cluttering the bathroom. Too difficult for me to do so; have the climb into the tub to clean that end of the room.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
Lenora

December goals
1. Increase weights on Stronglifts 5x5 check
2. Weight lift at least 3 x a week check
3. Kettle bell swing nonweight lifting days 20 minutes check
4. 8 hour diet window check
5. 8 power foods check
6. 8 cups of water check
7. Follow night time snacking prevention methods check
8. Lose 5 lbs this I didn't accomplish but maintained.
9. Do the five day fast check

I did pretty good with my goals I need to work on loosing a little more. I am excellent at exercising!


January goals
1. Increase weights on Stronglifts 5x5
2. Weight lift at least 3 x a week
3. Kettle bell swing nonweight lifting days at least 20 minutes and follow the last two weeks of program and start new 5 week program and increase weight of Kettlebell from 25 lbs to 30 lbs
4. 8 hour diet window
5. 8 power foods
6. 8 cups of water
7. Follow night time snacking prevention methods
8. Lose 5 lbs
9. Do the five day fast
10. Do the 5:2 fasting method.
11. Train puppy 3xday
12. Incorporate EM2WL into my program I increased my calories to 1750 a day

Word - prioritize, I am important!

Quote- I -Know- I -Can



Mary from Minnesota

Michele - I think you asked if swinging Kettlebell on rest days was really a rest day. According to the book Kettlebells Simple But Sinister you should swing every day unless you need a rest or life happens. It is proven to increase weight lifting lift amounts so as a supplement to my Stronglifts it should be beneficial to help me increase my lifting amounts. At this point I only do it on rest days but plan on using it as an after cardio burn.



Mary from Minnesota

Call me crazy but I love to see other people happy and succeeding .

HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR, Ladies,

I’m just so happy to start a new year with all of you. If we have the right attitudes and work at it, this can be the best year of our lives. Today is a day for a fresh start and we can leave any negativity behind us. I don’t mind holding on to the positive and I count my blessings that I have lots of that to hold on to.

Joyce, so glad you and Charlie were able to go out and have a nice meal last night. Sometimes we just have to put forth that extra effort.

Viv, welcome back. It sounds like you are working on some worthwhile goals. Our resident organizer is DrKatie and I have picked up so many great tips from her. I’ll look forward to hearing some of the other tips you get from your group. One day at a time and often 15 minutes at a time works for me.

Penny, your beautiful picture certainly doesn’t look like night even though it’s not a bright sunny day. Glad you get to enjoy it.

DeeDee, good to see you in the room. I know you newly retired ladies are too busy to visit often but we miss you when you are away. I hope 2016 brings you in a little more often. (((Hugs))) It’s really, really, really wet here, too.

Lynn, welcome. Please tell us a little more about yourself to help us get to know you. This is a great place for support and information so come often and join right in.

Lisa, your night sounds like a normal new year’s eve at a hotel except for “someone learning to tap dance upstairs”. Sorry but that did make me laugh.

Heather, for the most part I do stick to 1200 calories a day. I occasionally add back part of my exercise but until I get to maintenance, that is the plan. This past month, unfortunately I have done little exercise and way too much over eating, calorie wise.

Barbie, I haven’t read any of the books on order or de-cluttering but I am a true believer in “outer order contributes to inner calm”. I hate getting up in the morning to a messy kitchen or getting home from a trip to a messy house. It is definitely worth the effort to me, to take care of it before I leave or go off to bed.

Grammiekb, welcome. It sounds like you have set good goals for a start. This is a great place for support and ideas on staying on track. Please sign your post with the name you want to be called and a location, general or specific. We are happy to have you.

Cheri, I love moving only to get rid of things. It’s just a great time to weed out both then packing to move and unpacking on arrival. Where are you headed? Good luck.

Katla, that is wonderful that your DS sold his house. That can get to be a real burden.

Kimses, I can’t believe people slept through all those alarms. Good grief!

Msymsed, good for taking control of your life. Glad to have you join us. Is there a name you want to be called?

Miriam, that’s great that the girls are on meds and doing well. That will have to make your life easier.

Barbara, welcome. Sorry you gained back the weight but at least you know this works and what you have to do. Come often and join right in.

to any Newbies that I missed. Come often and join in the chat. This thing works!! Please sign your post with what you want to be called. It makes it easier for us to respond to you. Also a location is great, be it specific or general. We are happy to have you join us.

I finished taking all the decorations off the tree and DH has to put it away. I’ve put up all the snowmen that were scattered around the house and about all that is left is the bows and greenery on the two chandeliers. Then once everything is packed away in the plastic tubs we have to get them in the attic. (that “we” is hubby on the bottom handing the tubs up to me.) I have one or two that have old things in them that we don’t use any more. I want those to go in the trash rather than back in the attic. Oh yes and we still have lights on the front of the house but they are no longer plugged into the timer. We will take those down once it stops raining. I have finally got my new WII all set up and programed so I have to start my exercises on the Fit program. I sure hope this will get me back on track.

I hope all of you have a healthy and happy New Year.
Words I live by:
Savor. I have to slow down and savor every bite.
and
Opportunity. Each day offers new opportunities for good health and happiness if we just look for them and choose them.
I Love you,
DJ
Myrtle Beach, SC

There were several things in the Marie Kondo book that I liked, and also several that I discarded. Someone mentioned hobbies and the stuff they require. I think people who are attracted to total minimalism tend to not be hobby type people. Just like weight loss and personal finance, I think if is important to find a method that works with you and your lifestyle. Some people need strict black and white boundaries, others can figure it out for themselves. I personally like a little wiggle room, flexibility and grace.

I am the complete opposite of Heather. I will leave dirty dishes in the sink to organize my closets and drawers. Although my personal decluttering style falls somewhere in between "put it all in the middle of the floor" and "fifteen minutes at a time", there were times when I think my style is more extreme than Kondo's and other times when I don't come close. For example, I would never, ever store anything under my bed. That would cause me extreme anxiety. On the other hand, I have every tax return we have ever filed in 40 years of marriage, neatly arranged in a box in order. There's no way I'm shredding that. Maybe, one day, if I have to downsize to a small apartment, but not as long as I have an attic.

My January goals:

Log every bite
10,000 steps or more per day, 60+ active minutes
Gym group classes at least 3 times per week
Weigh less on Jan 31 than on Jan 1

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year!

I've been on MFP for a couple of years on and off, but have only in the last month realized that I need to focus if I am going to lose weight and get back into shape. I will be turning 55 in January and have a stressful and demanding job that in the last five years I have allowed to take over my life - but no more! Very excited to find your group and looking forward to learning from all of you. (PS LOVED The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up; on my second copy after losing one to a friend.)

My January goals are:
1. No drinking (alcohol)
2. Log all calories daily
3. Yoga daily (have been doing 15 minutes daily for a few weeks)
4. Elliptical or a walk daily
5. Plan ahead for meals and exercise

Thanks for this list/support group, Barbie and everyone!

Two posts from me in one day - this will probably stop once I'm back at work

Penny - Yes I've found Flylady. It's early days for me but I am writing things down and trying to get some sort of routine. I am cleaning my sink before bed on an evening and having a quick tidy of things. I'm swishing and swiping the bathroom every morning after getting showered and dressed. Baby steps.

Heather - glad to see you are still here. Luckily we've not been affected by the flooding but houses just a few minutes walk away have been flooded out completely. It was so bad I wouldn't have been able to get to work! All the ways I walk to work were flooded. Thankfully the Foss Flood barriers were fixed and the water subsided but left a lot of mess for people to clear up. Some houses won't be habitable for many months by all accounts.

Dee Dee - I've heard a lot of people say that once they retire from work they are busier than ever.

Msymsed - My height and weight are almost the same as yours, you are taller by half an inch similar goals too I'm also keeping a track of my food and decluttering the house. Seems a few of us here have found Flylady or something similar.

I'm in a challenge to get 12,000 steps and so far I'm at 11133 so I'd better get moving, can't believe it is 7pm already need to get the steps in and the kitchen clean before 9pm when Sherlock is on. I've been looking forward to this for a while. I love Benedict Cumberbatch, and I saw him on Graham Norton too, he's quite a funny chap isn't he. Have you seen him do the Otter poses?

This isn't getting me any steps so I'll say goodnight.

Viv
York UK where it is raining again

Barbie ... Thanks for the new thread!

Welcome to the new ladies!

Viv ... I remember you! Glad to see you back.

Drkatiebugs ... Just did the math in your interesting 2016 fact ... That's all the math I need for 2016!

Now don't go strapping on the boot again ... I got the message ... The scale showed me up 17.5 pounds (I thought it was 15) from January which is actually up 27.5 from my lowest. So that obviously has to stop.

My year long goal is to get to onederland ... Or lose 30.5 pounds. I was within two pounds of this before.

For January I'm going to set the bar high and go for an 8 pound loss goal. A lot of weight came on this month ... Dang chocolates!

Logging, weighing, water ... Back to what works.

Also want to make my exercise area more appealing. It's in the basement in one of the darker corners ... So thinking lights, carpet, maybe some paint. Maybe I'll actually use it then.

I follow along with a decluttering group online that sets 15 minute missions each day. I did this last year and made some great strides in getting my home organized. Will follow along again when I can.

Happy New Year!

Beth near Buffalo ... Where we are getting snow!

Happy New Year everyone.