WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2016

Does anybody know how to add a recipe (when it will not give you choice of ingredients or amounts)? For cream cheese pecan pie. If I attempt to edit ingredients if gives me 'odd' choices (and then removes the correct amount or entire changed ingredient. I only ate 3 Tablespoons of pie and trying to post it.

Boy, do I have a lot of posts from page 74.

I had the absolutely BEST Easter Weekend. I thought I had 'finally' won the Publishing Clearing House prize; but, I got an even better surprise! My DYS, DDnL#2, and DGD#4 'surprised' me. Drove all the way 'home' to visit for the weekend. DGD#4 came to the door with 10 helium balloons (I could not see her). She had brought a note which said, "If you had one Easter gift how would you answer; answer card before you see me" . I thought it was DGD#3, because the older 2 were already inside. I made a couple of 'guesses' then she raised the balloons and I screamed with joy, DDnL#2 filmed it and said "Hi"! DYS had walked down to DOS's house to tell him "Hi" and surprised him ; he was on phone looking out window and saw his younger brother walking across the yard. It was so nice to have ALL of my children 'home' for the holiday. All 5 of us girls went to see the movie "Miracle in Heaven". If you have not seen the movie - you need to see it (based on a true story).

They left this morning at 4:00am. I cried last night because I was so 'thankful' that my DYS thought up this idea and drove almost 9 hours (for the weekend). DH and I were talking to the 2 older DGDs and DOGD asked DH to close the blinds because the bright light was giving her a headache. Then she 'texted' DDnL#2 that 'the blinds were closed so we would not see them driving down the driveway.

I'll read all 120 posts and might not post much! I was not on computer for much, had a reason that was way too important!

Lenora

CJ - Love love love the new garden gloves!

Becca - Congratulations on getting through driving training with your relationship intact! When I was a kid my dad and his friend "swapped wives" to teach the moms how to drive a ski boat. They all said it was better that way...


We had a nice weekend although the foster dog is going to try my patience. She's very sweet, but she has a lot to learn! Saturday an old college friend was in town and took my flying in his small plane - it was fun to see our town from up high. Philip's mother is having knee replacement this Wednesday and they won't say it but I think they're both pretty nervous so we spent Easter Sunday with them and will go sit at the hospital with him Wednesday morning. I'm feeling pretty good lately, which is nice since I still haven't gotten to the doctor to talk about that antidepressant. Starting to think thatif I stay active and keep getting out in the nice spring weather I may be able to avoid medication this time around.

Have a great week, all of you! You are amazing women and whatever challenges you have, I know you can get past them!

-Yvonne in TX

Hi 50+ group. I am 60 and still trying to lose the last 20 pounds after quitting smoking. For over a year I worked out with a trainer and lost 22 pounds but these last 20 are so tough. Diet is the key to weight loss. 80% diet 20% exercise and weight lifting. I have regained the muscle mass but reducing and staying daily at 1200 calories is so tough. I have great intentions till about 4pm then boom it just becomes too easy to nibble. So I have told my husband to eat his treats elsewhere as they just cannot be within my eyesight. At 60 my metabolism is so lax no matter how many weights I lift. I do long distance walks 8-12K and do cardio machines 3x/wk and weights 3x/wk. still the weight stays the same. I lose if I go under 1000 calories or do intermittent fasting - doing 500 calories twice a week but I lose interest and boom back to my normal eating and the weight just stays the same. I guess I just need to get motivation from all of you as I just can't seem to stay fully engaged in this whole weight loss process.

Giving it a whirl again. Came back in Dec and read a post by a lady (unfamiliar to me in this group) that threw me for a loop (claiming untrue things about my religion), didn't know how to respond, so I didn't (say something nice or don't say anything, you know ) Hoping everyone is okay! Missed you all, but have eaten a truckload, indicative of my stress levels. Heavier than when I started a year ago. But today is a new day. Onward and upward.
Selena, was in Alberta yesterday, Utah today

Broadband came back for a couple of minutes then went off again.
I'm sad about my friend not wanting to see me. I would like her to feel she could see me even if she is not feeling her best. :ohwell:
I cooked 40 meatballs this afternoon. I am having 4 in tomato sauce with shiritaki noodles and chard and DH will have 6 with pasta. The others I am freezing in batches of 10.
Love to all, Heather UK

Lenora ~ Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend with your children.

Icottom (what's your name please) ~ Very cute little girls in their Easter finery.

Selena ~ Sorry you felt hurt by someone's remarks. Most folks here stay away from religion and politics.

Sugar (what's your name please) ~ Very cute Snoopy cartoon.

Here is my son and his family...



And this is short stubby me and my DH and son...

Carol, very nice pictures!
Lora in Indiana

Good morning, Ladies! Beautiful family pics!

Larisa

Lenora- what a wonderful surprise your family gave you! So well planned out! Your GD on the porch behind the balloons reminded me of that commercial that was out a few years back at Christmas time. The mama is Skyping with her daughter who is far from home and showing her how the house is decorated for the Holidays and she goes out on the porch and her daughter is there! That one made me cry! Truly, a lot of planning to pull one over on mom/grandma!

Meg- luck with the neuro

Lori- beautiful girls!

Carol- Beautiful family! You are not "stubby"; you are a member of the 5'2 club!

side note: My hubs and I were msging during lunch (he at work, me working at home) and we were talking about that movie The Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet; he asked what I would come up with as movie trailer for my life. I sent him this:
She stands at the kitchen counter, cutting up potatoes to be baked to go with the burgers for lunch, listening to the older kids crafting at the table while a lone toddler begins to sing the song of his people. Hanging on her leg, wailing; as if at his own personal wailing wall. A lament in a soprano vibrato. She sighs as the tenor toddler joins in the wail. A pause in the chorus for a sneeze. A light misting of mucus hits her ankle and foot. Four days until vacation. A hope for stimulating conversation on the horizon. Hope for a warm meal on the horizon. A hope for the absence of mucus on the return to daycare. Four days...

You ever notice that the closer it gets to your vacation time, that time actually slows to a ccccrrrrraaaawwwwwlllllllllll......

As I'm a bit late to the March party - I guess my March goal was to get down to business using MFP again! I've been using MFP on and off for a number of years now - but haven't managed to stick with it. I have been steadily gaining weight once I became officially post-menopausal - and I'm putting my self-indulgent brakes on NOW. I'm museum staffer by day and sing / play in two garage / punk / country bands with my husband for fun at night. (No rest for the wicked!)

I've been reading that low(er) carb eating can help post-menopausal gals lose weight. I'm a total carb and cheese junkie - so for April I'll be working on balancing my nutritional intake. I don't eat chicken, beef or pork these days - so eating low(er) carb can sometimes be tough for me. Advice welcomed!

Can't wait to get to know everyone a bit better during the April goals thread!

Melanie

Hi Gang!

I’ve been MIA for a while now.

Part of the reason I’ve been missing is that I got hit hard by SAD this year. At one point Miriam suggested that I try light therapy. I now own a full spectrum light but started using it too late in the cycle for it to do much. I will need to start using it next year as soon as the SAD symptoms start up. The good news is that while we don’t have much green yet here in MI I do have snowdrops and crocuses (croci?) so knowing Spring is indeed here (plus the added light we are getting) has put me into a much better frame of mind. I’m starting to break out of hibernation mode.

Another part of the reason I’ve been MIA is that I joined Mary (Fancy) in the Biggest Loser Challenge and discovered that I do not have the time/energy to try to keep up with 2 active MFP groups. That challenge is over and I maintained during it. No weight lost.

Here’s a little bit about my weight loss journey for new comers. I had gastric bypass surgery in February of 2014. I had been resisting the idea of surgery for many years but finally reached the point where I was told it was my only viable option. It was the best decision I could have made for myself. The pre-surgery tests gave me some answers to family health problems and started me on a path towards better heart health. During surgery they discovered and removed a small (very small) tumor which turned out to be a slow growing cancer. That removal was all the treatment I needed. 3 days post-surgery I was no longer diabetic. 6 months after surgery I no longer needed BP medication. Those are just the major health benefits I have experienced. I lost 140 lbs. post-surgery (150lbs. from my highest weight) and went from size 36 pants to size 18. I have more energy, move more freely, can walk longer, go up stairs, wear a seatbelt on a plane, and so much more. Losing weight is worth the effort.

So why am I here? My weight loss stalled this past year. I felt I could lose more.

Feb. 29 I went to see my surgeon for my 2 year checkup. I only lost 10 lbs. between my 1 year and 2 year checkup. He was delighted with my progress. Me, not so happy. We had a nice long talk. He stated bluntly that he does not feel as if I should be striving to reach “Normal” according to BMI. Matter of fact, he told me he doesn’t want me to go that low! That’s a tough concept for me to sit with and I’m still not 100% resigned to it. I pointed out the areas of my body that could stand to lose more fat and he told me that much of what I am unhappy with is loose skin and not fat. He suggested it was time to look at additional surgery to deal with those areas. A week later I met with a plastic surgeon. Then I went to talk to my internist. She agreed that surgery was a good option for me at this point in my weight loss journey (and this is a woman who tries everything else before sending her patients to a surgeon). So… I have a tentative surgery date set for May 12!!!!!

Even though my current goal is to maintain and not to lose additional weight may I come back and hang around here for a while?

Mia in MI

My bike safely in my desk area