WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JUNE 2016

What I am dealing with this week:

For all the people who think that it is easy living on Social Security Insurance, or Supplemental Security Income (SSDI or SSI), let me tell you all about it. My son has been disabled since childhood. He gets SSI, which is for people who have no work history, or a very limited work history. He gets $753 a month to live on. That does not allow him to live very comfortably. How long would you last with only that amount to live on? So, I became disabled, and since I paid in to the Social Security system, I get SSDI- insurance. At that time, Peter started to get benefits from SSDI, so his SSI amount went down to almost nothing. He got the same total amount, but most of it from the insurance pot that I had paid in to. When I adopted the girls, they became eligible for SSDI benefits too, under the pot of money I paid in to. But that took away part of Peter's SSDI benefits. The clincher is that it takes the SSI pot of money TWO MONTHS to adjust to the change. So for two months, he is expected to live on $247! He basically lost $960 of his yearly income of only $9036. Since this is impossible for him to do- his rent and utilities are more than $250 alone, I am going to have to reimburse him out of my money. So for two months I will be supporting myself and two girls on only $1439. After that I will have the huge added benefit of $480 for the two girls. Oh, and I am not eligible for any food stamps on that amount. Peter gets about $80 a month in food stamps. Just think of all the people who want to not work and live like us- high on the hog!

~

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

Good Afternoon Ladies,

Lisa, great article. You are a very talented writer.

Cheri, I’m so excited that your hubby got two offers. I know this will make it easier on both of you and you’ll love becoming a Texan (if that is what you decide.)

Heather, thanks for the great pictures. I hope more will follow. You and your DH look stunning and I love the dress you bought. Woo Hoo.

Melanie, welcome. You will find this a great place for support and information. Please tell us a bit more about yourself to help us get to know you. And please sign each post with your name and location to help those of us with less than stellar memories. If you think 54 sounds old, just wait until you start ticking off the years in your 60’s. lol But I’ll admit I feel so much better than I did in my 50’s since I’ve lost 60 pounds. I need to lose more but it goes a bit slower the closer I get. Come often.

Marcelyn, welcome home. Glad you had a good trip and I love the picture of the sea horse.

Betty, STOP EATING DESSERTS! We care and want to support you in this.

Janetr, I love the picture. It took me a minute to study it but then I picked you out.

Re, congrats on getting the scale to move and Way to Go on your celebration. Keep up the good work.

Heather, I absolutely love the picture of you crashing after a night of dancing. Did you know when DH took it?

I have enjoyed all the pictures in case I forgot to acknowledge any of them. I’ve read all but one page but need to leave for a Women of the Moose meeting. I worked out yesterday for the first time in a week, just because of scheduling. Woke up sore this am which tells me I did something. Tomorrow have nail appointment and then line dancing so that’s my exercise for Tuesday. Wednesday will head back to gym. I downloaded Windows 10 yestereday and not sure I will like it but just got tired of it asking me to do it. LOL
I have a question for all you cooks. Can Tahini be used in anything other than hummus? I have such a large jar of it that I’m sure I’ll never use it all.
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.

Sending love and good thoughts to all of you and I hope you all have a Happy and Healthy Day!


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

Stronglifts

Squats-1X5X 55/65/75/85, 5X5X 90
BP-1X5X 55/65/75, 5X5X 80
BR-5X5X 85

Kettlebell Swing

Russian kettle bell swing-22X10 X 30

I'm having a difficult time. I am exercising taking vitamins, watching my calories, especially my sweets and seem to be stuck at the same weight. I'm frustrated but will continue hopefully I will get on the darn scale and find that I have lost at least 3 pds. Not much to ask for.

Charlene - My two cents worth...I decided to do maintenance for a couple of months after I hit my first goal (onederland). It didn't end well. Once I got out of the habit of limiting my calories to the "losing" number, it was incredibly hard to get back on track when I started back. I've ended up gaining some weight back. I chose to do it because I felt like I needed to reset my metabolism. I'm with the others about using food as a reward, though. That's a slippery slope.

I'm tired today (what else is new?) and would really like to take a nap!I have another 30 minutes or so of work then I'm headed out to run an errand and then go home. I've enjoyed sleeping with the windows open for the past few nights, but that has come to an end. I think one of the reasons I didn't sleep well was the full moon shining directly in my windows. It was gorgeous, though. I'm hoping to see the "Strawberry Moon" tonight!

So good to see you, Rita!! I'm sorry about your situation, though.

Happy summer!

Carol in NC

Hi Ladies,

Catching up after being offline all weekend. Not that it was a super busy weekend, I just was enjoying being unplugged for a couple of days.

Desanders68 – Welcome! I know you could setup a separate MFP profile for your son, but that requires logging in and out of the two accounts if you are the one tracking for both of you. I don’t know of a way to log for a second person under a single account, but you might try posting that question in one of the help forums.

Heather – I am excited for you to start the Spanish Duolingo program, and a little bit jealous. I purchased an online Spanish course about a year ago when I started working with our offices in Latin America, but I have not gotten past lesson one. Maybe you will inspire me to pick it up again. Love the pics and you look fabulous in your new dress!

Lisa – I enjoyed your article on perception vs. reality. You’ve shown us again what a talented writer you are. Bravo!

Cheri – So excited to hear that your hubby is getting the job offer he really wants! Enjoy your trip to Texas. I was thinking that I had visited College Station once years ago, but then I looked it up on a map and I must be thinking of somewhere else. Guess my mind is starting to go… No more snow is right – that will be quite a climate change for you if you do move to Texas.

Feral Cats – Not sure who started that topic, so just going to address all. First, there is a difference between feral and stray cats, so it might be good to determine if they are feral meaning wild cats that are not friendly with humans or stray meaning they’ve probably been around people but have been lost or wandered off or something. Another difference is that feral cats often live in groups while a stray may be on its’ own. Feral cats cannot usually be tamed, but stray cats may already be tame. Second, if you have a local animal control, you can call the animal control and ask that they come to try to catch the cats. If they are caught, they would be turned over to a shelter. Different shelters treat feral cats differently. Some will simply spay and release a truly feral cat because they cannot be tamed to be good house pets and spaying them at least helps keep the population from growing. Of course, there are some shelters that may euthanize them. The shelter I work with will spay and then try to find someone looking for a barn cat to adopt the feral cat. Feral kittens can often be tamed and adopted out as house pets if they are socialized with humans early enough. I don’t know specifically about keeping them out of your garage, but they are going there looking for shelter. So, the best solution is to somehow find them another form of shelter. Anyway, that is enough on kitties. Good luck!

Melanie in Baton Rouge and SelenaC2016 – Welcome!

JanetR – I had you pegged as the sister in dark pink as well. LOL. I guess that just means you all have a family resemblance. You certainly do resemble your mother now. Beautiful family! Don’t see too many families with six kids (let alone six girls) anymore. I grew up with three sisters and one brother. Good thing my parents did not stop after they had one girl and one boy, because I never would have been born.

OK, just got to the bottom of page 50 and I will pause here, post, and catch up later this evening!

Linda/IA

kevrit wrote: »

Mind if I come back? Just lost my job and need support on my weight loss and life's journey.

I was just asking about you last week! Welcome back.

I'm so sorry about the job loss, but so happy to see you again.

Linda/IA funny you mentioned that it was a good thing your parents didn't stop at one boy and one girl. When my Mom found out she was pregnant with #5 they decided that was enough, so Dad had a vasectomy. Imagine their surprise at finding out #6 was on the way when #5 was only four months old. Oops. I always told them I was the best mistake they ever made.