WOMEN ages 50+ FOR JULY 2016

Janetr - what a nice looking family - your dgd has a great smile...

Well, by golly, I believe I have caught up for now.

Lisa – Congrats on getting everything moved. Hope things turn out will with the RV search.

Katla – Looks like those elephant ears may be a treat worth the calories. My hubby’s favorite fair treat are the funnel cakes. Similar to the elephant ears, they are basically fried dough. But typically covered in powdered sugar or icing.

AmatullaahA – Welcome! Tell us a little about yourself and please sign your posts with whatever name you want us to call you. As for getting started, a good thing is to start just by logging all your food into MFP. That will give you a good idea of how many calories you are eating daily. And if you look at the MFP macros, you can start to see how many of those calories come from protein versus fat versus carbs. Also, make sure you are logging your exercise or connect your fitness tracker to MFP if you have one. I think it’s important to know where you are starting and then make decisions from there.

Lillian – Congrats on the new grand baby! And happy belated Canada day to you and all our friends in Canada.

DrKatie – Congrats on the NSV. I think smaller clothes are even better than lost pounds on the scale!

Kim – Good luck with your mom/houseguest. I always stress about my mom’s visits because she always comes when it is convenient for her and not for me. But, I usually find that preparing for her visit is more stressful than her actual visit and we end up having a pleasant time.

JanetR – I remember you telling us about your grandson when he went into rehab. I’m so glad that things seem to be working and I hope they continue to go well.

Linda/IA

Today, we went to visit my in-laws. Both suffer from dementia but my MIL’s is much more progressed. The doctor says she is near the end. It could be tomorrow or it could be a month or more from now. Her brain is simply no longer communicating with her body. She has not spoken for several months. A couple of months ago, they put her on a liquid diet because she could not chew her food any longer. Now, her brain just doesn’t tell her body that she is hungry so she barely eats anything. It is horrible to watch her waste away, but the doctor says that she is not suffering at all. During today’s trip, my husband and his two brothers actually met with the funeral home director to start pre-planning her funeral.

Anyway, we had a very nice visit today. My FIL was having a good day and sat and talked with us for a couple of hours. He remembered that yesterday, he had been taken to visit the replica of the Veteran’s Memorial that is currently in town. And he smiled and laughed with us several times. On the other hand, he told us he had not had a Pepsi to drink in over a year when we know the care center has a stash for him and he is offered one each afternoon. So, we made sure he had one during our visit. My MIL is unable to communicate but she sat and attentively listened to all that we were saying. We will never know how much she understands, but you can see in her eyes that she does still know us and that she enjoyed our visit. It is a 3-plus hour drive to visit them, so this will likely be our last visit with MIL.

Knowing that both of his parents suffer from dementia, I am concerned about my hubby. I’m going to do some research. Anyone here know about hereditary aspects of dementia?

Linda in IA

GLo That's about 2 lbs a week! Wow! Just wow!

Janetr OKC Your grandson looks so happy. Thanks for posting that picture of your handsome family.

Heather ...Penny lives in a million places & says she isn't even sure where home is...that seems to be sanity preserving...just a thought...I hate that you feel disenfranchised, but in fact, you really are in a way... Hope hubby feels better soon.

Everyone with ailments or ill family members...my best supportive vibes being sent your way.

Karen in Virginia

Happy Sunday Morning to All!

Hot, hot, hot here in GA. We need some rain so badly!

Janet ~ Love the picture of your daughter and her family. The GS is a very good looking young man as are all the other family members. Hope his recovery is ongoing. My son went through years of abusing drugs from his early teens to twenties. Thank God he fell in love with a wonderful young woman who made sobriety more important than using addictive drugs. He has become a responsible loving parent and husband.

Linda in IA ~ It is so sad about your in-laws. My mom has dementia also (she's 90) but not to the point where she doesn't know us. Unfortunately, mental health has always been an issue with her and the worst part of visiting is her crying and wanting to go home. It makes visiting difficult when you know you cannot help the situation.

Going to walk the Pom before it gets too hot.

Taking a break from cleaning the rental house. Every time we have ever had a renter move, we have done our best to provide a very clean and fresh place for the next renter. Also, we have always done the renting ourselves as we feel we can better screen who we rent it to. But, evidently we have not been very successful with the last two.

Carol

Such a cutie, LilyMay!

And that's all I have time for this a.m.

Lillian ~ What lovely grandchildren! If that is a picture of you when you were a child, I think your granddaughter looks just like you.

Lillian - How beautiful are Emma and Jax. Fabulous!
My DGD was quite discombobulated by the arrival of her baby sister, though she put a brave face on it. We could all see it was a strain for her. This last time we visited I felt she had got over that stage and was much happier in herself again. Her older brother was truly delighted with the new baby, but he was very put out before when the middle one was born. He took it hard.

My garlic came up fine and is now drying out in the garage. DH summoned all his strength and cut the grass. He didn't moan tooooooo much and he's glad it's done. I froze some dill and coriander that I picked, so I haven't done nothing. I also "concassed" two tomatoes for a "sauce vierge". (Google?)
Most of the time I'm just on Duolingo, revising my Spanish.

Barbie - I'm so glad it's all going well. :flowerforyou:

Janet- Best wishes to all your lovely family and especially your grandson.

I remembered just in time that July 4th is DS and DDIL's anniversary. I've just sent them an ecard as it's too late for a proper one. I think it's their copper. It is also the anniversary of my first wedding. :ohwell:

Love Heather

Lillian, beautiful, beautiful grandchildren. Congratulations and thanks so much for sharing.

Barbie and Becca, so glad you are home and your husbands are on the mend.

Mary, you are my constant inspiration. I'm so glad you are back and feeling better. All is right in my world now.

Pip, all I can say is WOW! You have taught me that women of a certain age can be fit and fabulous. I'm so glad I "met" you when I did, about a year ago. I realized that I could get fit at my age. I will be 60 in a couple of weeks and am so proud of my accomplishments.

You are all important part of my life and I know you understand that I can't respond to everyone.

This post will be long because I can't post as often as I used to. Today I feel like I have a lot to share, so please indulge me.

I like how Heather and others periodically remind us of how they got to where they are now. This is especially helpful for the newbies. I know when I first started I didn't know the backstory of many of you. It helps to know that this was not and impossible journey even though we are told that at our age it is too tough.

In September 2014 I was 58 years old and squeezing into size 16 jeans. My personal life was in shambles and I hated how I looked and felt. I decided that I wanted to lose 43 pounds. I began exercising and logging all my food. In December 2015 I had lost 45 pounds and was wearing size 8 jeans. I felt fabulous and gained my self-confidence back I made the decision to close my business and begin dating. In April of this year I found a job which was to begin June 1, my business was closing May 31. Also in April, after months of dating, I met a man who made it to date number two and we have been together ever since. I refer to him affectionately as PB, Potential Boyfriend.

I think the last time I weighed myself was in March. Because I was dating, I was being wined and dined. The big drawback was this was happening about twice a week. I tried to be diligent but the flesh is weak. I kept up with my exercise though I stopped heavy lifting due to a very sore elbow. Fortunately the eating out stopped once I met PB because he would rather eat at home then dining out and he really enjoys cooking with me which is fine with me. Unfortunately, whenever I go to his home he greets me at the door with a kiss and a glass of wine, so my wine consumption has increased. But really, who could resist that type of greeting?

I've been trying so hard to keep up with the exercise but the work hours have been very long. I knew I had gained some weight because some of my clothes were getting a bit too tight, but was too afraid to get on the scale. This week I began logging again and trying to do as much exercise as possible. This morning I decided that I had to face the music and get on the scale. I was very happy to see that I was only 3.6 pounds above my goal weight. I think I did a fairly good job of maintaining before it got too far out of hand. Now I need to lose it.

Yesterday morning I went to a local park that has a fitness trail. I friend of mine has been organizing Saturday morning fitness outings and because of work this is the first Saturday I've been able to participate. I am fortunate that I have friends that are into fitness and we have a great time socializing as well as getting healthy. Trying to get back into doing kettle bell at least 5 times a week. PB says I'm in great shape now, and can't believe I was tighter (less flabby) a couple of months before we met. My goal is to show him a smaller me.

Thank you for listening, I find it helpful to write about how far I've come and where I want to go. It's like an open journal. Many people in my life don't want to hear about the healthy eating, exercise, binges and weight gains and losses. But I know I can't count on you ladies to listen and be supportive.

I've got to get going...3 social engagements this weekend and I've got to get some exercise in while I can.

Happy 4th to all my American friends and Happy Belated Canada Day to my neighbors up north.

Chris in MA

Chris - Yes, it's great to get a reminder of where we've all come from and where we are now. On thing is for sure - the struggle never stops. You have done really well to nip the "honeymoon" pounds in the bud before they multiply. Contentment and celebrations are dangerous! I have put a pound or so on since I got back from my cruise, so that will have to go. It was so easy on holiday to eat well, but I pick more when I'm bored and I'm not going to prepare a vast array of lovely salads and extra veg, just for me. My saving grace is my morning exercises - I would be huge if I didn't have those 600 calories to play with.
I do find it interesting how overweight is the new normal for our age group. On the cruise there were very few women in the healthy range and many whose health was severely compromised by their weight. I have just been reading the WI magazine and nearly every woman in the photos is overweight and standing smiling by a heap of cakes. I feel our society is blind to what this is doing to our health and to the finances of our country's health service. Weight related diseases are bankrupting the system.
I'm not saying it's easy. Every so often I have to remind myself to get a grip, but, like you Chris, I notice how people's eyes glaze over when I mention exercise or talk about calorie counting. It's as if they are mentally shaking their heads at my craziness. Thank goodness for you ladies!!!!! I have been at goal now for two and a half years, after losing 57 pounds over eighteen months. A pound up sometimes, but generally there.

Tonight is sea bass. Sauce vierge, broccoli and green beans. Yum. No alcohol for the second night running. I pick more when I have a drink, so that's one way of getting a grip. :bigsmile:

Love to all, Heather

Morning all! Just reading today.

morning peeps -

mikesmom i wanna see of pic of this man!!! if the greeting with wine is a sweet thought but u got the weight gain/cal. in the back of your mind, talk to him about it. last hubby and this one listen and help me with my quest when i ask him for it. tell him that wine is awesome but you would love the greeting with sparkling water with lime slices and cucumber slices in it instead, very romantic looking in a glass. if he loves you and cares for you, three won't be a problem with the compromise.

i must remember to tell you about kirby's call to his bro (technically 1/2 brother) on wednesday only to find that he was getting married on saturday (yesterday) and didn't invite him. his only brother? kirby needless to say was very hurt but didn't say anything to him and when they talked, kirby said that there was no sense of remorse or didn't apologize. sometimes, family sucks

Oh, so June goals:

1. Figure this thing out!
2. Keep logging everything.

3. Keep exercising:

• M-W-Sat legs/glutes
• T-Th-Sun back/chest/shoulders
• Walk to or from work/gym both ways at least twice a week, one way at least four times.
• Swim class on Sunday

4. Fortify myself mentally so I don't lose my will.. not quite sure how, yet. See 1.
5. Try the 1800 calories a day idea, for two weeks.
6. I'm attending a swim workshop the weekend of the 16~17th.
7. Join the club with the pool and the aquatics team and the swim coach, down the street from my work.

Blessings and success to you all,
Larisa