WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JANUARY 2017

Took too long reading now out of time. Lost 2.4 lbs over the holidays. I'm sure it was all the walking we did in FL. Working to decluttering my house and already have a garbage sack from just two drawers.
We are very cold here in NorthCentral TX. My car had a little picture of a snowflake this morning. Probably won't snow.
Fun reading all the interesting posts. I do believe I am the oldest "girl" on the thread. Maybe II am crazy for trying to keep up with all you young chicks. Lol
I also weigh everyday. It helps me know if something I ate the day before affect my weight.
See ya tomorrow
Sue Dew in TX

Jana in VA – My ‘minimum’ exercise is 15 minutes on the treadmill (which I hate ‘royally’). I prefer warm weather exercises … swimming and walking outside. While we do have nice days here in SW GA most of the time, it’s been awful the last few days. We had torrential rains for 2 days, making our dirt road difficult, at best, to navigate. I had to go pay property taxes and also son’s because he has been really sick. I think I went up and down it 3x today. But, really happy we were no longer living in Albany, that got hit by several storms, knocking trees over in a large section of my old neighborhood, down in an ‘older’ section of town, and down the main road going to the hospital which was lined with old live oak trees that formed a canopy over the road. That’s no longer the case. I went into town; but, nowhere near the damage. They’ve had a 7pm to a 7am curfew. I think most people are ‘surprisingly’ abiding by it; but, if you don’t have a very good reason to be out; you’ll probably be a resident of the city/county jail. Ambulances who normally go down 3rd Avenue to the hospital have had to find other routes or take people to the North Campus. Friends that stayed through it say it was the scariest thing they’ve ever gone through.

Gloria – How do you go about doing that? I could use one less thing to worry about. Especially when it comes to my computer.

KJ – Some have silvery white gray hair and some have yellow gray and that can be aging even on a younger woman. My middle sister puts blond in her hair because her gray is more yellow. My oldest sister met a new neighbor when we moved when she was 10. Solid white hair (silver) and sister prayed every day since that she would, also, have a head of white hair, she started turning gray in her mid-20’s and never stopped until she was totally gray in her early 40’s. My gray hair is white; but, my nature color is auburn, although a bit mousy. I’d highlight it for years to bring out the shine and not cover the gray; now I am almost too gray to put color back in my hair without a touch-up job every 4-5 weeks. Can’t afford that so I try to find a hairstyle that I like.

I was surgically put into early menopause at the age of 35. I finally told the OB/GYN that taking hormones was going to get ‘someone’ killed if he did not do something. So he put me on them 365 and I finally just went off them … best decision I made. As I have gotten older, I can say that the one thing I inherited from my mother was ‘good skin’. I’ve never wore foundation other than in my early teens (13-14) in an attempt to cover up a birth defect. It has faded to almost nothing now.

Toni – Happy Birthday (a day late)!

Tngram2seven – My DBnL had a stroke (bad one) while they were traveling back from Key West with another couple and when she called our other sister, her son answered and told her to NOT let them take him anywhere except Mt. Sinai (in Miami). That was the Friday before Halloween; they performed 3 operations on him with 4 or 5 days to remove clots and control bleeds. The MDs said that it was the 'worse' bleed they had 'ever' seen in their practice and they were amazed at his progress. He has made a miraculous recovery; he will be on blood thinners for the rest of his life; but, every time he came out of recovery he recognized and spoke to sister and their two adult daughters who had flow down to be with them. She opened up a site called CaringBridge.com and that was the way they let friends and family know how he was doing, and also what types of prayers they needed specifically. He was in the hospital about 6 weeks and the MDs/Surgeons told sister that he was within 4 hours of being dead. He was home by Christmas and is doing well and doing the PT/OT thing and in 6 weeks they will reassess him. I believe with all my heart that God has a big plan for DBnL, if not just his testimony. We called him a couple of days after he got home, sister said that he might get emotional, which he did; but, then when DH came back from Louisiana, he cried because he said that DYS had gone to the gate with them (saying he needed to fix it). When they said their good-byes … said that DYS grabbed him and just ‘hugged’ him really tightly. When he was talking about it, he broke down; what else do you do when that occurs, other than to cry with him.

I hope that your friend’s husband is doing better. I think under those set of circumstances … you just need to let her know that you are there for her. I see that my sister’s life will change drastically; because her DH has always wanted ‘her’ to do things for and with him. I know that my oldest niece was concerned about it when they transitioned home, hoping that he would not be so bad once he got home. If you live close enough to ‘give her a break’ so she can be ‘off’ or ‘by herself’ … that might be helpful.

Heather – I like the ‘highlighted’ message, ... sounds good. But, I have to agree with Mary … and we had a similar circumstance that Mary and her husband have had. Being cut out of ‘family’ and being in their lives. Also hurtful when it occurs ‘online’ because you have nothing you can ever do or say to some that have disagreed with you.

Cheri – We can get fresh pecans around here, too. This part of the state is known for its pecans and peanuts.

Nancy D – I like apples; but, I stick with the crisp ones, I do NOT like a mealy apple or an over-ripe banana. I’ll buy my bananas on the greenish side; leave a couple out for DH (to eat when they are ripe); but, put mine in the refrigerator. The skin will turn black; but the banana won’t ripen nearly as quickly.

Lanette and Nancy D – My goal is to get my weight down enough that my BMI down to a ‘normal’ rage. I tend to gain weight from the toes up; and, lose from the face down. I have to watch to make sure when I lose weight that I don’t start losing too much (in my face) and start looking ‘gaunt’.

OK, a 're-introduction' of myself:

I’m 65, retired on a disability (bipolar disorder) from a job that I truly loved and for the man I had worked with/for about 20+ years as a paralegal. When he was an attorney, instead of a judge, we were in a plaintiff-based firm that concentrated of medical malpractice/malfeasance, auto collisions, product liabilities, divorces, and criminal actions. I loved all of it. Hard work, good pay.
1) I got up to 200lbs at my heaviest; or should I say, I would no longer weigh myself on our home scales; still don't. I’d only weigh when I had to get weighed at MD, who only ‘fussed’ about the extra weight. I've on a CWLCP which is taking it off slowly and incorporating 'real' meals in
2) I was 200lbs when my DYS got married; and, I ‘looked’ dowdy and probably more than my years. At least I felt old. Now I feel like I am in my early 50’s; but, my personality is ‘I’m a teenager/young adult at heart’.
3) I’m trying to get my BMI down to what is ‘considered’ normal for my age and all that. I think I have 2 or 3 more points to go. I got within 1 point once, than I have lost and found those 5 – 6 pounds since. I’m ready to make a change, even if it means I have to do something ‘kooky’ at this point. I’ve changed up my eating habits; and, hopefully that will help
4) I a wife of 44 years to the same sweet man (9 ½ years older than I am); mother of 2 wonderful sons; have 2 DDsnL; 4 DGDs, a cat – outside – doing his job; and a spoiled rotten Jack Rat – inside – name is “Cracker” … she is so spoiled rotten stinky it is funny - Louis says that 'if' she could talk (English) she would and we've never get a word in edgewise. But, I only have myself to blame. Louis (DH) loves her as much as I do, even though he was not ready for an ‘inside’ dog. Since I am out here most days alone, I wanted a companion and she is certainly that.
5) I think if I get somewhere around 145 – 150lbs I will be in the ‘normal’ BMI range.
6) Tracking my food and drink is a habit that I do not plan on changing.
7) I’m an artist and I love to talk (and type, which is very relaxing to me).

Lenora

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

Good Evening My Dear Friends,

Joyce, I sure hope the doctors can get you back on track. I don’t like for you to be in pain or bleeding. (((Hugs)))

Janetr, thanks for the update on Mia. So glad she is doing well.

Heather, I have to agree with you on enjoying food and having it as entertainment. I certainly don’t go to the lengths that you do to prepare such wonderful meals but I do enjoy food and work to savor each bite. You are my inspiration to work out more so I can enjoy the things I like to eat and drink. We do all seem to agree on the negatives of mindless eating and stress eating. BTW, I’m making the Spinach—Feta Pie tomorrow.

Rita, sorry to hear that you are a bit down. Wish I could reach through the computer and lift you up!!! (((Hugs)))

KJ, I had to giggle when you talked about your hubby not eating your veggies. Thanks for the smile.

RLady, we often have more than one Carol which is why we often put the state after the name. You can be CarolVA if ya want to? Our Carol is CarolGA and for the longest time we had CarolNC. I really miss her and hope she is well.

Belle, don’t let us overwhelm you. Just read what you can and post what you want. The main thing is to log everything that you put in your mouth and check in here as often as you can.

Toni, when I read you post I thought you said yesterday was your birthday. You said it was 64 yesterday but I read, “I was 64 yesterday”. Lol

Mary, I have been having trouble with MFP not working well for me, also. Especially the food log. 

Joyce, I hope you made it to choir practice. Wish I was nearby to come help do your hair and drive you there. (((Hugs)))

Nancy, the nice thing about this group is we discuss almost anything. (NO politics) I can’t tell you how much I have learned from these ladies over the past 2 ½ years.


to all the Newbies. 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 went to my friend’s house today and a cleaning lady was supposed to come start cleaning it to get ready for renters. She was sick and showed up two and a half hours late, too ill to work. I sent her home and rescheduled. I got a lot done to prepare for the next Garage Sale. I was planning it for Saturday but the weather will be around freezing and raining. Decided to do it Sunday later after it’s had time to warm up a bit. I hope we sell most of her things as I may sell the rest in one lot to a resale store. The movers come on the 15th then I can get needed repairs done to make ti more livable. Yes ladies, in a month or so I hope you won’t have to hear this storyline any more.

Sending love, good thoughts and sunshine to all of you.
I Love you
DJ
Myrtle Beach, SC

DJ wrote "Toni, when I read you post I thought you said yesterday was your birthday. You said it was 64 yesterday but I read, “I was 64 yesterday”. Lol

Too funny because I read the same thing and went back and re-read it. Several others read the same thing we did and have wished Toni Happy Birthday. Why do you suppose so many read it wrong at first? Never say it might be our age.

Janetr okc

Lenora, I have a dear friend who is a missionary to the deaf. She has had several tumors in her eyes and it might make her blind. Her and her husband communicate with all of her friends and churches through CaringBridge.com. It is a wonderful site.

I did get to choir practice!!!!!!!! I was in pain and walked slow but I didn't care. I was sitting there with my wonderful friends learning our music. Before we took off for Christmas we made sure we learned this Sundays's music. Well mmmm, we have a problem. But from what I have always seen, God takes our voices and makes it good. I hope I didn't offend anyone who isn't religious in any way. Tonight was our first night after Christmas , I think they were off 2 weeks so we were all excited to see our new music. So we started music for the next several weeks and also Easter. Some one suggested taping our choir practice. Our director provides CDs of our big music pieces so we can practice them on our own.


Joyce, Indiana

Hi everyone,
It has been a few days and I am still tracking my food! Baby steps!

Barbie and Nancy - and anyone else who likes listening to audiobooks. Have you ever listened to podcasts? There are so many topics and so many interesting stories! And they come in all different lengths...from a few minutes to a couple of hours. The first season of "Serial" was a big hit last year. I also listen to some weight loss ones: Primal Potential and Psychology of Eating.

Joyce - glad you made it to choir practice.

Michele in NC - I'm a big fan of working out to DVDs at home and own a million of them (including Jari Love). I just started a Jessica Smith rotation, and am a longtime fan of "The Firm".

Heather - Your trip to London sounds divine! I love going to museums. My husband is an artist.

Sue Dew in TX - You are a rockstar for losing over the holidays!

take care,
Liz

Heather: Enjoy your time in London--and tell us all about it.

Lanette SW WA: Welcome to a great group of women. I live in Oregon, not far from Woodland if we go there by boat. Our forecast is for 19 degrees as tonight's low. There isn't any snow in our yard but we see snowy fields across the river in the Washington hills. They are lovely to look at.

Pip: I don't mind walking in 33 degrees because I don't create my own windchill. Be safe. :flowerforyou:

Rori: Do you get to cherry pick your business trips? You have what looks like an amazing year coming up. :bigsmile: Happy birthday and anniversary for this month!

Barbie & lacruiser: Our library also offers electronic books and audio books through a program called Library to Go. It is managed though Amazon. When I was a commuter I bought many audio books from Audible.com. I think they may now be part of Amazon, but I'm not sure about that. Since I retired & no longer have a commute I rarely get audio books. I still have access to those I bought.

Marni in AK: Thank you for sharing the cartoon, photos of Alaska & of your parrot. We have friends who have a parrot they love. Wyatt Earp is a lovely fellow. Welcome to a great group of supportive women. :flowerforyou:


I have nothing on my calendar for tomorrow. I hope I can take the dog for a walk & burn some calories riding the recumbent trike in the garage.


Katla in Beautiful NW Oregon

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" -Audrey Hepburn

Happy New Year everyone! Where can I find info on the 40 pounds by May 27th challenge??? Just what I need!

Morning, all!

Marni in AK - you're welcome for the welcome... I received a similar one when I began here, so I pretty much never left. I've had some times when I respond more slowly, or miss a few days entirely, but I always come back. Rori in CO and I even got a chance to meet when she came to West TX for a Girl Scout thingie. Such fun!

If you're not interested in gastric bypass or the aftermath, guys, skip this next bit, I got longer than I intended!

On gastric bypass--I don't always go too deeply into the psychological side of things, because everyone is so different, and everyone has their reasons for being heavy. A lot of headwork and writing on my side finally helped me understand, in hindsight, that until my father was dead (he abused us all), I didn't feel safe walking the earth, and particularly didn't feel safe to be an attractive woman. He died in Dec. 2004, and I talked to a doc six months later about GBS and had the surgery by Sept. 2005. I also hoped it would save my marriage--it didn't. One thing the shrinks are beginning to understand--the massive changes the GBS patient goes through will expose any cracks in a relationship.

On the success or lack thereof--I went into GBS with the solid belief that I was risking my life to save my life. I was prediabetic, among many other co-morbidities, and at 5'1" and 303 pounds, was nearly 200 pounds over my ideal weight. You may have seen me mention that I'm 5'2" tall earlier--the weight was compressing my spine so much that I had lost an inch in height. But, I had the right attitude going in--and on this side of things, I take my supplements religiously, because to me, I made a lifelong commitment, knew what the risks were, and still take that seriously. I also stay aware that I struggle with constipation, so I always have some form of liquid with me. I took miralax daily for the first five years or so, but weaned myself off of it slowly, and do ok most of the time.

I was also lucky--I was 45 when I had the surgery, but didn't have the excess skin issues that so many do who lose the weight quickly. But then, even at 300+, I was one of the fit fat, worked out regularly, walked as much as my feet could stand, etc. Most of the skin issues seem to be genetic, however, more than fitness-related.

Don't get me wrong--there are times when something gets stuck going down, which still happens more often than I care to admit, that I feel as if I made a deal with the devil. Hours of throwing up due to a lack of attention to chewing a bite of food long enough seems like harsh punishment at the time.

If anyone wants to try to eat like a GBS patient, here's the straight scoop: Don't drink with your meals (I can't, even if I try) or for about a half hour afterwards. Don't eat any serving of food that is bigger than your hand. For any dense food, particularly meat, try to have some kind of sauce with it. Dry chicken is the worst offender for getting stuck. Also, cut meat up small, the size of a pencil eraser, and chew it until it's liquid in your mouth before swallowing (that's the one I forget a lot). Pasta is often an offender for getting stuck, so my husband (bless him) overcooks it. Al dente pasta is almost a guaranteed issue. Every GBS patient is different, but for me, lettuce of any kind gets stuck as well. I try it again about once a year, knowing what I'm risking (I miss salads!). Potatoes digest well, but are pretty much a guaranteed nap within 15 minutes, so I only eat them at home, and for dinner.

Sugar can make you sick--I'm one of the approximately 20 percent that still have sugar reactions. They're called "dumping syndrome," for the uninitiated . If I eat a sufficient amount of sugar--the amount varies, but anything over 15 grams is a risk--Anywhere between 10 minutes and three to four hours later, my body will begin dumping insulin into my bloodstream with zero warning. I get horribly dizzy and nauseated, hot flashes, cold sweats and when it's worst, I get stomach cramps and diarrhea. They don't know why some people have sugar reactions and some don't, and can't tell you going in if you'll be the one that will end up unable to eat much sugar, if any.

And, for me, unadulterated water HURTS. It feels like someone punches me in the stomach when I drink regular water. Doesn't matter whether it's cold, hot, or tepid. This also doesn't occur with every GBS patient, but it was an immediate thing for me. It will go down and does what it's supposed to do, but I always carry one of the Mios or powdered drink mix type things around with me just in case all I can get is bottled water.

Unfortunately, salty, crunchy things go down a treat, never an issue with those, and though some do, I never had issues with eating bread. If I desperately want something sweet, honey doesn't trigger dumping, so it's my go-to on that side. You can eat your way around a gastric bypass if you ignore all the above, indulge in the foods that don't make you sick, and graze all day. That's what gains the weight back for most people

Please note - I would have the surgery again in a heartbeat, even knowing what I know now. It allowed me to become the person I was supposed to be had I not put that blanket of security fat around myself and hidden myself from the scary world. But the journey is/was not without pain.

Sorry for the book!

Later, y'all,
Lisa in West Texas