WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JANUARY 2017

Hello Chilly Chicks!

It's snowing outside... and that is kind of a big deal round these parts... as Carol said - this is the south - we don't DO snow, here... lol. The roads are already a mess and the locals are in a panic. I decided to finish out the day at home – since I had to start in the office.

I didn't get jammie day, today *pouts* because I worked a half day on Tuesday from home while I was doing the fence work. Since they limit the number of hours we can work from home, I had to get up and go in, today. Fortunately, I have five spare hours of VPN time - so I can work the evening from home.... although it did take me an hour and a half to get home in the ridiculous traffic.

And can I get a drum roll please? *thrumpitythrumpitythrumpitythrump*

I got my tushie to the gym today - and weighed in... I guess all that hard labor in the yard paid off - because the scale showed something just under 217 - WHOOT!

Since I don't have two days of the 217 - I just put the 219 from my last weigh in down, for today - but when I weigh tomorrow, I will be able to change my ticker, again!

AND I took my measurements. I lost another inch off my waist and TWO off my belly/hip area. I am so doing the Snoopy Dance!

Quick bio for all the new folks:

I started the whole weight loss experience in childhood – my parents sent me to a fat camp! So, I have battled my weight since I was 12... but the meaningful part of my journey started when I was 40 and 367 pounds. I woke up one morning with the realization that I would most likely live into my eighties or beyond – based on genetics and family history – and if I felt this crappy at 40, what was it going to be like at 50, 60, 70? I was afraid... I was very afraid. So, I did some research and decided to get a Lap Band. I wasn’t willing to have any parts removed, but, I needed something that would make it easier for me to eat less.

The insurance company denied me. My BMI was over 60 – so they thought I should have the gastric by-pass – but, I fought them and won. (Shocking, right?) I got my lap band and proceeded to lose a bit over 100 pounds with Cardio exercise and a low-carb eating plan. I can’t recall the exact low weight at that time... I just know that I felt AWESOME – my knees stopped hurting, my ankles worked right, and I could fit into a lot more clothes at the fat-lady store. I was pretty pumped – but, I felt so good that the fear which had driven me initially was gone... and when life happened (lay-off, bad job replacement where I worked 14 hrs a day on salary) I just fell off the wagon. I started eating carbs – I stopped going to the gym – I stopped thinking about it and just ate whatever, whenever.

Now, before my lap-band, this would have meant a re-gain of every ounce I had lost and then some – but thankfully, the band was still there, and still doing what it does – which is slow me down, force me to chew my food, allow me to recognize when I am satisfied. So, although I did gain something like 15 pounds back – I didn’t gain any more. I now weighed 275ish – MUCH improved over the 367 and I proceeded to coast for the next ten years. In the last few years, my Hubby has had first a stroke, then a bone infection and finally an ankle break which required him to be in a wheelchair for a while. I was shocked to find out, when I had my annual physical in Feb 2016, that my weight had dropped to 260. And I decided that I should capitalize on that momentum and use the time when my Hubby was in physical therapy to do a little exercise, myself. I had had success with a food diary before, and went looking for an on-line version – found MFP and discovered that I wasn’t that far off my calorie goals... Then I found the forums and this lovely group of loving and supportive women. The rest is history... I am currently nearly 52 (another January baby). I weigh 217 (unofficially) today and still going strong.

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Kay – You will be back to that low weight in no time! Rockin the veggies!

Mia – I still want to see pictures of all that fabulousness now that you are healed up! I aspire to have my whole body lifted at some point. Lovely to see you!

Barb/Edmonton – Hi! I have found MFP to be really useful – both the diaries and the communities – in staying motivated and staying on track. Hope to see you here, often!

Lenora – One of the things I DON’T miss about not having broadcast television – ads for “The Texas Hammer.” (another ambulance chaser.) They make those commercials so stupid – to appeal to the ignorant. It ought to be against the law for attorneys to take advantage of the ignorant.

DJ – Sending Love and Good thoughts back at ya!

Janet – Love the new profile pic

Pip – I had a black lab as a kid.... she was the best dog, ever. I love seeing pictures of your fur babies! Yogi is my favorite – but don’t let on! I wouldn’t want the others to feel badly. They are beautiful, too... I just have a soft spot for black labs.

Marni – LOL – OMG – if I could donate fat, I would be able to supply the whole of North America!
Barbie – I like your word for 2017. We can all use some Balance. I have my fingers crossed that Sasha won’t be too bummed out missing Brandy.

Linanne – Welcome! I commend you on battling with your daughter – but yes, you do need to keep yourself together, too. Exercise is a key component for me – so keep on sneaking to that gym!

Michele – I am with you on the wine and chocolate! Who drinks milk, anyway? LOL.

Toni – *waves*

Marylin – I have my hubby trained... he doesn’t cook very much – but when he does, he leaves all the cans and such on the counter until I get home and can enter the recipe into MFP. He is easily trained because he is loving the whole body change thing... especially since I make a point to show it off for him, these days. A little black lace makes a man ridiculously happy. Silly creatures. Oh well, I have to wear a bra – why not wear one that he likes?

Sharon – Technically, it WAS a compliment – he likes the food you cook from scratch, better... It’s the delivery that needs work. LOL

Allie – I am so glad you are not having a mass of anxiety. Can’t wait to see the bed.

Kate – Home is always good, though, right? Travelling is marvelous – but, I always love coming home. I also weigh myself every day. I just automatically step on the scale when I get to the gym. I am too curious not to. It about killed me to not make it there to weigh myself for a whole five days... I was getting a little panicky - thinking I might have gained. For me, the daily weigh in is just peace of mind. Cool to see the floats before and during... I have enjoyed your photos.

NYKaren – I am glad to be of service in the entertainment department! Size 8? I can only dream of such a thing... Maybe next year. Great work, Sugar! Oh, and I will be HAPPY to send you the snow, back! You can have it! It was pretty to look at for about five minutes...then I was done.

KJ – Green Tea is full of antioxidants – so supplementing water with Green Tea is a good thing. I drink a LOT of my liquid in the form of Tea. The water in Texas is kind of ICK. Not like the water in Oregon, which was delicious and refreshing. Half the year, here, it tastes like algae with a heady bouquet of boat fuel. If you don’t put SOMETHING in it, it is really not very pleasant to drink. So, Crystal Light is my friend – and I drink a lot of tea.

Mary - *waves* How is our Kettlebell Queen? I see you are still swinging!

Lisa – Hope you get your wish! And Gratz on the full night’s sleep! Always awesome.

Colsaylors – Colleen? Pull up a keyboard and tell us a little about yourself. Welcome!

Grace – Stay Warm, Sister! I, for one, am not planning on venturing any farther this weekend than the corner where my gym is. Thank heaven it’s literally around the corner – no danger in getting there and home. Great work on getting that room ready... I have been meaning to clean out my office/craft room for a while now... maybe I will take a hint from your resolve!

Richmondlady – snow shoveling is excellent exercise!

Charleen – 1 lb is totally doable. You got this (to steal Rori’s line.) Can’t wait to see the closet organized.

Rita – I know that one... I decided to accept a “holding pattern” thru the holidays.... there is no rush. If you need a break, you need a break. ((Hugs!))

Tara – All you have to do is show up and participate... welcome! One thing I have learned for myself... If I log, I lose... I am just more aware of what I am eating, and I make subconscious choices, I think, that help me when I am logging. I have had to slap myself a time or two – I had a momentary phase where I was eating things that I neglected to log – but, once I accepted the fact that some days I am just going to go over my calories, it all evened out. I love the Intermittent Fasting... it allows me to eat two really nice meals a day – vs three marginal meals – one of which I would have to force myself to eat, anyway. I am not a breakfast kind of gal – never have been.

Christy – Agro is one thing you won’t find too much of on this thread... we are all about respecting the opinions of others. We all have our own way of getting there, but we are all trying to lose, or maintain weight. Some folks eat “clean” and some folks eat whatever they want within CICO... some folks exercise as the mainstay of their plan, some folks diet. Whatever works for YOU is what we want to hear about. Gratitude is a good word! We will be here to cheer you on as you fight the good fight.

Belle – Hello! Even when you go over – log it... then you will understand what happened if you don’t lose – and you will know how far off you were. Besides – if you factor in some walking time – you probably were fine.

Katla – I remember when my DH and I were first together... I had a single bed... we slept in it together – and my cat would come and sleep on the bed with us – generally on my hip. It was a very cozy bed with the 500 pounds of Human and 12 pounds of Cat in it! When the cat got very old, we built him some steps, so he could get into the much larger king sized bed.

Cheri – my phone is too stupid to scan stuff. And I am too stupid to figure out how to do it with my tablet... lol. I just enter the data by hand on my trusty keyboard – assuming it’s not already in the massive database. I love that so much of what I eat is already in there.

Margaret -

CT – It’s never too late... Welcome! I am a fan of the elliptical, too. One day, and one pound at a time! I try not to think about the total number... at 5’4” I should probably weigh something like 125 – but, if I think about losing 90+ more pounds – it hurts my brain.... One pound, I just focus on the next 1. Good luck!

Karen/VA –

Carol – Stay warm! It’s just the same in the Dallas Metro Area – madness from the moment the first flake falls.

Betty – you do what you can... you can either plan for the panhandle – have some change at the ready before you go out, or ignore them and move on. Really, you are going to see the same guys over and over – at least we always did when we lived in Eugene and Portland – so, just figure you can’t give them money every day and move on. I would, occasionally, buy them food. Anybody who was REALLY down on their luck was glad to get it. I gave change less often.

Becca – I can’t claim nudism – but, I can keep up with you on the crazy! LOL – must be a west coast crazy gene. You are rocking the food choices! Powerful and Smart... yep – you are!

Glenda – Hello! Get those workouts – I know from recent experience that getting in some physical activity can do wonders, even when you aren’t really worrying about the whole food thing. And see notes above – I am also a daily weigh person. I don’t let it make me crazy if I see some water weight – and I keep on doing what I know I should do. And yep – just do it. When I am not re-building my backyard fence, I generally get up every day and go to the gym. It’s just part of my day. Like brushing your teeth or doing the laundry – it’s just something you do. No motivation required.

Yvonne – Hello! Great job on planning for the donation! I do a lot of “pre-logging” when I know what I am going to be doing, it’s easier to stay on track – and you don’t have to worry about what you can or should eat – it’s already on the food diary.

SueBDew – Stay warm! And in general – stay home... it’s just safer.

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Well, Ladies, I am doubly glad I have some lentils and ham in the crockpot – it’s just so blankety-blank cold, right now... I know they will be the perfect dinner.

I will see you all, tomorrow – when I MAY be able to log a new “I haven’t weighed this little since college” record. Onderland is closer than I thought... Whoot!

Hugs for Everybody!

Re in TX

sleepy levi!

Someone is going to have a birthday tomorrow

Hmmmm I wonder who will b turning 3 tomorrow