WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JANUARY 2017

Good evening Ladies...I'm back! Hope you remember me.

I got so busy I just didn't have time to post or keep up with you all. It took me a couple of weeks to catch up with you all, but I did it. I am so sorry for those of you struggling with illness, loss of loved ones and life's challenges. Kudos to those who have achieved successes. Welcome Newbies, this is such an awesome group of ladies.

I went off the rails for the past couple of months, half heartedly trying to maintain my weight. I found it so difficult to follow my former healthy routine of eating healthy and daily exercise. I blamed it on my new, very long work,hours, but in the end it was just an excuse. I noticed my clothes were becoming tight, so I sat myself down and had a frank talk with myself and decided I had to buckle down before I was forced to buy bigger clothes. I had avoided the scale since October, as if I didn't know the number it wouldn't be so bad. This morning I bit the bullet and got on, I have gained almost 6 lbs. since then and am almost 9 lbs. over my goal and 11 lbs. from my lowest 2 years ago when I hit my goal. Not too bad in the overall scheme of things but I need to get back on track before things get really out of hand. I lose very slowly so it will probably take me about 3 months to take it off. I began logging again last week and tried to do some exercise at least 5 times/week. My hips hurt so much in the morning that I can't roll over in bed, this is new and very distressing. I used to do the elliptical for at least 20-30 minutes every day and stronglifts and/or kettle bell. I now struggle with 15 minutes of elliptical and about 3-4 minutes of kettle bell. I'm hoping to strengthen my body in order to do more, but don't want to push it now for fear of making my hip pain worse.I used to to walk 10,000 steps per day easily but now with an extremely sedentary job struggle to get above 5,000. But I'm giving it my best effort, no more excuses, just solutions.

My bio: I turned 60 last summer, my profile picture was taken on my 60th birthday and I was so proud of what I had accomplished. When I began this quest 852 days ago, 191 lbs. were sitting on my 5"3-3/4" frame. I was never thin, more curvy, but the weight really got out of hand in my 40's amd well into my 50's. I made attempts to lose but gave up quickly and blamed it on getting older. I had become convinced that no matter what I did I was destined to be overweight. I was miserable both physically and mentally. I never looked at myself in a full length mirror and clothes shopping, which I once loved became an exercise of misery. Something in me snapped and I buckled down, one new good habit at a time. First I began exercising, using a Fitbit as motivation. I then discovered that I had been sabotaging my prior weight loss attempts by eating low fat so I began a high protein, high fat, low carb diet. This kept me full and within my calorie allotment. I cut down on sugar, my nemesis, and found the cravings stopped. It took me about 15 months but I lost 45 lbs. (my goal was 43) and I went from a size 14/16 to size 8 (my goal was size 10). I felt fantastic both mentally and physically. I ate up the compliments (instead of the sweets) from friends and gained confidence I never knew I had. I ate very well, enjoyed my food and didn't really feel deprived. As I got smaller and needed new clothes I discovered thrift shops to buy smaller clothes. It was very motivating to buy smaller sizes and spend very little money on designer clothing. I wasn't hiding in clothes that were too big, but celebrating my successes, and enjoying clothes shopping again (a form of exercise).

Was it easy? No, I had my struggles, weight gains, plateaus and occasional binges (one night an entire bag of M&M's). Going out to eat was a big challenge for me, I love wine or a drink when I go out. But I had my friends here, with similar struggles to help and encourage me. They would pick me up when I fell and cheer when I was celebrating. I missed them and need them so I am back.

Enough for now, I could go on and on, I have 3 months of posting wanting to come out of my fingers! I'll check back in soon.

Love to all,
Chris in very snowy MA

Lisa in West Tx Thank you for the encouraging words. Just to be clear I’m an expat American. I married an Oz and have lived here for 27 years. I have two dual citizen sons who have cute Aussie accents tho.

Lenora Thanks for the advice on how to answer everyone. It took me a while to figure it out. Also I’m not near a computer all the time but I plan to get the hang of it. Thanks for the heads up on appropriate subject matter for the group. I probably would have been ok but its nice to have a clear guide. I’m sorry about your sisters and mum. It’s a tough gig. I am much more comfortable about my cancer than I was with my son’s as I’m sure you can imagine. I do feel for my husband tho. It’s hard for him to see his family members go through this. Luckily he’s a selfless fellow.

Margaretturk Thank you for the prayers. I know from my son’s experience prayers and positive thoughts and energy really do make a difference.

Katia in Beautiful NW Oregon Thank you for the welcome and the well wishes.

SueBDew in Tx Thank you for your best wishes.

Re in Tx Its good to know there’s no agro here. My philosophy is eat more nutritious foods more often and less nutritious foods less often. Because I have an active social life I eat at maintenance on the weekends (I am currently eating at maintenance and extra protein for health reasons). I have a Mediterranean background so my natural/cultural diet was fairly healthy to begin with. I just ate too much and my weight accumulated over 20 years. I do limit refined carbs and fried foods. I still have these on occasion and would never think of giving up bread or desserts I just don’t eat them daily like I used to. I’m 20 lbs from goal and will continue the healthful diet through my treatment though I won’t focus on losing.

I am grateful. Cancer isn’t nice but the care here is tremendous and it was detected early enough there is an excellent chance I will survive it. I plan to put it behind me like my son has with his. I will be treated in the public system so it won’t cost me anything outside of our normal contribution. It won’t impact my family’s lifestyle whatsoever. That is comforting.

Michele in NC Thank you I feel I have found a great place to share. I appreciate your empathy.

Jana in VA Thank you for your encouragement. I try to be strong. The only time I was shaky was when I didn’t know how far the cancer had spread and there was a chance it was metastatic. It wasn’t so I can see more clearly where my path is taking me and it has an end to treatment unlike so many others. I went camping for 8 days with my husband just 8 days post surgery so I know my body is ready for whatever lies ahead. I feel so much of the recovery from cancer is mental. I have a very good role model in my son who was only 13 when he was diagnosed with a rare blood vessel cancer that showed up in his brain. He had a stroke, brain surgery, another stroke and more surgery then radiotherapy to get it under control. He has zero deficit with regards to function and during the whole ordeal he remained positive and un-phased. Today he is a researcher and specializes in quantification of fish populations so it goes to show that we can overcome so much.

Sharon in Lethbridge Thank you for the prayers.

Canookie Thank you for the welcome and your concern. I do have a very supportive loving family of which I am truly grateful. I am also a doxie lover. The pics are:

Ludwig; Rosie and Buddha; Buddha; Eric, Holly, Alex Buddha; Bridie












Ludwig made to within a month of his 17th birthday. Rosie and Holly made it to 13. Buddha and Bridie are still with us. Buddha is 13 in February and Bridie is 10. Buddha, Holly and Bridie are rescued dogs from breeders. They have had good lives but came to us for better care for their twilight years. We have a great organisation called Dachshund Rescue here that helped with placing them with us.