WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR FEBRUARY 2017

stats for the day:

bike ride hm 2 gym- 12.17min, 14.4amph, 141mhr, 2.9mi = 121c
apple watch- 110c
LATERAL MACHINE 30min, lvl8, lat10, 125ahr, 143mhr, 3624strides, 60floors, 3.64miles = 264c
apple watch- 269c
bike ride gym 2 dome train station- 6.59min, 145mhr, 11.9amph, 1.3mi = 81c
apple watch- 56c
walk station 2 wk- 9.18min, 3.2ap, 143ahr, 124mhr, .4mi = 43c
apple watch- 42c
walk wk 2 sta- 8.44min, 3.3ap, 95mhr, .4mi = 37c
apple watch- 41c
bike ride dome 2 hm- 19.38min, 8amph, 147mhr, 2.6mi = 203c
apple watch- 154c

total cal 749

Hello everyone. Hope those of you having difficulties find peace & less stress soon. Congrats to everyone finding success on the scale or other non-scale accomplishments.

I was really hopeful that I'd use being off from work this week to get in lots of exercise & lose a bunch of wt, but I've been just going up & down the same 1/2 lb for several days now. Also haven't exercised every day or log all meals all the time, either. Did so during the day, but then slacked off in the evening a couple of days. I did make reasonable food choices, but didn't bother to log it. Oh well. Back on track today.

The weather's been great for a couple of days, with temps in the 50's - maybe even hit 60 today. Unfortunately, it won't last for long - forecast is for high of 31 again this wkend & rainy (better than snow) & snow (ugh) again a few days next wk. Just hope it's not a significant amount. It is, of course, still only Feb. & it's not uncommon for us to still have the snow in April. Although, the past couple of years we've had less than many yrs past (global warming, likely??). Most yrs, I've shoveled snow off my flower beds during April break from school, but past 2 yrs it melted by end of March.

Felt so nice to go outside a bunch the past couple of days. Even just walking out on the deck in the early morning felt great. Have been hibernating all winter - esp. since it's been very cold much of the time (which really bothers my asthma) & been sick with cold or bronchitis at times. When working, it's also been dark when I leave & again by the time I get home. Nice to be off work & have decent weather at least some of it to get outside. We even have some grass to walk on - just where hubby had made a path in the back yard with the snowblower for the dogs - surrounded by about 2-3 ft of snow (or more where it's been piled up), but at least there's some green stuff. It's a start.

Eager to have spring & flowers, so I shoveled snow off my raised flower beds today to help them along. Have lots of perennial beds all around the property, but too many to do all of them, plus the snow's too deep to get to most of them. The raised bed is next to the sidewalk between garage & driveway & house, along a fence. It's about 25 ft or so long & wraps around both sides of the fence.

Hubby took a day off today, too & we also worked on cleaning out the garage a bit since it was warm out. He took my car & his truck to wash off the salt & grime, too - needed it badly. Also shoveled the snow under daughter's swingset & hung up a swing for her today. Started to rain later in the afternoon, so hubby & I decided to watch a bit of recorded tv show together. I kept falling asleep & debated just staying on the couch, but am happy to say that I pushed myself to get up & go do an hr on the treadmill instead. Was a struggle at 1st, but so glad I did. Would've been really easy to just be lazy, but reminded myself that I wasn't happy about not getting in the exercise every day this wk like I'd planned, so didn't want today to be another day it didn't happen. Hopefully it'll show up on the scale tomorrow, too. Decided to keep dinner simple today, too - told hubby I didn't really care what we had & I was going to go exercise about that time. So he just made daughter something & he had leftover pulled pork we had yesterday. When I got done exercising, I showered & then just had some yogurt & made a tuna sandwich, but then was full so only ate 1/2 of it & saved rest for tomorrow's lunch. That's progress for me - in the past, I would've just eaten the whole thing whether I was really hungry or not, plus would've had chips along with it. Had a sandwich for lunch & thought (for a second) about having some chips with it, but chose baby carrots instead.

Taking daughter to movies tomorrow along with a friend & his mom. Gonna make sure I do my exercise in the morning 1st. They might want to also go to McD's for lunch if we go at that time. If we do, I'll just either have a salad (no dressing - don't like it anyway) or grilled chicken plain (what I usually have at fast food place - which I rarely even go to). Daughter won't eat apples, so I'll eat the ones that come with her meal, too. No popcorn at the movies, too - just water.

Gotta go - really shouldn't be on computer this late or won't be able to sleep. Having some acid indigestion, so will likely have some trouble sleeping anyway. Oh well.

Best wishes to all. Some advice from another ebook read today: Even what seem like tiny steps - choosing one healthier food over an unhealthy one, getting even a few minutes of exercise or more movement within the day - over time lead to more & more of them & add up to big progress. Better to make little improvements more slowly that become ongoing habits we can stick to than force ourselves to make drastic changes all at once that are difficult to sustain. Celebrate even the tiny achievements. Don't let the little setbacks or small movement in the scale get in the way.

-- Becky (NY)

w

Thanks for the good luck wishes Michele

Lanette- very itchy scalp when getting hair dyed is usually allergy related. I'm allergic to just about everything and allergies developed into allergic asthma about 10 years ago. About 4 years ago, my scalp felt burned from the dye and itchy for about a week after (about 3 shampoo cycles).  A very good friend is my hair dresser and I asked her if she would wash and rinse with COLD water after the dyeing process - my thought process was warm water opens rather than closes the scalp pores and hair cuticles (is that the right word?), but COLD closes them. So every four weeks I get a pamper and catch up with fun talk with a great friend right up until the moment that cold water gets on my warm scalp.  I have to admit that over time, I've come to almost enjoy the contrast!  It is invigorating at least. And no more burning and itchiness. The price of 'beauty'.  Makes me ponder the 'just go gray already' of my previous post even more

Chris in MA- impressive that your knew what was going on with my finger- yes, I'm having a "distal interphalangeal joint arthrotomy and debridement with mucous cyst excision".  My nail is very misshapen by the cyst, which is what got me to the Dr in the first place (who then sent me to the surgeon). Started as a small bump in July and is now embarrassingly large and "in the way".  I'll let you know...

DJ - I use a saline rinse at least once a day- every morning first thing and then after working in yard or if there is alot of pollen (NeilMed, which has a bottle, not a neti pot but only because my allergist gave a free sample pack and that's what I got used to - it takes a bit of practice to get the correct angle).  Even on days I think I don't need it, I use anyway. It helps immensely with congestion and I don't get as many headaches -always a blessing. Love the Japanese method of decluttering-I'll have to try that

queene in PA

Sue, I am very proud to be an alto. I love, love, love harmony. If I had any kind of opportunity to be in any kind of choir I would jump at the chance. I don't think I would like barbershop type music though. The harmony is to tight. But pop show tune, madrigal, religious, any kind of choir, I LOVE. Go for it!!!! Through our church we have had the opportunity to be in choirs that are a collaboration of all the local Southern Baptist churches and one time when we had a evangelist come to town for a week and preached in our local big stadium, we had all the churches in town participate. That was the largest choir I have been in. When I was in high school, each high school in the area sent a soprano, alto, tenor and bass and we had a large choir of several hundred. Even though I was just a sophomore, I was chosen as the alto!!!!!! That was when I learned how to snap my fingers for one of the songs. Can you tell I love to sing!!!!!

Joyce, Indiana

Planted some of my tulip bulbs in a pot and set it by the window. They have sprouted, so when they bloom, will post picture. Couldn't wait for the snow to disappear. Thinking I may plant of bunch more in pots, but stagger the plantings so I have them blooming right up until the time I can plant outside.

Hugs to all. Take care
Paula Y

Sue - Glad you all had some sun this afternoon. My daughter also lives in Parker, she told me it took her 2 1/2 hours to drive home, normally a 30 minute drive. She's been working 11-12 hour days six days a week so the drive was a killer. Seems so weird when we had 87 degrees today.

Janetr OKC

Peach: Thanks for your good wishes for my horse time. It was great. More later. :flowerforyou:

jolenec: I have always let MFP set my calorie goals. They started me at a higher calorie level and reduced my allowed calories as I lost weight. It wasn't speedy, but it worked very well and I'm lots happier and healthier now. When I work hard at the gym I am sometimes a little sore the next day. Light exercise such as gentle stretching or walking usually fixes the soreness easily and quickly. You may be going at it too hard for your present level of fitness. I follow a harder day/easier day plan that seems to keep me from being too sore. A little sore is okay, but painfully sore may mean you're doing something wrong. Is there a professional trainer at the gym who can help you set up a routine that works for you? :huh:

Becca: I've switched to glycerin soap. It is very mild. You might like it, too. The brand I get is Nutrogena. In my younger life when I had acne, I tried this soap or a product like it. It didn't solve my problems back then. Now it works perfectly and it doesn't irritate my skin.

Barbie: I hope the x-ray for Sasha gives results that lead to a solution for her leg problem. Sending good thoughts for both of you.

Sarah in Ontario: Congratulations on your victory at work. Creating a better relationship with a coworker can be a challenge, but is worth the effort. WTG!!!

Sue in WA: Arabs are inherently beautiful. Your description of her as a "valley girl" has me smiling & imagining her tossing her mane and strutting her stuff for the drab girls in the neighborhood.

Rori: JanetR is a lucky woman. I hope you two have a great time together. :smley:

Marni: I love the photos of the native jewelry. Love the deer, too. I thought they were elk at first glance but they seem way too small to be elk. :flowerforyou:

I had a great time with Arrow & he was a good boy for me today. I didn't try to ride. I practiced my skill at lunging. I stood in the middle of the arena with him on a long lead or lunge line. He moved in a circle around me at my direction. I sped him up, slowed him down, and had him change gaits and directions. It is a good way for him to get some exercise and practice doing as he's told, and for me to learn how to ask for what I want, and move his feet. Arrow has not always been predictable but he is getting better with more frequent handling and consistent training between all of the people who work with him. There are three of us as far as I know: his owner, his trainer (who is my teacher), & me. Of the three, I have the least skill and experience but he was a cooperative and willing boy today & I had a great time. :bigsmile:

Katla in beautiful NW Oregon

"So many of us believe in perfection, which ruins everything else, because the perfect is not only the enemy of the good; it's also the enemy of the realistic, the possible and the fun."

2 more pages but tomorrow it will still be here - night all!

Weather here has calmed down Storm Doris has gone on her merry way, it's cold but the sun is shining.

Been to the gym 15 mins each on bike, rower and treadmill plus a round on the weight machines (slowly increasing weight on those)

Re grey hair don't know what mine is like as I get it coloured as soon as roots are showing, I go to the hairdresser every week and I'm not sure I could style my own now. My hair seems to benefit from the process as it always has better condition after the colour is done

Off to town shopping will check in later

Kate UK

Hi all!
Doing a bit of tidying for our buyer. So annoying to have to show again. It takes a day out of our week.

Will get a bit of shopping done this afternoon when we have to clear out. I like visiting the fresh fish shop and stocking up on fish and squid. It's a pity our local town doesn't have a good baker. The quality of ours is poor. In Hove the bakeries are amazing! There is one baker a short drive away, but we don't often get there.

Got a bit of pruning to do outside. Sunny day and the daffodils are out.

Love Heather UK xxxxxxx

Weather has been unseasonably warm here in Ct, 50 and 60sso pine are pollinating and I can hardly see to type. Allergy season has hit!

Rita from CT