WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2017

Happy March!

Did a “quick skim” and will reread later on tonight.

Barbie, thank you for starting this month’s thread. Glad Jake is doing well!

Charleen, way to go on your NSV! What a great feeling to be able to stop a med – a great reward for a job well done! And what a touching story about the old gentleman and his vet bill – there are very few thrills that equal being a “guardian angel” like that. Thank you for posting it and I’ll be on the lookout for ways to do the same.

Heather, photos of DDIL and grandchildren are very nice! Hope the realtor got the pix straightened out for your buyer and the ruffled feathers are soothed-or the NEW realtor, if it came to that, is more diligent. All this real estate stuff brings emotions to a head quite easily. Lots of money flying around, joy and worry at the same time.

I love reading everyone’s goals! Lots of good ideas here!!

Here are mine for this month:
• Keep doing the low-sugar thing, meaning try to keep overall carbs under 100 gm per day and sugars under 50 – MFP includes the sugar in milk, fruit, veggies, etc. And “added sugars” under 10 – this is from processed foods, the bit of maple syrup in my muffin, etc. those are the bad actors I'm really chopping.
• Aim for 30 gm of fiber per day.
• Keep total calories in the 1400 to 1700 range (MFP gave me 1470 but some days I just need a few more to function. Good news is that I no longer have the urge to binge or eat when I’m not hungry.)
• Meet with a trainer at the gym and actually get a “plan” to get some strength training. It’s free with my membership and I just haven’t done it yet. And then actually “work the plan” at least once a week. Not sure my work schedule yet so I’m staying a little ambiguous.
• Aim for 5000 steps per day on average. Still doing a lot of “mall walking” right now with my BFF. Soon will be light enough in the morning to get a nice walk in before most folks wake up – just me and the birds!

Had some good NSV including lower blood sugar, actually a bit lower blood pressure, and fitting again into some of my smaller pants.

Also lost about 3 lbs this month. One of the neat things about eliminating the sugar, according to some of the info I’ve read lately, is that it’s often a slow and gradual process since not all carbs are drastically reduced and I’m OK with that as I am pretty close to goal.

Lanette
SW WA State where March is coming in like a lamb today.

Charleen – Our last cat, “Miss Kitty” lived about 21 years. As she got older, it was hard for her to jump up; but, every time we ever mentioned she did not look very good (not grooming herself) and thinking she’d die any time. We were always surprised that when we got home from wherever; she had groomed herself (partially) and would ‘meow’ so we’d look at the job she had done. She’d be ‘groomed’ from the top of her head, down to her waist, down her front legs; but, what she could not reach by bending over, was left ungroomed. She’d ‘meow’ until we reached over and rubbed her head and would ‘purr’ like she was the ‘most loved cat in the world’. Oh, to love a cat and be loved by a cat is a joyous thing. She was the most loved cat of ours, at the time. Tux is such a lover you can't overlook him. He comes running up like a dog; when Louis pulled into the carport. Happy to see him and knowing he will get a small amount of cat food to eat before Luna comes down and pushes him out of the way. That is one reason we keep a small pan out there full of food, in the drawer off the desk. We put Cracker's old crate pad out there on top of the desk and he loves it.

Yvonne in TX – I am sure the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush flowers are pretty out there. Our spring flowers are daffodils and tulips (although the tulips don’t last long). We have what I call “Johnny Jump-ups” that look like miniature pansies). Pansies down here in SW GA are more of a Fall and Winter flower. Jasmine and azaleas, roses, lilies and irises are some others that will bloom out in the yard. It doesn’t look like my irises are coming up; and, I can just hope that my lilies will bloom. The Johnny Jump-ups grow ‘wild’ in the wooded area, where it is moist. But you can buy flats of them during early Spring.

Heather – I’m still on HCT (???) has a long name; but, very low dosage. It always goes by the shortened term.

Becca – Your lunch looks delicious!

Mia and Becca – You’ve got to remember to ‘bookmark’ the new page(s).

Lisa – Great that you and your husband have not smoked since the day before surgery; and, you for 7 weeks. You go, girl! Y’all will feel so much better being ‘smoke-free’.

Can’t wait for the combined “Chicago” shows and the ‘new’ one as well.

Kept under my caloric intake for the first time in the past 3 days. Got to get up on the treadmill now; so ‘nighty-night’

Lenora

March Goals
Ways to Step-Up My Game

Assess Problems
1. Carbs. I've been attempting to do a lower carb diet of 50-75g with no more than 25g per meal. (Doctor recommendation.) But - I haven't been monitoring my carbs well.
2. Fiber. I've attempted to get 30g fiber daily for colon health. (Doctor recommendation.) I'm getting it by adding Metamucil or Miralax to my daily intake. I want to incorporate more food-based fiber. I have a list of high fiber foods. And, I'll add ground flaxseed and chia seeds to my meals.
3. Breakfast. I struggle with choosing a healthy breakfast - so it's often coffee and an ounce of raw almonds. Think I'll try prepping some quick breakfast options. I also have a bad habit of getting my coffee and getting on the couch in my pjs until I pry myself up to get busy. I think I need a rule to make myself get dressed before my 2nd cup of coffee.
4. Vegetables - I need to eat more fresh vegetables. I love them - but I've been too lazy to fix them for myself. DH preps more starchy veggies/sides and I need to pass on those. Actually I'm not that lazy. But DH tends to cook more. Even if I cook - he'll come in and cook something else. And... I hate wasting food. We aren't on the same page. When I dropped the most weight in 2014 - I was squarely and completely in charge of preparing every bite I ate. And... DH tended to get on board with me then. He will follow my lead. So... I'll meal plan for myself and get to cooking.
5. Exercise. I haven't really pushed myself to get moving. Perhaps getting myself dressed when I get up will help my motivation. Also - I might be letting myself off the hook by thinking... "weight loss is really more about the eating than the moving". And that may be true... but psychologically for me - they work together to promote and support the whole healthy lifestyle vibe: Eating and moving to feel better... to build my core... to be stronger.
6. Blood Labs. I received results of my blood work. Glucose is elevated. So time to get it under control. Doc wants me to focus on losing 10% weight.

March Goals
1. Carbs 50-75g with no more than 25g per meal.
2. Fiber 30g - work on getting more from food. Add to menu plan.
3. Track. Submit completed entry daily in MFP.
4. Vegetables. Eat a big veggie salad for lunch or supper.
5. Exercise. Log 30 Fitbit minutes. And daily session on the elliptical.
6. Fast. No eating after 9pm. To prevent late night snacking and to get a good 12 hour overnight fast.
7. Sleep. In bed by midnight.
8. Declutter. Office Supplies, Electronics, Music, Craft Supplies, Cleaning Supplies, Utility Drawer, Utility Closet.

I'll work on more mindful... eating, exercise, sleep. Aiming for progress not perfection.
I'm thankful for this group.

-- Ginger in Texas

Thanks for new thread, Barbie!
My goal for March is to exercise more because the weight has been doing that creep up thing since Christmas. Not good!
Betty