Hi - I hope I'm not breaking the rules since I'm not quite 60, but closing in fast. I know support is important and also would love to connect with people who are close to my age. Please feel free to friend me.

@DevotedToDASH, I don't like walking alone either. My husband has health issues and can't walk with me anymore. When I was a young child I saw my childhood school friend be killed by a dog on our way home from school. So to this day I am afraid of stray dogs. Why it didn't attack me to, I don't know. I did allow my kids to have a dog growing up as I didn't want to pass my fear of dogs on to them.
@Toweringtulip, I do watch the grandkids a couple of times a week to help out. My daughter is getting her PhD in addition to working part time. So I help out with the kids when daughter and son-in-law are at work/school.

@dlockhart1955, I also have a grandson who will turn 5 the end of the year. He is a character.

@AmyM831 Sorry you had to see that happen to your friend. I can't even imagine. I have a couple of friends who have been attacked by dogs, and I've seen the terror in their eyes when even a little dog starts acting up in public. In our neighborhood we have coyotes and occasional mountain lions - when I do go out to walk, I keep mace with me just in case, but they are a fact of life around here. With rare exception, they don't want to bother humans and don't want humans to bother them.

As for my PTSD, part of my issues are because several people very close to me have been alone when they were seriously injured or became seriously ill - the thought of that happening terrifies me... more so because my first husband was abusive and would tell me that if anything ever happened to me like that he would just let me die. I still work hard every day on keeping my fear rational, but it keeps creeping in there. I have an intermittent arrhythmia that the doctor has told me could potentially make me faint if I'm exerting myself when it comes on (he does keep reassuring me that it won't kill me, but it can be very disconcerting when I'm alone and I start feeling it), so my fear isn't totally unfounded.

I've also been assaulted by strangers a few times (twice back when I lived in Chicago, and once out here) so I'm also hypervigilant about my surroundings. Sigh... I will never completely give in to it though... I refuse to.

Hi, I'm Jean and I am 63. I was in the Army out of high school and needless to say was in great shape because they made you walk everywhere and had to do exercises. I got married in the Army and was away from home and then ended up getting divorced. On my own I lost a LOT of weight and got down to 110 pounds, which isn't healthy at all. Well moved back home around mom's cooking, got married (my husband LOVE's to cook and he is from down south so enough said) which helped put the weight back on. I quit smoking and that added weight so now I am trying to get some of that off. I am 5'7 and weigh 225 pounds, right now I would just like to get under 200 but any amount would be good. Hoping to find others that kind of know what menopause can do to you too. Sorry for rattling on. Good luck to all on your journey.

HI everyone. I'm Dee. I have recently retired and like someone else posted, was much better at exercising when I worked, with less time. Seems crazy, right? Now I have all the time in the world and somehow the workouts just seem to not happen. Putting on some weight, which I am not happy about. That's why I am back tracking and signed up today for a yoga class. Hoping to get recharged and inspired as part of this group.

Hi everyone I'm Nancy. I am 61, 5'2" and closing in on 190lbs!! I cant believe it. For much of my life i was thin (never exercised and ate what ever i wanted) - so I really dont know how to lose weight. Today is my day 1!!!