WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JANUARY 2018

Happy New Year Peeps!

Welcome new gals!!! This is the place to be at the start of a New Year. I joined on Dec 24th, 2016 and it's been life-changing for me.

Wendy - wow, thank you for that review of Longo's research. I copied and pasted it onto a word doc and will review the detail later today.

Over the past week, I've been working on a review of 2017 and some ideas for 2018 which I will now post here- some are quantifiable goals, others are areas I want to work on and will be researching. Here goes:

2017 year in review- highlights

• Lost 6 lbs during 2017 – I am able to fit into my clothes again & some are too loose. I am now at the higher end of BMI which is fine.
• I attribute the loss to strength training started May 20, been doing it faithfully 3 times a week since. Weight and inches lost was despite not being able to kick sugar and eating a lot of sweet and processed food in November and December. But I have added avocados to my diet, almost daily. Maybe that helped make a difference?
• Blood tests are in the normal range.
• Quit drinking alcohol. Tired of the "beer belly"
• Managed to go off blood pressure pills – tho it’s creeping back up again and I’ll need to monitor more closely.
  
  
  2018 guidelines/things to tackle = notes to self
  
  • My word is Gratitude!
  • Stop worrying about things that may never come to pass (most things) and things I cannot control (DH’s health for example).
  • Focus on eating for health and not the scale. I have reset MFP to track protein (50 gm/day) fiber (30 gm/day) sugars (50 gm/day). I no longer focus on fats or carbs or calories for that matter, but will aim for healthy fats and complex/high fiber carbs.
  • Keep up with strength training 3 times per week, and aim for 6000 steps per day average.
  • Incorporate exercises to work on balance.
  • Eat more fruits and green veggies each day. Include both raw and cooked greens and veggies: salads, smoothies, soups. Tips from Dr. Joel Fuhrman: cut up aromatics (onions, garlic, shallots) into little pieces to activate enzymes. Same goes for kale and other veggies. Make supper a huge salad, chew slowly and thoroughly-again, to activate digestive enzymes.
  • Cut back on dairy and meat – see if it helps with allergies and digestive issues. Missing gallbladder makes meat a little harder for me to digest I think.
  • Continue to work on bone health – I recently ran across this: Per Dr. Fuhrman and others: calcium from veggies is more bioavailable if the body is alkaline – meat, dairy and coffee (sob) push it to the acid side of the spectrum which is thought to actually leach calcium from bones. Wow.
    
  • Cut back on added sugar and processed food/sweets. Once again putting out the “not welcome” sign to Mr. Reese Cup and Little Debbie. Those two are insidious and sneaky!
  • Work on improving sleep, and conquering early morning headaches.
  
  My copy and paste and bulleting got kind of goobered up but I think it's still readable.
  
  I am waiting for the sun to warm up my little weight lifting room. So far it's been foggy and cold all day so I may wait until tomorrow.
  
  Fireworks wasn't too bad last night; thankfully we got the dogs out early to do their business before the major booming started. Sophie still wandered around and was restless all night, even with the thundershirt.
  
  I have a line on a new housecleaner who cleans for our dog groomer and a good friend of mine. What we are looking forward to the most is a reason to clean up the clutter and start hauling items to the mission or the thrift store!
  
  OK ladies, gotta run.
  
  Lanette
  Chilly SW WA State

Ladies - I just ran across this. I like it



Lanette
SW WA State

Hi, I'm new to this group. This is day 1 of my new eating/exercising plan. I turn 50 in March and I don't want to hate the pictures so my goal is 20 lbs by March 15. 10 more pounds after that to be at final goal, but I'm being realistic.

January Goals:

Dance (Salsa and CW lessons) 4 times a week (Tues/Thurs)
Gym 2 days a week (Mon/Wed)
2 mile walk in neighborhood 2 days a week (Saturday/Sunday)

Low carb diet with clean eating

I'm very determined and hoping to find support to stay determined. Adult children and their pets were here for 10 days over holidays and I'm just ready to get my house back in order and make this happen

Call me crazy but I love to see other people happy and succeeding .

Good Evening Friends,

Wendy, I see you know what I was talking about when allowing myself to get in a foul mood because of the actions of family. It’s just that I normally can stay detached or at least only get irritated for a moment. Thanks to you and the others for kind words. Things are much better the past two days.

Terry, I think Inspiring Connections is a fine name. I really like using the word connections. I’m big on alliterations so I would probably try something like Caring Connections or Careful Connections or Charming Connections….but that’s just me. (later) I do like Chainmaille connections, too.

Kay, good job on getting through your year end to do list. You are probably one of the most organized people I know.

Sue, I’ve been watching that cold Texas weather. It even said Brownsville has a cold weather warning and that is near where I grew up. Ya’ll just stay in and stay warm. This too will pass.

Felicia, I’ll admit it…I’m jealous. I hope you have a ball in Cabo but bring some warm weather back to us.

Sharon, just do what is right for you. If you want your marriage to work I guess my only suggestion would be to talk to him as much as possible. If you then see that it has no hope, at least it would help you with the next move. I can’t tell if he acts like he wants to work things out, but then I have had a skip some posts from time to time. It just doesn’t sound like it if he is still calling and texting. Just know you have our support.

Allie, I hope you don’t pay any attention to your brother. You do more than anyone I know.

Heather, so glad you heard from your cancer friend!!

Barbie, thank you for starting us a new year. I hope it’s a great one for all of us.

Janetr, I know we each deal with our own demons but I can’t believe all the weight you have lost and you still feel inadequate. I just think you are the bomb. Please feel my love and arms around you telling you that you are more than good enough. Trust me, we all see pounds creep back on and have to fight it. I love you! (((Hugs)))

Viv, it sounds like a rough start to the year but now there is only UP to go. (((Hugs)))

Joyce, I’m so glad you are home. I was concerned about you.

Wendy, sending calming vibes your way. I feel your pain!

Rita the Roamer, great pictures. Have fun in NM.

to all the Newbies. Come often and join in the chat. This thing works!! Please sign your post with what you want to be called. It makes it easier for us to respond to you. Also a location is great, be it specific or general. We are happy to have you join us.

I love all the words for the year and the encouraging messages I’ve read. Some of us have not done such a great job this past year but a new year offers new opportunities. Even though my eating and exercise haven’t been what I’d like, I have totally enjoyed all the posts and reading about the victories and downfalls of my PhatChat Friends. I did exercise today for the first day in a while. I’ll keep doing that at home until the crowds thin out at the gym and then I’ll get going back there. Ladies, we can do this so let’s all put one foot in front of the other and move forward.

Sending love, good thoughts and sunshine to all of you.

I Love you
DJ
Myrtle Beach, SC

DJ, thanks for bringing that up about Janetr. Janetr, I have been thinking about that post a lot. It really resonated with me. It reminded me of my own struggles with self esteem, especially when I am struggling with my weight. Other people love me, even cherish me, fat or thin, so I must have other redeeming qualities. I realized that it isn't just my body image that's distorted. And I want to chime in with DJ and say that you have inspired me. One example is doing squats after knee replacements. Really? That's amazing to me. And you have succeeded at weight loss and maintenance. Not to mention you are kind and funny and talented.

So there.

Karen in Virginia

Thank you Barbie, and Happy New Year to all! I am trying to be optimistic that 2018 will be happier for us all.
Having a hard time thinking of the Y in this bitter cold snap. I feel like I might need a suitcase for all the clothes and gear, plus an extra half hour to change.

A week in the twenties would be loverly. Managed to go on a brief photo hike in the woods but the wind chill did me in after half an hour. The fairy houses on the trail were covered in snow and I think the fairies have gone south for the winter.

Betty