WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR SEPTEMBER 2019

pip I sent you a private message.

Michele in NC You asked: what makes me a "semi-vegetarian". Simple answer: I rarely eat meat. It doesn't much appeal to me and its hard on my digestion. I'm also "semi-FODMAP". I'll eat a small amount of lean meat if my BF prepares something and I'm too lazy/busy to fix something myself, and I'll eat anything a host/ess offer because I don't want them to go out of their way for me or feel uncomfortable by my refusal to eat something they served :-)

Lanette I sure hope you're can get a handle the allergies and itchiness without having to endure further pain. {{hugs}}
Yep, I had a job interview yesterday. I was laid off last fall after working 13+ years with an US based international corp. I knew it was coming. All jobs in my dept were shipped off-shore. Since the lay-off, I painted and re-decorated my home (hadn't changed a thing in 10 years), looked into a few health matters and did a bunch of research in order to get my head around and pump myself up for losing weight. My #1 focus now is on my health and only want a part-time job (or something that will bring in a few extra bucks each month). I just began looking into options the last week in August.

Barbara in S OR I just noticed under your signature that you're inspiring word for September is "grit" . . . Grrhh-rrrttt!!! ! I like it

Day 5 "Reinventing Rhonda" . . .
Walked 1 mile. Not fast and not very far, but I did it and it was in 88' outside.
Was under the limit for calories again but slightly over limit for carbs and fat. I think remembering to eat at regular intervals would help, so I made a meal check off list and taped it to the fridge. Several reminder notes are now posted around my home. I think the BF is embarrassed to invite anyone over

On a side note, this is the first time I've ever joined an online "social" support group and I'm a bit intimidated over how well everyone's connected and keeps up with what's been going on with others and all the pictures, etc. But give me time and I'll catch up - You are all my fat losing/fat free family now!

Rhonda (South of PDX)

Viv Just to be clear, the quotes are from Barbie's post. I just repeated them because they caused a paradigm shift in my thinking. Like a puzzle piece clicking into place.

Here is a corollary piece of wisdom from my mom. I have shared this before, so it isn't new to many of you. She would say, "Do everything you can to get the outcome you want, and then let go of the outcome." It fits in with what Barbie said about what is in one's control.

These ideas are especially important to me because my disordered eating started at a very young age (21 months) as a result of a near-fatal intestinal illness caused by severe food poisoning. Several toddlers my age were sickened by bad potato salad at an end-of-year school/teachers' picnic in our community. I was hospitalized & in isolation on IV's for 2 weeks without parents, bottles, blankies, food, or anything familiar. I survived, but I was damaged goods. I remember none of it, but the changes were apparent to my parents. It took 2-3 years before some of the weird behaviors around food & the drive to please others began to normalize. I was left, though, with a distorted relationship with food that I have struggled with my entire life. It is frustrating, embarrassing, humiliating, pathological. Thank God I had the parents I did. In any case, accepting that I cannot control my weight, but can control factors that affect my weight, is a #Gamechanger for me. When I was little & sick, I had control over nothing, and all of my comfort/security was removed, and that was, by all accounts, traumatizing. Figuring out what is actually within my control is a lifelong project. One thing that I realize is that I can change my thinking by challenging the disordered thoughts as they arise and recognizing them for what they are.

Throughout my lifetime, I have been 100 lbs overweight, and I have had a normal BMI, and everything in-between. It's hard to say whether being overweight vs disordered thinking about food is the more disturbing. Despite both of these, I can choose to make good choices about food & activity, and I can continue to work on my issues.

Rhonda I was intimidated, too. It's hard to join a group of women who seem to have known each other forever. That's an illusion, though. There are always new people, and people come & go; even long-timers drop out sometimes. Women use & contribute to this group as it suits their needs, and you should too! Some women respond to just a few; some women respond to the whole crew. Feel free to post what you feel comfortable with. And if you have questions about how to post photos, etc., just ask! I did, & DJ showed me how to post cute animated emojis. I hope she is safe in Myrtle Beach. She left the group some time ago, & I miss her.


Wow, this was a tome!

Happy Friday!

Karen in Virginia

Morning, afternoon and evening, all...

Rhonda - good words from Karen - I tried to respond to everyone on this thread in the beginning, couldn't do it, got discouraged, stayed around and found I was still accepted and warmly made welcome, just interacting with folks at my comfort level. There's no pressure to say lots to lots of people, just say a little when you feel you wish to.

Rori - I could hear you in my head the minute I found out we'd moved on to the second stage! It's honestly as far as I think it will go. I'm detail-oriented enough at grant writing to have been confident we'd get past admin review. After looking at all five of the grants I'm to review, one of the five is so good that if I had $100 million dollars to spare, I'd hand it over to them. The other four are on a sliding scale from really good to just not good at all. Only the top 500 move to the next stage. Since I don't know how many moved to THIS stage out of the umpty-thousand applicants, I don't know how hefty the competition actually is... but doubt we'll make it past peer review. Could be wrong!

Enjoying my vacation Friday (three more to go to burn my vacation days for the fiscal year. )

Love y'all,
Later,
Lisa in AR

Chester today I picked him up and got him outside.. and bless his heart. I got some tiny pieces of chicken in him, a small slice of deli ham, and a carrot all chopped up. so thats a good thing, hand feeding him , and my DFIL today was having none of it, out like a light, but miraculously I got his breakfast in him while he slept he opens his mouth like a bird, ha ha , got his meds in ice cream, mandarin oranges and wheaties with milk.
one of our assistants is leaving for a better job, so she thinks I will get stuck assisting, but legally I am not allowed to. so we shall see. ugh cant get out of there fast enough