WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR OCTOBER 2019

I am super excited today! I got an amazing text out of the blue yesterday that could be a really amazing opportunity. For my whole life, I have had horses. I rode consistently in my youth,but sold my horse to go to help pay for college. When my children were young, I started them in lessons, and took some lessons with them for fun and exercise. When my daughter turned 13, we bought her an amazing and talented show horse. He was spectacular and like a third child to me, just so much personality. My daughter was an extremely competitive rider and the horse was very spirited, so I did not attempt to ride him, but I was with my daughter at the barn 4 days a week and sat on the edge of my seat riding along with her in every lesson and every show. When she left for college, we kept the horse in training and she came to visit him every weekend. I decided I would attempt to ride him, but my weight and lack of balance and his flighty personality were not a good match and I gave up so I did not get hurt. It was hard because I love to ride. But, we continued to keep him as a pet. He passed away at 21 in February of 2017. My daughter was heartbroken and did not want to be around horses for a while. So, we took some time to plan her wedding and then she began taking lessons to learn jumping on the horses at the schooling barn. It has not been a very successful experience for a dedicated rider like my daughter, so we went back to our old trainer and spoke with her. We are not ready to buy a new horse until we determine if my daughter's life as a busy ER pharmacist and new wife actually has space in it for barn time. So, yesterday, I got a text from the trainer that she has a client who has a show horse they want to lease and she thinks he would work out well for us. She thinks he is quiet enough that I could ride him in addition to my daughter. We are going to test him out during the month of November to see if we want to lease him for the 2020 show year. I am over the moon excited. This is just the incentive I need to stick to my healthy eating and exercise plan! Fingers crossed that he and my daughter hit it off. His name is Nemo! November will have some awesome goals!!!

Only up to pg 4 finished. Thank you all for your hugs and thoughts. The poem was sent to my by a high school friend that I have reconnected with. I loved it and had to share it here. Still depressed and heartbroken l. My DH is no comfort long story about him I’ll share sometime. I know many of you have worse problems to deal with and I feel for you. I get very depressed very easily. It’s raining here to top it off for the last two days after months of none. Adding to the mood.

RvRita still at Bottomless Lakes State Park in Roswell NM (Alien country)

📙October Goals
✔️1. Lose weight.
✔️2. Track every bite in MFP and complete the entry daily.
✔️3. Participate daily in a 30-Day Digital Detox Program.

🔲 I gained 1.6 lbs in September. I didn’t hit any of my posted goals for September. So I’m keeping my goals a little simpler this month. Just do what I’ve gotta do to lose weight. I plan to follow a low carb way of eating. And I plan to continue efforts to make habits again for tracking my food and walking. Plus, a digital detox to refocus my attention and be more productive. Take more time to move.

• Overall Feeling. Positive. Looking forward to making some progress.
• Lose weight. Yes. 0.2oz
• MFP - completed entry. Yes. Cal.1127, Carbs 28g. Fiber 10g. Water 90oz.
• Digital Detox Day 1 went well. My task was to pay attention to and internally note every time I felt the impulse or heard the thought to check one of my devices. Ask myself if I’m checking out of HABIT and if this checking is NECESSARY right now. If either is true - repeat STOP and do just that. Designate 3 times in the day to check my device - whether necessary or not.
• Bright Spot today. I discovered one of my old unused journals. (Hard bound, 8.5”x5.5”, 80 lined sheets, 160 pages.) I had written my name and the year 2005 in space provided on the flyleaf. Then the first lined page I had written the only entry in the book: Jan 15, 2005: “New computer received for Christmas. Today I downloaded new TMG v6.0 software Gold Edition, MS Money 2004 Deluxe Edition.” I’ll cover this entry and use this cute journal to document my daily participation in the 30-day digital detox program.
• Today I’m grateful for:
1. Mama drinking more fluids today. She needs 48oz daily. She had 36oz water, 5 oz milk, cottage cheese, cantaloupe, chicken salad with chopped apple and mayo, baked potato with sour cream, cheese, butter, coffee along with crackers, a small cinnamon roll and small croissants. Progress.
2. A leftover grilled ground beef patty to go with my salad. Very filling.
3. My bullet journal.
4. A new month beginning. Feels like a clean slate.
5. Air conditioning.

-- Ginger in Texas

Skipping ahead to tell you I met my September goal of being lighter at the end of the month. Lost 4 pounds and that makes me happy. Same goal for October, be lighter at the end of the month.
Will be back later.
SueBDew in TX

Made it to October, but already 7 pages behind, hope everyone is doing okay.

Viv UK

Today is my glass blowing day so I'm headed out for the studio and won't be back until 11pm. Popping in to say HI.

Good (almost) afternoon in the PNW.

It has been so cold here over night. I really am not enjoying that, but at least the sun is out, so that is something.

• Oldest son is doing well so far in his first two weeks of EMT training. I am hoping he can hold on to the excitement.
• Middle son is loving the college life, and seems to be enjoying his classes. He was going to use a long board to get around campus, but he has strained his pushing leg, so he is having a hard time even walking right now. He is going to go to the student health center to get it looked at.
• Youngest son is just wonderful -- loving 7th grade.
• Hubby and I got into it a couple days ago -- I had a bit of an anxiety/panic attack, and he didn't respond well. I realized that I really am on my own with that kind of stuff. He held it against me until last night, when he started being kind again. He struggles with empathy, so I should not expect him to be able to comfort me when I need comfort. I know that most of the time, but I did forget it when I really needed support. I am the one who is supposed to have it all together, so when I lost it, I think he saw it as a betrayal.

Allie -- what ever happened to your sick puppy? Did I miss an update?

Hugs to you, Rita., and to anyone else who needs one. I do think most of us -- who am I kidding -- all of us carry so much. People have no idea -- and by people, I mostly mean men!

Felicia
Willamette Valley, Oregon

Rita: I'm sitting here choked up after seeing Chewy's pix and reading the poem. (((hugs)))

Debbie in VA: You clearly are going through challenges. I'm glad you derive joy from a clean house. It's no small accomplishment. I'm 24/7 home caregiver to my DH who has had dementia for 4 years. I go days without leaving the condo or having a face to face conversation with a compassionate person. Sometimes I feel like if I have to make another meal I will blow a gasket. Like others have said, keep coming here and you will be treating yourself to the wisdom, fellowship and love that permeates this thread. Wishing you brighter days ahead.

September 2019 intentions and results:
🎯 Be lighter 😑 Scale is stuck.
🎯 Practice Reiki daily ☺ I believe it's helping the pain in my feet.
🎯 Do weight training in gym 3x/week, and add more minutes on the recumbent bike ☺ Aced this!
🎯 Support DH through process of getting hearing aids and his VA health insurance ☺ Done. Now we wait till mid-Nov which was soonest he could get an appointment

October 2019 intentions:
🎯 Be lighter
🎯 Get back to photo scanning project. Avg 15 mins/day.
🎯 Add harder intervals to daily recumbent bike workout
🎯 Intentionally connect with acquaintances and neighbors. Set up coffee/lunch dates.

Word for 2019 is SMILE. A deep smile is from the lips, eyes and heart, and fills the room with compassion and love. That's what I'm striving for.

Heather: Hope you are wearing your elegant dress and crown and getting the royal treatment for your birthday.

Stay well, friends. We can do this.

Rori
Colorado Foothills