60 yrs and up
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@sandramarshall200 - what about eggs for brekkie on the weekend? Can cook them in so many ways!0
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Got the outside decor done! 🎄
Next is switching out my kitchen mugs, tea towels, etc 🙂
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BCLadybug888 wrote: »Got the outside decor done! 🎄
Next is switching out my kitchen mugs, tea towels, etc 🙂
Great pix! Love to see decorations?
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BCLadybug888 you are right. I love an egg.
Love your decorations. Will you get snow?0 -
Good to hear from you @alteredsteve175. That pie can be hard to resist! With all you're dealing with, maintaining your weight is a definite win in my book!
Welcome to all the newbies! I think you will find this to be a very supportive thread.
About throwing away food. I think many of us here grew up with parents who lived through the depression. Throwing away anything was frowned upon. I can remember having to sit at the kitchen table until I had "cleaned my plate". So I can understand how hard it can be be to throw away food. It was ingrained since chilhood about how bad that was. I have been working to change that attitude in myself. I try not to take too much on my plate to begin with but if I really don't like it, or I feel the calories aren't worth it, these days I have no qualms about tossing it.2 -
Yes, add me too. I have been on this health journey since 1999 and I find this helps keep me accountable.1
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About throwing away food. I think many of us here grew up with parents who lived through the depression. Throwing away anything was frowned upon. I can remember having to sit at the kitchen table until I had "cleaned my plate". So I can understand how hard it can be be to throw away food. It was ingrained since chilhood about how bad that was.
My plate is one thing - my fridge is another! Love to have variety in, but have to work hard to figure out how to use it all up sometimes...oh the woes of plenty 😅
I remember along my dieting journey something that stuck with me for those times - to paraphrase "will it go to waste, or go to my waist" and the thought that it's going to waste/waist either way helps me justify tossing.
Love how @AnnPT77 put it:Before anyone comments: Yes, I will throw away food in some of these cases (because I am not a trash can for all leftovers, and they are better off discarded or fed to the wild critters hereabouts than added to my hip circumference).
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sandramarshall200 wrote: »BCLadybug888 you are right. I love an egg.
Love your decorations. Will you get snow?
Here in the Vancouver suburbs we usually get a small amount of snow that comes & goes quickly (often overnight and melts/turns to rain the next day). Typically a green Christmas but can get snow in January some years that is more substantial & sticks around. This year I believe it is forecast to be colder & snowier in general - weather has not been typical this year at all so far, so don't know what to expect this winter!!2 -
Love this discussion. We just ate a weird frittata hybrid with all the fridge leftovers. It was actually delicious. We dont have to eat our leftovers because we have a beagle, and they really are living dustbins, obviously we don’t give him sugar, alliums or cruciate veg. But he definitely should have had those pancakes and fritters on Saturday!1
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We live in the English Midlands. We typically get 1 or 2 snowy days a year. But fuel bills have gone up hugely here, so there is a gloomy expectation of really cold weather.0
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@sandramarshall200 I have plain Greek yoghurt, frozen berries (thawed, of course), and a bit of stevia, just about every day for breakfast. My "treat" is porridge, also with berries, and a bit less yoghurt. Sometimes in the summer I'll make a smoothie with berries, some yoghurt, and almond milk. Do you sense a theme? haha My go-to breakfast if we're eating out is eggs Benny. I read the BBC News daily and feel terrible for the heating situation in the UK. Know that I'm sending warm thoughts your way. I won't send you my temps though.....it's -17C this morning with light snow falling.❄️☃️
I hear everyone on the food waste issue. My parents lived through the war in England and were horrified if anything was wasted. When my kids were growing up we had a dog with an absolute cast iron stomach. She ate every suitable leftover and lived a healthy life till she was 16. I have to be choosier with the leftovers that go to my current dogs so yes, I now struggle with throwing food away. To be honest, it doesn't happen very often though because I tend to cook either enough for just the two of us, or if it's something like chili, then I cook enough to put another meal in the freezer.1 -
@ridiculous59. I hear you on cooking just enough or freezing food. I try to do the same thing.0
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Hello, all. I am beginning week 13 of my return to MFP after a decade away, and at 68 realized that this time it would be if anything more difficult, so with that in mind I tried a new approach.
I've spent more than a decade rationalizing my steady weight gain by blaming it on a slowing metabolism, limitations caused by an old knee injury, the stress of years-long caretaking roles, and short-lived restricted eating efforts which were unsuccessful.
Because I've been successful this time around, I wanted to share with you in case you're interested.
The deal I've made with myself is that because this is the LAST time I'm attempting this in my life (I turn 69 in February), I will do whatever it takes to accomplish my weight loss goals...once and for all. I'm tired of tunics, which aren't my style, and feeling like I'm just running out the clock.
So far I've had success, week by week. But, whew! It's been a lot.
I adopted a 1000-calorie daily plan; set my carbs to 50g and protein to 70-100g in three meals; cleaned out my pantry, refrigerator and freezer; and started a local delivery service* (farm-to-table) of 400-calorie or so prepared lunches for each week; joined a gym and bought new walking shoes plus rain gear for the winter. Bought a food scale. Each week I make a daily plan for CICO. I eat within an 8-10 hour window. I weigh twice a week; I find that it boosts my motivation to work within a defined 3- or 4-day period toward the next weigh-in. I go to bed early and get up early, and when I get dressed I put on my walking shoes...which for me sets my intention for the day and my commitment to my plan.
My days are focused on me and working my plan. I don't have anyone to worry about but my sweet dog, and she's lost three pounds from our walking...the vet was pleased!
The other part of the deal I made with myself is that whatever I set about doing, it would have to be sustainable: that I would be willing to do it from here on out. I wouldn't eat anything I didn't like, would make sure to have some version of my favorites, even if in small portions and infrequently, but always logged accurately. So...not a diet or short term plan. (When I get within range of my goal weight, I look forward to less cardio and more strength training.)
Even now I am amazed that this plan worked...even when I followed it imperfectly, I got up the next day and tried again. I can tell you that for the first time in my life I have daily habits, consistent behaviors that I've persisted with long enough to see that they actually do produce results!
I've lost 24 pounds since September 6, 12 weeks, so 2 pounds a week on average. I have achieved the first of three weight loss goals. Moreover, my 6-month lab results were the best they've been in decades, in particular my cholesterol and A1c numbers. And the bonus from 3x week weight training plus 8000-9000 steps a day is that I've lost inches! I am happy to say I've had two rounds of donations to a local women's resource.
Here's my message of encouragement: do something, start somewhere, and then keep at it OVER TIME. I've learned it's what you can keep doing, day in and day out, week after week, that will make the difference. Stay the course, and then course-correct as needed. But keep going! Time will pass either way, but what if in 12 weeks you could be happier with your progress? Would that be worth extra care and effort?
I decided to apply my stubborn streak to my own health, actually apply what I know, and see what my very best effort could produce if I just tried hard enough and kept trying.
It's my final grand experiment, I guess: How much health can I reclaim? What would I do if I was fit enough to choose anything? How would I dress if I liked my body again?
We'll see!
*this was originally just a way to reward me if I achieved my steps goal, with a delicious meal once daily. It also was an attempt to break my pattern of free-range grazing and self sabotage. I used a new-customer discount and assumed it would be temporary, since it seemed like such an extravagance. But...it worked in ways I didn't predict! I tracked my spending for a month, buying my breakfast (yogurt+berries, egg whites+veggies, or protein waffles+sugarfree syrup) and afternoon salads - and I saved a lot of grocery money! Less waste and also less time roaming around my kitchen being tempted. I'm not saying it's for everyone, but having this planned out each week became the surprising foundation for me to stay on plan. And here's the real magic: I COULD prepare such a fresh, delicious, healthy meal...but I wouldn't for just me every day...not perfectly roasted veggies, those sauces on grilled chicken, etc. It's like having a personal chef who knows just how to make it tasty and healthy, just enough but not too much. Who knew?6 -
Great plan @momzilla11. With your planning and consistency I'm sure you'll get there!0
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@momzilla11 .....and when I get dressed I put on my walking shoes which for me sets my intention for the day and my commitment to my plan...
Good job!! In Chris Crowley's book Thinner This Year he basically says this exact same thing. He suggests that when you get dressed in the morning, put on your workout clothes. Then you're halfway there so chances are you will end up doing something. Of course, this only works for us retired folks! But it's what I do. I wear sweats or yoga pants, and a t-shirt around the house. Then I'm all set if I want to do some weights, hop on my elliptical, do a YouTube exercise video, or do some yoga. The decision to move is already half-made. And I get changed when I need to leave the house. See the difference? Instead of wearing "street clothes" and getting changed to exercise, I wear exercise clothes and get changed to go out. Oh, and if we haven't gone for a hike, walk, ski, or snowshoe by 1 o'clock, one of my dogs starts pawing at me. Another external cue to move!2 -
Hello. I'm a male, 77 years old who is beginning again. I lost 43lbs and never thought I'd gain it back again, but I did. So, here I go again. I now need to lose at least 30lbs to get back to where I was. Disheartening but part of my life's saga I'm afraid8
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"The decision to move is already half-made. And I get changed when I need to leave the house. See the difference? Instead of wearing "street clothes" and getting changed to exercise, I wear exercise clothes and get changed to go out."
Great way of saying it! For me it's a powerful way to reinforce what my priorities are.0 -
Hi All, I'm 72 and just started MFP and hoping for the best - need to lose weight and lower cholesterol. Looking forward to going on this journey with all of you.5
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Honestly I found it easier to lose weight at 71 than when I was younger with work and caregiver responsibilities. At age 75, I’m 100 pounds lighter. I still have 15-20 lbs I’d like to lose but am happy to have maintained my weight for three years now.
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"Honestly I found it easier to lose weight at 71 than when I was younger with work and caregiver responsibilities. " is so very true for me too! I ran out of excuses for why I wasn't taking my own health, fitness, and well-being seriously. I decided this was finally my time, and shame on me if I couldn't make use of it. I realized today that I am 34 pounds lighter than my high earlier this year, and it came down to me being willing to do whatever it took to lose the weight. It's been difficult and slow, but it happened! We've arrived at this later time in our lives, and sometimes I just have to remind myself that I've taken care of everyone else, met all expectations, sacrificed, did whatever was asked of me in roles as wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, employee. Now it's time to be accountable to myself.6
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Here, here!
Now that I'm retired I can destress and just be me and set my own priorities.
Don't get me wrong - I still have to battle me, but mostly ownly me, so I have more energy for the fight! 🙃5 -
Yes! After being all things to all people, I finally have time to be good to myself. The surprise is that what goes around, comes around. People are kinder to me when I’m kinder to myself.4
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Oh my goodness!!! You have hit the nail on the head. We have "met all expectations". We have been good mothers/fathers, wives/husbands sisters/brothers, daughters/sons. We have cared for our families, volunteered for organizations that our kids were involved in, supported our spouses, and been good employees even when we had way too many things going on at home.
Don't get me wrong......I'd do most of it all over again and I dearly love my adult children and my husband. But finally, I can dedicate some time to ME. I can volunteer for things that are meaningful to ME. I have time to read books, have relaxed coffee with friends, and go for walks. I can even buy the groceries that I like! It's a whole new season in my life and I'm loving it.
So as for weightloss, exercise, and my health, it makes me think of that quote "If not now, when?".3 -
Yes! Yes! And Yes!!!!!2
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"So as for weightloss, exercise, and my health, it makes me think of that quote "If not now, when?". "
And relatedly, "If not me, then who?"
Because no one is coming along to rescue me from the accumulated health consequences of my actions/neglect. I have to do it for myself or it won't get done.
Which is why many times I say out loud to my dog as we gear up to go walk in the windy cold: these pounds aren't going to walk themselves off!3 -
I am so in agreement with all of you. I, too, have found weight loss easier now at age 70 than when I was younger! So true when you say retirement makes it easier. Less stress, no more long hours working. Caregiver responsibilities for children and then elderly parents no longer take up our time! Time to concentrate on my health and well-being now.3
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I reached a milestone today. I have finally reached a healthy BMI of 24.9. It feels so good after being so heavy for so long. When I started my BMI was 41.8. That's into Obese level 3. While I know there are many issues around relying on BMI as a guide, to have finally reached a healthy weight means so much.7
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I reached a milestone today. I have finally reached a healthy BMI of 24.9. It feels so good after being so heavy for so long. When I started my BMI was 41.8. That's into Obese level 3. While I know there are many issues around relying on BMI as a guide, to have finally reached a healthy weight means so much.
That's amazing!! Congratulations from the bottom of my heart ♥️2 -
Thank you @ridiculous59.0
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I reached a milestone today. I have finally reached a healthy BMI of 24.9. It feels so good after being so heavy for so long. When I started my BMI was 41.8. That's into Obese level 3. While I know there are many issues around relying on BMI as a guide, to have finally reached a healthy weight means so much.
Fantastic! You go girl 😉🥰 👏 👏2
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