WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2024

SophieRosieMom · March 30

auntiebk wrote: »

Lanette thanks for the insulin resistance rabbit hole survey and Dr. Bikman “Why we get sick” recommendation. Triglycerides/HDL at 1.4 last year, will see what happens in June. If Glucose the same as Fasting Blood Sugar I’m ok at 83, but can’t find ever having had an A1C test. Look forward to hearing more about your new Dell. Found this interesting: https://www.zdnet.com/article/when-windows-10-support-ends-you-have-5-options-but-only-2-are-worth-considering/ Makes me think I should try to learn something new. . . like linux… :laugh:
Kylia thanks for sharing your ratios, inspired me to check Joe’s from last year. 2.17! Need to read that book and cook more for Joe…

Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD

Barbara -

Bikman et al - Your blood values are outstanding - I'm guessing with a FBS of 83, your doc feels no need to run an A1C. Dr. Lisa only started adding them to my labs at my request several years ago.

I think Bikman's threshold of 1.5 on the Triglycerides/HDL isn't an absolute, but probably a wake-up call for prediabetes especially if FBS is elevated. When I mentioned this to Dr. Lisa last week, she pulled up her own fabulous spreadsheet showing what my values had been over the past several years - the ratio had actually gotten a little better. She said my elevated A1C could have also been the result of my nagging foot pain over the past few months - elevated cortisol.

I ran across Jessie Inchauspé who calls herself the "Glucose Goddess". Last year she was on the interview circuit with Chatterjee, Dhru Purohit and others.

Here's a link to her YouTube channel if you want to spend time down a rabbit hole. Her videos are fairly short. She has the enviable energy of a kid in her 20's and early 30's, lol. In the "more" area of some of the latest videos, she has links to free pdf's - a free Food Classification Master List and one called The Glucose Hacks which I thought were very useful. I haven't really seen her emphasize "low carb" but that's where she's going, and it makes sense.

She and others like Bikman say toss out the idea of calorie counting and focus instead on higher protein and fat that our bodies need which also control appetite. Turns out, in my case, I've been able to stay in the lower calorie range by doing just that which was surprising.

We'll see what the scale and FBS shows in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/@GlucoseRevolution

Windows 11 -

Thank you so much for that Windows 11 article, I had no idea but of course MS does this. I still mourn the passing of XP Pro. I see my new Dell is W11 compatible. Not sure if this HP is-looks like it might be. I think I will go ahead and take this one in to Staples early next week to have them uninstall the old McAfee and install the new one I paid for - and quiz the Tech about the Windows 11.

I've put the Dell aside for right now, investigating whether I need to get a Microsoft account. Evidently the Dell has a layer of security that needs to be disabled in order to download LibreOffice. But with a Microsoft account, it appears I can buy it from their store for under $5. Disabling security makes me nervous so I've been watching videos about the advantages & disadvantages of the MS account - another layer of password which might not be a bad thing. Thankfully no rush right now.

Anyone who wants to weigh in on this, please do!

Lanette

SW WA State

Anniesquats100 · March 30

I skipped ahead in my book, The Beck Diet Solution, to day 10 about setting goals. She says to set five pounds increments, so five pounds by the end of April. Or more precisely, I'm aiming for 1.4 lbs a week, which is conveniently .2 lbs a day. So to stay on track I need to average .2 lbs a day, after trending through the daily variations. That is helpful to know, because I had been just considering up or down, not the exact rate I need to hit my goal. Plus it's helpful to think I will miss my .2 pounds if I binge one day. I can afford my Easter cheesecake, but I have to plan a little better eating out.

This is the opposite of intuitive eating, but numbers always work better for me.

Annie in Delaware

Machka9 · March 30

cityjaneLondon wrote: »

Machka - I don't know how to answer your question. I would say, on the evidence of your sharing on here, that you feel most connected to Rhody, and your garden. You feel connected to your husband when you are cycling, or organising rallies. I may be completely wrong! The beach? The sea?

Sometimes I describe it as, "In the right place, at the right time, doing the right thng."

I really value my connection to my friends these days. Just a few of them. A meeting of minds. Unconditional regard.

Love you all. Heather UK xxxxxxxx

I feel generally disconnected.

Rhody is more my husband's cat than mine ... they spend a lot more time together. Rhody is my husband's "emotional support cat" and a little personality my husband can take care of when he's home alone and I'm working. My husband does all the cat care stuff like feeding him, cleaning his litter box, walking him during the day and spending time with him. Of course, I love Rhody ... I love cats! And he's such a cute, clever purry little boy.

My garden gives me a project to work on outside and away from the computer! It relaxes my eyes and also gives me exercise outside.
The beach, likewise, eases my eye strain and gives me a place to exercise outside and away from the computer. It also relaxes me. Green and blue outdoor spaces positively impact mental health and well-being.
I'm not sure either is a connection.

The project aspect of the garden and taking courses and organising cycling events and colouring and other things I do are "instant gratification" types of things, even though sometimes they take a while to complete so they aren't entirely "instant". But lots of things in life don't provide any gratification (like being a carer and sometimes work), so it's nice to do some things that do. They give me a sense of accomplishment.

As for people, I've always felt disconnected from them. Maybe it has something to do with me being very introverted or possibly "on the autistic spectrum". Maybe it has to do with me feeling like I have different interests and perspectives from those around me. Maybe it has to do with the fact that my family moved a lot when I was young and I continued to move, change jobs, and generally not make friends. I have no one I would call a close friend and although I love my family, I would not pour out my thoughts and feelings in a "heart-to-heart" discussion with any of them or, in fact, with anyone.

It's possible my husband and I had a connection at one time ... I think we still do to some extent, but not the depth we once had. With him, I mainly feel a deep ambiguous loss/grief over losing what connection we had (https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ambiguous-loss-and-grief) "“psychological absence with physical presence.” Your loved one is physically present, but they’ve changed, whether emotionally or cognitively (or both)". I love him, but it can be difficult to connect. And when do I feel most connected to him? Probably when we are quietly sitting at home in the evening watching TV or listening to music and each doing our own thing. That's probably the most "normal" part of our day.

I am connected to my God, and He is the only one to whom I can truly pour out my heart.

And possibly also connected to cycling as much as a person can be to an activity and inanimate object. I identify as a cyclist. I am a cyclist.

Machka in Oz

1948CWB · March 30

Anniesquats100 · March 30

I did my twenty minutes on my bike and fourteen minutes walking! Yay!

Annie in Delaware

LisaInArkansas · March 30

Connection - I'm most connected when my husband wraps his arms around me and I feel him shift down into gentle. Those hands that can and do lift and shift hundreds of pounds of machinery into place and into shape slow down, and hold me both as strongly as I can stand and as gently as I need. I would bet if you took my blood pressure and heart rate, both would drop into the basement. I'm never more connected or at peace than those moments.

I asked him the question of when he's most connected, and his answer was when we sit quietly together at night, with him reading and me doing what I'm doing, which could be almost anything. Again, I would bet that his blood pressure and heart rate both drop at that time, as well.

Not going to lie and say we connect during all these things we do outside--while we both enjoy the work and the results, we tend to work in parallel other than those moments when another set of hands is absolutely necessary. We tend to snap at each other if we're deeply involved in a task and the other offers an opinion or judgment, so we work at the same time, but not necessarily at the same task. It works out in the end.

On the creative side, mine is all over the place on the creating side of things, painting, crochet, baking, quilting, drawing, photography, and decorating (and bricklaying, apparently). Corey's joy in creativity is almost solely involved in growing food and cooking or preserving it. It's where he lights up. We don't intersect at all in those realms. Although I will cook, I don't always (or often) enjoy it. Although he will bake things, it's not his bag at all. So again, parallel, but not connecting. The only connection is that he loves what I bake (mostly) and I love what he cooks (mostly).

On the movement, activity, and identity connections that Machka brought up, I have always been able to see her joy and connection to cycling. It's where she truly lights up. There is no physical activity that makes me feel that way, unfortunately. At the same time, I've learned (finally) to connect my physicality to my health, so I have become a person who exercises. I do it on my own time and in my own way, but I exercise.

The hardest part has been fending off the identification as "patient," that the medicos want to throw at me and hold onto being a healthy person who just needs a little assistance in staying that way. I try to divorce their label, and to NOT connect to it. It's not easy when there are so many things pushing me that way.

Sorry, that got a lot longer than I meant to. I see identification and connection as inextricably bound.

Enough for the morning, bricklaying is in my immediate future, just waiting for the sun to come up completely...

Later,
Love,
Lisa in sunny Arkansas

kevrit · March 30

cityjaneLondon wrote: »

((((HUGS)))) Rita.
I don't know if you ever listen to podcasts, and everyone has their own favourites, but I was thinking of you when I was listening to the latest "Barb knows best", especially the second half. Episode 110. "Hard but powerful truths."
As I said in my book, 'The universe supports you - listen to your feedback. ' Lots of love.

Much love to all, Heather UK xxxxxxxx

AWW thank you Heather. I don’t care for the podcasts here in the US. I don’t know about where you are, but too many commercials for me.

Love, RVRita

pipcd34 · March 30

392392

kevrit · March 30

Thank you all for the virtual ‘hugs’!! 🤗 I am pulling away from everything right now, which is not good. It is because, as someone said, scared of the anxiety attacks. I think my fear may be triggering the ones I’m getting every day. From my research, it is ‘normal’ ?? For those who have them. Once it starts, I’m afraid to fall, puke, or ‘D’ without control. My need to be in control is lost when this happens, which, makes me even more anxious. I’m working on all of this and really can’t wait to see doc on the 4th.

My son called yesterday (sounded sober at least) and we talked for about an hour. DH usually tries to take over the conversation with him, but it was nice to be able to talk without him cutting in and taking over. I was in the bedroom watching Good Will Hunting, which I forgot how much I like that one when he called. I had taken my headphones and Windows laptop into the bedroom with the intention of trying to get the headphones to work with the Tv (no blue tooth on TV) which didn’t work, but was playing with the laptop and watching that movie. I felt safe and happy doing that, so plan on doing that more.

I have found a couple things online that works to calm down the attacks: breathing, continue to do what I was doing when it starts, which is hard to do when dizzy, and simply accepting it. I tried them all yesterday and found it takes all of them to stop the attack. At least it’s something.

Thank you all for your concerns and long-distance hugs!! 🥰 Really means a lot to me. Even just knowing you ladies, and knowing you read what I post helps me too!

Love, RVRita

kevrit · March 30

Today is: A good day to take a walk in the park and color with my pencils!!

cityjaneLondon · March 30

Rita - I fast forward through the adverts. On Spotify, you can just drag the little line on a bit to get through it.

I adore all the podcasts I listen to, but often fast forward. Some are worse for adverts than others.

I used my new walking stick for the first time today, to get to the pharmacy. It seemed to help, especially if there is a step.I wasn't best pleased when I got there, as they had run out of a couple of the generics I wanted. They often do this.

Anyway, I picked up my prescription and paid the extra for the brand name for one of them. And then the girl says, "Are you taking any other painkillers? " "Yes, I am actually, I'm taking a lot of different ones because I'm in pain. " Grrrr! I know she's just parroting a script, but I really wasn't in the mood.
A good thing was that I met my next to next door neighbours when I came out of the gate, so we had a catch up. They said they hadn't seen me about recently. Then we had a gossip about our useless doctors surgery with its extremely low Google rating. I don't know this couple well, but they are always very friendly.

I'm eating prunes as a snack in the afternoon to counteract the codeine. Very effective!

Looking forward to my solo time tomorrow when John goes out to meet his younger daughter. What's for my lunch, I ask myself?

Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx

bwcetc · March 30

evie1958 wrote: »

I also wanted to get a few things done today as I'm having the kids over for dinner tomorrow. I was trying to decide what type of cake to make (chocolate or chocolate!) when carrot cake popped into my head! What better way to celebrate bunnies than with a carrot cake! (Yes, I am aware that we aren't celebrating bunnies, please don't berate me or think less of me, I am spiritual, but am not a churchgoer) Anyway, cakes are baked (recipe makes 2x8" round ones) I plan to make ears and a bowtie out of one cake and the other will be the face.
Evelyn, Vancouver Island

Evelyn ... I have spent the past week trying to perfect Kolachi (nut roll)... and my failures are driving me mad!

And the biggest decision for tomorrow is whether to make a Lemon Cheesecake Pie or a Chocolate Mousse Pie!

And it too know it's not about this stuff tomorrow, yet here I am ...

grandmallie · March 30

Good afternoon ladies
I have been binge watching Call the midwife...
Nothing new.

Anniesquats100 · March 30

My attempt at cooking for Easter was to buy a frozen cheesecake then a can of cherry pie filling to top it. That's my holiday style! Lol!

javaplace · March 30

ATnowornever wrote: »

Hi everyone

Lisa - Glad to hear your iron levels are better. Thank you so much for your kind words and asking about my son. I have an update down below.

Allie - My heart and prayers go out to your daughter and her babies. I second what Margaret said, about talking to other parents who have children who are missing limbs, and what they did to help their children. Maybe there is a support group in her area?

Michele - What a beautiful bedspread. Sorry to hear about Loki.

PIP - I am so sorry about your mom's passing.

RVRita - It's been quite a few years since I had a panic attack, but they are very scary. Prayers of peace for you.

Sorry I've been MIA, but the last two weeks have been rough. My son has had two setbacks, which resulted in hospital stays both times. (He's still there in ICU) with aspiration Pneumonia, and had to have surgery to switch from a G-Tube, to a GJ-Tube, due to complications. The doctor's warned me about a long recovery time and bumps in the road, but it's still hard to deal with when it happens. My dad was just admitted to the hospital today too. He has dementia, and developed a severe kidney infection, which requires IV antibiotics. That old saying, "When it rains, it pours" sure is true.

My weight loss journey is still going well, albeit a lot slower than in the beginning. I recently increased my exercise (daily walking) from 20 minutes to 30 minutes a couple of days ago, and I now have a shin splint in my left leg from walking to much. Guess I got a little to confident in my abilities, and my body said, "Nope". So I'm icing my leg, and sticking with stretching and breathing exercises for the next few days.

Take care everyone and have a great weekend.

April from Southern Indiana

@ATnowornever Hugs to you and prayers said for you and your family. ❤️🙏🏻

javaplace · March 30

Snowflake1968 wrote: »

Lisa - I am like you in wanting to get everything done in one day. It’s a hard habit to break. It’s why I didn’t like cross stitch, although I did give it a bit before I gave it up.
Ceramics is teaching me some patience.

Michele - glad it wasn’t anything serious with your eye.
What a beautiful quilt.
Have you had that callous checked out by anyone?

Michaela is spending the night tonight, she went to ceramics with me. She painted three Easter eggs, a caterpillar and a butterfly. I have to spray them tomorrow and take pictures, I’ll share tomorrow.

One of the ladies at ceramics gave me some photo albums, they will be perfect for organizing the old photos and they will store nicely in my hope chest because they are sets in a box. I’m so thankful!

I finished another session today. My final grade for this one was 95.12%.
2 more one week sessions to go.

I am in agony in my shoulder and neck when I try to lay down to go to sleep. I was up and crying last night off and on . It’s fine during the day though. I did some googling and couldn’t decide what it might be, but everything suggests it should be better with rest and to change my sleeping position. It’s hard when you sleep the same way for 55 years to change.

I’m hoping a three day weekend will help it.

Tracey in Edmonton

@Snowflake1968 I have use in the past and it has helped with the tension\ stress in my neck.

auntiebk · March 30

Today’s gratitude: able to do wii balance games this morning, not well but done. Had to get down onto the floor to search for Shadow’s pill/treat and really struggled to get back up. Thankful I have another chance today to get back to the PT exercises.
Wednesday I thought I lost my wallet. Panicked as it had $400 cash for a bank deposit in addition to all the credit and insurance cards. Thank goodness, and T’s second set of eyes, found it on the floor beneath the car’s back seat. Told T I was going straight home and printing a copy, both sides, of everything in my wallet to keep with important papers. Have I done it yet? Naah.
Ginny the egress window sounds like a real value add.
Tracey, replacing our opaque shower curtains with transparent ones eased my shower aversion. Thank you Alfred Hitchcock :devil:
Heather “Easter faces”?
Lanette would love to have you visit, and bring all you can cram into the teleporter.
Rebecca, loved the “flatbread” story. Not just Navy but most guys will . . .
Rita thanks for clarifying your DH’s response. What the doctor ordered definitely counts as medicine-not-joy-juice in my book. Hope this brings a little smile.

Debbie

the pics of your son.
Welcome back @MsElphaba Linda! One foot in front of the other. Yes, you CAN do this.
Lanette I love, love, love Ginny’s balsamic crockpot chicken recipe. I’ve varied it using seasoned rice wine vinegar once. Next time I’ll use a pork loin instead of the chicken, acv instead of balsamic and apples with the onions.
Annie I really really hope there’s nothing wrong with your car. Hate it when the mechanic’s can’t duplicate the (shocking) experience.
Allie yes, thinking of Tracy but even more so of you. ((hugs))
Barbie yours to Heather about the value improved life and health. Truth.
Only through pg 64 but time to get up and scan those id/insurance/credit cards :laugh:
Later, lighter, lovelies!
Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD

javaplace · March 30

cityjaneLondon wrote: »

Tracey - I too had a better night. I used John's little electric heat pad/blanket, and had it mainly on top of my right hip all night. I also had it underneath for a short while, which meant I could change sides, which helped. I don't want to end up with neck and shoulder pains as well, like you. I sympathise with your frustration.
I'm sleeping upstairs, so I don't disturb John while I'm arranging and rearranging myself, getting up for more pills, the toilet, switching the blanket on and off, reading for a short while, etc etc. We do reconvene every morning when I take him a cup of tea, and we chat, while holding hands. I feel that physical connection is so important. Yesterday was a scheduled cuddle session, which we really needed. I've been so much in my own head recently, that he must feel shut out. Now we are smiling.
Our other connection is when we are doing our painting together. And I do feel very connected when we do art with the grandchildren, especially if it's just Edie. It's a beautiful vibe. Fairydust In the air.
We used to love our singing group, alas defunct.

That's a question I have for those of you who have partners. When do you feel most connected to them?

And for those of you who don't have a partner, when do you feel most connected to others? Singly, or communally.

And for those who don't connect much to others, what do you feel most connected to? Nature? Your pet? Your god? Art?

It might be a good question to ask your significant other, 'when do you feel most connected to me?'
I feel it's important to build on those moments. I can go days without feeling connected, but then I make an effort to turn it around. Usually by telling my truth and being vulnerable.
I'm having to work on being open at the moment as pain drives you inward.

April - I feel so sorry that you are going through this. Is anyone being a support to you? Know we are thinking of you. Xxxxxxxx

Love to all, Heather UK xxxxxxxx

@cityjaneLondon Seeking a stronger connection with God the Father.

Whidislander · March 30

Heather I feel most connected to Lee when we are talking about the day or future things right before we fall asleep. I call it pillow talk. Many times its just for a few minutes because my husband, has been programmed by the military to literally turn off so I can't have lengthy conversations mind you. When we go on long drives he might ask me things like "how are you doing these days?". Or "are we good, are you happy"? Then we discuss things. Or sometimes its a " I'm good you"? When we weren't at a good place in our marriage we never "checked in" like that. That was about 10 years ago though, so we were both different people then.
I think I will be having to get a bottle of hand lotion to keep by the sink since I am hand washing dishes and scrubbing nowadays. What do you all use? I think I will try to just keep it down to an evening activity, so during the day its just rinsing lunchtime plates and setting in sink. With my love of cooking comes more pots, pans, bowls and dishes than most. No I will not resort to using paper plates, that's just silly and wasteful to me.
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa

barbiecat · March 30

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WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2024

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