50+ Women for the Month of April

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

This has been a super busy day---Jake has this terrible cold and is in the hide a bed in the living room and wants lots of TLC and someone to watch a movie with him.

I got away to go to line dance this morning :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: then came home and fixed our big meal----beautiful New Zealand lamb chops (small ---5.5 ounces including the bone) with salad and steamed green beans. Lamb is our Passover treat.---the only red meat we eat all year---the difference is that this year we bought small portions instead of buying a huge leg and pigging out. :laugh: :laugh: Then I took the "naughties" (thanks, Elli, for the great nickname idea) to the dog park. There were eight other dogs there including another standard poodle---they played well with others and came when called. I got a 50 minute brisk walk in while the other dog owners stood around and talked.

My "Sweatin' to the Oldies" complete DVD set is scheduled to arrive on Monday. I loved Richard Simmons when he was so popular in the '80's. I remember when he was on General Hospital. I also remember how he used to go to grocery stores and stop women and look in their grocery carts and comment on the food they bought---he'd be impressed with my shopping cart now.:bigsmile:

Becky--keep the faith with your surgery---think of it as the ticket to having everything be OK again. I'll be thinking positive thoughts for you and for the skill of your doctor.

Julie--I am excited with you about your being able to walk through the narrow space in your bedroom. :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: That's the kind of experience that makes all your hard work worth it and gives you the motivation to continue. :bigsmile:

Becky47----I'm still not doing much better, either, about staying off the scale. I'm just trying not to take the numbers seriously :laugh: :laugh: except for on Monday morning when I have my weekly weigh-in day.

I loved hearing from everyone but my brain is falling asleep. Be assured that you all mean so much to me and any success I am having is in large part because of your encouragement and friendship and Kathy's great cartoons. :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

Barbie

Morning to all,

Ah yes, what to have for Easter dinner?! I'm currently living with a friend who also lost her husband so we are doing this exercise weight loss together. We decided we would splurge a little for Easter and have an Italian Easter. She's Italian and my husband was Sicilian. So...it's freshmade sauce w/ turkey meatballs and fresh Ricotta and spinach ravioli and a large salad. We will allow ourselves a few extra ravioli and maybe some extra avacado in the salad.

Should be good w/o totally blowing the calories. In a traditional Italian Easter there would also be ham, sausage, lots of bread and canolis. Maybe 1 canoli this year? Maybe not:ohwell:

Hang in there everyone and do your best. Can't ask more than that. Happy Easter!!

I hear you, Grammy. My mother-in-law and Joe's Aunts used to get together to make them and they unreal good. Once she passed away, my brother-in law has done a fantastic job of carrying on the tradition. But, yes, there's probably about a million calories in each one. :sad: Diane

Good Morning all:flowerforyou:

I am so happy to report that for the first time since Feb 23 my ticker tape has moved:bigsmile: Yippeeeeeeeee two more pounds have disappeared from my body:blushing: It has been a long and sometimes challenging time. I sure hope that tthis is the start of more to come. I cannot say that I understand why it took so long other than the extra stress I have been under. Seems like my body hangs on to every little ounce when under strain. Just gotta hang in there and get thru my son's wedding and get back on track. Thanks for listening and understanding

The following is something that I wanted to share with you.....


My Pledge

1. I pledge to "show up" in my life as myself, not as an imitation of anyone else.

2. I pledge to avoid using the word "just" to describe myself. For example, I won't say, "I'm just a mother," "I'm just a student" or "I'm just an ordinary person."

3. I pledge to give myself ten minutes of silence and stillness every day to get in touch with my heart and hear my own voice.

4. I pledge to use my voice to connect my dreams to my actions.

5. I pledge to use my voice to empower myself and others.

6. I pledge to serve my community at least once a year in a way that will benefit other people.

7. I pledge to ask myself, "Who am I? What do I believe in? What am I grateful for? What do I want my life to stand for?"

8. I pledge to sit down and write my own mission statement.

9. I pledge to live my own legacy.

10. And I pledge to pass it on.

Hi-
Valerie Bertinelli does look very good. While I could make the time, I am not spending that kind of money on a trainer. I also am just not that interested in devoting that amoutn of time and effort to my body. Instead, I'll settle for fairly healthy and comfortable. What I really need to work on is my brain - so that I can commit to a healthier lifestyle and not sabatoge myself.

The good thing is that I don't give up. Despite blowing calories last night, I walked to town and back with my husband today. Of course, I probably overdid it having blueberry pancakes and orange juice for breakfast in town, but I'm so full that I'll be good the rest of today (I hope).

Take care.
Zaza
PS. Esther, so sorry to hear yoru son lost his job. A very scary time. I'm glad he has another job, but I know what you mean about the health insurance.
Healthierforeme, congrats on your weight loss ticker moving!!! :flowerforyou: It's so encouraging! I know it's motivating for me to see how much you've already lost!

I may be taking a break for awhile. I have a lot of stress in my life right now. I want to wish all of you a happy holiday.

ELLI, WE ALL OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO EVERY PERSON SERVING OUR COUNTRY. YOU CAN BE SO VERY PROUD OF DILLON. I KNOW IT WILL BE SUCH A HAPPY DAY WHEN YOU WELCOME HIM HOME.

ESTHER, DINNER MENU SOUNDS YUMMY. SORRY TO HEAR YOUR SON LOST HIS JOB. THE HEALTH INSURANCE IS CERTAINLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE THESE DAYS. PERHAPS SOMETHING ELSE WILL TURN UP AND IT WILL BE EVEN BETTER THAN THE JOB HE LOST. I HAVE HEARD OF SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY BEING GLAD THAT ONE DOOR CLOSED AND ANOTHER OPENED. WISH HIM THE BEST. HAVE TO SAY THAT YOUR GRANDSON IS ONE CUTE DUDE. WHAT A LOOKER. SO, SWEET.

DIANE, YOUR DINNER ALSO SOUNDS GOOD. THOSE TURKEY MEATBALLS TAKE SOME TIME GETTING USED TO,BUT I HAVE STARTED USING TURKEY TO GET LESS CALORIES. THE FAMILY SEEMS TO LIKE THEM. ENJOY! YOU HAVE A GOOD PLAN THERE.

BEETLEBUG, SORRY YOU HAD SOME ROUGH DAYS. IT'S GOOD THAT YOU HAVE REFOCUSED.

HEALTHIER, FANTASTIC NEWS THAT YOU ARE DOWN 2LBS. GREAT!! I LIKE THE PLEDGE VERY MUCH.

ZAZA, LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, YOU DON'T GIVE UP. ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO DO GIVE UP, FAIL.
WE ALL HAVE TO KEEP ON GOING AND NEVER GIVE UP.

KATHY, WEEKEND WEIGHT LOSS WARRIOR, FORGE AHEAD. YOU CAN DO IT. I AM GOING TO USE YOU FOR MY EXAMPLE OF WHAT A PERSON CAN DO WHEN THEY PUT THEIR MIND TO IT. CONSIDERING LAST WEEKEND WAS SUCH A SUCCESS. EASTER WILL BE HARDER ,BUT IT IS DOABLE. I HAVE DECIDED IT WILL BE ONE PIECE OF CARVEL ICE CREAM CAKE AND THAT IS IT FOR ME. I REREAD THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH THAT INSPIRED ME SEVERAL TIMES AS I LOST WEIGHT. WANT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU AND ALL THE LADDIES. HOPE IT MAY INSPIRE SOMEONE ELSE,AS IT DID ME.

HAPPINESS

HAPPINESS AND WEIGHT LOSS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND INTIMATELY CONNECTED. THE POPULAR MANTRA OF THE DIET INDUSTRY IS ALL FOODS IN MODERATION. BUT, THAT TAKES A TOUGH TRICK TO PULL OF WHEN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN ISN'T GIVEN TO MODERATION. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO WANT TO BE TRIM, YOU NEED A PLAN TO GET YOU THERE. A PLAN THAT IS LIVABLE AND DOABLE AND THAT YOU'LL ENJOY. A PLAN THAT'S ABOUT THE WORK OF HAPPINESS. THE HAPPINESS THAT COMES FROM LIVING THE VISION YOU HAVE FOR YOUR OWN BODY. FOODS MAY GIVE MOMENTARY PLEASURE, BUT, YOUR HAPPINESS IS THE GREATER REWARD. WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING YOUR BEST, WEARING CLOTHES YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO WEAR, FEELING FIT AND GLOWING WITH WELL BEING.

ANNE

Sorry - i forgot some stuff - first everyone have a wonderful Easter/Passover.....i remember Passover from when i was a little kid, kind of anyway. Is that when you invite Elijah in? or is that another holiday? When my boys were growing up we used to raise lamb and everyone said it was the best they'd ever eaten......they ate lots of lamb 'cause we didn't raise beef 'till they were a little older.

Barbie - so glad the naughties were good! :laugh: they actually sound like such good dogs. Mine aren't socialized at all and would SO not know how to behave at a dog park. I swear if i ever get another dog i WILL socialize him!

Esther - i LOVE the visual of us all sweatin together to the oldies!!!!!!:happy:

Well, if i left anyone out, i'm sure sorry......catch you next time!

dricotta so sorry for your lost. will keep you in my prayers.

:flowerforyou:
Lynn

The best Sugar-free version of Coconut Cream Pie I've found is simply using Jello Sugar-free Cook & Serve Vanilla Pudding in place of the homemade pudding sweetened with sugar in my recipe and using Splenda or Truvia in the meringue instead of sugar. I make the pastry crust with half whole wheat flower but haven't figured out a way to make a flaky pastry low in fat or calories.

My family's all time favorite "healthy" dessert is below:

BANANA SPLIT PIE

Yield 8 servings

Chocolate Cookie Crust
Cool Whip Light
Small box Sugar-free instant Vanilla Pudding
1 1/2 cups Skim Milk
Small Flat Can Crushed Pineapple in its own juice, drained
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1 medium Banana, sliced
8 Marchino Cherries w stems
1 Tablespoon Sugar-free Chocolate Syrup
1/4 cup Pecan Pieces

Mix the pudding according to package directions.
Layer the ingredients in the pie shell beginning with bananas, pineapple, then pudding, strawberries, pudding. Top with Cool Whip.
Drizzle chocolate syrup on top and sprinkle with pecans.
Chill at least 2 hours or overnight.
Put a cherry on top of each piece as you serve it.

Looks and tastes like a Banana Split. Even the pickiest no-diet-food eater will love this!
I've had teenagers fight over the last bite, not realizing it was mostly fruit, low fat/low refined sugar.