50+ WOMEN FOR THE MONTH OF MAY

Good mornin' all,

I should be outside walking me (already took the dogs) since it has stopped raining here in the "Pacific Northwet" :laugh: for a few hours, but more is on the way.

I stopped to log my breakfast and caught up on the new posts since late yesterday.

Kathy, it sounds like you are getting back on track after that very stressful experience you had in your car earlier in the week. I am glad you stayed focused. Now you can feel very proud of yourself that you "hung in there." :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

When I first began posting on this thread, I mentioned Mai Li--the little treasure on my Avatar, with "Mr Banana" in her mouth--was on a diet and I thought we should go through the process together. Well Friday was "weigh day" for her, and unless the vet's scale has the hiccups, my little piglet girl is down .8 of a lb. since the previous Friday. I don't remember if I mentioned it, but I have found a new solution to her "I've got the hungries" barks that sometimes start a couple of hours after dinner. The answer is baby carrots--she LOVES them!! and they take some time to chew on so after a few, she has usually forgotten about carrying on her barking commentary on the state of her tummy.

I actually use them for the same purpose for myself--but have not found the need to bark and jump around in order to get them:laugh: Now THERE'S a sight to ponder...maybe the jumping around could count as extra exercise???:laugh:

I postponed the extended walk I had planned for Friday afternoon, due to conflicting information about when the impending rain would arrive. I should have gone ahead as it didn't show up 'til late evening, but since I did my shopping yesterday instead, I plan to do my extended walk today. There is a walking trail a few miles from where I live and I have never gone all the way to the end of it (about 3 miles) and back, because I always have the dogs with me, and I would NOT want to end up carrying EITHER one---never mind BOTH of them.!!!

I may respond to more of the recent posts later today, but I have to get outside while I can, since I prefer to walk, rather than "slosh" for exercise..

Before I leave, it appears, someone around here wants some carrots....coming Mai Li:laugh: :laugh:

Barb




I am deferring my weigh in til Sunday.."because." It that is cheating, so be it.

Anne,

Just came back on here and saw your post. I think the upside down thing you described is called inversion therapy. I have heard good things about it. A male friend with back issues swears by it--has a device at home that allows him to hang upside down, says it really helps him. I have no idea if it would benefit arthritis. If you are shrinking, couldn't it be from the vertebrae in your back deteriorating and causing your spinal column to be shorter, thus loss of height? That can be related to osteoporosis, but I am assuming your doctor has checked you out for that.

I have a few pains that affect me when I am going to be active, and I believe in what I call, the "precautionary ibuprofen"--I take a couple just before I start the activity, and by the time they wear off, I am already finished and managed to exercise without pain. I don't do this every day--just on days when I feel like I am more achey than usual.

Even though you are a former dog owner who become a "cat lady," I am sure you still derive enjoyment from your feline companions. I was a cat person in my younger days, but I met and married "Mr Allergy"--the nickname I gave my (former) husband, so the last cat I had spend the final four years of her life with my parents.

Losing a dog is awful. My new ticker below is a tribute to my late Shih Tzu, Dreyfus, whom I lost last year due to cancer. He was always momma's VERY sweet boy, very laid back. Pepper, the Shih Tzu I was given as a Christmas gift, is a much different personality, and I am very attached to him and Mai Li, but Dreyfus was my first dog, and will always be special.

Now I REALLY am going to head for that walk!!

Barb

Happy Saturday to all of you wonderful supportive women.
I ran around like crazy yesterday---line dance and saying “good by for a month” to all my line dance friends, taking stuff to the motorhome and putting it away, last minute shopping and errands, an hour at the dog park (the little ”naughties” were very good girls and get high marks for “plays well with others” for playing with two German Shepherds, a Doberman, and a pit bull as well as several other large dogs.

I loved reading all your goals and I’m cheering for us all to achieve them.

About ten years ago when I faced terrible situations at work, I got in the practice of putting a sticker on the wall calendar at home if my behavior was kind and principled in the face of adversity at work. It helped a lot. A few years later when I got my first pedometer, I changed to putting stickers on the calendar any day that I walked 10,000 steps or more. I still do that. I look at my calendar at lot in planning so it is encouraging to see the evidence of my working on a meaningful goal.

Barb---Before I started MFP plan I made it my goal to use all my canned and packaged foods as part of pre-planned healthy meals and to not buy any more of them ever. I have only a few things left either in cans or in the freezer and will finish them some day (but not all in the same meal). Changing from processed foods to “clean eating” is a wonderful goal. It’s been almost 20 years and five moves since I fit into size 10 or 12 clothes. It’s been pretty expensive buying new clothes but I agreed in January that I’d go to any lengths to lose weight and I’m sticking to that. I love that refrigerator sign “You here again?” Maybe I’ll make one for myself. You are amazing that you could even go to TGI Fridays. I’m not ready for restaurants, yet. You did great in your ordering.



Esther----I liked your goals so much I almost stole them for myself. We had our lawn reseeded so we have no mowing to do and because we’ll be gone for two 20+ day trips this summer we dare not plant anything that needs care so I envy you your yard work. We’re doing the same thing you are getting our motorhome ready for the trip. It’s been winterized since November so there was a lot to load just like you.


Anne---thanks for all your encouragement. Being a walker instead of a “hobbler” is an amazing accomplishment. The longest journey starts with a single step. I agree with you about Kirstie and Oprah and all that ego. Thanks for the encouragement.

Kathy---your goals are very realistic. You can do it. Do you have a planned evening snack or are you trying to go from dinner to breakfast with no eating at all? Thank you for your inspiring words about your weight loss journey. It is helpful to me to hear from someone who has been working hard at this for a long time. I need to know that a positive attitude can go on for a long time.

Diane

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I am so sorry about your son. You have made an amazing comeback from a devastating loss. What a great idea to include gardening among your goals. One of the hardest things I did when I started this journey was to decline the bagel and cream cheese that a well meaning friend brought when she picked me up to go somewhere. I had made a rule of accepting no food that was not already on my plan and I was not going to give in because I didn’t want to look silly in front of my friend. Congrats on getting past that weight plateau. How great that you persisted

Heather---getting into smaller clothes is a great incentive. I wish you the opportunity to get rid of tons of clothes in the next year. Somebody else will be glad to get them. Today is the beginning of an even better journey.

Marie---your goals are great for the upcoming good weather. Jake says that golfing is amazing exercise. He has to take a cart because of his heart but even so he gets a good workout. I hope you’re feeling better very soon. Glad you’re feeling better. It was a hard lesson for me to learn to slow down when I was sick.

Susan---congrats on your patio and garage. They’ll be great for the upcoming weather. Gardening as healthy activity sounds wonderful.

Ellen---welcome to the group. We’re glad you’re here. That’s great about your new walking energy.

Sparkyspal---welcome to the group. This is the place to be for support and encouragement. If you lost weight before then you know you can do it. Stick with this group and you’ll get into that dress and look fabulous.

Becky----you are doing great. Congrats on losing 4 pounds. All that walking will continue to chase away the pounds. Sorry to hear about your husband. Will he be a good sport about the healing process?

mnichol

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hope your energy is back soon.

Nancy---thanks for the encouraging words---how great that you have vegetables coming up already. Your Bosco is darling.

I loved reading about all your pets. While I was reading I had to stop several times to tell "the naughties" to quiet down. the neighbor's cat is outside and teasing them from a distance.

I have done almost no exercise to day except loading and organizing the motorhome. there's some festival activity at the city park where the dog park is so I dared not even try to go there. i hope they'll be gone after supper so i can take the girls and get some exercise.

I have to be gone all day tomorrow to a meeting and then we leave on our trip on Monday. I'm trying to not get frantic and just stay in the moment.

I loved what everyone wrote about goals and successes. Thank you all for allowing me to be part of your lives.

big hugs
Barbie

Welcome to the new ladies on the thread! :flowerforyou:

Haven't had time to catch up on everyone yet, but I'll do that first thing Monday.

I made history today! How's that? Today I did something I have NEVER done in my entire life! I went to a birthday party and DIDN'T eat ANY of the cake. Instead I ate fruit. :happy:

I have a great nephew who is allergic to eggs and milk, so I tried making cupcakes for him to eat at the birthday party using the egg-less, oil-less cake recipe replacing the 15 oz can of pumpkin with a can of unsweetened applesauce a french vanilla cake mix. Even hubby liked it.. He wants me to try adding frozen blueberries for Sunday breakfast muffins. I'll let you know how that turns out.

Check with you all on Monday.

Susan:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:
Welcome to the "Just say No to birthday cake" club----the entrance fees are high but the benefits are priceless.:bigsmile: :bigsmile:

We went to the dog park in wind sufficient to almost blow my hat off. the good part about going in lousy weather is that there aren't many dogs there. the girls were great playing with several labs and Australian shepherds and some bigger dogs. There was a cute beagle in the small dog yard. We spent an hour there and I walked until it was about to rain. After supper I rode the exercise bike for 20 minutes.

I have to leave the house at 7AM tomorrow to get to my meeting. I drive 40 miles, park my car, take a bus to the ferry, walk onto the ferry, and get picked up by a friend to drive the 50 miles to the meeting. I'll take an Isagenix meal replacement bar, a cut up apple, and some carrots so I don't get lured into bad eating.

Pleasant dreams :bigsmile:
Big hugs,
Barbie

GOOD MORNING ALL,

BARB, YES, THAT'S IT, INVERSION THERAPY. I AM TOO AFRAID TO HANG UPSIDE-DOWN. IN JUNE I SEE A SPECIALIST,WILL SEE WHAT THE RESULTS ARE. I TAKE ALEVE BEFORE ANY STRENUOUS EXERCISE (IF YOU CAN CALL ANYTHING I DO STRENUOUS). FOR ME , I GUESS IT IS.
YOUR TICKER IS WONDERFUL. SUCH SWEET BABIES. DREYFUS WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A LOVING MOM. THE FIRST DOG IS INDEED SPECIAL. I WILL NEVER FORGET MY BLACKIE AND SHE IS GONE 53 YEARS. SHE WAS MY PROTECTOR,WOULD COME TO MY SIDE IF A STRANGER WAS NEAR AND GROWL TO LET THEM KNOW THEY HAD BETTER NOT HURT ME. ONE MORE DOG STORY, TRIXIE, AT 2YRS OF AGE. WE WERE SLEEPING AND A HUGE COMMOTION WOKE US. THREE MEN HAD PRIED OPEN THE WINDOW AND I GOT THERE JUST IN TIME TO SEE TRIXIE HANGING ON TO ONE OF THE GUYS BY THE ANKLE. I YELLED FOR HER TO COME TO ME. I THOUGHT HE MIGHT KILL HER TO GET AWAY. SHE CAME AND ALL THREE GUYS RAN FOR THEIR LIVES. I FOUND A KNIFE ON THE FLOOR. TRXIE , MY HERO DOG.
REGARDING THE COOKING. CAN YOU TAKE A COUPLE OF HOURS AND COOK FOR A WEEK OR TWO? THAT'S WHAT I DO AND I FREEZE DINNERS SO I CAN POP THEM RIGHT INTO THE MICROWAVE. YOU GET CREDIT FOR NOT TAKING ANY CAKE HOME. IT IS HARD TO RESIST A TREAT WHEN IT IS STARING YOU RIGHT IN THE FACE AND EVERYONE ELSE IS ENJOYING IT.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO IT.HOWEVER, WHEN IT IS VERY CREAMY, I DO GET SOME CREDIT FOR PUSHING THE CREAM TO THE SIDE. LOL.MAI LI IS MY INSPIRATION. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ON MONDAY.

SUSAN, SO GREAT THAT YOUR PATIO AND GARAGE ARE DONE. ENJOY.
ANOTHER STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, TURNING DOWN THAT BIRTHDAY CAKE. WOW, YOU AND BARBIE HAVE SUCH DETERMINATION TO DO THAT. WONDERFUL.
THE CUPCAKES SOUND GOOD. DO YOU BY ANY CHANCE KNOW THE CALORIES OR FOR WW THE POINT VALUE?

KATHY, YES WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE OUR PETS AND JUNO SOUNDS EXCEPTIONAL. AS FOR THE FL VACATION, IT'S SO HARD TO LEAVE A DOG FOR MONTHS AT A TIME. THEY MISS YOU. HOPE IT WORKS OUT FOR YOU TO BRING HIM ALONG.

BARBIE, I AGREE THAT SEEING SOMETHING THAT SHOWS HOW WELL YOU HAVE DONE, WORKS.
GREAT IDEA. MY EXPERIENCE WITH LATE NIGHT EATING HAS BEEN THAT I LOSE WEIGHT ANYWAY. I EAT DINNER AT 7PM AND A SNACK AT 9PM. OF COURSE, WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT. I DID READ THAT IT IS A MYTH THAT EATING THE HEAVIER MEAL LATER IN THE DAY HAS AN EFFECT ON THE METABOLISM. IT SOUNDS LIKE COMMON SENSE THAT WE ARE RESTING AND DON'T BURN THE CALORIES,BUT STUDIES SHOW THAT IS WRONG. I SAY TRY ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING FOR YOURSELF. IF IT WORKS FINE AND IF NOT MAKE A CHANGE.
HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME ON YOUR TRIP AND JAKE TOO.

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL SUNDAY. MAKE GOOD CHOICES EVERYONE.

ANNE

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
Welcome, Bradymom
You have come to the right place.:bigsmile: This is a great group of women. If you check in regularly, you'll get to know us and we'll get to know you. There is a lot of support and encouragement and laughs here.

Anne----We eat our big meal (400-500) calories at noon. At night we have a 230 calorie Isagenix protein shake and then about 200 calories of cereal and either soy milk or nonfat yogurt about 8:30. So far we are both losing weight. If that changes, then i might reevaluate the evening eating. Somebody said, "If it works, don't fix it":bigsmile:

Barb---I got up at 4:30 this morning, I'm so excited and nervous about this journey. The wind down where you are was a whole lot worse than what we got. This morning it is calm and quiet but who knows what it will be like to the east.

gotta eat and go and yes, I know, I'll be standing around on the other side of the water for much too long waiting for my ride.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

:flowerforyou: Happy Sunday!!:flowerforyou:

And it is, because I was rewarded for my efforts yesterday with a 2 lb. loss for the week!! :happy: :happy: Praise the Lord!! (but don't pass the coffee cake!!):laugh: :laugh:

:flowerforyou: BRADYMOM-

Welcome. Here are two hints to make us easier to find. When you go to "my topics" link, visible at the top of page AFTER you have clicked on the "community" page, you will see the last 25 postings you have made, and this thread will show, so you can click on it and go. If you really get into the site and are posting a lot, another way to keep this thread readily available is to save it as a favorite on your browser. When you pul it up, you will be able to navigate to anywhere on it by using the page numbers that appear on the right side and top and bottom of each page.

Directions assume you are using Windows & IE explorer as your browser. IF you have a Mac, you will have to ask someone how to save a favorite web page. I haven't used a Mac in so long, I can't remember enough without being in front of one to help you.

Viewing the page, you click on the green and yellow "stars" in your tool bar and choose "add to favorites" If you have lots of favs, you might want to create a folder within them just for MFP related favs. I find I am getting more of them all the time. If I find a favorite recipe, or something about a topic that I want to access later, I save it.

If this is confusing, or I have not given enough details, you can send me a personal message by clicking on the name next to my post and choosing the "send message" If you tell me what operating system your pc is using and what version of IE, I can give you more specific instructions. If you aren't sure, I can help you locate the info.

Welcome and Good luck using the site. I am very glad to have found it, and I hope it helps you reach your goals!!

:flowerforyou: ANNE-

Thanks for your kind words about Dreyfus. HE was one of a kind. Smart too. When he was younger and my husband and I were still together, if Bob came home and didn't pay immediate attention to him, Dreyfus would UNTIE his shoe laces, as if to say "Hold it right there!! NOBODY goes anywhere in THIS house until they pet the DOGGIE!!"

The cooking in advance thing is what I am working toward, but my freezer space is limited right now, so I have to "draw down" a bit on inventory before I can do that on a large scale.

I am trying to limit myself to one frozen prepared entree per day and adding in fresh things around it for now.

:flowerforyou: BARBIECAT- I am glad it was YOU who got up at 4:30a (AKA "OH DARK:thirty) :laugh: :laugh: and not me. Hope the weather stays well behaved while you are on your journey.

Epilogue to our storm of yesterday: More and more pics and reports on the tv. Lots of trees down. One pic from a community to the south of Portland showing a deck covered with about two inches of hail. This morning over 5,000 homes are still without power. :sad:

I guess it could be worse. A year ago last January, we actually had a TORNADO in my town. :noway: It caused several million dollars in damages. Although they are not common in the west, there have been TWO here in my lifetime. The one in 1972 just missed my high school and it flattened a grocery store about a mile from the school and several people were killed.

Well, if my best friend "I.B. Profen" :laugh: :laugh: will kick in, and make me forget the ache in my hip from my 4 miles yesterday, I plan to do the same today. Might as well get the week off to a good start.

I am planning on doing something creative with chicken breasts today for dinner.
Speaking of chicken... Has anyone else seen the Foster Farm's chicken commercial where the chickens are in the doctors office, all "plumped up" from being injected with salt water? What a hoot!! :laugh: :laugh: I think Foster Farms is a regional brand, so if anyone wants me to describe it, I will.

Happy Day All!!

Barb

Kathy...The only story I have about those beagles is that my dad wanted to breed Tina but she was too small. The first litter all died so he tried again and had a c-section planned. The next litter also all died and my dad told the vet to fix her. Well, she died during the surgery. This was the only time I ever saw my mom cry over an animal. I will never forget it.

Kathy...The only story I have about those beagles is that my dad wanted to breed Tina but she was too small. The first litter all died so he tried again and had a c-section planned. The next litter also all died and my dad told the vet to fix her. Well, she died during the surgery. This was the only time I ever saw my mom cry over an animal. I will never forget it.

Swiss that is so sad. My heart goes out to you. It had to be tough to see your mom cry. I love my Bosco, we just came back from visiting my parents and he came. My mother just loves him. He has a special love set that he sleeps on when he is there. Everyone gets a big kick out of him.

Kathy

I have a great nephew who is allergic to eggs and milk, so I tried making cupcakes for him to eat at the birthday party using the egg-less, oil-less cake recipe replacing the 15 oz can of pumpkin with a can of unsweetened applesauce a french vanilla cake mix. Even hubby liked it.. He wants me to try adding frozen blueberries for Sunday breakfast muffins. I'll let you know how that turns out.

Check with you all on Monday.

I just had dinner a little over an hour ago, but that sounds really good with blueberries. I think the recipe was in the April 50+ thread, wasn't it? If so, I will find it. If not, you might mention if it is somewhere on the site, as I hear lots of voices going "yum yum" right now!!!

Barb

HERE"S the high fiber, low fat cake recipe again: It is already listed on MFP as "Pumpkin Spice Cake," "Chocolate Pumpkin Cake." and Chocolate Cake w Pumpkin." I'm pretty sure the calories are the asme no matter which flavor of cake mix you opt to use.

INGREDIENTS
1 (18.25 ounce) package any flavor cake mix
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin OR unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup water

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan or muffin tins with Pam. In a large bowl, mix together the canned pumpkin/applesauce and water. Add cake mix. Stir until well blended. Spread evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool and serve, or store in the refrigerator. This tastes even better the next day.

Try devils food, you can't taste the pumpkin! Use applesauce for lighter cakes like white or yellow.

S-que--

Thank you for the info. I think I will try it this week.

Barb

Barbiecat-

I am not sure what the weather report is for Monday. Today was pretty good---not nearly as exciting as Saturday. I didn't see the new this evening, but I recall this morning hearing sunny, cloudy, rainy....and so on. Typical WA weather--if you don't like it, wait 5 minutes :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

By the time you come through here tomorrow, I will be at work, and if it is after 10a, I will already have worked FIVE hours, and come home to crash. When you come through, assuming it is on I-205, holler loudly and I might hear you. I live within a stone's throw of the freeway, but far enough away so I don't hear the traffic noise, and my office is very near the Mill Plain interchange.

Of course, if I don't get to bed, all bets are off on my actually getting up on time tomorrow. I did SIX MILES today on another walking trail about 10 miles from my house. It took me 2 hours, and when I was finished, I wasn't hungry, so I went to church this evening and finally got hungry during the sermon, so then of course it seemed like forever til the service was over. Communion hosts are NOT very filling in the physical sense!!

This means I have walked 10 miles in two days.

I didn't feel like dealing with my chicken breast so I had some yogurt and some almonds and feel just right.

Have a safe journey.

BTW your kitty is cute.

Barb

I took Barbies lead and put my Punky on my profile pic.

Our animals are sure like our children.

Hope all is well.

I have not gone to the gym yet. I still have to do a lot of running around today. I hope I can get back on track tomorrow. It's rainy here today. I hope to get in my BL DVD today. I have to start burning calories again. I need to release some endorphins. If anything for my mental health.

Kathy

Mornin'!

Sounds like we have a bunch of animal people! Especially beagles. We had a beagle named Nickle, when my kids were little. She lived for 13 yrs. and I swore when she died I would never have another. But....my daughter convinced me I needed one after my husband died and I now have a beautiful mutt named Djibouti (Bouti for short) whom I love dearly.

Didn't do great over the weekend. A large piece of chocolate cake called my name (and kept calling I listened! Then.. her sister started calling and again I listened:huh: But oh well, it was really yummy and I thoroughly enjoyed it and am now back on track. Sometimes You just gotta:bigsmile:

Have a great Monday everyone, Diane