WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JANUARY 2012

How do I become a member of this group so I can find it again? This is my first day on MFP. I have lost about 50 pounds on a different plan. I recently had hiatel hernia surgery and my esophagus will never be the same. It is very difficult for me to swallow raw vegetables and meats without gravy or sauce on them. So the old plan won't work and I'm looking for something that will help me to drop the rest of the weight I need to lose. I'm 62. God bless all of you!

Hi Susan, Try having a low cal cup of soup as soon as you get home it will take the edge off your hunger and is quick and easy to make. Judy

Hi everyone and Happy New Year! Last year was dominated by a huge weight loss --over 65 pounds. I started in April and was in maintenance mode by the fall, although still losing weight. I have used MFP for about 10 months and really love it!

I was able to survive the holidays with no weight gain and now on to 2012. My goal for 2012, starting with January, is to figure out the right calorie and exercise level to maintain my weight on a pemanent basis. I was able to lose enough to be at the very low end of my weight range to give me some breathing room for the holidays. Now that they are over, I can see what works for my normal routine.

I also want to work on increasing my muscle and core strength this year. So I will continue to work out about 6 days a week and try to add a variety of new exercise classes and training routines. I work with a trainer and he really pushes me, which is what I need. We are working on increased flexibility as well, so it would be good to add some yoga and Pilates ro the mix.

I am thinking about getting a heart rate monitor to help me reach my fitness goals but am not sure yet what kind to buy. I have previously used a Polar watch with a chest strap but am I am intrigued by the newer devices that interact wirelessly with your smartphone or iPod -- I have both. If you have one of those that you like, let me know. I will probably take the plunge and get one soon.

I welcome any friend requests -- you never can have too much support and motivation!

WOW!!! Good Morning, ALL,

This gabby group is growing! Fantastic!

CindyW: You joined this thread just by posting. Just make sure you find us when the new month begins by going to the link at the end of January. Barbie, our fearless leader, will post the new link when February gets here. Good luck and welcome!

JoM: Wow...you've done great. You'll be a great inspiration here!

Barbie: What kind of HRM did you end up purchasing? I am NOT a gadget person, although I have an Iphone, etc. so I need the simplest one. I don't like to read directions! (Typical artist brain)

SuzyQ: My doctor told me the same thing about white potatoes. For some reason, my blood sugar was up BEFORE the holidays, so he said to cut out things like that which our bodies turn into sugar and store. Everyone is different and we just have to do what works for us, don't we? Glad to see you back here!

Jane: How awesome that your sister didn't recognize you! I know that made you feel good. You've done so well:flowerforyou:

I made it through 3 days of the 17 day diet and feel good. I am doing it as a "cleanse" to get the cravings under control after the holidays. I'm just taking it one day at a time and will see how it goes. So far, it has been easy and has worked in that I am not craving any of the "junk" that was around during the holidays and that I ended up eating:grumble:

Have a great day, all! I love to read what everyone is doing and it inspires me. Take care, Kackie

First day back to school after vacation. I did about 20 minutes of yoga this morning to energize before the busy day. Then I did 20 minutes on my nordic track after dinner. I'm heading to the shower and then to bed. I'm planning to keep this routine at least 4 times a week.

Wow! I just got off my nordic track too! I can't find "nordic track" in the MFP cardio exercise finder. I'm using eliptical trainer instead. I have a crazy goal to drive myself three hours to Flagstaff and rent cross country ski this winter at some place that's supposed to be 18 miles outside of Flagstaff somewhere I've never been . . . all by myself. I haven't gone cross country skiing for probably 15 years. It would be a big challenge; a lot of driving and a lot of cost for about two hours of falling on my back side.

I have about 30 min. total on a weekend to read and respond to this group, so I'm a little worried about taking it on. You are all such really inspirational and fun writers. I'll just have to see what happens.

This is getting to be a good habit - here I am again today and the tracking is getting back on track you might say.

I have osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones) and have had several breaks in the last few years. II had a stiff neck a week or so ago.and whilel it hasn't really gone, but does seem to be better. However the pain has been getting stronger in my right arm and I thought that perhaps both were the result of humping the suitcases in and out of the car when we went on our trip. My arm has been bugging me a little bit but not horrendously until this week. It has been noticeable over the past few days and while I could hold a cup, but when I tried to lift it to my mouth it was very painful and shaky. Anyway, yesterday it was hurting under my watch strap so I took my watch off. When I went to bed I could see a swelling and it was a bit red.

I called the hospital number for after-break care and they referred me to the doc who had seen me last time. His office is closed until next week. My family doc doesn't work on Wednesday so I think I'm off to ER in a little while to find out what is going on. If it is an infection in the bone, I can't wait for my family doc to return and then refer me to someone nor until the surgeon returns next week.

I'll let you know, but for now I'm off.

Good morning ladies, it's going to be a good day I can feel it. I haven't felt this positive in a long time!

rita: when you dog had vestibular syndrome - did all the symptoms disappear?

kazisindahous and genealace: sending good thoughts your way.

Off to work. Have a good one everyone.

I either eat what my husband and son eats or fix 2 different dinners. They want meat and rice/potatoes.

Hi. I can certainly sympathize with you. I was (and am again) trying to follow the South Beach program. My husband doesn't think you can eat a meal if it doesn't have potatoes, rice, or pasta to go with it. This caused a huge problem for a while because, like you, I wasn't going to fix 2 separate meals.

I finally started fixing things that we normally eat, but making small adjustments so that we could both eat the way we wanted. On meals where there's a meat entree and separate side dishes, it's easy. For example, we often had grilled chicken, rice pilaf, and sauteed squash. I made a little extra of the sauteed squash and had double servings of it along with my chicken; hubby had his rice. When we had spaghetti, instead of making the sauce with the ground beef in it, I bought frozen meatballs and added them to a large can of tomato sauce. I fixed just enough spaghetti for hubby -- I had the meatballs in the sauce with a large salad; hubby had his spaghetti.

Fortunately, my husband doesn't object to stir-fries -- as long as there's rice or noodles to pour it over. Same thing here -- I ate the stir-fried meat and veggies and made just enough rice for him. Now when my son is here, it's a different story -- he doesn't care for most veggies. I have gone as far as stir-frying the meat and veggies in separate pans -- a little more clean-up work but it keeps peace in the family.

I have younger friends who tell me, if I'm the one doing the cooking, I should fix what I want. If the rest of the family is hungry, they can eat it or they can fix their own. Being of a different generation, I haven't been able to do that -- but I have, slowly, over about 3 years, gotten the family to eat more in line with my way of thinking. Just hang in there!

I too can relate to this - BUT - it's my husband who does most of the cooking and then he gets mad when I don't want to eat what he cooks....he frys alot of the meats and it's dripping in oil - gets mad when I pat it down on paper towels before putting it on my plate :happy: but what can I do? He won't cook two meals and says he's not going to cook just for himself so if I say I don't want what he is making for supper the next day he doesn't make anything and will have a sandwich and then I hear him grumbling later that he's hungry. I'm also from the old school and figure that the family should eat together and eat the same thing - if I cook he'll eat whatever I make AND he likes it but he won't convert to the healthier cooking because he says "I don't need to lose weight"....not impressed but whatever! Not going to let him discourage me this time. He's always 'verbaly" supportive but just not so much in his actions :indifferent:

anyway - I've been tracking my food now since Sunday - day four and I'm still here and more motivated than I have been in years!

Good luck everybody on whatever journey your on - maintenance or weight loss or ??? have fun with whatever you do!

Back to work!