WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR FEBRUARY 2012

@meg...i am sorry that you are frustrated....i know of that.....not counting this month(not a good month for me)....anyways i find that logging everything i eat, upping my calories to my BMR and not eating back my exercise calories have worked in the past, that being said, i lose VERY slowly...and when i do go over a bit it seems to take a lot longer to make a dent....(i am one of those that CAN NOT eat anything sweet, small or tiny)or my desire for it will be huge(i am going through that now).....so DO NOT give up....i find that i need to adjust my methods frequently to lose weight.....good luck:flowerforyou:

Good morning dearies, :flowerforyou:

How are you all today?

I downloaded “The Happiness Project” to my Kindle yesterday. I read the reviews and was hesitating because it seems like a book that could go either way, it could be the author’s self-indulgent blather or it could be a good read with a few ideas worth considering. “Eat-Love-Pray” was another one that hovered close to the edge, but it came out on the positive side for me. The good reviews that Sarah and a few others have given it here encouraged me, so I made the investment and I’m enjoying it.

The author writes of her need for “gold stars” – some kind of tangible positive reward for her efforts to “be good”. I am like that too. That is why I enjoy my HRM and Nike iPod ap, they give me tangible evidence of effort – which I promptly go and record on my spread sheet so I can gloat over it later! She wrote about using her calendar, listing and checking off her resolutions, work for the day, etc. Yesterday evening I brought out the day book my dear dad gave me for Christmas and began recording the other things I’ve been pushing myself to do – get up earlier, for one thing. So I’m recording the time I get out of bed on weekdays. What's next? A best-seller?

MFP gives a person tangible rewards too, in the form of the weight loss ticker and the “Mazaron has logged on for 50 days” messages and the end of the day food and exercise record that says "if you ate like this every day you'd weigh ... in five weeks". However, the best reward I get from MFP is the intangible, which is the companionship of my pen-pals here.

Thanks for sharing

Nancy

Hi! I'm 51 (is that old?) I've enjoyed this site and the "MyFitnessPal" app on my phone. How are you doing? It's been almost 3 weeks now and I have lost 5 pounds (no exercise). I have about 12 more to go.

I guess I'm "marking my spot" too, but not like male dogs mark their spots. I don't often read the message boards, over on the side it's just too worthless. A friend of mine told me about this one, at LAST there are people here that have some sense in their heads LOL just kidding

I might be down to my goal, have been holding steady, up and down a few pounds here and there, my old clothes fit again, I'm not unhappy with my weight. I'm another dog-lover, a semi-retired nurse who has a foot care business and loves doing that. Live in Oregon with my wonderful hubby, 2 Labs and an old cat who puts up with the 4-month old puppy. I want to get healthy because I don't want to turn into a stiff old lady who can't get out there and do things. LOL how's that for being generic? LOL

Jackie

Good Morning, Dear Ladies!

I just love reading all of your posts and I get something from each of you! This is the very best motivation and therapy

Regarding Skiing: DH and I had NEVER skied downhill until our late 40s. Our youngest son wanted to come out west to ski because he had gone while we lived in MN with a group and become a good skier. Guess what? We were terrible at first and never ventured off of the beginner slopes for a few years. But we kept coming out every year with him on his spring break and our oldest was off in college. DS was a good teacher and it was fun to learn something from our youngest. DH and I learned together and each year got a little braver. Fast forward 10+ years and we now ski the black diamonds and I LOVE it!!! It has motivated me to get in better shape because I enjoy it so much and have met other people here that we love to ski with. So, I really think that if you can find an activity that you enjoy, it will drive you to do more physically in order to be able to enjoy that activity more! IT is a good cycle.

Mary (SVQ): You are doing great with your walking and I also recommend trying to use a pedometer or, better yet, a HRM. I am NOT a techy person so I resisted for a long time, but it is such a great motivator and VERY easy to use. I know now that the calories burned that I log are correct and it is so fun to watch that number climb up and up. It really does make you move more too! I am loving the roasted veggies and I do need to try to eat those as a snack when I am hungry FIRST...it does work! And the non-fat yogurt with a bit of fruit also helps satisfy that sweet tooth as well! I am worried that this snow/wind/blizzard weather is going to keep me on the mountain and I need to do a major food run to stock back up on fresh veggies and fruits now. At least I have some veggie/chicken soup made up, but that won't last long!

Meg: Everyone's advice is good and we have all been where you are! Just hang in there, plan your meals ahead of time for a few days at least and try to limit carbs and sweets later in the day. I know it shouldn't matter, but for me, it does! Try to add an extra 15 minute walk in addition to your regular exercise...even going up and down a few flights of stairs when you can...all will help move you off that plateau! Good luck...and as Barbie says: "Never, ever give up!"

Nancy: Regarding the "Happiness Project"...I really enjoyed it...everyone comes from a different perspective, but I can still learn from them. The author certainly gave me several concrete areas that I need to work on. Also, I don't tend to be as "scientific" as she is, and I realize that sometimes it helps to be that way. I pulled the book back out and am going back over it again...

Regarding S-L-O-W weight loss and other ways to measure our progress...here are a few that I have noticed the past month:

My stamina is WAY up. I can ski hard for most of the day and feel GOOD instead of exhausted, which is an improvement over
past years.

I can wear more fitted shirts and clothing than in the past. My middle is smaller than it used to be. Even if the scale hasn't
moved that much in the past few months, things have shifted in a better direction!

I wore a very nice black skirt-suit that I bought several years ago (payed WAY too much for it) to a funeral a few weeks ago
and it FIT...for the first time since I bought it!!!!!

I am sleeping much better than I did for a few years. I do not have any "hot flashes" or "night sweats".

I think before I eat, "what is REAL food and what is PROCESSED" food. I pick the real food first...every time. I WANT the
REAL food more than the processed food.

I do not feel good if I cannot get in REAL exercise each day and plan my day around getting this exercise into each day, even
when traveling. It is a HABIT that I am so happy to have in my life.

Having said all of this...I am far from perfect... I have too much wine some evenings, crave simple carbs some days...but I am determined to keep moving in a healthier direction each day. So, I am not at my "Goal" Weight yet, but am trying to measure success in many ways other than the scale.

Have a wonderful day, dear friends. Happy to see some new faces and getting to know each of you.
Kackie

Hi all! Can't resist coming back on a day when I can log another pound shed:blushing:
I love reading your posts and identifying with some and agreeing with some. I too feel better when I exercise. It does reduce my stress levels and boy do they need reducing.
Started Physical Therapy yesterday for an old shoulder injury which has been greatly aggravated by stress. Finding time to take care of me is like being an acrobat with one arm, possible, just challanging:laugh:
Keeping track of food and exercise takes time too, so I don't always get here to log those. Just changed doctors and she's sending me for tests...probable diagnosis= high blood pressure, high cholesterol, borderline diabetes (at best). First thing she said was quit working so hard....sure thing and lose weight....ok, I can work on that.
Keep on inspriring me, all of you. You're a great bunch!

MacMadame, Glad to hear Mini-Mac is on the mend. The principal at my school (a good friend) fell on the ice a couple of weeks ago and banged the back of her head. She’s been off work ever since. It reminded me of you and your bain injury. How are you feeling these days?

I'm going through some frustration because I thought I was on the mend, went for a very, very short run, and it set me back more than a week! Argh. I have only signed up for one race (I got a 30% discount doing it in Dec and I couldn't resist) but it's already getting to be too late to train for it.

I'm going to contact them about getting my money back.

Mini-Mac had the expected ear pain yesterday. She's also slacked off on taking her pain meds because she hates the taste so that didn't help. I'm going to get her some liquid ibuprofen she can alternate with. Hopefully that won't taste as bad. We go back to the surgeon for our post-op follow-up visit today.

Yesterday I had a job interview and it was kind of weird. Whenever I talk to the guys, I get very excited about the job. But as soon as I am away from them, I get very unexcited. It's probably a sign. Or something.

Meg and Diva, If you aren’t doing it already, try weighing your food on a food scale. It's far too easy to underestimate unless we do as Mary (msh) suggests and record every bite, lick and sip. Food scales are cheap and accurate. Weighing what I eat is the only thing that works for me. For one thing, weighing my food helps me avoid that vague guilty feeling that *maybe* I've overeaten - that feeling often leads to a downward spiral.

I’ve been up and down a lot too after hitting what was, for me, a milestone weight. I think there’s a psychological reason but, what really matters is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Taking it one day or even one hour at a time will get you where you want to go. After all, it has to! It's not magic. We know if we stopped eating altogether we'd lose weight (then die - yikes!) so it's a matter of finding the point at which we lose a pound or so a week then just keep on doing that until we get where we want to go. We can do it!

Kackie, it’s so good to hear about the many successes in your life. You remind me to be grateful for the things I have – and there are many. You’re one of them – and so is this group.

Mary SVQ

p.s. Meg and Diva, I almost forgot to mention my old refrain...eat lots of fruits and veggies too. I call them my willpower for a reason. I just can't stay on track when losing weight means being in a constant state of deprivation. I like an abundance of tasty food. It takes the tastebuds a couple of weeks to adjust. (I used to be a glutton for processed foods.) Once you're used to more fruits and veggies, they taste wonderful!

Howdy all! Hope everyone has had a good Wednesday. Mine has been good, except that Hub's foot is still swollen from the stepped on nail. He's had his tetanus shot so that's good and he's on antibiotics but it worries me. He made an appointment with his doctor for Friday when the antibiotics are almost out, so we'll see how it is by then.

I bought BOOTS today. I have large calves - they're almost as big as my thighs. Much smaller than they were 149 lbs ago, but the shape hasn't changed: my legs are still the same size from top to bottom. So this is the first time in my life I've ever been able to wear boots. I was so amazed when they zipped.

Marcelynh: Woohoo!! Congratulations on the new grandbaby. I know you must be just as thrilled as you were with the first one. I bet you were a fantastic coach.

Genealace: So thrilled to hear DBF is finally getting out of the hospital. It's been a long journey for him, but being home will be wonderful medicine.

Mimi7grands: Ooooooh, I wish I could moderate dark chocolate. The only time I can have a piece is if hubs is having some, breaks me off a piece and immediately eats the rest. Otherwise, 1 bite = the whole bar. Congrats on your amazing loss. I hope I can say 10 years from now that I *WAS* obese. I'm determined to make it so.

Thanks for the roasted veggie recipe. I've passed it on to hubs, who is the cook in our house. I'm imagining it with a little garlic.

Megathome111: How frustrating. I know that stalled feeling and it can be incredibly discouraging. How much are you drinking? I drink nearly 100 oz a day and found my loss slows down when I drop below about 72. If you can, consider upping your fluids. Like the fruits and veggies Mimi7grands suggested, it also keeps hunger at bay.

Mazaron: I'm sorry. I guess "I'm trying to stop losing" does sound odd. But I do need to up my calories. And it's so scary after all these many, many, many months of focusing on keeping them down.

Laura80111: I hear you! That's why I'm not leaving. Just logging and being accountable helps me feel more like I can control this. Not feeling completely that way, but better about it. This will be my anchor and discipline.

msh0530: Good report, especially on the logging/eating front. You're doing better on the exercise front - if you don't quite make the goal, you'll come close!

That's all I got. Hope you all are well.

Virginia

Happy Hump day!
Moving around some.Have a hard time getting up and down from chairs,toilets etc.Pain is manageable.
Dr took off the immobilzier and just have an ace on.Stitches come out next week and therapy starts.
Thanks for all your love,prayers,and kind words,it means a lot.
Have a good night!!
HUGS
jane