WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2012

I was reading these posts as I am a lady of 50+ and had to comment on the answer given to question that said, you can only be the north star and your children have to choose to follow or not. That is SO insightful. I loved that and I will keep that in my head as I raise my two teenager daughters (age 14 and 17), truly it was a great way of putting it. thanks...

To those in need and going through hard times with family and friends, let me repeat what my son’s family therapist says and so far she is always right – If you truly lead with your heart than what you say is always right. It sounds simple, but sometimes it is hard to clear your mind and let your heart speak.

Cindy – I am so sorry to hear about your mom.

Renny – I hope your sister is OK.

Happy Birthday to all our March Ladies! My your special day be wonderful

I met my February goal which was to do strength exercises 3-4 times a week. Nothing to show for it, but that will come.

For March I want to continue the strength exercises and start adding back in aerobics.

General recap: Dad was in and out of the hospital again. We thought this might be the beginning of the end, but it ended up being something new and fixable. My MIL had a series of mini strokes and hubby had to go to AZ to help handle things there, but that is looking good too and he is back home. We find out next week if she will be able to live alone any more. My son continues to struggle with the stress in life and my daughter got her first date at 17 and is looking forward to date two coming up next weekend and we both gave up all meat for Lent. Still a single income family. No progress on hubby getting disability or SS. The trip to AZ and back did a number on his back. Mom is starting to really get easily confused, so is MIL.

Time to measure myself for the month.

Jeannie

Whew....missing a day on the thread makes catching up quite a job...but love to read about everyone's successes, frustrations and daily activities. Congratulations to the new grandmas and condolences to those who have lost loved ones. My thoughts are with all of you.

I have to tell you that I have a ENTIRELY NEW RESPECT for all you ladies out there who do squats daily. Yesterday I decided to join that band wagon, and did 20 squats ... just to have a place to start. Ohmygosh....My legs are notifying me of every measly muscle that I haven't worked in the last 20 years. It hurts...but...that means it's working, and I went right ahead and did another
20 squats today...granted they may have been a bit shallower than yesterdays...but I did them.

Got up early walked on the TM for 30 minutes, healthy breakfast & lunch...did some outside cleanup work, and dinner is planned with a healthy flare. The day started out rainy & ugly, but has turned into a pretty lovely afternoon.

Hoping noone on the thread was affected by the terrible tornadoes in the mid-west.

Have a healthy day everyone.

MEG

I would love to join your group too!

:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: Welcome to the supportive thread that helped to change my life.

:flowerforyou: The title says Women Ages 50+ but all women are welcome.

:flowerforyou: This is a supportive and encouraging group of women who have helped me along my weight loss journey and I know they will do the same for you.

:bigsmile: How did you do with your goals for February?

:bigsmile: What goals do you have for March?

:flowerforyou: Some of us set weight loss goals and others have goals that address exercise, healthy behaviors, or new attitudes.

I love the start of a new month because it is a clean page on the calendar ready for a new beginning.

Barbie from NW Washington

March goals:
*walk the dogs for an hour or more every morning no matter how cold, wet, windy, or snowy.
* Yoga three days a week
*100 squats a day
*strength training two days a week (three would be better)
*17,000 steps a day


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"The reason most people fail instead of succeed is that they trade what they want the MOST for what they want at the MOMENT."

"The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed."

Ellie - have you taken your measurements? Many times we don't see a weight loss, but we see and feel it in our clothing. Muscle weighs more than fat, so even if the scale doesn't show a loss, a better indicator is how you feel and look. Don't get discouraged.

mimi - have fun each day you are gone. We know that you'll do your absolute best.

Renny - BIG HUG

Amanda - your bag sounds wonderful!

Welcome mobycat! So glad your friend suggested MFP, we're glad you joined us. You'll get lots of good ideas here.

Happy birthday to all our March birthdays. Mary, why not just post the birthdays for the month and maybe the next month rather than always having to post all the birthdays?

Dawn - thanks so much for the tip about putting the bathingsuit in water with chlorine remover in it. I never thought of that! Is there a reason that you were stopped from your walk or was the game just over?

Meg - whenever my legs hurt I always remind myself that one of the positives is that I don't want to get up and get something to eat....lol Congrats on doing the squats.

Welcome pavient. Do you have a special topic that you like to write about?

splashwags - you can do it, and we'll be here every step of the way

We have the Newcomer gala tonight. I'm really not looking forward to it at all. That's sad. The lady who is running it is a real control freak and it wouldn't surprise me if she goes over the top with this. I do hope there's at least something decent to eat, not real fatty or creamy. Bet there won't be fruit for dessert. Well, I've told Vince (who said that he really isn't looking forward to it either) that we'll eat, he can pay the bills, and then we can just leave. The woman who's running it is basing the succcess of it by how many people come, to me the success should be how many people stay.

I made the spinach brownies. Used a package of brownie mix, 1 egg, 3T of water and 10oz of spinach. Not sure if I was able to process the spinach small enough so that Vince won't see it. Time will tell.

Guess we'll be leaving for the gala soon. Will post this now. Hope everyone has a great evening. I'm going to watch what I eat.

Michele

Hello,

I've yo-yo for the past 6 weeks. I need to break through the barrier, just not sure how. With sitting at computer for 9 hrs a day I'm so mentally exhausted I just want to relax when I get home. I am trying to take a walk on am break - 1/2 mile around business complex and do my DH stationary bike 15-30 mins at night. Because of the pain in my lower back and rt leg I have take pain pills before I start.

I've been told I need to eat more calories than MFP recommends. I'm 5'6" with cw 247 and it is very hard to stay @ 1325 cal. I am diabetic.

My goal for March is:
Increase my H2O (I hate water)
continue with bike everyday and start again on the treadmill.
start taking my measurements.

Everyone have a great month

i'm right there with you! my oldest has a girlfriend that i can't stand, she's got 3 kids and is a horrible mother, they fight all the time, and have a horrible relationship. i've discovered that all you can do is sit back and keep your mouth shut. thankfully, mine doesn't live with us (he had to throw him out a year ago), and it broke my heart. he was my friend as well. we used to go and do things together, he would help me shop and all kinds of stuff. now i never see him without her, so our friendship is very strained. and like i said, unfortunately there isn't anything we as moms can do. they have to make their own decisions. so, if you would like, my shoulder is here.

I use my new heart monitor for the first time today, it is pretty cool to see the heart rate, pecentage of heart use, and even how many calories you burn, so my diary can be more accurate now.

Greetings All

On Nancy's recommendation, I picked up The New Rules of Lifting for Women at the library yesterday and spent the evening reading it. Although I have been using weights for almost three years, I have never had a set program nor have I recorded my workouts. I figure it's worth a try. The discussion on diet was interesting too. They are quite keen on protein shakes and powders which I find revolting so I think I will have to stick with protein bars, but they are also very adamant about eating more calories than most diet plans say if you are trying to build muscle. It made sense to me.

My ski trip this weekend was cancelled due to huge winds....not as bad as in the midwest but I wouldn't want to have skied in it. I had a couple of branches come down and there have been power outages all over southern Ontario. I'm going to miss the big calorie burn and fresh air but I will head to the gym to start the weight lifting program.

Kackie: Congrats

Nancy: I feel your pain. The sabre rattling has started in Ontario this week and our contract isn't even up until September. I remember being on the picket line years ago and someone leaning out their truck window yelling, "You all deserve to die" which I thought was a bit excessive.

qadosh: a friend of mine who has similar health issues found yoga really really helpful

Barbara: what is an AHMOD. I have tried to figure it out but have to admit defeat.

One more week and then it's March break ( yippee) I'm heading east to Montreal and Ottawa to visit various family members and spend some time with my girls. I'm hoping to get some skiing in but I doubt I will get as much exercise as I usually do, although I will try to at least walk daily and maybe make a yoga class.

Anyway, I am going to get up and get going. Half tidied the house yesterday, today I will finish. I even matched all my socks and put them away which may not sound like a big deal but I absolutely hate doing it, probably because they are always mysteriously disappearing for a while and then surprisingly reappearing. I cannot tell you how many lonely singles I have at any given time.:mad:

Have a good week and happy birthday to all who are celebrating this week.

Sarah

Good Sunday morning.

Upon considering my personal weight-loss journey and how I've often experienced frustration over not losing a pound every week, I've been doing a little research about goals. I forget about my goals some days, just going about my business and not paying attention to the long-term. "Looking back in sorrow" is mentioned in the first quote, which it seems I've done a hundred times over the past 15 months....sorrow over the scale not going down or being upset with myself for overeating. And sure enough, when that sorrow comes, I trip, becoming disgruntled and disenchanted. I know I'm not alone in this. Picking ourselves up every single day and reaching towards our goals takes a lot of willpower and focus. Exercise is a must. And proper nutrition! Our emotional status plays a huge part in our eating habits. If we eat right and include enough healthy fats, Omega-3s and potassium, our minds and bodies stay on a more even keel. I've read so many articles about Omega-3's preventing depression and other emotional disorders. Since depression runs in my family, I've tried like heck to keep myself from falling into it. I feel a million times better these days! Anyway, here are a few quotes.

"Be sure to take the most direct route to your dreams. Never take your eyes off your goal, or you will lose course. Never look back in sorrow, or you will trip."

"You must have long term goals to keep you from being frustrated by short term failures."

And this one is my motto for today as I sit here contemplating how to reach my goal:

"Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated; you can't cross a chasm in two small jumps."

I took a big step yesterday and had a big Salad Sista salad for lunch, on a Saturday no less! :noway: Unheard of, lol. Happy scale this morning. Yay. Making progress.

Wishing everyone a most wonderful day. :flowerforyou:

jb

Hello ladies, It has been a couple of weeks since checking in. The addition of a new dog in the house has upset all my good intentions of checking in. I have barely made it to logging food and exericse. The new little girl does have her upside. It is now nearly impossible to ignore two dogs who want to walk, so logging in much more 2.0 mile an hour doggie walks.

Cindy, my tears flow with yours for the loss of your mama.

I am a worried sister today and have been the last couple of days. My older sister has been in hospital since Wednesday. Hopefully will know on Tuesday what is wrong. I struggle with her being so far away, across the ocean. Just hoping nothing serious.

Renny

renny ...hope you hear good news about sis...

Sunday, time to read and respond to my MFP friends:

I’m sitting on couch, looking through my big front window to the south, watching the wind blow and seeing the grass that’s emerged from under the snow. I am enjoying the moment, yes, and looking forward to the day a few weeks from now when I’ll be on the other side of the window enjoying the spring sunshine.

JB – I had a similar problem with my recipe collection, so I bought a bunch of those plastic “sleeves” (you know, the kind you put into ring binders?) and slipped the recipes into those. I didn’t bother to re-write anything. The plastic keeps the kitchen splashes off the paper. Really small cards and notes I glued into a “little black book”. I love the handwritten recipes I have from my grandmother, aunt, MIL and Mum. No way I’m every going to replace those with soul-less computer printouts!

Hi Eileen, looking at your picture always gives me a flashback to Rome! I have a little blue jug that holds exactly one cup (250 ml), and a glass decanter that holds two. That’s how I’ve been measuring wine. The trouble is, once I’ve had a “splash” my self-control is compromised and it’s tooooo easy to refill the jug.:blushing: I’m working on it.

Robin, your pictures of the babies are the image of love.

Kackie, I am sorry to report that there is no substitute for a glass of wine after skiing! Tea might be an alternative, though. Congratulations on the arrival of Rita Kate. :flowerforyou:

Laura, I hope you had fun with your sons on the weekend, congrats to #2 on his promotion.

Amanda, The Happiness Project is an interesting read, and I did not always agree with her approach to life. My current book on those lines is Alain de Botton’s “The Happiness of Architecture”. It’s about the ways that our physical surroundings – buildings and “stuff” influence and affect us. I really enjoy his writing and his book “The Consolations of Philosophy” is one of my all-time favorites. He could explain why your insulated lunch bag gives you such a happiness boost, if you need to explain it at all. It’s not a small thing, it’s a thing of beauty!

Blissfuldrake, your dog walk story had me in stitches.:laugh: My walking companion is a miniature poodle named Buster. I think he and Scooter are soul-mates.

Michelle, I am going to try spinach brownies on my J’boy. It’s just too irresistible. Hope the Newcomers dinner was not too much of an ordeal.

Virginia, sorry to hear about your tax bill. DH says we owe this year too,:grumble: because he cashed in some investments to pay for our camper. Sigh.

Mimi7, enjoy every moment of your trip and your Dad’s celebration. What a delight to have everyone in the same place at the same time.

Msh350, I got my hair cut yesterday too. I know it wasn’t enough to move the scale, but it sure moved my happiness meter in the right direction. I felt quite glamorous.

Meg – it’s not the squats that kill me, it’s the lunges. :explode: My workout today includes two sets of 12, with weights. I am going to have to p-u-s-h myself.

Suzie, The vision of your grandson kicking in the door to get away from a rampaging rooster is pretty funny.:happy: I hope the child was not too traumatized!


Sarah, thanks for the pat on the shoulder re strike action. It all kicks of on Monday with a union meeting at 10:00. At least they’re letting us sleep in! I will go straight from the meeting to the gym (it’s in the same building) to burn off the stress. :explode: Do you have a two week March break? We do, and I’m looking forward to visiting my family too. I don’t think we’ll make it out to Vancouver to see our daughter, though. Doesn’t doing things like matching up the socks give you a satisfied feeling?

Well, DH is doing laundry and pacing around the kitchen. I think he's ready to go to the gym. I am too. Last night was our dinner club - the theme was "Computer Geek Goes Californian" because the host is a computer programmer who commutes to California. Lots of fun, great food, conversation, music and wine.

This morning I downloaded the instructions for our WW scale, will soon be able to track my BMI, body fat, etc using all the fancy features I'd forgotten about. Go gadget girl, go!

Hasta pronto,

Nancy

Barbiecat hasn't logged in for a few days. Hope she is not under the weather.

Michele - I post all of the birthdays every month so that everyone can see if they are on the list or not. Do you think it is too much?

I have to o make a menu and a grocery list, then go to the store. Definitely not my favorite thing to do! Mary