WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2012

Hello everyone. This is my first post in this forum but it looks like the one I need. I'm 57 years old (will be 58 in April) and have been on MFP since 2010. My progress has been slow. My husband passed away last October and I'm adjusting to my new life. It's very difficult and I keep hitting roadblocks. But my health is very important to me. I learned last month that I'm in the early stages of Kidney Disease and have to watch my protein intake. That, coupled with a sprained knee in January have made dieting and exercising very hard.
That said ... I'm ready to dive in and need some motivation. I'm finally able to walk my dog again, although the two miles per day is hard on my knee, so I'm sticking to about a mile for awhile. Gotta take care of the knees.
I need to lose about 65-70 pounds and now is the time for me to do it.
I'll log on regularly for support from y'all and see how it goes.

welcome....i am sorry for your loss, we are here to help you along the way, .....logging your food is going to help you so much, since you need to monitor your protein intake....good luck on your journey:flowerforyou:

Hi, new to MFP and looking for people in my age range, so I'm very gald to have found you. I'm 5'1" tall and at my worst weighed about 142 pounds. Over the past eight months, I have shed all but 5 pounds of it and put things back where they belong (more or less) but have 5 pounds left to go to reach my goal.

Need to look good because my husband of almost 35 years is taking me to Hawaii in July for our anniversary and I want to be able to look good in a bikini. And I don't care if anyone says there are things a person of my age shouldn't wear - I have a better, fitter body than most young girls I see around today and I see no reason why, if they can wear jeans that give them muffin tops and tops that let the spare tire show, there's no reason I can't wear little sundresses and a bikini in Hawaii.

I'll post a pic for opinions once those last 5 are gone.

Exhausted................................ sigh. I have gotten called to sub every day but Monday this week. When it rains it pours. I haven't exercised hardly at all and know that is why my energy is zapped. Off to our son's bball practice. I might sleep leaning against the wall. :blushing:

Happy Weekend Ladies! It was 75 here today....

Viv - I believe you asked me which step tapes that I like At the time I was in FL and didn't have access to them. Anyway, I like Kathy Smith's Classic Step Workout, Gin Miller's Simply Step Classic Moves, Gilad Step Aerobics, and Kari Anderson Go Step. To me, these aren't real complicated but they get your heart rate up. I did get some by Petra Kolby (not sure I( spelled her last name correctly) and I really didn't like them at all. She'll say something like "over in five", and I constantly thought that meant over five times but what it meant was over in five steps. That just confused me too much so I returned the DVD's. Sometimes I get them from collage video (hope I spelled that right), Amazon, and I just found another place, Total Fitness DVD's. Total Fitness says you enter "10off" in the coupon code box at the checkout and you get 10% off their videos.

Someone posted links to crafts you can do with bowling pins. I don't remember who did. Again, at the time we were in FL and I couldn't view them (well, I could but I didn't want to use up all the download on our MiFi)

Sally - I never go by the number of calories that the machines at the gym tell me I burn. For example, when I do HIIT, I know that I'm burning more calories when I'm sprinting than when I'm recovering, yet the machine's calorie burn is the same when you are recovering as when you are sprinting. I like the FT7 in that I can replace the battery myself and don't have to return it to the manufacturer. I think one time when I took it to have the battery replace (probably at WalMart), they really messed with the battery cover. You know what I found, my heart rate was all over the chart, it would be in the 200's, then drop down to 85. I found that if I just loosened the watch part by one notch, it gave me a more accurate count. Maybe it was picking up my pulse???? I did find that the directions for the Polar were somewhat confusing and they didn't offer a lot of customer support. Another thing that I like about the Polar is that the chest strap is comfortable. It's cloth so I can wash it, I just have to take the transmitter off. Consumer Report rated the Timex Personal Trainer very highly. I need to check it out further. So far I've found out that you can replace the battery yourself, which I want to be able to do.

western - I'm the same way with Girl Scout cookies -- before I know it, I've eaten the whole box. That's one of the reasons I tried to buy the cookies that Vince likes that I don't...lol I did get two boxes of the Lemonades (I'll eat them) but only had 4 before Vince finished them up (yea!)

Amanda - you poor dear. Stress can really do a number on you! Take care of yourself because it'll only get worse if you don't

fisher and tracyjayne - Welcome! Oh, you'll get lots of support and hints here

Marilyn - I love my foam roller. It so helps with muscle relaxation

Roasted the asparagus I got yesterday on sale. Now I'm constantly munching on it. Well, it's certainly better than munching on cookies! And it tastes so much better, too

JulieGo - welcome! So sorry about your husband. You'll get lots of good ideas here. This site will definitely help you as one of the things you can do is chart your protein intake.

Deidre - we're so glad you found us. I'd love to go to Hawaii. Let me live vicariously thru you, tell us all about the preparations, etc. I'm with you about the clothes that some young things wear. I'd be so embarassed to be showing my stomach bulging out, but I guess they aren't. Isn't it just amazing how men don't seem to gain weight yet we can so easily?

Sometimes when I "complete this entry", I get a message (like today) that says that I'm not eating enough. I only had 78 calories left. What's the story with that, do you always get this message whenever you're below your calorie consumption?

kackie - safe travels, and try not to spoil that baby too much!

Here's hoping everyone has a great evening

Michele

Evening ladies...

Kackie...enjoy your new grandbaby...and chasing a 3 year old will be exercise I am sure

Realpure...hang in there...the weekend is coming...perhaps some time for YOU is in order!:flowerforyou:

Welcome Deidre...I so agree with you on the youth of today..they sure aren't built like we were at that age. I personally think that it has to do with the hormonally enhanced chicken that the young are subject to these days.

Jane...LOVE your statement "Just don`t quit. New possiblities,that you would have never seen yourself doing.We may be older,but still got good years left and I for one,to make the best of them." I'm with you girlfriend!:drinker:

Pam...you are such a wonderful "welcome committee". Your words of wisdom to each new arrival are inspirational.

Julie...welcome...and so sorry for your loss...cannot even begin to imagine. Stick with this group and you will have a support system 24 x 7.:flowerforyou:

Loribenz...Wow...you echo my attitude 6 months ago...when I had 30 to lose. Finally January 1 I decided I didn't want to be a "flubber-wife". 15 pounds gone has made me feel so much better...and 15 more to go will be the ultimate. You CAN do it!

Mixdouble --- WayToGo...business trip and a loss is AWESOME!

Westernjoy...taking the "whole" picture into account is so important. Just because the scale doesn't move, doesn't mean things are not changing. Congrats!

Laura...congrats on the progress! Keep it up.

Welcome Tracie...enjoy this wonderful group!

JB...it has been an incredibly stressful week for you. Positive thoughts & hugs being sent your way.

Barbara...I assume "mat time" is yoga...could you recommend a good "beginner video" perhaps?

Nancy...My HOT pants were waiting when I got home. Upon reading up on them you can wear them during exercise or just to wear them. I put them on when I got home under my jeans...and I can seriously feel them working....I think I have "sweaty butt"!
Took my measurements before putting them on (which I haven't yet done on this weight loss journey) & will check them again in a week.

Marilyn...sounds like you have your own personal trainer in your son....keep us posted on all of the new happenings please!

Fisher110...Welcome...and your statement "I am one of those people who let my long term goals get messed up because of short term pleasures. (A cookie here, a drink there, etc.)" was my worst enemy...I've managed to overcome the cookies...but a glass of wine is still a challenge.

YClayton...enjoy your weekend with the kids!

Sarah...Envying you your March Break...enjoy!

Amanda...hope you're feeling better soon!

Barb...Barbiecate is so right when she says move ...when you talk on your cellphone...walk around the house...it's amazing what a difference it can make. Personally I wish I could figure out a way to walk & post...that would be some really good movement...hard to do with a desktop computer though!

Debbie...hope you're feeling better!

2youngatheart...welcome...

Barbiecat... I think I speak for all of us when I say that your philosophy and the wisdom that you have acquired in this journey to health; and you share...is so appreciated by everyone in this group. Thank you!

Weekend coming up and hardwoods to mop & glow...think I will try it with my new Hotpants on...I am pretty anxious to see what happens in the next week. So far, after five whole hours I am pretty impressed.

Lovely evening all...TGIF tomorrow!

MEG

On my way to 50 early this year and do not want to be this weight when that happens so I need to get serious about tracking what i am eating --as it is easy to under estimate the calories when your grazing a little here a little there... so glad to find a like minded group -- Can't wait to make March the month it all started

I have the same problem. I am 53 years old and can watch my calories, exercise and nothing happens. Its very frustrating and once in awhile I get the "oh well.....I might as well eat whatever I want and just accept the fact that I am what I am and just enjoy life". I need to lose arouond 30 lbs. I have a back and hip problem which makes it very difficult for exercise. I had a cortizone shot in my hip 2 1/2 months ago and the pain was gone. So on the treadmill I climbed. Unfortunately, the pain comes back when I walk and now I can't do it at all again. The Golden Years will be quite a challenge I can see. Any secrets out there that might help this poor woman?

Loribenz, I sent you a private message with info about a book called "Pain Free" that literally saved my life. It's by Pete Egoscue. You have to do the exercises faithfully, but they're not strenuous. It will take time but if you dedicate yourself to it, you might be able to solve your pain problems. I sure hope so!

Hello all, it's Friday Fun Day!

I am so happy to be back at work. :happy: Today my math students are doing "Measurement Olympics". They have a variety of stations where they will measure distance, mass, volume and surface area. For example, they throw a paper plate (discus) down the hallway and measure how far it went in cm, dm and m. I am looking forward to it because I get to introduce the concept of measuring volume by displacement. Eureka! and they get to play with water and wooden blocks. I have to borrow all the stuff from the kindergarten teacher. I think every classroom should have a water table and wooden blocks.

Whew! New Rules of Lifting for Women update. I am half way through the first stage, and yesterday moved on to doing 3 sets of 10 reps of each exercise. I increased the weight on the seated row and lowered the step I use for push-ups. :explode: My arms are still feeling the shock. Bring on the biceps. Just say no to osteoporosis. :happy:


JB – “At least 75% of how you experience age is under your control.” Thanks for that quote, it’s going on my wall. Have fun shopping for new clothes.

Joyce – good work on getting 12000+ steps.

Jane, “Just don’t quit" I know you live up to your words!


Realpure: I think working as a TOC (teacher on call) is the toughest job in the education system. In my opinion you should be the highest paid and most respected of us all. I have done it, and I would not go back. Good for you for taking it on. :flowerforyou: What grades/ages are your working with? Be sure to get your rest, even if it means going to bed at the same time as your children (or earlier!).

Hasta pronto,

Nancy

Anyone have luck with using natural foods, supplements to prevent/reduce hotflashes? I'm getting desperate here.