Women Ages 50+ for the month of July

I am new to this site. What program are you using to get 3.5 lbs. off per week? I have tried every diet out there. Thanks!:blushing:

I wouldn't really call it a "program." In my case, I watch my calories, get my carbs from fruits and veggies, limit my fat intake, watch my sodium (sneak stuff shows up everywhere), drink my 8 - 10 glasses of water, and those who have been on this site know that my login should probably be "walkin fool." I do 20 - 30 miles per week, with probably 2/3 of those miles on Fri, Sat and Sun, because of my work schedule.

The speed at which you lose is affected by consumption of calories and amount of calories burned through exercise, AND by how much you have to lose. In my case, I figure on losing 120 pounds by the middle of 2010. Consequently, since I am still in the 1st "quarter" of the game, so to speak, my loss is fairly rapid. Your results will be different than mine.

One thing that I have taken from Suzzeque, who has also recently posted on here is the idea of blasting through a plateau of weight loss by doing a one or two day veggie, fruit, and water regimen. I got "stuck" after 4th of July, mainly because my walking program was put on the back burner due to my having to deal with helping a seriously ill friend who was in and out of the hospital.

I wanted to get back on schedule with my losing, so I decided to try it. It isn't as hard as it sounds. Veggies are very filling, and if you choose the right ingredients (soybeans, for instance) you will still get enough protein. You can eat and stay comfortably full and not consume many calories. I only did it for about a day and a half, but that combined with about 12 miles of walking over two days, and I was down 4 pounds. I did go up one for a couple of days after returning to my customary healthy eating, but within two days, I was back to the lowest weight.

Using this site, taking advantage of the tools available, drawing information and sharing ideas with others has resulted in a very effective result for me. I started in April and have lost 27 pounds in 13 weeks.

I hope this answers your question.

Good luck with your efforts.:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Barb

marking this thread to read later. needing some new motivation but not enough time to read right now

Thanks Barb for posting Suzzeque's suggestion. I am once more at a plateau. I hit more and more of them as I get closer to reaching my goal. I will be trying the fruit, veggie, water for a couple of days. I hope this jump-starts things for me.

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
I'm reading an article in a magazine about why people fail to lose weight and the #1 section is about not counting on your girlfriend's diet----that you have to find the one that works for you. I think that fits in with being open minded to new ideas rather than jumping on any new fad and assuming that because it worked for someone else, it will work for you. I've been through trial and error for the last six months to get to where I am right now. I can't compare myself to anyone but me. I can get ideas, strength, and inspiration from others.

:flowerforyou: SuzyQ---I've watched you persevere through good and bad and never give up. Keep trying on those small pants, they'll be fitting soon.:bigsmile:

:flowerforyou: Welcome, IndianaGranny

---

this is a great group. Congratulations on your weight loss so far:bigsmile:

:flowerforyou: Welcome, Susan---this group has lots of great ideas from the inspiring (never give up) to the practical (keep paper and pencil next to your water glass and keep track of how many glasses you drink every day)---these ladies have helped me so much

:flowerforyou: Debbie--I hope you have a great time in R.I.---walking in the sand is great exercise for your legs

:flowerforyou: Becky, I'm so glad you checked in this morning. I was just about to start worrying about you

:flowerforyou: Barb, it was cool here yesterday and I thought I'd be able to get a long walk, but the computer fixer came over and spent the whole afternoon with us. By the time he left and we ate supper there was only time to go to the dog park (as you know, dogs are the most important people). It may be cool again today so maybe I can take a long walk after I get my hair cut

:flowerforyou: Rosemary, you continue to be so upbeat and so encouraging. You are so right about us sticking together. If I only had my "face to face" friends, I'd be back to my old ways in no time.

Yesterday I taught a new dance at line dance. This is the third time I've done that but only the first since I lost weight. I felt much better in front of the group thinner this time. I was still scared but I lived through it. :laugh: :laugh: I'll be teaching the same dance at the class this morning.

Thank you all for starting my day off right. Now it's time for breakfast.
Hugs
Barbie

Hello, all!
I'm back from vacation. Diet was so-so...exercise was excessive walking for two days and sitting in the car for the other two!:grumble:
Well, back to a better routine today.
Bonnie

Good Afternoon ladies,
I was posting my lunch and just had to share. I went to the mall this morning with my daughter. She had to get some new clothes for her new teaching job. We went to NY & Company. I do not shop there much cause the clothes used to not fit me well. I had bought a pair of pants there back in June before my trip and I bought a 14. They had some other colors like those and they were on sale 60% off so I figured I Would try some more. They had 2 colors in a 14 and another color I liked they did not have 14 but had 12. I decided what the heck I will see how they fit. Guess what the 12 fit. AT NY & Co. I got that pair and traded one of the 14's for a 12. I can wear them all winter here in the south and the 12 will fit me longer even if I keep losing. I just had to share that with my lady friends. I thought it would be a lot longer before I got in a 12. Hope you all are having a good Friday and have a great weekend.
Vicki M
PS My daughter is 32 and she is not fat just needs to lose a few pounds at the moment, but she also got a 12. felt bad for her to wear the same as her (fat) mom but felt great for me.

Vicki, how fun! I'm not in 12's yet, but I'm trying my best to get there!

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
How did it get so late so early? It has been a busy day. I taught a great dance at line dance this morning to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”, a favorite song of mine. After a quick lunch I got my hair cut, then took the dogs to the dog park. When I got home Jake was home from golf and we took a walk together. This evening I got on the exercise bike while watching the Mariners’ game on TV.

I had an interesting conversation with a woman at line dance about how she’d like to lose weight but as long as her husband doesn’t like vegetables and she has to cook what he likes she just eats what she cooks for him. It made me appreciate all of us who have made the decision to find ways to eat healthy no matter what our husbands want or don’t want to eat.

:flowerforyou: Rosemary, you did an awesome job at Texas Road House----restaurants, especially ones that specialize in meat, are such a challenge. Saying no to the blooming onion is a lot like saying no to birthday cake.

:flowerforyou: Bonnie, I’m glad you’re back and happy to hear that you’re back to your healthy active routine.

:flowerforyou: Vicki---that is so great about your size 12 pants. There is something about size 12 that seems soooo much smaller than 14. I am so happy for you. You have worked for this success.

The Mariners are getting clobbered :sad: :sad: :sad: so it’s time to wish everyone a happy, healthy weekend and head off to bed. :yawn: Bernie, the cat thinks we should all get up at 5:30 so I have to get to bed early.
hugs
Barbie

News at last on my oldest brother, Ken. The tests say he is Stage 4a of Hodgkin's Lymphoma which means the cancer is in his bones, but not his liver yet. He gets the port to begin 3 rounds of chemo Monday. If that doesn't help, the only other medical alternative is a bone marrow transplant. Thankfully all his kids have the same blood type.

:flowerforyou: I have my youngest grandaughter today! She is a wide-eyed wonder! Four of the five that are still at home left for camp in Colorado today so we only have the youngest at home for a week. He is 9. He and I will do the paper route every morning so that should drop a couple of pounds this week.
Susan, we will be praying for your brother. Have a great weekend.

Aw Barb...that is so funny, never consider that possibility. Actually, I only have one day of vacation left for this year.:sad: I used the rest of them up when I had the surgeries. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can do with one day?

Thanks Barb, this is what I probably will do. And I will wait until after school begins to take the vacation day. I will still have my husband home, though. What I think would be a wonderful treat is to spend the day at the YMCA. Using the machines, sauna, whirlpool. Just being alone there.

Hello just checking out threads this is my 4th time on here. MIA for awhile, but love to join in with you ladies here if you will have me. My name is Clarice I live in Southgate, Mi w my husband. I'm also on Sparkspeople and i've done good there. Looking for more motivations and help. I've managed on my own to lose 40 and on sparks 10. My goal is to lose 50 more seems like i get stuck. I'm doing what is to be done eat my veg. fruit. and drink water. do exercises ( some )..

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
Hi Clarice :bigsmile: Welcome back.
This is a great thread to participate in every day. These women have added so much to my life and helped me subtract so much from my body :laugh:

Congratulations on the weight you've already lost and best wishes for continued healthy eating and exercising. We just got back from the dog park. The dogs ran and we walked briskly around the park for 40 minutes.

:bigsmile: Becky, a day at the YMCA sounds really good. You could find a great balance between exercise and rest . I can't wait to hear about it.:bigsmile: :bigsmile:

Time to get up and do something useful----like the huge pile of laundry.:laugh: :laugh:

hugs
Barbie

FORCED myself to go walking both last night and again this morning. I worked out extra hard Friday and my glutes are still hollering at me every time I stand or sit. Hubby offered to split an entree with me at the Italian place today and has taken to calling me his "Hot Moma" and patting my rear as I pass by. Guess all these squats are finally paying off. Its been a looooooooooooong time since he's done anything like that. Imagine what he'll do when I reach my goal!

Hang in there girls. Together we can do this!

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Welcome, HeatherMMB----you have found the best thread on MFP. These women have made a huge difference in my life. I've learned a lot from them and have felt them cheering me on every day. I hope we'll hear from you regularly and get to know you better. :bigsmile:

I agree with you about taking it one day at a time.
I started out in January and by taking baby steps made changes to my eating, exercise, and attitude. I think that has contributed to my continued progress down the weight loss path. And don't forget to drink a lot of water :drinker: :drinker:

:flowerforyou: SuzyQ

---

that is very cool about your husband's attitude. You are so fortunate that he is being such a support and a cheerleader for you. I know what you mean about "forcing" yourself to go walking. All my things to do in the house keeping calling to me and it's hard to change shoes and go out the door.

Maybe I should get away from the computer right now and go for a walk:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
hugs
Barbie