WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR DECEMBER

Hubby is off today so just have time for a super quick update.

My deepest sympathies go out to those who have lost loved ones in recent days. This time of years always seems to make that kind of loss a bit harder to handle. ((((HUGS))))

Thanks to planning ahead and filling up on salad and/or apples and peanut butter, I was able to make it through the past two feast days without blowing my eating plan. I was absolutely THRILLED to weigh this morning and find myself another pound down. More later when he naps.

:flowerforyou: Good morning all, as we continue the saga of bad luck,:huh: let me vent yet again. Last night having a relaxing evening, despite still having to pump water out from under the house, :noway: I receive a call from my son. He and his new bride decided to travel 2 hours to Baltimore to see Santa Clause (my father is the Santa at Marley Station Mall in Glen Burnie) and to do some shopping. On the way home at 8:00pm, his vehicle breaks down :sick: (yet again) and hubby and I have to get a tow truck to bring the vehicle back to our house.:grumble: My son had a mechanic come to the house this morning to take a look at it and it is going to cost app. :grumble: $1,200 to fix. It needs a new motor. Now, my son has only had this vehicle for about 6 months and has already had to put a transmission in it. My son and his new bride live with us rent free until they can get enough money saved to get a place of their own. They also are expecting a baby in May. Don't look like they will be moving anytime soon. :ohwell: I REALLY NEED A VACATI0N. I am done venting now…..
:happy: One bright spot, I had blood work done a few weeks ago and I had a physical this morning. The doctor said everything looks good and she is so proud of me for losing the weight. Now I am just waiting till it is time to go pick up MIL to get the Pulmonary Breathing test done and then to the doctors for the results of PET scan.
Cindy -I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your sister in-law. I know you can find comfort knowing you were able to say good bye. The suffering is over and she is in a better place. You will have her sweet memories to see you through until you are together again.
Lynn-I am so sorry to hear about your father in-law. It seems that everywhere we turn some one else is going through the loss of a loved one. All we can do is pray for your family and to have strength in the knowledge that you will all be together again someday and that they are no longer suffering.
December is a hard month for me. My son would have been 35 on the 20th of this month and my FIL passed away on the 27th 2 years after my son died. May god give us all, the strength we need to get through this holiday season.
Love (((Hugs))) and Prayers to all, Rosemary
:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

:flowerforyou: Rosemary,
Unfortunately, your life is proving that the old adage "bad luck comes in three's" is not always true. I think your son's vehicle troubles are at least #4 or maybe #5. I am SOOO sorry you are going through all this adversity. I hope things improve for you and yours soon.

I somehow missed your prior post where you mentioned you use the Walmart brand of diet shake, so the Slimfast recall is not something you have to worry about. At least THAT is good news!!!:drinker: :drinker:

:flowerforyou: Kathy/plantlady,

It is good to hear from you. I know all too well what you are going through with moving your parents. I hope you have lots of family members to help. It will be 3 years next Spring since I got my parents out of the house they had lived in for 42 years!! I have no siblings, so that was a daunting task. And people wonder why I say "MOVE" is a four-letter word!!!:grumble: :laugh:

Believe it or not, you will get through it, though at times you may wonder how and consider booking a one way ticket to somewhere, ANYWHERE, to get away from all the work and stress. One piece of advice I can give is sort through as much as you can and GET RID of as much as you can. Three years later, we are still working on boxes from the storage unit that have to be gotten rid of, and though my dad can't lift a finger to help, he is real good at complaining about the process.

Hope everyone will have a good week.:flowerforyou:


Barb

:frown: Very cold here this morning (southeast Washington state) 13* - wind chill puts us at minus 3. Needless to say, it was too doggone cold to hit the step video in our garage this morning! Hoping to make it up somewhere this afternoon???? Too cold outside for me, so I might have to venture off to the gym! Did well most of the week, but traveled on Saturday (dinner out) and Sunday was a church dinner (potluck, try to find the least offensively fattening things!) Everyone tries to outdo the next person and brings the most amazing things . . . . it’s a dieters nightmare! And we’re hungry! Didn’t weigh this morning as Saturday morning is my normal weigh in and it was down. Probably back up a bit. Decided my goal is basically to hang on for December and minimize the damage. All our kids (5) come in for Christmas on the 19th so it will be harder after that!! They all like to cook and will bring new things they want to try!!
On the passing of family members . . . we are at that age when we will see more and more . . . . my parents have been gone since the 80’s, but the in-laws are still here. We try to enjoy them as much as we can, but we are certain to lose them in the next few years. Lean on your faith . . . there is a plan.

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Hello everybody. So much happens on this thread in just a day...almost three weeks and it really is impossible to catch up...so I will just jump right in. To those who have had losses of loved ones and/or other hardships...my condolences to all.

We are back from Deutschland where we are very suspicious that we succumbed to h1n1 virus probably picked up on the airplane, at the airport or on one of the many trains we were on. Got back just before midnight on Saturday, but I waited till today to post as Monday is my weigh-in day. I am happy to report that for the two and a half weeks I was out of the loop, I did NOT gain any weight. I weigh exactly the same I did on November 16 While that doesn't sound like anything to celebrate, I am thrilled because my plans to keep on the calorie logging and accountability regime completely fell through for the entire time. So, after being gone from: home, healthy cooking, portion control, logging, blogging, treadmill, and OA meetings AND after Thanksgiving, eating out, being sick, not getting regular exercise...to NOT have gained any weight for THREE weeks for me is HUGE!!!!

Happy Advent to all...it really is good to be home!!

Terri

Swissmiss -- what can you share about Zumba? I was interested, but my trainer told me not to do it.
I have had 2 back surgeries and she was concerned for me.

Louise

heartrw:Terri: I agree, you should be thrilled that you didn't gain any weight during your three weeks of traveling. This is the most difficult time of year for those of us trying to lose. I'm going to be tickled to death if I can get through December without gaining any weight. Of course, losing a few pounds would be nice but I'm not going to be too hard on myself if I don't..... Just so I can maintain........

BirdieM: I've been hanging on to all my small clothes for 3 yrs. I know that sounds selfish, but it sure has come in handy a couple of times. As my jeans get loser, I'm hoping I'll be digging out a smaller pair soon. Yesterday I gave some of my clothes that were too big to the Mountain Mission at church. I had been keeping them as a security blanket just in case but I figured that I was just making it too easy to fail, so I donated them.

Barb/weaklink: Thanks for the funnies......don't these people proof read before they print ?????/:laugh: :laugh:

Cindy and Lynn: So sorry to hear about the deaths you both have experienced recently. My deepest sympathy.

kathy/plantlady: I HATE moving so I sympathize with you having to move your parents. Hopefully this will be their last move. Sounds like they have found a nice place with lots of friends, so they will be happy there. Congrats on your husband's retirement. Since you are having a difficult time with weight loss right now, I think setting a goal for February is a good idea. You should have your parents settled in by then and you'll have the holidays behind you.

Rosemary: You certainly have had a run of bad luck. Unfortunately your son's bad luck is affecting you as well. Hang in there. I too had a son with a birthday this month. He died when he was 16 and would have been 34 on Dec. 30th. Christmas has never been the same, as he was my only child. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and everyone else who has lost a loved one. May you all have a Blessed Christmas and keep your family close.

Cindy and Lynn: My condolences.
BirdieM

:flowerforyou: Good evening all, thank you so much to all the ladies who have responded to my venting. I do not know what I would do if I didn't have MFP to log on to. You bring me joy, make me laugh, give me encouragement, keep me honest when logging my food and help me to see that there are still kind and generous people in this world.
I took my MIL to the doctor today and she does indeed have cancer.
:huh: The good news is it is stage 1. The doctor said she has 47% lung capacity. Her options are: Surgery-they would remove 1/3 of her left lung which could diminish her lung capacity, but there is an 80% cure rate. On the other hand she could elect to do Cyber Knife which is a form of radiation treatment. There is less diminishing of the lung capacity but there is only a 60% cure rate. She has to see a specialist next week to discuss her options.
:ohwell: I did not have a good diet day so I am going to do the Leslie Sansone 4 mile and 3 mile. I am then going to shower and go to bed, Everyone have a wonderful Tuesday. Love (((Hugs))) and Prayers for all, Rosemary
:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

I met my exercise goal today and stayed on track with calories. I too hope to maintain my "overweight weight" throughout the holidays. My sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones and are feeling the losses. The one great thing is you are expressing your thoughts and emotions instead of eating.:flowerforyou:
I had to laugh:laugh: about the clothes in the closet. I could open a mini-mart with my different sizes. I started putting clothes in bins and mark a date to try them on. If they don't fit (too small or too big) I donate them to the Cancer Society. I can't wait to buy 14's!

:flowerforyou: Becky,

Sorry you are surrounded by temptation in your house. Can you have another family lock up the temptations, or do some kitchen purging? I guess that is one advantage to living alone. If there is something in the house I am not supposed to eat, I have no one to blame but me.:bigsmile: These days no matter what is in the house, I have to make sure it is safely stored or else I come home and find Bradley the Yorkie eating machine licking his chops in front of an empty container of whatever!!:laugh:

:flowerforyou: Barbie

Silk long underwear is not something I am familiar with. Are they as warm as thermals, or is this the first time you have tried them?

:flowerforyou: Brady,

Sounds like you are getting some of the same weather we are--but more extreme. According to the weather news tonight, on Wednesday, it could get down to 10 degrees. I think that will be a "three dog night." Did you know that 70's rock group took their name from this Australian slang term referencing very cold?:laugh:

:flowerforyou: Terri,

"Wilkommen zu Hause" that's welcome home in my rusty German. I think I remember seeing a post in November where you said you would be away, but I didn't realize where you were going. I thank you did just fine maintaining. When I took a trip to Germany while I was in college, I came home with 10 lbs. I didn't have when I left and it was NOT in my suitcase!!!:grumble: :laugh:

:flowerforyou: Rosemary,

So sorry to hear about your MIL diagnosis, but it sounds like she has some viable options, which is good. As before, she is in my prayers.

:flowerforyou: Alice,

Your reference to your size 5 pants reminds me of something that happened to me just today. I was at my parents and my mom mentioned she had found some slacks among the clothes in her closet that she thought were mine. They had needed some minor sewing adjustments and they got buried in the big closet she used to have in the old house and she just found them a few months ago. In about August, I had tried both of them on, and could barely pull either pair past mid -thigh. Imagine my surprise when I put them on today and they BOTH FIT.:drinker: I am not sure of the size, since neither has a tag, but I know it has been at least 20 years since either of them fit. Fortunately, they are both winter weight, and I can really use them now!!

**************
One other bit of good news. When I visited my doctor today, she re-evaluated my blood pressure meds and cut them by 75%!!! :drinker: :drinker: We eliminated one med, and reduced the remaining one by 50%. One of my goals is to be off BP meds completely, so I am hoping in another 30 lbs. that might be possible.

To those who have recently lost loved ones, and those who are recalling those lost in prior years, you are in my thoughts. I don't have any children, so I can't even imagine the loss you would feel in that situation. I also don't have any siblings, and by my posts, you know I am still luck enough to have both fairly healthy, though elderly parents. For me the gift of family and friends is the most important gift I will receive this Christmas. I hope everyone can share that feeling within their family and circle of friends.

It is time to crawl under the covers:yawn: ....21 degrees now, with a low of 16 projected for overnight.

Barb

Sounds like everyone is having a cold blast. I think it is tomorrow when the day will start in the mid 40s and then drop to the low 30s. It is that time of year. We had a very mild summer...not hot at all. Wondering what the winter is going to be like.

Speaking of clothes, I bought new pants about two months ago. They became too big after just two weeks. What I have been doing is that as soon as I can no longer wear a certain size, all those clothes go to the Goodwill store. Then I go back to the front of the store and buy new ones.:laugh:

Ok, what is with the silk long underwear? I am needing to buy some as my work pants are very thin. Are they very expensive?

I did very well yesterday. Was careful as to what I ate and I went to my strength class. I had missed the past three classes due to my kids having plans at the same time. Tonight is Zumba.

Barb; great news on the blood pressure meds and way to go on those pants. :flowerforyou: Trying my size 5's on would have been dangerous. I can picture my self trapped in a pair of half on, to small pants, and struggling to free myself.:laugh:
Becky; two weeks? :drinker: Wow that's impressive! New clothes every two weeks, it would make my head spin!

Seven here this morning with 9 to 12 inches of snow predicted. Shopping anyone?:laugh:

Terri; I hope you had a wonderful time on your trip. Sorry to hear that you had the flu. How did this differ from the plain old flu?

Sewing room, sounds like heaven Mary. I am jealous!

Time to get to work.

Hope you all have great days! Alice

Alice...Not sure that it was H1N1...:frown: :sick: :sick: :sick: just have had fever (for the first 2-3 days), chills, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting (my husband, not me), dizziness and light headedness, ache all over, and then this really nasty horrid cough that is hanging around. Had the first symptoms for about five days. Still having dizziness and feeling light headed off and on...the worst is this horrid cough that won't go away. Get started on a coughing fit and just can't stop. The darn thing kept us indoors in pj's for about five days (in Germany...no less)!

Anyway, did get a little sight seeing in before it hit, thank goodness, because the rest of the time we just didn't feel up to it.

Now I am struggling to get into the Christmas spirit and get fall decorations put away. I feel as if I fell into some wierd time warp where it's Christmas for the rest of the world...just not for me! However, it's a beautiful snowy day and I have Christmas tunes playing. Plan on putting up a tree today...my son, Greg, is coming from California this Friday for 10 days...so I need to make an effort!!

:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: Terri