age 45-50 group. Anyone interested?

I have looked for twins and poked around other groups without finding a real support group.

I am 48, 5'5", SW 151, CW 134, GW 128

I am the school teaching mother of three in their upper teens, wife of my 3 lbs from goal hubby.

SO...

Anyone interested?

Oh dear... Alison, please don't leave! I love reading your posts and would be so sad if you stopped. It's so hard sometimes to interpret what people are saying because we can't see their facial expressions or hear the tones in their voice. I look back over the posts since you started with this thread and there's so much caring there both for and from you. I don't think anyone meant to criticize you or hurt your feelings.

Jenny

Alison,

I am heartily sorry for offending you. The comments about the tape were supposed to be self deprecating. The mention of you being British was supposed to be a winking comment about my use of the word foreign.  I asked about your being a vegan because I know so little about it and was curious. When people ask me about our choice to not own a TV, I look at it as a chance to "pitch" my decision. I guess I thought you might welcome a chance to spread your ideas. Again, I'm sorry.

OK MY FRIENDS...I'M GONE FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS AND YOU GUYS ARE NO LONGER LAUGHING WITH AND AT EACHOTHER!!!!! Hey we are here to share and that means WE REALLY ARE FRIENDS and are here FOR eachother which means ALL things said on here are meant either as encouragement or light hearted teasing for fun!!!!! REMEMBER I said some (crap) about laughing burning calories and tears getting rid of water weight!!! NOW come on ladies if we can't be comfortable saying anything on here knowing we have all become very good FRIENDS then we just need to shut it down and go back to unhealthy eating and plopping down in front of a t.v. (sorry whoever said they DON'T HAVE A T.V.) i WOULD LOSE MY MIND!!!!! Well you all are saying i have proven the t.v. point FOR getting rid of the t.v. (with my crazy wit and personality probably caused mostly BY so much t.v) ANYWAY girls I want all this to be better when I come back. I am in much pain right now but felt you all were more important so I am stresing my arm by typing right now!!!! I had to go to the emergency room Sunday. I have been having numbness and a burning and tingling in my rightarm and hand for a while now well it got ALOT worse and so I am told I have bursitis (msp)? with fluid and inflamed nerves in my right arm....so am on anti-inflamatory and pain pills and its not a whole lot better yet...seems my cleaning spree brought it to this point.... Now then when I come back to here and start reading to keep my mind off the pain I want ALL of my FRIENDS to be laughing  (even making fun of me all you want) and comparing stories and making me continue to get WELL!!!! DO YOU ALL HEAR ME!!!!! PLEASE!!!!! It's very important to me seriously. You really do mean so much to me and I NEED you all!  AND Thank you especially Alison for NOTICING that I had been gone! Now we need to her from Skn!  SMILE GIRLS!  Connie

Connie, Connie, Connie - thanks for getting us all back on track.

I hope Alison has re-read our (mine and Alylou's) original comments and our apologies and realized nothing bad was meant.

I've gotta' run - but I am praying for your healing today. So sorry to hear of the pain you are going through. Take Care of your arm.

Sue

Hey Connie, So glad your back!  But honey, you gotta heal up that arm ...so you can come clean my place! Seriously though, you take it easy and just heal!

Yup, no TV. ever. been married 26 years this summer and we have never owned one. Frankly I don't trust myself, I would be a 850 LB vegetable in a trance in front of one!

Sue, I emphatically ditto your hopes!

Have a beautiful day All!

Being relatively new to this thread, I decided to take the time to read all the way though the post history....took me well over an hour, lol... talk about sedentary this afternoon! 

It appears to me that everyone has their up and down days, both physically and emotionally, but the underlying current is one of motivation and support... and many of the trials and tribulations mentioned here are surely experienced by us all at some time or another.  Therefore, to throw in my 2 cents worth, I don't believe any one member would intentionally try hurt others.

Many of the discussions made me smile / chuckle along the way and it would be a shame to lose the "bond" that has formed between many of the original members....and one that I am happy to be joining!!

Just had 3 days in a row of being "good" calorie wise, and now need to get my walking shoes on to try to keep my metabolism motivated!!  The blisters I got during Monday evening's walk may make that difficult though...

Happy Hump Day everyone, (meaning Weds, just incase anyone is unfamilair with the term?!!)

Regards....Susan   

Hi everyone...just painfully checking in and up on you guys. My arm is quite numb and tingling so I can't write much but am glad to see so far we are all in agreement!!!!! Thanks for all concerns and I can't believe I'll be hoping to soon CLEAN everyone on here's HOUSE!!!  Suzenf ya know we all need to go back and "re-live" how we got started on this forum it would be funny tho sometimes sad. Glad you took the time to and    now you realize whata family of friends you have become a piece of!   Connie

Connie, Sorry to hear your arm is not yet feeling better - very soon I hope!!

No fun Connie! maybe you can think of it this way: it is harder to lift food to your mouth!

by the way Susan, I had asked a similar question of the nutritionists...about calories before and after cooking. Cooking cannot add calories, (unless you add them via oil etc) you can reduce them (in a VERY minor way) by cooking if you over cook the food!  Burned popcorn has a minute amount fewer calories than unburned popcorn. Of course, (as already pointed out...was it Sue?) meat does reduce via cooking, roasting and grilling being more effective than baking or frying.

Gotta run, neglecting my class!

I'm still feeling sad about the misunderstanding here of two days ago. I reread the posts and am so sorry that Alison/Veganmamma didn't see them the way they came across to me. Perhaps there's something else happening in her life. Anyway, I hope she's ok and will try us again.

Connie-all I can say is OUCH! Pain is with me always but usually I can ignore it. Yours sounds bad! I hope it gets better soon. I hate to say it but being in this age bracket sucks sometimes. Like my mother-in-law says, gettin' old ain't for sissies.

And about cooking food and fewer calories... maybe the overcooking (read: burning) makes parts of the food undigestible... as in charcoal! Charcoal can't have as many calories as food right?? But before we all run around burning what we eat... charcoal is also a carcinogen. So we just can't win for tryin' huh

I've had a couple of challenging days and if you're interested I posted in my journal about them. I don't want to rewrite and the entry is SO LONG I wouldn't presume to copy/paste the whole thing here. Short story is... too much free food makes me eat in an unplanned manner which is dangerous. Luckily, I haven't net gained over the entire two days and now I'm back on track. This web site and thread are really helping... thanks for being here you guys.

Gotta run, Jenny

Hmmm....Jenny.....i'm not generally a huge fan of Mexican food...but boy did your journal make it all sound yummy

We have a holiday here on Monday also, not Memorial day, but Bermuda Heritage day...involves a local community half marathon, parade etc.  It's also supposed to be first day for Bermudians to swim in the ocean.....start of summer.  I personally can't normally make it into the sea for a few more weeks, need it to warm up just a little more lol - wimp!!

We always grill on this weekend though, so I am going to try a turkey burger recipe I saw on the food network a while back....stuffed with a little fat free mozzarella and roated red pepper....hope it tastes as good as it sounds....and by the way thanks all for the responses on cooking not adding calories...

I am back on track since Balt weekend, and now offically weighed below where I was last Friday - thankfully!!!!!!!!  Just a little, but it all counts.

Finally, I only have 8 more days until I head off for a one month trip - yikes! Part of trip is to visit family in Northern Ireland, part to help my daughter pack up her university stuff into storage, and then France for 2 weeks holiday....needless to say I will be MIA for most of that time, and I am wondering what it will do to my new lifestyle efforts.  I am a little anxious to see my older sister who since last October has lost over 40lbs.... i will admit to being a little jealous, but it wasn't enough to motivate me start this weighloss effort sooner (as I mentioned before it took a recent trip to the doctor and the shock of seeing the scale creep over 200 for that to happen).

Sorry for rambling.......

Hi girls! I am up taking my meds and just wanted to ask if anyone knows...I am on anti-inflamatory meds and seem to be gaining a bit of water weight...Is that normal? Also on pain meds that are making me nauseated but is that stopping ME from eating....not really!!!! Nothing can stop me from FOOD!!!! Gotta go...tingling arm...this is driving me crazy you guys!     Connie

Morning all, (and I hope you managed to get back to sleep ok Connie!)

Don't really know about the anti-inflammatories, only time I use them is TOTM, and I'm usually already retaining water anyway!!

Are you feeling ANY relief/improvement in your arm yet?

Susan

Hi guys-
Sorry to be away from you all for a week, and thanks for asking after me! 

And... just look at all the little topics I missed!!!   Well, I read and caught up but won't go back and delve into many older threads as you will throw me out of the club if I ramble on too much!! 

Alison - glad to hear your daughter is doing better now -- please don't leave us!!

Jenny - sorry the town meeting was a bit of an exercise!!

Sue - sounds like your daughters events went well and I am sure she was happy to have you there to support her.

Suzen - it sounds like the preakness went well for you and now you are off to Ireland -- what fun!!

Alylou - is that dirt pile flattened yet?

Welcome Cho [cholder]!!!  I also do the stress eating thing so I can sure empathize with that.  I think the advise about using the website tools...is exactly right and it is what I have done to date.  

Weighing in... I think I do that almost daily to keep on track, but I only tend to record it weekly (at best) on CC.

Connie - I sure hope that arm starts behaving better for you.  Do the docs have any idea what is going on?  Pinced or compressed nerve?   Anyway you look at it, it is no fun to be ailing.  Hope you are better soon.

OK, now my updates.  Mare who lost the foal is with her "new adopted foal", but had a few touch and go moments when she decided to founder right after foaling.  That is an inflamation of the feet that can lead to bone rotation and it is NOT a good thing.  We think she is back undercontrol but now her adopted baby is sloughing off its back hoof capsules due to swelling and circulation/infection problems so please keep baby Mandy in your prayers!! 

I made it thru two of my "self-appointed IMPORTANT dates for 2008"!   My nephews wedding was last weekend and despite the forcast that it would rain all weekend, the front held off and didn't start til Monday.  My church thrift shop dress worked just perfectly for the event.  Then my annual physical was yesterday.  My doctor was very happy with my weight loss and the dr office scale gods were with me as I was down 21 lbs from my last visit to the office in February.  The nurse actually did a double-take and walked back out to the scale to check she got it right.    Now just that get-together with the in-laws and husbands siblings in August to knock off my important weight-dates for 2008!!! 

Hope those of you celebrating the memorial day holiday are able to find satisfying food choices and have a pleasant time too!!  It is my brothers birthday today, so we are "going out for dinner"!! Yummm
-skn (sue)

Original Post by jennytu:

I'm still feeling sad about the misunderstanding here of two days ago. I reread the posts and am so sorry that Alison/Veganmamma didn't see them the way they came across to me. Perhaps there's something else happening in her life. Anyway, I hope she's ok and will try us again.

My thoughts exactly. I sort of feel like it is "my fault" (you know what I mean) that Alison/veganmama left our group and I still feel bad about that. On the other hand, I checked her profile, and she is still on CC and I hope continuing with her weight loss goals. I remember that she sometimes has up and down days (like we all do) and I hope I didn't contribute to a down day for her. As for me,  I'm sticking with this forum- don't know what I'd do without all of you. . .Sue

Just thought I'd post a general comment, too, (I'm not going to say any more about Alison/Vegan as I believe you all understand that issue).

My kids both finished up their school year yesterday. Yes, we finish pretty early here in the "wild west" - but they start in early August to make up for it. Personally, I'd much rather go back to a Sept. start and June finish.

We have the most glorious weather right now -IMHO- cold and rainy! Absolutely unheard of in AZ in May. We started the week at 110 degrees and today it is rainy and a high of only 68*. I crave this kind of weather, the way those of you in rainy/cold places crave the sun. I can't wait to go for my walk today!

Congrats SkinnySue on meeting those goals. It must've been GREAT when the doctor and nurse noticed your new lower numbers. It seems like sometimes they only comment on the gains not the losses. Good for you!. In Feb '07, at my "annual" visit to the Gyn, she said to me: "hmmm, I see your weight has been moving in the wrong direction" - I haven't been back since, but when I do this fall, if she doesn't notice the improvement, I am going to point it out to her!

Connie - wish I could help with your arm. I know that anti-inflammatory meds do take a while to work. Be sure to take them consistently. I've been on lots of them over the years and haven't really noticed water retention - but I'm sure it is possible. You can always ask your pharmacist for details on that and suggestions for alternatives. I do pretty well with "Aleve" (naproxen).

Jenny, Suzen, Alylou - glad to hear from all of you, too. Hope you are having a great weekend. Interesting that US and Bermuda have holidays on the same weekend. Enjoy!

Sue

PS. Suz - re: your turkey burger, I'm not sure if the fat free mozzarella will melt inside, you might want to try low-fat instead of fat free. Just a hint. We'll all miss you when you're gone for your wonderful vacation.

Hi girls! I first want to say I just love you all and really feel like we have known eachother for years. I can't type my usual "NOVEL" but am doing some better it seems each day. Keep praying please! Just wanted to wish everyone a SAFE and Happy weekend! those of you going on these wonderful vacations......I am so envious!! Have a blast!  Skn I will definitely keep little Mandy im my prayers and her new mom and OF COURSE YOU!!! I will catch up more later friends!  ENJOY the beginning of summer!  Connie

Hello everyone,

I am the new "kid" on the block. Someone had mentioned that I just start out by cutting back. Is that what most of you have done? I really need to get some weight off and I don't know which way to go. I have tried most everything I can think of and something ,always comes along and causes me to hit the food.

Cholder

Original Post by cholder:

Hello everyone,

I am the new "kid" on the block. Someone had mentioned that I just start out by cutting back. Is that what most of you have done? I really need to get some weight off and I don't know which way to go. I have tried most everything I can think of and something ,always comes along and causes me to hit the food.

Cholder

HI again Cholder -

If you go back and read my original reply to you (#230), you'll see some of my personal other advice. That was mainly along the lines of your question about preparing separate meals for you and your kids/family.

I think part of what you are saying is that you "hit the food" for many different reasons. Are you an emotional eater, a bored eater? I am both of those things. So, you have to determine what makes you tick and then try to counteract that.

Also, I personally started in a pretty big way. Over the years, I had always done just a little bit of "cutting back" and thinking it would work - but it never did. I mean, a 1 or 2 pound loss for me when I was 200+ pounds just wasn't gonna' do it for me. So, time after time,  I would end up forgetting about my plans and not doing anything. This time I really made a commitment and jumped in pretty much full steam ahead by the end of the first week on it. And, I started losing weight right away and that has, for the most part, kept me motivated.

I do log in almost everything I eat. I do pay attention to portion size (even bought a cheap food scale). And, I have started doing more and more exercise. All these years of being overweight, and for goodness' sake, it really does come down to Diet and Exercise. Wow! Who woulda' thunk it, huh? I'm a pretty smart cookie, but I still had to be hit over the head by the simple truth of the diet/exercise combination.

Anyway - here's to great motivation for you. We are all pulling for you. Write back so we can help you.   Sue

PS. Didn't mean to ignore everyone else. Just thought I'd address our new friend, with this post. Happy Sunday - to ALL!

To add to the above, I too have gone into this full steam ahead.....no gradual cutting back....straight in to counting cals and weighing or measuring out portions for me.  It was an eye-opener for me to realise what a portion of dinner food was, based on 1300 or 1400 calories per day, compared to what I used to just serve up on my plate.....it also didnt help that after our daughter left for university last September I would still make the same amount of food (say spaghetti bolognese for example) and hubby and I would still finish off what used to feed 3, between the 2 of us.  Not anything to  be proud of....lol 

I find I have not been too hungry though, but eating oatmeal or other high fiber cereal and a piece of fruit each morning really helps to set me up for the day.  I have not cut any particular food group out completely, just trying to balance it all.

I do allow myself one (or two) small glasses of wine per evening if I feel like it, (just make sure i set aside the calories in my log!!)

Exercise wise, I am anemic (due to heavy monthlies) so have found it hard to do too much at this early stage, but I do walk for 20 - 30 mins three or four times a week.  Not real power walking mind you, but it is a start....

Based on this regime, I have lost almost 10lb in 3.5 weeks.........I am happy with that!!

Hope this helps, Cholder!!!

Hope everyone else is having a great holiday weekend!!

Susan