Anybody wanna have a "Women over 40" forum or group????

I think we all have different concerns and certainly different challenges when it comes to getting in shape, losing weight and living happier and healthier. I know it is certainly different for me now then it was 20 years ago. When I look back to 20 and 30 years ago when I was in my 20's and 30's (yes I'm 51 yrs old), if I wanted/needed to lose weight, it was usually just a few pounds and now I see how it was pretty cut and dry - watch what I eat, more exercise, weight comes off, nice flat tummy again. And I do realize there are plenty of younger women who don't find it that easy, and believe me, I hear ya!! None of us like the shape we are in or we wouldn't be trying to fix ourselves!!

Anyway, I think there are issues like slower metabolism due to age, and then there are the good ole issues like hormone replacement therapy, maybe post-hysterectomy, and hey.....what about the belly problems due to having that bikini cut for c-sections or female surgery so many times your muscles are now like hamburger meat? Then things like medications we may take that make losing weight a little more difficult.......blood pressure meds, anti-depressants, things like that?

There are quite a few other things that I can think of that, luckily for them, just probably don't apply yet to the younger women.

Anybody wanna form a little 'ole over 40 forum or club????

Hey, I rode my bike yesterday for 15 minutes.  Not much but I really did not feel like it after coaching my game but I made myself go do it.   It was not that far but my butt knew I had done it. :)

Hope everyone is having a good day and staying on track.  I know it is hard and we all have different goals but we can do this!!

When I started working out two weeks ago, 15 minutes on the stationary bike left me with rubber legs and ringing ears.  (Now I'm up to 55 minutes on the eliptical trainer.)  So that 15 minutes is a fantastic start.

Thanks! Great job yourslef and that is a big increase in such a short time.   I prefer to walk and just need to make myself do it more often. 

Thank you.  I'm so afraid that I will lose my motivation and go back to my couch--I'm really good at that!  Even when I was thinner, I never really felt fit, you know?  I'm hoping a better overall fitness level will help me maintain weight loss...(if I ever experience any weight loss, that is!)  AAAuuuurrrgh.

I have to go to an office lunch in about 10 minutes, at an Olive Garden...I looked up the lunch entrees...any suggestions? 

Hi All!  Just a note to thank you for the encouragement.  I am feeling so much better after only a few days of dieting and being on this website.  I think every drop of water in my body is being voided over the past couple days due to eating vegetables and fruit instead of high sodium foods like chips and crackers.  My mood is a hopeful one now especially after reading everyone else's posts and seeing your successes and struggles.

People have mentioned their goals of wanting to wear certain clothes or do certain activities once they lose weight.  I would like to be thin enough (less than 200 lbs) to ride the roller coasters at an amusement park.  That is one of my goals.  That is a longterm goal as I have over 100 lbs to lose to get there.

A shortterm goal is to get into some pants that are 2 sizes smaller in my closet.

My other short term goal is to start an exercise program after I lose a few more lbs.  I am at 308 and will start one when I get to 300.  Just some walking and increasing housework activity.

Have a good day everyone!

I hope you did okay at Olive Garden.  They do not put the calories and list of nutrients on their website.  Too bad, it is always helpful.   I think it is just knowing not to pig out and if by chance you did, then there is tomorrow.  


I know what you mean about the couch.  I like it too.   I know I feel so much better when I do some type of excerising a few times a week. 

Brendakh- What ever motivates you to lose weight is good.   I could be rail thin and you will not get me on a roller coaster.  I just know certain things for certain people and someday you are going to be screaming and having a blast on your roller coaster ride! You are on your way!!

Hi Everyone!  Wow!  I miss reading the forums for a couple of days and see this thread has really expanded.  I love reading all the helpful suggestions passed about, and the positive feedback shared is outstanding!

I'm looking for suggestions on a low-fat ice cream treat that tastes decent.  Has anyone tried something that is definitely worth the calories? 

Tami

I think Hagen-Daz light tastes pretty good--they have lots of flavor choices, too..  One of my main "food problems" is ice cream, so I really can't have even a little--I'll go crazy and binge like a sailor.  Same with cold cereal.

Brenda, you go, girl.  There are some GREAT new coasters opening up all over--just waiting for you!

I think I did okay at Olive Garden--I had a salad, no breadsticks, and 2/3 of their Linguine alla Marinara lunch entree.  I am terrified of eating pasta--it just means "fat" to me--and I'm having trouble believing the calorie count for this dish on this website is correct.

OK, me again, sorry, but...

I have only been at this since June 4th, and I find that I am eating nearly the same thing, every day, over and over. (Today's trip to Olive Garden and eating pasta is a very rare thing for me, even when I'm not dieting.)  It's salads, grilled chicken, steamed low-carb veggies, traditional sushi once or twice a week, and...salads.  I love to cook, and both the prep and the eating are boring me to tears.

What healthy things do you ladies like to eat when you're keeping you calorie intake at a minimum, (for me, 1200 per day)?

Count me in.  I started a diet challenge at work and other than myself they are all in their twenties.  I have to work twice as hard for the same results and they don't believe, they think I'm making it up!

I'm trying to stay under 1300.  I have to take a lunch so I eat a lot of wraps with mixed spring greens, onion, and pot peppers.  I must admit I have been using regular ranch dressing but in small quanities.  I spread my food out, trying to eat every 3 hours.  If I have a frozen diet meal I add lots of veggies to it, mushrooms, onion, hot peppers, asparagus, cucumber to fill me.  Tonight I tried the bluberry, spinach, cottage cheese recipe and loved it.  I'm going to take some to work.  I had that with a lentil bean burger.  I'm trying to mix it up and try new recipes.

Jules ...... you bio is very interesting!

I hope everyone had a good day. Just trying to keep this thread bumped to the top so it is not so hard to find!

Welcome all you new people.

I had a really really long day of work today and didn't go on my 20 minute walk for the first time in 4 days. But I drank so much water today that now I have a headache from the lack of my usual caffeine. I think I peed half a pound today! LOL!

Anyway, it's been a long day and I want to come back tomorrow when I can really read everyone's post......keep posting please!! I'm really getting sooooooo much motivation from this.....and boy it takes a lot......this is hard and slow to try to lose even a few pounds.

By the way think on this........would it be helpful if we started some sort of challenge for our group here? Maybe drinking so much water, or substituting salad for a meal so many days or so many minutes of exercise per day or per week? Let me know what you think.........I'm so exhausted after 16 hours of phone calls and computer work......I don't even feel bad about going to the couch and vegging out the rest of the evening.

You all are great........I'm proud of each and every one of you!

Bonna

Bonna,

I'd be up for a challenge, but I'm no good at thinking them up.  Now that my class is over and I can focus on me-me-me (and not be tempted by muffins in the morning and cookies in the afternoon!), I'm ready to start hitting this thing hard.

Hi Everyone!

I've been eating a salad each day for lunch. At our grocery store we have two brands that are premade. The calories run between 350-450. Between the two brands I have a choice of about 7-8 different kinds of salads. They come with thier own bowl and fork inside. This works great for me every day of the week. I can take them to work, I can take them with me when I drive my daughter to ride (so I don't stop for fast food) and I can find a healthy lunch right away when I'm at home. The calories are on the label so it makes it easy for keeping track of. I don't know about everyone else, but if I have to work too hard to figure out what to eat I go for something easy, which means junk food. I haven't gotten bored with them yet. I've done the prepackaged food diets before (which worked great) but I can't afford to do that again. So, this is kind of the next best thing for me.

Elaine

 Hi gang!  I'm on the Clean Eating Challenge of Dee's, which has really helped me keep on track without breaking me from the pressure, because it's personalized, that is to say, what we personally think of as eating clean.  Not a diet, but eating HEALTHY, which can only be a good thing.  For me that mostly means portion control and desserts only when I've worked out. 

I know this isn't a practical solution but I can daydream, right?  My idea is this: if we could all do a fitness vacation in which tons of bicycling and/or walking was involved combined with healthy, indigenous eating - I am sure that it would be great for our overall health.  They have bicycling tours here in Italy but to be honest, it's way too hot for that to be much fun now.  But say during more temperate climate it could be ideal.  Or a health spa, where they control your eating and there are a variety of classes to do.  Some kind of regimen along these lines would really whip me into shape I think.  Because I sure can't do it on my own, as I am.  I know; I've been struggling for how long now.  I know I am grasping at straws here, it's the desperation talking.

Good morning! I am 45 and I have been losing & gaining weight forever. This time I have buckled down & nothing is happening! It used to be that I could cut out the Snowballs and the scale would make me happy. Now I have been walking & watching what I eat for almost a month, and the scale has not budged! Everytime I get on the scale I am more discouraged! This morning I considered skipping my walk. I need motivation!

Gordabutt, I understand why you are getting bored.  I am sorry I am trying to eat healthier but do not go all out either.  Cutting out calories and eating less is enough for me right now.  I mean I am eating better, but like yesterday I ate two pop tarts for my breakfast.  I eat what my family has and then get some things low calorie for myself.  It is hard been then I have much more of a variety and stick to it better. I love the Quaker Oats chewy granola bars, around 100 calories and chew slow.  Yummy low cal treat.

I also eat 1650 to 1950 calories a day.  If I go to low then I just get at a stand still.  I can not go as low as some of you.   I would have nothing to cut down to later then.  Most of the time I stay closer to the 1950.  I lost another pound so I guess I am doing okay.

Hi All - Has anyone tried or looked into this new over the counter weight loss aid called Alli? I picked up a brochure from the grocery store, but not sure if it would work for me. It seems you have be very careful not to go overboard with extra fat or you'll have some digestive trouble.  I'll have to ask my doctor.  Anyway, the brochure also came with sample meal plan which consists of 1600 calories 30% fat per day for a week.   Looks very easy and lots of variety.  I am going to try this meal plan next week and see if it helps me keep on track of my daily calorie requirement. 

Any comments on this new wieght loss plan?

Thanks!

Good Morning Everyone! I hope you all got a good night's rest and feel ready to face a new day! It looks as if it is going to be a beautiful day here in Florida!

I am just over a week out from having thigh lift surgery, so I'm not able to move around very easily. Mostly just to the bathroom and kitchen for drinks and food. I've done fairly well this week as far as my eating goes, but I am starting to get cabin fever! I've been reading each of your posts to keep me motivated and on track. Thanks to each of you for your input!

I see that several of you walk for exercise. I do to when I am able! I found a website with a vast variety of walking music with different beats (speeds) to help keep your pace up and even. I only have the Ipod Shuffle, but I LOVE this device to help me keep not only my pace up, but motivated to move as well! There are all types of music to choose from and it's not bad. I don't think most of it is by original artists, but it makes the time FLY! Most of the songs are at least five minutes or more long. The website I used was www.mywalkingmusic.com, but I'm sure there are many more if you just search.

Thanks again to each of you for your support and encouragement! We all know this is a tough battle, but we can do it if we just stay focused on what is important, US!!

Terri