Bring On The Idea Please

Got an idea for a forum??

How about a forum for challenges?  At out age, we sometimes need less challenging challenges than our younger collegues.  I think that might something good to have here.  If you create the forum, I will start an exercise challenge.

Love the idea of 'less challenging challenges'!  Also, along the same theme, how about an over-50 exercise forum as well?  Most of us would love ideas for exercises that are a little easier on the bod and it would be great to be able to exchange or bounce ideas with people on the same age page!

That sounds good to me, although I have to warn you that I believe that a 55 year old can do most activites that a 25 year old can do.  We just have to work up to it more slowly. 

I like the idea of a "challenge".  I seem to work best when I am challenged and maybe have a little bit of a competition going on.  There is no way I could keep up with a 25 year old unless they were seriously out of shape.  So I think the idea of "less" could actually be perfect for me.  Who has the first challenge?

Great idea soldiers mom.  Exercises that are good but not so difficult for us.  I'd particularly like some ideas on exercises for the hips and lower abdomen area without having to get on the floor cause I have the darndest time trying to get back up again!

Well, now, of course I can do the the same activities as my 25-year-old DIL -- just not with as much enthusiasm :)  

Ditti on the challenge idea, i am in sales and when i excell when something is on the table - could be fun!  i am 52 loosing, soon to have a hernia repaired, when thats accomplished i will be back on the Y program along with my plan for eating which is "the upday down day" plan. it is very simple, google it or click this link

http://www.johnsonupdaydowndaydiet.com

i had an A Fib 12 weeks ago, and a huge wake up call. everything is good, my BP was 128 over 83 when i went in for that, at the 4 am check while in the hospital it was back down to 118 over 76  al the vitals i have are good.. doctor said i was just fat, LOL i passed the stress test with flying colors. so my weight started at 386 and i am now around 355 and have a goal of 215, i am 6 ft and have no other ailments, but know i need to get it off now!

have a great day all!

Yes, I'm up for the challenge, too...as long as it's not too "prodigious."

I am finding it difficult to figure out what to do with myself...and clharr, I did do 1/2 hour of gardening, but not the full hour I committed to... life just gave way.

What I'm finding is that I seem to get into a bit of rebellion whenever I start DOing something about my lifestyle choices...if I gently ease into different behaviors, it's like I can give myself permission to go ahead and do something new...I have a hard time with transistions.

Here's another forum idea...and, I'd already signed off, too! :->

How do you regain a better balance in life?

I mean really, when you think about it, the overweight, out of shapeness occurs because of some kind of imbalance...and it's not just about food intake or lack of exercise that's out of whack.

Like, when I first started CC a little over a week ago, I couldn't leave the computer...I was on for 12 hours a day. Then, life interrupted!

Fall is here and all my professional organizations are getting into action and my calendar is getting pretty full. I'm renovating a house and looking for a job (for the first time in 20 years!)

What works for you? Pretend I'm your 25 year old (assuming you had one!)

How do you keep a schedule? I know I have ADD (just diagnosed last year) and that this is at least an impetus for some of my impulsiveness, but it's a reason not an excuse...there is a way to organize this. I feel like I'm growing up all over again.

Organization:  Here is one from someone else with adult ADD, planners.  Keep a planner in your purse or use the calander feature on your cell phone.  Enter every appointment the minute you get it.  Set alarms.

Schedule the big stuff.  Make it the first thing you do before you have a chance to get involved in something else.  No touching the computer (or any other time sink) until it is done.

The first challenge is up!  We said we wanted a Challenges Forum and we have one.  Now who is going to take me on?

I keep up with appts. pretty well. What I have problems doing, I think..., is organizing things like eating on a schedule, other than breakfast...and, then, there's my personal nemesis, exercise. I've go to get over something...hmmpf!

What's the challenge?

I'm at the high end of the 50s.....59 exactly LOL

Any....how about discussion on what's for dinner

I am sick and tired of cooking.

I don't know what to cook anymore.

I could really use some ideas.

jklkj...

As we speak, because of a total home renovation, I live in a barn (no stove) and I'm alone -- cooking for one is a CHORE under any circumstance!

Right now I'm really into my garden stuff and, also, I purchased a new electric skillet, that I've found is really making dinners a lot easier (the motivation factor) to cook: it can even go into the dishwasher, if I had one...it's easy to clean. (very important for motivation!.)

Making Brown Rice: At a time when I'm just working around the room, I cook a bunch of brown rice -- 2 cups in 4-5 cups of liquid. This'll make 8 servings and last a few days for me, which makes it easier to make a quick meal later on.

I fry my rice in a little olive oil (1/2 tsp. -- skillet is non-stick) with a diced onion. Then I add 4-5 cups chicken broth or water with some "Better Than Bouillion, It  cover and simmer for about 45 min. to an hour. Use immediately, or put into storage bag or container and keep in fridge.

To make my "Garden Dinner," then:

1. Saute in about 1 tsp. olive oil 1 onion chunked, garlic (if you want), 1/2 cup+/-  diced mix of peppers (I like banana peppers, ancho, corno di toro -- lots of flavor, but very little "kick").

2. Then,add 4-5 Roma tomatoes halved (actually however many and whatever kind you want-- it's what makes the "gravy")

3. You can also add other veggies cut into chunks or slices: carrot sticks, green beans, eggplant (no need to do anything other than wash and cut up into 1- inch dice -- it's DELICIOUS), mushrooms, etc.

4. Season, if desired, with fresh or dried herbs -- basil, thyme, oregano, etc. along with some "Better Than Boullion".

5. Simmer for about 10 - 15 min., until tomatoes juice up and disintegrate. Blend, taste and adjust seasonings.

6. Add Swiss Chard, chopped or whole -- as much as you like just on top (I don't stir it in). Simmer an additional 3 or 4 minutes., just long enough to wilt the chard.

Serve "garden sauce" over some brown rice: try to keep the chard on top. Top with 1 tablespoon of Chevre (goat cheese).

This is an incredibly beautiful, and aboslutely delicious, completely nutritious meal: your body and taste buds will thank you!

If you want, you can also add strips of braised or grilled chicken or steak.  

Dessert: baked apple -- core apple (leaving whole), peel top (stem end) 1/3 of apple. Place in a buttered dish, blossom (flat) end down. Fill cavity with mixture of nuts, raisins/dates/figs, cinnamon to taste, and 1 tsp. brown sugar. Pour water around apples to depth of about 1 inch. Cover pan loosely with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min to one hour, or until the apples are tender. Yum! Serve hot with milk, if desired. If you start the baked apple before you cook the veggie dish above, it will be ready to serve by the time you finish eating your meal.

This may seem like a lot of work, but it all actually takes under 20 minutes to make, even if you add meat, as long as the rice is prepared ahead of time...add another 5-10 min. for apple prep.

If you didn't make the rice ahead of time, you could use a Rice-A-Roni whole grain mix, which takes about 20 minutes to prepare, too. I still fry the rice and add a diced onion -- and pepper & garlic, if I feel like it. [As an aside, I always fry my rice (white, brown, jasmine, basmati) before adding liquid-- I think it keeps the kernals from sticking and adds a nutty flavor to the rice.]

Anyway, my advice is to eat what is fresh right now at the Farmers' Market...we have such a wonderous array of wonderful food at this time of year. Having wholesome food that is really flavorful may boost your incentive to cook.

PS: Breakfast with brown rice: In a bowl, top brown rice with about 1/3 to 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1/4 c pepper slices, and a halved Roma tomato, cut side down -- no need to skin first. cover with a plate. Microwave for 3 minutes.

Remove skin from tomato, if desired. Cut up tomato, stir all a little, sprinkle with Mrs. Dash Southwestern. Microwave, uncovered, another 2 minutes. Delicious!

Loved your ideas with the rice I'm going to toast/fry it like you do from now on.. Thanks for responding.

In fact I usually make more brown rice than needed.  Next time I thnk I'll make lots and freeze the little packages.

Lots of veggies in the house right now.  Just dont want to do the cooking and preparing and cleaning up.

You did motivate me today though

I made potato leek soup... simple but it would me better on a cooler day.

Cooking butternut squash strips in the over now and then the spaghetti squash will go in.

So..at least I did something today.

I found out that if you steam veggies in the microwave they lose their nutrients. So I bought a veggie steamer. I just get out the steamer and cook whatever is fresh in the steamer and get out the rice cooker and cook my brown basmatic rice in it. Then I am happy with veggies and brown rice with salsa on it. That takes about 20 minutes.

I also love smoothies. I put a banana, some berries, a plum, 1 tbsp of flax seed and spirulina and blend. Drink. This is good if you want something sweet.

Deb

I have an idea for a challenge....

We could post our step from our pedometers,  we should be getting a least 10,000 a day...  How many of you do?

Does anyone like this idea?

Suzy/Maryland

MOST EXCELLENT DINNER......

CHICKEN STUFFED MANICOTTI

2 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

12 manicotti pasta shells cooked and cooled

1 cup fat-free sour cream

1 can campbells cream of chicken soup

1 can campbells cream of celery soup

1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

½ cup parmesan cheese

½ cup part skim mozzarella cheese grated

2 tsp olive oil

½ tsp garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350

Cut chicken into bite sizes pieces and cook in a non stick pan sprayed with pam and the olive oil, season with the salt and pepper and garlic powder.

Combine chicken, soups and sour cream and ½  of the bread crumbs mixture stuff into shells.

An easy way to stuff the shells, after cooked, drained and cooled, split the shell up one side, lay flat in your hand, place a spoonful of the chicken mixture on the pasta, roll together and place the seam down in your baking dish.  After cooking, you’ll never know they were split, make filling a lot easier.

Spoon the left over sauce over the manicotti and sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup of bread crumbs mix,

Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.

Bake covered for 30 minutes

Serves 6, 2 manicotti each.

Exchanges 1 ½ meat, 2 breads

Calories 250

WW points 5

Suzy/Maryland

Where did you hear that microwaving kills the nutrients? That's news to me!