calling out to women 50+

I'd like to start this thread specifically for women who are 50 or over.

As a 53 year-old woman, myself, I am finding new challenges, unexpected difficulties and wonderful insights on my path to getting to and maintaining my health, weight and body shape.

What seemed to work for me as little as five years ago doesn't work quite the same anymore. My body doesn't seem to respond to what I consider healthy eating habits and good workout schedules as it even in my middle to late 40s'.

SO, I am would to hear from those out there who are finding themselves in situations. OR NOT, maybe you can enlighten the rest of us as to how you keep your shape, or how you're getting into better shape and a healthier overall lifestyle.

Hopefully this will be the start of something wonderful, educational, funny-offer up jokes anecdotes, whatever!

LET'S GET STARTED!

I almost forgot Feb. 8th is Elvis Presley's birthday and if he had lived he would be 73!

Also Feb. 8th is bubble bath day so pamper yourselves and take a bubble bath.

now I am going to bed

Good Night All......

Beth, I am on pins and needles for your friend to come through her delivery and kidney surgery okay.  Please keep us posted! 

Lunges are one thing I'm good at.  That and step-ups.  The exercise that killed me yesterday was stiff-legged deadlifts on one leg at a time.  First my trainer gave me 30 pounds to hold while I did them, but I kept falling over, so he changed it to 24 pounds.  My glutes are SORE today, along with my arms and abs from some of the other things we did.  I did NO exercise today and I took a nap in my car at lunchtime.  Very tired. 

Bex, I think Greek yogurt is a healthy choice if you get the low or non-fat kind.  It has tons more protein than regular yogurt. 

Snow, that is a strange salad topping.  But whatever works!  If I had that at work, I'd probably eat it the same as you.  Weight training will make a dramatic difference in your body.  Could you possibly hire a trainer once a week?  That is what makes me work hard for an hour instead of 5 minutes.

 BEB, two days in a row - good job! 

Frost, welcome back.  It never gets any easier, just our attitude gets better or worse.  So here's to a strong, positive attitude in 2009!

Alice

I just posted photos of a few exercises I did during my workout a couple of weeks ago.  My trainer doesn't use the weight machines very much.  It is mostly on the floor mat, or using the balls, resistance bands and/or free weights. 

Alice

Ok Alice, I am impressed.  Those exercises look HARD!!  That last one takes real strength.  Of course, with all that climbing, I shouldn't be surprised that you are strong.  You are one baaaad momma!

Three of us turning 55 in a month of each other?  That is quite a coincidence.  And we can't forget baby snow either.  It really is a popular month.  I don't have a lot planned for my birthday, but I am sure that a dinner at my favorite restaurant will be included in the celebration.   I am also hoping to be under the obese line again and merely overweight.  That would be something to celebrate.

I won't be watching BL either.  I don't have a TV!  Neither my husband or I have any interest in watching TV, so the TV is used for movies and video games.  It isn't hooked up to an antenna.  I will have to rely on you guys to keep me up to date on what happens.

BEB.  Losing your brother like that at must have been hard.  I watched a neighbor drink himself to death when I was in high school.  I have been scared of alcoholism ever since.  I think being careful with your drinking is very good for Kyle.  Just imagine trying to tell him to stay away from the stuff when he sees you drinking too much!

Good job on the exercise Frost!!  Keep at it until it becomes a habit.  Every time you exercise it will be a little bit easier next time.  I am trying to get back into exercising too.  I signed up for boot camp and went last night.  I have gotten a bit out of shape.  I am sooo sore tonight.  But I will keep at it.

Beth - Your poor apprentice!  Having a child is hard enough without all those complications.  I hope she comes through this OK.

After all the ice and snow in Yosemite, I am really glad to get back to our 70 degree weather.  I am definitely not good at dealing with cold.  I had to wear a heavy jacket and gloves and scarves and snow boots!  And I still got cold!  I know, I am a wimp.  I sure wouldn't make it in Canada with BEB.

Well, I had better get to bed.  See you guys tomorrow!

Good morning all,

I just wanted to drop you a quick note before heading off to the hospital. My apprentice will have her baby today, one way or another. I hope she did well last night. She was very sick last night when I left. But they didn't call me. So I'm hoping that means she made it through the night okay. I'll let ya'll know how it goes.

But also, I got an email from my over due client and she is planning on taking caster oil today. She lives in the Valley (2 1/2 hours south of me). So most likely I will be going to help her before the day is over. So you all may not hear from me for a while. Keep me in your prayers today if you do pray.

Weight at 5:30 this morning was 152.4! Yahooo!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe I can walk up and down stairs at the hospital today. That's what my other apprentice does for exercise since she is also a nurse and works there.

~ Beth

Goodmorning girls:

Well for those still enjoying the game, rebbex low fat eh??...lol todays letter is "B"......humm..B is for beef (lean) high in protein, although this isn't a snack it is a good source of protein!

I got up at 8am today, yeah getting back to my regular time, of course the snow plow helped but i will be glad to get up and at it at this hour again, do something with my days, i mean by the time i get up feed kitty, pull out dinner to cook from the freezer, check my emails, and all the lovely posts and journals, respond which you all know takes a while to do all this, make breakfast, do housework, run downstairs for the mail, take out the garbage, do my workout, lift weights, take a shower, cook dinner, do the dishes, phew, before i know it it's dark out and seems like i have done nothing all day, now that i wrote it all done, i actually do have a full busy day...lol

Alice: I wouldn't want to arm wrestle you, i think you are our "Arnold Scwartzenegger" of the bunch, you have been at this awhile, and holding 30lbs on one leg and going down that's cool, your pictures i can tell you are getting toned, i didn't know you had long hair?  Just don't overdue it!

Bonny, Beth, Phox, Chris, Robbie and Snow, and Star: We could take a page from her book eh...phew...lol...You all are doing wonderful, we all work out at our own pace, and i believe the end justifies the means!! 

Carol:  No tv, i would go absolutely crazy without the noise of one in the background, this is why i don't get lonely i even leave it on for kitty for company when i go out, he loves Lassie!!  Don't have the heart to tell him it's a boy dog..lol

Peg: Good to have you back, glad to here you're still working out, and feeling better.  Been as you can tell a very busy site with some new members to boot!!

Beth: I sure hope your apprentice brings a beautiful baby girl into the world, then she can name the baby: Caboreow, pronounced ( cab-o-re-o) for all the girls in CC Carol, Bonny, rebbex and snow!!....  I know trust me to think of that!!

Well i will check in later after i have my work all done, and Angel is saying "hurry up mom", i'm starving over here!!

Have a good day all.................beb.....

Peg - so glad to hear from you! Glad the exercise is working - if only we can keep it up! I am forced by my arthritis to go because when I don't go I ache all over. Why are men so stubborn about going to the Dr?? I finally have my hubby "trained" he goes when I tell him LOL I hope the exercise works for Max or he decides to go to the Dr. Maybe you should just schedule the appt anyways and TELL him he has to go LOL

Beth - I will be praying today for your apprentice. Please keep us informed. Way to go on the weight! You'll be 150 one of these days soon.

Carol (and Beth)  70 degrees???!!! what is that??  LOL I want to come live with you guys where I could be golfing! LOL Good for you signing up for boot camp!

Alice Wow you are strong - your swimming exercise ...I can barely get off the floor - it's in Jillian's 30 day shred. Tell me about the straight legged dead lift.

BEB - Way to go ...much better stats and it will show on the scale too! I was very sorry to read about your brother - it must have been so hard.

star Sounds like you're doing well with making healthier choices! One day at a time...

Sorry anyone else - more later - I have proceeded to lounge away my morning, drinking coffee and reading posts now I  need to get ready for work! LOL

B is for banana - a good source of potassium!

Thanks for posting the exercises Alice. I’m impressed. I hate the plank. My teachers have us do it on one hand rather than leaning on the whole forearm. My wrist hurts and I can hardly get my hips up. I’m going to try it your way. Deadlifts on one leg? Sounds like yoga with weights. Good for you.

Beth—you are right about the variety in the Y. We have to keep changing exercises to keep our bodies challenged. And it is more fun that way. My thoughts are with your apprentice. Hope this resolves well and quickly.

About the lunges, I started doing them with the large exercise ball on the wall behind me (I was supposed to do 3 sets of 15 3 times a week for a month) then free standing lunges down to a squishy cushion, 3 sets 15 each leg for 2 months. I was never able to finish the last set. Now I’m doing them with a small exercise ball on the wall behind me. I don’t think that is called a lunge. Perhaps knee bend or squat. But it builds the same muscles and makes a more gradual progression.

Chris—Steady on the ice. Ice and freezing rain is the weather I was happiest to leave behind when I moved to a warm climate.

Welcome back Peg. Maintaining over the holidays is something to celebrate. Hope you enjoy working in the health club. If it is convenient, and it can’t get more convenient than at work, you’ll actually do it. Exercise really does help with stress, as we all know.

A little slow, didn't realize you've moved on to B. I have a great A though. Aubergine is the fancy word for eggplant. For an A recipe click here: http://www.aubergines.org/recipes.php?eggplan t=1788

Here are a bunch of Israeli recipes:  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3426922,00.html. I actually made some of them long ago. You might be able to buy roasted eggplant with tachini (a reasonably healthy food) the same place you’ll find hummus. I still make tachini because commercial ones have added salt and it really isn’t necessary for flavor.

Bonton: i hear ya, about the 70* weather, hopefully by the time my shoulder heals i can golf, it had better, you know what Rick said...."well know i have a handicap", lol

Phox: I have never eaten eggplant, always meant to, and didn't back then have access to recipes, but now with yours and the disposal of an entire network i can pick and choose from anything in the world, i tend to like foodnetwork, it stores my recipes.  I am going to try yours not sure what tahini is probably better on a bbq though i would think eh?

 I think tomorrow i will take that icon pic off looks like a mug shot...lol..not!! It was my license pictures..hehehe

Back to riding, later girls

Bonnie: Great minds think alike. I am making him an appt as soon as the Dr's office opens. I retook his pressure last night .

Beth: I hope your apprentice recovers quickly! That is such a scarey disease process. You feel castor oil helps to initiate labor? I have always wondered.

Alice: Thank you thank you for the exercise pictures. They look great. I think I will try them today.

Take care,

Peg

B is for BEANS - low in fat, high in fiber and protein. My favorite kind of beans is the kind you are not supposed to eat, of course, - Heinz baked beans, maple style, which also have about 8g of sugar thrown in, but oh boy, with some turkey tailgate sausages thrown in, it makes a lunch time feast!  

Alice: You and my son would get along great, beans...beans...beans....EAT BEANS, AMERICA NEEDS GAS!!!!.............lol

B is for broccoli....wait! B is for banana...yummy

B is for Bocchoy!

B is for boy - My former apprentice had a boy! 7lbs 19" red head, cute and a great nurser. The mom is doing much better but still has a ways to go. When I left her she was happy and nursing the baby. But as her spinal wears off she will feel more pain. But hopefully now that the baby is out the pressure on her kidneys wont' be as great. They will operate on the kidneys on Monday. Baby was born by c-section.

Sorry  I don't have time to comment to everyone just yet. I'm just home for a minute. STill no word from the woman taking caster oil and yes it does work but only if you are really ready anyway. That's the beauty of it. I think it will work with this lady. But who knows, I haven't heard from her yet.

~ Beth

No Maple beans for lunch - I'm having a Weight Watcher's Ravioli Florentine, salad with ranch, and a clementine, all for 313 healthy calories. And then I'm going on the treadmill so I can get two exercise periods in today. Wonder what's come over me?

Beth - so glad your friend came through the birth well. She will feel a million times better after the golf ball is out of her kidney. All those incisions will slow her down a bit. Hope she has home help once she is discharged.

I am swamped, but enjoying all your posts.

My first choice was beans, but Bex beat me to it. So, B is for beets: Here's what I learned about beets after quick internet search:

Beets Promote Optimal Health:

"Remember all those legendary Russian centenarians? Beets, frequently consumed either pickled or in borscht, the traditional Russian soup, may be one reason behind their long and healthy lives. These colorful root vegetables contain powerful nutrient compounds that help protect against heart disease, birth defects and certain cancers, especially colon cancer. The pigment that gives beets their rich, purple-crimson color-betacyanin-is also a powerful cancer-fighting agent. Beets' potential effectiveness against colon cancer, in particular, has been demonstrated in several studies. "

I love beets, and would welcome any recipes you all have.

Hi Robbie

You have been on my mind. I know there are wildfires in your area and pray you , your family and home are safe.

I have no beet recipe but like you I love them.

Peg

hi guys!  :D

that's pretty cool, frost.  yeah, the health club at work!  that's alot of running, too.  i sure hope max's bp goes down.  at least he's going to the gym with you.  it's great to hear that you're losing weight.  keep it up!

rebbex, i know.  i shouldn't have gone to that chinese buffet, but hubby wanted to.  i tried to behave.  ;)  you're right.  i've got to get more oranges.  it sounds like you're doing great!

southern, i sure am glad your apprentice is doing better now!  i love almonds, but i count them out now, too.  i don't just grab handfuls anymore.  LOL  yeah, that silly fortune was probably just telling me i should've had an orange instead.  they have oranges there.  :D  you sure have a rough day ahead of you...  152!  cool!  yeah, work them stairs!

star, i hope that lunch with the owner goes well.  it sounds really cool!  keep working on them better choices.  you'll learn to crave the good stuff.  february 8?  that's a month away still.

moon, wow!  30 pounds?   even 24?  yeah, i wouldn't even be able to lift it!  that must've been a great workout, though.  i can't get a trainer.  i'd feel too weird.  that's ok.  i'm back to using my weights again, stretching & stuff.  i'm cutting down on the walking.  i wouldn't want to get too small.

clharr, i'm thinking the same thing.  dinner out for my birthday.  hopefully, jamie will be here, too.  her birthday is the 20th & she never made it home for christmas.  wow!  you don't watch tv...  that's awesome!  sometimes i don't.  not as a rule...  i just don't usually care what's on.  there are certain shows i look forward to, though.

bonton,  hey!  LOL  that was my word...  ok, i'll be back... 

Robbie: good info on the beets!  I eat them raw on the side of the plate, but pickled i have never done, they stain well!!  Could use them as a dye..hehe

Beth: It's good she has had the baby!! would have been nice though if it was a girl with that name i picked, earlier..oh well i am glad shes through that part now onto Monday eh!! Bocchoy love it, just started adding it to my recipes involving chinese greens.

Second round, i am yappy today should see my journal entry yahoo!! , so B is for: Basil....good like your beets, something we don't see often girls Vit K 2tsps or 3g has 60% in it and like so many things is something good that we need, on the show HOUSE the other night suffered from a lack of Vit K, and it had done some nasty things to her!!  So eat basil, i grow it in the summer and use it and garlic, mint, chives, oregano  and a few more assorted herbs and spices alot!!

****Here is something cute for all of the "HOT FLASH VICTIMS" OF THE MOMENTS OF PERSONAL SUMMER..while weight working out!!!!

No Sweat

Who needs a physical fitness program?

Most of us get enough exercise jumping to conclusions,

flying off the handle,

knifing friends in the back,

dodging responsiblity,

bending rules,

running down everything,

circulating rumors,

passing the buck,

stirring up trouble,

sawing logs,

shooting the bull,

polishing the apple,

digging up dirt,

slinging mud,

throwing our weight around,

beating the system,

and pushing our luck!!

Thought this was funny and appropriate to our work outs!!  Well i know i am definitely POLISHING the apple!!..lol

A little entertainment once again for the clan!!!!!!!!!!!....boy the "jizerbunny" in me is wound up today...............beb

I will add B as in Green Beans (or string beans).  Bex can't have all beans!  My mom used to make canned green beans, they were awful!  But I have had green beans at restaurants where they take a fresh, whole bean and just barely cook them with a hint of a sauce or seasoning and that is great!!!

This is what I found on them:

Green beans, while quite low in calories (just 43.75 calories in a whole cup), are loaded with nutrients.  Green beans are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. Plus green beans are very good source of vitamin A (notably through their concentration of carotenoids including beta-carotene), dietary fiber, potassium, folate, and iron. And, green beans are a good source of magnesium, thiamin, riboflavin, copper, calcium, phosphorus, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and niacin.

Maybe we should also try to eat a food with the letter of the day.  At the very least I think I will try at least one healthy, low-calorie new dish a week.  I need to find ways to make weight loss fun and sustainable.  Instead of focussing on what I shouldn't eat, I want to focus on all kinds of good things I should eat.

On the subject of fun, another of my plans is to find new activities for my husband and I to do that require us to get out of our chairs.  I am trying out photography.  We joined a club in our area.  Our first meeting will be tonight.  They have assignments every month to shoot different things so we will have to get out to take some pictures every month.  We will bring cameras on walks and bike rides giving us another reason to get out of the house.  We will see if that works.

Beth:  Glad to hear your apprentice is doing better.  Childbirth can be a very special experience (especially for those who go the natural route) and it is sad to see it marred by the pain of a kidney stone and C-sections.

Snow:I hear you on the almonds.  I count them out and put them in a snack bag for work or I would eat waaay too many too.

Robbie:  Beets are another thing my mother served canned.  I really hated them too.  Maybe they could be better if I found a good recipe.  I am going to sound like Bonton if I keep going on about foods I don't like.  I was a very fussy child but have improved with age.  Too bad sweets weren't included in the list of things I don't like.

Phox:  One arm planks?  Eeek!  I have enough trouble holding it with both hands on the ground!  When I started boot camp I couldn't even do a lunge, now my trainer has me do them across a basketball court with weights.  We may not be in the shape we want to be yet, but we are making progress.  If we stay strong, we should be active for many years yet. 

Bonton:  Between the mild weather and the fact that it doesn't rain much, people play golf year round.  You can mow lawns year round too.  You would like that part of Southern California.  The traffic and all the people can get to you though.

Well, I had better get back to work.  Take care all!