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 agree Ohio far to much rain this year again! last year was to much rain a record up here, i wish the man upstairs could even it out rain in April have sunshine in may june july and aug sept, oct nov hehehe I know....i know the farmers need it ..........then rain just over the crops!lol

Bon - funny story about the hunky sweetheart. Hope you told DH. Helps to keep their heads in the game. 

Robbie - Way to go for standing your ground. Just because your hub is a shrink doesn't mean he's perfect. Keep the pressure on! 

Beb - How can one who is perpetually so clean and tidy stay up until 3 am cleaning? What's to clean? I think I might have to hire you. My mom used to clean out my closets and put plastic organizers in them when I was out of town on business. She doesn't visit any more. IMHO you need to let Kyle go his own way. Taking him back for the school year will get you kicked out for sure. You want to risk that? Be strong! Hope you lose weight this weekend.

Ohio - You make me laugh. Canned carrots? OMG weren't they all soggy?

Helene - Things are shaping up. Looking forward to seeing the finished product!

The rodeo cowboys are in town and the bars are hopping. I'm off to the coast in the morning. Have to pack now. Just had a glass of wine and drank it a bit too fast. Not sure what my outfits will look like next week.

Hi Bex: well i guesing cleaning may not have been the correct word, how about the fact i bought some stones, rocks, shells etc for the bathroom i know they are free at the beach, these have names on them faith, smiles, kisses, wisdom, truth, happy etc and a cute little wooden basket to show them in i was reorganizing the bathroom, updating my downloaded songs and rating them, setting up the outside for bbq and i bought a bunch of citronella candles and torches for the patio, (misquitos) etc...and i was sweeping off the patio.....

....i have brick all around being a 3 floor brick building...i wondered about something since we can bbq with a habachi the long ones you know with the t big handled sides well anyway you know those small logs you buy for the firelace i wonder if i could put that in the habachi and burn it....the lift of flame isn;t very high or would i get into trouble i could always put a cover around the railing so noone can see it....i don't know but the flame on the bbq is higher when you first start it........anyway whatever i do or don't do i have the cute little candle lanterns, candles, torches, small new table, chairs and my plants!

Have fun Bex on the road!

Bonnie: I bought Rick some Chocolate golf balls...neat eh!

Jill: Here is that website with the animated exercises triceps, biceps whatever suits your needs http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/dumbbell exercises.html

Happy 4th of July.  I remember making a sheet cake, frosting with cool whip, stripes of sliced strawberries and blueberries in the corner for a quick and cute flag cake. 

I will remember this day for a long time to come.  Made my goal and.........tada.............weight is 179.4.  Oh, the stress and angony and hunger to get out of the 180's.  Hardest thing I've done in ages.  I'm going to relax now and am just so happy to say I'm in the 170's. 

Last night came across some old advice I've saved and love this one.

'If thin were easy everyone would be thin'.

Also saw my state on the news and not in a good way.  Seems last yr Ohio ranked 17th in fattest people and we've 'grown' to be #10. 

The canned carrots weren't exactly soggy, but 'well cooked' and I've never eaten cooked carrots, except in a pot roast.

7 am, the sun is out and I can't wait to get on my bike 

Happy 4th everyone!!

ohio - Yeah for you I'm very proud of your accomplishment!!! Keep up the great work and you are right it is not easy! I have made that same cake LOL didn't we all??!!

Bex - Happy travels and I hope the wine did not make you mismatch your outfits! LOL

Today we are playing in a golf tournament , then out to our camp for picnic/fireworks, tomorrow we are going over to see DD's and GS yeah!! For the picnic I am trying to duplicate a salad I had at the Italian oven - romaine, grilled chicken, penne pasta, tomatoes and homemade Italian dressing (  I have to take something I will eat - don't like hotdogs and they get frozen burgers - yuck)

Weight is officially down 2 pounds since June 8 ...but I need to lose 3.6 more to be REALLY happy and break the 120 barrier...doesn't sound like much but it sure doesn't come off very easy. Oh well fit and healthy

Everyone - have a great day!!!

EDIT: In the past 4 days with all my activities I have burned 3,188 calories just in exercise (golf and mowing ) alone...wonder why the scale is slow slow to move downward?? Of cours that's if the activity burner calculation is correct

Ohio:  Let me be the first second lol...to Congradulation on entering the twight zone the 170's!  I know that was really really hard for you, good job now that you know the disipline involved to get there keep the momentum.....me too in fact i found it hard...it seems getting into all the lower decades that end in 999999 are!, look at the struggle i had with 169 and now 159 i am however glad to report i am holding at 164-165 so i only put back on 3-4 lbs from the 161 i was frozen at!  Maintenance is cool....losing is hard!  I am still trying to lose that 20 but i am not killing myself to do it, and i think i was starting to OCD about it all hence the break! I haven't been logging my foods but am keeping a mental tally!  I have been counting calories so long now i think i know them all by heart!

Bex asked me how a fussy, tidy person like me could possible find things to clean, you would be surprised, no wonder it is easy for me to maintain now, cuz i am never sitting very long even when watching my evening shows i am thinking of things to do, and of course knowing me it HAS to be that moment!

Like this morning, watering plants, feeding kitty and now doing all the bedding and 3 loads of laundry when yesterday i only had maybe 1 load, bedding, things you don't normally wash regularly weekly, i admit i don't change my sheets every week...i have a queensize bed and it is really hard to do that! But puttering around the house doing things, yesterday i did some sewing, ironing (which i hate), so no matter where in the house i look i can always find something to do!  Come on girls work off those pounds! 15 minutes for me turns into 2 hours!

I bought some of these rocks with names on them at the dollar store yesterday wisdom, faith, kisses, happy, truth, and smile! to put with my new shells in my new little wicker basket for the bathroom, so i ended up cleaning and re-arranging my bathroom........things like this!  I was tired of the dust and old junk in there so like some others on here decided a little remodeling...lol

Happy July 4th girls!!!!!!!!!! Have a good when and safe travels please!!! Remember there are some who might be drinking and driving! MADD!

Well off to the laundry room, my stairs workout for the day!  I think i beat Rick up this morning, haven't heard from him and he is an early riser! BEB

Edit: Bonnie you were posting while i was have a great day golfing and picnic after, enjoy your meal after and family! See i knew you could do it 2lbs thats great...hey excellent work!!

Happy Fourth of July to all the Americans!  I hope you all have a great day.  The USA has plenty of drawbacks,  but on the other hand, it is a very, very wonderful country.  My favorite holiday has always been Thanksgiving because I feel we have so many blessings of country and family.  The Fourth gives me similar feelings mixed in with a dash of having FUN. 

We were supposed to be hiking as I post this.  When we got up at 6 am, it was pretty rainy, so DH made the decision to cancel this hike as it is in a remote area and not good to walk in uncertain weather.  Of course now, at 10 am, it's only overcast, and there's no rain at all.  I was really looking forward to getting out ad walking...

Oh - congradulations!!! You give us all hope that we are on the right track in our journey to prime health. 

Helene- Your house sounds like it is coming along so well.  I bet you are losing weight with all the activities you are doing to get it into tiptop shape.

Bonnie - congradulations on your weight going down too.  You sure deserve it with all the efforts you are making.  I figured out my weight in pounds and came up with 147 lbs.  So, I can say I am in the 140 range.  Making it into the 130 range would really make my day...  only 8 lbs to get there... So, close yet so far away.

I've been told I'm very stubborn.  I suppose it's true, but it is a reflection of the innate tendencies of my body, don't you think???  I sure have gotten flexible over the last year with thinking, diet, and exercise. 

The soggy carrots reminded me of a favorite food of mine here.  We bake or boil sweet potatoes and eat them out of our hands with a little salt.  I eat the skin too, but some people peel it off.  One small one makes a nice filling 100 cal treat.

rebbex - wish I could soak up a little of that rodeo cowboys atmosphere up. 

beb -  when you run out of things to clean at your house, could you come visit me.  I have two houses that need some tender loving care.

Well my weekend was a crash and burn!

BEB

Hope you all had a nice weekend to this point. I just watched our little town's fire works display from my back porch on Friday evening. BTW, at the show in State College about 11,000 shells are shot during a 45-minute show. The grand finale usually features about 50 shells a second. It's all coordinated with music on the radio of course. They say it's the largest completely volunteer show in the nation. I guess I'm a little like Kathy's DH: been there, done that enough times--for awhile, anyway.

Ohio, I'm so happy for you! Great that you made it on a holiday weekend!!! I can't use the 'if I had __ million dollars' to get to sleep. lol. I get all worked up and excited!

Helene, I'm glad your home is coming together. I think sometimes each little piece feels like a small victory. Keep some small fruit & vegy's around to supplement so you don't get too run down as you eat so 'sparingly'. I would get quite a workout if I shopped daily for this crew! lol. (Actually, I do almost...just not for all the meal ingredients. Running for milk is constant!) I bought 30 cans of beans yesterday. I doubt they will make it a week. SS will easily eat several a day himself.

I've mislead you all about DH's laundry skills. He's fine and did it for years himself. I just worry about his disposition as 6-8 dirty towels show up EVERY DAY! lol. SS has been doing his own laundry for quite awhile, so do the other 'kids'. SS was assigned the towels but just let them pile up in his room (damp--eww) until we ran out. THEN he would launder them...too many at once so they still didn't smell fresh. DH got tired of the battle so he's taking it over. I predict is will last less than a week. lol.

Robbie, sometimes I'm surprised at DH's rather unsympathetic responses to problems of family members. Maybe he and your DH just have to be understanding SO much of the time that they need an outlet for the bad feelings they repress. Dunno, but a good kick, if your ankle wasn't broken, would be nice, eh?

BEB, hope your big day went well with Rick. You crack me up: buying rocks! lol.

I've been sorting clothes and cleaning all weekend. Sometimes it just feels good to get to some of those chores I've been putting off. I got rid of a bunch of clothes that I haven't worn for 3 years, didn't look good then, still don't look good now, & the worst- a shocking number weren't even fit to give to Goodwill!

I was super happy to see Peg, Alice and El posting this weekend. You've been missed. What have you been doing...living? lol. Hope you'll keep popping in. Wish we'd hear from Beth. I'm sure she's doing well but it would be nice to hear.

Oops, gotta get my Sunday rolling. Love to you all! Have a blessed Sunday!

Well all is not lost Rick called we are going GOLFING TODAY!!!!!

BEBTHE SUN IS SHINING AND ITAS AROND 23C or 72F perfect weather for golf!

EDIT: Hey i beat Rick............i actually did it, i shot a 83 woohoo!....of course my front 9 was terrible shot a 45 but my back nine i came on strong Passed Rick...there was some beautiful holes with water but woohoo what a great day....!  Rick tried everything to sike me out, nothing worked, i work really well under pressure, in fact i thrive on it.....so the more he tried to sike me out the better i got!!  He on the other hand wwas letting it get to him, and i think he siked himself out he shot a 84 so i only beat him by 1 stroke, but i think there were a couple holes where he didn't count lost balls etc...so it may have been more! Of course i lost 1 ball and found 4 looking for it..lol so it was all good.........i can see he gets angry though i kept saying we are here for fun only, who cares who wins or loses, and i really believe that , but i have to be honest i secretly am glad i did beat him at least once!!...lol

*** If you are near a tree can you not move your ball one club length away no closer to the hole though, aren't you??? He said i couldn't, i thought you could??

Gorgeous weather..going biking with Kyle now since he is back home, came home last night, begging to come back, didn't have the heart to turn him away..laid down the rules and laws....and he knows what will happen if he disobeys...of course i am keeping him hidden at the moment from mgmt and anyone else...just till things die down and the owness is off him a bit!

Hope you all are having a great Sunday!!!!!!!!...Love you all my dear buddies!!{{{hugs}}}

BEB - You CAN move your ball - it's called an unplayable lie BUT it is1 stroke to move it. I hope it all works out with Kyle ...I do think he really needs some professional help and I  hope you don't lose your place in the meantime

We went to church yesterday then took off for DD's - spent the day with both DD's, SIL and GS - we had a great time. I made mandarin orange salad, DD#2 made potatoes and DD # 1 marinated chicken and I took ribs with BBQ sauce. After dinner we played ladder ball...it was a really nice day. Oh and before dinner DD got out GS's new blow up pool - it was really big and he wanted me and his Mom and Aunt J to get in too ..so DD got out all her bathing suits and we got in! LOL

Didn't overeat all weekend but did have some dessert...think I will wait until next Saturday to weigh in - don't want to get discouraged..takes forever to come off and seems like overnight to put it back on.

Today DH has a Dr appt for his knees. He has really been hurting and Sat. it was all swollen.

Well, the hits just keep coming. I know Helene and Bex have recently been through this: my dear Dakota (13 YO Shepherd) can't move her rear legs and yesterday she lost control of her bowels. I am crying as I write this. The boys are going to help me take her to the vet in an hour.

No time, but had to say congrats to Ohio and good luck to Bonnie's DH at the doctor. And BEB, I agree with Bonnie's comments about Kyle; if you lose your place, you won't be able to help him either.

Your hobbled friend, Robbie

Robbie, I'm so sorry for what you're going through. You've really gone the extra mile for the dear girl and done all you can to make her life good. You should feel OK about that. This is the worst part about having a pet, I know.  I still miss my own GSD and she's been gone for over 3 years. I'm tearing up for you & your family too. Hugs, dear.

Oh, Robbie, I hate to hear that about your good old dog   It is so hard to be in charge of an innocent life that is coming to its end.  I hope her passing is quick and easy.  That's one good thing about pets - we can choose to make it easy for them when it is their time, where humans often must suffer terribly before they die.  Next winter I'll again be facing the decision for my old dog Jed.  He finally made it through this last one with the help of an electric blanket and a heating pad, but a few times I almost took him in because he was in so much pain. He is much much better in the 100 degree heat we've been having.

Ohio, congrats on the 170's!!  WooHoo!  Perseverance paid off.  I love that saying about thin.

BEB, sounds like you need to join the golf tour!  45 on the front 9 and 38 on the back 9!!  What was par on the course you played?  I hope Kyle is taking his medicine and behaving.  Try telling the parole people that you can't wait for his PO to get back - you need help now!

Bonnie, good luck to your DH with his knees.  I hope the synvisc works for him.

Kathy, hope you can get out hiking soon.  Buy some rain gear - go anyway.

Chris, isn't it satisfying to throw out or give away things we don't need or want?  I am taking a week's vacation at the end of this month just to purge my house and storage sheds.

I'm really behind on my photos, but I'll share them soon.

Alice

Hi all!  I spent the last few days at my parents, so I haven't had a chance to post.  They are doing better, but things are still complicated.  My mother arranged to have the guy that cleans their house to come in 4 hours a day for a month to help out which I thought was great.  My father noticed that he has been around a lot and thinks he is making a play for my mother.  The guy is like 30 and my mother is 85!  I tried to convince my father that this is really unlikely, but I don't think I succeeded.  I am arranging for Meals on Wheels to bring food to them 3 times a day.  I hope that it will be enough to keep them going since they REALLY don't want to move anywhere.

All your descriptions of firework shows are making me jealous!  I LOVE fireworks and I didn't get to see any this weekend.

If I got a million dollars, I would buy some property with 4 houses on it and move my parents and daughters in.  I would also retire.  I suspect that one million wouldn't cover that, so I am not going to settle for less than 10 million.  I will find a way to introduce Ohio to a nobleman too.   

Robbie, I am sorry to hear about your dog.  It is hard when pets get sick and you have to make difficult decisions.  I know you will do whats best for him.

BEB, I hope Kyle has learned something and will stay out of trouble.  I doubt you are going to be able to hide the fact that he is living there for long.  You are taking a big risk here, but I don't think I would be able to say "No" to him either under those circumstances.

Ohio, Congratulations on 179!!  I need to get back there too.  1 was 183 this morning.  It is time to get serious again.  I really need to start another push to lose another 20 pounds or so.

Robbie, I am so sorry. Old dogs sometimes do us the favour to fall asleep and not to wake up, but for others the end is not so easy. I know what you must feel like, because I went through it myself with my Tiny not so long ago. I still mist up when I remember that glorious Saturday morning when I had to coax my little friend to her death. Kills me inside each time. But think it's for the best. They can't live forever and when they suffer it's the only help we can give them, and the greatest act of love.

Remember we are out here and that we share your pain.

I'll tell you my adventures tomorrow, for it is late and thinking of Tiny took away all other thought.

Have as good a time as possible today,

Helene, still hurting in Switzerland

Edit: I am sorry, Ohio, I SHOULD say something about your great victory. Good job on breaking the 180 wall. I was hoping to go below the 80kg line today but no deal... You are the best!!!

Robbie  I'm so sorry about Dakota! I was a long time grieving when my dog Sophie lost her battle and left this life, and I didn't have nearly as much time as you and Dakota did, so I know this is rough for you. My vets office made us a little plaque with her paw print, which I still cherish now. I hope your Vet can offer some type of comforting for you and your family.  I hope you can get some nice pics together to journal a little memory book of your good times together; it's painful to do, but will be worth it when you can.

Bonnie  I hope your DH gets some relief from his knee pain! Hope your sister's doing better too!

Beb  I'm so glad you had fun (beat Rick) golfing Sunday! Did Rick eat his Chocolate?!

Alice  Taking a week's vacation to get a thrill by purging your house and storage sheds, eh? It must be Very Important to you! I'm not sure I could devote an entire week to doing that, and I don't even work anymore-Lol! But yes, it is a good feeling, very refreshing. So, Chris, good for you getting all that excess gone!

Carol  Glad things seem to be working out for your parents, although that cleaning guy and your father's fixation about his making a play for your mother is almost hilarious, except he probably really thinks that way, so it's not so funny now! I'm wondering if Meals on Wheels 3 times a day might be too much food for them though. I know how much my parents (almost 80) eat in a day, and while they do eat 3 times, one of those is usually hardly enough to feed a bird! Perhaps twice a day would be plenty, and have some fresh fruits and some ready-to-eat cheeses or crackers or such, available for in-between? For my elderly friend that my GS and I visit once a week, her biggest challenge isn't food at all, but getting enough Water-which I have to remind her about, as it's just not something she thinks about, but knows she needs.

Ohio  Congratulations on your Victory!

Chris  What a great weekend for you and your family! My DH is such a Stick-In-the-Mud when it comes to fireworks, but I still luv 'em!

Helene  I hope you don't crash too hard when you come down off your Moving-In "High"!-LOL! I don't know how you can keep up all the action all the time! What's in that water you drink?!? Really though, it's great you've been able to get so much done in such a little bit of time, and it will all be there and the way you like pretty soon.

I have enjoyed playing catch-up with everyone's photo gallery! Beautiful pictures of your girls and families and pets and places and flowers! Hope everyone has a good week, and BTW, has Sharon really been So Busythat she's not been posting in quite a while? Hmmm.

I had a nice little post, but must not have saved it with interruptions at work.

robbie.  I still miss one pet who disappeared.  My scottie, well, I was hysterical, even afterwards, the house would be too quiet and I'd head for the door to let her in, before remembering, she wasn't outside waiting.  I love the idea of the vets office making a paw print as just4me mentioned.

Don't know how I'll do this week.  Too much work but as Chris said, why stay late catching up just cause I have to leave for meetings next week.  Let them miss me.  Then being in a hotel all week.  Meeting s are so boring sometimes that you just want to dive right into the food for the momentary pleasure.  I love the hotel rooms and bed and love flopping on it after meetings and knowing I don't have to do anything.  It's the Hilton chain, and I take some of my own Crabtree & Evelyn room spray so it smells like me and not a hotel and I may just lay in bed every night and not move.

Bonton;  I'll be waiting to hear what the doc says about your hubbys knee.

clharr:  I'm so happy for you that your parents are getting care AND meals.  And, someone they know.  How great is that!  I bet you are so relieved.  And after a month of having someone around, it will be easier to continue on this path.  Do they have "Lifeline"?  Some ppl have a thing around their neck on a cord, so if they fall or get sick they can push the button for help.  I hope they like the meals they're getting.  Not like your own cooking, but a lot of ppl like them.

Hello all, this seems like a fairly lively thread and friendly....

I just started on this site on July 2, 2009.

I have reached a new high weight for me, 229 pounds (I am 5'7").  I quit smoking 2 years ago, got diagnosed with a low thryroid, hurt my knee, and am in full menopause meltdown. 

The doctor's appt where I found out my new weight was, gulp, sobering.  I don't weigh myself...but I do intend to start.  That doctor's appointment was almost 8 weeks ago, and I go back this Thursday.  I have since seen an orthopedic, had my knee mri'ed, and I start pt for the knee in another week. 

So, I started walking after the shock wore off, first I could hardly go 20 minutes, but now I can go a forty five minutes, with at least ahalf hour at 4 mph, so I feel like I actually might be burning some calories.

I have been making one major change a week, and this week's was to start logging the calories. 

I need some support, some people to obsess about the process with, some success stories, some motivation, that is not too much to ask from this thread, is it?

I hope to keep coming and keep on this journey....

Lisa

Lisa: You're in good company. We obsess and encourage in equal measure. Welcome.