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!

Bonnie, you're amazing!  Well done on wowing the Pilates instructor.

You're not too old glamgram.  You're an inspiration to us!  I've seen you around CC for a while and you look fantastic :)

BEB, ok, call Kyle what you will.  I didn't mean to rain on your cutie pie name parade calling.  My kid's been gone for 9 months, he's coming back the end of this month :)  I like to call him "the boy" "boy" or just his name.  

Hello Margaret. I grew up in Scotland but I have lived in Canada since I was 13. Don't miss the rain, that's for sure. Not so nice to fracture an elbow. Glad you have come through it all right. You have seen some pretty nice success with your weight loss. Hope it continues. How many stones are you looking to be? I am 14 looking to be 11 or 12, whatever feels good when I get there. My son is 6'4" and my daughter is 5'4". 

Glamgram you look great and age is only a number so put it away in a locked drawer and smile. Welcome.

I managed to hold steady on weight while away on my business trip. Can't believe the french food didn't do me in, or the wine, but I am energized to be back home and ready to move forward. Renovations have made some progress since DD did a whole bunch of chores while I was away, and the elusive contractor returned yesterday to finish off some tasks. I have a bathroom door again! And new vanities!

Hope everyone is focused on their goal this week. Laura, pity party is over now that the candy is gone. It's back to salad and lean meats for you my girl!

Glamgram, you absolutely are welcome here. I think we're all about feeling and looking as good as possible whatever it says on our driver's licenses.

I had a nice surprise the other day. SS called his father's cell the other day when DH was out of the room. I picked it up, said 'hi' and then passed it off to DH. Turns out SS had the phone mislabled as mine. He actually wanted to chat with me! He talked to his dad for quite awhile and then it was my turn. We probably talked for 30 minutes. I don't think we really talked that much for the last 2 years he was in high school. Back then he'd always say ridiculous things like he wanted to be a great big giant sea monster when he gets out of school.

The kid is a mystery though. He's got a high B or low A in chemistry YET he had to ask me how to address an envelope AND he doesn't know how to send email. ??? How is that even possible?

Chris: That's an easy answer, 'you don't always know what you have till it's gone'. he misses you I expect! he is in school but maybe never sent an email before, I was with computers for 18 years but when I got this one email, websites it was a whole new uninformed world for me to learn....if you don't use it you at some point have to learn it, right?

Glamgram: Good for you wearing a bikini!, that was my goal this past summer but didn't make it, maybe your pic can be my incentive while I still have a dicent figure I won;t wear one till I lose this belly grrr I have no strength marks or cellulite either I just sure would like to wear it one more time, everyone thinks I'm in my 40's so why not I always say if you can.....do!...lol Welcome!!

Bonnie: I thought you were going to accept those extra pounds..stil trying to lose em eh...just enjoy life!l Your healthy and happy and eat right accept them girl!...

Bex: Nice to have you back....! Did you get to your goal yet? When is that wedding?  Good for you at being sensible while away!

Alice: Glad to hear your knee is getting the attention it needs!  Must be killing you not to do your hiking though!

Kathy: I wish you a speedy recovery from the flu...up here the H1N1 is going around, I just asoon stay in and away from all the germs and people coughing everywhere....

I think I am getting like Howie Mandel afraid to touch anything with germs, I tack out the garbage, i wash my hands, check the mail, wah my hands...boy oh boy no wonder they are so soft....hehehe

I am dying to go out but refuse to without my sunshine....by the time I got ready this morning and showered it disappeared and looks like rain..grrr

Tonight is the biggest loser girls!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still want Tracy out of there! Well I need a workout so I am glad Jillian is on tonight! Woohoo! for the newbies it's on ctv at 8pm depending of course where you live!

Edit: Ohio: Did you ever try that whey protein with your cereal yet??

Anyone I missed have a good day!!!....BEB

More trip pics.

Chris: Work..work...work...I looked at your pics and bet your back was sore the next day after the grouting eh?  Is that your SD in some of the pics...9 stairs to nowhere meaning???

Yes, that's her. Sorry that was a little cryptic..Lower 9thward in New Orleans, most of the houses were just wiped out. Left a lot of little cement staircases without houses. Very sad and eerie feeling.

OMG   turkey necks and pigs feet??? who on earth would eat that??? LOLEWWwwwwwwwwww

Chris, you accomplished a lot in New Orleans.  I'm sure what you did greatly affected the lives of many people.  A big smile for you!!

BEB, yes I am not happy with the prospect of missing a few hikes.  Actually, though, I may not mind missing the one on Saturday because they want to meet at 4:45, which would mean leaving my house at 3:15, which would mean getting up at 2:15   That is kind of early, even for me. 

I know the knee will get better because it already feels a little better today.  But just the pressure of driving the car into work irritated the inside of my knee next to the kneecap.  I iced it at my desk. 

Cardio is a problem - usually I do spin class, or the elliptical, or the treadmill.  I am going to try gentle walking on my break and see how the knee does.  Last night I was walking around doing my chores and it felt almost normal.

Margaret, thanks for the encouragement - I will exercise all I can.  I'm frustrated because I will be losing strength and stamina in my legs, as well as cardio fitness.  Right now I am at a very high level and able to hike 15-20 miles up and down steep mountains, which I do every Saturday.  If I miss even a few hikes it will make me less fit and I'll be struggling again.

Glamgram, what is a typical workout at the gym for you?  What do you do and how much weight do you use?

Alice

Hi rebbex.  I haven't been to Scotland and up until last year I hadn't been to North Wales.  Wow.  I loved it I just wish I had gone sooner.  Since that first trip I have been there 4 times and went up Snowdon last visit.  I took the train up and walked the 20 or so steps to the summit.  I had so wanted to walk it!! and I will.  As to my weight I went back to 17st 6lb and am now kicking my behind for letting it all come back on. The aim is to get to 13Stone  or 184lbs.  No less as I don't think My skin will shrink back enough and I have large bones.

Age is definately just a number. Its how you feel inside.  I feel about 40 now.

Canada is so vast.  I have been watching Ray Mears, a survival bloke he was saying it goes down to minus 40 deg.  pretty cold.  My grandmother went over there with her brothers in the 1900s she came back married had my dad and ended up going back there for about two and a half years when my dad was little. She would tell us tales of when she lived there. Did I hear right that there is snow almost 7 months of the year? We are lucky if we get it for 24 hours saying that we had a whole week of it in Feb this year!!!! we do get lots of rain tho. can't imagine how much snow that would make!!

Margaret: I am in southern Ontario 60 miles north of Toronto, in the city of Barrie.  I assume you have heard of Toronto over 3-4 million on Lake Ontario anyway Canada is huge so it really depends on what part of Canada you are talking about...mostly the 43*N lattitude which is more southern then London England of 51N we get 3 months of winter, 3 months of spring, 3 months of summer, 3 months of fall now sometimes winter seems longer because of the shorter days but I assure your 7 months of winter would have to be way north of here like hundreds of miles north...just so you know, now across Canada in the other provinces many of them being further north then 43* lattitide probably do have shorter summers....and longer winters..but it really depends where in Canada you live, Ontario is probably one of the warmer of the provinces being so far south! Oh that cold is more north of here and Manitoba can get it's cold weather, people plug there cars into heaters there.  I guess I am lucky to live here in Ontario,...lol, we get sunshine and warmth most times, but this global warming has changed things all over the world...in winter it can go to -20C but it is usally around -5 to -10 throughout..does this help?..lol

I can't beleive that some people still believe we run around in ski coats all year chasing polar bears!...lol, there are states in the U.S. they have extreme winters alot more then we ever get here in Ontario that's for sure...our weather is very similar to New York or Pennsylvania maybe a difference of a few degrees that's all........hope this helps!

Alice: Isn't that the truth we spend all season getting fit, strong and in good shape and a few days or weeks without it and it takes weeks again to get back there....wonder why it changes so fast eh? I notice this alot when I haven't ridden in a few days, I feel weaker, till I get a couple work outs in! Just goes to show you how inportant it is to keep at it continuously!!

Oh Margaret and glamgram: Tell us more about yourselves, nothing in your profiles to read??birthdays, family, kids, work, whatever..where you live etc..I know Margaret you are in Wales? Glam is this what you wish to be called GG or gg or something else?

...BEB

Is there a lot of french spoken in Canada? I can't speak it I am just wondering as someone way back said that it was spoken widely.  I am probably wrong.  Haven't done the profile yet, only just found out where it is today!!  I went to a photo club last night and the bloke who set up its website was discussing it and how it works and how we can access it and put photos on it.  I learned a lot.  he even discussed forums, threads and how it all works. It was very informative. You could say I now know a little more about the internet and sites. As I said to someone recently I know a little about a lot.  Its better the other way really.  I would like to say we get Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter but they seem to blend into each other.  saying that we did have two weeks without rain May time.  It was lovely but the heat was too much!!!!

My relatives live in Saskachewan. I don't think that is spelt right.

I watched the biggest loser tonight.  Just wish I could be part of  something like that.  Not on telly but where they help and push you to achieve your ultimate goal. with back up afterwards to help you maintain it.  Weight watchers etc just doesn't do it for me. Feels like you get on the scale and they take your money.  One way of losing pounds ££ I suppose!  I would like to use that money kitting myself out with some nice clothes or doing something interesting.  I am sure it works for some people.

Margaret.

Margaret: Bloke it sure sounds sweet to hear my mothers tongue..lol  I gather you are new to this computer stuff so let me give you 2 good pieces of advice..."google" anything you don't know...this is a website i have at my fingertips as an icon on my desktop it's Google www.google.com just ask the question it will always take you to a selection of websites to give you the answer and wikipedia is one the best and most factial...2ndly i also use the online dictionary for any mispellings www.dictionary.reference.com and it's the second one on the list...! I only got my first home computer in JULY 2007 and I can't believe how much I have learned. Tell me how far are you from London? My mom was 40 miles south of London near Guilford.."Farncombe" a village! I suppose now though it would be a suburb of London would it? Are you to the north? Or west towards the ocean?

As to the french speaking here in Canada it seems to be becoming the second language over here so yes Canada is becoming billingual...i like so many of our age don't truly know french but if you move to Quebec you had better know it..it is more french then english there....my son just moved there to Montreal and I think he is finding it very difficult to learn, (learning disabilities ADHD, ODD etc) I don't think they are shoving it down our throats but on the other hand if you want a job today you will probably need it!  BEB

Oh girls THE BIGGEST LOSER IS ON TONIGHT~~!!Would seem the brit above hehehe has already seem it!...lolbeing what 5 hours ahead?

It sounds like being in Quebec is like being in Wales.  I have lived in wales all my life except for a couple of years in England and where I live now is extremely welsh and I haven't ever learned it. For me its like living in another country sometimes. My sons live in London and I live around 200 miles away.

I maybe 5 hours ahead of Canada but when it comes to TV, I am probably Months behind and this would most likely be a repeat for you. I have to say they have done brilliantly.  Last night they had a competition to bounce on a trampoline and hit a punch ball. It all looks like fun but really hard work.

Have a good day!

It sounds like being in Quebec is like being in Wales.  I have lived in wales all my life except for a couple of years in England and where I live now is extremely welsh and I haven't ever learned it. For me its like living in another country sometimes. My sons live in London and I live around 200 miles away.

I maybe 5 hours ahead of Canada but when it comes to TV, I am probably Months behind and this would most likely be a repeat for you. I have to say they have done brilliantly.  Last night they had a competition to bounce on a trampoline and hit a punch ball. It all looks like fun but really hard work.

Have a good day!

BIO:   61 as of 8/9,  5'3", 133 lbs (goal is 125), blonde hair and brown eyes (Norwegian bloodlines),  born and raised in Texas - adopted at birth (thank God),  married (again) almost 3 years,  two daughters and three granddaughters,  graduated from TCU with BS in Urban Planning (worked for Govt. in FL for 5 years),  also had a ranch where I raised TX Longhorn cattle and had Arabian horses,  worked in nursing profession for 13 years,  was a Events Coordinator for 4 years,  built a 37 ft. sloop (with EX) and lived aboard for 4 years,  now semi-retired and drive a school bus (yes, I'm crazy).

I've never been really overweight, except for a period of about 3 years when I intentionally gained 25 lbs.  This was due to PTSD from a rape by someone I knew.  This was a very traumatic time in my life.  With counseling and great friends, I was able to recover.  I started to a gym and lost the weight.  My goal is just to be FIT and healthy! I'm blessed to be in excellant health.

 Hobbies include gardening,  riding/traveling on Goldwing motorcycle with hubby.  We went to Key West last year (3500 miles), also Colorado and TX gulf coast. We are serious riders.  I also love to scrapbook and do collage when I get the time.  I went skydiving for my 60th birthday and it was thrilling! I'd love to do it again but hubby says no....  I also bellydance.  Have three tatoos.

We are Deacons in our church (First Christian/Disciples of Christ). Our church is the oldest church in Ft.Worth  (154yrs).  It established TCU.

I have a dog and a cat,  Taffy and Bailey. 

OK, that's all I can think of at this moment.

If I had done a half of what you have done in your life I would say I had a full life!! I envy you the horses.  I love them but never got into the horsey scene here and would have needed a cart horse to carry me.  Saying that I did ride a beautiful 17 hands horse a few times.  He was like an arm chair and whilst the others trotted, he ambled his way along. When he trotted it was so gentle.

I have to ask. What is a sloop?

Two years ago I went coasteering, jumping off rocks into the sea.  Great fun.  I think the most exausting thing of it all was putting on the wetsuit and then trying to breath!! I found it amusing (to myself) that 12 people in wetsuits helmets and lifejackets should be  walking a coastal path.  I wanted to tell the people we passed that it was new EU regulations for health and safety when walking along the coastal paths!! We were walking to a certain point to get into the sea.

I agree with you, and my main aim is to be fit and healthy.

Glamgram, you must have some really good stories to tell. You've sure had a variety of experiences. I'm so glad you decided to post on this thread. We have a couple of things in common...weight goal and I've been married 3 years too. I am definitely a died in the wool chicken compared to you. (would that be feathers?) My stepson is part of an air assault group in Afghanistan so the subject of jumping comes up often with my DH. I tell him he can take me with him any time AFTER I'm dead! Self preservation is a little too deeply embedded in my personality for that. However; I will LOVE to hear your adventures.

Margaret, the vision of the wet suits hiking made me laugh. I can imagine the looks!

My local grocery store had portabello caps on clearance. These looked fine so I bought a pack and sauteed a couple and made a sandwich on an Arnold's sandwich thin w a little swiss cheese and mustard. Heaven!

I like reading everyone's stories.  Hm, I was wondering how long you've been married Chris.  I wonder if I will ever marry again, I like being a single entity.  My sister, on the other hand, hated it and found a new husband almost straight away after her 20+ year marriage broke up.

On TBL a week ago I think they ate portabello mushroom burgers-- they used the mushrooms for the buns and filled them with salad and cheese.  

Well Tracy is gone home now and we were in awe of her transformation.  She looked great, didn't she?  In my time zone, she was doing a guest appearance on Jay Leno, but I didn't stay up to watch that.  Everyone did so well with the weight loss last night.  We were talking about Bob and Amanda -- hee hee, he's 44 (the girl was amazed, thought he was 10 years younger) and she's 19.  Love knows nothing of age :)

I'm 51 and having a blast going through the change.  I've gain about 50 lbs over the last 10 years.  About 5 lbs. a year.  I feel completely out of control. I was always a small person.   I'm about 5' 2 at 202 lbs.   Back in the day I was about 115.   No matter what I do whether it be exercise, diet I don't seem to be able to make that scale move.   It's very frustrating.   I've recently joined WW and have managed to lose 5 lbs. but I have a long way to go.  What can I do to get this ball moving?   The holiday's are coming and I just see a feeding frenzy through to 2010.   Need help & motivation.  Maybe even some new ideas or advice.