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!

Your weather sounds very similar to what it is here except we have strong winds at the moment.  I went to have a look at the sea today and boy is it rough!! good for surfing if you have the nerve!! I don't. Maybe with a lifejacket and a good full wet suit and other people about (life guards pref) then, just Maybe!!

I do like to see the funny side of things. I had a biopsy done 3 years ago and I joked with the Dr that maybe he could take a little of the fat away on my tum while he was there.  What a miserable person.  'this is serious, we don't do these things lightly'  misery he was!!  I was trying to make light of a scary situation!!  Laughter is the best medicine!!

figurthefat Well done!  Its fascinating isn't it but luckily my sister has the bug not me.  we went to a George reunion and for me it was very boring but my sister was in her element!!

marg: George meaning from the beatles?? and yes humor I always say that too is the best medicine..which is probably why people sometimes think i'm nuts...cuase i am always laughing!

My saying for the day : There's always darkness before the dawn!..no! really! wonder what brain thought that one up!..lol

BEB, I never heard it that way. I always heard, "It is always darkest before the dawn." Your way makes more sense, I suppose. ;) I always wondered, why would it be darker just before dawn than it is in the middle of the night?

I've heard it the same way Chris.  It's a nice inspirational saying.  To me it means when things seem their darkest, you can always look forward to something good coming ahead -- the light!  

"Always darkest before the dawn"  Love it and think of it often in times of need.

My wt was down this morning, Yay! That just MAY keep me inspired for the weekend. Anyone have big plans? I'll be babysitting a bake sale tomorrow morning and then at a tax training seminar (yawn!) in the afternoon. Meetings on Sunday. DH seems to be sick (I'm crossing my fingers that it's not the H1N1) so it will probably be uneventful otherwise.

I'm starting to do some online window shopping for Christmas. Ug. I'm not at all ready for this! Ka-ching! $$$$ It could drive a person to the fridge!

Chris: Things always get lost in translation don't they...I always thought my mother was saying "there's always darkness before the dawn" maybe she was actaully saying "it's always darkest not darkness before the dawn" anyway that where I heard heard growing up...when things got tough mom would always make me feel better with her little sayings here and there!  

Surprisingly how many people didn't know when  my mom asked for a 'flannel'.....they didn't have a clue what she was saying???...lol

Xmas is only 7 weeks away.....help!!  I am usually the early bird here, in getting the tree up and shopping.....but my heart is NOT into this year...!!Of course it never feels like xmas to me till we get snow that actually stays!

Bex: Got any snow yet??...nothing here, a few flakes but then warmed up again!

The weekend is suppose to be warm (double digits) 15C and all into next week too and sunny!..finally yeah!  So i am hoping to get outside for some VitDDDDDDDDD tomorrow! MY darn back is really bothering me though last few days...grr

Have a nice weekend girls!!.........get lots of exercise and eat smart!!..BEB

Have i got it wrong or am I a year behind with TBL. Here, the winner was a man called bill winning 250,000 and his twin won the 100,000 dollars/pounds.  I wouldn't be surprised. We are so behind the times in this country. especially with the telly.  If I am right, please don't tell me who wins.  Then again I will probably forget by next year!!

Weather miserable again today.  It is tipping down as I speak!! My eating is going surprisingly well and I don't feel hungry -very strange- since I started properly on 24th Oct 09.  I was 245lb and now am 236lb. just hope it carries on like this. The thing is I feel ok and not that I am depriving myself.  I am trying to keep foods simple and natural.  No processed foods. it just takes a little getting used to!!

Who said christmas was only 7 weeks away!!!   Shops here had christmas music and decorations 30 Oct.  I think it spoils it.  I think the big sell should start on 1st December then we don't lose heart by christmas day.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

New Zealanders often call a washcloth, a "flannel" BEB.  Is that what she was asking for?

Margaret -- This is only my 2nd season watching TBL but last season, a man named Bill did not win, so there you go.  Do you watch the Bill?  We watched it in Australia, but it was always a season behind what was going on in the UK.

Ah, Christmas, but I've got birthdays first, both my kids are December born :)  One nice thing about having Thanksgiving in the US is that it keeps the Christmas season in check till the Friday after!  I know in Australia the season seems extra long.  

Hooray for sunny weather and dropping pounds!

figurethefat Hope I haven't spoiled tbl for you!! I watched a little of the Bill yesterday but don't usually watch it as they had changed the format or something- maybe a different writer- I wasn't too keen on it, but last night wasn't too bad.

We call it a 'flannel'.  I went up to London looking for a pair of daps.  The trouble is I didn't know another word for it at the time.  it turns out they are pumps, just cloth and rubber slip on footware and really cheap. it was funny tho!

Oh for sunny weather!  At least another 6 months away. 

Margaret: I googled your twins question about TBL and do they say what season it is, as far as I can figure from checking it out you are watching season 4 reruns this is the American one right? or is it Australian?....we are into season 8 right now!! Good for you on your weight loss!....yeah just remember to not eat at night...ahem (my weakness) at times....and we all discovered that eating sugar causes the insulin levels to go up then when they go back down your body craves sugar again..bad place to get to..! Good for being consistent.....I am happy about your efforts!!

Oh and I am the guilty one saying xmas is 7 wks away...it's just that alot of the girls on here need a little reminder sometimes cause they end up getting going late in the season, and then they have to rush, to get the tree up, the spirit going and the shopping done!.......right Chris!lol

Yes Laura......'washcloth for flannel' is the correct answer...you win the booby prize...lol way to go 'ducky' hehehe

When I married Brian I asked him one day to get me a flannel from the closet, after about 15 minutes of hearing banging, clanging, boom, slamming he comes into the bathroom and asks..."what is a flannel"?...I roared in laughter..when you are raised by an English mom you just naturally take some words for granted that everyone would know!..hehe

Carol: You still out there?......... Angel has really been growling and hissing when I cut his nails lately, any suggestions...I covered his head today I was worried he's bite me....he's scaring me! He never use to be bothered by it? He seems to be getting nastier lately!

Tomorrow I hope to get outside in the sunshine...we shall see! night all! BEB

No worries Margaret, I'm not watching the older seasons.  Here is a link to the TBL I believe you've been watching -- same as BEB said, Season 4.  As for the Bill, we've been in the US for about 5 years now so it's been a while since I've watched that :/

Speaking of Christmas spirit, we had a $20 off for $50 spent at World Markets.  There were lots of people there using their coupons!  And they had ornaments, and all sorts of gifts.  I loved it.  Not too early to start shopping, I like to spread it the credit card purchases over a few months.  I pay my bill in full every month so it makes it easier to start buying early.  

BEB I've never had a cat and cut their claws.  Dog yes, cat no.  But my dog Penny absolutely hates it so I don't do hers.  Just try to get her out walking quite a bit to wear them down.

I must seem a real scrooge but pre christmas goes on so long here and the minute its over they will be promoting Easter!!!   A  friend of mine buys presents as soon as christmas is over while they are all on sale. great for next year!!

With the **** cat I don't know if you have seen these plastic cone things that the vet  puts on animals to stop them scratching their ears or chewing their injuries but that might help.  Cats can sound quite vicious when they get annoyed.  giving tablets was always a job. I would wrap them in a towel!!

Night time is when I get a real attack of the munchies!! Nothing is safe!!

I always cut the cats' claws. I either lay them on their back on my lap or sit them on their bum with their back against my body and clip away. It only takes a few minutes and they are used to it because they have had it done since they were babies. They have sctratching posts to use so I never have damaged furniture. One of my cats, I affectionately call "Grappalina" whenever she stands up and grapples at my thighs or bum when I am cooking. With long nails it would be painful.

No snow on the ground right now BeB. Quite balmy in fact. 

It's very dry here right now so I am constantly thirsty. I think the extra water helps to flush the fat so it's probably a good thing. Most of us tend to back off on water intake when the temperatures drop. We have to be mindful of that ladies! Plump up those wrinkles!

Your right there Bex: I have only been drinking maybe 4 cups (2 bottles) of my home made ice tea lately....as to my cats I too always cut that way and have since they were babies but lately Angel has been growling and I don't want to get bit.....I have Angel using the scratch ost but Buttons is a little more stubborn in the teaching...lol

Saying: 'Great minds think alike'..hey Margaret: You must have been reading my mind because that is exactly what I was thinking about buying that cone for Angels head while I clip because the hood from my coat keeps moving? Thanks

Laura: Speaking of coupons..... you wouldn't believe how many places you can print out coupons online, I have used some already for my cat food be careful and make sure there is a valid black bar on them though, I read some coupons are fake...is that true?

I saw my neighbour Willa hobbling around, while talking out the cat poo..she had a dizzy spell in the shower and knocked the railbar off the wall....meds...they sometimes do that to me when I am in there and close my eyes, for a second or two off balance...when I moved in they were installing a whole new bathroom tub (all one piece) walls etc it was all one piece and then they add on the tiles and soap dishes (which they forgot)there is no railing in there to hang onto?  Dangerous isn't it, surely not senior proof!...crash?

Okay now that I have gotten over the mental picture of an Abbott and Costello routine the weather is  8*C today and sunny!So I have got to push myself out that door and get up to the Walmart Mall and do some shopping.......so have a nice day girls!...........BEB

The cone stops one part of potential injury.  I find the claws the worst especially the back ones!! A friend once had one of these burmese furry creatures.  It had a really bad attitude from a very early age.  Quite funny seeing a 7 week old kitten strutting in a bad mood.  They ended up having to take it to the vets and sedate it to be able to trim its hair.  I wouldn't step over it if it had that moody look in its eyes!!!

Lucky you with the sun.  We are having another dose of rain but at least the wind has dropped today.

I had a really good session in the gym.  Its only my second time since I have started back.  I took it easy but not too easy! I want to work up slowly so I don't have to ache afterwards. and am recording what I do to stop me getting bored.

Margaret, if you don't get a little sore from working out, you are not building muscle!  I will get sore about 24 hours after I work out, but not every time.  Don't be afraid of a wee bit of discomfort - you can handle it!!

Two things that always make me a little sore are a big session of working on abdominals, and side lunges, where you step to the side and touch the ground, then stand back up.  This is especially effective with weights in your hand.

We have an overcast sky, breezy, around 60 F, but no rain in the forecast.  A good day for working in the yard.

Alice

Alice - thanks for that reminder about being sore...I was slightly sore after Pilates and body sculpting..so that was good. I almost NEVER got sore when I worked out at the gym by myself..yeah for building muscle!

H1N1 Clinic is finished - WHEW !!! we vaccinated 960 kids(2,700 in the district so not a bad turn-out - a little over 30%) and we had NO problems! Everything ran smoothly and ppl pretty much came at the times assigned by last name so we were not slammed. It went really well and I got mine today too. I still need the regular flu shot..our clinic was cancelled as the local hospital did not get vaccine yet.

I should be out mowing/mulching leaves but am a little tired after the clinic and haven't been able to make myself go out to do it! LOL Hoping to golf tomorrow as Indian summer is here - 60's and sunny

I did boxersize once and would have gone again but for breaking my arm.  It was hard but not that bad or so I thought.  Two days later I could hardly lift my arms. I had worked muscles that couldn't have been worked in the gym and I was used to quite hard workouts there.  I don't mind a bit of pain!!! and its only my second time to the gym for about 2 years and am planning this month to get the ball well and truely rolling!

Bonnie, that is a huge number of vaccinations!!  No wonder you were tired. 

Margaret, I have never done boxercize, although I notice some women at the gym working out with a big punching bag.  I just came in from digging out some dirt under a gate so it would close properly.  Ten minutes of swinging a pickaxe, then twenty more of digging and throwing dirt with the shovel.   I felt it in my shoulders, arms, back and abs!

Trying my best to keep busy and not eat much today because a friend is treating me to dinner at a fancy restaurant tonight.  So far I have eaten 1/2 English muffin and a protein shake with banana and frozen strawberries.

Alice

Original Post by margaret101:

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.

 Margaret101 - a sloop is a one-masted sail boat.