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!

Good morning all,

Phox - It's nice to hear from you again! Glad you are back.

I do believe that the key to loosing those stubborn pounds is logging or writing everything down. That and weighing or measuring everything you eat. I now realize that when I tried loosing weight in the past that I was really eating a lot more calories than I thought I was. My estimates were way off as well. I have to measure; I have to weigh food and I have to be accountable. For me that's logging and writing in my journal every day. It works for me.

jobelize - Welcome! I totally understand the yoyo effect! That is my history, too.

I've lost this much weight before but I've never ever been this consistent with my eating and exercise before and usually by this time I have quit. So, I can tell you that this is truly the lifestyle change that I've been wanting for myself. It is working and I'm sticking with it!

I encourage you to learn all you can on this website. USE the tools! Learn about the burn meter and how you should use it. That is key. If you need any help figuring it out, just ask us and we can help you. It took me a couple of weeks figuring it all out. The hardest thing for me to learn was that I needed to eat enough calories.

I realize now that in the past I would loose weight but I also tended to starve myself at times and over eat at other times. As a result I would loose some weight but I also would get too weak. So I gave up.. I now understand better how my body works.  I'm learning to listen to my body. If I'm weak, I want to know why. Maybe I need more calories, maybe I need more protein. Maybe I just need more sleep. But I can figure it out now. I'm getting stronger and loosing weight too. I'm also enjoying what I eat and doing much better at avoiding temptations. The more you learn, the better equipped you will be at handling such things.

Okay, I'll get off my soap box now. I'm glad you are here. If I can help in any way, please let me know.

Speaking of listening to your body and learning. I just bought my first sports bra and discovered something interesting. This particular bar puts the weight of my breasts in a different spot than all my other bras. That's one reason I picked it out. I thought it might help get rid of those ugly indentations on my shoulders.

Well, this morning my upper back was killing me while I was walking. I couldn't figure it out at first. But as I reached back to rub where it hurt, I realized it was right on the spot where the new bra is. Those muscles just aren't used to carrying my big boobs! lol - So, I just kept stretching and working them out while I walked. Towards the end of my walk they felt a little better. I'm glad I figured it out. I'm glad I got the bra even though it will take an adjustment to get used to it. 

Oh and I bought a new swim suit and it's 2 sizes smaller than my old one.

Have a great day everyone,

Beth

i did it!  lol  i finally got down to 138 for 2 days in a row, but then i was eating bad & eating late for 2 days in a row.  so i'm up to 140 again, but i'm being really good today.  maybe i'll be back down by tomorrow, who knows...

i have a weight watchers scale.  it's just a cheapie, but i love it.  it's pretty constant if you get off & back on again, so i trust it.  i think most of them have the .2 increments now.

congrats everyone & keep active!!!  oh...  i guess eating good would help too  :D

I haven't been here in a few days because I'm STILL sick, and very grumpy about it. On the bright side, Tom is doing as well as could be expected after his surgery. He's very anxious to get his next cast on Monday, so he can at least do aerobic exercise; the one he has now can't get wet, and he sweats like crazy when he works out. I, on the other hand, have been on the stairclimber only twice in the last two weeks, and it killed me. This strep throat is nasty business. But at least I haven't gained any, and I'm still logging calories and watching everyone else do so well. Good for you, one and ohio.

Bex: how's puppy. I'm worried no news is bad news?

Beth: I liked your clothing exchange idea, but I fear there's no market for midget sizes like mine.

phox: I was stuck for almost a year. hang in there.

Welcome, jobelize

Bonton: I'm betting you won your tournament today and lost a pound. What do you want to bet?

Snow: glad your party went so well; I bet your a great hostess!

Please pray this darn plague goes away soon; I'm a grouchy invalid!

Robbie

Hello Everyone

Right here Bonnie...I'm right here. Sorry I haven't posted in so long. Busy busy busy. I put a contract on a place.  2.17 irrigated (water is important in this semi desert) overgrown acres with a little ancient farm house on it that need A LOT of work. So many trees to take out, pasture to be cleaned up, trees trimmed, weeds everywhere. I am a little overwhelmed. And to add to the stress, just for fun, I am considering keeping the little house I own now. If I work hard, rent this one out and hold on I think it would be worth it. I feel like a risk taker right now and that is NOT in my nature. But I am excited. Scared. Excited. Scared. ohhhhhh and fatter.

My exercising has gone out the window the last 2 weeks. My diet is non existent. I have gained a few pounds. But I am ready to get myself back into balance. All this derailed me but I won't let it win.

Sorry you have been sick Robbie. I skimmed through the posts and it sounds like all in all everyone is well. Keep it up Midwife...and Snow...you are the bomb.

I miss you all,

Peg

Peg:    You  got the house. That's so great! The extra (initial) stress and work will totally be worth it, I'm sure. I'm so happy for you!

Robbie

Thanks Robbie,

This isn't the house I was initially looking at. That one is going up for sale for much more money than I want to spend. This place is amazing, Robbie. I think I stole it. 132,000. I close on August 8th. Then the work begins. New exercise program for me. The fixer upper exercise plan

You feeling better? I am so sorry you had that strep. Wonder if you got it while traveling to NYC. I am suspicious of the recycled air on planes. Anyway, I hope you are better.

Once I close I will post pictures of my diamond in the rough. Its been very neglected. A couple bought it in 1959. He died in 1989. She died this last April. She lived in it up until then. She passed away at the age of 90. I have the cheap dark old paneling in the living room and avacado colored appliances. A claw foot bathtub with no shower. Wall heat. LOL. I think I am in for a huge labor of love.

Dang, skimming through the posts. You miss so much in a few weeks. Bonnie has true love and great sex. Alice has her new job but started with a cold. Your husband Tom had surgery but I am not sure for what. Southern has a new bra. One is down some more pounds. Snow is right on task. Helene has disappeared....and so much more I haven't got to yet. LOL...I missed everyone.

Peg

Peg,

Can you tell  I'm supposed to be making dinner but don't feel like it?

You're right. Our thread has the makings of a great novel--or at least soap opera. I never imagined I'd be active in a chat room, but here I am.

Tom pulled his bicep tendon off the bone while doing curls. Thus, surgery..

I love old houses and it sounds like yours came with land. That would be divine. We had that old cheap dark paneling in our house in Florida. I painted  it white and called it good, but the people who bought it covered it up with drywall. Different strokes, I guess. I'm a minimalist "decorator." I try to use what's there and adds character as opposed to style. If I had avocado appliances, I think I'd try white walls with red accents (red tile back-splash or red dishtowels and red curtain swags) and go with a 50's diner theme. But, that's what's so fun about a new place. You know, making it "yours." And the more you do right away, the better, before your enthusiasm wanes--at least, that's how I am. Home Depot had shower heads that you can run from a tub and install fairly easily (we put one in the cabin..o.k., not "we," Tom put it in. But he has to be good for something!).

I bet you do lose weight. After Hurricane Andrew, I lost five pounds hauling out fallen trees.

Glad you're back, and we'll know why if it's sporadic.

robbie, i can't believe you're still sick!  if that was me, i'd have gained 20 pounds by now!  when my throat hurts, i can't stop eating.  i dunno why.  i've always done that.  i guess i gotta keep chewing to see if it still hurts.  lol

frost, you might not have been exercising, but i'm sure you've been busy anyway.  that sounds like alot of work.  it sure is good to have you back on the wagon!  :D  yeah, i had a rough 2 days.  i'm back on now too.  hubby is making hot dogs right now, but i said i'd love one & NOT to make me one though, because i can't eat it.  yeah, i'm trying.  LOL  at least my highs are getting lower each time. 

the problem is that i'll be gone all day tomorrow.  it's my daughter's orientation at college, so we are leaving here at 6 am & won't be back til late.  hmmm...  i wonder what i'm gonna eat & how am i gonna get ANY walking in?  :(

Welcome back Peg! You cracked me up with your summary of what's been happening with all of us while you were away.

I LOVE old houses and fixing up things. But like Robbie, I like the minimalist  ways to fix things up and make use of the character of the old house when decorating. I live in a 1936 house that has solid plank pine walls that originally had canvas wall paper on them.  It was my grandmother and aunt's home.

Some of the rooms have been sheetrocked over the wood. But what we did in two of the rooms that had not been redone was to strip off all the wall paper and caulk between all the boards. That took about 40 or 50 tubes of caulking per room! Then we painted the wood walls and ceiling (also wood planking). The rooms look so cool. It was a lot of work but it was also cheap and it really has character, too. We moved into our house about 15 years ago but we still haven't finished updating it. But it is a labor of love.

You will burn calories doing remodeling especially if you get into some of the heavier carpenter work, too.  So, enjoy your new home and new project!

Robbie, I'm so sorry that you are still feeling so bad. That's a real bummer that both you and Tom are laid up right now. When I'm sick I rent a dozen DVDs or so to watch but even that gets old. I hope you both are well soon.

Snow - Enjoy your daughter's orientation tomorrow! Do you have to travel far to get there or is it where you live?

We went for our walk this evening and my back shoulder muscles still ache. Who would have ever thought that a new bra would take such an adjustment.

I got a new client today and her baby is due right at Christmas time. *sigh* I haven't told my husband yet. Until now it looked like all my December babies were going to be due early in the month. Oh well, Larry is a very good sport about my being on call so much which is sure a good thing since he married a midwife.

~ Beth

Thank you Robbie, Beth, and Snow for the support. I really appreciate your ideas for decorating this little place. The house was built in 1900. It is a 2 bedroom bungalow. I think initally I will be a bit house poor and you have given me some wonderful ideas on how to clean it up and make it nice without it costing a fortune.

Yes, Snow, I will be burning calories soon. The place has been neglected and there are trees all over the property. Bonnie mows lol looks like I trim trees. I may start out a bit strapped but I have found that cleaning a place and making it look tidy is free. It only requires hard work and time. When I close I will get pictures posted. Drive safe tomorrow. Your daughters orientation. This is a special time for you too.

Your old home in Florida must have been really pretty Robbie. I am partial to a minimalist look too. I don't think you should have had to cook dinner tonight. You have been sick! I hope you are better.

 And Beth, I love the way you describe your home. What a special place that must be. Your grandmother and aunts home. Wow.

Back to work with me,

Peg

southern - LOL (sorry) about the bra story!  I'm always saying if only I had some!...maybe I don't want them if they make your back and shoulders ache! LOL Logging really helps me with the weight loss - one of my biggest problems was not getting enough calories most days and definitely I had a  lack of protein.

snowWOOOHOOO 138 who cares if it was only for 2 days that means you'll see it again!!! I haven't seen 121 since the 4th of July but I know I can get back there. Enjoy your daughter's orientation! It's a wonderful time for them and you.

robbie Geez I can't believe you're still sick - wish I could bring you some chicken soup! I'm glad Tom is on the mend. And we're in the same market for midget clothes! LOL I'm only 5'1" so mine might be too short for you at 5'2" LOL I'll bet you got sick from flying too just like Peg said. When we went to Hawaii my hubby got bronchitis - I know it was from that recycled air you have to breathe and the flight was 11 hours!

Peg Congrats on the new house!!!! We've missed you but glad it was for a great reason! I love robbie's idea of the avocado and red! Sounds like the Home and garden channel! You'll be losing weight once you start out there! I know mowing and gardening has helped me! We're glad to have you back! Can't wait to see the pics!

My husband painted our front porch floor yesterday ( it looks really nice! ) while I went to the golf tournament. I missed 3rd place net in the first flight - lost in a  scorecard playoff. I scored a 90 gross and a 69 net! so I was pleased. We had a nice time but it was very hot and the foursome in front of us was VERY slow! It took 5 hrs and 35min to play  18 holes -TOO LONG!!! especially in the heat! Today is our 9th anniversary - we're off to Berkeley Springs WV for 3 days of golf, dining and shopping and not telling what else! LOL Can't wait! No computer for 3 days so I'll ck in here Sat night when we get back. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Bex- I'm like robbie, worried that no news is bad news on your doggie???? I hope that everything is OK

Hi Girls, sorry to say you were right about no news. Things did not turn out well for poor little Harry. His paralysis was irreversible and he has gone to the big dog bed in the sky. it was so very tough not to find him waiting for me this morning when I came downstairs. I really miss him.

My life has been off the rails the last few days with nursing Harry and keeping him sedated and confined, getting my son organized to move, fetching and carrying and lugging my daughter's stuff out of her condo, multiple trips up and down stairs, and over to my place where she will be for 6 weeks before moving to the coast. I have been exhausted, have not eaten well, have not logged for the first time ever, and I figured I would have dropped a couple of pounds for sure when I stepped on the scale. Nothing, nada, zip. Still exactly the same. I decided to look on the bright side and resign meyself to the fact that at least it didn't go up. What else was there to do but that? 

Thanks for worrying about me. It means a lot. I'll try to get back on track and back on the program, and back to being me just as soon as I can. Robbie I hope you get over your nasty throat soon. Can't believe it is still hanging on. Beth, I hope your doggie pulls through. They are very tough to lose.

And when in doubt about why life is the way it is, think of this one..."Accept the fact that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - Annonymous

Bex: I am sorry to hear about Harry. I know how lonely that can be to lose you pet. Especially dogs. I have 2 dogs. Spike is 10. Pork Chop is 13. They are both in good health for now but Porkie has become partially blind. Spike has the same energy he always has had but he is turning gray and he has trouble keeping weight off his body. LOL  I relate well with Spike!!.  I know how having your life turn "roller coaster" can derail your eating and exercise habits. You and I will just have to get back on track.

Robbie: Hope Tom's bicep tendon is healing nicely. Ouch!  Like you, I have really come to enjoy my "chatting" with all of you online. There is a camaraderie here that is encouraging and comforting to me. I feel I have friends here and I miss you when I am not logging in regularly.

Beth: That is good Larry is a good sport about your call. I can tell you are a devoted wife and a caring midwife. Your patients are lucky. I am the breastfeeding counselor for my unit. It is my passion and one of the most favorite parts of my position. I had very little support 27 years ago with my first child and am honored to be in a position to assist women who want to breastfeed.

Bonnie: Have fun!!!!!!! Hope you love birds have a wonderful anniversary. It is my opinion that your husband is a very lucky man. Sounds like he did a great job painting your porch.

Bex: Deepest condolences. We lost our Pyrenees last September. For years I described him as an autistic pain in the tushie, but I was inconsolable when he died. And, you can easily get back on track since you haven't gained any; I honestly think stress makes us hold on to weight. So now that daughter's all settled in, jump back on the wagon with us!

Peg: Yep, it's great to have friends who are so different yet have such similar experiences! Tom returned to work today, so I'll be curious to hear how he managed. Since he's a psychologist, he doesn't really need his non-dominant arm to do his job, but he does have issues with dressing, grooming, and zipping up! I feel marginally better today and got more done at work than I have in a while. I had to change the voice message I left while ill--I sounded like one of those old, beer-guzzling, bridge-playing, chain-smoking friends of my Mom!

Bonnie: You're off 2nd honeymooning. Hope you're doing stuff you can't put on line.

Beth: Is the new client a first timer? If so, she probably won't deliver until way after New Year's. They had a story on NPR today about all the women in Holland who have babies at home with midwives, and their mortality rate is much lower than ours--as are their health care costs. My oldest was 3 (no joke) weeks late, and came the day before they threatened to induce. I think I was too scared to let him out--in retrospect, I was probably right to feel that way. I was a clueless Mom with no friends who'd had kids and no family in town. Amazing he turned out half as well as he did.

Snow: How was the orientation? Hard to let go?

Alice: Hope new job is going well, and we hear from you soon. You, too, Carol, Phox, Ohio, jobelize, joanna and One.

Thanks for all the good wishes when I was pitiful. Now, I'm starting back in to try to get below 125 before my trip "home" to see my folks in August.

I'm in my late fifties and just started using CC on July 8. Love it. I can't believe how great it is to be finally learning portion control! I keep singing the praises of my new kitchen scale too. Really a good companion to the tools on CC. My main goal is lowering my cholesterol. My doctor said even losing 10 pounds would help. I've lost three already. Maybe I'll lower my goal weight again after the 10 pounds come off. Five more, 15 pound loss, and I'd actually weigh what it says on my driver's license--I've had it a long time, or maybe I fudged last time I got it renewed!

Hi Barbarriba and welcome!

A new kitchen scale and lifestyle changes. Isn't portion control and interesting thing? We consume so much more than we think we do. (at least that is my case). I am sure you will be able to lower your cholesterol with diet and weight. 

Peg

Good morning ladies,

Welcome Barbarriba! - That's awesome that you are working to lower your cholesterol naturally. I was able to lower mine that way. I also take Evening Primrose oil and Flax oil which helps, too.

Robbie - It's good to hear that you are finally feeling better. This will be this client's 3rd baby. And she has a history of going on time or just a couple of days late. Her due date is Dec 20th. So more than likely unless she goes early we're looking at some time Christmas week. But that's okay. We usually have our family Christmas on odd days anyway just so everyone can be there.

Bex - Sorry to hear about Harry. My dog was perky for the first time yesterday. So we are hoping that she is going to survive the heart worms.

By the way, I liked the quote in your last post. I have one for you  --- a slightly different twist on a rather crude saying and I like it much better because it's also midwifery humor --   "Meconium happens!"

~ Beth

hi guys  :D  it was about 2 1/2 hours each way, so it could have been alot worse.  we listened to alot of speakers, saw her dorm room & went to the campus store where we bought her a rainbow tie dye hoodie.  it was hot - about 90 and we walked alot, and we had alot to eat too.

i brought carrots, green beans & celery with me & i ate that for over an hour.  that's alot of chewing, ya know?  hubby stopped at the donut shop before leaving town.  good thing i brought my own stuff!!!  :D  i didn't eat real good there, but i could've been alot worse.  i had alot of fruit there along with all the bad stuff i ate, i'd say i did pretty good by adding all the good stuff.

i can't believe she's really going off to college & living there!  this is really awesome!  i was starting with the teary thing already & she doesn't even go til 8/20 or maybe a little sooner if she takes the job they offered her.

i'm really not worried about her at all.  her boyfriend goes there & i think it'll be an awesome experience.  when i got home, i hurried & walked another 2 miles & did alot of cleaning.

southern, i live in an old house too & it sure could use alot of fixing up.  it was hubby's parents house.  are you sure you didn't hurt that shoulder?

frost, you'll burn alot of calories AND build some muscle!  :D  i finally started exercising again.  not much.  it's kind of in spurts, but at least i'm doing it again.  i think it's time to start toning.  LOL  well, way past time to start, but whatever...

bonton, i know!  i'm so excited still!  i know that 138 will be back soon & then 137, etc.  i still can't believe it was 2 days in a row either!  i think i scared myself thinking i'd be 137 the next day & then ate bad.  LOL  i dunno...  there's been no tv here for a week too, and i'm sure that helped me to give in & eat.

rebbex, sorry to hear about harry.  :(  i'm sure it must have been awful & you'll miss him for a very long time.  yeah, i would think you would have lost some weight too, but like you said, it's great that you didn't gain!  nice quote  :D

hi barb,  lol  yep...  you probably fudged last time you renewed it.  we don't have our weight on our licenses.

Hey Snowfence, southern_midwife, and frostslave, Thanks for the welcome! My mom's sitting next to me here and just asked how many calories a day I'm aiming for per day. She said, "What, about a thousand?" I told her, "No, 1400." Back in the 50s and 60s when my mom was trying to keep her weight down--she was a business woman when it was even tougher than today--she'd go on these 600-900 calorie diets. They never worked for long, and the weight always came back--and more. At 1400 calories a day I'm losing weight without all that misery. And, with the support of people like our over 50 forum writers, it's actually fun! Thanks so much!

Hi Barbarriba: I think 1400 sounds good. I keep mine around there when I am being good. But if I am exercising a lot and trying to stay at around 1300 or so, I become WAY too hungry. Starvation does not work.

Snow: AWWWWW your baby is going away to college. A bittersweet time isn't it? You sound like you are doing really good. Oh by the way, Barbarriba, Snowfence is our cheerleader. She is an amazing source of inspiration to me thats for sure! What you have accomplished and continue to accomplish is awesome.

Bonnie: I know you are gone right now but I looked at your gallery. Your house is so pretty!!

LOL Beth : Meconium happens. I can relate. We have a beta fish at work and when he goes to the big fish bowl in the sky I want to get another one that is red and name it lochia.