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!

oh geez...  it's not even from a friend?  it's from a client?  the client wouldn't even know if they went or not then, right?  or are they kind of close?

i think that if he doesn't want to go, then they shouldn't go.  but can they even return it for the money?  it's probably nonrefundable.

i don't think the client would be offended, but you never know!  geez...  what a gift!  LOL  i'm kind of wondering if this client got it for free somehow & gave it away as a gift.

Snow:

It's from a client who would know if C didn't go because she would ask, "How'd it go?" The client told C that she (the client) and her husband had been to 15 such weekends together. Gee, you think they're slow learners? LOL

Clearly the client loves them and probably thinks it is a great gift.  But she hould have had anough sense to realize that they are not for everyone.  I guess the best thing to do is to tell the client that they won't be able to go.  That way the client can attend and the money is not wasted.  Difficult situation.

Carol: Of course, you're right. It was a well intentioned gift that led to awkwardness.

Nice to know you're still checking in on us. I now find myself having to look for a wedding dress--not quite mother of the bride, but something "official" looking because it's way too hot to wear my old judge's robe!

Good luck on that.  "Official" and "cool, and comfortable" rarely go together.

robbie I have to agree with Carol - I'd be honest with the client and just clearly state that while the gesture was greatly appreciated they would not be able to attend ( I don't feel she has to give a reason although she could be frank if she wanted to) I attend church every Sunday along with my husband but would not want to attend a " Marriage Encounter" weekend - so lapsed Catholic or not - it's not for everyone! LOL And though I can get my hubby to the Dr he would NEVER attend a marriage encounter weekend! LOL She may be trying to encourage her back to the faith but I'm not sure that is the way to do it! Official, cool and comfortable - I'd check Chico's or Talbots!!

Ok out to mow the grass while my grandson is napping! Oh and YIPPEE scale was back down to 121.8 this morning - getting an A must be helping!!!

Bonnie: Hurray for you. So close to 120, and next thing you know, you'll be under! Enjoy that grandson, and I'm going on line to check Chico's.

Hi Guys

Finally .... I'm baaaaaack. 

Its been a long time since I last posted on the forum, what with everything being hideously busy at work, trying to keep up the exercise but falling off the wagon food and alcohol wise because of having guests to stay, and just finding the time to read the whole string from the beginning. 

Do you girls know just how much you chat?  Its wonderful, but gosh it takes a long time to read it all and get the feel of what has been going on.

You all seem to be doing pretty well with your weight loss.  Like me, some of you have been on that darned plateau - I've stayed the same weight for a month now!  Which, I suppose is good given that I've been, shall we say, not so good food wise. 

Robbie - saw you'd had some ghastly bug - hope you're feeling 100% again.  Oh, and Chico's or Coldwater Creek would likely have something suitable for the wedding you're officiating at.  I agree with the others that "C" needs to be just honest with the client - if the client cannot take the fact that some people just aren't into those types of weekends, then that's her problem, not your friends.

I see that there are a bunch of new members since I signed on ..HELLO EVERYONE! 

Guess I'll get to know people better from now on in.  I've been good with logging my calories in the time I've not been on the forum, and also logging my exercise, just couldn't get on here and make comments until I'd read it all.

So, where am I at.  As I said above, I've plateau-ed at 157.5.  I've kept up regular exercise.  Treadmilling at home in the mornings, and going to the gym 3-4 times a week after work and either pushing weights or using their bikes, treadclimbers or ellipticals.  I go to the Y where they have the weight machines hooked up to a program called Fitlinxx.  Its very cool, you log on at the master terminal when you arrive, then log on to each machine.  Then when you finish, and you log off at the master machine, it tells you how much weight you have pushed at that session.  I had an email from one of the folks at the Y yesterday, congratulating me on 2.5 million pounds since I joined 3 years ago.  You can also manually log what you do on either the Y's cardio machines or on your own.  Very cool program!

Like Bon, I am the chief lawmower person in my household (if you want something done properly, you do it yourself!).  However, I don't need to do mine so many times a week.  Once is sufficient in the summer, and with the severe drought we are having in Georgia this summer, its more like every 10 days because we are on water restrictions as well.  I'm really having to baby my yard and garden beds along but I've been collecting the water from starting the shower each day *(you know the water that simply goes down the drain whilst you're waiting for it to heat up) and storing it in a couple of rain barrels and keeping a lot of my plants alive that way.

If I can find some photos, I'll put them up (of the yard that is).  I seriously don't like being photographed myself, so finding one that I hate less, might be difficult.  But if I find one, I'll put it up.

Anyway, its good to be back, and I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you and chatting each day.

Thanks for the support ladies,

Joanna

 

joanna Welcome back!! Sounds like you're doing great with exercising! The program you use at the Y sounds really cool - wish my gym was more up to date but alas it is not. You've done a  lot of reading if you read this from the beginning! I hope that your plateau breaks soon - it just doesn't seem like we should hit plateaus with exercise but that over 50 thing....

robbie- Coldwater creek is a good idea too - I love their clothes!

I'm still waiting for my grandson to get up from his nap - he must be exhausted -he's been asleep 3 hours. I'll have to wake him soon or he won't sleep tonight!! The other 2 grandkids are coming over this evening to play with him. Should be great! I love having them here.

Geez mowing every 10 days LOL I have to mow every 3 days or else I have to bag the grass clippings! It's been raining a lot - seems like a shower nearly every day guess it keeps my flower gardens watered and the grass growing - it's my summer exercise .. that and of course golf!

robbie:  thanks for the fish recipe.  I copied it and am anxious to try it.  It really sounds delicious.  Re the 'gift'.  It used to be so difficult/impossible to speak up when I was young.  It would be nice if she returned it simply saying they both decided that they won't be going.  Or she could let her fiancee take the blame and say he is the one who decided, (to make the return easier on herself).  She may need to be firm and clear about it so she doesn't get another one at a later date.  At my age, I wouldn't have a problem turning it down and would probably wonder how many other ppl the gift giver tried to pawn it off on before giving it to me.   ~oh when did I become such a skeptic~

What about a dressy, summer suit or 2 pc dress?  I'm a big Talbots fan.  The other ideas are great also.

Sitting here with coffee trying to get over my daily late afternoon sluggish period.  No matter how or what I eat, or activies, it seems I run out of steam every afternoon.  Then, late evening I have a burst of energy.  I don't consume much caffine as my morning coffee is 2 mugs of very weak coffee so I don't think having a little more in the afternoon is going to hurt me.  I can't tell that it's helping either.

Robbie - Such a delicate dilemma for one so young. I feel for C. I had to go on a weekend retreat thing because I was marrying a catholic and that's the only way we coiud get married in his church. It turned out not to be a religious event after all which was good because I'm not a very good Christian, and he was an even worse Catholic. I concur with Snow that attributing it to her fiance's aversion to religious events in general would be easiest, and might net her a nice toaster oven instead if her client is well-meaning and only wants her happiness, which we should all assume is the case. Great looking fish recipe! Try Nordstrom for the outfit. Or Jones New York? About the movie, Pierce plants a couple on Meryl that made my toes curl so I can only imagine what they did to her! Hope you get to see it soon.

Welcome back Joanna!

Bon - congrats on the weight loss. All that golf was bound to pay off sooner or later. I got on the scale this morning after bemoaning and grrroaning about being stuck for a month, and 2 pounds had evaporated overnight. So weird. I moved the scale to a different tile and it was for real. I went back on my Weight Smart multi-vitamins a few days ago. Maybe it was those? They make me pee. You are to be commended for being pro-active about health! I am a wimp, and like many, usually prefer to live like a mushroom in the dark. 

Barb- loved the tale of your meanderings around California! I'm not afraid to go places by myself either. I went to Palm Springs/Indian Wells once and just laid by the pool at the Hyatt Grand Champions for 4 days. It was bliss.

"Intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them". - Albert Einstein

Wow, I know I'm monopolizing the site today, but I had to share. Today I was a little discouraged, as the scale was up 1/2 pound. But, at work, one of the lawyers said, "Hey, Robbie, have you lost a bunch of weight?" OK, that was great, but of course, then I thought, "a bunch?" How fat did I look before?

NO workout tonight because I got here late and made dinner for gimp husband and the "boys." Gimp husband can't help with the dishes, but can manage to do the stairclimber for 45 minutes. Hmmm.

joanna: keep up that exercise. It will pay off.

bonnie: We're having heat wave here, too, so the grass doesn't need mowing. With the sprinklers fixed and trying to salvage damage done, I fear the water bill will be a year's tuition. So much for mowing as exercise.

Ohio: I can't do more than one cup of coffee: it makes me pee too much. But, when I get the p.m. sleepies at 4:00, I try drinking ice water. Sometimes it helps.

Bex: Congrats on the 2 pounds.

Everyone: thanks for the great shopping ideas. Looks like we're all pretty experienced at retail therapy.

P.S.

And thanks for all the thoughts, which I will share with C.

Good morning everyoneMy grandson is here today and since it is raining I think today we will bake cookies. My other 2 grandkids came last night to play with him - we ended up inside as it was raining ...AGAIN... we watched Racing Stripes for the second time yesterday!

robbieI love Jones of New York clothes! That was a good idea too. I'm sure the 1/2 pound was just fluid retention - it will be gone in a day or two! One good thing about being short - when you lose even 5 pounds ppl notice!!!

BexFirst Congrats on your 2 pound loss!! The scale is weird - sometimes I think I've eaten too much or the wrong things I get on - I'm down then I think I'm doing great get on and I'm up??? WHAT???    Funny how as you age, you seem to have less problem being honest or direct about things LOL I agree that when I was younger I would have not known what to do or been too intimidated to say anything to the client. My friend always says - hey I'm 5o+ I don't have to do that or put up with this!

ohio I get the same thing around 3-4 during the school year - don't seem to get it in the summer?? - but I'm like you, a lot of times I'll drink a cup of coffee around 3. Helps give me the pep I need to go directly to the gym after work! The fish recipe did look good but alas I don't like fish - I wish I did because it is a quick meal and low in calories.

Peg  Are you busy at your new house??? Waiting for a picture!!

snow You're probably out walking!!

Everyone - have a great day!!

Hi Everyone!

Is it too late to join? I just found you here. I am new to CC and turned 50 last year. Actually I was on CC 2 years ago and lost 20 pounds, toned everything up, met a wonderful man, stopped using CC and gained it all back. ARG! So I am back to try again. It worked very well last time I was amazed. I am 5'7" 156 pounds (I have lost 6) and am looking for 140 again. I am also looking for something that resembles my old shape. I look quite like a chicken! Big ol round body and these skinny leges sticking out. I design jewelry so am on my rear most of the day. I also smoke and trying to quit. I have found that I can kill those 2 birds though. Rather than taking a break and having a smoke, I now go for a walk or do some crunches. It helps with artist block too! I am happy to see this forum NOT dedicated to the almighty calorie. I was Anorexic as a teen so I have to be very careful with diets. I use the food log primarily to make sure 1/2 my calories are in protein although I also try to stay under 900 calories a day for 2 more weeks then increase to 1200 until I lose it all. I eat a lot of raw green leafies and fish and try to stay with whole grain pastas and breads. If I go over the calories I don't fret as long as the analysis looks good and I try to get an "A" just like in school! Any ideas on what works for that upper ab region? I have tried crunches galore...works for the lower but not so much for the upper abs.

diannec Welcome!! We're always open to newcomers! Just join right in. Be careful doing only 900 calories - your body has a tendency to shut down it's metabolism to conserve because that is not enough calories - it has a way of backfiring - you lose at  first then when you eat 1200 calories you can actually gain weight. At least that was what I found to be true with me.  Wow you've had an interesting career and the pic of your jewelry looks fabulous!

robbie, that client has gone to 15 of these?!  LOL  maybe it'll work out one of these days...

i think that lawyer was just trying to say you looked great.  :D

clharr, yeah!  just let the client go again.  :D

bonton, congrats on the 121!!!  i think that getting an A really helps me.  i finally got back down to 138, so i am really excited to get to 137 now.  i'm NOT going to blow it this time.  i'm doing it!!!

yummy!  cookies!!!

yep!  i walked 2 miles so far & i'm off as soon as i post this to walk 2 more.  i'm hoping to walk more later, AND exercise & play with my weights.

joanna, yeah, we chat alot!  it's hard for ME to keep up & i'm on here every day.  just try to do really good for at least 2 days in a row with both food & exercise & see what happens.  i'm bad way too often, but my good days seem to be paying off pretty well.

that program sounds really awesome!  maybe i'd go more often if my gym had that.

all of that mowing should help you alot, too!  :D

ohio, i heard that a little caffeine will boost your metabolism.

rebbex, congrats on the 2 pounds!!!

diannec, hi, hey!  i'm 5'7" and i'm 138 today.  i'm gonna get down to 134 though & i'm NOT gaining this back either.  not this time...  lol  wow!  a round belly & skinny legs?!  yep...  same here...  :(

Good Morning All,

You guys have been busy chatting while I was away. I'll try to catch up.

I went walking with Hurricane Dolly this morning!

So the latest on Hurricane Dolly is that she is making landfall about 250 to 300 miles south of us. But we are getting wind and rain here. We are expected to get around 7" here where we live. The Gulf and the bay are both very choppy and it's been raining since midnight.

I decided to go ahead and walk this morning! I know I'm a bit crazy but there is no lightening and what's a little water? The wind was blowing right off the bay , I'm guessing at about 25 to 30 mph. But that's not that windy for Corpus . We get that much wind on regular days. But it was raining and the rain kind of stung as it hit my skin because it was blowing fast. But I enjoyed the walk. I wasn't trying to walk particularly fast but I made better time today than most days. I'm figuring it is because I wasn't so hot.

My scale is finally moving down again! 184.8 this morning after being stuck at 186 for 6 straight days.

Robbie - I'll offer my 2cents for C., too for whatever it is worth. IMO honesty is the best approach. It's a shame that her client wasn't more in tune to what would be an appropriate gift but I think it is always best to assume the gift was given out of good motives. I'm a Christian myself and I have even attended a Marriage Encounter Weekend with my husband years ago. Come to think of it, it was even a gift and my husband was reluctant to go at first. We did enjoy the weekend. But that's not my point. I don't think I would ever give such a gift to someone without their permission. However, it isn't real difficult for me to imagine making the same mistake. So if I had done this, I would not be offended if the person just told me they appreciated the gesture but couldn't go. It is a generous gift. So surely the client is just trying to do something nice. I think she would be more hurt and offended if she was not told the truth. Honestly, she shouldn't be hurt or offended anyway because gifts should be given without strings attached, IMO.

Bon - Congratulations on the weight loss! That's great. Enjoy your grandchildren! My oldest grandson is coming to stay with us for a few days. He's 12. I hope we won't be too boring for him. He's a great kid and tall. He's already 5'7".

Bex - Congratulations on the 2 lbs. That's awesome.

Joanna - Welcome back! I wish you the best with the exercise. And don't be camera shy. We'd love to meet your pretty face.

Ohio - I've been off caffeine for over a year now because it caused my heart to do really bad things. I feel every slump now and sometimes they are really bad but overall I feel much better without the caffeine. I have found "power naps" to be beneficial. A power nap is where you sleep less than 30 minutes. You won't go into deep sleep if it is less than 30 minutes and there is something about it that really helps. But don't go more than 30 minutes or it's harder to wake up and get going again.

Diannec - Welcome! It's nice to have you join us. This website has lots of helpful information. One of the things I have learned since being here is how important it is to get enough calories each day. I now know that eating too few calories in the past actually contributed to my gaining too much weight over the years. Of course I never gained weight while eating too few calories but it was afterwards when I would start eating "normal" or because I was so hungry that I then ate "too much".

So, I encourage you to please read up on this subject because 900 calories a day is too low for any one. In fact, if you are doing any exercise, 1200 may be too low for you. You should not go below a 1000 calorie deficit on your burn meter and you should not go below 1200. (The burn meter is a wonderful tool!) Since I have learned this, my weight is coming off at a rather steady rate for the first time in my life and the best thing is I'm not near as hungry or weak as I was when I tried it the other way. I can even already tell that it will be much easier to stay trim after the weight is gone, too because I don't feel deprived. I'd be happy to chat with you privately about this more if you want. Just send me a private message. But welcome to our forum and please join in our chats.

Sorry for such a long post.

~ Beth

Hi all

does this sound familiar to any of you?  My son sent me a message via facebook telling me how terribly unhappy he is at work.  day #2!

Says he'll give it to the week's end and then that's it. 

Can you believe it?  I just told me this is only a means to an end, the end being a paycheque.  And that day 2 of any job sux.  I don't want to coddle him-or malybe I do-who knows?  I do want to support and allow him to feel whatever he needs to feel.  I've always been like that.  And if he does leave since my boyfriend got him the job-the tension around here would be sliceable with a serrated edged knife, I just know.   I wouldn't look forward to the tension, however that's not and never would be the deciding factor as to what I tell Kieran he should consider.  Have any of you gone through this with a child of your own.  This is a first for both my son and I, as I've said this is his first job.  I think he needs to see it through until the end of August when he goes back to school.  That's only another five weeks, or close to it.  

I feel somewhere in my heart sad that my son's feeling miserable.  And yet, I know from my experience as a youngster from my mom, leaving me with work ethics that are very weak.  I don't want to  hand that down to him.  With me not working, mostly due to my drug addiction-can't keep a job.

I know, I took a chance in telling you ladies about that, however it does play a big part in how employment is viewed in our household.  And my boyfriend. like me being dependent on him, of course.  In fact, he has said on several occassions I am the type of woman who needs to be looked after!  That is nuts. Except my (addictive) behaviours are showing just that.  PLEASE TRY NOT TO JUDGE ME.  I just need some opinions, views on how to approach this situation with my son, Kieran.

I'll assume you're all doing well, or the best you can today, and my message today is in no way indicitive of my interest or lack of it for everyone who comes here.

hope to hear from someone soon

 

thanks,

I'm no expert on parenting, but I think the first thing you need to do is find out why he's so unhappy. Is he being mistreated or is it just the drudgery that's "why they call it work"? Your job there is listening without comment or judgement.

Once you fully understand (you don't have to agree) with his view, especially at that age, your role is to coach, not to coddle or preach. A coach lays out the options and emphasizes the pros and cons of all possible paths, but the athlete has to do his own practice and run his own race. I suggest you lay out the consequences of quitting: he won't get a good reference, he'll need to explain to next employer, hell suffer loss of self esteem, he'll cause embarrassment for boyfriend, etc. Then let him figure out what his best option is and live with the consequences. It's so hard at that age to understand that 5 weeks isn't forever.

The mistake all of us addicts make is to think we can do something that will control how the world turns out (If I just eat perfectly, my life will be better, etc.) Please don't take responsibility for his decision once you've given him your best and honest appraisal of his situation.

Good luck!