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!

"ultimately our body is a vehicle to get us through this life--not just an ornament to be looked at."

I saw this in another thread.  Maybe this can be the mantra.  I daydream about how I will look when I finally lose this extra 50 pounds and then I have to kick myself.  I will look like a skinny old lady instead of a fat one, not like a model or even my young self.  Only a plastic surgeon will bring back any semblence of youth and even that is temporary.  I try to focus on health instead of looks.  That is where this weight loss will make a huge difference.  The difference between an active old age and one where I can't even walk without a walker.  For you it is harder, you are into the "vanity pounds".  The benefit from weight loss will not be so great, but perhaps you should focus more on muscle building to improve your body fat percentage.  You CAN significantly increase muscle even at our age.  There will be benefit from that.

HEY HEY HEY... after 1 month of sitting at 121.4 - 122.8 my scale said 120.8 this morning!!!!! It will probably be a fluke and go back up tomorrow but that for that fleeting second it said 120 WOW -  thrill of the day!! LOL

robbie- just read your post - you are so like me - I used to weigh about 108 and even then wasn't always satisfied - just like you. Thought I had a tummy back then - huh not so cause now I really have one. Why I did not appreciate weighing that low weight I'll never know. I have ALWAYS watched my weight (not totally a bad thing but at some point I should have been satisfied LOL not really funny but it is in a way). Now like you I just want to get back to what used to be the top weight I would let myself ever get to - 118.

 I don't know if my body fat is higher or lower cause I never had it checked before (I went to aerobics 2x/wk but did not lift weights) - but whether it is or isn't I AM STRONGER from lifting weights and my arms and legs do have definition. Weight lifting has definitely helped my golf game. Maybe weight lifiting would help you build muscle which burns more calories! My arthritis pushed me to lift weights because I could no longer do step aerobics. I do think building muscle helps.

9 pounds is amazing - if you do not think so, if you have hand weights try putting 9 pounds worth in a bag and holding it for 10 minutes ( I did this for my weight loss group at school and they were amazed at how heavy even 5 pounds was - for those who did not think a 5 pound loss was good). You'll be amazed at how heavy those 9 pounds get after 10 minutes and think of all of that weight off of your knees and joints! It gets very hard to lose when you get into the "vanity range" where we both are. I try hard now not to get bent out of shape if the scale jumps up a little (still trying at that one too) - my thing is to stay off of the scale for a while and try to eat better BUT hey you still have to enjoy life so if  a glass of wine made you 1.5 heavier I say so be it - just try to work it off again! I keep saying to myself - you do not look that bad for 54 years old and you are in great shape!!!! I don't want to weigh 118 and never be able to enjoy a glass of wine - if that is the case I'll settle for the 120's where I am now.

This aging thing is hard to adjust to because we take good care of ourselves and expect a lot. Some of that process we just cannot change - sad but true. I know that you WILL lose that 1.5 pounds - just stay off the scale for while and stick to your healthy eating. I hope this helps in some small way!

carol  I like that saying for a mantra, also like bex's quote the other day. I joke around and say I'm going to get a tummy tuck someday  LOL but I would never actually do it - alas it probably is the only way I will ever have a flat tummy so guess I'm not ever getting one. Focus on health and fitness!!

Robbie - here is a mantra for you - "Weight is just a number, and I refuse to be defined by it."

Do you know how rare a bird you and Bon and the other tiny ladies on this site are in the world? Weighing as little as you do in your 50's is a major accomplishment! I'll never see the down side of 160, and yes I am much taller than you, but still, if I was buying size 12 or 14 instead of an 18 I would be happier than you can imagine. You are little and you can go into a store and buy anything you want. They will always have something for you. Don't beat yourself up because you aren't a spring chicken any more. None of us are. You have a husband who adores you and isn't looking for a couple of 27's to replace his 54, (that we know of!) so count your blessings and shine on. You are smart and beautiful and good. That's what matters. Invest in some luxurious cosmetics and undergarments, Spanx, WonderBra, whatever it takes to camouflage and build your confidence. Go to the mall and look around at the women there. Then pat yourself on the head!

*hugs*

PS Looking forward to wedding pictures of you IN the dress!

Carol - thanks for the warning. I compensated with 1250 today and a stern talking to.

 

Original Post by robbie615:

Warning, this post is all about me.

For some reason, for the last few days (since I gained 1.5 pounds), all I've been obsessing about is how I've aged. I even went back and looked at pictures from 10 years ago, when I weighed 114, and I looked so amazing. At first, I thought, good, I can get back there. But then I realized from my journals that not only did I weigh less, but also I had a much lower body fat percentage (27 now, 23 then), fewer wrinkles, and only ONE chin. Unlike Beth, my recent loss has not rid me of my extra chin(s). Then, I started obsessing about how my current pictures will probably look good to me in 10 years, and why didn't I ever know and appreciate how good I looked 10 years ago. Instead, I always did what I'm doing now: focused on all the imperfections.

And now, instead of being happy about the 9 pounds I've lost (134.5 to 125.5), I'm depressed that I gained back a pound since last Thursday (124.5), and wanting it gone before tomorrow night's wedding. Really, I'm just throwing a massive self pity party. On the bright side, I have not used it as an excuse to overeat, so that's something, huh?

I need a mantra to help me disconnect how much I weigh from how I feel about myself. Anyone else ever wallow like this?

Robbie-from fellow wallower one aka renee

First of all don't ever apologize for context.  This place is for us, you and about you, and to unload is all part of why we are here.  Were you happy 10 years ago about how you looked?  Did you see faults back then, that you only WISH you could have now?  That's how I am.  I don't think I have been happy/content.  I'm always afraid if I admit to liking "it", "it" will be taken away from me from a alien force outside my body or abilities to control.   How are you feeling physically?  If you're feeling healthy, be grateful for that.   If you weighed what you weighed 10 years ago, you'd look older and haggard.  It's true as we get older and our skin and everything sags, we only make it worse when we way too little.  If you're in your early 120's you must look sexy and gorgeous.  I weigh around the same as you do, and still see my less than flat tummy and my under the arms excess skin, y'know the wavers.  It doesn't  help my 18 year-old likes to kid me about it.  Yes, he knows I work out and is very proud of my accomplishments and how I look.  He just likes to 'kibbitz' with his mom.

Go easy or easier on yourself.  I'm not one for mantras, however you might try something including I am a worthy a beautiful woman today.  Say it every day, first thing and last thing at night and whenever you have a chance to look in a mirror.  Look directly in to your eyes.  No turning your eyes away.  This is something I've been told to do for several issues I am dealing with in my life.  Can't say I do it often enough.  Some people I know swear by these mantras. 

Best of luck and self acceptance

 

 

Robbie, we are not 25, 35 or even 45.  Yet we look GREAT, relatively speaking.  We look better than a LOT of 45 and even 35 year olds who don't take care of themselves.  We are entitled to our wrinkles and our chins, turkey wattles, jiggly underarms, etc.  We look more powerful as older women, and actually, we are!  We have more confidence and we are better judges of other people.  If it is that important to you, save your $$ for a face lift   Personally, I'm going to save my $$ for doing fun things with my strong, healthy body after I retire.  The difference between 23 and 27% body fat is not very much.  Devote yourself to exercise, go to the gym and take spin classes and pilates.  It is all a matter of priorities.  You can get rid of the fat if you make it your absolute Number One priority.  My body fat is down from about 33 % to 28%, but my goal is to get it under 25%.  My eating is too sporadic to accomplish that very quickly, but the goal still motivates me to get back on track when I have made poor choices. 

And the most important thing - the older I get, the older old gets.

Alice

Wow, what an amazing group you are.

Carol: "Vanity pounds" indeed. That stopped me dead in my self pity tracks. You are so right. I am very healthy and strong, and I marched downstairs after your note to do some strength training in my basement. You have a second career as a shrink. Bonnie: First and foremost, yeah for 120. Good on you! The holding weights idea is a great metaphor; I bet you're a fine teacher. And, yes, I agree that life without wine isn't worth the weight loss. Thank you. Bex: I didn't have to go to the mall, just conjured the image in my mind. Yes, I am lucky to weigh relatively little, even though at my size the margin of error is small on what I can eat without going into starvation mode or gaining weight. I am even luckier to have your hugs and support. Renee: My son teases me, too, but he actually told me tonight that I'm "cuter than all his friend's Moms." Don't know if I can actually look in the mirror and say I am "beautiful," but I will definitely give "worthy" a whirl.

All: I am feeling much better and much gratitude for all your support and encouragement. I knoiw that when I was youngeer, I never would have had the courage to admit my insecurities and accept your help, so that's at leastone good thing about age. Thank you all!

Robbie, queen of insecurity, going to bed with a much better attoitude!

 

P.S.: Pictures in the dress tomorrow night will be posted!

Original Post by moonduster:

Robbie, we are not 25, 35 or even 45. Yet we look GREAT, relatively speaking. We look better than a LOT of 45 and even 35 year olds who don't take care of themselves. We are entitled to our wrinkles and our chins, turkey wattles, jiggly underarms, etc. We look more powerful as older women, and actually, we are! We have more confidence and we are better judges of other people. If it is that important to you, save your $$ for a face lift Personally, I'm going to save my $$ for doing fun things with my strong, healthy body after I retire. The difference between 23 and 27% body fat is not very much. Devote yourself to exercise, go to the gym and take spin classes and pilates. It is all a matter of priorities. You can get rid of the fat if you make it your absolute Number One priority. My body fat is down from about 33 % to 28%, but my goal is to get it under 25%. My eating is too sporadic to accomplish that very quickly, but the goal still motivates me to get back on track when I have made poor choices.

And the most important thing - the older I get, the older old gets.

Alice

Didn't see your post, but now do. Yep, the ticket is strong and lactive, not wrinkle free and Barbie-esque. No, I definitely don't have plastic surgery as a motivator to spend money--but a biking tour of Ireland or Greece, now you're talking. Thanks for the pep talk, girlfriend. And, congratulations on lowering your body fat; 5% is fabulous. From one not old yet to another!

moonWhen I complain that I would like to lose a little more weight my hubby always says just what you did - You're not 35 or even 45 and you look great! Fit and healthy!! In our mind maybe we still are 35 but the body ages even if we don't want it to! LOL

robbie Glad you're feeling better about things. I have a friend who is my age and is basically bedridden with a rare disease - when I moan,  I try hard to think of her and count my blessings that I am fit and healthy and able to be active and play golf, mow the grass etc. You're a successful, beautiful person with a loving husband - don't let the scale define who you are!

OK for those of us who like to have  drink now and then - LOL - take a look at these lower cal versions on Hungrygirl.com  I get their newsletter and some of the drinks look good - have not personally tried any yet! but they look good and sound good. By the way that website is great!

http://book.hungry-girl.com/chapter/12_happy- hour/all

Woke up early today - so I'm using the time to paint my nails - I put a base coat then 2 coats of polish and a top coat so it takes a while! LOL Only way for me to keep nails is to keep them painted with this nail tec stuff to make them hard - mine are brittle and thin (vitamin deficiency?? they've always been like that). This is the first day that I have not had a home project to do! LOL Not sure what I'll get in to!

Everyone- have a great day!! ( Have not been on the scale yet today so I don't know if 120.8 held or not - maybe I won't get on and I'll savor that for a day or two before getting on LOL) My saying to myself  - it is what it is

Good morning ladies and happy August! Wow, can you believe it is already August?

Robbie - I'm glad you are feeling better. I think you got some good advice from everyone here. I understand the feeling down though.  I still tend to hope my 20 year old body is hiding somewhere inside me and think if I work hard enough I can find it. But I know that won't really happen. But the important thing is being as healthy as we can be with what we've got. And I'm sure we can all improve. If I didn't believe that I wouldn't even be trying. I look forward to seeing the pictures of you in your new dress. I bet you will look just great. Enjoy the wedding and just enjoy yourself.

Bonton - I have brittle nails too. But the coating stuff has never really worked for me. But that's probably because I pick at my nails and bite them. I've tried to quit and have quit for short periods of time but always start up again. I know it's a nasty habit and it drives my husband nuts. I guess I shouldn't give up on quitting. Pretty nails sure are nice.

I'm 181.2 this morning! Yeah! But yesterday I ate really light for supper and drank a ton of water. So I expecting a little bit of an increase tomorrow. Just because this drop was a lot (more than a pound overnight). But it won't be too long before that scale will drops below the 180's. I can't wait!

I've been walking with mosquitoes every day. They are terrible since hurricane Dolly. Thank God for Off! But I hope the city gets around to spraying them soon.

Have a great weekend everyone!

~ Beth

Beth - I was a nailbiter all my life! When I married my hubby I got fake nails so they would look nice and kept them on for a year and half to break the habit of biting! LOL I hated sitting every 2 weeks( as you all know I can't sit still for very long LOL) to get them done but really wanted to quit biting and you can't bite those fake ones they're toooo hard LOL It did work however when I let them unpainted and they start to break I start to bite. It's an unconscious habit -most of time I don't know i'm doing it - my hubby will say what are you biting your nails for! But this stuff that my secretaries got me for xmas a few years ago does work to help keep them hard if you use it as directed - it's called NailTek. You'll be below 180 before you know it!!!

one, that sucks about your fiance & moving all the time.  we never moved while growing up & we don't move now either.  of course, the kids have begun moving.  you can be assured that i enjoy every bite when i eat junk food.  :D

rebbex, 2300 in one day?  that sounds more like me,  lol  not you...  sometimes, you just gotta do it.

bonton, 120?!  finally, huh?  congrats!!!

clharr, i went shopping with my daughter yesterday & i bought only her a donut & a candybar.  :D  i didn't even get myself either one.

robbie, LOL  we all get that way now & then.  it's not just the weight.  it's growing older too & there's nothing we can do about the age.  just the weight, and by the way, you look great!

didn't you hear that 50 is the new 30's!  :D

southern, you are doing great!!!   

Original Post by bonton71:

HEY HEY HEY... after 1 month of sitting at 121.4 - 122.8 my scale said 120.8 this morning!!!!! It will probably be a fluke and go back up tomorrow but that for that fleeting second it said 120 WOW -  thrill of the day!! LOL

 Strike up the band!  Ra Ra Music for Bon!   CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Original Post by robbie615:

Warning, this post is all about me.

For some reason, for the last few days (since I gained 1.5 pounds), all I've been obsessing about is how I've aged. I even went back and looked at pictures from 10 years ago, when I weighed 114, and I looked so amazing. At first, I thought, good, I can get back there. But then I realized from my journals that not only did I weigh less, but also I had a much lower body fat percentage (27 now, 23 then), fewer wrinkles, and only ONE chin. Unlike Beth, my recent loss has not rid me of my extra chin(s). Then, I started obsessing about how my current pictures will probably look good to me in 10 years, and why didn't I ever know and appreciate how good I looked 10 years ago. Instead, I always did what I'm doing now: focused on all the imperfections.

And now, instead of being happy about the 9 pounds I've lost (134.5 to 125.5), I'm depressed that I gained back a pound since last Thursday (124.5), and wanting it gone before tomorrow night's wedding. Really, I'm just throwing a massive self pity party. On the bright side, I have not used it as an excuse to overeat, so that's something, huh?

I need a mantra to help me disconnect how much I weigh from how I feel about myself. Anyone else ever wallow like this?

 I'm having a negative week too

Bonton, CONGRATS on seeing 120!  That's wonderful!

Okay, I promised you guys a link if I could get my little news appearance posted on YouTube.  Well, the video service finally got it posted today.  One disclaimer:  I am NOT responsible for the spelling!!

If you are not having a good week, I'm sure this will give you a good laugh and you'll feel better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKR85U6NFaQ

Alice

Alice you were so relaxed!! I would have been like a deer in the headlights for sure! What a fantastic memory for your digital diary. -Bex

Fantastic interview Alice. Well done.

robbie: I was reading your self-pity and some of the comments that followed. My thought was I'm going to enjoy being 51 and even though I don't look as good as I did 10 years ago, I know for sure that I look way better than I will in another 10 years :)

Original Post by moonduster:

Bonton, CONGRATS on seeing 120! That's wonderful!

Okay, I promised you guys a link if I could get my little news appearance posted on YouTube. Well, the video service finally got it posted today. One disclaimer: I am NOT responsible for the spelling!!

If you are not having a good week, I'm sure this will give you a good laugh and you'll feel better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKR85U6NFaQ

Alice

Oh, that's so cool ... and you look great!!! 

Alice - You did a great job with the interview!! I would have been soooo nervous but you were wonderful!! Congrats!

Alice - You did a great job! It's so neat to actually hear your voice, too. And you look so young and lean. I love your natural gray hair, too. You're awesome and you inspire me. Thanks!

~ Beth