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!

Beth - CONGRATS!!!! You are really doing great - that dress will fit perfectly before you know it! You should be very proud of yourself and it's a great inspiration to others!

Bex- Enjoy your vacation - we'll be waiting for your return with your witty and funny quotes! I have been terrible about logging - just haven't had time -  seem to be holding my own with wt

Ohio Congrats on the job!! Bex sounded on track with the books - not a bad idea. WOW 30 miles - that's amazing - but you do need to make sure to take enough water - you don't want to get dehydrated. Last year I overdid it ( Imagine me overdoing it LOL??!!) and the next day was sooo dizzy I could not stand up, I fell back into my bed and I actually had to crawl downstairs - my hubby took me to ER spent 1/2 day there getting IV's - NOW i am really cautious to drink enough and not to overdo it.

robbie - Sounds like you're having a great time - you can concentrate on your weight when you get home! We all have to enjoy life too!

We had a great time at the stay and play! Courses were very nice and our room was a suite - my hubby upgraded it - VERY nice! Probably will not weigh myself for a day or two though - even though I didn't overeat I did have a couple of Vodka and tonics and a glass of wine which we took with us! LOL Had a great meal  - crab cake with baked potato, salad, bruschetta for appetizer - yummy! Couldn't finish my crab cake but my hubby enjoyed the rest with his filet! LOL Didn't have dessert - got too full. I have changed - I used to look at the dessert menu first and decide what I wanted and then based my order on making sure I had room for dessert! Now I don't do that and rarely get dessert because I am too full. Playing with our friends today in their couple member guest then tomorrow is our club couples championship (which we won last year) then WORK UGH - LOL I do get spoiled being off

Neither one of my parents is living but I can understand the dilemma of the driving issue - had those issues with my Aunt when she developed Alzheimer's and was still driving - finally got the Dr to tell her she couldn't drive - that way she wasn't mad at me!

Hello to All

I am sorry I fell off of the thread. My life became so crazy. Plus for a week there I don't think I had a computer. Naturally during all of this, things broke wide open at work and it was crazy there too.

I have my new place. I have it painted and the carpets cleaned. We spent days cutting back all of the growth outside. It was a jungle. The inside is much more benign that I had anticipated. My old home had big wide moulding with scroll work in the corners. This has no character whatsoever. But we can change that. I am in love with the claw footed bathtub. Now that's living!

To make things a little more stressful. My old home went under contract in less than 5 weeks on the market! They wanted a new retaining wall in the crawl space where the hot water heater and furnace are. Plus the outside had to be repainted. Spending money right and left. Working tons of overtime because I am so worried about spending money like that. Anyway it looks like that place will close Sept. 5th.

My exercise and diet program flew out the window. I have gained a few pounds but not much. I miss the running. I miss my friends here. I haven't had time to read all that I have missed. Hope it's all good new.

I'll post pics of the new house as soon as I can find where I packed the camera. LOL

Peg

Ohio, first off, let me congratulate you on your new job!  And a 30 mile bike ride?  Wow, that is great.  How long did it take? 

Bex, see ya when you get back! 

Had some tests done yesterday at the hosptal.  Just part of my yearly physical.  Did a bone density, mammogram and abominal/pelvic ultrasound. Not too looking forward to the results of the bone density.  I did basically nothing for over three years before hitting the gym once again back in October.  I don't take calcium sups. however I do take in a lot of calcium in my food and I take vit.D to help my body absorb that. 

Here in Canada, because of our universal coverage we can only get a bone density every 36 months unless we want to  pay the $210 for the test.  If a serious condition is noticed we can get it once a year.   The good and the bad of universal coverage.  I didn't only have to show my provincial coverage card to have all these tests.  It's times like this I really appreciate being a Canadian.  I am always a proud Canadian.  Sometimes, it just really hits me between the eyes what a great country I  live in.

Ladies, hope your weekends go well.  And did any of you get to watch some of the Olympics?  How about that Usain Bolt, or Michael Phelps?  Two pretty amazing athletes.  What I did miss was the sychronized swimming.  Was that not in the schedule this year, or did I just miss it because of the time difference?

ohio So glad you found that ring!! That must have made your day. I wear my favorite Aunt's engagement diamond ring beside my wedding rings - I couldn't imagine losing it so I can understand your feelings about the ring.

oneThe Calcium supplement that ohio is talking about is Viactiv  I take 2 supplements a day and take that one at lunch  - LOL it's my dessert because she's right it tastes like candy! I buy chocolate and have it after lunch. Small thin women are more prone to osteoporosis and also heredity does factor in. My bone density increased 4% after starting to lift weights but then I went thru menopause and it dropped some - thus 2 supplements a day. Menopause definitely affects your bone density.

Peg  It's so nice to have you back!!! I looked at your pics and your place is charming and looks to have lots of potential to be absolutely beautiful! Looks like you have a  lot of land - nice for your horse! Be sure to take before and after pics - maybe you could win a contest! I've fallen off the "logging" wagon myself - just too busy lately - hope to be better when I start back to school Monday but hate going back. Glad you've sold your other place what with the market being slow and all - that's a good thing. Houses are definitely a lot of work! Seems like right now is a buyers market and the poor seller (you) has to do whatever to please the buyer to get the house sold. My stepdaughter has been trying to sell their old house for the past year - no luck yet. They are building a new one and really need to sell the old one. But hey - all that work surely burns a lot of calories!! I'm sure your place will be beautiful when you are done with it! Keep in touch with us when you can!

Everyone- hope you are enjoying your weekend. Today is our couples championship at our golf club! Hope to play well but who knows! LOL it's a husband and wife scramble so hubby needs to play well too! LOL

Hi Bonnie,

Thanks for the welcome back. You crack me up. I show you a falling down old bungalow encased in a jungle and you see the potential immediately. You have such a wonderful attitude and uplifting spirit.  The pictures posted now are of the house on day one after I bought it. You can follow the progress with me.  It is a little over 2 acres and the property is amazing. The house will take lots of time and lots of money. It is burning calories though.

I agree it is a buyers market. I don't mind all of that. But some of the demands were so trivial. All I kept hearing was that she is a first time buyer and really nervous. I am a first time seller and really nervous. I feel I wasn't validated in the least. But its okay. I think she will be nice to my old neighbors and I didn't leave them with a rental next door or anything like that. It should close Sept 5th. 3 months ago I didn't have any intention of moving anywhere. What a whirlwind its been.

Back to work on Monday huh? Is that usually a difficult transition for you? I bet that summer long break is a blast. Okay, all for now. Take care and hope everyone out there is healthy and smiling today.

Peg

Peg I shouldn't complain about going back to work having had the summer off but you're right it's a hard transition - the first few weeks are torture. I really could be retired LOL alas I have at least 6 more years to go before that can happen and then I carry our health insurance so who knows. We'll be watching your progress with the new place!

My hubby and I tied for the couples club championship  - we shot a 73 ( 2 over par) but lost in a scorecard playoff to the club champ and her partner. But , we had fun and it was a beautiful day.   A nice way to celebrate my last day of freedom! In-service all day today - BORING - LOL - it is so hard for me to sit still that long and to be inside all day is even harder!

Got on the scale yesterday - up a pound  - not sure how that could happen with all the exercise I've been getting. Maybe it's water retention...we'll see. Really wanted to start school under 120 but no such luck. I need to start logging again as I have not been doing that lately. It will show me where I am being lax! It's hard to imagine that it could take this long to try to lose 10 pounds.. it's taken me 8 months to lose 7 - well it was 7 - as of yesterday it was 6 pounds. What the heck... any normal person exercising and playing golf, mowing as much as me would be down the 10 and then some!

All  have a great day! Think lean and strong

Hi Bonnie,

We tend to think too much about what the scales say and miss the big picture. Look at you. In your fifties and so active!!! Golfing, mowing, travelling. all of that quality of life is such a gift.

Retirement...lol...oh dear, I don't think that will be an option for me for awhile. But that's okay. I am looking forward to the next years of hard labor. (all of the sudden I hear the song "Sixteen Tons" in my head.

Congrats to you and your husband tying at the couples club championship....GOOD FOR YOU. Sounds like you made a splendid day of it. Having fun with the one you love on a beautiful day. Now that's living.

Having the physical ability to have fun with the one you love on a beautiful day...thats a gift you give yourself. Up a pound, down a pound. It is all about health. We tend to measure who we are by how much me weigh, instead of by strong and lean. Why do we as women do that?.

Congratulations to everyone on the weight loss. You ladies are amazing. I haven't ran in a month, eating with no regard whatsoever to its nutritional value.   Time to get back into CC gear.

Snow...We want baby pics...lol

Robbie..love hearing about the Dallas adventure.

Peg

Good morning ladies,

Well, I'm still waiting on babies and none have decided to arrive yet. It always makes me a little nervous when they "stack up" like this.

Yesterday I ate without any deficit  but I didn't go over either.  I've held the 175 for  3 days in a row. So I guess it was really a true drop and not just loosing too much water.  I guess I can start hoping for an even lower number now.

We went to a baseball game with some friends (also former clients of mine, I've delivered 4 of her 8 children). We had a lot of fun but the mosquitoes were terrible. We brought spray but had to practically bath in it for it to do any good.

So this morning I'm skipping my outside walk and going straight to the Y for my workout. Hopefully, I'll be able to hold up for 2 hours of workout.

Bonnie - You've been doing great all summer. Don't let the scale get you down. Do you have anything special planned for your exercise during the school season this year?

Peg - It's great to see you back with us. Your place is really nice. I love projects around my home. I haven't done anything serious in a long time. But that's how I used to always loose weight. It's a great workout, working on an older home. And rewarding in so many ways.  I can't wait to hear all about your progress on the place. And your horses look really neat, too.

I'm getting a little concerned about snowfence. I sent her a private message telling her we miss her and want to hear all about her new grandbaby. Has anyone else written her or heard from her lately?

Well, I'm off to the Y. You all have a great day, today!

~ Beth

I'm back to work and off to a slow start. The case today only lasted an hour--the attorneys really shouldn't have come, so I end up losing money and wasting gas driving down here. Plus, it's DNC in Denver, so it's a little crazy.

On a sad note, while I was in Dallas, my 94 year old uncle died (my Dad's brother who raised him because my grandfather died when Dad was only 16). My parents won't fly (that's why I went to see them), and shouldn't be driving, especially my Mom. My Dad at least knows his reflexes aren't as sharp--she doesn't. Backed into a car on the way out her driveway yesterday going to the airport, and she didn't even notice. Yikes, they were talking about driving to California for the services, but thank goodness decided not to go. Carol, what did you and your husband figure out to do about your in laws? Ohio: How's the first week of work going? Glad you got your bike ride in. And, that's so cool about the ring. Bex: In case you check in, I hope your vacation is going well. Beth: Congrats on the drop. I've been too scared to get on the scale since my return--think I'll wait until at least tomorrow. And, no, I haven't heard from Snow, and like you, I'm concerned. Probably just too much going on. Frost: Welcome back and I agree with others: that's a great opportunity to make a home and lose weight while you're at it. It is indeed charming. Buying and selling a home is so very awful because you always get one side or the other with "issues." One: My boys both think Canada is more civilized than the U.S. Certainly, you could find fault with our health care system, but the doctors and nurses aren't at fault--those darn insurance companies, in my book, have created a massive monster. Bonnie: Congrats on championship; you really found your soul mate and golf partner this time. I would say don't worry about that pesky pound, but when I get on tomorrow, I may not be so glib.

Snow did say she was going out of town to be with her daughter for about a month after the baby came and might not have access to the web.  I am assuming that she does not have access and is trying to manage without CC with nothing but a baby to keep her busy.    We are just going to have to wait to hear what happened.

I think we managed to convince my father-in-law not to drive at night any more if he can avoid it.  If my mother-in-law also buys into this, it should not be a problem.  Their car was totaled, so now they are trying to decide what to replace it with.  I swear, you no more than get done with taking care of kids and then you have to take care of parents.

Hi everyone!  I can't believe it's been this long since I checked in.  Time is just slipping past me somehow.  Ohio, congrats on your 30 mile bike ride!!  It sounds like you need to get a camelbak to carry enough water in the hot weather.  It can be dangerous to run out of water.  Have you thought about participating in an organized ride?  My husband and I used to do them almost 20 years ago and they are a blast!  Not a race, just a ride with food and drink stops along the way, and a vehicle to pick you up if you simply can't go any further.  They usually offer different distances you can choose from.  Here is a web page I found with a ride calendar for Ohio - maybe something will be close to you:  http://www.ohiocycling.info/OBEC.html

There is going to be an organized ride near me on Oct 11, and my almost 15 y.o. son wants to do it.  He has been getting me out riding bikes every night. (C'mon, mom, we have to train for the ride.)  I think it's fabulous that he has lost so much weight over the summer (30 lbs) and gotten in shape, but he is starting to wear me out!   

Beth, I think you asked about how I train for my hikes.  During the week I walk and do the elliptical at the gym during lunch.  I do a spin class once a week too.  But what has made the most difference is strengthening my legs with lunges, squats and other weighted exercises.  I have to be careful not to overdo it because of my knees, but I have made a lot of progress.

I am supposed to go to a pool party and potluck on Sept 7.  This is my latest motivation to get some pounds off.  I don't think I even own a swim suit, so I'll have to go out and buy one. 

I'll be back soon!

Alice

Alice -we're glad you're back! Congrats to your son on losing 30 lbs and getting in shape! That's great for him. Have you done any hikes lately? Ahh swim suits - the absolute worst thing to have to shop for - I think they should have those mirrors in the dressing room that make you look skinny! LOL - then maybe we'd buy  a suit!

Carol - glad your in-laws did not get hurt and hopefully the night time driving will stop. And you're right about snow - she was going for a few weeks and I thought too that maybe she doesn't have internet access where she is. Hopefully everything is alright and she is enjoying her new grandbaby.

OK - need a little advice- we have a lady in my golf league - 12 handicap and former gym teacher - well she's the one I mentioned earlier and my list is growing of ppl that do not want to play with her because she is bossy and gives my higher handicap ladies a lesson on every shot. She yelled at one lady for " walking in someone's putting line" - well hey, we all wear soft spikes you're not going to hurt the putting surface - anyways she nagged her about it for 4 holes till one of the other ladies stood up to her and said we are not your students, then she finally  apologized. We have no pro at our course and we ladies just run our own league so no help there. For some reason my ladies are intimidated by her and will not stand up for themselves and just say to her " no lessons on the course". Do I talk to her and tell her that she is offending ppl by "giving lessons" or do I wait for my ladies to stand up for themselves???? I could never be a supervisor - it's just not in my personality. One lady was almost in tears last night and the 2 that played with her said they would stand up for each other but apparently did not. I wasn't playing with them or I would have spoken up. Help - what do you guys think is the best approach??? if any - my hubby thinks it won't do any good to talk to her as she doesn't seem to get that she is offending and hurting ppl.

Hi Bonnie: I vote you listen to your husband on this one. She may be one of those people who suffers either from an inflated perception of her own importance, or from a low self esteem that she tries to boost at the expense of others. Or she is terrible rude. I handle those types with complete dismissal. I do not empower them with interaction. I would set an example and refuse to play with her. Until she understands and experiences some kind of ramifications from her interactions with others, she won't  be motivated to change.

All work and no play make me a dull girl. Soon I will have time off. I have been trying to do better with intake of good food. I'm ready to ride my bike, my horse, a long walk, a jog. ANYTHING!!!

Beth...I have been following your journey. You are doing wonderful!!

Peg

Hi Everyone

I've been MIA for a couple of weeks because work has been so very busy that my brain just didn't want to wrap itself around posting - I've been reading all your posts though so am pretty much up to date with what y'all are up to.

Despite being busy, I've maintained my calorie counting and exercise.  Whilst only losing one miserable pound in the past month, I at least haven't put any on - and that's through two birthdays (mine and my husbands). 

Hopefully I can get this downward trend moving a bit more quickly soon so that I have some leeway come Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Take care everyone,

Joanna

Wow, so much seems to happen on a  daily basis here.  I haven't been here for a couple days and feel lost again.  It sounds like all are well, fighting the good fight and all.

This summer has just raced by.  I knew in late June I'd realize how quick summer would pass and tried to ready myself for it.  And, once again, summer flew by faster than expected!  It's been a few days since I've been to the gym.  Just been busy. 

Went to see 'Dark Knight' last night.  Have any of you ladies seen it?  Wow, talk about sensory overload!  Heath Ledger, was indeed, magnificent as The Joker.  My age really comes out when I watch this sort of entertainment.  No kidding!  It was, for its' genre, very well done.  I had to see for myself what my son has been talking about for the past month and a half.    I don't think I would have gone out of my way to see this movie had I not a young son.  Since I do, though, I made the effort-finally to go out and see it.  The man I am with does not like to go out for this type of social function-or much of any come to think of it.  So getting him out to a theatre is a job and a half in and of itself. 

It's done, I saw it, and now I can enjoy the rest of the summer without my son reminding me what a good movie I am missing!

Hello to all

To the golfers here, have you heard about what Tiger Woods is building in Dubai?  I saw some film on this indoor ski slope they built in the middle of the desert.  And we wonder, or do we, where and why our fuel bills, are going up and up and...!

Carol: At least you got through with caring for the kids before you started in with the parents. Mine are overlapping! Alice: I'd give anything to have the opportunity you have to do something with your son. He sounds like a great kid. I always for get swimsuits when I travel. This time, I accidentally packed three (laid out 3 so I could pick one but threw all in by mistake) and it rained the whole week. Bonnie: I never know what to do; on the one hand, Peg and your husband are probably right: she probably won't listen. On the other, you hate to see others suffer without helping. But, I think it's a bit like when the kids fight: usually, it's better to stay out unless real safety issues are involved. Otherwise, everyone ends up mad at you! Ohio's idea sounds workable: just a quick reminder before tee off that it's a fun league, and offering unsolicited advice can be hurtful even when well intended. But she still may not get that she's the one you're talking about! Ohio, I've been displaced all week b/c Dem Nat'al Convention two block from my office and streets are blocked. It means I can't bring lunch, and I hate that! Peg: I'm wishing for you some free time. My case tomorrow is in the Springs; will I pass your new place on the way? I take E-470 from Erie. Joanna: Losing a miserable pound beats gaining one, doesn't it? Happy birthday! I think someone else said we seem to go along slowly and then get a good drop. You are due for one well before Thanksgiving! One, I so agree. It feels like I  went to sleep in June and woke up at the end of August. Dubai is just bizarre. Such a schism between rich and poor!

As for me, only up 1 pound after Mom's home cooking. Probably because I kept the workout schedule.

Cheers all. Is anyone following the convention speakers? I was not a Hillary supporter, but she sure gave a gracious speech last night. Will we ever see a woman president?  Not many in congress now who are young enough to go for it.