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!

Hi friends!  Thank you for your kind words of encouragement.  I was so tired when I posted the information on Andy, it might have come acrossed I was panicking.  We just had so much stuff going on all at once - surgery, appliance breaking down, girlfriend in crisis with her son, etc.

Andy is taking the day off before the surgery (Wednesday).  All necessary shopping will be taken care of.  John Michael will take his Dad to the hospital by 7:30 am since his surgery is scheduled for 9 am.  When he is ready to come home we will get a call to pick him up.  Andy does not want JM hanging around the hospital.  My husband always is joking about being in pain and "yiing".  He said he was practicing for when he comes home from the hospital.  I told him yesterday, "you keep fooling around like that and I never really know if you are in pain or not."  My DH has a great attitude and thinks he will be home by noon.

Our son does not start back to school until August 23rd.  He already has been a sweetheart and done some advanced shopping the last few days for me.  He even bought me a new pressure cooker and soup pan!

Alice - hope your doctor's appointment goes well.   Sounds like you are healing real well.

Jan - Amazing what those movers can do!  Enjoy your time with DH.

BEB - What movie did you watch?  I enjoy musicals and comedies mostly.  I had the best strawberries at lunch - hope you enjoyed your fruit!

BUNNY - My DH works for the hospital he is having the surgery at.  He works nights in environmental services and yes there is heavy lifting at times.  When he had his surgery in 1999 he was back to work 3 weeks later.  He is now 64 and I think it really depends on how quickly he gains his strength back.

Regarding my birthday - I am going to pass on cake completely.  I have not had really any starches in my diet and want to reintroduce them back slowly.  I was a Pizza eater - 2 or 3 times a week.  My son brought in Taco Bell yesterday and wanted to watch my TV since his blew the day before.  He left the room and I walked by it - thought if anything I want real good Mexican food if I was going to eat it.  Just trying to change my mind set about "fast foods" - honestly have not missed it.  But just like Lay's potato chips - once you have one ..... LOL

So far I have lost 44.8 pounds.  It would be nice to have lost 50 by the 16th of August.  Weird too, this morning my cycle started.  I have not had one since February and thought I was finally over with all this stuff!

~ Norma Jean

"Never neglect an opportunity for improvement." ~ Sir William Jones

Good news guys: I called Kyle tonight and he said he will get Nicole to take some photos and send me via email...yay...the minute I told him how many people are anxiously awaiting the snaps he caved in for me....yahoo!  So as soon as I get them I will post them on my gallery okay!

Alice: take care on yur drive tomorrow!

Bye for now all!....BEB

p.s. NJ were posting at same time...I was watching episodes of "Pillars of the Earth"on the channel you go to if you missed a new episode so today I watched 2 and 3...I really enjoy this kind of show! Or the tudors.......or troy era type...a lot of knowledge on this stuff or kings etc it's fascinating to think I have all this history at my fingertips!

LOL, BEB!

Pillars of the Earth are on what channel?

No sooner had I typed this, the TV showed premiere on STARZ - will check it out!  Thanks!

Well, good morning all,

I'm back, finally. Moved a month ago into my lovely little apartment, and am settling in nicely. Just checked, and it was early May when I last posted -- and it sure was a stressful time. Moving is gruesome, but it is good to have moved.

Didn't weigh myself in all that time -- afraid of what the scale would show, since I wasn't counting calories at all. Eventually drummed up my courage and have put on 2 lbs, which is not too bad. In fact, I was amazed. The lightest I had got to was 187, and I am now at 189.

Phew.

How are you all doing. I see a few new names and some familiar ones, as well. Hope you're all enjoying your summer and doing well. My goal over the next while is to find time for more activity. Always stymied on that front by back pain, knees, etc., but do want to find a way -- and have renewed my gym membership with that in mind.

Greetings to you all!

Linda

Well, good morning all,

I'm back, finally. Moved a month ago into my lovely little apartment, and am settling in nicely. Just checked, and it was early May when I last posted -- and it sure was a stressful time. Moving is gruesome, but it is good to have moved.

Didn't weigh myself in all that time -- afraid of what the scale would show, since I wasn't counting calories at all. Eventually drummed up my courage and have put on 2 lbs, which is not too bad. In fact, I was amazed. The lightest I had got to was 187, and I am now at 189.

Phew.

How are you all doing. I see a few new names and some familiar ones, as well. Hope you're all enjoying your summer and doing well. My goal over the next while is to find time for more activity. Always stymied on that front by back pain, knees, etc., but do want to find a way -- and have renewed my gym membership with that in mind.

Greetings to you all!

Linda

P.S. I really am out of practice, as you can all see by the fact that my post appears twice.

Linda, I thought you had deserted us!  So nice to hear your move was successful and that you're enjoying you new place.  Great that you are only up 2 lbs.  Time to start counting calories again!

NJ, well done.  I think you will meet your goal of 50 by the 16th of August.  Is that your birthday?  We've got cool weather down here today so it must be even cooler up your way.  Hope you can get out for a short walk :)

Bunny, forgot to mention how cool it is that your working with the kettle balls now :)  I like switching my meals around too.  Breakfast is always healthy for me, but I sometimes slip up at lunch and dinner.  We had breakfast for dinner 2 nights ago, which is always a favourite of mine.

Alice, interested to hear how your follow up visit goes to the surgeon today.  Hope you have a smooth trip down.

Jan, good that you can post while you're away from home.  Sounds like your DD had lots of stuff.

No work till this afternoon for me, and summer school is over, so no driving around this morning either.  I think I'll go out for a walk after I finish a few chores.  I'm in the midst of cleaning my bathroom but decided to take a break for morning coffee and internet.  

I just can't believe how the ladies from southern CA are cool and those of us in central PA are cooking. Go figure! Please get out if you possibly can and enjoy it, CA girls. Do it in remembrance of your east coast sisters. I'm getting out but my lunch time walk yesterday left me with a terrible headache. Mornings aren't so bad but it's still terribly humid & it makes it hard to breathe. Fortunately Skippy is gung ho no matter what the weather and I hate to let him down. ;)

Poor DH: he fell yesterday. Into a grave! It was a grave for cremains so only ~2 ft deep but he really, really didn't need that. He didn't sleep much last night and is pretty sore today. I'm trying to encourage him not to be too dispondant. At our age, any fall like that is going to make us sore for a day or two. If he's damaged his back more...I just can't even think about it!

Hi Linda! So glad to see you back! 2 pounds? That's fantastic. I haven't braved the scales this summer and don't intend to until the end of August. I am actively on my eating plan now (after a few weeks of extended slip-up though), so hopefully I will have at least been able to hold my own this summer. 

BEB. our DD has moved from one city in Indiana to another to start a new job. The guys came today to hook up cable and internet. As soon as I'm done typing we're heading to Best Buy to get a new (as cheap as possible) flat screen TV to hang over her fireplace. She only subscribed to basic cable so no bells and whistles are necessary.

Beautiful day today. Yesterday it rained off and on so we never made it to the pool. Maybe today or tomorrow? All of us are having a really good time since the apartment looks nicer by the moment. Even though it's a lot of physical work it's so worth it. 

DD and DH are ready to head out the door so I'll sign off for now.

Jan

Yes, woke up again to a very cool cloudy, marine layer.  I bet we don't get our "hot" weather until the end of August through October.  Then the fires, right Laura?  So far we have only had a few lately, but thankfully they were contained by the wonderful firefighters and the weather cooperating.

Yes, my birthday is the 16th of August and I look to a new turnaround in my life at 56!

Hello Linda!  I am new - where are you from?

BEB totally enjoyed Pillars of the Earth last night.  I know my husband will too!  He likes those kind of movies.  Since it is his weekend off and he asks what movies do I have lined up - I can share this one!  I even watched the 30 minute synopsis of how the movie came together - very interesting.

Chris - yikes!  As you say any fall at our age takes sometimes a little longer to recoup.  Praying nothing too serious for your DH and especially his back.

Jan - Our son's TV blew the other day and he went to Best Buy and got himself a Samsung.  Hope you found the perfect one for your DD.

Alice traveling mercies to and fro the surgeons office in L.A.

Make it a great everyone!

~ NJ

"Who aims at excellence will be above mediocrity; who aims at mediocrity will be far short of it."  ~Burmese Saying

Hello All!!

Linda So glad your move is done and you are settled in comfy apartment. 2 pounds, not counting nor weighing is great!!!

NJ 44 pounds is absolutely fantastic!!! I KNOW you can meet your 50lb goal..just stick to your plan and think "I am getting healthier each pound I lose" Nothing tastes as good as HEALTH!!!

Chris It is soooo humid today...GS and I went to the driving range earlier but are cooped up inside right now. We just finished playing Candy Land LOL It looks like rain. can take heat but the humidity gets to me

BEB Are you back on a healthy eating track?? Practicing did help my game - shot 85 both Sat and Sunday ..was veeery happy with that

Alice Hope you get a good report from surgeon

Jan Sounds like you're having fun even if you are "working" to help DD get settled. Aren't you glad we have the summer off to have the luxury to do that!!!

Laura Coffee and internet break...my cup of tea! LOL  Yeah for no more running to summer school - should give you a little break!

SIL came thru back surgery fine - he is in Recovery and supposed to be home later today. GS and I are enjoying our day - went to Walmart and got him a new zhu zhu pet  ..LOL can't resist - he's just such a sweetie!!! We went to the driving range too - he loves hitting that golf ball and he can hit about 60-85 yards off the tee! Maybe someday he will be beating me!

New low weight yesterday ...another 0.2 and I will have lost 5 pounds since starting with Nutritionist. Fingers crossed that it is that and not just mowing and golf ..or it will come back.  Hard to imagine but that little bit of weight makes my clothes fit so much  better :)

Stay strong everyone ...think fit and healthy

Anyone interested in trying the 5 week challenge posted this morning?   Staying focused for the next five weeks and seeing if it can help us with our healthy weight goals? 

I had a great day switching from my smoothie for breakfast to lunch..but today I went OUT to lunch with old friends (havent been out to lunch with friends in years...we just dont do lunch..but did today..) and I ate bread which set me up for cereal out of the box this afternoon...

Must have gone 300 calories over my goal...at least maybe even 400..which should put me in a break even...but it never does...

Just to see...I weighed myself twice today...and I was a FULL 4 pounds heavier this afternoon than I was first thing this morning..FRIGHTENING!! 

I am meal planning for tomorrow because I plan on staying BELOW my 1600 calorie limit...

The kettlebells are very cool...I am so enjoying working out with them. I still need more practice and training..but its a skill like any other. Have to practice over and over to be able to advance to the next level.

Good for you Alice..ICE ICE and MORE ice..plan on icing for at least 6 weeks...there is no better way to heal (except rest and proper nutrition).

Bonnie is very humid here too..uncomfortable to say the least..however..I STILL prefer this to the ice and freezing temps of the winter! 

Chris sorry about DH..hope he will be ok.

Linda welcome back and a 2 pound gain after all that time is a "wash"...good for you! 

Off to work and to get bananas for the morning! 

stay healthy all! 

So true - one moment of inattention brings a gain....

Bunny, that's why I almost never weigh after 1st thing in the AM. Who needs the aggravation? You're just weighing the stuff in your gut & the water you're retaining anyway,so don't despair. You didn't have anything close to the 14,000 cals it would take to gain that much.

Greetings ladies!

I am really surprised with this week's loss.  Considering my cycle started too a few days ago after not having one since February.  I thought I was finally in menopause.  I have now tossed 50.6 pounds - yipee!

I know VERY soon my body is going to hit a plateau and adjust for a new body "set-point".  I am prepared for that.  Also, since I have cut back tremendously with starches and refined sugars I will start reintroducing them back into my diet VERY slowly.  I know there can no longer be those 2-3 times a week of consuming pizza or Mexican food, along with the grilled cheese sandwiches.

Enjoy the weekend!  I am on cloud nine!

~ Norma Jean

"First say to yourself, what you would be; and then do what you have to do."~Epictetus

Oh I know Chris..I just wanted to see...as you say I just wanted to "aggravate" myself LOL!! But its amazing really...like who goes to the dr first thing in the am with an empty stomach and half naked??? No ONE!! Thats who! And so when we get on that scale a the dr's and its almost 6 or 7 pounds heavier than we thought it would be...well anyway you all know that deal.

I did not weight this morning, no time.

I did run yesterday and I can say ( a little sadly)  that my running days are pretty much behind me now. I did 45 mins on the track, and out of that time, I spent about 15 minutes running, and my knee is as sore today as it was when I was training for the half marathon back in the spring.

The walking doesn't seem to bother it, (although if i walk more than an hour my ankle hurts for days)...again there I was "just wanting to see"...so I saw, I am still feeling and other than the 30 sec - 1 min jogs I am throwing into my walks...the running is done.

My right knee held up through almost 30 years of running...more than half my life..and now, it just wants a rest...so a "rest" it shall have. Believe me when I get to walking (not strolling) like I mean it, I'm sweating up a storm and my h/r is up for sure! Additionally I can walk for longer than I used to run, and I dont have to take as many days off to recover. In fact I am out there 6-7 days a week power walking...some days are way more powerful than others and some include to running intervals but its all good! 

NJ congrads!! Maybe your cycle returned because your body is becoming healthier with the weight loss...I have a question...why would you bring refined sugar and simple carbs back into your meal plans? 

I found some really great low cal soup at Trader Joe's and had a WHOLE can for lunch today...YUMMYYYYYYYY...Organic Split Pea soup (vegan YAY!) and only 150 calories for the whole can...that with a nice big salad and 1/3 of a Luna "Smores" bar, and I'm stuffed to the brim! Lunch was 400 calories, the "dessert" was aprox another 100...I am at 900 calories at 2pm, so I should be within my 1600 calorie range today for sure.

I'm drinking tons of lemon water and adding a few drops of liquid stevia to it just to give it deeper flavor..makes a difference (for me).

Hope everyone is well and enjoying August.. I LOVE August..but once it starts getting to mid august...I feel sad that summer is winding down...nothing like bcak to school ads to bring my mood down! 

In the meantime, living in the moment and enjoying the days! 

Original Post by luvmybunny:

NJ congrads!! Maybe your cycle returned because your body is becoming healthier with the weight loss...I have a question...why would you bring refined sugar and simple carbs back into your meal plans? 

 

Bunny, not sure I will ... one day at a time.  I just took some pictures and posted an update side by side in my gallery.  I really cannot see a difference visually.  All I know is I feel excited ... I do not want to go back!

I feel the same way about August, Bunny.  How can the summer be over so soon?  Sorry to hear that your knee doesn't like running any more - I know all about that, only I had to stop many years ago.  Have you tried an orthotic-type insert for your ankle problem?  I bet all you need is the right insert to get rid of that ankle pain.

Linda, so good to hear from you!  Glad you haven't gained much and you are settling into a new phase of your life.  I hope you'll find time to post more often.

Bonnie, I'm glad SIL came through his surgery.

NJ, way to go with the weight loss!!  WooHoo, more than 50 pounds gone.  I have to echo Bunny's thoughts - why do you want to re-introduce sugar and white flour on a regular basis?  Maybe just have it for a treat every couple of weeks.  The longer you stay away from it, the more you will lose your craving for it.  Some nice whole-grain bread will give you a carb treat w/o going backwards.

Dr report:  my incisions are healed enough that I can take a shower without wrapping in plastic.  Hooray.  He showed me on a knee model and with actual photos from inside my knee exactly what was wrong and what was done.  He trimmed the lateral meniscus to eliminate the torn flap.  I still have over 70% of the lateral mensicus left, and all of my medial one, so he's not very concerned about that.  The worst thing was the big loose chunk he removed, because it came from my femur cartilage, which had a corresponding pothole in it.  He said it is "Grade 4", over 50% of the cartilage gone in that spot.  He smoothed it a little to get rid of the jagged places.  I'm not all that worried about it, since it happened last October and it hasn't given me any pain.  My pain and swelling all came first from the floating piece and then from my meniscus tear. 

I will heed your words Bunny - ice, ice and more ice!  The Dr. said that the best gauge of my activity level is morning knee soreness.  If it is sore when I go to bed, then it needs to feel better in the morning or I am overdoing things.

I start physical therapy this afteroon.  I must clear all activity through my PT.  First question - can I mow the lawn tomorrow.  Second question - can I play golf with DH and DS.  I really suck at golf, but there's only so many arm, ab and back exercises I can do at home before I get very bored and unmotivated.  Bonnie's GS could probably beat me handily at golf.

Alice

Edit:  NJ, I can see a big difference in the two sets of pictures!!  The dress is longer in the after photo, which means it is not going "out" nearly as much.  And your body definitely looks smaller!