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 Marti- DH is darling husband and DS2 I believe is darling son, 2. 

My goal is 1400 a day too..today was the first time in longer than I can remember, that I actually stuck to it...I may have gone over by 50 calories..but I'm calling it a success. 

I watched a lecture (online) last night where a nutritionist explained that all you have to do is go "over" 100 calories a DAY..(Soooo easy to do) and that will put 10 pounds on a person in a year. Unbelievable..but clearly true. On my "bad" days, I'm not way way over (my total burn), its probably like 100-200..once in a while 300..but that 10 pounds found me and will NOT go away unless I create a large deficit...and when i do, I lose a QUARTER pound a week..takes me a month to lose a pound..because its thats slow, I get disgusted and "give up"...usually after 6 or 7 pounds..increasing exercise is not my answer because that makes me ravenous..counter productive. Just have to eat less..less and less.. YUCK! 

hi folks,apologies for not posting.im back at work and we have no power or internet,lol,we work out of two wooden sheds.the weather has been terrible,the trek on monday was in gale force winds and horrendous rain!yesterday was better,i didnt get a soaking,and the forecast for today was so bad,we took the day off.busy thurs and fri,and i think despite high winds its supposed to be sunny!just as well the ponies are so good.

ive been eating breakfast,and taking fruit to work with me,so it lets me have a decent dinner when i get home.ive lost another pound this week,so 12lbs off of the 14 i put on from oct to january!im really ashamed of that and definately not letting that happen again at the end of this season.i still want to lose another 15lbs,but im thinking maybe this time i can do it with the food logger,it really helps me.i weigh out what im taking to work with me and mark it in before i go.

no cheating as only cheating myself!

anyway,i hope you are all well and losing,i will need to take time to go read back through the posts.i will try to get on at the weekends when im off work,cheers for now ladies,x

Good Morning,  thanks for the info on the abbreviations. darling.    and for the info on the calories.   I better get tougher on myself.   I eat a meal every 4 hours. and a apple for snack.  as I heard it's better to eat meals, and not graze.  for me this works better.   At dinner, it's always a protien, veg, and brown rice.  For lunch, it's either a salad, or  bean's & rice mix. w/a dab of sourcream, and salsa.  Breakfast, it 'was' always steelcut oats & raisins only.  I've changed up the past couple months to quaker oatmeal cinnamon squares w/raisins only.    I've been getting in trouble lately with added things to this plan.

I know, it's pretty much the same menu every day, but I don't like alot of things. and I'm trying to stay away from alll white flour stuff.  Cheese isn't good for me either, it sticks like glue to me, and the other day I made a cheese sauce to tolerate the vegetables better,  just a little bit.  It doesn't add to many calories for a tablespoon.

I really am glad I found this webpage that helps with the calorie & nutrition count, and I'm glad I found this forum!   Not all my friends want to hear about my eating and weight.  It's always a struggle.     

As I said earlier,  I had lost 25 lbs, and kept it off 2 years....then 5 lbs found me, because I lost my very active delivery job, and wasn't sticking to my healthy eating style.  This 5 lbs doesn't go away either, and I don't want to gain anymore....it's so easy to gain.       I'm  5' 3 1/2, and weigh 140 right now.   I think  1400 calories is a good goal,  or is it?  to lose a pound a week?  Plus,  3.2 miles on stationary bike, and 20 min. on the treadmill.  I plan to do more on the treadmill, I had to wait for my toes and hips too heal.  When I got laid off my job, I was in sooooo much pain, in my back and hips....all that lifting, apulling large carts,pushing, and bending over,climbing ladders....too much for me.  So now I'm a college student.  Love it!

Taking Addiction Studies to be a chemical dependency counselor.

I'm cooking my Steelcut oats now,   it's  40 calories less than the oatmeal squares. every calorie counts. 

Hi everyone.  Good to see you back bunny!  

Sounds like everyone is really committed to losing weight now that spring is here.  I've been doing lots of walking and riding my bike but also too much eating so I haven't lost any  weight to speak of.  Am having lots of fun though.

Loved reading all the posts ;)

Marti, you'll soon become familiar with the abbreviations we use. Takes a chunk out of typing... Hey, Jean, good to see you back, but sorry the weather is so nasty in your area. We are enjoying a very sunny and warm spring - in the 70s this week - after a sunny and mild winter here in Switzerland. I wish I could share with the rest of you! Well done on your weight loss!

Bunny, good to see you back , even if you are still struggling - as I am - with the weight issue. I have at least managed to stabilize my weight and to nudge it down VERY slowly. I am 177.1 this morning... That's only .3 pounds less than last week, so I guess it also takes me a month to lose a tiny pound... Rather than feeling frustrated as I used to be, I prefer now to rejoice at the idea of how efficient our body is, allowing us to get so much mileage out of so little!!! LOL

Laura, well done on your exercise. I have to start walking again, now that the garden is more or less in shape, as it doesn't seem to "cost" me as much energy as walking did.  Two more days before DH comes back from India. I was so busy I didn't even feel those 10 days pass.

Hope you all have a nice Friday!

Hélène, in still sunny Switzerland

Good Morning,  Another 'start' of the day to eating healthy.  I just can't seem to keep my calories at 1400...and I'm not losing.   I may have to go to 1200 calories, not sure yet...I have to look it up and see how many calories I should be taking in to lose a pound a week at least.  Does anybody know? or just how I would find it out?  Is it on this website?  geeez, I go over 1400, how on earth do I do 1200.   oh,  Just Do It.  hmmmmm,   I love to eat and not to exercise much.  oh,  old habits...gotta keep moving....  where's my IB's and motivation?  lol...... Is it being 58?  

Happy Friday to the working women!

Jean aka Wee Bobby, I am surprised that you do the pony treks in such foul weather.  Do people not mind going on the treks when the rain is pelting and the cold wind is blowing?  I think I'd not go, even if I had paid!  It's great that your extra weight is coming off now that the busy season is here. I have been doing yard work in the evening (mowing, weedeating) and can tell a difference in my body after a week.  I'm eating the same but burning a few hundred more calories.

Bunny, great to hear from you!  Sorry it's not easier to lose, but I guess it's just not.  The spin class with live music sounded great!  I'm almost ready to try a spin class again as my knee feels somewhat ready for it.

Laura, I know you've been exercising up a storm!  Maybe your appetite will calm down this week.  Glad you are having fun!

Helene, I am always amazed at the weather you describe.  Switzerland invokes images of snow and ice, probably because in our minds we see the tall mountains.  But you are similar to California by having much warmer valleys.

Marti, hang in there!  I think it takes up to a week for our improved eating to show on the scale. 

Badger, I'm the same way if there is candy around.  It's bad enough that several co-workers keep dishes of candy at their desks for me to grab.  No bags of Easter candy for me!

Jan, hope your knee continues to improve!

Bonnie, same to you about your foot!

Sorry, gotta run now.  Have a healthy weekend, all.

Alice

hi alice,i was amazed the folks still wanted to go in the heavy rain!at least today was dry,just a bit misty,yesterday was sunny and we had really nice folks,so enjoyed my day.heres hoping for better weather next week too.im off sat and sun so will take my grandkids out tomorrow,then clean house on sunday.i walked 3 1/2 hrs on thursday,as one trek we had a disabled boy and another trek there was a 6yr old girl.i dont mind walking if someone needs a helper,was feeling the uphills getting easier!so must be getting a bit fitter.tonight we were out for my nephews 18th birthday.i tried to save cals today,but was hungry at work and needed to eat.at dinner i didnt have a starter or a sweet,i had lamb with veg and the portions were small.but i failed to resist the chocolate birthday cake!so better get straight back on track tomorrow.

hi helene,glad your having nice weather,it really helps if its sunny!lifts the mood,if im outdoors i can forget cravings,lol,and burn some extra cals!

hope everyone else is well and losing steadily.im keen to shift another stone at least,thankfully no more birthdays for a wee while.

regards,jean

Bunny, that "over by 100 calories can put on 10 pounds in a year" statistic is mind-blowing! I always think " oh well, it's only 100 calories" when I decide to nosh on something. No more! Thank you!

Marti, you're singing my song. I lost a bunch of weight (many times, actually, since I'm a yo-yo dieter) and gain it back every time. If you can tackle your 5 lbs. NOW before it becomes more, you'll be so much better off. And how cool that you're back in college. That's fantastic. You go, Girl!

Laura and Helene, you both are encouraging, as always. I appreciate your steady support. You both make me want to keep plugging and not give up. Thanks! (:

And Alice, you are also my hero! Knee problems overcome; still hiking (and sharing those gorgeous pictures) What an inspiration!

Well, I've completed one week of PT on my knee. It's hard - very hard! I'm so exhausted by that time I get back home that I can hardly move. But I'm seeing slight progress and that makes it worthwhile. I'm doing my exercises faithfully on the days that I don't have therapy but they are much less intensive than the ones the PT has me doing at the office. He's increasing the weights on my ankle weights, so that's a good thing. 

Take care, Girls, and have a great weekend!

Jan

Oops. Just pushed "send" and realized I hadn't asked you all something I've been meaning to ask.

Do any of you have experience with the supplement cosamin DS? (glucosimine/condroitin)  I've been reading on-line and am thinking of trying it. Probably I should ask both my Dr. and my PT before buying any, but I've just now begun researching it. Any experience with this, Bonnie/Alice/FTF? 

Thanks,

Jan

Great to see this forum. I'm just getting started. I'm horribly sedentary - new to the Pacific Northwest where winter rain and darkness has been dragging on forever. Seems impossible to get exercise when it's always dark and rainy outside.

A recent trip to the doctor showed I also had high cholesterol. Tried one of the statin medications, which made me ache all over so bad I couldn't sleep. (I am now reading how the various statin medications can cause serious muscle degeneration, memory loss, and potential liver failure - I HATE DRUG COMPANIES AND MEDICINE.) SO - NOW I'm willing to do just about anything else EVEN if it means getting up off the couch.

In addition to diet change, I'm also incorporating holistic remedies for a detox, and fish oil supplements over the course of the next 6 weeks, when I am scheduled for follow-up with the doctor. Of course, I've consulted him about discontinuing the medication - I'd only been on half-dose for two weeks to test it out. I'm excited to see the follow-up blood work, to see what kind of impact I can have using holistic methods and exercise.

Of course, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND any kind of change in anyone else's medication without a doctor's advice.

Welcome dmalmos.  I'm very anti health professionals and pharmaceuticals and over the counter meds as well so I take nothing.  I do eat though ha ha ha and not always the healthy stuff so I'm no saint.  How high is your cholesterol?  

Jan, I guess I answered your question -- not familiar with the supplement.  But I think my boss may use it, I'll ask him next time I have an extra 20 minutes to listen to his answer ;)  Glad the PT is progressing well.

Jean, I would love to drop a stone!  It's a perfect amount for me to shoot for at this point.  Hope your good weather kicks in now that spring is underway.  No fun being out in the heavy rain although I don't mind a bit of mist.

Alice and Badger, I'm always up for some Easter candy.  I bought a Cadbury egg last night when I ran in to the drug store to pick up some black stockings.  Always hard to resist this time of year, but I'm not doing Easter baskets for the "kids" this year :)

Marti, I always thing of DH or DD, etc as "dear" husband or "dear" daughter.  I don't use the abbreviations myself.  It kind of makes me laugh when someone is having a rant about their "DH" -- maybe not so dear or darling at that moment, eh?

Helene, you'll be glad to welcome your DH back home!  Good job keeping off what you've lost.  That's a major part of the battle because we often have to lose the same pounds over and over again.

Seems strange not to have BEB on for such a long time.  When is your internet time restocking, BEB?

I'm glad it's the weekend and then two weeks holiday for spring break so no need to get my surly boy up in the morning for school.  It's a task I dread.  I never have trouble getting up as I'm a morning person and having to deal with someone who just rolls around in the bed and refuses to take responsibility for getting themselves up at 16 is just a major PITA.  'Nuff said on that because no worries for two weeks!  And summer holidays are just around the corner.

The morning has gotten away on me and I've got nothing done but some days it's nice to just do nothing or next to nothing.  I've gained 5 pounds in the last month which is super annoying because it cuts down on my comfortable clothes.  I hate to have things fit too tight, but I'm not ready to admit defeat and climb into those fat jeans yet.  More exercise, less food is the battle cry this week!

Jan I take Glucosamin Chondroiton daily - it really helped the chronic tendonitis in my elbow and also the pain in my knees. Glad PT is helping you - it seems to have helped my foot...now will it hold since PT is done?? we'll see

Dmalmos My DH has really high Chol and triglycerides - he's been on just about all the meds out there and had side effects to most of them. He takes 2 fish oil a day..hope holistic methods work for you

Hi - Thanks for the reply. I think the bad cholesterol was like 230. My doc said statins were one of the most researched/tested and also a great antioxidant... he did mention possible muscle pain as a side effect, but I was blown away when I read up on the side effects. After about 36 hours off the stuff, I'm feeling pretty normal.

I've got TWO GOOD DAYS going and even did a Jane Fonda workout today - light exercise, but at least a beginning! Can't wait to have my first week behind me.

How long have you been doing this? My plan suggests 50lb loss goal over 12 months. I'm hoping I can lose 20 over the next 6 weeks - next time I step on the doctor's scales - and also some good indication that holistic methods will show some significant improvement in the cholesterol.

Thanks again,

Debra

Welcome, Debra. I'm glad you found us, too. My DH had the same problem with Lipitor, one of the statins but the dr. changed him to Zocor and that didn't react the same way at all. There is a strong family history of heart trouble in his family - his dad had a triple bypass at 53 (but is still living at almost 90!) and DH also lost his youngest brother to a massive heart attack, and another brother has had a quadruple bypass so he really does try to listen and do the right thing...

Please don't get discouraged if you don't lose your 20 lbs. over the next 6 weeks. That's really fast since 1 to 2 pounds per week is considered great progress. Kudos to being proactive, though. Really wanting to change is the biggest step!

Bonnie, I bought the CosiminDS at Costco and have begun taking it. I'm glad to hear it helped you. For a reluctant and sometimes unmotivated dieter/exerciser, this knee problem has opened my eyes and I'm suddenly very, very motivated. I guess we don't know what we had until we lose it...

Time to get going this morning. Hope everyone has a good day!

Jan

Good morning Ladies,

I haven't been on here in what seems like weeks and very well may be weeks.  I'm very busy right now as I've once again way overextended myself!  I'm looking at my schedule and if I make it through this week I should be able to come back and read, catch up and write.  It helps just knowing that you all are here. 

Blessings,

Debbie in PA

Hello everyone!!  Again, it has been awhile since I posted.  I must confess that I dabbled on another site, but decided this is the best!!!  Please forgive me for straying!! I lost that weight that I gained making those cakes, however, I have applied for a job teaching cake decorating.  My daughter works there and they are not sure if company policy will allow me to work there too even though I would be an independent contractor.  Either way is ok with me.  If I get the job great, if I don't, that's ok too.

The weather has been beautiful here.  Went fishing with my hubby on Saturday...our first trip out this season, no luck of course.  Yesterday it was 83, but today is dreary and warm.  I have started my spring cleaning.

Still want to loose that 10lbs before my daughter arrives the last part of June.  Now that I am back to 173 I can work towards that.  Of course, I will have to work twice as hard now because I have lost a whole month of weight loss.

Finally got off my butt and lifted weights this morning.  I plan on continuing that every other day...but we know how that goes with me, but I will try real hard, I promise.  Going to do aerobics 3x a week also...nothing really strenuous because you all know how much I hate to huff and puff...baby steps, ok.  With the warmer weather I will be getting out on the bike and walking and hiking with my hubby, so that will help.  And since I spent last summer alone, I discovered that I like yard work, so I will be helping with that.

I cannot believe how weak I am though.  I use to be so strong "for a girl".  Don't know when I lost all the muscle, but I really need to find them again. (I was always proud of how strong I was).

Well, it looks like everyone is plugging along nicely, at least a lot nicer than I am.  Don't know why this has to be so darn hard.  As I said before,  I just feel like at this age I shouldn't have to worry about all this...thought middle age was a time to relax...this is hard work, ya know.

Got that little notebook and am writing down what I eat then putting into CC.  I have noticed that if you don't keep track and good track, it doesn't take long to screw things up.

Well, gotta get to that kitchen cleaning before I loose this energy from lifting.  You all take care and good luck!!!!

HOORAY!!!  I finally have something to write about.  After a rather strenous workout with my personal trainer he finally weighed me and surprise, surprise I lost 4 pounds of ugly fat!  Took a month but I feel it was worth all the torture he put me through.  I had been feeling depressed lately and had thought of skipping today's session but I went anyway.  I feel a little better but too many things on the horizen will bring it all back(depression).

Hi again! Taking a few to catch up just a bit.  I too miss BEB and thought she would be back by now :(  Hoping the internet will be up soon.

Jan, I use a chondroitin (sp?) supplement and I also find that flaxseed oil capsules help tremendously with my joints.  I could use the seeds but find the capsules more convenient.  The two are what keep me moving and postponing hip replacement!

usetobethin I like to be helpful so - come clean my kitchen, it would be a good workout and I'm willing to give it to you ;)   I so need to get some cleaning done and quit just talking about it.  Hoping this Saturday is calm and I can start.  Way to go on the notebook and charting...I fell off of that for a week or two and it showed.

Jean-good for you on the trekking and how wonderful to be able to help the young ones needing it.  Great job on losing the weight too.  Maybe we all need to come visit you as helpers! Oh my visions of an ambulance carrying me away.

Helene I love hearing about your garden.  It is finally warming a bit here in PA.  Almost hot yesterday which felt strange especially as I had a spot of spinning on black ice on the way to work the week before.

Sorry for all I've missed...just checked the clock and need to get ready to get out the door.

OOPS forgot my good news.  I went swimming with my daughter and niece last night and the chlorine didn't bother me!  and I swam 4 laps-not all at once but over the course of the hour we were in the water AND it was so nice to be able to move my legs with ease!  I'm a bit sore this morning but invigorated too.  Hoping to make it at least once a week and with time as my schedule eases up-going twice a week. 

Blessings to all

Have a great day!