Hi, i am new on the website. Is there somebody here who is 40 and + ?

I am 40 years old, 5"5 and 148 . My goal is 137 and i  should be 137 by July. Would like to find  somebody to do this together, to support and to help to reach goals.

have a great day , everybody

Good morning.

This week has been crazy, sorry you haven't heard from me much. Nothing bad, just very busy with work and doctors appointments. Today I have the boys, so I am hoping maybe I can take a nap this afternoon with them lol

I got a flu shot yesterday and I'm not feeling to good this morning. Not many people get sick from them, but that would be my luck.

How was the gym yesterday? My gym payments have been for nothing, I never go anymore. I don't know why it seems like life has been so busy for me all the time lately.

Time to cook breakfast for the little one, I will talk to you soon, have a great day.

Lori

Good morning Lori,

Gym was great, i spend an hour on elliptical and wouldn't stop, but my husband was done and wanted us to go home.  I am walking also every day at lunch time to the mall  , just because it's a great opportunity not to sit at my desk, but to move.  I was good this week, went twice to the gym. There is a chance to get flue shot at work too, but i never get them. If i will get sick, i will, no big deal. It's getting really cold, today is the last warm day this year. Starting tomorrow it will be in 50s and raining. Well, i really can't wait for fall to come. I think summer  should leave, it's time.  This week-end will be busy, we are going to look at the houses with realtor, have manicure appointment and of course different errands to run. Besides my husband's birthday is coming in November. I need to think about the present.

Well, it looks like you are really busy with your grandchildren and all other stuff. You will just go when you have time to the gym. I guess you burn a lot of energy with the boys.

have a nice day

Leila

No thank you beth, I'll stick with the diet and exercise. Happy that it worked for you, congratulations on your weight loss, keep up the good work.

Leila I think I might actually make it to the gym this morning. They are not going to know who I am, when I walk through the door lol

A manicure this weekend is a great idea, I love a pedicure maybe I will treat myself as well. Are you planning a move? Are you looking at houses in the area that you are already in? Have fun looking, I think that is one of the most exciting thing to do. 

Well I weighed myself, not where I was , but not as high as I was after the long weekend. So still considered a gain from last week, but the damage is not as bad as it could have been. Strange how putting back a couple of pounds is so noticeable when you are on a diet. I feel like my belly got so big, but I know it was a small amount and I can get rid of it quickly (I hope)

Happy house hunting and enjoy your manicure. I don't really have much planned for the weekend, but I have the boys Saturday night, my daughter and her husband are going to a dinner party. I was thinking that it would be a good weekend to rest, but I might take advantage or the time and go to the gym.

It's really cool here now have to wear a sweater all the time, I know you love it like this but I rather have shorts and flip-flops on any day. Should be perfect gym weather for me, so if all goes well, maybe I will start going again a few times a week.

Hope you did well this week, let me know.

Lori

Thank you Beth, but will also stick with CC and exercise. It works for me.

Well, i lost one pound this week which is good. I dont' know why but i thought i gained a pound. So i am really glad that i lost one.

It is very cool today, 56F in the morning and it will be only 60 in the afternoon and in 40s at night. But is sunny and air is crisp, just the way i like it.  Yes, we are trying to find bigger house in the area where we live. And now it is very good time to buy a house with the prices that are really down. I don't know how is it in the area where you live but in Maryland the prices are going down. I am planning to go tomorrow morning to the gym and then do all the stuff we have planned. I am sure you will loose what you gained going to the gym more often.

have a nice day

Leila

Hi Leila,

How did home hunting go? It is a very good time to buy here as well, everything is way down.

I don't know what is going on with me, but I feel fat, I was starting to enjoy my new shape, but I feel like I am losing it. I think when I reached my goal, I slowed everything down. I have to start doing things differently or I will be in trouble. I'm sticking to the counting (other than last weekend), but things are not going as well as they were.

Do you watch baseball at all? Red Sox made a great come back this series, I hope they can do it tonight. Enjoying the game, talk to you soon.

Lori

Hi Lori,

That was very busy week-end, i actually didn't have  a lot of time to relax. It was running on Saturday, we were running errands in the morning and then we had appointment with our Realtor to look at the houses. I was disappointed, didn't see nice house. We had in the list 7 houses and looked at 5. Two of them didn't look good outside and we decided not even go inside. But we will keep looking, we want to find something until the end of the year, so we have couple months left. On Sunday, we went to my husband's parents house and he was watching football with his father. We spent time with his mom. She gave me like 10 gowns that she can't wear anymore because she gained weight, she has diabetes and they  fit me like it was made for me. They look pretty good on me, but i don't know if i will have a chance to wear them , i really would like to.

So, we came home and i was cooking dinner for a week and was baking cookies for my husband with Splenda. He is getting use to eat whole grain bread and pasta, he just doesn't have another choice. So that is going good.

I was in my calorie range on week-end, but yesterday i came home after looking at the houses and found out that i ate just 550 calories, so i was eating fruits and frozen yogurt and was snacking  to get closer to my calories.

Did you gain weight or you just feel fat? That happens with me too, sometimes i have a horrifying thought in my head, what if i gained weight and i am waiting until Friday to find out.  Do you still count calories or try to do without it?

I have 5 more pounds to go to my next goal, so for now i don't want to experiment. But maybe when i will reach my goal, i will try one day without counting. I am really curiouse how it would go.

Don't worry, you will be back on track again.

have a good evening

Leila

I know what you mean about not even going in to some of the houses, it was the same with us and also the same with my daughter. When you see one that you might feel like it can be your home, you will know right a way.

Cooking dinner for a week, were do you get that kind of energy? Sometimes I don't even feel like cooking for the day lol

I feel fat, it is really strange. I just jumped on the scale to see how much I should worry. My weight is good, maybe I just feel fat because my belly isn't tight any more, from lack of gym. It is so weird, I don't know why I feel like I do. I'm hoping a few trips to the gym, makes me feel better again.

The weather is really changing now, last night it got as low as 34 degrees. I love it at night when you have to cuddle under the blankets, but I hate when I have to go out in it. Todays high will only be about 50 degrees. I'm hoping that Halloween night is warm for all the kids, I can remember all the years out freezing with my kids. It's funny how it doesn't bother them, they still want to go to more houses lol

I don't have to be in work until 4 this afternoon, so I'm going to straighten up around the house and MAYBE go to the gym.

Do you have the Christmas tree shop down where you live? I'm hoping to have time to go there today as well.

Have a great Monday.

Lori

Good morning Lori,

Well, it's my routine to cook for a week. Because when i come home from work  i don't have time to cook and besides when we go to the gym after work it's nice to have something ready for dinner. You need just to warm it up. I love cooking and last night i baked two kinds of Martha Stewart cookies for my husband with Splenda and whole wheat pastry flour. He is going to eat the cookies, not me. Do you watch her show? Do you like her? I don't know, i wasn't her fan before, but just lately i started to watch her show and bought her book about cookies. I like her now. Well, if you want i can tell you the recipes of the cookies if they will turn out good. It is not difficult to make them and it doesn't take a lot of time. I have a  stand mixer Cuisine Art and that helps a lot. I have got it as a Christmas present last year. It saves you so much time.

House hunting..... i can imagine that probably many people are going through the same thing when they look for the house. But it is so sad when you look at 6 or 7 houses and don't see anything that you like. I heard about this before that when you will find your house, you will know that. I really hope that i will find it. I say "i" because  my husband likes in the house what i like.

It is freezing cold this morning, 45F and i had frost on my car. It will warm up to 58F but whole week will be like that. So i am in warm sweater and warm jacket today.

No, we don't have yet Christmas tree shop. Is this a place where you can find Christmas decorations?

have a wonderful day

Leila

Smart idea to cook for the week at once, does save time during the week. How did the cookies come out? Did your husband like them?

House hunting does take time, but remember it will be worth it in the end. It may take months, but it will be home for years.

Christmas tree shop sells a little bit of everything. They do have many decorations for every holiday, so I don't know why it is called the Christmas tree shop. Many good deals, on everything you can imagine.  I did make it there and bought lots of stuff.

Feeling better about the weight today, I guess I was bloated but don't know why. I have been doing good with the calories. I did eat a cupcake the other day, but I had to my grandson made it for me lol (but I was still under limit)

Hope all is well.

Lori

Good morning Lori,

Yes, my husband and everybody liked the cookies. I brought some to work and it was success!  I don't know yet how many calories are they, need to put the recepie on analyzer. But i don't think that it will be really bad because i used whole wheat pastry flour and Splenda instead of sugar. These cookies are chocolate dry cherry. I will give you the recipe.

Oh, we have shop like that and i love going there and just walk around. Although i don't buy decorations, i have so many of them. My parents brought tree decorations when they came for a visit  and besides that my mother in law,her friends and other relatives gives us every Christmas stuff. I even don't have enough space to put everything out.

I don't think i will have time to go to the gym this week at all.  I need to catch up on some things. I am good with my calories too.

I am glad you feel better now. But you know, everybody has "fat" days. We just have to deal with this.

have a nice day

Leila

The boys are on there way home and Nonna is ready for bed, it's only 8:00 lol I'm getting old before my time, A long  day with the two little ones wears me out. 

I'm not looking forward to stepping on the scale tomorrow, but I'll let you know how that goes.

Did you even try the cookies?

Hope your week is going well, Talk to you in the a.m.

Lori

Good morning Lori,

I can believe that they can wear you out. I have a little 3 old nephew, i feel like having a nap after i spend with him couple hours. He has so much energy.

I tried cookies and i put it as chocolate cookies and put max amount calories for this kind of cookies. But i am sure they are less that. I used Splenda and whole wheat pastry flour, so this cut a lot of calories right there. I made another kind yesterday and everybody loved this one too, it's orange chocolate. I will give you both recipes, but you will need to put them on analyzer. I just didn't have time.

Well, i weight myself  today, i am 136, didn't loose anything and didn't gain. I guess it's good because my trend amount is coming closer to actual scale number. I was wearing coat yesterday first time since last year and it feels loose on me. Every time i am wearing jacket or coat, skirt ,even sweater first time since last year, everything is too big. It's a great feeling. And i don't complain that it takes time to loose weight, i would better loose it this way, slowly. But clothes definitely fits much better and size or size and a half smaller.

I am wondering how did it go, the weight in? I hope you liked the numbers on the scale. I didn't go to the gym this week and don't think i will be able to go tomorrow. I have appointment to cut my hair and to do highlights tomorrow morning, and after that as usually we have errands to run.

talk to you later

Leila

Dark chocolate cookies with sour cherries.

       &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;               

Makes about 3 dozen

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup firmly packed dark-brown sugar
• Large eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups dried sour cherries, firmly packed (9 ounces)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat until well combined. Add the flour mixture, and beat on low speed, until just combined. Do not overbeat. With a wooden spoon, fold in chocolate and cherries. (Dough can be frozen at this point, wrapped well in plastic, up to 1 month; thaw completely before baking.)
3. Form balls of dough, each about 1/4 cup; place balls on baking sheet about 3 inches apart. Bake until puffed and cracked, 9 to 11 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container, at room temperature, up to 3 days.

That is chocolate orange expresso thins. I substituted flour for whole wheat pastry and sugar for Splenda. Bitter sweet or semi-sweet chocolates are better.

Makes about 4 dozen

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Coarse sanding sugar, for sprinkling

1. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside.
2. Put butter, confectioners' sugar, orange zest, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low, and gradually add flour mixture until just combined.
3. Transfer dough to a 12-by-16-inch piece of parchment; shape into a log. Roll in parchment to 1 1/2 inches in diameter, pressing a ruler along edge of paper at each turn to narrow the log and force out air. Transfer in parchment to a paper towel tube; chill at least 2 hours or overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut log into 1/4-inch-thick slices; transfer to baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Brush tops with water; sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake until set, 15 to 17 minutes. Cool on sheets on wire racks. Store in airtight containers at room temperature up to 1 week.

Hi Leila,

Thanks for the recipes, when I try one I will let you know how it goes.

I did lose a little over a pound, so things are going o.k.

Every week I go up or down a little, so I guess my weight is about where it will stay. As long as I don't go crazy with the calories.

Enjoy your hair appointment tomorrow. That is something that I am really over due for.

Lori

Hi Lori,

I can't believe it is a week-end, i was so tired on Friday night. Today is Saturday and i had my hair done and i love the color. It is raining all day long and tomorrow will be the same. We did all our errands for today, maybe later when it will stop raining a little we will go to the mall. You won't believe it, but i can't find the pair of jeans that would fit perfectly. Some of them are too long, others are too big, or just don't fit right. I spend couple hours a week ago trying to find what i like, but couldn't, maybe today will be better day for this. I saw my girlfriend today, she came over to get what i bought her in russian store. She told me that i look fantastic since i lost weight,wow And that i look much younger now. I was so surprised to hear that from her but it was very nice and i was ready to dance around the room. I still can't get used to it that i lost weight.

I cleaned today so tomorrow will be just cooking. I am going to try and to bake another recipe of the cookies .

have a great week-end

Leila

I'm glad you like your new hair color, I bet it goes good with your new look. Looking younger is always a nice thing, thats a fantastic complement.

I am having the same problem with the jeans, can't get any that I like the way they look either. We just have to keep trying I guess.

Weather is gloomy here and I don't have any morning plans, so I'm going to the gym for a change. Weather will be better this afternoon, so maybe some shopping later.

Yesterday I went over my calorie limit by a few hundred (bad,bad,bad), it was all late night snacking. I was craving fattening things after midnight and made bad choices. Oh well, life goes on, I'll go burn the extra calories off now.

Have a great Sunday.

Lori

Hi Lori,

Yes, that was very nice compliment. I think you are right and we just should keep looking and we will find what we want. Couple times i managed to get the pair of jeans that fit great and when i came back to buy more, they were gone. I have my all time favourite jeans but they are too big and i can't wear them. I bought them in Hecht's before it was closed. It was great store, my favourite and i was always able to find something that i like.

Here it was in 60s on week-end and today in 50s and all week it will be like that. It will be in 30s at night, so i guess cold is coming. We have a pot luck at work on Thursday and i need to bake cookies and to make a salad. So i don't know yet if i will be able to go the gym tomorrow, but i will try.

I was very low on my calories yesterday. I was busy all day at first grocery shopping, then cooking and cleaning that i didn't eat much. Then we had dinner and after dinner i felt so full that i couldn't eat anything else.

have a good Monday

Leila

Hi Leila

Went to the gym on Sunday, I can't believe how out of shape I am from not going. I did weight training for 45 minutes and I was huffing and puffing after. Today my arms and shoulders hurt from two days ago. Have to keep it up, to get back to were I was. I want to go again today, but I am waiting for oil delivery. They said they will be here between 8am and 4 pm, so I might be home waiting all day. If they come early I will go to the gym after, if not I will do heavy work around the house. I have a tile kitchen floor, so I like to scrub it on my hands and knees once in a while.

Last night I went to the mall. I tried on about twenty pairs of jeans, not one fit right. I hate it because I thought now that I lost the weight I would be able to wear anything I want.

It is damp and gloomy out today, feels more like winter than fall. I did get a few really warm sweaters last night, so the top of me will look good at least lol

I'll let you know if I make it to the gym. Hope your week is going good.

Lori

Good morning Lori,

It is raining today with strong wind and it is very cold too. It's dark like at night this morning and what is funny, they didn't say anything in weather forecast about the rain.

I am going to the gym today. I baked cookies for the "pot luck" last night, so i would be able to go tonight. Next week-end is shopping week-end for me and my husband. I want to get new boots,maybe shoes and couple sweaters.I like H&M store, i don't know if you have one in your mall. There  you can find really nice sweaters,skirts and coats. It's a little trendy but not too much, just right. So i can't wait for the week-end.

I go for a walk to the mall every day at lunch, even if it is raining. It's a good exercise, besides you can find something really nice sometimes just walking around.

have a nice day, stay warm

Leila