Any new members out there 47ish?

Hi Cheryl and Della,

I can't believe it has been almost a month since any of us has written.  Hope all is well with you both. 

Things are busy for me with the holidays as I am sure it is with you both.  I have not been very good about exercising lately only doing so a couple times a week.  Bought a new DVD yesterday hoping it will get me back in the routine.

Have a great day.  Also have a wonderful holiday.  Betty

Happy New Year ladies......

Good morning Betty!  I was an active member of this thread but eventually stopped.  I remember you!  I want to congratulate you on sticking to this program!  I am proud of you!  How did you do over the course of the year?  I am right back where I started last year and am willing to give it another try this year.  My friend died suddenly of a  heart attack last month - she was only 43.  I really don't want that to happen to me.  It has been a real wake up call for all of us.  Again, Congrats on your faithfulness!  Carla

Hi Carla,

I remember you.  I am doing pretty good since last year.  I go up and down of course but did not go back to what I started at.  I also have not made it to my goal weight but I am eating healthy and exercising and feel good and that is what matters.  I did gain some weight this past fall not too much but the jeans are tight so I am back to logging in my food intake I had stopped and I think that made a difference even though I would figure it out in my head I don't think it is a good. 

Good luck and welcome back Betty

Hi Betty and Carla,

It is so good to hear from you all.  I remember you too, Carla and I'm glad that you checked back in.  I am so sorry to hear about your friend.  43 is way to young to die.  That is a "wake-up call" for us all.

I have gained back 6 of the 25 lbs that I lost, but am determined to get it back off and a little more to boot.  Having said that, my husband and I are going out to supper tonight with our son and daughter-in-law.  I agree with you Betty.  Keeping a log of our food is key.  It is the only way to be truly aware of what we are eating. 

I got the new Leslie Sansone 5-12 minute miles dvd.  Oh My Gosh!  I did the entire dvd thru twice since I got it and almost had to crawl back up the stairs when it was finished.  The rest of the time I have done two to three miles and a good stretch afterwards, which is probably much more sensible.

It is good checking in with everyone again.   Cheryl

Hi Betty - Hi Cheryl!  I remember you too!  Great job with 25 pounds- even if you slip a little.  I hope to do better this year - At least I haven't given up completely!  I bought a Pilates DVD yesterday and plan to try it out tomorrow.  I rotate my favorite videos - hopefully, this will become one of them.  My son's girlfriend and my sister are going to join me a couple nights a week to work out.  It's hard finding the time with work, church, 4-H etc etc - but it is time.  If I fall off the wagon again, email me and make me come back!!  cksk@att.net!!  Thanks in advance!  Carla

Happy New Year Betty, Cheryl and Carla,

Sorry I dropped out of sight for so long.  I'm just so frustrated with my lack of weight loss and have lost all motivation.  I've attempted to start working out with Leslie a couple of times but my "little voice" starts telling me what's the use.  Your not going to lose anymore weight anyway.  I've lost 25 pounds and can't budge one pound more.  I increased my workouts-zig-zagged calories and Nothing.  Not an ounce.  So while I never gave up completely I just stopped logging and working out.   And I stayed away from the forum.

Carla I too I am sorry to hear about your friend 43 is way to young.

Cheryl! Your a wonderful motivator! I'm so happy you've stayed the course and are still here! Hope Christmas was blessed and filled with happy memories.

Betty: sounds like your Christmas was full tilt! Wow! But it sounds wonderful as well.

My daughter is going to make me a grandma again.  This time she's due in May with a little girl.  She already has her name picked out.  Airyannia Nycole.

Chat with everyone soon.

Della

Hi Ladies,

Hope all is well with you all.  It is nice to have the posts again even though it was very busy over the holidays I missed it.  Welcome back Della thought we lost you!

Carla, I too am sorry about your friend.  I will be 50 this year and I have thought about it a bit lately knowing this and I heard on TV today about how you have to be careful of stroke and heart attacks when you are over 50.  Now I knew this but hearing it well to say the least didn't make my day. 

I understand about the weight gain ladies, I don't know what to do either but it is nice to know I am not alone.  I am trying the 5 week challenge at Whole Living in hopes it helps.  Because not only couldn't I get those last lbs off for the last 4/5 months but I gained back almost half of what I lost in the last year.  It IS very frustrating.  I am trying to look at it this way... What would I have gained if I DIDN'T  do anything at all hmmmm... I do know that I need to be more active and that is my biggest thing, I spend a lot of time working on the computer and well that means sitting.

Cheryl, I don't know how you do the dvd's all the way through I am such a wimp.  I can only do 2 miles, my endurance is just not good at all I have gotten so out of shape in that way.  But I figure the 1 or 2 miles I do is better than not doing anything.  I also bought the 5-12 minute mile dvd and really like it.  I now have two of them, one she is all alone in all 5 miles the other 3 of the 5 she has the group with her and after you mentioned you liked that better Cheryl I realised I will now go to those miles more so I guess I must too.  

Oh, one more thing I am doing is my husband and I bought the Wii for our Christmas gift, he thought he would use it and work out since it was more fun, only a couple times so far.  But I am now using it in the afternoon for at least 30 minutes (I do the dvd in the morning when no one is around), since I really don't like to work out in front of anyone I don't do the workout dvd's but this I don't mind, so far so good.

Well have a good day girls.  Betty

Hi Girls - Della, it's nice to hear from you too!  Tonight was our first group work out.  I cooked dinner (chicken, broccoli and bowtie pasta from this site's recipes) My sister Nadine and my son's girlfriend came over to work out with my daughter Sara and I(toning) for 30 minutes, ate dinner, (sent some home for Nadine's husband and daughter) and we had lots of fun!  Thursday it's Nadine's turn to cook and pick the work out.  We only live 2 miles away.  I don't think I will get Aubrey to cook - she's only 17!  But she and Sara help with the dishes!  I am finding that 30 minutes of toning or cardio is all I can handle right now- otherwise it takes my muscles too long to recover.  I figure I will increase after a week or 2.  Besides, sometimes 30 minutes is all I have.  One thing I read on this site is that I have to start putting ME as the priority - I have to stop pushing exercise to the bottom of my to do list- put it on top.  I will be grateful when winter is over!  NE Ohio is not the best place for walking right now!!  I have started parking further from the door of anywhere I go - Simple, but every little bit helps! 

Nadine also got a Wii for Christmas.  I am anxious to try it out!!

I really enjoy talking to you guys.  You are a great support team!!

Carla

Hi Ladies:

Hope everyone is doing good today.  We're having a bit of snow today so there will be lots of snow shoveling this evening after work. Good workout!

Your get together sounds wonderful Carla.  There use to be a group that met on Mondays and Wednesdays here but that fell through this year.  Which was really disappointing for me.  Those were the 2 nights a week I took for me.  The rest of the week is/was spent taking care of my family.  But for those 2 nights it was ME time.  And I so enjoyed it.  Now I'm having a hard time getting my motivation back on track.  But I will! I will.  I am not going to end up with all my weight back on.  I have gained a few pounds-but they will go again.

Cheryl: how is your daughter doing?  Has the blood clot completely disappeared now? And how is your grandson? How big is he now?

Betty:  Do you have the WII fit?  I really want to purchase one but not without knowing someone who already has it.  That is too much money to waste on a gadget that wont get used. 

Have a wonderful day ladies.

Della

Hello Ladies,

Boy, it feels good to be talking to all of you again.  I really missed it!

Della, It is sooooo good to hear from you again.  I have thought of you so often and wondered how you were doing.  Have you ever had your thyroid checked?  You seem to be doing everything right but with no results.  Maybe that is what is holding you back. (Like I'm a doctor..haha)

Carla, your get togethers do sound great.  Having others around for support can make all the difference.  Like Betty, I am an exercise loner but, if you enjoy working out with others and that motivates you, go for it.  When I exercise with other people, all my old insecurities raise up out of the ashes.  I am accutely aware of every little "flab jiggle".  Feels just like high school all over again.

Betty,  I will be anxious to hear how the Wii goes for you.  I played with the idea of getting one for a while, but talked myself out of it because I'm so into the Sansone dvds.  Still, change is good and it is healthy to not do the same old thing all the time. 

My daughter had two stints put in her abdomen on 12/22 and they have made a world of difference for her.  Allot of the pain and swelling she was having has gone.  She will probably be on blood thinners for the rest of her life, but that is ok.  As she said, that is a small price to pay in order to have a healthy, happy baby.  She met with the surgeon yesterday and he gave her a clean bill of health.  We have much to be thankful for.

I have now been logging my calories for 5 days.  Weigh day is tomorrow and I am anxious to see if I have made any progress so far.  There is no telling how much of my weight I would have gained back had I not been faithful the the workouts.  Lord knows I wasn't faithful to the new eating plan.  I am a sweetaholic.     &nb sp;       Cheryl

Hi everyone,

I agree Cheryl it DOES feel so good to be talking again.  I am so glad your daughter is doing well.

Carla, I also do not always have time, but have always read even 15 minutes makes a difference.  I try to do at least 30 minutes but can't ever seem to do more but I know that it makes me feel a lot better.

Well I am trying to do Leslie's DVDs in the morning at least 4 days a week (I did really good this week) and then I do the Wii in the afternoon, I have been doing 30 minutes and a couple nights a week playing with hubby or my son the bowling or some of the other games.... I lost 2.5 lbs this week!!!!!  soooooo I would say it must be helping.  I haven't lost any weight since summer. 

Yes Della, I have the Wii fit, (Wii sports, plus some other games).  it is very good.  It is also a lot of fun and does burn a lot calories at the same time.  The games are fun and I think it is really twofold, I am burning calories and spending time with my family (not just in front of the TV).  We went back and forth on getting it too and finally got it as our Christmas gift and I am very glad we did.

Well have a great day everyone.  Betty

Hi everyone!  We did our second group workout at Nadine's on Thursday - she records it from Fit Tv.  He was much faster than what I'm accustomed to!  I just figured out the move - legs this way, arms that way and he was already onto the next one!  But we laugh and just keep moving!  For dinner - simple whole wheat tortillas filled with deli turkey, lettuce, red and green peppers and a little shredded cheese, fat free italian dressing.  Good though!

She also has a Wii and we played for a while.  I agree about the family time spent with the Wii.  We had just as much fun as her 5 yr old daughter - what other game uses calories and spans gnerations??

I have lost 4 lbs this week! Yeah!  I was able to zip my favorite jeans, albeit, they are still a little snug!  But, it's great motivation for next week! :)

I agree you should have your thyroid checked.  I am a laboratory manager and see so many women who have no idea they are hypothyroid.  (I am, and if I skip my medicine, the weight quickly piles on!)

I plan to ride my horse today in the snow - we got about 8 inches yesterday and probably another 5 coming today! I want to make a path for tomorrow when I will hook up a round sled and take my niece and some other  kids sledding.  It's a lot of fun!  I think I have more fun than they do!

Hope everyone has a "losing" week - which makes us all winners!!

Carla

Good Evening all, 

Betty & Carla, congratulations on the pounds down!  That is wonderful.  I lost 1.5 this week myself.  I am very happy to see the scales moving in the right direction again.  Despite my grand intentions, I ended up eating out a couple of times this week.  Both times it was high calorie food, but I remained mindful of my hunger and left food on my plate.  That is quite an accomplishment for a charter member of the clean-plate-club.  I am sure those days my caloric intake was higher than it should have been, still I am proud of myself for not licking the plate clean like I used to do.  I love that feeling of impowerment.  I also logged in a total of 12 miles this week.

I bought the two "Eat This, Not That" books this week.  The first is mainly a restaurant guide and it was quite an eye-opener.   It is amazing the fat and calorie content is some of the foods, even some that I thought were realitivly harmless.  The second book is called the supermarket guide.  I haven't started it yet, but I'm sure I will learn from it as well.

I hope you all have a great weekend.    Cheryl

Hi again!  I had a blast riding Toby (my horse - that looks a lot like my icon) in the snow - we got about 15 inches!  Then, we went sledding!  Another great time!  I walked up the giant hill about 6 times -coming down was much easier!  We will pull the sleds today with Toby, Indy and Jessica (my other horses).  I also made a great recipe from this site - Chicken, asparagus and roasted red peppers- wow, was it good!  Looking forward to the leftovers for lunch today:)

Cheryl - good job on that 12 miles!  And the not so clean plate club!  I still find that hard to do  - That old waste not want not mentatality!  Instead, I really try to put the appropriate size portion on my plate.  In a restaurant, however, that's not so easy!  There, I ask for a to-go container BEFORE I start eating.  That way, I still control the portion.

Well, I better get back to work.  I am off tomorrow but have a funeral to go to.   That makes 3 in the last 2 months (my friend, a 17 yr old boy from my church that had cancer and now another friend's mother)- hope this is the end of them.  Have a great day:)  Carla

Good Monday Morning Ladies,

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  We spent the majority of our time outdoors clearing snow.  We've not had as much snow this winter as last.  So not as much shoveling to do.  We also went snow shoeing for a short while.  That was really nice, out in the woods with the snow covering the trees, I find the forest so beautiful and spiritual during this time of year.

I so enjoy having you ladies to talk to.  Having a support group means so much and helps more than most may realize.

Anyway, not much to report on this end.  My weight continues on it's merry little circuit as before.  But I've made up my mind it's (my weight) is not going control my life.  I know I'm smack dab in the middle of menopause (hot flashes and night sweats are wicked).  But I will NOT allow it to get mindlessly out of control either. Going to enjoy life and work at being healthy!

Take care everyone!

Della

Hi everyone,

It is suppose to get really cold in a couple days here, I like the winter but single digit temps I can do without.

I agree with you Della about the weight not controlling you.  Being in menopause does make it really hard, it stinks too.  I am there too and I too am just going to continue on a path of "being healthy".  If the weight goes up and down there really is nothing more I can do.  Sometimes I think what if I didn't drink all the water or eat the small portion sizes I do, man I would be huge!!   One thing I know is I will not give up everything, what kind of life would that be.  I mean really life is too short to not enjoy some things right! I guess it all comes down to being mindful of what you eat and being active. 

I envy you Carla and Della with your outdoor hobbies.  I love looking out at the snow on the pine trees it is just beautiful but I get too cold to be outside for too long, doesn't matter what I wear. Guess my blood is getting thin with age hahaha...

Isn't it funny how we all have that issue with "cleaning our plate" must be our age and how we were brought up you ate everything I mean there were kids "STARVING" somewhere that would have loved to have our food right??? 

Cheryl let me know what your "supermarket" book is like it sounds interesting.  Well ladies off to do some work.  Hope you all have a great night.

Betty

Good morning!   I postponed working out last night with the girls to tonight. I think I have been overdoing it between exercise, riding, sledding, cleaning the barn, shoveling snow etc etc.  I needed to give my muscles one more day to recover!  Today is better.  It is wicked cold here.  By Friday, our high is supposed to be 8 degrees - Yikes!  I have 2 horse shows to haul my dayghter to this weekend - I think I need to modify my trailer to keep her horse warm.  Hang up a blanket where it's open or something.  More exercise!!  I haven't weighed in recently - I have been eating too much and am afraid. I will on Friday!  But, I agree, diet and weight are not going to control my life either.  I enjoy food and socializing too much - I just need to remember EVERYTHING IN MODERATION!!  Well, have a great day!  Carla

Well, it's Friday.  A whopping minus 12 degrees with a wind chill of minus 30!  .  I did get brave enough to step on the scale.  Only lost one pound this week.  But that's ok - it's better than gaining!  They have postponed the 2 horse shows.  But it all works out because now I have to work this weekend.  Looking forward to some inside entertainment this weekend - WII, movies, etc.  Too cold for anything else!  Have a nice weekend ladies.  Carla

Good Morning All,   Carla - Minus 12!  Even with our wind chills, that makes our 14 degrees sound absolutely balmy.  Congratulations on the 1 lb lost.  Every loss is a gain.

Betty, the Eat This, Not That - Supermarket Guide is very good.  It is very informative, well worth the money, at least so far.  I'm not very far into it yet.  Trying to absorb as much of the info as I can.

Della, I'm older than you but I am only flirting with menopause right now.  I have had a few night sweats but no real hot flashes.  My periods are still fairly regular.  I remember when my mother was going thru it.  It was, as you say, wicked.  Like Betty, I admire the way you and Carla enjoy the great outdoors.  My husband is an outdoors man, but I'm a house cat.  He is making plans to build a rough cabin in the woods this summer and wants me to go camping with him.  When I say rough, I mean shelter only, no plumbing or electric, just 4 walls and a roof.  Can't say I'm looking forward to it.

I lost 1.5 lbs this week.  That is pretty good considering I had a business lunch on Tuesday and my husband and I ate out for lunch yesterday.  I am regaining some of my control over food.  Tuesday I had a philly steak sandwich and fries.  I didn't eat the bread on the sandwich and left about 1/3 of my fries.  Yesterday, I had chicken tenders and fries.  I left two of the tenders and over half of the fries.  I did a total of 12 miles with WATP.  Also, I bought a small workout ball with dvd this week to concentrate a little more on my abs.  It is tough, which proves how badly I need it.

My daughter, son-in-law and grandson are coming in today and going back tomorrow afternoon.  I haven't seen the baby since Christmas and am looking forward to it. 

Have a great weekend, everyone.   Cheryl