Motivation

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!

it's never too late to join!  :D  just hop right in!!!  by the way, thanks again for saying i look good!  LOL  you can never hear that enough...

you guys are awesome!!!

i'll check in again later...

OMG!!!  her 80th birthday?!  80???  maybe i CAN do this...  LOL  before i'm 80...  :D  what the heck...  why am i so scared?! 

welcome to the new members!!!  hang in there!!!  you WILL do this!!!  if i did, ANYONE can!!!  :D

i think i'm having chips & chocolate for breakfast again...  i'm down 1 lb. from yesterday!!!  :D  LOL

Thanks for the welcome Bonton. I am not sure you'd want to hear more about my travels! Many people have already told me I should write a book, and the things I have seen and done in my life could surely fill more than one!!! I would probably bore the socks off all of you... But since it will save a lot of questions in the future, here is a very short version:

I was born in Italy, was raised in Paris, and did my university in Geneva, where I met my husband. He is Swiss German and works for a large Swiss multinational company. He went from trainee to CEO for the same company, spanning 27 years and 9 countries.

We got married in Malaysia, his first posting, in January 1981. We left for Sri Lanka in 1982, and that's where our daughter was born, just before the start of the civil war that is still going on there (she was 3 weeks old when we had to be evacuated by the International Red Cross at the start of the riots). We spent another year in that country in spite of the troubles, but then were sent to Kobe (Japan). We only spent nine months there, then moved to Tokyo where our first boy was born in 1986.

He was just 7 months old when we got sent to Jakarta (Indonesia), where our last child, another boy, was born in 1989. We left Indonesia for Switzerland in 1990. That was because they didn't know what to do with us when they had to pull out and relocate all their filipino managers, because the communist insurgents were shooting them at public events...

After Switzerland, where we stayed just 15 months, we were sent to Taiwan, from 1992 to 1997. Then it was Thailand till 2001. My daughter graduated there that year, then left us to study International Relations at the same Institute both her father and I studied, so many years before. She was just 18 and had never lived alone or in Europe, but she did well, even if the first two years were hard. At that time, we were living in Dubai (on the Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and Iran), so it was easy for me to go visit her. She got her masters on Friday 13th of October 2006, 28 years to the day her mother got hers (down to the Friday 13...). We think it's a lucky day in our family! She now works as a Communication Specialist for the oldest Swiss private bank.

My eldest son graduated in Dubai in 2004 then left us too, to study in Lausanne, not far from Geneva. It was a bit easier for him, as his sister was there already. Wasn't MUCH easier, as he had just turned 18 himself, but he did good too. He is now waiting to start his training as an air controller.

As I said, our youngest son just finished his IB exams today, and will go study Human Kinetics in Prince George, British Columbia. Being the youngest, he doesn't speak French as easily and fluently as his older siblings, so Switzerland never  was an option.  He loves cold weather, snow and the outdoors, so Canada was the natural choice (we visited Vancouver, Banff and Lake Louise 11 years ago, and he just fell in love!). With his departure, the family will be spread over 3 continents, but we are very good at coordinating flights from various directions with just minutes to spare!!! Lots of practice.

We left Dubai in 2005, in stages. My husband came to Saigon in January, I followed with our son in August. That was because of school. In Dubai, our son was in an American school, here he is in an International school. The options were too different, so it was simpler for him to finish the school year in Dubai, then start a new school year here.

As I said, expat life is... different. Most of the time it's great and if I had to do it again, I would choose the same lifestyle. But it can also be very difficult. You are away from home, family, familiar things and customs. When you move, you don't just change neighbourhood, you change culture, language, climate, food,  friends, habits... And in spite of all your years of experience, you always start from scratch...

But you learn so much! About the world, the people in it, the various ways to do things, express feelings and emotions, about yourself too, and about the importance of friends and family. I do not spend a single day without talking to my two "European" kids, through text messages, msn, Skype, e-mail. Every time they have a long enough vacation, they come to visit us, and when they can't make it all the way to Vietnam, we may also meet somewhere in between. Canada will be a great "in-between" destination!

Most of my friends are from... everywhere. One of my best friends, that I visited twice, in 2002 and 2004, was in Seattle. Recently she moved to Ephrata, WA. Another is from Tasmania, another still from WV but currently lives in Manila. The three of us met in Taipei. I have another friend in NC, and she was my next door neighbour in Tokyo. She taught my daughter her first English words.

I took the time to read all the postings today. It's really nice to find so many people with such similar problems, thoughts, hopes and experiences. It's as if I had know you all my life! LOL

I do hope this thread will continue over time. I used to chat with quilters (I became a quilter in Jakarta) but these days my weight problems have taken so much space in my mind I don't seem to be able to concentrate on anything else. One needs so much discipline and control not to balloon out of proportions that it's hard to do anything else but count calories... At least it is so for me.

Now that you know more than you ever wanted to know about me and my life, I'll be able to tell you more about my daily life in my future postings.

Helene (French spelling for Elaine).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELCOME SCHAUFEL.....WELCOME STARBLUE !!!!!! Very pleased to have you both join us. Hopefully we can find the support and work through the difficulties of our common weight struggle. We are all unique and what may work for one won't necessarily work for another. But I have found that by trying different suggestions I am making a little progress. This thread is a strong one and I have a hunch we will be here awhile.

Thank you Robbie for the exercise tape suggestions. I will use that website and order you and Bontons favorites.. I am glad you stepped away from the burgers and went with chicken. We were typing in your ear when temptation came calling weren't we?

Saw my doctor yesterday because my sweetheart says he thinks I have hearing loss. Turns out I hear very well. Now I have to consider...do I not listen? Or am I just rude? lol  But while there the doctor was a little concerned about my running. He wants me to make sure I am cross training. Biking and step aerobics should do the trick. I need to lift more weights. Just having a little difficulty incorporating it all.

No tatoos here. Never wanted one but in my line of work I see a lot of women with their clothes off and I have seen some incredible works of art on their bodies.

Everyone have a good day. Stay strong, stay positive. And Starblue...cholesterol from 398 to 146 is AMAZING...what a wonderful accomplishment.

OMG!!!  schaufel, what a life!!!  :D  just settle in & relax here.

LOL  frost, we can't listen to everything!!!  we'd go nuts!!!  just pick up on what you can.  maybe we can all get a tattoo someday...  LOL  never mind...  that'll never happen...

Helene - Oh thanks soooo much for sharing your life's history - what an interesting  life you have led.  You've been in so many different places ! What marvelous experiences you've had. Although it would be hard to start over in each place, so you must have great inner strength. And yes, thank heavens for txt, internet chats etc - how did we survive before without it! I talk to my daughters everyday too - txt, IM and cell phone  -although they only live a little over an hour away from me! I feel the same about the ppl on this forum - I feel like we know each other and yet we've just met thru this site!

It's easy to get consumed with weight and calorie counting - and I think we are much harder on ourselves than we should be! It took several months of juggling things around for me to find a mix that seemed to work - at least a little - to lose any weight. Just keep experimenting with your percentages, calorie intake, exercise etc. You will find a way to make that darn old scale move in the right direction and we'll be right here to support you!

ohio Go here to look at golf skorts - when you get one we want a pic!! Especially if you decide to turn your spider veins into a tattoo!!! LOL Maybe we should all get one!

http://www.tgw.com/customer/search2.jsp?scid= 1120&a1182=ladies&sortmfr=N&page= A

I'm still smiling about robbie's Mom getting a tattoo!!

snow - I ate my bread pudding for breakfast -soooo yummy - but all those carbs made me hungry and it's only 10:10am! LOL

clharr - any luck finding a dress????

frost -what did you decide about the day job?? I'm assuming you're still working nights?? When my knee started aching and I couldn't really do step 5x/wk that's when I started lifiting weights. I guess I'm a little competitive... ok so maybe a lot... so I really like it because I was always trying to lift  a little heavier than the week before. I have 6 different workouts and I alternate them(got most of my exercises form shape.com) - I use an excel spreadsheet and keep track of reps and weight lifted, i take my clipboard around with me while i'm lifting and fill in each exercise as I do it - helps to see progress! When I first started (did get a couple of sessions from the ?? trainer - if you can call him that )I could only use about 5 pound weights for most things - I mainly use free weights - but now I use up to 20 pounds!! It even helped my golf game - gave me at least an extra 20-30 yards ... Hear that Ohio45! ... So I know that I have muscle now and my scale may never read as low as it used to be but I'm in much better shape! LOL

Hope everyone is having a good day. My scale was cooperative today! LOL back down to where I was before I gorged on all 8 cups of water on Monday! LOL NOT drinking that much anymore.

bread pudding?!  sounds awesome!!!  hungry by 10 am doesn't sound awesome though...  i already had probably 1000 calories today.  it's a bad day...  again!

but i'm back down to 143!  :D

i hope you can do better than me today!!!

Well, all I can say is the more the merrier! 

Scaufel, you  have an amazing story.  I am so glad you found this thread and wanted to join.

When I started it I never thought it would be as popular as it's become and I'm so happy for that.

Oddly enough, it's been me who hasn't been visiting on a regular basis.  Like I said I was truly in the dumps of depression and addiction, which I am slowly climbing out of.  It's not easy, however, I will do it.  Slowly, but surely, one day at a time.

Some days I still get so 'dark' going to the gym feel too much.  On many of these days I force myself out the door since I know I'll feel better after.  Other days I just allow myself to 'heal'. 

I've noticed this has become a overall healing forum. THAT IS SO GREAT!  Honestly, it makes me want o cry-at least that's how I'm feeling right here right now.  It is such a good thing!

So let's keep on keeping on!

We're a mighty and powerful bunch!

hang in there, one.  we're with you!  oneis2many for me, too!  :(

The dress saga continues...

Yesterday I spent a few hours at the mall trying on just about any dress I could find.  I really needed to do that because between menopause and weight loss I really had no idea of what size I am or what looks good.  I found something I thought was nice, but my daughter has all her bridesmades in green and wanted me to wear green too so I didn't buy it.  But with what I learned yesterday, I went online today and ordered something green that I think will look good.

Ohh waistline.  Where did you go?  It seems the body fat is moving up.  I hope that with continued weightloss I can find it again.  I am not used to having a big tummy.

Well, the fries only added a half pound, and that's with no workout.  So, again, gracias for the support, chicas.

clharr: never underestimate the value of a good tailor. A well fitting dress can cover lots of menopausal defects.

one: I do not struggle with addiction, but everyone else in my family does. I do have a genetic predisposition to depression, and I was 53 years old before I could admit that and get help (talk therapy and drugs). I just want you to know that if you hang in, it will get better---and the exercise will make that happen sooner. I finished drugs last January and terminated talk therapy in January (I might go back someday, but not in crisis, just to learn).

welcome Schaufel and Starblue. We were already an interesting group, and you have enhanced that!

One of the women in my bookgroup wrote a book about traveling the country on a bus (like a rock star bus). It's called Queen of the Road. I'm going to put a picture of the book group on my gallery if you're interested.

clharr  At lunch a few weeks ago, one of the ladies was talking about having to wear a dress to something special and was worried about her "tummy" she went and bought a pair of those "Spanks" sp?? that Oprah had on her show LOL so then we were all hysterical cause she said she had a flat tummy but fat knees cause it pushed the fat down LOL but her dress covered it. You had to hear her tell the story it was quite funnyl!Oh my the things we do! Myself - I wore those underwear which are supposed to slim your tummy for my daughter's and stepdaughter's weddings! LOL and believe me I couldn't wait to take them off ...like wearing a girdle... do they even still make those LOL

robbie  Your book group looks like a great group! My stepdaughter belongs to one and always wants me to come but I can't seem to find time to read! So glad the fries only added 1/2 lb I'm sure it was probably from the salt on the fries anyways!

Hi, I've been on CC for several months but just found this thread and would love to join. I've reached my goal weight of 150 (58 and 5'10") and am now maintaining. But for all of you who are discouraged at the slow loss,  it took me about 8 months  to lose 15 pounds, and that was only after my doctor discoved my high blood pressure. There was a 3 month stall in the middle. The important thing is that it did come off. I could easily have gained 5 or 10 more pounds in that period and then I'd be on medication. It would be nice to lose 5 more--maybe this group will give me the encouragement to get back on the calorie counting wagon.

Helene, your lifestyle sounds amazing. I have traveled quite a bit because of my husband's job but moved countries "only" about every 5 years. And my kids seem to have learned to love to move--I also have 3 kids on 3 continents. So I won't feel sorry for myself, or exhausted contemplating the next move when I think of you!

Bonton - I got a Spanx, it is basically a girdle but the material is stretchier than the old fashioned kind.  I hope that means it will be more comfortable.  Naturally I forgot to wear it when I went shopping.  I bought a high-waisted dress so my tummy wasn't too obvious.  It is this one if you want to see it. http://www.coldwatercreek.com/Products/Produc t.aspx?productid=39149&ensembleid=44944

Star - How did you get your cholesterol down so far?  Mine isn't quite as high as yours was, but I can't it below 270.  What did you do?

OMG!  i love the dress story about the tummy being pushed down to the knees!  :D 

clharr:  i hope that dress you ordered fits good.  i don't like buying clothes unless i can try them on 1st.  it should be easier now that i've lost alot of weight, though.  my tummy is big, but it always was.

robbie:  that 1/2 pound should be gone by tomorrow.

phox:  you should find alot of motivation here!  :D

thanks snow, I hope you're right about the 1/2 lb. Your tummy is NOT big. Check the photos again, girl.

clharr: I love the dress. Springlike and youthful.

phox: welcome.

 

phox - Welcome! You'll find a lot of support here! Congrats on getting to your goal weight. I hope that this summer I can do that. Sounds like you've had an interesting life with travel too.

clharr - I love the dress! Thanks for sharing the link and I love coldwater creek! They have the nicest things you made a good pick

Well ...golf tonight was just miserable! In the low 50's, windy and the course was muddy and wet. I played terrible LOL so I didn't make very many points for league but no one had good scores so we were all in the same boat! The low score was by the club champ with a 50 (which is not good for her!) I myself shot a 56 but it felt like a 76!! It was work tonight. I play much better in shorts and a sleveless top ...tonight I had on underarmor, turtleneck, wool sweater and polar fleece vest! Too many clothes to even swing the club! BUT I walked 9 holes so I burned calories and probably even more trying to stay warm.

Hello everyone! I just came back from my walk. The sun is shining today, so it is hot in spite of the early hour. We are already in the rainy season but it usually doesn't rain until afternoon. On a typical day, the sky is bright blue when you wake up, clouds start gathering as the morning progresses, and it gets really dark around 2-3pm. Then it rains till early evening. But the pattern changes as the season advances. The worst of the rains will come in September-October. Then you can have solid rain (and I mean buckets that drench you in a few seconds) for several days on end, especially when a typhoon is in the area. Saigon seldom has typhoons, but we are still affected by those hitting central Vietnam.

I walk with two French ladies, inside a compound not far from my home. We usually walk from 7:30 to 9:00am but today I walked till 9:15. Walking along the streets is difficult as there are no sidewalks, the traffic (mainly motorbikes) is crazy, and trucks are just plain dangerous. The compound is very large, the roads are shady, and since the compound is built along the Saigon river, it's nice to walk along that road. The river is tidal, which means it is affected by tides in spite of the fact we are some 40 miles from the sea. We are part of the Mekong delta system, and the land is quite flat and low lying, so when the tide comes in, the river is pushed back and rises. That's why you see the large patches of water hyacinth floating on the river going first one way, then the other, depending on the time of the day.

Because the dry season just ended, there are still many blossoms in the gardens. Bougainvilleas, jacaranda, orchids, frangipani, and so many others whose name I don't know. What I like the best in the tropics is the profusion of foliage of every shade and shape. Palm fronds, and the huge jagged leaves of the bread fruit tree, next to the shiny dark green of the mango tree, with the shaggy-headed coconut trees far above.

That's what I missed the most when I was in Dubai. No wonder I was the only one walking in the streets there! There is just sand, huge stretches of black top where sports cars zoom at incredible speeds, and the ever shining sun trying to pound you into the ground. And then there was me and my umbrella, and the curious gaze of the Pakistani/Indian/Nepali road crews, staring at the crazy white woman who couldn't afford a car... I loved walking there, especially during winter, when the temperature stays between 70-80, and it NEVER rains.

Hi Phox50! Glad to have a colleague out there too. In which countries did you live? Where are you now?

I feel good in my mind today, because of all the things I read on this site. It is important to hear you can make it, even if you know it will take time. The knowing part is the crucial one. Hearing someone with the same problem tell you "It will happen, just be patient" helps a lot. For I don't know a more frustrating thing than going on the scale after weeks of exercise and "good" behaviour, only to see your weight is still the same or - worse - has increased yet again... After a lifetime of dropping pounds whenever it was needed... I used to be able to shed 10 pounds in a week if I truly wanted it. I am rather athletic. Used to play badminton and squash, to trek in the mountains and snorkel for hours... In Taipei I was doing three and a half hours of step aerobics a week and walked up and down the hill on which we lived two or three times a day...  And now this...

Oneis2many, I feel for you. I know everything about depression and those days when you are in the dark. As I said, expat life is not always a ball game and some countries are harder than others. I hated my time in Bangkok, and the  good things in Sri Lanka, aside my daughter, were very few... And my children know their father is a kind and generous man, but they are also aware  - as he is - that I raised our three children pretty much on my own...

I love Internet! I remember the time when we had no phone, mobile or else, no TV, no computers, just an English-speaking daily paper, and a few letters from home that sometimes took weeks to reach us. Things have changed a lot, and for the better, in terms of communications. No complaints there...

I hope you all have a nice day. Talking to you has allowed me to stop sweating (takes a while) and I now can have my first shower of the day!!! LOL

Helene

 

 

 

I only have enough time tonight to say hello to everybody and especially to the new people, and to oneis2many. What an interesting group we have!

Here's a couple of things I've been thinking about: Slumping our shoulders and stooping when we walk makes us look old. So remember to stand up and get your shoulders back. Feel like you are squeezing your shoulder blades together slightly when you walk and sit. This will make you look much younger :)

My addiction is to food. Sometimes I wish I could live in a halfway house for food addicts. I've been doing pretty well this week, but every evening when I'm tired, I have to talk myself out of eating more. Same thing at the office. I have to force myself to NOT EAT. Otherwise I snack constantly.

It is soooo important at our age to not gain weight back after we lose it. We lose from every body part, but every time we gain it, it comes back as pure fat around our middle!! And it's twice as hard to lose it again.

I am thrilled to find a group of over 50's who are not afraid of hard work and lots of exercise. Sweat is good! Burning muscles are good! Sleep is good, too, and I'm going to bed.

Alice

thanks robbie!  LOL  i still think my belly is big though.  i guess it's not huge anymore.

you look great too!  i just want to lose a few more pounds & mostly i want to start toning...  which i should have done all along!

oh!  and i do look so much better if i stand up straight.  LOL  i don't do that much...  i know i should!