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!

bonton: Thanks for asking about Tom; yes, his surgery is Friday. It's so important that he not get sick that I've been sleeping in the guest room. I think I'm in the worst of it now--fever, coughing, sniffling. Sigh. At least I didn't have cases the last few days. I guess I'd rather be sick then miss work, but that doesn't seem like a real good choice. I know what you mean about some people--good your husband will listen to you vent. By the way, son # 1 did not get the job--they said they liked him, but 3 candidates had masters degree, Now, he's thinking he should go back to school and get a masters while the economy is so bad. I think he plans to live here for a while--great for me, but not sure husband will agree.

snow and Southern: I agree with Bonnie. You ladies could be our poster girls! And all the swimming and walking is the right way to go about it. I can't wait to get out of bed and join you.

phox: I think cottage cheese with cut up apple and sliced almonds--and a dash of cinnamon-- is the perfect balance of carbs and protein, and it tastes great.

Ohio: From your journal, I saw your struggle with when should a mom speak up, and when not. I have one son who is very quiet, like your daughter, and it makes me worry over what to say also. I think your plan to wait till she leaves and then casually mention her not eating enough healthy items in the context of your own experiences is the perfect solution.

My old law clerk wrote today to tell me he was at a party recently where a lawyer from Miami told a story about me when I used to be a judge. The lawyer said that she still quotes me quite often, with her favorite quote being the following: "I am not a microwave oven!  I cannot produce rulings to you in an instant.  I am more like an Easy Bake Oven.  I like to spend time thinking things over before I make my ruling."  I think I must have been a better judge than I remembered--that's pretty funny.

Thanks for all your encouragement--I'm off to bed.

 

Is it just because it's July and it's hot that we are indulging ourselves these days with tempting treats? I had Tiramisu at lunch today. And I didn't even bat an eye about it. This week I have a lot of stress, son is leaving and daughter is coming, so in other words, the lodgers are just switching places, and I am still a mom with a kid at home. I'm going to see James Taylor on Sunday night so I guess I can feel like a kid again. Maybe I'll haul out a peasant skirt and some love beads. Oh, I forgot, they're back in style. I'll just look like a hippie wannabe in that case.

Losing weight is hard, hard work, and I think it's OK to take a day off every now and again. I really haven't goofed off in almost 3 months so I say I'm due. Hope you all are good to yourselves the rest of the week, no matter what that entails. I saw your skinny face Beth, and thought, oh my gosh, what has she been doing to herself? Amazing what just a few pounds can do! You look fab!

"If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way". - Napoleon Hill

southern, i love your new pic!!!  :D  you look awesome & way younger!!! 

thanks bonton!!!  i am NOT anorexic!!!  LOL  i am soooooooo tired of hearing that.  i'm just finally at a healthy weight & i love it.  AND i want to stay there!!!  i know i will lose this belly eventually, even if it takes some real exercise.  i can do that.  it won't be fun, but i can exercise...

enjoy your grandson while he's there!  and don't worry about the extra calories.  i'm sure they are well deserved.  :D

robbie, freakin' get out of bed & join us before we get drained!  lol  so, the surgery is tomorrow?  it should go well.  a masters?  what the heck?!  how much school is needed???  well, i guess it depends on what you want to be...  i have no college...  :(

rebbex, i love your quote!  :D  enjoy the concert!!!

robbie - Sorry you're still so sick I hope that you soon start feeling better. And I'm sorry that your son didn't get the job - my daughter would say after not getting a teaching job - well it was good interview experience. It seems it's competitive everwhere to get a job. After not getting a teaching job for 2 years - she hated subbing - she went back to school and got her Masters degree in Instructional Technology, then landed the job with Verizon from the internship she did for them while in school. It is different when they come back home after you get used to them being gone! LOL I don't think they turn totally human till about 25! LOL! Liked the story about you as a judge and the ovens LOL

bex - I like reading your quotes everyday! It is funny too how clothing comes back in style! LOL  I loved James Taylor in the day!!  I am taking my girls to see Chris Daughtry - he is performing at our county fair! so I'll be like you for an evening!

 Off to start the mowing before my grandson gets here! I think I am taking him to a State Park near us for the day - he'll think he's at the beach -  it has a  sand beach and "ice cold" water to swim in!

Everyone have a great day!

Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.
Francesco Guicciardini

We had the most beautiful bike ride, 15 mi, Monday, on a paved bike trail which are my favorite kind, with a waterfall along the way as the final destination.  It doesn't feel like exercise when it's so much fun and so pretty.  This was 1 hr away.  I can't believe I grew up here and have never been there before.  Biking has given me so many new experiences.

HERE

The visit is over and my daughter just left.  I like my life and am content living alone, but let me tell you, after having my daughter here this week, when she drove off and I walked back in to an empty apartment it's a very desolate feeling. 

I'm sure by tomorrow I'll be back to normal.  I wonder if my mother felt this way when I'd come home to vist, then leave, happy to get back to my husband and my own home and I'd merrily wave as I drove off and leave her standing in the yard, in her apron, waving to me as long as she could see my car go down the road.

Rebbex:  That made me laugh too.  Go for the skirt and love beads!  I wish I could go to a James Taylor concert too.  Actually I probably could.  I am sure he plays in LA when he goes on tour.  I just never pay attention to who is here.  Perhaps that should be a new resolution.  To go more places and have fun.  I spend too much time sitting around the house.

Ohio:  I wish I had nice places like that to ride to.  Living deep in Los Angeles county leaves me with concrete everywhere I go.  We would have to drive an hour first if we wanted a nice ride like that.  But we could do that.  Maybe I will look into it.

Not a lot going on with me.  I have turned into an exercise nut!  My work now offers workout classes during lunch and I am going.  I am now doing Mirimba (aerobics to latin music) Monday and Wednesday, yoga on Tuesday and Thursday lunch and Boot Camp Tuesday and Thursday night.  And I am really sore now.

We have a very old cat.  We think she is 21 now.  She is too stiff to clean herself properly and was getting huge mats all over.  We decided to have her shaved.  She is moving a lot better now, I think they must have been pulling on her when she moved, but she looks so silly now.  I have started calling her "Rat Cat".  I will post a picture in my Gallery.

rebbex: I can't wait to hear about JT; his songs take me back to college within a few notes. And, I agree that losing weight is a long time project, so a bump in the road by treating ourselves now and then is reasonable.

snow: college is no prerequisite to success; I think right now Chris wants to put off being responsible. But with the economy so bad, I understand how having an advanced degree could make him feel like he stands out better. Just as long as he knows this round is his to pay for, I'm o.k.

bonton: I'm still laid up, but imagining you at the beach with grandson is cheering me up. Did your daughter work while she got her masters? I agree that they "turn human" at 25, but Chris is only 23. Oh,no! At least he's been showing some signs of maturity since moving home--he shops, cleans and helps with the yard work, all very necessary since Tom will be handicapped for about 12 weeks.

Ohio: Yes, that's how your Mom felt, and what a poignant picture you painted. Do you own an apron?--sounds like a good prop. Especially since my "boys" have been away, I've had a whole new understanding of my Mom. I think in retrospect she did a great job raising independent kids, which she now probably regrets: of her five kids, only two stayed in Dallas. The rest of us went off to see the world, and she's always begging for visits. Of course, when we all come at the same time, it's bedlam, plus we revert to childhood behavior ("You always liked Paul best.").

Carol: Welcome back! Glad to hear the wedding's passage did not cause you to stop  your weight management plans. Sounds like you've embraced exercise with a fervor! The lunch workout sounds really good, but how do you clean up? That's what's inhibited me from doing it then.

I have to go back to work tomorrow, ready or not, so everybody send me healthy thoughts, please! Thanks, Robbie

Cleaning up is a bit of a problem.  I go into the bathroom to change out of my exercise clothes back into my work clothes and use the sink and wet towels to clean myself off as best as I can.  It is less than ideal, but so far none of my co-workers has started avoiding me, so I guess it works.

Hi everyone,

I just got caught up on reading posts. You guys have been talking a lot!

Robbie - I sure hope you start getting well soon and that your husband's surgery goes well tomorrow. I will keep you both in my prayers.

Snow - You are always so encouraging to everyone. Thank-you. I hope you made your 4 miles today but even if you didn't get all 4 done, I know you are still doing great. You'll hit that 138 before you know it.

Bonton - How old is your grandson? Isn't it great having grandkids around. I have 12. Fortunately, I don't have to raise them but I sure love seeing them. It's wonderful.

Phox

Rebbex - That is SO awesome that you are going to hear JT! My husband is a weekend musician. He plays guitar and sings all the "oldies" stuff and that of course includes James Taylor. I know I'm prejudice but he really is good. He just plays at coffee shops and house concerts and does an occasional wedding and such. He's got long hair, a beard and wears tie die sometimes, too. So, of course I agree you should wear the skirt and beads to the concert.

Ohio - for some reason I couldn't see the picture. It says that I'm not a member. hmmm. not sure why it says that. But I could relate to you when you said "I can't believe I grew up here and have never been there before.  Biking has given me so many new experiences."

That's the way I felt when I discovered the great place to walk that's only 3 blocks from my house. I don't even want to watch TV anymore. I love walking!

Clharr - I LOVE the cat! that is too funny. I guess shaving cats is becoming more common lately. I had never seen a shaved cat before this year but suddenly, I've seen several.

It's great that you can get a work out at work. That's awesome. It sounds like you are really doing great. I looked at your profile and discovered that we have similar weight goals and we're about at the same place in our journey to better health. I'm glad we can encourage each other.

I've got one prenatal to do this afternoon. I'm back on schedule with my walking and water aerobics. Slowly but surely I'll get thin again. Ahhh, won't that be nice? In the mean time, I'm sure feeling a whole lot healthier getting there.

Well, have a good day everyone.

~ Beth

Clharr, Great job working out. I also love taking lots of different classes-yoga, pilates and cardio class with weights. The bellydance class in my gym was cancelled last month :( I miss it.

There is a great challenge on CC, a monthly roll call. You sign up for a number of minutes (I'm doing 1500) and log your numbers in daily. It gets me going to the gym or for a walk to keep up my minutes. All these little tricks really help with motivation.

I got 89g of protein yesterday and today. No way I would have done that if I wasn't even aware of the issue. Thanks ladies for opening my eyes!

Robbie, feel well  and hoping the surgery goes well tomorrow.

I'd like to join this blog.  I'm nearly 56 and so want to lose about 20-25 lbs.  Menopause and giving up smoking 2.5 years ago combined were my main problem (and wine)

 

joanna: You are welcome here. It's a great site, and your profile is similar to many of ours. And giving up smoking is well worth the weight gain, which is do-able, if not as easily as it once was. We are all making progress, and you will, too!

southern_midwife;  I fixed the photo link so you should be able to view it.  Thanks for letting me know.

joanna:  as someone told me yrs ago 'if you have willpower to stop smoking you have the willpower to control your weight'.

Welcome Joanna.  We have a nice group here.  We even have a motto!  Strong and lean.  That is our goal

The picture works now Ohio.  It is beautiful.  I have always loved nature.  You are lucky to be so close to it.

Original Post by ohio45:

...I fixed the photo link so you should be able to view it. Thanks for letting me know. ...

Awesome! And it looks like it's not so hot outside with all that water pouring down.

~ Beth

southern- My grandson will be 3 in September -SOOOO much fun - he's such a delight! We went to the community pool - he loved it  ( instead of the State Park because my stepdaughter was taking the 2 grandchildren there) and then I had my step-daughter and our 2 other grandchildren for dinner - the kids had a great time playing together. The other 2 are 7 and 4. They are all so much fun.

ohio - beautiful pic of that waterfall! Looks like a very relaxing place. Exercise can be fun! LOL

joanna - Welcome!! We have a great group and we're glad you joined us!

phox - way to go with your exercise minutes!

carol - nice to see you back! My cat lived to be 22 - it was a stray from a near-by barn that my daughters started secretly feeding milk. I kept taking it back to the barn and it kept coming back until one day I discovered the milk under a tree LOL no wonder it kept coming back! So I said it could live in the barn - well from there it went to the basement and then total control of the house ! LOL She was a nice cat! Your exercise classes sound wonderful - all that variety - lifting gets boring and so does walking or the eliptical at the gym.  I haven't been to the gym since school let out but I am gardening and playing golf so still exercising!

robbie I hope that you are feeling better. Sorry that you have to return to work - I am off all summer - it is so nice - working in a school system spoils you! My daughter went to school full time and worked at Dairy Queen on the weekends. She got student loans and used it for school and living expenses. She'll be paying for a while but it was worth it as she loves her job! Her father is a millionaire and could have helped her but he is so self centered ( only one of the reasons we are not together!) that he did not offer and when we split he wore me down that I just signed to get out. Sometimes when my girls need things I regret that decision but only for them as my hubby and I are comfortable and I am not impressed by money. But it would have been nice to be able to help my daughter with her foreign adoption - it will be quite expensive. Oh well.... nothing to be done about it now. Let us know how Tom makes out with his surgery today. I hope all is well

I am playing a match today in golf - our ladies league has a match play tournament - the lady I am playing - I have to give her 14 strokes! LOL I'll probably get beat as that is a lot of strokes but we'll ahve fun anyways!

bonton, i don't know.  lol  some kids never grow up!  25 is probably a good age though.  hehe  i like james taylor too.  i still listen to his songs & chris daughtry.  i guess i like alot of people.

your grandson is at an awesome age for having fun, too.  :D

ohio, biking is really good for you too!  that'll strengthen up your leg muscles.  :D  i don't bike.  only at the gym.  man!  it sure has been a long time since i went to the gym!

i always cry when my kids leave.  i dunno.  lol  i AM glad when they leave...  i think it's easier leaving than being the one left.  when we go see them & leave, i don't cry, but i hear that they do. 

clharr, it sounds like you are doing awesome with the exercise.  keep it up! 

robbie, yeah, i always thought i'd go to college someday, but i never made it.  i started early & had 5 kids, so i was pretty busy anyway.  lol  my mom always liked my sis best...

southern, i did the 4 miles & 2 extra!  lol  it figures, sis came to visit & i just assumed she came to walk.  man...  i really needed a push yesterday!  BUT today i'm finally back down to 139.4!!!  that's my lowest yet, so i'm really excited to see if that 138 is coming tomorrow!  i already walked 2 miles today & i'm planning on finishing after posting this.  :D

that's awesome that your hubby is a weekend musician AND that he plays the oldies.

i don't watch much tv anymore either.  lol  unless i'm on the treadmill & don't feel like listening to music for some reason.  normally i just listen to my music.

phox, i gotta get my protein up too.  i just bought them special k protein drinks.  they're pretty good.  :D

hi joanna!  join right in...  and good luck!

 

 

Original Post by robbie615:

Just read this thread, and felt as though I had found all my long lost soul sisters. MY biological sister is only a baby at 43, and she has lost 150 pounds in the last few years, mostly following Weight Watchers. I, on the other hand, started out smaller but managed to "find" 15 of what she "lost" after I turned 50 (6/15/53 DOB). So, wisdom and maturity aside, the whole aging thing really does suck for women.

And while I'm ranting, what's up with the whole hormonal mess. Gaining belly fat would be bad enough, but having all the fat redistributed so I look like Mrs. Potato Head is the worst. Then there's hair growing where it didn't before and not growing where it did . . . arrghh! And the collapsing facial structure doesn't really help the overall situation. It's amazing any of us manage to stay cheerful enough to hang on to our significant others, and in my case, I credit my ability to tackle him on his way out the door. So, there's one good use for those extra pounds.

Anyway, here's to us, beaten but not bowed. Pudgier, but proud enough to persevere. You go, sisters!

 Hi Robbie - just joined this thread and reading it from the start.  Had to make a direct comment to you because we're the same age (like most on this thread) but I also have two boys, Nick (23) and Chris (21) ... that's cool!  I have a daughter Kat (18) too.  You're doing better on the weight loss thing than I am but there are lots of similarities. 

Joanna

Hi Robbie - just joined this thread and reading it from the start. Had to make a direct comment to you because we're the same age (like most on this thread) but I also have two boys, Nick (23) and Chris (21) ... that's cool! I have a daughter Kat (18) too. You're doing better on the weight loss thing than I am but there are lots of similarities.

Joanna

Joanna: I've only lost 6 pounds, same as you. In fact, you may be doing better than I am; depends how tall you are. I'm a 5'2" midget; the only person I can lord my height over on this site is Bonton! I would've loved a daughter, but Tom said I'd have to find a new husband. Not that I haven't considered it :-) But, it is cool about our boys--same ages but names flipped.

Beth: Tom is also a weekend rocker. He plays drums and keyboards. He sings backup--voice isn't his gift. His band, RiverRock, broke up last year because two guys had tinnitus--the ravages of age!

Snow: You are rockin with all that walkin!

Bonnie: My practice husband had money, and I suspect I was confused. Now I know you're supposed to marry for sex when you're young and money when you're old. Guess I got it backwards. The surgery went well, but he's beside himself that he can't work out for 10 days. And, I am a little better, and even managed to get my case settled. But I'm still fatigued with stuffy sinuses and sore throat. I wish Ohio were here to cook for me! Sniff, sniff.

Phox and Carol: you better work out extra hard since I can't.

Thanks for all your support,

Robbie

I just sat down to log my food and decided it's too late and too much of a chore.  I do better logging my potential meals in the a.m. while I have my coffee, then edit the food log at the end of the day.

robbie:  I'd deliver chicken noodle soup if I could :)  Glad your hubbys surgery went well.  It's always such a big relief when something major like that is over.  I find the apprehension before worse than the recuperation.

snowfence:  that's great about the walking.  If I don't get out by 10 am it's unlikely I go.  Not sure why that is except more energy in the morning.