300+ Club - 300+ and Getting Fit after 40 #231

This thread is a sub-set of the 300+ thread.

This group is for those dealing with the challenges of having a significant amount of weight to lose and being fit which becomes harder after age 40. If you're an old or new friend and not over 40 and feel this is the place to post, jump right in.

Another busy week for me coming up. I have to watch the stress eating. But I cooked enough food for dinners through Thursday, so that's a help!

Scale read pretty much exactly 200 today, so no onederland yet. But I will get back there!

Good Morning!

Still plugging away! Trying a different way to keep track of my food consumption. I am finding that traking calories on the web site is not the easiest for me. The computer is right in the kitchen...but I found more success with tracking points. The white board on the fridge and just marking of each point as consumed. I have to find every possible way to keep it simple! Exercise minutes have been good. Just stretching and walking lots right now until the eye doc tells me I can bend and lift again! Scared of the scale. I did put on most of my losses over the summer when I could not see well enough to feel I could safely and confidently ride my bike, hiking etc. So I feel somewhat like a newbie when I post my starting WI. But I will go and jump on the scale now as I have a quickly fleeting urge of courage.

Hi Lovely Ladies! :wave:

So much to catch up on. Sorry I've been MIA. It's been a crazy few weeks...a week out of town, best friend here for a week and then DH gone last week. Life is crazy...but good. Food has been tough, exercise has been pretty good, although I was slowed down a lil with tendonitis in my wrist. Got an injection in it last week....feeling much better. The scale is up about 6 pounds in 3 weeks. Time for that to go!!!

I will do my best to catch up more this week!

Love to all!
:hug:

Hi there all you juicy women! Hope your day brings everything you need today.

I was talking with my sister about Dr. Oz and his omentum commentary. (We decided we don't like him. He's just an extension of Oprah, yet another person telling us how to live.) We have both put on a lot of weight through our bellies. I used to have a flat stomach, even up until I had kids. But pregnancies plus a lot of stress seems to have redistributed weight into a big, jiggly mass in front. She's dealing with that as well, although not as much as me. And we both hate it!

From what I can find on The Great and Powerful Internet, belly fat in the omentum tends to go more rapidly once efforts to lose weight are made (http://hubpages.com/hub/Your_Omentum). And it seems that intense aerobic exercise is the most effective tool to make that happen. (Blech!)

I've become more patient with myself to lose weight, but the one thing that bugs me the most is that lump of fat right in front. I have some really cute outfits that I can wear now, and I look really great in them...as long as I don't turn sideways. As I've lost weight, different body parts have shed fat at different times. Right now, that belly lump is much softer than it used to be, so I have to keep in mind that I should consider that as progress. But I'm not even close to finding peace about it now!

In the meantime, I'll wear my Spanx when I go out, which only serves to harness the overall jiggles. I will not wear a girdle! I will ramp up the aerobics, even though I really don't like to sweat and get my heart rate up. I'd much rather lift weights. Still, getting on the rowing machine isn't too bad, and the weather has cooled significantly.

Time to stop whining and get back to work!

Barb - you are missed! Don't stay away please - you're my hero.

Georgia - I'm with you on Dr. Oz. Many years ago a wise man told my terminally ill BFF (who was upset with one of her docs) - use him to make you well. That's what I am trying to do with this whole Dr Oz challenge - use him to make me healthier for this 60 days.

Heather - don't forget to take care of you! (please)

I'm once again without much to say that's going on with me. Plugging along, making good choices, exercising and have even gone back and hired my trainer for more one on one sessions rather than a class environment. I will make the commitment right here, right now that by the end of October I will be out of the 260s. I WILL.

Hugs to everyone, especially all those lurkers.

Carol

Hi ladies,
Been a long time since I've been here but I HAVE to get back in the groove.
Went to the doc and diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure are all running high again so I have to get my mind and body back in the game.

Challenges coming up though as we go on vacation the end of this month to California to visit my son and dil but with a a mindset, I can get thru that too.

Glad to be back and good to "see" you all
Debbie

Debbie - great to see you back. Cmon now - you can do this - you know you can. Start with baby steps - if you exercise don't forget to record your minutes in the exercise thread. Also there is a 60 day challenge sticky at the top - join us - a different challenge each day of the week. Let us hear from you daily!

Debbie! Hello, missed ya!

Hi Ladies,
Well I made it thru day 1 with good choices and even exercise which some of you know, is a biggie for me.

It was 15 minutes on my bike (yes, I finally got one!!) and then 50 reps with my stretchy band working on my arms.

The doctor wants me to get to 45 mins a day of aerobic for 6 days a week.

Carol, yes, I CAN do this!! Just as you said, I've done it before and I can do it again. That's the same thing the doctor told me too.

Julia, Hi, I missed all of you too!

Have a nice evening!

Hi all,

A quick pop in. I have been getting up and getting my steps in. Eating isn't great. DH and I head out on a short vacation Thursday through Sunday (going to see the balloon festival). That will be nice. Next week, on our anniversary, I am working 17 hours....8am until 1am. That is going to suck. Other than that, just trying to lose weight to get 100 pounds lost. It will happen...some day.

Debbie, welcome back.

Angie

Debbie - good job on the exercise and eating.

Angie - have a great trip. Make the best choices you can and enjoy. I hear you on getting to the 100 lbs lost - I'm still trying to get to 90 - my body loves 262. Great to see you!

Everything good here - BTW I loved the tomatoe cabbage barley soup - not something I will want to eat every week but not the typical "diet" cabbage soup at all. I think next week will be Chile's southwest soup.

I have the week off from kids. I have painted and put a bedroom back together so far.It looks awesome! Lots of good exercise doing that let me tell you!
I have been so busy I havent eaten enough for 2 days. I may call it a week of cycling calories.

I'm back -- back in town, back on plan, just plain back, really. The big celebratory weekend is behind me -- no computer, so no real tracking of calories. I tried to stick with what I planned, but I decided before I left that I wouldn't sweat it if I went off plan, which certainly helped me enjoy some birthday cake :D Had a very nice and relaxing time -- the first vacation since November 2008 that I didn't drag work along with me. Reentry is so far a little rough -- everything's right where I left it, but more so. Is it wrong that I'm already looking forward to my November vacation? :lol: Well, I'll get caught up this week, I promise! I'm just kind of dreading it...

In addition, right now I feel like the weather is FINALLY perfect for getting outside and moving around, and here I am stuck at my desk, forever and ever. By the time my husband gets home from work and we trek to a walking spot, it's getting dark (sunset at 6:42 tonight...), which means that the days of the 2-hour walk are done for the year. So I have the energy and desire to walk, and the weather is superb, but now I don't have the light to walk safely. And now I have a -- wonderful, but still -- class on Sundays, which is my one non-work day a week. Phooey. I know I'll come up with a solution -- probably time to drag the exercise bike back from purgatory -- I'm just feeling frustrated and stuck in place. More time! Less work!

I can't really complain, though, as I do get two days off a week from each job I work -- just not the same two days :lol:

Anyway, rambling post over -- I'm here, I'm dreading weigh-in Friday, but I had a great time and feel pretty good about most things in my life right now. And I leave in 1 month plus 1 day for our annual vacation, which is something I look forward to almost daily, all year long :D

Have a great week!

Windy here! The drive home from work, on an interstate,was like a roller coaster ride. Wind gusting and stopping, empty trailers swaying into my lane. I should have just bit the bullet and come home via back roads. Glad I don't have to go back out.

Food has been good all week. Hopefully it will show at WI tomorrow afternoon.

Everyone seems to either be doing really well or a lot better than they were. Keep it up!

Made it thru another day. Wasn't too hard so I'm thankful for that.
No exercise though. I feel sorta crappy about that but I'll get into the groove of it. I have to. I'm doing good on water though.

Angie, thanks for the welcome back. Glad to see you!

Carol, thanks for the pat on the back....I need all I can get.

w00h000 Deb54 for getting a bike!

I confess that BikerChick has been in semi retirement this season.

Hugs to all and I know I should be posting here, but while my body is 46, my mind is still 21!!

Hogs and Quiches to all,
Ratkity

Hey Rat - great to see you poke your head in. I'm in age denial too, especially since the more I take care of myself the younger I feel - it certainly doesn't feel like 51. How's the menagerie? I bet Bikerchic comes out of retirement in the future. You've had a stressful summer taking care of everybody but YOU. Hugs.

"You've had a stressful summer taking care of everybody but YOU."

Alas, no truer words have been spoken! :^:

As of yesterday, I have finished my role in my sister's domestic violence/divorce saga and gotten all her items in the foreclosed house to her at her new address. They will arrive on Saturday. I sent a big Harry and David basket to celebrate! No step in this feat was without peril and undermining by the ex. My pardon to any lawyers reading this, but her lawyer was incompetent and talked in more circles than gov't workers (I know all about this cuz I R one). I told the lawyers to stop cc'ing me on the rest of the divorce stuff. I've done my sisterly duty (for now.. never ends with family, ya know?).

Meanwhile, I am gearing up my vitamin regime like my nutritionist suggested. I have an upper GI consult on next Wed, then the procedure a few days after that. Time to become self-caring! Annie, on the main thread, is very inspiring with her swimming. It is something I'd like to pursue as well (I'm a competitive swimmer from the old days - favorite stroke, butterfly!).

Hugs to all - thanks for the special hugs GGG. Zoo is fine and keeping me sane (well, except the psychokitty, Ratkity... she has GOT to stop sleeping on my head! She can't retract her claws)

Luv,
Ratkity

Rat - Annie is a machine - I'm working out in the water as well as land these days and wanna be her like when I grow up (or is it down?). How long is your hospital stay for the DS? Let me know how you are when you feel up to it. The pool is being closed as we speak - the labradoodle will be so happy to have her personal trampoline back. I will be so happy to have the labs' ears clear up since she won't be diving.

:wave:
Just a quick check-in. I'm working too hard, and am not getting in a lot of exercise, but eating is GOOD. And that's a big plus.

:) just back from WW. Lost the 1.5 I gained last week plus another 1/2 lb.
Yeah!

No time to chat. I still need dinner and the dog wants to play and is driving me nuts!

Hi Ladies! :wave:

I've missed you all so much. I know I do so much better when I am checking in here consistently, things have just been so busy. I really keep hoping I'll get a lil free time here and there, but with work, 2 crazy kids, a lazy husband, the gym, etc. it doesn't happen. :dizzy: I have a few minutes tonight because I'm skipping cardio due to feeling rather icky. I'm hoping a good night's sleep will take care of it although there are a lot of sick germs flying around at work. :^:

Not sure where I left off with you before vacations. I think I filled you in on them, along with the wrist issues and then DH being gone, etc. Fun, fun, fun! Next week I have to go to MA for a quick biz trip. Up on Wed, back on Thurs. Not too bad.

My weight is floating around 225-227. I am focused on getting back to my low of 222.2 and then keep going! I've got to resume my strict calorie counting and battle my never ending emotional need for the comfort food gives me. I've also got to crank the cardio back up. My exercise routine has been pretty good, but I have felt myself slipping a bit on the cardio. Yes, Georgia, I believe cardio is key! Of course partnered with weights and sensible calories.

I've been enjoying biking more and more (Yay Deb on the bike). I've typically been doing 10 miles during lunch breaks 1-2 days a week and then getting 15 on the weekends. If the weather is nice this weekend I'm going to shoot for a 20 mile ride. Thinking about investing in a gel seat. The tushy does get a little tender. :o

Is anyone else still in disbelief that it's nearly the middle of October? Where in the world did the past year go? I feel like holiday season is already on top of us.

We are getting the boys excited for Halloween this year. Carlton (4yo) is starting to understand it a bit. Last weekend we took them to pick out costumes. They are into the Toy Story right now so we tried to convince them to be Buzz and Woody, but they didn't go for it. Jackson picked out exactly what I knew he would...Elmo. Carlton said he want to be a "Rocket Ship Driver"....he's an astronaut. :D

Carlton's definition of Halloween is "We go knock-knock and get candy". LOL

Well, it's about bedtime. The boys are finishing up their movie and I'm going to watch a lil TV.

I'll chat more with you lovely ladies tomorrow! Well, I'll do my best for tomorrow. :D

Have a wonderful night!

Barb -- I think you just identified the golden triangle of weight loss and maintenance: calorie control (not necessarily counting), cardio, and weights!!

Hi girls...a late night check in from me. I've got a baaaaad head cold this week and don't feel like doing anything. I'm sick of being in bed!

Hope to get over this soon because the boys and I are off to San Diego on Monday. So I'll say so long for now, for the next week. I'll catch up with you after the 20th.

Take care!

TGIF!

And its a long weekend for us. Canadian Thanksgiving. We are going to see my Dad for part of the weekend! Long drive and busy printing off car games for the kids.

Spent the last two days delousing the house! Ugh this year the head lice is rampant in the school! Each class has a case or two! Anyways back on the preventative band wagon!

Lots of exercise this week. Been slightly off plan as the kids have a chocolate bar fund raiser from school and that means mom & dad have to buy some you know. The kids caught me trying to get rid of the purchases in the food bank donation basket. But found them and therefore ended up eating some! Oh well could be worse. Two years ago I would have bought 10 and ate them all myself. But have had about a regular sized bars worth. These are super sized bars they are selling!

On other must do lists for my health got done Vitamins check, water check, doing hair & face check, exercise check, read inspirational materials check!

Hope you have had successes this week! Every little one counts towards the big picture. DO NOT discredit yourself! Take pride in each little baby step!

Have a fab weekend! Will probably not be back here till Monday sometime! Many hugs!

Bad: tired, knees hurt, gained weight, stressed, not eating right, not exercising right. Blah.

Good: reasons for the above are mostly ending tomorrow/this weekend/when weather changes, looking forward to getting back on track (rather than dreading it), have added another reward for when I lose the weight, which is helping with motivation -- so far, possible rewards include: a trip to a resort in Costa Rica with a new swimsuit, a dress by Uli Herzner, and -- ta dah -- a beautiful diamond/sapphire ring. I figure by the time I've lost the weight, I will have saved enough money for at least one of things!!! :lol:

Ok, off to bed -- another day is calling me!

Walrus - great to see you back. Sorry things aren't going so well with you. I'm not sure I understand the weather comment. I've been challenged recently with cool weather munchies and trying to work through that as well as fall rains have made exercising inside necessary - I love being outside. But I can't let the weather slow me down - midwest weather is one thing that can never be counted on to stay the way I want it.

Good Morning Ladies! :wave:

What is everyone doing this weekend? Last night we took the boys to a little church carnival and out to dinner. We kept them up later than normal and they surprised up by letting us sleep until 9am this morning! Nice! :D

I just finished a breakfast of protien pancakes made with pumpkin. Do you guys know about these pancakes? They are my absolute favorite breakfast! I'm off to the gym for some weights and cardio then I'm taking Carlton to a local orchard for a hay ride, petting zoo, pumpkin patch.... Somewhere in today's activities I'm hoping to repaint my powder room. We are thinking about the zoo tomorrow. We'll see. We also want to watch some Buckeye and Eagles football.

This weekend will also be focused on reigning in my food. I'm struggling a bit with snacking and boredom eating. Gotta get control if I want the scale to move.

Well...hubby just got home with breakfast for him and the boys...I'm off to the gym.

Catch ya'll later! :sunny:

I have to work a lot this weekend, but I'm trying to see it as a positive in a weird way -- working will keep my stress levels down. Food and exercise are planned for today too.

Hi Carol:

Sorry for being cryptic about the weather -- I've got a lot of bad joints, the result of genetics and overuse in sports, and when the weather changes a certain way, my right side, from my hip through my back, down my leg, into my knee, just throbs. It feels like there's a snake of pain that's wrapped around my joints. Some days it's so bad I can't sleep. As soon as the weather's done doing whatever it's doing, though, the pain goes away.

Today I feel fine! And we're going to get a nice long walk after lunch at 2 pm. We're officially back on track and feeling good about it :) Last month was very stressful and emotionally trying, with disasters on both sides of our family. This month, although these problems are still ongoing, we're moving on -- nothing more we can do at this point, and just worrying isn't going to help anything. So off we go!

I went to my granddaughters 1st bday party.I cant believe she is one already!!!! I ate cake..just a small slice but I didnt need it! Tommorow my nephew is coming to fix my computer.It has major problems and is taking forever to even load a page.I will be back when he gets it fixed.

Hi Ratkity, Make sure you take care of you. We need our doses of BikerChick! I've got the bike, now I just need to ride it!!!

Been doing pretty well on food. Still not much exercise but Avon keeps me running from one room to the next quite a bit.. LOL

Went out to dinner with some friends and had the taco salad with chicken. Didn't eat the fried flour tortilla so I think I fared pretty well there. Last night we went out for a early breakfast and had the Western scramble. I did eat the hash browns though...darn it...can't get past those but I didn't eat all the toast. I'm getting better!!

It's getting mighty cold here and we've had to start using the heater already. I sure hate to see how bad it's going to get this winter. BRRRRR!!

Have a great Sunday ladies!

Debbie -- I've learned that if I want to avoid eating something at a restaurant that I can't even let them serve it to me. I substitute fruit for the hash browns... and then even if I don't eat the fruit I feel good.

I'm doing pretty well. I'm not stress eating! I need to get in more exercise, and need to cut out some more calories if I want to lose a little quicker. But I feel in control of my eating, and that's big!

I just lost my long rambling post - must be some message in that.

I do want to ask those of you who don't read the other 300+ thread to please keep Annie in your thoughts. Annie has lost 299 lbs and suffered a heart attack this week. She's been such an inspiration to me over the past two years. A heartfelt thanks to you.

Just popping in to say Hello before I go to bed. It was a fun, busy day. I spent most of the day with my 4yo. We went to a local orchard for a hayride, train ride, pumpkins, playing, etc. then out to lunch and shopping. It was great to get some one on one time with him.

Gonna be yet another busy week around here. I have to go up to Boston Wed/Thurs for work. I'll do my best to pop in daily. I need the motivation and encouragement I get from you all.

Oh no...I hadn't heard about Annie. She is in my thoughts...

Night Ladies. :hug:

It's a new week -- join us for the next installment!!