300+ Club - 300+ And Getting Fit After Forty #251

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.

Wow, what a week last week was -- and this week shall be!

I'm sorry I haven't been around much and am afraid that will continue. Work is just a bit too crazy.

I'm holding my own -- watching what I eat and continuing the exercise. Scale is about even. I'd love to be in "losing mode" but at least am not gaining like crazy.

Hi ladies,

I'm still around; just got quiet. I've been working so much on a computer or either on the phone or in meetings at work lately, that when I get home, I'm not feeling very chatty. Plus I had another bout of head cold/sinus crap for several days that left me exhausted. I think its on its way out now.

All is well here. Other than I need sunshine and dry ground. We've had the wettest winter again this year. I feel so bad for the llamas and alpacas when its wet like this.

We had rain and ice mostly yesterday. Up in the city and northwards they got a lot of snow. I'm not sure but I'd almost rather have had the snow than the rain. The water just stands on top of the ground with no where to go. I hope the roads aren't too slick today.

I've kind of fallen off program with Medifast. Kind of but not completely. My cook can't seems to remember what "lean and green" means for our evening meal. :dizzy: Especially that it doesn't include french fries, pasta or breads. He also wants to get up and fix breakfast for me on the weekends and doesn't get that during the week, I don't eat meals like I used to. I try to remind him, but sometimes I just don't say anything and just eat whatever he wants to have. I'm not sure how to deal with that other than I need to if I'm going to keep at this.

I'm trying to get the exercise going again. I have so fallen off that wagon and the toned muscles I did have are now soft again.

On a fun note, I've been crocheting up a storm and have made several hats. I'm also teaching myself how to knit too. Love it!

I also ordered several vegetable seeds from Jung Seed yesterday. I'm going to try our hands at starting our own plants from seeds this year. I may be on here asking for "now what do I do" when they arrive. :lol:

I better hit the shower now. :wave: to all!

We had a beautiful weekend here but back to cold and gloom today.
I am determine to break thru my mental barrier and get the rest of the weight off.Not sure what is stopping me...maybe the fear of the unknown.
Food will be POP today...not making it a choice anymore its a MUST!! Exercise will happen!! I will get the weight off!! Whos with me??

The good news is, I'll survive.

The bad news is, I'm going to have to change my screen name again. Perhaps "Life After Gabriel."

There is just absolutely no way I can possibly hang on to my beloved big black dream horse. Husband is waking up to the fact that we're getting divorced, and I'm waking up to just how badly I'm financially destroyed by this marraige. Amazingly, no matter how bad life sucks, there are still good people, good things, new dreams, new goals: There is still hope. There will never be another Gabriel, and I'll almost surely never have another friesian. But how fortunate was I to have the time I've had with him? How lucky, how rich is my life because he's been in it? I'm selling him back to the woman I bought him from, so I know he'll be well cared for and I can go visit him anytime. He's going home. He's taking a piece of my heart with him.

I have so many other horses available that I could ride, if only I could get my weight down. So there it is - motivation. I slipped on ice last week and landed on my tail bone, but I can still walk - Not fast, but I can walk, and I did so for the last couple days. Even got up at 5am this morning and did it before work. I am SO not a morning person.

I'm bracing myself for after 5pm. That's when I lose my furry little mind, but today I intend to handle sundown differently.

Hugs to you about selling Gab. At least you have visitation rights!

Hugs,
Ratkity

Hi girls. Big week for me last week, and this week is starting off with the official endo to my marriage. Papers are signed and filed in court today.

I've been weepy all morning, and I'm trying to analyze it so I can get past it and move on. And not eat over it. I'm experiencing sadness that it all had to come to this ignominious end. Anger with myself that I have mixed feelings about the X (I am not comfortable with some of the positive feelings I'm experiencing about him). Anger over how his lack of character and his behavior have hurtful repercussions on the entire family. Joy to be truly free to make my own choices, live my life most authentically, raise my sons with joy and love and the right limits, and I get my own name back!

I know it's natural to feel all this today. I am capable of working through it all. I just have to get over the annoyance of having to wade through the darker side of divorce. I'm impatient to move on, but I do understand that skipping steps in recovery means I'll just have to go back and do some of the work at a later time.

And none of this work needs to involve food in any way! That's a great thing to understand, and an understanding I am happy to finally accept. So today, I eat only when hungry, I make a healthy choice, and I eat only until satisfied.

(Debi...thanks for the pep talk!) (I wrote Carol earlier - due to a senior moment, sorry Deb!)

Terri, Medifast is a tough program in the early stages, especially when "support" isn't cooperating or understanding what you're trying to do. I had to quit because of the soy allergy, but I still have the eggs and the antioxidant drink mixes that are soy free. I kept them because I wanted to do a modified Medifast program, using the eggs at breakfast and the shakes for snacks in the afternoons when I am more prone to snacking. Well, that was my intention, and it still is. I just haven't implimented it yet. Hope you can find a good solution for yourself with it.

NoLife (I'm sorry, your name is escaping my memory at the moment), I'm glad to hear you're taking care of yourself and you're fueled by hope. Divorce is a constant cycle of mourning a loss and finding strength in the future. Perspective is everything!

Take care, everybody!

I've been OP for 3 days! I think my little "essay" helped me a lot. Think I'll be okay now 'til I hit the 50 lb. mark. Then I'll probably have to have another little talk with myself again. :o

Warm here ..well high 30's anyway. Rain, sleet, freezing rain and snow are all forecasted for tomorrow. YUCK!

VAL: I'm sorry to hear about your pending divorce and your having to sell Gabe. I don't know if I could visit after I let one of my creatures go to another home but since it's a friend you know he'll be loved, as well as well kept. Change often makes us accept hard decisions but, in the long run, it brings out our best.

GEORGIA: After everything's signed and sealed you really will be able to look forward. I'm proud of you for not leaning on food to help you get through a really stressful day. :hug:

DEB: We can do this. We can't let our dumb cravings get the better of us. One day, maybe even one meal at a time combined with pride in what we've accomplished so far will help us meet, and pass, our goals!

TERRI: Sunshine and/or dry ground, I'd take either one right now. I don't know the Medifast program but it was working for you. Maybe you should review what you did in the beginning and try a restart.

HEATHER: I think you need a raise!

Lots of talk about mental blocks around milestones. Count me in - I have some kind of "issue" with moving the big weight on my balance scale from 250 to 200 and at the same time being within 1.5 lbs of 100 lbs lost. right now I feel like I have the resolve to handle it this time - but I'm still 14 lbs away from that time AGAIN.

Val - Gabe will be in a loving place - wish saying it made it not hurt so. Time to heal and regroup - we're here for you.

Hi girls. I just stopped in to say hi to everyone. I have finally got motivated again. It took it a very long time, but I've been doing really good for a while. The scales are steadily going down as of today I have lost 32 pounds, but I had gained so much that you can't tell it yet, but look out I've got it together now, so maybe I can keep it up.
I'll try not to be a stranger again, but probably can't make it in every day.
Looking forward to catching up.

Wow, Val. Quick :hug: to you. There's going to be ache (from the fall and Gabriel), but I hope there will be healing too.

Geo - I thought you had got my little pep talk telepathically - glad Debbie beat me to it! We can do this - I'm trying so hard to break my barrier which I know is all in my head. I had a really tough time when I walked in the house tonight wanting to eat everything - when 5 minutes before I was so excited about moving on down.

No exercise for me since Saturday - gotta get back on the stick. I definitely am suffering from winter fatigue - already in my jammies.

Be warm - be well.

Its snowing again...GRRR so far just a light dusting but it was 64 degrees on sat and sunday.I got so excited and now here we are in winter again. I got out yesterday and walked even though it was only 30 degrees.
Food was ok yesterday not great but not to bad. Today will be healthier choices. Hubby was determined I would help him eat the leftover chili.
Carol- I so understand winter fatique.
Im really going to have to work hard to make my exercise goal for feb. Im debating about counting painting my livingroom as exercise..there will be lots of climbing up and down the ladder. I picked out my couch yesterday and IM pumped about it but sure dread the work involved in giving my room a face lift. I just realised its been the same color since 95.Gosh where does the time go??

Morning ladies,

I'm hanging in there this week. I have chime in with the barrier talk. That so happens to me. I set a goal to be in the 250's this month and its like as soon as I set that goal, because it was very doable, then I stall out. Sometimes I think my body does it on its own. Just like it says that its not going to respond to whatever it is that I'm doing. But then I do the stupid things too.

Not much happening this week. Trying to stay warm. I did have a good ride on Spanky on Tuesday and my legs feel every bit of it. I go again tonight.

Valerie - I am so heartbroken for you for your decision to sell Gabe. Maybe you can still ride Gabe occasionally. I am so sorry that the divorce has come about and its going to be such a mess for you. And on top of all that you busted your butt. Dang girl. But hang tough! Don't give up on your health goals; come out the stronger for this.

BarbG - It is so good to see you again. And I'm so happy for you for your loss!! :bravo: Do come back when you can.

Georgia - Hope your days are getting better. I have afternoon snacking problems and the Medifast does help with that.

Judy - Great job for getting it back together. :crossed: for good numbers on the scale. My dogs are about to drive me nuts with all this bad weather. We're all getting cabin fever. How about you?

Carol - We're stuck at about the same point. Let's get it together and get into the 250s soon!

Deb - Sorry about the snow. I think we're dry here for a few days. Key word there is "think". Happy painting and fun, fun for a new couch!

Okay, these replies are kinda weak but its early and my brain is not yet engaged. Plus I keep getting interrupted by dogs being ornery this morning. Dixie is now eating something she just got out of the trash in my office. :dizzy: Sigh.

TGITH!

:wave: to all!

I'm hanging in there today as well, Terri. But when it rains...

I was in a car accident on Tuesday afternoon. Someone rear-ended me. $2500 damage on my car. I turned it in yesterday to be repaired and I'm renting a car until I get mine back. It's a black sporty sedan. I'm turning gangster heads as I drive around town!

I had to see the doctor yesterday. My neck is really sore, my shoulder and part of my upper back, plus my left wrist is a little swollen and sore. I'll be fine, but the doctor talked to me about other issues and took blood. He's thinking about putting me on Metformin. We chatted about why it's so hard for me to lose weight, that even when I do drastic things like go very low carb or do Medifast I don't lose, or even gain. I have been very resistant to taking pills. I'm afraid once I go down that path, I'll be inexorably tied to meds the rest of my life. But if it helps me jumpstart the weightloss again, and I can reduce stress levels again (which affect blood sugar levels as well), I'll drop enough weight so I won't need any of it any longer.

I came home and treated my low mood with Jane Austin movies and beef and broccoli. I'm starting to feel better this morning. I think for the year after the divorce I won't worry so much about losing weight and concentrate more on full recovery, physically, mentally and emotionally. I trust that the weight will come off with healthy, balanced eating, proper exercise, plus stress management and the right medications.

On a brighter note, I think I only have one more bill to pay to the lawyer! Talk about stress reduction!

I'm really enjoying the home school with Rhyan. We spend quality time together, we're having fun with Wii Sports Resort for recess, he loves serenading me while practicing the bass guitar (OMG! I have to listen to the bass line for the Halo theme over and over and over...plus Iron Man! Pure adolescent boy music.) It's a very rewarding activity for me, and not at all stressful. I can do my homework right along side him. And he seems to be really enjoying the extra time with Mom.

It's time for a little archery and basketball. And then, the most hated subject of Rhyan's school day, Literature. (My personal favorite!)

Missing W/I again today. Roads are still pretty good but by 3 or 4 the inch an hour snow will arrive and visibility will be gone. Safer to stay home. I've had a good week. Not perfect but no huge disasters. May try to get to a Saturday meeting.

Today has been good so far. :crossed: Not much in the house to cause much damage .... Thank Heavens!

GEORGIA: Glad you're pretty much OK. Sounds like your rental is cool!
You've had a tough year. Listen to your Dr. Get yourself healthy and your weight loss will follow. What's Metformin?

TERRI: Good to hear from you. Bet riding Spanky makes you feel great even if you're sore. :) Isn't it funny how we let the thought of a goal throw us off a perfectly good weight loss plan. We've got to learn to fight back negative thoughts. I can see us all in long, floaty robes, burning incense and reciting strange mantras to remove negativity.:witch: My dog is driving me nuts too. Glad the weather is supposed to be good on Sat. so she can have her agility class.

More later. Dryer is about to go off.

Georgia - glad you were not hurt more seriously. Please continue to take care of yourself. It's great to hear you are healing and have a plan - you always have a plan and always work it. I wish I had the visionary skills you have. Thanks for sharing.

Judy - glad you chose to be safe. I always check in on your WI Thursday - I'll be seeing if you were able to get there tomorrow. Add my two dogs to those needing more exercise. Hoping to bundle up and get them leashed up over the weekend. Gonna just have to face it - they've been running like crazy outside but they need the formal walk we all love (or maybe I need it).

Terri - enough of this is all I can say. I'm ready to dig in the dirt.

Debbie - redoing the living room - new furniture - new paint - maybe new carpet - isn't it great! Makes me want to do ours but our wallpaper is still in good shape - I am ready for a change though. I definitely think up and down the ladder is exercise.

Imagine the weather shock Barb will have when she gets back from her cruise Sunday - hope the Philadelphia airport is reopened by then - would be tough to not get home to the little guys.

I'm doing well - had one day of bad choices (attributed to a couple of glasses of wine) last Saturday. POP since then. Heading to two hours of water class and then a one on one session with my trainer this afternoon. Thinking of something "unique" I can do with chicken breasts tonight to disguise it as DH says he is molting.

Be warm - be well.

Hi all!

I hope everyone that is getting the blizzard for the umpteenth time is staying safe. I'm soooooo glad it missed DC this time around, although only by the skin of its teeth!

LOL GGG on DH saying he's molting. Perhaps some fajitas? Tacos? I've been in this mexican mood for a couple of days.

I made my sister's chili and put it thru sparkpeople recipe builder. The sodium is way high! All the tomato pdts do that. My sis made a low sodium version for my dad that cut sodium to less than one tenth of the original. He loves that stuff. It also has a bizillion jalapenos in it to help with the lack of salt lol. I got all the chili put away and ate the leftover broth as a snack. Yum!

I also made cheese crackers sans flour by putting shredded Gruyre (sp) cheese on a cookie sheet and baking at 400F for 12 minutes. After it cooled, I cut into squares. Yummy stuff. I have some hummus and some pate that those will be good with (not at same time). I tried the recipe with parm cheese, but that cheese tastes too salty to me.

Hugs to all, stay warm!!

Ratkity

Good morning my lovelies!

Ratkitty, last summer I tossed a bunch of garden tomatoes in the freezer so I'd have some salt-free tomatoes for my winter cooking. It is really difficult to keep salt low with canned tomatoes. I don't think the low-sodium canned tomatoes have much flavor either. I'm in the mood to plant tomatoes!

Cheese crackers...yum!

Carol, do you find the trainer is a big help in keeping you on track? I haven't used on in some time and I think I really miss it. I found someone that is willing to come to my house, but she's pricy. Something to consider once my money is free from paying off divorce bills.

Going back to the doctor for the complete physical this morning. Blech! Judy, Metformin is an oral anti-diabetic drug, usually the first to be prescribed for type 2 diabetes. It's also prescribed for those with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and other similar insulin-resistance issues. I don't want to have to take it, but if the stall in my weightloss is more insulin-resistant in nature, then I'm willing to do it until I drop enough weight to go off all the meds.

My doctor talked about putting me on Statin for cholesterol, because "diabetes always means heart disease". I don't agree with him, so I started collecting my arsenal of information to throw at him. Last time I was checked, my cholesterol was practically holy and perfect (LDL under 100, HDL over 50) and my triglycerides were under 100 as well. I do eat very healthfully. I read that triglycerides go down and HDL goes up with exercise, and that's where I've frequently fallen off the track over the last year. So, I'm prepared to get back on the that track and bargain with him on the meds. I will offer to take the Metformin plus continue with the blood pressure meds but not agree to the Statin, instead ramping up the regular exercise again. And I'll agree to a six month trial on this. If things don't get better, I'll agree to the Statin.

Emotionally, I've been feeling better and better everyday. I'm rather surprised at that! There's no weight on my heart this morning, and I'm feeling at peace, energized and happy to be where I am.

Have a great day!

Rat - can you share the sis' chilli recipe? I've made your taco soup several times this winter - it's a keeper.

Georgia - I absolutely feel like having one on one with my trainer has kept me focused or recently helped me refocus - she happens to also teach the water class and land class I take so we spend more time together than just one on one. She works with a number of morbidly obese people who are not quite as open to spout off as I am - she is an always thin, always healthy variety - at times I have to stop and do some 'splainin to her about how I think - or point things out that she is oblivious to - like riding the horse - or worrying if the seatbelt will reach on an airline. This morning water classes were not well attended - we spent a great deal of time discussing my mental block with getting below 250 and hitting the 100 lb released total. It's an investment in yourself - I highly recommend it. Are there hospitals in your area with community outreach programs? I would not be willing to afford Jill if it wasn't through this program - still expensive but not the $100/hour if you go to her privately.

Sister's chili

Ingredients
3 lbs ground beef
3 onions, minced
2 bay leaves
3 cans of dark red kidney beans
20 oz budweiser
(non-alcoholic sharps is a good alternative, other beers get bitter)
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tbsp salt
(can easily cut out 7200mg of salt by elim 1 tbsp..doesn't change taste that much)
2 cans tomato sauce
2 cans diced tomatoes
7-14 jalapenos
1 bunch celery, minced (optional, adds fiber)
2-3 bell peppers, minced



Directions
Sautee onions and green peppers with ground beef. Drain well.

Wash beans from cans (takes a few of the "snappers" out)

Add all ingredients and simmer for 2 hrs.

Number of Servings: 24

Dropping that one tbsp of salt gives nutrition info:

Servings Per Recipe: 24 cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 206.5
Total Fat: 12.0 g
Cholesterol: 42.5 mg
Sodium: 575.2 mg
Total Carbs: 10.8 g
Dietary Fiber: 3.1 g
Protein: 12.7 g

Thanks Rat - almost identical to mine except I've never used celery - great idea. I also don't use canned beans - I soak dried beans and cook them down - such a difference. Sounds like a wonderful warm pot for the weekend!

I have run this recipe as we make it for my dad... low sodium. Better than anything you can buy at the store!

Sister's chili - low sodium

Ingredients
3 lbs Ground beef, lean
3 large Onions, minced
2-3 Green Peppers, minced
3 Bay Leaves
Budweiser Beer, 20 fl oz
2 cans Hunts sauce tomato sauce no salt added,
3 cans Dark Red Kidney Beans - no salt added, drained and rinsed
2 cans Low Sodium Diced Tomatoes, drained
Jalapeno Peppers, 7 peppers, minced

Brown ground beef with onions and green peppers, drain well

Add the rest of ingredients and simmer 2 hours.

Number of Servings: 20 full cups

Nutritional Info
Servings Per Recipe: 20
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 250.0
Total Fat: 14.2 g
Cholesterol: 51.0 mg
Sodium: 69.7 mg
Total Carbs: 12.5 g
Dietary Fiber: 3.6 g
Protein: 15.2 g

LOL GGG, I'll soak and cook beans on the weekends when I have extra time.

I'm lazy most of the time!!

Hugs,
Ratkity

Oh but it tastes so much better - yeah it makes it a two day process!

Happy Saturday girlfriends! We just had a huge downpour, which isn't normal for Central California. It reminded me of the rainstorms in Indonesia during monsoon season, but much shorter.

Just back from taekwondo monthly testing. Rhyan's got his yellow belt today. :carrot: I'm so proud of him!

Went in for my complete physical yesterday. Had a long chat with the nurse practitioner. She seemed to understand my wish to stay off meds as much as possible, and we discussed alternative options for blood pressure and cholesterol maintenance. We're both agreed that I start on the Metformin next week. So we'll see how that works.

I'm feeling so good today, really motivated to get back in the game fully to achieve optimum health. My mini goal is to break past 300 lbs by the end of May, exercise consistently six days a week and be OP with diet. I will take time everyday to care for my mental/emotional health with meditation. And I will have fun every day!

That all seems to require more dancing carrots...:carrot::carrot::carrot:

Have a great weekend!

I'm feeling so good today, really motivated to get back in the game fully to achieve optimum health.

I will take time everyday to care for my mental/emotional health with meditation.

And I will have fun every day!



These words spoke volumes to me - thank you for sharing. I think it's contagious.

These words spoke volumes to me - thank you for sharing. I think it's contagious.

I second the motion!

Happy Sunday girlfriends,

Last night I went to the Concept2 website. They make rowing machines and I have one. I decided to do their March Madness challenge, rowing 5000 m (just over 3 miles) every day. I can log my progress online and there are chances to win prizes. I'd just like to stick with it for a whole month. I have no problem with the distance. It's the consistency that I need to achieve. I'll definitely post my achievement to the exercise thread.

Discomfort from the car accident is almost gone. My neck and shoulder are fine now. It's my wrist that's giving me trouble. Hoping that one more Aleve with do the trick. I don't like masking pain with drugs just to be able to exercise or work harder, especially when it involves an injury. I think I can row, using my left hand for balance rather than pulling, doing all the work with my right hand/arm and my legs. The rowing machine is a great whole-body workout, and I can even do intervals on it. I have a relaxation CD of water sounds, like a river, and I play that in the background while rowing. I can even close my eyes while I'm doing it. (Not something I can do on the treadmill!)

So my workout will look like this: everyday, in the mornings, 10 minute warm up on the rowing machine at a slow pace, get off and stretch everything, then 5000 m. In the late afternoons, six days a week, a weight training spilt routine with upper body and abs on one day, and lower body and abs on the other day. And I'll also be doing PE with Rhyan five days a week on the Wii Fit, about 30 minutes.

I'm so excited to get back into exercise. It might sound like a lot to start with after several months of sporadic exercise, but I do know I can do this. I'm not going for major speed on the rowing machine until I can take it, and I'm using lower weights than I used to until I work up to my previous levels again. I don't want to get distracted by huge body aches or an injury.

Okay, I just wanted to write all this down so I can be accountable to you all. Because I really want to do this! I even joined Weight Watchers online to support my efforts on the nutrition side as well. I am determined to break past 300 lbs. by summer!

See you tomorrow!

Looked up the Sat. WW meetings. I didn't get to either of the two local ones. One would have made me late for my dog's agility class and the agility class would make me miss the other. Yesterday was a day where I met my points goal but some of my choices would not be called good. I did get to the grocery store so I'm restocked with healthy food. Today has been OP. I took the time to plan my food for the day and will stick to it!

Georgia: Good luck meeting your rowing goal. You can do it!

we got the living room repainted. It was a chore...lots of climbing on ladders. It looks awesome. Now I have to determine how many minutes to count as exercise/ it took over 17 hours to paint the walls and ceiling and woodwork. Im sore in place I have never been sore in before.

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