Old Hens - 40+ and Ready to Lose!!! #89

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  • 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.

    Welcome!
  • Thanks for starting the new thread Angela!

    HEY! I'm BACK. And THIS time you gals are STUCK with me!!!! HAha! I'm off the truck now and ready to get oh-so-serious about this weight loss thing!

    Yesterday after we got in I did a bunch of errands, including gettting a haircut. Today I'm on track with eating (for the first time in a while) and I'm off now to go work out. THEN I'll be working on job hunting, etc, and I'll be back to give you all some more grief.

    I've bumped my ticker back up. The last ten pounds will have to come off again, and this time they'll have to take friends with them WHEN THEY LEAVE! Some of it may be salt or TOM, so maybe that will help, but in ANY case, I'm ready.

    Later ladies!
  • Where is everybody?? Oh yeah, it's Saturday... of a holiday weekend even, so I better get used to being alone here til Tuesday.

    The workout didn't happen yet. I could only find one sneaker and just about had a hissy fit. Then I decided to grow up and just go buy another pair of good walking shoes. (Too bad it's raining out today.) In the process I discovered a health food store I didn't know about, so that was fun. Then I spent a little time at the barn. I'm trying to talk myself in to a date with my treadmill.

    On the food front, I'm STARVING today, or at least craving with a vengence. I started journaling my food again, and while I went way over on my calories, I managed to stay away from the refined sugars/flours that I know are my downfall. A few days off those and I'll be a different person. Better each day than the day before, and I'll get a hold on this thing again.

    Financially, I was trying not to worry or feel guilty about spending $ on my walking shoes ($42) and at the health food store ($47) when I came home and Bill mentioned the $200 jumper cables he just bought. HUH-WHAT?? We didn't already HAVE jumper cables?? We needed a $200 set?? ...Is it just me?? Is this a 'man' thing?? Am I crazy to start vibrating over such a thing?? ...whatever.

    MARY - AKA Java Turtle in WV
    Quote:
    …. I read a post from someone who was just LIVID with Un-motivated people that practically stalked the boards, not doing anything about their weight loss and just being "hangers-on." Well, it made me worry that when I'm not on the wagon, that perhaps I shouldn't post.
    OH MY STARS! THAT’S when we need this list the MOST! When we’ve been side-tracked from our weight loss or daily burdens have us overwhelmed. When we're looking for inspiration. Coming here PROVES it CAN be done, and as for me, 3FC is a Lifesaver! (Butter Rum, I think, or maybe Tangerine.)


    Angela - Vortex
    Quote:
    ... well, the main reason, I guess, is that I care about my "ex" or whatever you call him, and I'm a sucker… I can't stand feeling like a mean person…. I know these aren't good reasons…. Anyway, that's all an old, dull story.
    My story doesn’t have quite the same drama. Bill never threatened anything horrible and the word ‘divorce’ has never ever been mentioned out loud. But I can totally relalte to not wanting to hurt the other person & be "the bad guy."


    TERRI, You've got a badger? I've got a badger hunter! Want Simon to come out and dispatch that badger?? I’m sure he’d love a chance at it… til it had a chance at him. *** Regarding your stress, I think it's great that at least your Dr seems to be listening and supporting you. I hope that you're enjoying some peace, quiet, and 'chill' time, even as I'm writing this. I'm sure a long weekend away from work won't hurt, and I hope all those other family factors ease off for you. The barn is a wonderful place to hide and recoup, so I hope you get plenty of horse dirt under your nails soon.

    THIN
    Quote:
    Don't forget to click on the link at the top of the page and report your weightloss for August. You don't have to report what you weigh, just how much you lost during the month.
    THIN – We aren’t going to talk about it, OK? September is a different story.


    CELERY – Grand-Baby??? Tell us all about your sweet little redhead! For starters is blue or pink in order? What about a name? And where are the PICTURES?

    I've missed a bunch of you, but I'll be able to stay on top of things now. I hope. Thanks to all of you for being here and being a sharing, caring flock!

    Now, let's go get skinny!
  • Introduction
    Hi
    My name is Gloria, and I am 55 years young and am 5'1" and I weigh
    350 pounds.
    I have started a diet, and am on just the 2nd day, but it is going
    pretty good.
    I had come to the point that I had to do something, in 2001 I had
    weight-loss surgery. Then in 2002 my Dad had a stroke, a lot of
    hospital stays, and the eating out of machines, and fast food, made
    me slowly start to gain, I had lost 125 lbs. In December 2005 I
    lost my Dad, and then in Febuary 2005 I lost my Mom. I was in a
    deep depression and before I knew it a year had gone by and I had
    gained all of my weight back. I went to the Dr. got medication for
    my depression, and found out I had high blood pressure too.
    I can't walk very far, from a bad knee, and I can't stand, because
    of all the weight. I have a wheelchair, that I take with me so
    anyone that I am with don't have to leave early, because I tire out
    so fast.
    I am so glad to finally have a place to go, and talk about my
    feelings, and the struggle ahead of me.
    I started doing the 12 day diet, and I just couldn't hang with it.
    I have now signed up with WW Flex plan
    hopefully it will be the more sound way of life for me
    Gloria
  • Hi ladies,

    I'm feeling pretty mellow. Hmm, wonder if its drug related? We've had a great day.

    It started with breakfast out and much smaller that what we used to order when we would go out for breakfast. Then it was home to start on the garage/barn. We have the Escape parked on the horse side since we're not bringing horses into the stalls at the moment. I worked on one side of the garage part. Getting things organized, put away, used the shop vac to suck up dirt, grass and cobwebs. Threw some stuff away. Put stuff in the back of the little pickup to be brought into the house. But backed the little truck into the garage to bring in later. Tomorrow or Monday, I'll work on the other side. I think I'll work on the tack room next and get that stuff all put up and that will make it easier for the other part of the garage. The goal is to have room for all three vehicles inside. DH had taken off to go look at trucks leaving me to clean in the garage which was great because I do so much better than he and without him around too. When he came home, I was asleep on the couch. I had a lovely, comatose nap. I didn't even hear the alarm go off when he drove up the driveway. It took me a while to come out of grogginess. Then we went out and he mowed in the pasture while I used the string mower to clean out the fence line. Looks so much better around the place when we do that. I also got the backyard and chainlink fence-line all weedeated too. I just have a little bit to do again in the front and I believe I'm all done AT ONCE! I even got in the pool to putz around. And I have to admit, the water is darned cold but I was determined.

    We had a steak for dinner tonight. Ribeye. Wow, it was deliciious. For the first time ever, DH cut one steak in half and we shared one steak. We normally would eat a package. And that was an appropriate portion of food.

    I think tomorrow is work in the house day. His cousin is bringing out the desk so I need to get ready for that. Once I get done inside, I think I will work on the tack room. Its nice to see progress being made around home.

    The catertization for mom showed nothing. Which in a way is a good thing. But it does not resolve how badly she feels. Sis set up an appoitment for her to see an internist who will check out the spot on the lung and give her a complete workup. I told her that its time for her to see a geriactric specialist and quit seeing that other dufus GP. She can only go to him if she has a cold or a cut. But for nothing else. So we'll see what he finds.

    Valerie - for you being home! I am so happy for you. No jacking around about getting to the healthy eating and the exercise. Me too. We have horses that need riding! Yes, $200 for jumper cables is a guy thing. DH thought it was appropriate to spend $100 at Chux Trux and I have no idea what he bought unless it was the eagle/flag thing he put across the back window.

    Lilion - What a great choice! So much better than coming to Kansas City. Have a great time! Tell us all about it when you come home!

    Celery - Congrats on becoming a grandma. Is this your first? I love red-headed babies. Boy? Girl? Name? We need details!

    Gloria - Welcome to the group! You've come to the right place for support. We had a poster that weighed over 600+ and she started exercising in bed by just doing flutter kicks. She'd lost down to almost 300 pounds and had built up her stamina to walking. She too used a wheelchair. I miss seeing her posts because she was very inspiring. It can be done!

    to everyone! Hope you're having a great weekend!
  • Hi everybody!

    Valerie, You're not alone! Holidays don't really mean anything to me but more work! The life of a student that has to work when she can. It was sooo busy today, and me with about 2 hours of sleep. Glad you're home and getting things done.

    Terri, So glad you're feeling better!

    Gloria! Nice to meet you. Just jump right in!

    Have a good night!
  • Ta da
    Oh my goodness! It's Java Turtle again! What is this thread coming to? I'm waiting on my Pooh Bear so when he gets here, I have to jet. We'll be working on the two huge trees the "Hottie Tree Guy" felled last Thursday and we'll be clearing more brush. We're going to TRY to be more wise about the poison ivy this time. Mine had just dried up and I don't want to get anymore (poison ivy, that is). The last batch went into my right eye. Not good.

    I worked a double shift yesterday, but managed to eat well, perhaps a bit too much caffeine. But sometimes you have to self medicate with whatever works. Oh and BTW my Mountaineers won! Yay!

    I must say, Gloria's post drew me out of the shadows and got my turtle fingers clacking on the keyboard. Welcome Gloria! Though I'm sort of new to this thread myself, I'd like to see more posts by you, so we can get to know you. I'm trying to find my diet MoJo and find the path back to motivation, weight loss and exercise too. I literally have a GYM set up in my living room, but uhhh errrr well? It uhhh just doesn't always help. WW is a great program. My sister (who started off larger than myself) has lost something like 140-145 pounds with WW and she's maintained for quite a while now. She's an exercise nut though. I think you'll really like the plan. I know for me, WHEN I CAN STICK TO IT, it's the most sensible, as I can eat what I want as long as I "pay" for it with my Points. If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion. Journal! Journal! Journal! It truly helps. Not just what you eat and drink and what exercise you do, but the times you did either AND how you felt about what was going on. I can look back and see when I've stress ate etc. I wish you all the luck in the world. I'm so glad you came here. I'm glad I came here too.

    I guess I'd better strap my turtle shoes on and scurry out the door before Pooh Bear gets here. Tomorrow is supposed to be a family picnic at a lake in MD (I live in WV). So I've got to wash laundry and clean house today too. I'm feeling good about this thread and all who roost here. Give me a day or two and I'll be doing personals like an old pro. Thank you all. Have a great Sunday.
  • Welcome Gloria!

    Valerie, hope you continue not to stress about $$. If we don't invest in ourselves, what is earning money good for ever?

    Nothing much going on this weekend. Eating's sort of okay. TOM's here. Need to exercise tonight. I need something exciting going on.
  • Good morning everyone! Happy Labor Day. Hope you get some unlaborous time. (is that even a word? )

    WI today down 2.8 pounds.

    I had been having some trouble with diarrhea for a while and since I had made a number of changes in my plan all at the same time...DUH...I couldn't figure out what was causing it. I was cutting out this and that food to see which might be causing the reaction, nothing...

    Well, once on this new plan, I wanted to try and give it a fair chance. One of the things that they said was a no, no, at least for this phase, was bananas. I have always recognized them as a great supply of potassium and magnesium and if I ever had problems with night cramping in my legs, I just upped my consumption of them. Well, without them I was pressed to find an acceptable alternative and wasn't to successful and the cramps were getting worse.

    A number of sites reccommended vitamin E, calcuim and magnesium. They kept saying just use the straight supplements so I tried adding calcium and magnesium in different doses, as I was already supplementing E. It did seem to help. Finally after cutting all the foods that I thought may be a factor, I went back to no supplements and VOILIA! No diarrhea, but still cramps. My body was not able to process any form or dose of the straight supplement.

    So, i'm putting it "out there" that i'm consciously going off plan for this one thing and will be eating half a banana in each of my two smoothies per day. It's been 4 days now with no cramps and did not find any additional weight related consequences.

    I'm just saying this to keep myself accountable to my plan.

    Have a great holiday!
  • Hi gang!
    I feel as if I have been gone forever! I am at home once again. My Mom is doing much better but she still has moments of dementia. That worries me so much, because when all of this started she was very sharp. I know at her age I shouldn't expcet that to last, but this was all so quick. We still don't know when we will be able to bring her home.

    Now to get to the weight...what was it I said before? The scale hasn't been mean to me. Oh yeah! It made up for it this week, I not only feel heavier..I am! That darn scale says I gained ten lbs since last weekend That is probably true to. I know I have done a lot of stress eating, just plain junk. I am only home for a few days to take care of some bills and other things that have to be done, but I am going to do my very best to stay on program while I am here. I feel terrible, just bloated and blah! My feet feel swollen too.

    I am so far behind in the threads there is no way I can catch up right now. I know things have happened while I was gone and I am sure I have something to say about it Don't I always?

    Has anybody heard from 2cute? How is her sister doing? Terri, is your Mom ok? I sure hope so. Thin, Your Mom was having some problems too right? I sure hope everyone is doing better. I am holding good thoughts for all of you.

    Good luck to all of you on your weight loss journey. I will check in as often as possible. to all. Ruth
  • Good day, fellow long-distance hens! I'm journaling for the 3rd day and doing pretty good. Went to my workout class this a.m., and MAN! was it hard! It's a fun routine though, and in another week or two I'll be doing much better at it. I'm so outa shape from not even keeping up with my walking the way I used to. But all that's gonna change now. The scale, fickle beast that it is, has already given up 3 pounds since I've been home. Water weight. I'll take it. 3 down and only another 135 or so to go. Piece of (low cal, low carb, fat-free) cake! No icing of course.

    Bill seems to have forgiven me for getting off the truck. He finally gave me something last night besides the cold shoulder, so whatever. Hope springs eternal.

    Hope y'all are having fun!!! ( I know, NO one in Ohio says "y'all", but hey. Maybe I've had too many of those southern peaches over the years.) I'm lookin' forward to hearing about everyone's wild weekend.
  • Hey ladies,

    the three-day weekend is coming to a close much too soon. Its been a pretty good weekend. I didn't get as much done inside as I had wanted however, we made huge progress out in the garage/barn. All my tack is now in the tack room. I still need to do organization work in there but at least I've got a place to put my stuff besides laying it around. We're darn close to having all the vehicles inside. DH got all the mowing done yesterday and I got all the weedeater work done too. Place looks good.

    I also took a lot of naps. That could be the new meds. Naps were good.

    I got in the pool each of the three days. DH thinks I am nuts because the water was cold. I just wanted to enjoy my last few days as I'm sure its only going to get colder. Time for it to come down for the winter.

    Tonight, I worked with three horses. All I did was work on tidying up manes, clipping halter paths, and clipping long hairs around their face. Its been a long time since I had done that so it was good bonding time with each of them. Peso whacked me on the side of the head though. DH said something to me and I was distracted while she tossed her head and cracked me right on the jaw. Got me on the left side but its my right side that hurts like the dickens. Just below the ear. Of course, it was DH's fault.

    I better go help DH get dinner ready.

    Great to see those checking in. to everyone. Enjoy the last few hours of the holiday!

  • Good Evening Ladies!


    I'm back from the windy city! We had a really nice time, but I don't think I'm going to be doing Chicago in less than three days again.

    DH got home from work early Friday, 10:30 p.m. and we wasted about an hour trying to decide when to leave. Finally we got to bed about midnight and then got up at 4:30. DH only slept about an hour, because after all, he'd only gotten out of bed at 2:00 p.m. So we left town at about 6:30 a.m. and with about three potty stops we ended up in Chicago about 2:00. We checked into the hotel found a little cafe and got some food and then decided to take in the sites. Our tickets for the Field Museum were for Sunday so we walked to the buckingham fountain and then to the waterfront and then along the lake to the museum and to the aquarium. We were going to go to the aquarium but the wait was an hour and a half! So we decided to go to the Sears tower. So, we walked some more. We finally found a free trolly that we were told would take us there. WRONG! It took us there, and right by and nearly back to our hotel before it stopped. So we walked BACK to the Sears tower and stood in line for an hour plus there! It was worth the wait. DS had a wonderful time! Then we walked all the way back to the hotel! LORD I was TIRED! I'm sure it was about six or seven miles total.

    The next day we got up about 6 a.m. got ready and checked out and went to the acquarium where we bought tickets and left and went tothe museum. We had breakfast in the museum and wandered around until it was time for King Tut, which was interesting, but still crowded and disappointing. They had a number of wonderful artifacts, but very little that was his! They didn't have the coffin or the funeary mask or any of the famous artifacts! Frankly it ticked me off for $72.00! So anyway, then we went back and saw the acquarium, which was nice and DS loved it. Then we grabbed a cab (I was in SO much pain from all the standing.) and went to dinner (Chicago Deep Dish Pizza). Then we left Chicago about 7 p.m. and got home about 2 a.m.

    Needless to say, we slept to noon today! Well, I did, DH slept until 2 p.m.

    Food was HORRIBLE! I ate totally fattening food. I justified it based upon all the walking...figuring I was working it off. We'll see. The scale said it was UP 8 pounds in two days. I somehow doubt that...I'm hoping it's a lot of water weight from lack of drinking water and sitting in a car for 14 hours.

    I'll post pictures later!

    Gloria: This is the best place in the world for motivation and support!

    Sorry everyone else! I'm still beat, but I'll get to replies to everyone else tomorrow and maybe a post of a picture or two!
  • Just a quick note to say that DH's sister died last night. Those of you who have been around a while know she has been sick for quite a while. She just got tire of fighting. Don't know what we willbe doing the next few days. She is here in Dallas but don't know how tied up we will be.
  • There was a weekend in there, wasn't there?
    Good Morning Ladies!

    Barbara: I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart and prayers go out to your and your DH. Take care of one another and we will all be thinking of you.

    Terri: You did so much work this weekend! It must feel good to get so much accomplished. When DH had been asking what I wanted for my birthday, I told him I wanted to paint the house…instead we went to Chicago. I can't say I'm sorry…but we really need to get busy and get some projects actually completed. We had plans for so much when the weather got better, that is to say, not so darn hot!, but with his new job I can't see it getting done. I'm gonna have to just do this stuff myself! I'm glad to hear your mom's tests showed nothing…but agree with you, she needs to see a specialist. Quality of life is too important to just feel rotten all the time.

    Valerie! I'm so glad you are off the truck! We'll have to get used to seeing you around, huh? Guess we'll live… on the three pounds down! Water or not, it's good to see, huh? I'm sure it's the first of many, many to come. $200 jumper cables! My DH would be returning them to the store pronto! I'm afraid I'm a bit too frugal, but I simply won't pay that much when there's so many other cheaper ones out there! Call me the nagging wife I guess. Then again, DH and I made an agreement before we married that we wouldn't spend more than $50 on anything without consulting the other first – so I have the agreement to back me up when I get ticked off at him over spending. Handy.

    Ruth: SO good to see you post again! for your mom….it must be hard. Don't worry about that nasty scale. They are evil creatures that take great delight in torturing us. When the weight goes on that fast it comes back off pretty fast too. I'm sure of it. Really – I HAVE to be sure of it – 'cause I'm in the same boat with my food-filled weekend.

    Karen: Did you try a potassium supplement? I always thought it was the potassium that was the good stuff for cramps. I have to take one every day as my BP meds suck it out of my system. Or maybe other foods high in potassium - orange juice, baked potato, winter squash, tomato juice, vegetable juice cocktail, avocado, one- cooked dried beans and black strap molasses. Potassium tends to constipate, rather than the other. Then again, I subscribe to the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" philosophy on medicines. If your banana is working, I don't see how ½ a banana once a day is going to hurt your diet efforts that much. Better to be healthy and feel good any day! Oh, nearly forgot - on your loss too!

    Angela: Did you find anything exciting to do? Hope your weekend was good!

    Mary! My turtle friend! Glad to see you post! I've never in my life had poison ivy – not allergic. I've camped in the middle of it, pulled it up with my hands, when I was a girl scout I dug a latrine in a patch of it! (We sent girls home from camp – it was BAD!) So I can't even imagine how horrible it would be to get it in your eyes, but just the thought makes me shudder! Be careful! I agree with you about WW. I truly think it's a great way to learn to eat in a way you can live with all your life! Even this weekend, knowing I was overeating, was better than it ever used to be when I didn't even realize that the choices I was making were bad ones. I've learned so much.

    Gloria: I know I've welcomed you before, but again! I think you've come to the right place for support. If I may offer tips…one of the first thing I did when I got serious about my weight was to examine how I used to eat. We ate a lot of fast food. I looked up the nutrition information on the internet and saw how badly I was eating. I made lists of places I could and couldn't eat and stay on program (OP) and what foods were okay and the points for each. I weighed and measured my food. I was surprised by how much pasta is in a cup – surprised both by how big the serving was, and how small, compared to what we used to eat. I still weigh and measure quite a bit, although I've gotten pretty good at estimating. Most importantly – don't quit when you flounder. If you have a donut for breakfast don't just scrap the whole day and pig-out (something I used to do all the time) just start over with healthy foods the next meal. If you never stop trying you can't fail!

    Celery: BABY??? Come on Grandma – photos!

    Well ladies, food wasn't great again yesterday. Went over the points again. But today is a new day and I'm set to do well. If tomorrow's WI shows me up – which I'm sure it will – I'm just gonna keep plugging away. I've proven over the preceding two weeks that staying OP works – so any bad weekend gain will come back off.

    I'm rather surprised by the small amount of soreness I have from all the walking this weekend. We were so worn out that even DS was complaining about his feet and back hurting from standing and walking so much! Needless to say, the skinny 11 yr old boy got NO sympathy from his 40-something fat parents! Poor child. I did some quick estimating and it looks like we walked more than 6 miles the first day, close to four the second – just distance between destinations. That doesn't count the walking and standing in line inside the museums and Sears Tower. Thank heavens for good shoes! I know I could not have done this 80 lbs ago and it makes me more determined to work harder to lose the rest of this weight. Makes me kind of mad at myself I could have lost a bunch of weight if I'd stayed OP with all that walking! But NO! Not ME! I had to be a big old pig! Ah well, life goes on.

    Speaking of which, I need to end this and get it sent...must work extra hard when I've only got a 4-day week! Lots of love to my lovely ladies!