Active Folks Over 50 -- #15
 

Hey everybody! :broc: Welcome to the thread!

Active Folks Over 50 is a place to talk about fitness and healthy eating information as it relates to weight loss and/or maintenance--and also about any work, fun, hobby, or volunteer activites you're engaged in. In other words, the active part of your life!

Just a few guidelines for this thread:

- Raves about grandkids or ranting about your kids is out of bounds.

- Lengthy discussion of your illnesses, conditions, treatments, and medical procedures in general is also out of bounds on this thread. So is whining about old age!

- Positive stories of vacations taken, volunteer work, or achievements at work or elsewhere are highly encouraged! As are recommendations for books, movies, discussions of weight related issues, etc.

Join in!
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So, irrigation systems... what fun... well, maybe. I like the image of leaping over the trenches! Now you be careful out there! :lol:

Today I've promised myself I will go to the hardware etc. store and deal with the light fixture. As usual I have about a hundred things I need to do... after all, I went to the movies on last Thursday, and so that was sort of my "weekend" day.

Oh! Did anyone else see the jump rope competition on TV? It was shown on July 28. I had NO IDEA that jumping rope was such an amazing sport. These were mostly kids in their teens, and when they do double dutch... well, let's just say never in my wildest dreams would I be able to move my feet that fast, let alone turn the rope that fast! I was astonished! Here's a YouTube sample from 2007:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqrWdqveZ18

This is the speed doubles competition. Teams can consist of any combination of girls and boys.

See ya!

Jay

Morning . . . :wave:

Sorry I was MIA yesterday -- stuff happens sometimes. :shrug: We have a long weekend here in NS (and most parts of Canada) and, of course, the forecast is for 3 straight days of rain. :lol: Guess I'll be finding ways to move it and shake it inside. :yes:

Have a good one, gang . . . see you later. . . :carrot:

meowee, are we talkin' to ourselves in here? :lol:

Everybody else must be having a good weekend away from the computer!

Jay

Looks like it's just us JAY . . . :shrug: . . . Hope they are all having lots and lots of fun. This long weekend of ours is definitely living up to the forecast -- rain is coming down in sheets right now and expected to continue until about Wednesday at latest predictions. Oh well, I'm getting lots of inside stuff done. :lol:

Hi Jay and Meowee, Just a quick fly by. I'm still jumping over trenches. I don't think I'll ever make the jump rope competition. WOW See you later.

I'm BAAAACK :D
Missed you all - but had a wonderful time.
Nutshell version:
Friday - stopped at microbrewery for lunch, on into Rochester and hiked for 2 hrs, then another microbrewery for dinner

Saturday - breakfast at a wonderful little diner - fantastic spinach omelet - hiked 10 miles which included seeing deer, beaver, rabbits, a bike race in a velodrome, and a cider mill. Then on to Trader Joe's for groceries. Finished with a wonderful eggplant and brown rice dish for dinner.

Sunday - Same diner for breakfast - veggie omelet this time - and then on to Birch Run (outlet mall) where I shopped all day! Came home with 2 suits, 2 dresses, 3 tops, 3 pants, 6 skirts, 5 jackets, and two pairs of shoes.

Spent $373.14 for an average of $16.22 per purchase. Considering I did most of my buying at Petite Sophisticates, Kasper, Anne Klein, Coldwater Creek and the Bass outlet - I'm very, very pleased :D

I think I'm set for clothes now, and I think that Freda is right - I love my wardrobe too much to gain back an ounce ;)

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I'm off to unpack :)

I will catch up more tomorrow.

Laurie

Hey Laurie! Hey flowingair! Laurie, glad you had a good weekend! Great shopping! I would love to do something like that--I'm not a shopper, but I do like to find clothes I like and pay less for them.

flowingair, are the trenches getting to the fill-in point yet?

meowee, did it stop raining? We have rain every day now--sometimes all day, sometimes only in the afternoon. Looks like we'll have sun this morning.

Well, I replaced the ballast on the fluorescent light fixture over the sink. :faint: Took awhile to accomplish, and I was so relieved when I turned on the power and flipped the switch and the light went on. :stress: If it hadn't I would have had to throw in the towel, 'cause I used every bit of my strength and stamina on it. Being over the sink, it was very awkward to work on. I don't think there's a place in my body that hasn't been twisted.

I have a lot of work to do today... I need to get some projects finished and turned in so I can get PAID! :book2:

See ya! :wave:
Jay

Good Morning . . . :carrot:

Rain thinned a bit yesterday afternoon. So far today, it's just overcast, but the rain will likely show up again soon. :shrug: Hey, no holiday Monday plans for me and I've got lots of inside stuff to keep me busy -- if I get really bored, I can even do some laundry. :s:

Morning ladies, I had to work the weekend, but now I'm off untill Friday. I do have the grandkids here for the next 2 days thought, so my time is not my own. They are here from 9-9. Gs starts soccer practice today and GD starts tomorrow. It's that time again allready, run, run, run....

Laurie, My favorite stores!! I've got to get up there soon. maybe this weekend. sounds like a fun weekend.

Jay, Congratulations on getting the light fixture fixed. My Goodness, you are multitalented! I wouldn't know where to start. I've went too long with our "traditional" roles i'm afraid. But DH and i have started to teach each other the things we might need to know. I'm a little embarassed to say I had never pumped gas untill last year. That was "his" job. he had never been to the bank. That was "my" job.

Linda, Sorry, what was the "long weekend" for you?

Flogirl, Remember when jumping rope was something you did for fun? What happened to all that energy?

Make it a good day, Freda

Called different things in different parts of the country -- here in NS it's "Natal Day" -- in Ontario it's just called "the Civic Holiday". Quebec doesn't have it at all. Most of the Western provinces do, but i don't know if they give it special names or not.

Basically, it's just an excuse for a long weekend at the beginning of August and doesn't really celebrate anything in particular -- at least not anything that I'm aware of. :dizzy:

Hey . . . the sun just came out for the first time in days. :yay:

meowee, it celebrates the "birth" of Halifax, doesn't it? Hence the "natal"?

Jay

Not only can she fix light fixtures and powerwash the house, she knows Canadian history too? :lol: Jay - you NEVER cease to AMAZE me!

Linda - sounds like a great excuse for a holiday to me. It was hard to get back at it today after the long weekend. And it is HOT here - and muggy - ugh.

Freda - hope you are enjoying the kids and your time off! Are you staying cool?

Jay probably just laughs at me, but I can't handle this heat. (Yes, I know high 80s isn't hot to most folk, but ugh!!!!)

Well, I had a much better experience giving blood this time. It renews my faith in the system after the nurse from hxxx last time :)

Gotta get supper started. My turn to cook and DH walked in to give blood right as I was leaving, so he should be home soon.

Hope you are all staying cool and enjoying this first week of August!

Laurie

Could be . . . but until relatively recently, different areas of the province celebrated different Natal Days (guess each had their own founding day, which would make sense) . . . maybe they finally agreed on August 1 because it was the Civic Holiday in Ontario and had been for many years and now it really isn't any "birth day" at all. :dunno: Hey, I'm from "away" so I can be expected to be in the dark, but my friend LouLou was born here and she doesn't honestly know either.

Hey meowee, thanks for the explanation... I guess like many holidays the original reasons have gotten somewhat obscured.

flowingair, those trenches will settle, of course.

Electrical repairs aren't hard in themselves. The wiring part is often the easiest--you just follow directions. :lol: Of course, you must turn off the power to the circuit, and that's sometimes inconvenient... But the hard part is often the reassembly of things. I took the fixture down off the ceiling so that I wouldn't have to be trying to do all the wiring up there (still had to do some)--and getting it back up in place was what wore me out.

I learned from sad experience that physical activity alone does not cause weight loss... not for me... the food restriction has to be there.

More work for me today, and in days to come! :book2:

Jay

Good Morning . . . :wave:

Just for a change -- it's raining -- at least we did get about 15 minutes of sun yesterday about noon. Maybe we'll get lucky again later today. Oh well, when I compare us to north-eastern parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia is getting by pretty lightly. :yes:

I've given up waiting for it to stop completely because I absolutely have to go to a grocery run this morning for a number of things that I'm out of. Maybe I'll get some extra exercise trying to run between the raindrops. :lol:

Have a good day . . . :carrot:

Counting Down--two words re heat in Fla: air conditioning. It is just HOT in Florida, I couldn't tell you any different. But, I sometimes felt just as uncomfortable in Massachusetts in the summer. And up there, no air conditioning. :(

Come to find out that a large part of North America is considered subtropical climate during the summer...

Jay

flowingair - yup - for me it has to be both calorie restriction AND exercise. One without the other just never worked. The problem was, I could get my act together and do one successfully, but never both at the same time. But, practice make perfect, and I finally was able to make it work.

Jay - glad you are getting those jobs done - paychecks are always nice :) I think I would enjoy freelance work. I'm beginning to explore some options so that when I do retire from the school district that I have some possibilities for some extra income coming in. It takes a disciplined person to do what you do though! I'm betting that discipline has been a big part of your weight-loss and maintenance success!

Linda - hope the weather cooperated for you today! It sure was hot here!

Gotta get some weeding done and some water on the gardens so they make it through this heat wave.

Have a GREAT evening all!

Hi, A quick fly by. Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to keep working on my food choices. Have a great day everyone.

Mornin ladies, Another hot, humid day for us here in Michigan. But the evenings are starting to cool down. Really nice.

Did anyone watch Oprah yesterday? Dr. Oz was on and was talking about why men lost weight faster than women. He said it was because of the muscle mass. As we get older, especially women, we loose muscle. That is the reason I lift weights. I've never been able to maintain weight loss before. I've got to do the whole package too, exercise and diet. But i've stopped looking at it as a chore, and now it's just the way I live. This is what I have to do to maintain the life style I want.

make it a good day, freda

Hey the slim me! :wave:

Yep, definitely muscle mass. Men just start out life with more.

I like using weights, too! And for just that reason.

flowingair! (watching the flyby)

CountinDown, being totally freelance, also known as owning your own business, is not for the faint of heart. Many people can't handle the stress of not having a paycheck every week and not knowing where one's next work is going to come from or when. At this point I have a few regular clients, but even then, reorganizations happen--so I'm always kinda looking around for opportunities.

Now, if you're retired and have a pension, that's a better situation. Then extra work is frosting on the cake. Oops, sorry for the food reference. Let's say... um... some chopped nuts sprinkled on the fruit! :lol:

Jay

Just can't get away from those food references can we :lol3: At least that one is healthier -- how about "the extra work is like the incline on the treadmill -- very beneficial".

We have mostly sunshine and comfy temperatures today. :yay: Hope it continues for a little while.

Later . . . :carrot:

Linda :lol:

Jay - I really admire anyone that can work for themselves. I have always gone the "safe" route. Though, it will most likely pay off with a pension 4 years from now. :D

Freda - I DID catch a few minutes of the Oprah episode. Which was weird because I am rarely home befor 5 p.m. and never watch Oprah. But, I turned on the TV while doing laundry and caught it. I was impressed with what I saw. And yes - I have been a believer of adding weights into the routine for quite a while now. Though, I burned out on using the multi-station machine that we have in the bedroom. I have been using dumbells and resistance bands for a while and really enjoy the variety that they provide.

Hi to everyone else. Gotta get some zzz's.

Have a great day all!

Good morning! CD, I hope you bagged some zzzz's! :D

meowee, somehow the metaphor of the incline on the treadmill doesn't seem to have the same appeal... :lol:

Oh, yeah, the pension question. It's nice to simply have a job where the money for things gets taken out of your paycheck, because you don't see it and you therefore don't miss it so much. In my case, I have my own individual retirement accounts (IRAs) that I've contributed to over the years (but not enough, I think). And of course, I've had to pay into Social Security/Medicare at the same time I pay my income tax every year--this is called self-employment tax, and it runs about 15% just by itself. What this means is I have to plan for my tax payments all throughout the year, so I don't find myself short at tax time.

And shall we talk about the cost of individual health insurance? Well... no.

So, here it is Thursday. More to do... :D Hope you all have a good day.

Jay

Morning ladies, Ah, a day to myself, at last. What shall I do? ANYTHING I WANT! I've had the kids all week, can you tell? They do make sure I get lots of exercise. I go for several bike rides a day. This week I played hop-scotch, helped with soccer practice, and played catch. much more fun that just taking a walk.

Laurie, I use dumbbells too. I like the fact that I can watch TV and do my weights at the same time. Makes the time pass quickly. You can do many many things with dumbells and increase as you get stronger. My family was amazed at how much weight I was using when I was on vacation. And the bands you can take with you anywhere.

Jay, If you work for yourself you know you have disipline! Not sure I would be able to do it. I do plan to work past retirement also, and for as long as I can. We can go contingent at work, that means we commit to work 1 day a month and can work when and as often as we want.

Flo, Just hang in there!

Linda, Glad your weather is nicer, hope it continues

make it a good day, Freda

Hi . . . :wave:

Weather is back to 'normal' -- it's raining. :lol: there is a little difference though -- now it's cold and wet instead of hot and wet. :dizzy:

I still have a preference for 'the icing on the cake' metaphor anyway -- always reminds me of my Father who used to say "the cake is just something to keep the icing from sticking to the plate" Eating watermelon always reminds me of his other favourite 'food' line -- "an awful lot of work for a drink of water". I don't ever remember seeing him eat watermelon that he didn't say that. :D

Today is mall-crawl day so that will be the exercise routine for now. Another line that springs to mind -- my Mother this time -- " you aren't made of sugar, you won't melt". Think a lot of parents have used that one on their kids. :yes:

Anyway, enough is enough of my maudlin comments -- have a great day, gang . . . :carrot:

HI all - just flying in. Gotta get some work done in the gardens. Doing well here - the weather is cool, which is really wonderful!

I really am blessed to work for a school district when it comes to discussion of retirement. I can retire at 55 with half pension and full health benefits. The latter of which is really the blessing. Thus, I am starting to weigh my options as to which is preferable -stay with the district or "retire" and do something else instead. I change my mind almost daily as to which I would like more. And of course, as school starts again and things get crazy - I will be leaning toward the retirement choice.

Linda - hope you enjoyed the mall crawl! I think more cool weather is headed your way.

Freda - LOL - I love days to myself. I don't get them often, but I do enjoy them! I think that is one of the things I am lamenting now that DS2 is living here. No more "ME" days. It just isn't the same when others are home. Silly, really, but it isn't.

Jay - health insurance right now is just ugly. Even for folk that aren't self-employed. More and more businesses around here are changing or dropping their coverage for employees. DH works for a hospital and they are struggling to stay afloat financially. Small town hospitals really do face a lot of challenges.

We are blessed that ***S has a plan for young folk under 30 that is affordable and covers the basics. Otherwise DS2 (since he is not in school right now) would not have coverage. I feel for so many out there that don't have such options.

OK, I gotta get moving! Have a great evening all!

Hey! CD, were you trying to type Blue Cross Blue Shield by its initials? I don't know why the automatic word police asterisked that... huh... I have B C B S as my individual plan. I'm hoping I can convince them to remove the "build" rider from my policy--they charged me more initially because of my weight.

Hey flowingair! About the weights--don't start too heavy if you haven't lifted for awhile. Some hand weights are a good way to start, and I wouldn't go over 5 pounds--3 would be safer. If you can get a set that allows you to add weight in 1 pound increments, that might be a good investment. Sometimes the weight set comes with a booklet of exercises. A video might work--I don't know of any, though.

The basic idea is that you do repetitions of a movement--say 10, or 12, or 15--and by the end, you can't do it another time. This is working the muscle to fatigue. It's important not to use too heavy a weight, especially for women, not because of muscle damage but because you can strain your tendons. They take a long time to heal.

the slim me, how was your day to yourself? Good, I hope!

Jay

:wave:

Another overcast, but not too hot, kind of day for me -- and it has just flown by really quickly.

LOL - I should look at my posts after I type them. Yes, Jay - I indeed was trying to type B.C.B.S. - gotta love filters!

Jay - how often can you petition them to drop the rider? I'm thankful they didn't require a physical for DS2, because he is indeed quite heavy.

Linda - I'm afraid we are sending more cool weather your way. It is sunny here though.

Flowingair - Jay gave good advice. Start small and work up to heavier weights.

I combine videos and my own. I like videos because I don't have to think or count. Lots of folk like to use weights while they are watching TV. We have a multi-station weight machine, but I go through streaks of using it. I actually prefer the resistance bands and handweights right now. Correct form on most exercises is important, as is breathing. If you remember from the gym - great - if not - there is a wealth of info online.

One video I go back to is Leslie Sansone-Shortcuts. Leslie takes you through the basics in her usual chatty way.

I have a Kelli Roberts video that came with the Spri resistance bands. She does a good job taking you through the basics as well.

I also like 10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results Pilates which uses handweights for the upper body segments.

And my last fave is 10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts which also uses weights in the upper body segment.

Gotta fly - they are having "Lakefront Days" in the park tonight with some good bands playing. DH gets off work soon and I am meeting him in the park. It is a bit chilly, but at least the sun is shining :)

Have a GREAT weekend all!

Good Morning . . . :carrot:

Another overcast and humid day -- but comfy temperature levels again. Hope I might actually get outside for a walk today. Other than that, I honestly want to get some 'old-lady' crafting stuff done. Working on Christmas presents and feeling sooooooo organized about things -- bet I'll still be running around hunting for gifts in December though. :rolleyes:

Have a great Saturday, gang . . . :grouphug:

Hey everyone! Today I'm cleaning floors and watching the Olympics and a bit of pre-season football. Did anyone watch the Olympic opening ceremonies last night? It was FANTASTIC!

CD, I don't know how often one can petition about "build." I was told that I should wait until I have kept the weight off for a year before I write. And of course, I have to have doctor documentation. I'll need to go to a doc in September for a checkup and weigh-in. I'm kind of leery about doing it--I'm afraid they'll try to add some other sort of restriction.

flowingair, isn't that one of the Olympic sports? Trench leaping? heh.

meowee, I forbid you to say Christmas. It is only August for goodness sakes! :lol:

Jay

HI, We're finally getting some much needed rain. Lots of thunder and lightening to go along with it. should pump some good nitrogen into the soil to help things grow.

WEIGHTS: I've been lifting for awhile and it has made such a difference. Not only are my arms toned but I think it works as well or better than arobics to keep the weight off. I started small, 3 pound weights I believe, and got a weight lifting tape at the library. I've since moved on the much higher weights. I can do my lifting while I'm watching TV. It doesn't take long, and it's not boring.

we got some bad news today. My husbands brother died last night. It wasn't unexpected, he had been in hospice for awhile. But it's always a shock, no matter how well you think you are prepared.

Everyone make it a good day, Freda

Freda, my condolences about your husband's brother. :(

Jay

Freda - my prayers are ascending for you and your family. Even when it is expected, it is still hard.

Jay, I'm with you on the "C" word. I am usually on top of shopping for it by now, but I haven't even started. Maybe I can pick up a few things when we are in SF in October visiting the kids. I love the ethnic neighborhoods for unusual gifts - especially for friends.

Trying to get some cleaning done this weekend - since we were gone last weekend, things are looking a bit ragged. I didn't get as much done during the week as I would have liked. Trying to decide which clothes to get ready to take for a business trip on Wed. I am presenting at a conference, and the attire is "business casual". That is such a "crock" term for these things - especially for women. I'm thinking summer suits - especially for my presentation, but then there are dinner events and the like - as well as free time at the resort - which means a HUGE suitcase full of "just in case" clothes.

And then again, I'm probably overthinking the whole think :lol:

Have a great rest of the weekend all!

Big :hug: for you, FREDA; and, of course, one for your DH as well as everyone in the family.

Good Morning . . . :wave:

Rain last night and it's overcast and humid again. Nothing too exciting in my plans . . . how about the rest of you?