How did I get to be 50?
 

I am still shaking my head in wonder how did this young feeling woman turn 50? But then I step back, put my glasses on and look in the mirror and shake my head and go oh my oh my. Why are my eyelids drooping? who painted he wrinkles on my neck? Are those laugh lines?
Then I step back further and go when did I get so round? What happened to my waist?

Soo here I am, ready to admit I have put on some pounds and want to see them gone and become a more youthful, and healthy adult. I would love a buddy (or two, three, four or more) to help me watch my food, motivate me to exercise.

I love any new low cal recipes, alternative ways to exercise other than walking (which I have limited time to do) that can be done in my home without expensive equipment (I have owned those torture machines only to see them sold at garage sales)

I have signed up for the biggest loser challenge but that does not start until Sept and I would like to get a jump on it, at least get in a routine so I will not be a hinderance to the team.

HI nancy, When I want to look better I take my glasses off!! I had to laugh at your reference to glasses.

Welcome! Come on in and join us, we love new idea's.

Hi Nancy :wave: yeppers, I'm rapidly swooping in on 52 and have to double check my birth date on my drivers license every once in a while (with my reading glasses on of course :lol:) because, from the inside looking out, I could swear it should be 32. Not to worry, lots of us here in the 50+ group to be your buddies. Check out a couple of the regular threads (I hang out in Golden Girls quite a bit) and find one that looks like the regular posters share your interests (and/or challenges). Don't be afraid to ask questions - I've made a lifetime career of dieting and thought I knew all about it - NOT - I've learned all kinds of new stuff from the folks here at 3FC and it seems to be working :D

Comes a time when taking off the glasses no longer works -- I'm 65 and had cataract surgery last year so I now only need my glasses for reading -- so now I put them on and tilt my head back that blurs the image and helps the neck crepe disappear a little too . . . :rofl:

:wel3fc: Chickie -- we are all definitely in this together -- :hug:

I was just reading all your posts and really stated to laugh. I had not realized that so many of us when we reached this wonderful stage in our lives had to rely on those awful tell tale signs by wearing glasses.

I think I am going ot opt not to wear mine when looking in the mirror but then if I don't how can I pluck those nasty little chin hairs...

Oh! I wish I was 50 again and know what I know now!

:rofl: Oooooh, great idea Linda! Gonna hafta try that :rofl:

:lol: I just invested in one of those 5x magnification mirrors for that little task.

Welcome Nancy! I don't feel 50 either! I am a student nurse (nearly qualified) am trying to learn to play the cello and am taking up jogging - VERY slowly! I feel daft for taking on all these new challenges at my age - but it doesn't feel like my age!

Well I have to say another week down and I am still laughing, they say that is the best thing for you....laugh laugh and more laughing.

And laughing I hope will pay off since I just found out I am the emergency fill in for a friends wedding on Saturday--you should have seen me scrambling this weekend trying to find an appropriate dress in lavender and white. Well I found one but it sure is not the most flattering on my figure. Wonder if a girdle will help???

I was trying to figure out how to put my weight loss tracker up and I am sure I do it on my control panel but I can't figure it out. Anyone want to share?

Hi Nancy, as far as the weight tracker, I think it takes awhile to be able to doit. Not sure but I know Linda or some of the others will let you know, but I think it takes 30 days or 30 posts, something like that.

As far as the girdle goes...way too constricting! BUT, have you heard of Spanks? Oprah talked about them on her show and they are wonderful. I tried some of the other brands but they left ridges. Not what I wanted to show!! They are a little pricey but worth it.

Indeed they definitely say that laughter is great medicine and great for weight loss too . . . :rofl:

The weight tracker is part of your signature area within the User CP so you are on the right track to a tracker -- now, all you have to do is last out the 20 days of membership and 20 posts waiting period that is imposed to dissuade spammers and everything will then become clear. :yes:

Hello everyone!

This is my first post. I am 55 and a grandmother - but I still feel like I am 30 - but much wiser, I hope. It really sucks that by the time you start to really figure it all out, you are too old to really enjoy it. I am determined to live my life like a clued in 30 year old. Too bad the rest of the world doesn't see me the way I see me. I am hoping my dieting journey helps to that end. Do you ever notice that overweight, middle aged women are pretty much ignored? So let's stand up and get noticed!

My two cents...

Hey crazydog! :wel3fc:

Here in over-50s, we don't believe in being too old to enjoy it! ;) And yes, losing weight does help--a lot!

C'mon in! Hang out! Glad to have you here. :cheer2:

Jay

Well I guess I can wait out the 30 days or 30 post which ever comes first LOL

And I am a Grandma too...twice actually and yes I do feel like an enlighten 30 year old.

My big challenage has been exercise; my stepper broke the other day and I am going to look at one someone posted on craigs list tomorrow. I hope that will inspire me to get back in the grove.

What types of exercise to you all do? I really don't have the motivation to walk and usually the weather here is not favoriable for it either. Would love to find new fun indoor, inexpensive activities
nancy

I do anything and everything I can squeeze in :D I bought a program called Fluidity that I really love. It's a body weight/resistance type of strength training program. Then I have a couple of dancey type DVDs for the between days. I like working out at home because I can throw in a load of laundry, toss something in the microwave to defrost for dinner and get my workout while my modern conveniences are getting theirs. Now if I could just teach the dogs to vacuum......... ;)

:welcome: CRAZYDOG . . . so glad you found us :hug: You will never feel invisible around here, Chickie.

Can you tell me more about fluidity? I don't have a working DVD player at home right now but my laptop will work or I can use the girls PS2 (sometimes lol) I always liked doing wieght and resistance training.

You are right about working out at home it is the only time I really can. That is another reason walking is really out, I have so much going on once I hit the door in the evening.

My typical day
Up at 5am
leave house at 5:45am
arrive at work at 6:50 and begin my day
Lunch at my desk
Leave at 4pm arrive home at 5:30 if I don't have to stop at the grocery store
Cook family quick dinner and eat 6:30-7:30
Shower and relax with a book and in bed by 9-9:30 so finding that free exercise time can be a challenge and if I work out to late then I can't sleep

so any and all help I will take

Well I bought a used stari climbing machine yesterday and have yet to try it out. I need to find or make the cable part. The one that came with it the plastic coating the wire is worn off and I am afraid it will tear up the pully/wheel. So that is my mission tonight to find or talk someone in the hardware store to fabricate me something that will work. I will keep you updated

I found Fluidity because I fell asleep trying to stay up past 8 o'clock to watch a movie :lol: When I woke up, their infomercial was on. I actually watched the infomercial (yeah, on purpose even) a couple of times before I went on-line and ordered it. If you just go to Fluidity.com you can see all their info (I think they even have a link to watch that infomercial). I got it in January of this year and not once have I used it to hang my ironing on :lol:

Your day looks a lot like mine - I'm up at 4:30 and out of the house by 5:30/5:45. Lunch at my desk too. And home around 5:30ish. I didn't think I had time to exercise but I just decided it was something I HAD to do and if it meant staying up a half hour later then I would. Turns out I really don't have to. I don't know if it's the better food or what but suddenly I'm actually organized :D All my life I always heard about these ladies who were planning their menus for the week before going grocery shopping - used to think it was silly and now I'm one of them. Who da thunk it. ;)

Go check out Fluidity and let me know what you think - FYI, you do have to stick with it no matter what - when I first started there were some of the seated movements I just couldn't do quite correctly because my tummy and thighs kept getting in the way of each other :o but I hung in there and just kept doing the best I could - result being 8 inches off my waist, 8 off my hips and 4 off of each thigh :carrot: I'm not quite a finished product yet but they don't crash into each other any more.......

so now I put them on and tilt my head back that blurs the image and helps the neck crepe disappear a little too .

I like this lol. Got that neck crepe thing going on as well . don't wear the glasses, though, I am known to leave my teeth on the dressing table while I am pulling out a few hairs.:o
Maryl

Me too...82 days to go!
 

I think this nearly every day lately as my 50th bday rapidly approaches. 82 days to go. I really don't mind though...I don't look fifty..at least that is what people say (oh dear do you think they are just being polite), and except for the arthritis, fibro, back and hip pain..don't feel fifty either. And I am certainly far too immature to be fifty! I decided I wanted to lose 50 pounds by my fiftieth birthday thus the Fifty by Fifty blog and identification tag. (15.75 to go)

If you want to look REALLY good, lie on your back in bed and look at yourself holding the mirror really far away above your face. Just don't look any lower..what used to both point north tend to be pointing east and west if you know what I mean...deepish sigh!;)

You must mean those things I now keep tucked into my belt -- or would if I wore a belt. :rofl:

I remember years ago hearing an actress say she never bent over anyone anymore because she saw herself in a mirror bending over and mistook herself for an old bulldog. I have taken that to heart myself in these years. It's not easy to angle myself so I'm always looking up. I haven't had to yell "What's that in the sky?" yet to anyone but I am prepared in case it becomes necessary.

Well if laughing uses calories..I lost about a quarter of a pound on this thread!

There are some great advantages to being over 50. Right now I can think of a few:
1. it is much easier to get a seat on the bus when the bus is full
2. when I trip or blunder I can blame it on my eyesight rather my graceful self
3. you can get away with being a bit on the rude side if ya need to LOL

I am going to the fluidity website and checking it out

I got one of those mirrors that magnifies 15x, I love it for those chin hairs .

Hi Nancy,
I enjoyed your post about turning 50 so much! It seems like you turn around and you're still that raven haired young thing inside, but things have "slipped". I went to Denny's for breakfast the other day and realized that in one year, I will qualify for the senior special...sheesh.

I am dying my hair, bleaching my teeth, supplementing my hormones, protecting my bones, taking baby aspirin for my heart, I caps for my eyes and supportive shoes for my feet. If my bladder goes, I am in trouble! I think diet and exercise will do me wonders, it already has, so good luck to you with your efforts. I am so envious of those well kept chickies who never gained weight. Their bodies don't look so bad at 50...sigh.

Exercise...I love dance cardio. All it takes is a DVD player and DVD's. I get them at Ross for $5 and they are great! I have a belly dance DVD and a Salsa DVD. I also have a yoga and pilates DVD. Usually, they have a shorter and longer workout, so if your time is limited you can choose the shorter workout. The store here at 3fc has hundreds of workout DVD's for sale. When I browsed through them I noted that some of the workouts are only 15 minutes long so you can break them up throughout the day. I am so busy that that might be a good option for me. I tend to not do strength and flexibility training if I don't have "someone" coaxing me along.

Good luck finding a workout that works for you. It is so important to weight loss.

I just got a dog. I figure she and I will be taking lots of walks.

Sheri

I am glad I could make you laugh and it is all so very very true. Did I mention I bought this used stepper??? Well the cable was looking a bit worn so I took it to the local hardware store to see if they could help me build another one...lo and behold they showed me the parts, took it home and hubby took it to work to make sure the clamps were tight and the first time I go to use it guess what? I broke the it LOL....it seems the nylon tubing on the outside of the cable enabled the cable to slip right out as I was stepping aways...

Next....guess I will try the mini trampoline tonight?

I just turned 51 on August 8th and I feel like I'm in still my 30's ... then I look in the mirror and wonder, "Who are YOU, and what did you do with my face!?!" :yikes:

I took a GOOD look at myself NAKED in a full length mirror the other day and told my husband that I look like I need to be ironed (he said that could be arranged - lol). I actually taped my eyelids up at work the other day ~ just to see how it would look, and I have to admit it looked wonderful. I may just have to have these bad boys lifted! I'm just tired of everyone telling me how "tired" I look all the time :tired: !! (I actually told people I WAS tired a few times).

As far as the rest of me goes ... I am praying that it goes away with weight loss and exercise (...hint ... hint ... TURKEY NECK!!) :turkey:

I actually LOVE being 50 :val1: I love the freedom I feel! I love spending more time with my husband ALONE :cheers: ! I love the way I seriously care more about MYSELF these days! Fifty has liberated me in many ways ... I got a new tattoo last August on the 50th birthday.

Fifty ROCKS!! :cheer:

Hi there CATHY . . . :welcome: to Age 50+ . . . glad to have you joining us.

:lol: . . . I think I can still remember turning 50 (although it was soooooo long ago now) . . . and it was good; much less traumatic than turning 40. :yes:

Hey these changing decades seem to get easier all the time (and faster, too. :s:

Freedom Fifty?
 

I was just wondering if anyone else as they approached fifty or turned fifty started to feel like suddenly they had a whole lot more "oh the **** with it " attitude towards things. I don't mean in a bad way, I mean, "I am going to go to the store WITHOUT full makeup" and I really don't care what anyone thinks...I guess I mean, I really find I am starting to care less and less about what people think of me? I also find I am starting to be far less approval seeking than I was in the past. I have stopped trying to keep friendships going that should have died long ago. I am starting to spend time on myself without feeling guilty about it..etc.etc.

Then again, a wise person once said, "Quite caring about what people think of you..you'd be surprised how little they do!";)

Oh yes . . . getting older does have its advantages . . . one of the best ones (IMHO) is the final demise of TOM worries (although the hot flashes are not fun). :yes:

Cheers to mollymom and want to that was so well said and sooo true! 50 is so liberating
meowee you are right about the TOM going away but I still have them occationaly which bugs the **** out of me because they last for days and days and days. Hot flashes are anonnying but not as bad as the night sweats. So I focus on the positive and ignore the rest...seems to work and if other don't like LOL who cares

hi! My first day on site and I know how you feel kids all grown and here I sit alone and wondering who is that in the mirror. It scares me I want out of this body and back in my own!!!!

Hi I am the new gal sure do like your post... I need to know how to start losing I get so down I eat.. got any ideas that helped you

:D:wel3fc:
I"m new too & just posted on another 50+ thread
I'm just learning to post I'm not computer savvy but I'm trying to learn
I know you will get a lot of good advice on 3fc there are a lot of caring people on this site
HOPE to see you around the boards

JUDY

Hi MEG . . . :hug:

Hi JUDY . . . :hug:

Nice to have you both joining us, Chickies. :yes:

Turning 50
 

Hi all,
it kinda snuck up on me, and I still have that same suprise when I look in the mirror, where did you come from? My goal is to outlive my father who died at 54.
Meowee did you have surgery on both eyes? Did they put a single vision implant? I am so curious because I need the same thing. How did you choose your doctor? Any Advice for me?

Day 3 on the diet and still climbing the walls.
Fab