Active Folks Over 50 -- #19
 

:welcome3:

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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Hello, everyone! I'm up early today, and I need to get my morning walk in pretty soon because we have some rainy, windy weather on for later...

Is everyone recovering from the "long weekend"? Whatcha up to?

:wave:

Jay

UGH to Core workouts
 

After a much appreciated four day weekend, next week is super busy. So, gotta get to the gym today. Need to be working on core stuff - not as much fun as weights with numbers on them.

Good Morning . . . :wave:

HI everyone, We had our Thanksgiving dinner last night, since I had to work the Holliday. It went well, just all the traditional dishes, a couple of desserts. It was just us and the kids. I ate well, didn't over do, and had a good time. Just what the Holidays should be about. Lots of turkey left over, and we're having leftovers today. After today the rest gets frozen for pot pie's a turkey and noodles. Sent lots of stuff home with son and his family last night.

I think your body gets used to the same thing, exercise wise. I like to change it up a bit from time to time. Even the weight lifting I do, I change the routine a bit. Make it more challenging.

Got some snow yesterday, big, fat heavy flakes mixed with rain. It didn't last too long, but it was really beautiful. Wouldn't have wanted to be out there in it though.

How are the rest of you doing? Freda

Hi folks,

Bill! Glad to see you! :hug:

Got some new athletic shoes--it was time. But I found I had to go up a half size. Not surprising, though. What was surprising was that I could wear the smaller size for so long. Anyway, the larger size (size 9) is good!

What are folks' favorite brands of running or athletic shoes? and why? I can't wear Nike, for example, because I have a high arch.

Jay

Hi everyone!
Well I did make it to the gym yesterday but not today. I had phone calls to make all morning so I knew that would happen. :callme:
But I have added a short walk to my routine. The building that I work in has underground parking. So on my dinner break I go down to P3 and then walk back up to ground level. Now I would have time to do this several times but my body won't let me. So I started with one walk from bottom to top. Does not take long but gets my heart rate up as it is a gentle hill to the top. My hips hurt. THey do not bother me at the gym but this is real life walking and it is tougher. :(
So the idea is to go everyday from bottom to top. Then when it starts to get a little easier I will do it twice etc. Maybe by the summer I will be doing it 6 times. That would be a good goal.
I still have not made time for the tai chi yet. Funny as I really like doing tai chi and it is excellent for the core muscles. :sumo:

This week it is 3 times to the gym. Tomorrow and Friday. Thursday have a 2.5 hour long dentist appt. Grrrr.

I wear Reeboks. I went to a running store and he tried every shoe in the store for me. And it is fabulous to have someone fit you properly. I used to wear New Balance but what a difference this makes.
http://www.reebok.com/CA/#/product?m...icleId=R181902
They are wide enough across the front of the foot to give me great stability. They had them on Amazon.com at a fabulous price as well. It is all about getting a good fit.

Glad everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving.

We are having non stop food here now that Christmas is coming. We are having a congratulatory lunch on Thursday and that is no problem for me as it is pasta. Not my thing. But there will be a football field size cake. That will be my challenge.
Then the next week they are having a Turkey dinner for us. That I can manage I think. May have to bring my own veggies and just have turkey. Plus there will be a table full of desserts.
It sure makes it tough. I am working really hard at a food plan but those sweets just keep sneaking in. My weight loss roared to a halt. But everyday is a new day and you guys are great role models. So one day at a time.
I have to call this place a no food zone. No food but my own. Maybe that would work. It is hard to break a lifetime of bad habits.

Hopefully the insanity will clear sooner rather than later......Jude :coffee2:

I like Reeboks too -- like them for just about everything.

Nothing exciting for me -- want to get the wrapping finished so I can mail things to places west of here tomorrow. After that, my biggest challenge for the next couple of weeks is to fight the annual cookie baking (especially shortrbread) compulsion. When I was still living closer to the rest of my family, I was always the official baker and now it's difficult to overcome the urge to bake which is, unfortunately now that there are fewer people around to eat it, guess who tends to devour far too much. :o

Have a great day . . . :carrot:

Jay here is a link to the symphony sampler. Tell me what you think...
http://www.vancouversymphony.ca/co_sampler_concerts.php

Hey folks!

Busy day... I'm on deadline and have to work my butt off until Friday end of day.

I used to wear Reeboks exclusively because nothing else worked... but the last time I ordered some, they didn't do it. So, I ordered Adidas instead, and that's what I wear now. I am an "underpronator," meaning I tend to roll to the outside. Reeboks worked for that, and so do the Adidas. Aren't they made by the same company now?

I wore my new Adidas to the gym the last two days, and what do you know--my knees don't hurt. Ta da!

Jude, I took a look at that link. Lots of good stuff--but if you're a symphony novice, I'd suggest these: #7, #9, #10, and #13. The last one is Gershwin, and everyone likes Gershwin. You can look at the other three and see what you think. The first concert wouldn't be until March.

Do you know much classical music, Jude? I realize that I'm not sure how much you've listened to.

Hello to Freda, Bill, meowee, Lori, and Laurie when she gets back... and all you lurkers!

Jay

Hi there . . . :wave:

Sunny and mild today but boy is it ever windy.

Bought myself a treat yesterday -- or what I thought would be a treat -- a can of french vanilla flavoured coffee. Smells wonderful both in the can and as it is brewing, but there ends the joy (at least for me, and for my friend who was sharing it with me). Smells a lot better than it tastes. Guess I'm just a 100% Columbian coffee drinker . . . boring. :lol:

Have a great day . . . :carrot:

Thanks Jay for your comments on the VSO. :thanks:

I think any of those would be a good place to start. I have listened to classical music and do like a lot of it but never know what I am listening to. Now I just have to find someone to come along.:corn:

Well we are celebrating again here at my work. The management thinks we are doing such a great job that they fed us again. We had a pasta dinner and cake. The cake was actually a bunch of cupcakes lined up and sprayed with icing to look like a cake. Interesting. :hb:

I don't eat pasta and well cake is out as well. :nono: I did go looking for a coffee. One of the managers spotted me and there was no decaf. That is all I drink. So she did go and find some decaf and made a pot so that was nice. Well I hope it was decaf.:fr:
No wonder half the people here are fighting with their weight.

I have put suggestions forward for heathier things. But that caught their attention for about a minute. What is so hard about having something healthy. Refrigeration maybe. God forbid we should have wilted veggies rather poisoned by sugar. :barf:
Since I started this food plan I have come to realize that sugar is in everything.
I really find it insulting to be constantly fed this crap at work. Next week we are having a Christmas lunch. Turkey etc. One of the managers already has the cartons of desserts in her office sitting on the floor. Trays of mini tarts. Cookies not sure what else. All shrink wrapped waiting for next Thursday. Nothing needs a refrigeration.

Well I can stay out of that. Seeing stuff sit for over a week is not something I really call food. Would rather be given a $25 voucher for a turkey. :turkey:

That is my news for the day. I have walked the parking lot everyday this week so far. Wakes me up. It is chilly out there. :coolsnow:

Hope you are all having a good night......Jude
Oh well.

Good Morning everyone, This is a busy time of year for us all, and with all the celebrating (always with food) it's diffiuclt to make good choices. I know that right now is the time that the doctors start bringing the "goodies" to the hospital. I can turn down the regular stuff that we get from time to time, but they bring in the interesting, really GOOD stuff. it's hard to refuse. I allow myself one piece of something REALLY worth the calories. I look everything over, and ask myself if it's really worth it? If it is I have a small piece. If not i pass. I've ven been know to take a bite and go into the bath room and spit it out! Gross...I know. But I refuse to eat a bunch of junk that is just going to add unwanted calories and pounds. So...I guess the moral of this is, just be very choosey. EVERYTHING is not woth it!!

Jude, Our cafateria at work seldom has anything healthy. I take my lunch. Terrible for a hospital, don't ya think?

Linda, Just give me plain old coffee too. I love to smell the flavored ones, but they don't deliver the taste the smell promises!

I wear new balance tennies. I think you just have to shop around and find the right fit for you.

Freda

Today was haircut day and lunch out. Had salmon with a spinach salad, dressing on the side. Very nice!

I managed to send off a big hunk of the Project from ****. I still have to work all weekend, though. :stress:

Made some lean porkchops for dinner with some green beans after I got home from the gym. I am so glad I have the gym--all this work, if all I did was sit all day, I'd become both unfit and stiff as a board!

Slim me and meowee, yeah, I'm with you on the coffee. Colombian! Yum! Although lately I have been wanting some cocoa. Must be the "cold" weather? But just try to find cocoa without sugar in it... ye gods... I found some that has "no sugar added," but it is really sweet. I can't figure that out. Where did it come from if it wasn't added? Next time I'll get the "diet" version that's only 25 calories... All I want is plain, unsweetened cocoa.

Jude, that is so hard to be surrounded with foods like that. Just keep with your resolve. When they have the lunch, you can eat some turkey and possibly some other things. Sounds like the people in your office are overweight--I wonder why... ;)

Have a good weekend!

Jay

Hi all - I'm baaccckkkk!
Well, technically, I was back Wed. but I have been so busy that this is the first time I have had my computer on.

It was an intense holiday trip, but I am glad I went. Mom was very tearful and grateful to have us there.

Came back to oodles of snow, and cold and wind - brrrr!

Linda I'm definitely a flavored coffee fan - but I agree - the smell is more enticing than the taste with most of them.
A good cup of tea can get me jazzed as well!

Jude - I also take food with me to work - expecially this time of year. I just bring my own when I attend those office functions. They have stopped looking at me strangely - and actually - some others have started doing the same thing :)

Jay - belated congrats on your fitness reading - you are doing GREAT and your consistency with exercise is certainly motivating for me!

Freda - I like New Balance shoes too. They fit my foot much better than other brands. But, even then - I have to try on every shoe they make to find one that I like. And then when I do, they stop making that model.

I gotta fly - I am so far behind on my Christmas shopping and cleaning and such. I don't even have my Christmas cards done yet - and I usually send them out Thanksgiving weekend. The tree isn't up, the nativity still needs to get set out ...


I hope everyone has a great weekend! I'll be back tomorrow after I get some of my list accomplished!

Well here I am at work. I will be rooted to the chair sooner or later. I do sit at a computer all day and my butt does get sore and my body stiff. I have to remember to get up and walk around.:running:
Welcome back Laurie. Glad you had a good trip. Hi to Freda. Like your advice on the food. Nothing really is worth it.
And I think there is nothing worse than flavoured coffee. I like just plain coffee. Well now I am into decaf and you really have to know what you are doing to make good decaf.
Jay you are doing a great job on your food and exercise. I need a kick in the butt.

I have come to the conclusion that I need to work on what is triggering me. I have lots on my mind. The food is too handy but if I can just make myself feel better without using food it would be so much better.:rolleyes:

This is a tough time of year for me. I used to love Christmas with the kids but as they got older things changed. No family in this area so I get really feeling left out of things. And EVERYTHING is about food these days. Have done my shopping which consists of buying two things. One for each kid so that is done. I am going to send my daughter a grocery gift certificate but that will piss her off. Oh well. I was going to do just a card and decided to throw in some money for groceries. We are at the point that I have asked her not to email me at work. I can deal with the email better at home. Jeez.
:gift2:

I am off to Seattle on the 27th though to meet a friend for a couple of days and that will be fun. We are just going to cruise around, sit in the jaccuzzi and swim in the pool. Indoor. Will be nice to spend some time. She is my brothers girlfriend from California and we have never met. They are over now but we decided to do this anyway. So should be fun. Well I think they are. Who knows.:shrug:

My food plan has taken a set back but tomorrow is a new day. Came to work today and they had out coffee and cookies. :coffee:

Well here is to a better day tomorrow....:carrot: I was feeling so great and want to get back to that.
Jude

Hi, I've been busy with the holiday rush. Finall, started decorating yesterday. It sure is a challenging time food wise. I have the same problem with all the parties and the food at work. Everyone wants to celebrate with their favorite cookie or treat. I'm staying on plan, but it's been a challenge. I have two celebrations today. One this afternoon and another tonight. So wish me luck. Stay strong everyone. Lori

Jude - :hug: You are right - tomorrow is a new day! You CAN do this! Really, really - you can. I really have found that I have to have alternatives to cookies at my office - things that I enjoy and feel good about eating. A real key is that they have to have protein - if I get on a pure carb/sugar bent - not much on earth can keep me from binging on cookies.

Everyone has different foods that make them feel sated. For me, low-fat string cheese and nuts do the trick. Some of the protein bars are great too. I really like the little 100 calorie Balance bars. They are almost like eating a candy bar, but do the trick.

I think this time of year it is important to pick things that you really like and feel like a "treat". If everyone around is chowing down on holiday goodies, it is hard to feel good about your plan if you feel deprived. Try some different "healthier" alternatives to the office treats - things that won't trigger the sugar monster - and see if that helps.

Lori - hope you did well at the holiday celebrations! You are getting close to 210, and then onederland is only 10 lbs away. You CAN do this!!!

I got a bit more shopping done (online) yesterday and Amazon has already shipped 3 of my gifts - gotta love it!

I'm definitely in a tea obsession place right now - half of the gifts I ordered were tea related.

Had to take DS2 to the emergency room at 6:30 this morning, so that got the day off to a rocky start.

And, I'm sore from shoveling snow for an hour last night.

I've decided that I can get my Christmas cards done this week, if I pack them in my briefcase and knock out a few every day at lunch time. Gonna give it a try anyway.

Hope you all have a great start to the week. Stay strong while those holiday temptations call your name!

Laurie

Hey Laurie! Glad you're back!

Lori, Freda, yes, it is a challenging season. Everyone has their own strategy for dealing with it--but the most successful do seem to have a strategy, that is, they aren't just "winging it." Even if they don't stick to it 100%, they seem to do better that way, I think.

All I have to report is my usual working weekend. I'll be glad when I get a break from this, probably in January and part of February...

I'm having a lovely morning fire in my fireplace, with a nice hot cup of coffee with some cocoa in it. I found the just plain unsweetened cocoa! My friend said, "Look in the baking section," and by gosh, there it was! I had been looking in the beverages--coffee, tea, etc.--and they were all sweetened versions, even the "no sugar added" one. :mad:

(I guess you can tell I don't do a lot of baking... :lol:)

Jude, keep that urge for sweets under control! :drill: Step away from the cookies. :drill: I think the grocery gift certificate for your daughter is exactly right. Good choice! And you have that trip to look forward to. :broc:

I'll tell you, normally it would take a lot more than cookies for me to cave in. If I want a "treat" it has to be something really special. Having said that, though, I have to admit that sometimes I lose my mind. No, really! Like in Massachusetts--we went out one night with our aunt to Dunkin Donuts. Her idea. This was supposed to be fun. I got a maple frosted donut. Well, fact is, I didn't really want it, I didn't really like it, I was sorry I ate it, and I had indigestion that night. Jeez! :dizzy:

Hope you all have a good week!

Jay

Hi everyone. Glad to hear that you guys are all manageing the holiday treats.

Not sure what my problem is. Called sugar addict I presume. I just need to find my seratonin kick elsewhere. I seem to have no problem not becoming an exercise junkie. :rofl:

I hear you Jay. What is the rationale behind having a couple of cookies. It is just mindless eating. I have been working a lot and it is tireing. I have a couple of more Saturdays to work and then I will have some time off.

I am not too worried about Christmas as I will spend it with my son and he does not eat sweet things. Won't even have a dessert that boy. Well if I made a pie he might. But that won't be happening. :nono:

I have just realized that being overtired is my worst time to eat the wrong things. So I need to plan more sleep for the next while.
:yawn:
We have wall to wall food here for the whole week. They are doing staggered Christmas lunches as we are a big place. Mine time is Thursday at 6pm. So I can have turkey and potato and salad. The veggies are too starchy and there is stuffing and gravy but I will pass on that.

There is pop or juice to drink. And trays of sweet treats from Costco. Costco is like the Sam club. Big slabs of desserts that are not fit for humans really. :(

So I will be good. I will bring my own stuff.
This week will be the end of the heavy entertaining here so that will be a relief.
I will be glad to get through the season staying the same weight. :crossed:

Thanks for all your suggestions. Lori you seem up for the challenge. We can do this.....
Jude:comp:

Hi all - hope you had a good day. We are under ANOTHER storm warning tonight. Getting tired of snow already!!! Though, I shouldn't complain, they think we might get rain next week - and on top of the snow - it will be ugly.

I'm happy to report that I am making significant progress on the "holiday" front. DH helped me address cards last night and they are DONE!

I stayed home from a church finance meeting tonight (DS2 is very ill with a tooth infection and I wanted to keep an eye on him) and managed to wrap most of my Christmas presents. Almost everything else is being sent directly to the recipient :)

I'm still debating whether to drag out the big tree. I'm actually contemplating bringing out the little 3 foot fiber optic tree instead. I'm a bit of a scrooge when it comes to decorating this year.

We bought a new scale yesterday (DS2 is too heavy to weigh himself on our regular scale and we are trying very hard to help him make better choices - 'nuf said on the topic - I could go on for eons) and - ugh - it weighs 1.8 lbs higher than my regular scale :yikes:

So, I'm wrestling with using the old scale, using the new scale and keeping my ticker on the old one, or using the new scale and adjusting my ticker accordingly.

Decisions, decisions ...

Jay - the fire sounds lovely - and I'm glad you found cocoa!! I wouldn't have thought of the baking aisle either. I used to run a food coop and I still have oodles of plain cocoa. Thankfully, it is sealed in Ziploc bags and then Tupperware too. It will probably last longer than I do :lol:

Jude - stay strong! I have found that when my schedule leads me to be overtired - while nothing helps completely - I CAN lessen the effects by 1. Eating often (small quantites) 2. Doing some deep breathing (or even simple yoga poses) every hour or so 3. Staying hydrated - preferably without a lot of caffeine) 4. protein every couple hours - not a lot, but a high protein snack really does help.

I agree with Jay - the gift certificate sounds perfect!

Hello to everyone else! Hope you had a good start to the week!

Another quick :wave:

Good Morning everyone.

I'm like everyone else, busy, busy! Such a hectic time of year. I always say i'm going to get a head start but I never do. At least the house is decorated and the gifts i have gotten are wrapped and under the tree. I have a wrapping center set up in the basement. Works so well.

Lori, Just make a plan for the dinners and stick with it. So easily said, so hard to do. It is hard when you aren't the one making the menu. Just do the best you can.

Jay, I agree, most of the things we eat out of plan are just because they are there. And usually NOT worth the calories at all. I have started carrying a fiber one bar in my purse for occasions like that.

Laurie, I hope your son is feeling better. We never stop worrying about our "babies" do we? We had almost stopped decorating too, after my son was married. Didn't really start again untill the grands came along and now we decorate for them. It's like "the circle of life" I guess.

Jude, I agree with the rest. A gift certificate is perfect. I hope you find your plan to beat the "munchie" monsters. I think most of do something a little differently. It's trial and error, what works for you. Hey, try them all!

Linda, Hope you are feeling better. Not that any time is a good time to get sick, but this is a rotten time to not feel well.

Make it a good day, Freda

Hi all, hope you had a good day. We got dumped on last night and I walked to work since the roads weren't plowed yet. School was closed, so I knew I wouldn't need to drive to any of the buildings today. I just finished 1 1/2 hours of moving snow, so I definitely got in my exercise today! Pictures are attached. I don't think I will be able to plug in our nativity since over half of the bulbs are buried in the snow. DS2 isn't going to be driving his car any time soon either :lol:

Hope you are staying warm and dry and enjoying this fine Tuesday!
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6...vityzo8.th.jpg http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4958/woodxm2.th.jpg http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4676/carsz6.th.jpg

Oh Laurie what a lot of snow. And you do all the shoveling? That is a big job. Sorry to hear about your son. Hope all is well with him soon.:getwell:

Thanks for the encouragement Freda. I do just need to learn how to walk away. I am not one to eat stuff that people bring to work as in homemade. I just tell myself that who knows who has had their fingers in that. That turns me right off. Not sure why I think stuff from a store is much better. Today is a better day. I ate my big meal for lunch. I will see how that works. I eat so late it is better that way anyhow. I eat lunch at 3 and then dinner at 7pm. So need to keep dinner lighter.

I have been following the FA food plan and I get to see a dietician next week. She thought it was a great plan. But there are no snacks and I am finding the meals too big. The idea is to break the habit of grazing. And I am a HUGE grazer. Or was. This does seem to help. Going pretty good today.

Jay have you ever heard of Penzeys spices? www.penzeys.com
They have 2 blends of chocolate powder. One they call Natural and one they call Dutch and Dutch being the smoother taste.:coffee2:

I ordered some spices from them and they are wonderful. Love the Fox Point. And Laurie they have gift boxes.
Not sure where you live Jay but there is one in Jacksonville Fla. And there is one in Detroit and in Grand Rapids.

So that is all my news for today. I am tired and have not been to the gym yet this week. Could have gone this morning but.:dunno:

I suffer a little from SAD and it is certainly dark these days. Coming to the 21st which is the shortest day. I feel so much better when January hits and the days just start to get a little longer.
I have been doing some reading about sugar and seratonin and the article did say that there is seratonin to be found in exercise. Something to do with seratoning being released in pain as in the runners high. :running:
So I need to get on that. Here is the link if anyone is interested in the article.

http://www.womentowomen.com/insulinr...rcravings.aspx

Well back to work and more self control.
Huggs.....Jude:getwell:

Hey everyone,

I'm slowly digging out from under the pile of work... soon a couple of projects will be gone and my life will be more "normal."

We did go for a walk on the pier, though, a few days ago. It was sunny and brisk, and the birds were out. Just getting outside is so great! Really changes the mood sometimes. People were out hoping to catch some mullet in nets off the pier, but I think the fish have gotten smarter. The school kept swimming the other direction.

CD, that's some snowstorm! You know... I don't remember schools just automatically closing if it snowed when I was younger. I grew up in Salt Lake, and we did have some pretty good snowstorms. We walked to school anyway. Maybe it's because it was "The West" and we were all rough, tough Westerners? :lol:

Lori--It's hard to lose with all the parties and goodies around, and I feel fortunate that I don't have to go to an office at this time of year! Even then, there is so much stuff on the TV ads that one gets triggered.

Jude, thanks for the spice link. I like Dutch process cocoa the best. :D I don't know why I'm having such an urge for it--maybe it's the high.

That article was interesting although pretty technical, Jude--like something I would write. :lol: Yes, exercise is good for moods. It's the beta-endorphins that are responsible for the runner's high--but I have to tell you, ordinary exercise doesn't get you there much. Still, I'm someone who puts tension and stress directly into my muscles, so any kind of activity that uses them makes me feel a lot better and more relaxed. Exercise of course, and also massage, and a nice soak in a hot tub will help, too. And that's not even counting the weight loss benefits.

Do you have the full spectrum lights, Jude? They are helpful.

So I'd best get back to work now... I'm barely hanging on with eating right, but I am not giving up. I am still making it to the gym. I should take today off, but I'm not sure I will because I haven't been doing very strenous stuff when I'm there. It's called "slacking." :drill:

Hey Freda, make it a... :yes:

Jay

:wave:

The sore back is feeling about 80% functional this morning but our strange, strange weather continues. Not a big problem for me since I'm not going anywhere very quickly this week anyway. Just nursing the silly pinched nerve. Luckily, I was done the Christmas shopping and shipping. Still have a bit of wrapping, but just for local stuff so I can take my time.

Have a great dahy, gang . . . :carrot:

Jude - I actually have a full-spectrum light on my desk at work - I also have issues with SAD. Thankfully, I now have two offices, and one has a window. My first office is interior in the building. I used to go to work and leave work in the dark - never seeing daylight for days on end.

Jay - This year is unique. Due to MI's economy, the department of transportation told all counties that they needed to cut their budget and not pay overtime for plowing. Thus, the roads are a mess and busses can't travel. We are a very rural district with the majority of our kids riding the bus. Thus, our assistant superintendent is on the roads starting at 3 am when the weather is nasty. He and our transportation director drive oodles of miles to determine if it is safe to run the buses. We had a two-hour delay today due to road issues. Unfortunately, unlike teachers, I have to report at my usual time - regardless of the weather. I made it today - thanks to my 4 wheel drive Tracker. The plow left a 3 foot wall of snow at the end of my alley. I was able to bust through it and make a path for everyone else in my neighborhood to get out :)

Linda - hope you are 100% soon. I still have to ship my packages. DH has Friday off and has promised to take them to UPS for me :D Yahoo!

Well, today was a good day - eating was 100% OP and yoga this morning and an hour of shoveling for cardio :D

We spent the evening "golfing" on the wii. This is going to be interesting. While I know that this was a GREAT family Christmas gift, and that DS2 will benefit from both increased family time and physical activity - it will stretch my patience. I'm used to my evenings being my own - with spending them doing things that I want to do. Time for me to be less selfish and spend time doing things with DS2 - he needs our support right now.

Hope you all had a great day!

Well I used to be from the prairies and school always got canceled at least once in the winter. It was because the teachers could not make it in. :D

The kids could all walk. I remember having a snow drift that completely coverd the front window. All you looked out at was a wave of snow.

No I don't have a light and I should look into it. I started taking Vitamin D last year and really noticed an improvement. I find once January hits I am so much better. :hat:
Jay I think that our bodies like to eat at this time of year. Sorta a hibernation kind of thing. Keep on with the gym and your exercise that will help.

Linda I heard that the maritimes had a fair amount of snow. It is supposed to snow here tomorrow. Everyone on the west coast just goes crazy when it snows. We will be soooo busy at work.

I have had a better day at work today. I have been able to figure out what some of the work problems are. This will be the last week of the excess food. Some one came and asked tonight if I wanted to come and have turkey dinner as they had lots. Well I thought no I have just had lunch 3 hours ago and so declined. Afterwards I thought hmmm that might have been a first. It was not about the food but more about the timing.

That is a huge thing for me. I never thought about how I timed my meals before I went to see the dietician and she pointed it out. Just because my work slots my dinner at 5:10pm it is not time for me to eat till much later as my lunch is at 230pm.

I am feeling pretty good today. Spoke with DD on the weekend and though it went well I still find that it is a trigger. I am working really hard at letting go of how I think she should live her life. Or I won't have one!!
It is making sense but not sure it is getting easier. I am trying to take the time for what is important and let the rest take care of itself.

Hey Lori how are you doing? I hope you are keeping the food at work at bay.

Tomorrow is a new day. Hope to stay OP as best as I can.

Hope everyone is enjoying their evening......Jude:dancer:

Hi there . . . :grouphug:

JUDE . . . you should ask if your dinner hour could be moved a bit . . . that's a :crazy: schedule.

Back is still about the same -- guess I just have to be patient. Today will not be a Mall-Crawl day anyway. Actually nothing is going to be moving very far or very fast around here. Solid sheet of ice out there and since all the snow melted before the freezing rain started there isn't even a cushioning layer under there.

At lest I've still got electricity and that's not true for a few areas in NS. Did think my telephone service had gone out earlier this morning, but that turned out to be a simple little 'cat'astrophe. Sometimes wonder what they do in the middle of the night while I'm sleeping. Maybe I don't really want to know. :s:

Good Morning,

Got an early start and got out and got some things done! The stores are opening earlier and that's good for an early-bird like me. I'm pretty useless in the evening.

Laurie, that was some snow fall! Much more than we got down this way. But it's a reminder that this is Michigan and it's coming! My sister is a teacher in Ky. and they call school off if they have snow flurries, I think. Just don't know how to handle the snow. How si DS?

Jude, I'm glad you've been able to start working thingsout, food wise and relationship wise. Some things we can controle and some we can't. We just have to learn to controle what we can and the let the rest go. (i'm talking to myself here too).

Linda, I have a problem with back pain too, so I can really understand the problem you're having. Hope you feel better soon.

Jay, Will you get the "projects" done before Christmas. I know that will be a relief for you. Wish I didn't have to face work for the next few days. Now is the time all the doctors start bringing in the goodies.

Freda

Jude - congrats on your victory with the turkey dinner! That is AWESOME! Stay strong - you are doing GREAT!!!

Linda - trust me - you DON'T want to know what they are doing when you are sleeping - REALLY! I have gotten up in the middle of the night and witness the most amazing "cat" feats. They really DO have nine lives!!

Freda - I'm betting you will get more snow. Are you going to get the rain they are predicting for Sun/Mon? I'm not looking forward to THAT! We will have ice just like Linda does now :(

A good day here - finished the last of the shopping (gift certificates for the UPS and USPS carriers). I finished the last of my wrapping, and even got started on some gifts for other occasions that are coming up in January and February :)

DH and I are debating anniversary plans (30th on the 16th) - I'm thinking that we should just wait and do something special in the spring/fall (maybe a trip somewhere) - having an anniversary in December makes it tough to do much celebrating - if the weather isn't an issue, the business of the season is!

DS1 graduates from seminary in the the kids are planning a B&B getaway to celebrate. They have invited us (probably hoping we will help pay for it - LOL) and celebrating both events together sounds kinda fun.

My eating is going surprisingly well this month - I really seem to have changed my lifestyle in such a way that all the extra holiday foods in the break room aren't an issue. I never thought I would be able to say that!

Eating clean, eating often, and balancing my meals seems to work well :)

Hope you are all finding some time to take care of yourselves this busy holiday season!

OK, active over 50s, come out of the woodwork and let us know what you're up to! ;)

meowee--do you use ice packs on your back? Take any anti-inflammatory medications? My lower back has been sore for a couple of weeks because I've been sitting in a chair all day long except when I get to the gym. There is no help for it--I work in a chair, period. But I try to take care of it with the "first aid" methods.

The gym doesn't make it worse. Sometimes it even feels better. It really is the sitting. I have a lumbar pillow that helps some, but what I need is to finish my work so I can get OUT of the chair! :mad:

Hey Jude! Glad to hear that the food stuff is getting sorted out. I've found that just about nobody wants to live their life the way I think they should! :lol: But I don't want to live the way others think I should, so why should anyone else be any different?

Well, we have found out that our aunt, whom we visited in Mass. in October, is on her way out. So, it really was probably the last time to see her. I'm glad we made the trip. I'd even eat another maple frosted donut with her, if she wanted me to. :( Anyway, there's nothing to be done that isn't being taken care of. We talk to her on the phone...

Laurie, yeah, you need to plan a getaway for your anniversary--maybe in January, come on down to Fla. where there is no snow and ice! We have it a bit cool today--that front that all of you got sort of slapped its tail on us. But hey, if you went further south than Tampa, say Ft. Myers, you could have a great time. :beach:

I gotta get back to work now. See ya!

Jay

Jay - try some yoga poses every couple hours while you are working. Even some stretching will help. I'm the same way when I get on a project. I forget to leave my chair for hours on end - and end up with a host of aches and pains.

Speaking of which - I am now the not so proud owner of a sore shoulder from too much golf and pinball on the wii (the family Christmas gift this year). I'm still trying to locate a Wii Fit that is REASONABLY priced. Thankfully, I'm not in a huge hurry. They are calling it the "Tickle Me Elmo" of 2008. OUTRAGEOUS prices abound - if you can find one in stock.

A friend waited in line on Thanksgiving for 5 hours and actually got one. I'm just not that dedicated (er - crazy).

Hope you all have a fun and sane weekend!

It seems we Canadians are famous (or maybe that's infamous) for talking about our weather; probably because we get so much of it.

AtlantiCa is on the same roller-coaster. Yesterday we broke fifty-year-old records by hitting +20 C (68F). Today -- our high is going to be -2C (+28F) with a little snow before we also head back to about +10/11 C (+37F) for tomorrow. Out in Cold Lake, Alberta (where my oldest son is) today's high is going to be -25C (-13F); so guess I should be thankful for small mercies. :lol:

Well, I really have to go out and brave the cold and the crowds for a bit today since the larder is looking a little bare and I do have one more gift to get. So I'd best get moving in the hopes of beating the snow.

If you can wait until after Christmas I'd bet you can find a WiiFit more easily then. I love mine, but haven't been using it lately since everything seems to bother the back right now.

Have a fun day, Chickies . . . try to keep things moving and shaking, but make some time for yourselves, too . . . :carrot:

Quick fly-by to say hello and that I hope you had a productive AND fun weekend!

My microwave decided to die this afternoon, and I'm missing it already! Off to do some online research on a replacement.

Speaking of quick fly-bys... I'm off to jury duty this morning. Am packing food--and will try to stay away from the vending machines in the jury assembly room. :eek:

See ya!
Jay

Hope you get an interesting case, JAY . . . and a big :grouphug: for everybody.

Good Morning all,

Got out early this morning and got quite a lot done. Helped that DS finally gave me a list for Christmas. I got most of the stuff and a few other things, and I'll get in there and wrap them later. I've been wrapping as i go.

We got some rain over the weekend, and really cold weather. it just seems so much colder when it's wet.

Laurie, I hope your shoulder is feeling better. I would be lost without my microwave too. I remember when i first got one. I think I went through the first year and did nothing but melt butter in it. I've seen the WII Fit in several of the stores down here this week. Hope you find one.

Jay, I've never done jury duty. Hubby did and he loved it. he is the type that is soooo social concious. He made the jury go back into the judges chambers to have a point explained. Hope you get something really interesting.

Hi Linda, I hope you're feeling better.

Freda

Linda - hope you got a warm spell, cuz we are sending some cold weather your way! Hope you are doing better today. I think you are right about the Wii Fit - There will be plenty after Christmas - and since it is a gift for ME - I really don't care how long it takes to get one. I'm probably too busy to use it much right now anyway - unless I substitute it for my morning routing, which is not my plan.
Sore elbow today from too much wii bowling yesterday ;)

Jay - hope you had an OP day at jury duty. I only served once, and I wasn't picked for that particular case - took about 3 hours and they sent me home.

Freda - we got the same weather - nasty, nasty - no school today since the back roads were way too icy to run the buses.

I just popped roasted veggies in the oven - one of the few things I actually bake these days - LOL. Oops - something just shattered in the kitchen - better go see what DH is up to :yikes:

Have a great evening!

Hey Laurie I have to say that roasted veggies is a big thing that I do now. Thanks for the instructions. They are soo good. I make a batch and then have them a couple of days. :T
It is cold and icy here these days. The house is cold. We had some snow but not alot just enough to ice up the roads. I think there is more coming next weekend. That will be my last Saturday to work overtime for a while so that will be nice. Well it is my choice....:?:

I am enrolled in a Chinese Zen meditation class for January. It is 3 classes and they are on Saturday in the afternoon so I am looking forward to that.
I would like to take a painting course as well but they are all at night. I am usually looking for something to do on the weekends. I would so love a class that was on Saturday or Sunday. But I guess it does not work out for everyone.
:yoga:
Laurie that Wii game sounds interesting. I think my son has one. A rock band thing or something. I am soooo technically behind the times. I don't even have a cell phone. Never thought I would say that.

Did make it to the gym today. Got new bike shorts and so had to use them. It was cold but glad I made it. Met a nice woman there that was from my home town. We exchanged hair dresser info. Too funny.

I am doing 50/50 with the food. Yesterday was not a good day. I ate breakfast at 11am and then went out and did not plan for lunch. That is one of my biggest downfalls for getting into junk food. Am doing great today. I would like to lose some more this month but may have to be just happy with holding. December is a tough month.
:xcheer:
But I will try and have a great week this week. All the food planning is over here at work. My house is pretty safe place to be.

Hi to Jay. How long is the jury duty for. Do you get to come home? or are they just picking?

Looks like everyone is in a cold spell except for our Florida girl....:beach:

Hope you all are having a great day....my shopping is small so it is all done. :present:
Cheers.....Jude