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?



Jay

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 . . .

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!

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.
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.

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

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.

Have a great day . . .

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 . . .

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.

Have a great day . . .

Thanks Jay for your comments on the VSO.

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.

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.

I don't eat pasta and well cake is out as well. 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.
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.
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.

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.

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.

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.
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.

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.


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.

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.

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