Active Folks Over 50 -- #26
 

Hey! Welcome to the latest thread! First the disclaimer:

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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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Now, let's continue congratulating CD on her 1 year of maintenance!

(I really should have edited more carefully before I closed the thread... :o)

Laurie, you are truly an inspiration, and I remember when you reached your goal. I just can hardly believe it's been a year!!! Wow! :woohoo:

Jay

Congrats Laurie
 

Congratulations
Laurie (CountingDown)
for a year of maintenance.

I do like your story of feeling confident in your choice of clothes. Yep, "no food is worth going back."

Thanks Bill! and Jay! :)

Everyone here has been such an enormous part of my making goal and maintaining! I really do think my 3FC friends are the BEST!

The new glasses have arrived.
As promised, here is the pic
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/7489/glassesi.jpg

Cool! They look great! Thanks for the pic! Now I'm wanting new glasses...

Anyone got any events coming up this week?

Jay

My up-coming event is a tomato eating marathon. We have the most gorgeous, tasty tomatoes - mostly all ripening at once. I am so grateful that something so good is also good for me!

Also, yesterday the event was getting 20 lbs of peaches. They aren't quite ripe yet.

My motto is that "I didn't get fat eating peaches or tomatoes"

Hi everyone!

Hey congratulations Laurie. I did not know that you lost all your weigh in such a short time and now have had it off for a year. Fabulous
The glasses look great too.

Well I made it to the yoga class on Saturday and to the gym this morning. I was happy to get there this morning as I slept in. But not many like to exercise and I just reminded myself of that. We do it for the benefits.

I look forward to the day when I can just be happy with anything in the closet.

Cheers.....Jude:hug:

Thanks Jay :)

Gail - I agree - I love tomatoes. Peaches will be in season pretty soon up here too :)

Jude - :hug: You made my day! I laugh now, taking 53 weeks to lose 85 lbs didn't seem like it was fast. I participated in the BL competitions along the way, and I was always the tortoise. I lost every week, but never very much. It is amazing how a lb here and 2 lbs there add up! Slow and steady now seems like it happened in so very quickly.

And to think that for YEARS I lamented that I might as well not even start a weight loss plan. It would take at least a year and I knew I didn't have the discipline to "diet" for a year.

Height: 5'4"


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Karen prayers continuing for you and your family!

Gary - congrats on the chili - may your rememberance of "grandma Judi" be one of special times and special feelings! I'm sure the party was AWESOME!

Bev - so glad that you are able to turn the whole situation with Dennis into a joy! Prayers continue for you and your family!

Well, it was a good day here! The last medical test at 7 this morning (mammogram), then 9 hours of work, and the whole gang (nieces, nephews, SIL and all the kids) was visiting when I got home. I was able to spend several hours with folk I haven't seen for a couple years.

A wonderfully balanced day!

Hope your week started out well too!

Oh, and Jay, not much planned for this week - lots of "family" time and of course the Wine Tasting tomorrow night and a Jazz concert on Thursday.

Pretty typical week here.

Laurie

Hi, folks! Gail, good to see you!

We have had peaches here for weeks... we buy them from a truck stand along the main road--they come down from Georgia. Great heavenly days, what you hear about Georgia peaches is true! :drool:

I didn't get fat eating peaches, either... back in the old days of weight gain, it was the half & half I insisted the peaches had to swim in... :lol: Not any more!

Hey Jude! :wave: Hey Bill!

One of my favorite clothes experiences is being able to actually button shirts, instead of having to wear them as "overshirts" with a tank underneath because I outgrew them. It is such a thrill!

Last Sunday I put up the remaining roller blind on our screen porch. I had been thinking it would be a hard job, but I decided that I would make it easy instead. And so I did. Done is good!

We got our concert tickets for the upcoming season. It was hard to decide on the selections, but we have some Mozart, some Gershwin, some Broadway, and the Tampa Bay Steel Orchestra just for fun.

http://www.tampabaysteelorchestra.com/

Jay

:woohoo: Jay - I can't tell you how happy I have been to retire the "overshirt". In fact, I still routinely reach for one - this old habit is dying hard!

I wish we had more arts opportunities here. They do exist, but we have to drive 1-2 hours to get to them. The trials and tribulations of living in a small town!

Oh well - there are other blessings to living here!

Day two of my certification training at work. So far, so good. Putting in 12 hour days (training starts at 10:00 a.m. since my trainer is on the west coast), but I'm hanging in there!

Hope everyone is having a productive and fun-filled week!

Laurie :scooter:

Hi guys.

Just a quick hello. Busy at work. Made it to the gym again today. So the week is starting out great. On for tomorrow too.
Sounds like you are all busy people. I have to get a life. Working on my weight loss is a full time job for me right now.

Talk to you all tomorrow.......Jude

Jude - I relate! I couldn't believe how much time I spent exercising, shopping, chopping, cooking, logging, posting!

But - it IS time well spent!

Hang in there!

Laurie

Hi folks,

Jude, yeah, it seems to take up a lot of time at first--but strategizing helps. I knew I would have to plan for almost daily exercise, so--I did! Made it just one of the things on my list. In other words, not an add-on, not an "if I have time," not something I could blow off if something else came up. I also planned the food part of it so I had the right things around at home and knew what I was getting into at restaurants.

But I also think I'm really lucky in that (a) I didn't ever get into the habit of eating to feel better, and (b) I already have had the experience of giving up alcohol, so I know that I won't literally die if I don't have any particular substance... ;) :lol:

We are starting to think about our trip to the SF Bay Area in the fall. We might make a side trip up the coast--somewhere like Mendocino or vicinity. I also have to try to remember what the weather is like then... CD, any thoughts?

Jay

Thanks for the encouragement everyone!! I made it to the gym everyday but today. Had a doctors appt today.
But for the last two days not a thing that wasn't OP entered my mouth. Not one bit of sugar. Wheew that was a huge challenge. I realized that I was waking up in the morning mad at myself for what I had had the day before. Even if it was just a small something. I am trying to give up sugar for now.

Jay it would be like you saying well I only had a sip. So I am proud of myself . I thought it would never happen.

Thanks for all the support. Housecleaning tomorrow so that takes the place of the gym. PLenty of work there.

Cheers......Jude

Just popped in this morning to say I am down another 2 pounds.
When I read 225 on the scale I thought wow this has been a long time and 200 is not that far away. Need all the encouragement I can get to get through this pot luck today.

I don't really like food that I do not know where it came from so I will just keep that foremost in my mind.

Heres to a good OP day for everyone and it is FRIDAY!!!
We are having beautiful weather here. Sunny but not too hot.

Cheers....Jude

:cb: :broc: :carrot: :cb: :broc: :carrot:

You go, Jude! rock on, girlfriend!

:cheer2: :cheer3: :cheer2: :cheer3:

Took the cat to the vet for his annual checkup and rabies shot. He is fine and healthy. He is also big... He weighs 18 pounds. :yikes: It's a good thing I lift weights or I'd never be able to carry him (in his carrier)! :lol: But the vet says it's not that he's obese--he's mostly just big! Still, I'd like to see him get down a couple of pounds.

Jay

Jude - :congrat: Keep that thought! It really does help. It is amazing how much stuff we eat that really doesn't satisfy us!

Jay :yikes: that is one big cat! We had a 23 lb. cat once - same thing - he was just BIG! He also had "thumbs" which he used - a very strange cat indeed.

Well, the two weeks of training is complete - it was very tiring, but I am done and certified. :)

Now on to the real work of converting all the schools to the new system.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I hope the weather improves so we can take mom to the Arts Fair in the park tomorrow.

Laurie

May I join this group? I'm 53, and would like to lose 40 lbs. I've been on my quest for better health/fitness since July 1st. At one point I was down 5 lbs, but I'm down just 3.5 now. It's very frustrating. I am counting calories and working out for the first time in my life. I do strength training three days a week, cardio (treadmill) three days a week, and rest one day. Although I am not seeing results, I have to admit that I am doing less grunting and groaning when I bend over or have to squat! I guess that's a start!

COUNTING DOWN ` Your story is such an inspiration!

Late to the game :welcome: We LOVE new folk around here!

Thank you for your kind words! You CAN do this! Congrats on the exercise - that was the hardest part for me. With that much exercise, you may be retaining water and/or building muscle - both of which will slow down the scale. But, it will eventually reflect your efforts, I promise.

Calorie counting is a GREAT plan! For me, logging those calories and weighing/measuring were important steps in the process. Otherwise, my eye tended to extend my portion size a bit. Also, I had a bad habit of grabbing a nibble of this and a bite of that - all of which can add up to a few hundred calories a day if I'm not careful. And, unfortunately for me, that is the difference between losing and maintaining.

Feel free to post a sample menu or more info on your plan - the calorie counters here may have some advice.

The only other thought I have is that I also had to make sure that I was getting enough protein (and I wasn't at first). Boosting my protein helped me lose more steadily.

Hi to everyone else! Hope you are having a great weekend! We are off to the arts fair, even though the weather is dismal. This is Mom's last weekend here, so I feel like I should do SOMETHING!

Laurie

A neighbor gave us a year old German Shepherd dog. He is big and looks like the dogs on the crime shows, but he doesn't have a serious bone in his body. He doesn't seem to have any "mean" bones either - the FedEx guy just laughs at the dog . I am hoping having him around will help me to move more.

I have been slacking off lately, but I am back to parking far out and walking around our property again. It is over 110 degrees today, so I am not going outside until dark. It was 85 degrees this morning when I got up at 5am.

I always get caught up in all the stuff about doing 90 minutes of exercise a day and feel like a failure because I don't do it. I'm a sort of "all or nothing" person. LOL. Need to do 9 minutes before 90 minutes!

Hey gailr42! Glad to see you. That sounds like a nice dog!

Yeah, it's easy to find things to feel like a failure about--like the 90 minutes of exercise. Of course, there's an upside, which is that one gets to give up since one can't be perfect... :lol: I think it's great that you get some physical activity, whether it's 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 90 minutes, or 3 hours! ;) I'd be in trouble if I didn't have a gym membership. :faint:

Late to the game, :welcome3: I found that I needed a day off after 3 or 4 days, rather than only after 6. I was just wearing myself out when I first started with 6 days a week... Good luck! You will see results!

I'm glad to hear your training is over, CD. (Speaking of Chickies who run themselves ragged... ;)) How was the arts fair? Did mom get away OK?

Greetings to all the lurkers... you can hide, but we know you're there! :lol:

Jay

Yes, I'm here. Today I will get out the power washer and do the decks. Does that count? When I use it, I always think of you, Jayell. :)

Gail, one of the reasons I don't post in maintainers is that I don't feel like I belong with that group of folk. Most of them are avid exercisers, post their daily menus, etc.

I'm more of an "all things in moderation" kinda gal. I prefer to enjoy what I am doing - including exercise. Thus, my approach is pretty laid back compared to most chickies around here - but it definitely works for me.

So - my advice - start with what you can do, find things you LIKE to do, and then go from there.

Jay - the weather was dismal for the arts fair, but we had a good time. Neither of us bought anything. Several items were tempting, but I'm trying to honor my commitment to only buy things for the house that I NEED - otherwise my declutter efforts will have been in vane ;)

Mom is still here until Wed. We will take her out for dinner tomorrow night - to a really nice Bavarian restaurant in town :)

Ruth - :lol: I think of Jay every time I get out the power washer too (which isn't often :o)

A good day here, church went well this morning (It was my week to be liturgist) and our parish assistant gave the message - she is an awesome speaker, and I just love it when she preaches!

I spent much of the day cooking, I had way too much prepared/processed stuff last week. Between that and entertaining all the relatives and meals out :yikes: While my weight held steady, I just feel different, and not in a good way.
So today was devoted to making rosemary whole wheat focaccia bread, aquinoa/mushroom/feta dish, and wonderful lentil/chick pea burgers.

The house smells WONDERFUL! :D

Hope everyone had a GREAT weekend! I LOVE seeing all of the activity here :yes:

Hello everyone, thought I'd pop in here today. Countingdown you look so nice, what an inspiration you are! I am still hanging in there, losing a little every now and then. As long as I'm losing I guess it's ok. :) Just feel like it is taking me a long time but then I'm not restricting myself very much I guess.

Have been getting more involved in our yard..usually leave it mostly to my dh but getting my interested. I planted a bunch of flowers in pots and my dh made a really pretty area in one corner of our yard. We have a bird bath there and he encirculed it with bricks and planted flowers inside. I added a few of my pots here and there on the bricks too. Also put some in the front yard along the driveway and a few other plays front and back. It was fun.

We are trying to do something interesting and fun each week. Yesterday we went to a lilac garden. We have a shrub that has grown quite tall and we were told it was a lilac but the blooms are very slight and are more gray and white. We hoped they could tell us what it was so I took a branch in to show them. She wasn't sure but showed us one that is similiar. Then we went to a large nursery in the same area (this is about 25-30 mi from where we live), and found some that she recommened. Only had the small car but may go back and get one this week. We are going to look around our own area first though. While we were at the nursery, we bought another blueberry plant. We love blueberries and our own seem to taste much better!

I have recently joined a great prayer group at our church...mosly ladies and they are very sweet. I am really enjoying my time with them. Other than that we have just been going to the gym and to appointments. Our doctor was pleased that we had both lost 4 lbs since our last visit and our A1C were good...both the same..but my dh is now on med and I did it with diet. So I'm proud of myself! :D

We had several very hot days then it dropped down into the 80s but tomorrow it is to start back up again. So guess we finally are having summer and we are enjoying it.

Maryea, the garden spot sounds lovely!

The last few days have been too hot to go outside. Tonight it clouded up and rained a bit. This is still not a really good thing because we don't need humid on top of hot. It was supposed to be 113 today and 110 for the next four days.

At least I am mentally active - counting those calories keeps me sharp! LOL

Hi to everyone. Nice to meet you all...Gail Maryea and Late to the Game. Everyone is working hard!!! But I can not imagine living somewhere that it is that HOT!! Oh my goodness. It was 85 here on Saturday but cools back off at night. I would perish I am sure. We are having a fabulous summer.

I have lost another 3 pounds. This last week has been phenomenal. I have not been this weight in years. Not sure what is going on but I am doing my 30 minutes a day cardio for now and have stopped putting all those extras in my mouth.

Just like you mentiond Laurie. An Jay I have now lost one cat in weight. Funny when you think of it that way.

So I am sticking to no sugar/wheat/flour and for some reason this seems to be my time. The better it gets the better I get at it.
Chat to you all later I am off to the gym......Jude

Thanks Mary! Your garden sounds wonderful! Working outside is such good exercise too. I just love it when I can get some exercise AND have something to show for it when I am done :D

gail - don't send that heat my way - I would be an absolute slug if it got that hot!

Jude :congrat: Way to go!!! Keep it up - you CAN do this! Just remember how good it feels!

Hi to everyone else. Gotta run - it is bedtime. I will try to catch up more later. The last few days with Mom here have been so busy!

Laurie

Jude! A real whoosh! :cheer2: I like that--losing one cat in weight! You keep it up--this is terrific!

Hey Laurie, I guess you posted moments before me!

We had rain last night and this morning, and it actually cooled off a few degrees...

Ruthie! :hug: I pressure-washed just a couple weeks ago, and it was everything I had hoped. :D But some unknown neighbor turned me in to the condo president because with the water rationing, no one is supposed to use a pressure washer. EXCEPT of course the pressure washing companies! In other words, I can pay someone to do it, but I can't do it myself. Is this a gimmick or what? :mad: Anyway, the condo president came by to tell me about the complaint. I was polite but I don't care one whit. And if they turn me in to the City, I'll pay the fine. The front of the house hadn't been washed in a year and a half, and I'll be doggoned if I'm gonna do it with a brush and a bucket.

maryea, it sounds nice to have a spiritual group to be with. Also, I LOVE lilacs--but they don't grow here.

Gail, do you have A/C? Maybe there are some exercise shows on the TV or on DVDs you could do when it's too hot out.

OK, I'm done for the night!

Jay

Hi everyone, I'm trying to play catch-up after being on vacation for a couple of weeks. I got back a week ago, but last week was crazy-busy, trying to get everything done!

The trip to the mountains was incredible, and I did an insane amount of hiking - 100.6 miles! Plus another 17.5 miles of cool, hilly running. I didn't gain any weight, because of all of the activity. I loved the "play hard until you drop then eat everything you want" diet! It was soooo much fun. I wish I could retire right now and do it every day .... but we have one in college and one in high school and retirement is still a few years away!

MBN :woohoo: sounds like a GREAT vacation to me! I love hiking! And, I'm with you on the retirement wishes. I can't draw my pension for another 3+ years :( Otherwise ...

Hope everyone is having a great day! I actually got out of work on time tonight - we are taking Mom out for her last night here to her favorite restaurant, and then to the park to hear a band (bluegrass/gospel) that she enjoys.

She flies out tomorrow. This month sure has flown!

Laurie

Hi there MBN. Wow that is a lot of hiking. I wonder if I will ever be in shape enough to think hiking was fun. You and Laurie are really into the outdoors. I am afraid the gym is the thing for me. I have to admit that though I do have a small garden it is not really my thing either.

Jay are you there. Help me out here. Maybe you are a hiker as well. I used to walk miles but the extra weight has made my back hurt. Once I get into onederland it should come back I hope. Lots of walking to do out here. And hiking as well. I live at the base of the mountains. If you are watching the winter olympics this February that is my back yard.

Missed the gym this morning. Was all dressed to go and the time just slipped away. At some point I have to re focus and get ready for work.

I will go tomorrow.....

Laurie you will miss your mom. Such a nice visit. Sounds like lots of good memories.....Jude

I am LOL at loosing "one cat". I am gonna have to figure out how many cats I need to find homes for.

I'm liking the "losing a cat" measurement! I've lost 4+ Diggers :D

Jude, hiking is my biggest NSV. DS1 and his wife are very "outdoorsy" (probably was all that hiking and camping we did when I was his scout leader). They love hiking the mountains in California. It became very apparent to me 2-3 years ago that I could not particpate in family outings when I visited them. DH and the kids had a lot of fun, while I waited at the bottom/top/parking lot etc. It was my wake-up call. I finally had to admit that my weight WAS interfering with my quality of life. Up to that point, I was blissfully denying that I was anything more than "pleasingly plump" - a few lbs overweight - which comes with age and menopause anyway.

Seriously, I was in major denial.

So, hiking puts a huge smile on my face every single time I do it.

All this was a long way of saying - absolutely - you CAN do it again. If you look at my progress pics (linked below) you will see a picture of me hiking in Yosemite in January 08 (which was around 165 lbs)

Before I started this journey, the stairs to my office were a major exercise routine for me. I had trouble doing dishes without leaning on the sink. My back and my knees and my hips were causing me a lot of problems. My solution was to move less. And less. And less.

I actually enjoy physical activity more now than I did in my 30s and 40s. While I still need to baby the knees a bit (hiking poles are a blessing), I can walk/hike all day without any back pain at all.

Keep at it, losing the weight really does make that much of a difference.

:o Off :soap:

Sorry about that chickies, sometimes I get on a roll!

Thanks Laurie that is what I need to hear. Sometimes it seem like to big a job but when I remember the benefits it helps. We have a climb here up Grouse mountain called the Grouse grind that lots of people do in the summer. Then you take the tram back down. My son does it and I am looking forward to the day when I can call him and invite him to come with me. Would blow his socks off!!

Jude ;)

Hey!

MBN! Glad to see you here, and nice to read your report! I always like looking at your pictures, btw. I'd like retirement too--but there is a little problem called my retirement savings... :p

Hey gailr42! :wave: Has it cooled off at all?

Well, on the topic of hiking--I did lots when I was younger and slimmer, and now that I'm somewhat slimmer again, I take walks a lot. My back used to hurt from being overweight too, Jude. Everything was hard. I found out that working on strengthening my abs and stretching out my hamstrings and lower back (which get tight from sitting) helped. So did core exercises. But mainly, not carrying those extra pounds is what made a big difference! I put most of my fat on my belly, and so weight gain stressed my lower back.

Making sure I have good shoes is also really important.

Now my back is bothering me again, but it's a different issue. It doesn't affect walking, though! In fact, walking helps.

I guess I'd better get with it here...

Jay

I totally agree!! I was reasonably active in my younger years, but never really "athletic", it just wasn't something that was encouraged or modeled for girls in my family. When my children were younger, I was so wrapped up work, parenting, etc - I didn't do much that was "physical". Unless you count laundry and vacuuming, I did a lot of that! ;)

It wasn't until I hit my 40's that I realized that I needed to change. I started an exercise routine, gradually built on it over time, started running, branched into distance event racing .. and discovered this "inner athlete" that I never knew existed before!

Being lighter makes a HUGE difference, I couldn't run when I was heavier and doing any kind of uphill hiking was a significant effort. It was just hard! A few years ago, I couldn't have imagined doing the kind of hiking we just did. I simply couldn't have physically done it. Now, being lighter AND stronger makes it SO much easier and more enjoyable. Being able to be out there hiking on the trails .. or kayaking .. or running -- for me is the ultimate payoff for all of the effort. So yes, it is possible! It just takes time.

CountingDown -- I've thought about getting hiking poles, especially for slippery stream crossings and the steep downhill sections, but wondered if they weren't more of a hassle than they're worth - just something else to have to hold onto and get in your way. It sounds as though you do like them? What has your experience been?

MBN - I fly in the face of conventional wisdom on poles. I like the collapsible ones! I bought very light women's poles (Sierra Trading Post has really good prices). That way, if I choose not to use them, I can put them in my day pack, which I always carry when we hike. They stick out the top a bit, but are very stable. You can also strap them to a pack if needed.

The adjustable poles are GREAT for hills because you can make them longer and shorter with just a twist. I prefer double pole walking, it is a much more natural process.

Honestly, once you get used to using them (and there are some really good tutorials on youtube), they just become part of the hike. We use our poles even on flat ground if we are doing trail hiking. They have saved me from a fall (tripping over a root and the like) on more than one occasion.

For mountain/hill climbing they take a lot of pressure off the knees (particularly on the downs which are harder than the ups on my knees).

In Yosemite, we laughed because the kids didn't take their poles. Yet, in several slippery spots loaned the poles to the kids.

We have rubber tips for the bottoms and we even use them when we do urban hiking in San Francisco and Oakland. We have had a lot of folk comment on what a great idea that is (as they are huffing and puffing up the hills).

Nordic walking (with poles) is very common here in northern MI. On any given day, you will see people of all ages walking with poles on the trails/paths around here (even the paved ones).

I think places like REI and Cabellas sell poles, so you can always give them a whirl at the store. Nordic walkers around here use a cross country ski pole, and you can often find those at second hand stores.

Laurie do your poles have the rubber tips for walking in the city? and is the tip sort of slanted on the bottom. What brand are yours?

Yes, I have both the slanted and the plain rubber tips for my poles. I ordered them separately so that I would have them for paved surfaces.
http://image.basspro.com/images/imag...-001-44b-t.jpg http://media.rei.com/media/z/1157283.jpg
Here is a link to my poles.

I also found a great pair for about $30 on ebay which I started with and now use as "spares".