I would also like to post here. I'm 40 something.
I found out last year I had a fribroid and I have to say that I didn't know that it affected your weight
I think I better do some reading.
I used to be really fit and now I hate that I am so not ...
my plans are to be fit enough to play some kind of sport.
and to make exercise a constant in my life without all the groaning that at the moment comes with it
I'm doing yoga , although it's a beginers tape and walking , plus I'm starting back at the gym. I hope to add to this as I have wanted to start running.

Jen, what happened at the docs? Did it turn out that you do have a thyroid problem? Also, can't fibroids be removed?

Welcome kiwi!

I know one change that being older has bought for me -- if I had done all this exercising twenty years ago maybe I wouldn't have an extra 30+ lbs. on me now! I weighed about 130 my whole adult life but was not in shape or anything. My weight gains w/3 pregnancies are what got me into the shape I'm in now. Lost everything after the 1st was born but not after the 2nd and 3rd. Oh, plus another 10 lbs. added for good measure! It seems to take forever to me to get the scale to drop now!

Another changed I've noticed is that I'm using alot more moisturizer on my face. BUT, the past week I've been really, really conscious of my water intake and am drinking like 72 oz. or more a day. My skin may not be quite as dry. Hmmh, moisturizing from the inside; what a novel idea!

What have you guys been encountering?

Jo

BTW, I didn't say there couldn't be a "40-something" forum. I was just quoting from a post from one of the moderaters at 3FC!

Hi Jo
well glass's I've had to buy some to read the small print.
As you will know they say you have to cut back on some cals as you get older as your body doesn't use them as much. But keeping a sporty lifestyle can help with that.

I also put on with all my babies, I sure wished that I had had more infomation
back then. I lived on chocolate with all my pregnacies .
I also find I need to drink more water otherwise I find my skin dries out a lot.

Hi Jo and everyone else. Good news, bad news... I don't have a thyroid problem. Bad news is that the Dr. I went to for a second opinion recommended a hysterectomy (removal of my uterus) for the fibroids I have.

A little about fibroids - they usually don't grow to be as BIG as mine, 20 to 50% of women in their 30's and 40's have them but they don't know it because most don't cause symptoms. If they cause symptoms it's usually heavy bleeding and treatments other than hysterectomy are available. If you want to know more go to - www.fibroidfacts.com that's a web-site my Dr. gave me.

About my fibroids - I have 2 fibroids, the largest one is 12cm and is on top of my uterus but it isn't in my uterine wall it's called a subserosal fibroid and it's the size of a cantelope melon. The other fibroid is a subserosal fibroid but this one is smaller only 3.5 cm but it is growing from a stalk that is attached to the left side of my uterus.

So now I have more research and thinking to do before this thing gets taken care of. I will be going in for another ultrasound as I have 2 cysts of my left ovary that need to be checked.

Life pretty much sucks for me now!

Oh, by the way, the Dr. said that my stomach (because of the fibroids) is about the size of someone who is 5 months pregnant!

Jen

yes it does suck, but keep positive please as it make your days better for you.

Hi I am a newbie, this is gonna be one of my hot spots..how do I subscibe to a thread?

I figured it out...yeaaaaaaaaa

I tried a 40 sumpin at the beginning of March, but it didn't fly or I wasn't posting in the right spot or something...who knows. Anyway I went to the Journals and starting posting there and chattin with the ladies who regularly post. But I'd like to chat with ya'll; we do have different challenges than say, the 20 somethings.

at 46, I've got more aches and pains from doing routine tasks which didn't use to hurt!

I had fibroids, but I did have the uterus eventually removed. Unfortunately it wasn't a boon weight loss! It apparently was so big that it wasn't possible to remove it vaginally...ick. too much information! But I had 2 C-sections, so what's the big deal to open the zipper one more time? It's been 10 years since that happened and I don't miss the periods for sure. Menopause hit about two years ago or peri-menopause, whatever. It stinks. And it's harder to lose weight and keep it off. Night sweats are a pain. Mood Swings? Like I would notice? Don't we all swing? LOL

Talk to you soon ladies. Good to meet you.

Jen - so sorry to hear about the fibroids. Can they just remove them or do they grow back? What causes them to grow in the first place? I'd do a ton of research b/4 surgery (I'm extremely leery of doctors). Perhaps a second opinion?

Welcome everyone!!! I agree; 40+ has many different challenges than 20. So glad more chicklets are jumping in on this thread.

Kota - are you taking anything for your symptoms? When my oldest was born (she's 16) my periods started getting goofy. Irregular and such. Of course, the doc just gives me the pill and says "yeah, that's life" A few years ago it seemed to get worse and i started taking a vitamin called "new phase". It's suppose to reduce menopause symptoms (I don't have any yet) but I took it hoping it would help regulate my periods -- and it seems to be working.

Kiwi - yeah, that darn presbyopia! I had bifocals put into my glasses last year. My husband is worse off though -- he HAS to wear them; I don't -- yet!!!

Jo

eat before so that the smells and look of the food don't get to you so much.
power through the water, if you have a small bottle of water in your hand you tend to sip on it without thinking about it to much. So just try to keep the water with you.

A big plate of seafood and corn on the cob and b b q'd vegie's will fill you up.
Hope you have better luck at the next bbq.

The past 2 weeks I've really made a conscious effort to increase the water. We have 17 oz. glasses at home so I fill them about 4 or 5 times a day. We also have Aquafina 24 oz. water bottles (for hubby and kids for work and school). I pulled one of them last week and drank it and refilled it several times throughout the day. It's not a sports bottle top, just regular. Well, for some bizzare reason, I chug water out of the bottle. So much so that my stomach really, really ached from it! I'm now sticking w/water bottles when I'm not home. My long-winded point? Oh, that's right I rambled on some, didn't I? Try drinking water out of different types of containers. I personally like glass but will use the water bottles when necessary. Even a different shaped glass makes a difference - God only know why - but we have two different types of 17 oz. glasses and I always choose one over the other. Go figure!!

Jo

Hi Jo, for me the container of water doesn't make any difference BUT the water has to be ice cold, otherwise I won't drink it!

Jen

Hi, can I join? I'm 47....when I was 40 I weighed 125. I yo-yo'd a lot, but always knew that if I just started exercising and seriously watching what I ate, I could always take off the weight with no problem. I got married almost 4 years ago (first time! I'm a divorce lawyer and skittish!). After that, I gained weight...and gained and gained. My husband and I are "foodies" and...well, wineos! We consume a fair amount of red wine. So - now I can't seem to take off the weight no matter what I do! I don't know whether it's that I screwed up my metabolism by all of that yo-yo dieting, whether it's perimenopause, whether it's just the fact that I'm older, a combination of all of the above - or that I keep drinking the wine! I do take it into my calorie count....anyway, I started lifting weights 3 weeks ago, started jogging on the treadmill 2 weeks ago and this week I started seriously watching what I eat - again!

I buy a six pack of 1.5 litre bottles and just drink straight from the bottles. I also bought a smaller bottle to take out with me as it's easier to carry around.
Hi 47yr can I have your puppy
I have seen sometimes when people get together as a couple that they tend to put on weight as they spend more time together at home eating and drinking....
sound familiar ... is that you
perhaps you can add going to the gym together . Don't tell me he didn't put on any ???

Hi, Kiwichic - yeah, the puppy really is hilarious, isn't she? Actually, she's a dog now, but every bit as funny - fun to watch. My husband and I keep saying "whatever would have happened to her if someone else adopted her?" She truly lives a dog's life of luxury.

As for the weight issue - we lived together before we got married, spent a fair amount sitting at home, eating and drinking - the problem is it's a hobby! And yes - he did put on weight. Men! The only reason it bothers HIM is because it makes his clothes uncomfortable! Whereas I have become the "invisible woman" - no one notices me standing at a checkout counter, the same person can see me twice in 5 minutes and not recognize me....I feel like I'm lower than low - a nonentity!

However, I'm feeling really determined to get back to being an entity, at least!