Had to cancel my trip to TO. Natalie's medical expenses took away my trip money. That's OK, though I'll really miss seeing the David Blackwood exhibit at the AGO. I have had a poster of one of his works on my walls for a long time. Ah well I'd make the choice to save Natalie over a trip again in a split second. She is outside right now enjoying the darkness.

We have people visiting today and overnight so there will be some "extra" eating involved. Mostly just dessert as an indulgence. I baked a spice cake and we are having it with ice cream, rather than our evening fruit.

Thanksgiving is out of my hands as we are going to a family gathering. I will take another cake - I am becoming the "cake lady" at family gatherings - and plan to eat mostly protein and veg, rather than carbs.

Dagmar

I'm now down 7 pounds in 6 weeks. As noted, the first few weeks were an anomaly.

My incentive in this is to lower my numbers on fasting blood glucose and A1c, as I mentioned. At my age (and my weight) it's not about vanity. I am never going to be "slim" again, but I'd rather not get into the diabetic range.

Enjoy October, everyone!

for losing the weight and for accepting the changes as you age JayEll.

I too am never going to be slim again but I will try to be as healthy as I can. I will also try to regain some strength. I haven't been doing the weight workouts 2X per week. I'm going to join the YMCA in November and see if I can stick to going 2X per week. It's expensive but I think I need the motivation of a trainer - 6 sessions - and a place where I can show up and work out. At home I have to move furniture and set things up. I have tripped and fallen twice now - darn carpeting - and I'm feeling that falls might well break something now, rather than just bruise me. So off to the "Y" I go!

DAgmar

JayEll, it's inspiring to hear of your 7 pound success. That's about how much I'd like to lose. I know it's normal to get a thicker midsection as we age, but I still have aspirations of being leaner overall than I am now. It's harder to stick with exercise as we get older, that's for sure!

Dagmar, I think your plan to get stronger is a good one. Resistance training does protect us from breaking when we fall. I did a faceplant while backpacking in July, and fell another time while carrying something backwards down some stairs (dumb!) but nothing bad happened. I'm pretty adept at falling I think my best exercise is putting on a 25 pound pack and going up and down our one flight of stairs 16 to 20 times a few times a week. Since my hiking has fallen off, it at least helps my legs and back maintain muscle.

Happy Thanksgiving in Canada!!

This Sunday Holly and I are trying out for therapy dog. No treats allowed and no Martingale collars. I have no idea how she'll do since I trained her very differently but it will be a stimulating experience for both of us. I need to get out of the house with a purpose, rather than staying in and eating too much. Hoping we pass and can start going out in the community near our home. There are two senior's residences near our home and I'd like to connect with some of the people there. Holly is always up for meeting new people. She too needs to lose some weight so extra time out of the house with some stimulation would be good for her. We are both eating out of boredom and winter is coming so we'll be even more bored and stuck for places to walk.

Apparently we can go inside the mall near us so I'll explore that too in winter. I'm hoping we can also go to the college/university complex. Good to meet some younger people too. Holly is also super with young kids so I'll explore getting her connected with them too if we pass.

If we fail so be it. I think Holly may be too old to wait another year for this so I'm hoping we can do it. We'll find out Sunday.

Dagmar

We passed!

Just a police check for me and a sign up for places to visit and we're good to go!

Dagmar

Congrats to Holly the Therapy Dog and, of course, to Dagmar the Therapy Dog Handler.

What a gift to bring to those incarcerated in old folks homes.

Agree with Alice, "It's harder to stick with exercise as we get older"

Oh, how wonderful that Holly passed the therapy dog test! Congrats to you both!
Our latest dog acquisition is getting neutered tomorrow. He showed up about a month ago. I've done all I can to find his owner, with no luck, and the county shelter is overflowing. I could push the point and make the shelter take him, but he's a pretty nice Border Collie, or mostly Border Collie, and it would be a horrible place for him. I'm still not sure keeping him is a great decision, but there are no other options.

As long as the pet care is manageable it's always so nice to give a home to another pet. Congrats on the new dog and bravo for getting him neutered promptly Alice.

Dagmar

Went to a local gym this morning and made an appointment for an assessment for personal training. I'm going to do 10 sessions - 2X per week for 5 weeks - and then see where I go from there.

Dagmar

The trainer was not ready for me so we did a quick tour of the gym and he reviewed my paperwork. We'll try again Friday. I haven't paid for anything or signed up yet and he indicated that the first training session would be free. If I feel this is not going to work out - I'm more than 2X his age and my work ethic seems to be totally different - I may try the YMCA. I like to give independent businesses my support but I won't do this if I don't feel comfortable about his abilities.

Dagmar

Holding steady at 149.4 lbs. I know what I have to cut re food calories but I haven't been able to go through with it yet. I did put 5 pairs of pants that will never fit me again in at the local consignment store. Sorting my clothes did help me focus a bit.

Holly was awesome at her first therapy dog gig. She's a natural at socializing and got the gist of what she was supposed to do in just a few minutes.

We are rewatching "Game of Thrones" for evening entertainment. "Winter is coming".

Dagmar

Dagmar, I'm so glad Holly enjoyed being a therapy dog! What a neat thing for both of you!
I've discarded a few clothing items that were never loose, even at my lowest weight. I'm hanging on to a few shorts and pants that are wearable but would be better if they were an inch bigger. With tops, I've gone to the looser is better concept and I'm gladly donating anything that is tight-fitting.
Did your personal trainer work out? I had one for years until he quit doing it. He wasn't a youngster and understood that aging bodies need more recovery time. Then I had an online guy who didn't work very hard at it, but at least it made me show up and do my workout. He changed careers also, so now it's just me. I have a printed list of exercises on the fridge and try to check off a few every day. I've never met a trainer under 40 who was a good trainer for seniors.

The new dog is now called "Mac" and might be slowly integrating into the household. He still needs to be in a separate yard when unsupervised, but I've been taking him for short walks with the other dogs. His canine social skills seem to be marginally improving, after he's been told off by the other three a few times. Still a long way to go, however.

I did one session with the trainer Alice and so far so good. He's under 30 - - but it may be OK. I basically want him to show me the machines and some exercises on the weight bench and I can take it from there. They have training packages so I will complete one of those and then take a membership by the month. I plan to also have a "tune up" session every so often.

I hope Mac can integrate into the household with the other dogs.

I too am going with loose tees and hoodies as my tops. I do have some nice sweaters that I can still wear to special events. Haven't seen anyone here in a dress except at an evening ballet performance. I don't even have pantyhose right now so that part of my clothing life may be over. Hubby wears blue jeans everywhere so i kinda try to match with a bit less casual but not too polished.

Dagmar

I am now seeing a physiotherapist and hope to book an appointment with a sports physician in the new year. That would likely give me the "imaging" to have to see what's going on with my neck and my SI joint. In the meantime I will use as much of my health insurance benefits as I can before hubby retires.

Going to the gym 2x per week and that's going well. And Miss Holly is one supervised visit away from being a therapy dog!

I'm hosting a family lunch tomorrow and that will be it for my Christmas entertaining. Chicken soup and good bread. Apple pie ( not my own baking) and ice cream for dessert. Nice and easy and tasty and appropriate for the season too.

Simpler is better now for me.

Dagmar