Hi Everybody, I'd like to join you. I didn't know there was a 40 something support group.

I am 46 y/o with a 4 y/o DD and a 19 y/o Son. My son is in college my daugher is in 4 y/o kindergarten.
I have been on my healthy eating plan since January 10th of this year.
I eat mostly whole foods, lots of fish, vegetables, high fiber cereal, turkey, low fat dairy, some fruit, etc. I count my calories. Exercise. Drink my water. Most days.

I have been stalled since about March 14th. It seems like as soon as ONEderland was in sight I couldn't reach it. I know I will. I changed by calorie count up this week and I'm feeling very positive. My weigh in is Wednesday. I go to TOPS for the weekly weigh in it keeps me honest.

Hi Sharon.

I like your sig - on your way to onederland. I need to go there as well.

Gosh, what a good group. Thanks for the welcome.
I'm home sick today, feeling sorry for myself! (Not really, just coughing and sneezing a lot!)

Hi Sharon, I recognize your name from the 100+ group. You have quite the range of issues with your kids! A teenager and a 4 year old. I'll bet that keeps you young!

Kimush, thanks for the special kind words. I hope you get your issues resolved. Is Black Cobosh a type of tea/vitamin/supplement? I've never heard of it.

Texasteacher, I'm thinking that the one piece of cheesecake won't completely blow it for you. I hope you are pleasantly surprised at your weigh in!!

Have a great day everyone!

Thank you all for the welcome.
Having the age range is like having two only children. My 19 y/o is a great person and if my 4 y/o turns out half as good as he is I'll be very proud.

Yeah, wouldn't that be a hoot? Me not eating enough? It's possible but doubtful. Just stubborn fat I think. Oh, and TOM is coming too, I forgot. Guess they'll be no break-catching for me this week!

Diane (Slashnl), Texasteacher and Sharonrr. (Hope I didn't miss anyone!) There is plenty of room here and all are welcome.

Sylvia -- how'd your weigh-in go? Hopefully the scale went in the right direction for ya.

Texasteacher -- what's MRC? I've never heard of that.

Diane -- hope you're feeling better.

Sharon -- does your 19 yr. old still live at home? I'll bet he's a big help w/your 4 yr. old. College and kindergarten all at once! It must keep you busy.

Well, my hand feels better today than yesterday so I'm on the mend. Tomorrow I will be able to challenge it again w/an UB workout. My dog (Penny) is fine. The stupid dog that went after her just got some mouthfuls of fur, no skin broken. The woman's 2 yr. old let the dog out. I get that and all but when I saw all the fur I got really annoyed. Well, there's a for sale sign on their house; guess I can walk on that side of the street again when it sells!

The tree swallows and blue birds are bickering over who is going to get which nesting box. We fledged 2 sets of bb's, and 1 set of ts, robins and mourning doves last year. I saved two of the three brand new baby treeswallows last year. A wren got in and was throwing everything out of the nest box -- including the 2 day old baby triplets. 1 didn't make it but I put the other 2 back in the nest and they were fine. I just love this time of year (except for the weeds!)

TTFN

Jo

Hey All and I hope Everyone is Well!...

Wow how we are growing...

I big old WELCOME and HUG from Canada...to Sharon!

The Black Cohosh (pill form) is a root which...should...

Relieve And eventually restore me to

"Black cohosh is used primarily for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. A number of studies using various designs have been conducted to determine whether black cohosh affects menopausal symptoms [5]. Few were placebo-controlled studies, and most assessed symptoms by using the Kupperman index, a scale that combines measures of hot flashes, insomnia, and depression but not vaginal dryness."

Oh Yeah! This has been a chore as...Since we are all talk personal on this thread...here I go...I ovulate twice per month so I have had 2 cycles per month as long as I can remember...and I have never had a stitch of PMS or difficulties...but now I feel like "Jane the Ripper"...and...with being a child social worker there are specific demands...that I should be generally more even tempered, better disciplined and appropriate than the children on my caseload...

So Sharon what is TOPS...that is like WW right? Which sounds doable and reasonable...that is why I chose the Best Life Plan...I needed something that would be okay for the rest of my life (menopause and all...)...

Well I am going to go bath...

Thanks to all of you for the warm welcome! I went to MRC (Metabolic Research Center) to weigh in today and only lost 1/2 pound. I guess the cheescake I cheated with really did hurt me. I haven't cheated since........loss as of today is 7 1/2 pounds in 11 days. I am going to keep going until I get this fat off! Everyone keep working hard. I can't wait to see before and after photos!

Wow that's good in 11 days. Sounds like you are doing Ok.

Kimush peri-menopause a fun time. I guess this is the place to talk about it as we are all 40 something. Do you keep track of your cycles and symptons? A good site is mymonthlycycles.com .You can keep track of all sorts of things on there related to your cycles. What I can't stand is the insomnia, some nights worse than others. I may have to check that black cohosh out. I'm funny about taking pills though, can never swallow the things if they're big.

Hey Kim, my periods started getting weird after I had Julie (16 yr old). I was 30. The doc's didn't care, just said go on the pill. They got really, really irregular a few years back (ah, that would be my periods, not the doc's). I started taking something called New Phase, a soy based supplement. It's suppose to help w/hot flashes, nightsweats (haven't experienced these yet) and irritability (yeah, I get this on a daily basis but it's from the kids! ). It also has vitamins D, B6, B12 and calcium. It also contains black cohosh, chaste tree berry and manganese. I started using it to try and help regulate things. Seems to work, especially if I lay off sugar (for the most part). Just thought I'd throw this out there for ya as another option.

Hey, for anyone in the USA -- did you know that the FDA is considering classifying all herbal, vitamins, etc. as "drugs" and if this is passed you will not be able to buy this stuff w/out a prescription? Even something like vitamin C you'd need a prescription for. The pharma. companies are in on this -- of course, they're losing big bucks w/all the people trying alternative therapies. They want in on the action. The hearing for this is April 30. If you want info to sign a petition, PM me and I'll give you the link.

Well, as expected TOM arrived this a.m. so I guess the scale will remain as is for the next week or so. I am ready to just pop if the stupid thing doesn't move. Yes, I've increased my weights and am lifting heavier -- I can see definition in my arms and am feeling my butt and legs -- but still, what the heck am I doing wrong? I had one freakin' off plan day on Monday; was this enough to sabotage a full week's worth of work? Before I started this I was a little piggy and didn't exercise but I didn't gain 1 lb. a week, dispite all the jillions of calories I was consuming. Why then when I am OP 90% of the time and exercising more than ever will the scale just not budge? And no, the measuring tape hasn't moved either. I'm still down the same amt. from my 12 lb. loss. If I had lost 25 lbs. at this point, I'd expect a substantial plateau; but after only 12 lbs??? Yeah, yeah, I'll just keep plugging away cause I don't have a choice. I'm just really, really ticked off right now. Hmmm, prolly stupid hormones!

Jo

Jo . Be positive you have not gained and you said yourself that you can see definition in your arms. Do you measure yourself or does someone else do it for you?

It's your TOM and that will make a difference.

Hang in there you'll do it. Don't get discouraged because that's when I overeat.

Hey Jo, gosh I know what you mean. I agree with what you say about that you'll keep plugging along because you don't have any other choice. It can't get any better if we give up. But, it is so frustrating! Hang in there and hopefully the scale will cooperate soon!

I didn't think I was in any kind of menopause or whatever, yet. But, I skipped my last TOM. I wonder if it isn't because I'm exercising. I went from doing nothing to actually exercising every day, so that might have confused my body. Ha! I think I'm going to have to really start tracking it because it seems to be getting lighter and lighter, too. I don't feel that I am that irritable, but like Jo, I blame it on my kids if I am!!

Feeling better today, but I came in to work and found a ton of stuff waiting for me. Great. Job security, I guess!

Hi ladies,
It’s so good to see us “40-somethings” growing in numbers but “losing in pounds.” We seem to have quite a range of people and experiences which can only help us on our journey.
I have to admit, I’ve been reading more than writing …mainly because I’m frustrated with myself. Like Jo, my scale has refused to move despite an increase in exercise. I water jogged for an hour today, just in the hopes that it would push the scales down. I’m not giving in, but I can certainly relate to the frustration. I figure I have to give my body a little time to adjust to the fact that I’m sleeping better (gotta get those 8 hours) and exercising more. Maybe then the body will start to convert those pounds back to the energy that I could really use.
Kimush – WOW, twice a month AF??? That’s a lot. Black Cohosh should help (I know it’s helped a lot of women) but honestly, just being aware of the situation and being able to excuse yourself from situations is a better start place than a lot of women I’ve dealt with. One woman (my boss about 6-7 years ago) would get SO angry, she’d make a complete idiot of herself in a professional setting. It was amazing. I knew other women (that I met at yoga class) at the time who were going through menopause as well. They said that yoga did help (probably because they got to de-stress so things didn’t build up) but one of them said that when she got really angry or felt like she was going to tear up, she’d excuse herself to the bathroom. She’d run cold water on her wrists and remind herself that it was just hormones. She said that awareness was the best defense.
Texas Teacher – What type of program does the Metabolic Research Center have you on? It sounds like you’re doing quite well with the program despite your disappointment yesterday. Keep heading toward your goal. That cheesecake was simply a turn you didn’t plan to make…you’re headed in the direction you want to go again. (Besides, I wish I could lose 7.5 lbs in 11 days!)
Sharonr – I grew up in southern Wisconsin and plan to move back next summer (I’m going back to school). What type of exercise do you do? You’re making great progress.
Travel Chick – How long has it taken for you to lose the 58 lbs that you’ve lost? I realize each of us has our own journey, but I find it inspirational to know that others are losing and finding ways to get their bodies to shed the pounds quicker than I am…(ok that scale not moving is really impacting my thoughts.)
Diane – Have you ever done a “hormone panel”? It may help you discover why AF skipped a month or why it’s getting lighter. (I’m insane, I track my TOM, weight, and exercise on a spreadsheet. But I also have PCOS, so watching the hormones and the impact of hormones on AF and my weight is kind of important.) Plus I just discovered why I’m having some other problems…it’s a side effect of one of the meds my doc has me on.
Everyone – do you have a particular exercise goal each week?
I’ve been functioning on 30 mins cardio 5 days per week – which evidently isn’t enough for me. I added a little bit of weight training this week, but I was wondering how much y’all are doing.
Gotta run now. Look forward to hearing from y’all.
“Together our individual journeys are mean more because we have helped each other through the rough parts of the path.”
Cammie

Hey All,

JO... What a goober I am! ...It took me the better part of the last two days to figure out that TOM is not your friend...Because my best friend is Thom (short for Thomas...he is my daughter's god-father)...Jo... I have been laughing for about 3 mins since I figured it all out...yes...TOM that filthy b-- --r could very well be the blame...I hate TOM ...Jo...just keep going...this plateau is trying to get the best of you and you will succeed and get past it! So is that is the case and your vitamins will be controlled via script...you will need to go to the doctors for your all your vitamins and herbal preps...that is crazy...I have heard that the Canadian government also wants to regulate herbal preparations...but wow!

Texasteacher...the MCR what do they do? And exactly what kind of diet are you on...7.5 lbs in 11 days is crazy! What is involved and is this something that you will do for your whole life...like entire life changes...i.e. no white rice?

Slashnl...I wish that I could confuse my body...I am as regular as rain in May...and I can clock TOM (hahahahahaha) right to the hour almost...I am blessed or so I am told...I guess that only thing that would be worse is to have a surprise TOM visit...

Clydegirl...These mood swings are crazy...the month cycle website sounds good to check out...and yeah...I hear you girl...I hate pills...the omega 3+ and the evening primrose are about one inch oil capsules and they are so gross and disgusting...

Cammie... I don't feel comfortable exercising yet...so I have a pedometer and I have to walk a minimum of 6000 steps per day...now I went shopping the other day with my niece and my daugther to Toronto and I did just over 15800...and I wasn't too tired...I am trying hard to be doing something even at the end of the day instead of just watching television I will mend some clothes or read or do something...Once I get "body comfortable" I am going to do some Yoga and Tibo..My daughter does both and she is a really fit and nicely muscular...

Tomorrow is my weigh date... Since I am a child's social worker...I wear a lot of jean jumpers for work because they are comfortable when I am crawling around on the floor with little children...but I went to put on a couple of my favs tonight and they don't fit anymore...that is really cool but I am anxious about the physical/body changes... ...my problem is that I may not have liked being overwt but I was comfortable with that...now I need to get comfortable with the changing me...

NICHOLA are you around? How are you doing? Hope you are okay! I have been thinking a lot about you!

Well I am going to call it a night and go and bug my cats...

Later Ladies

I've changed my exercise since starting in Jan. I started out w/the 5 day/wk cardio for 30 min on the TM, then increased it to nearly an hour. I got a little faster -- I thought I was running but actually it was a pretty slow jog -- and got really bored and mentally just couldn't face the TM. My legs were always tired too I think cause I never gave them a chance to rest. I started lifting weights about 6 wks ago. Started w/biceps curls. Guess I thought I was all in shape from the TM or something cause I went waaaayyy overboard and hurt my biceps so much I couldn't even straighten my arms out for 5 days. I learned my lesson. I formally exercise 3 x/wk. Weights on M, W, and F followed by interval cardio on the TM on those days. But I'm also getting in 1.5 mile brisk dog walks 3-4 times a week. I bought a book called the 28 Day Body Shapeover by Brad Schoenfeld. It lays out a 4 wk. weight and cardio plan for you. I like having someone else do the planning. The food end of it is pretty basic; really clean eating w/very few starchy carbs. It's probably about 1200 cals. a day but I don't really follow the food part. I mostly got the book for the variety of exercises. I also got some links off of the "Ladies/Gents who Lift" forum here on resistance band exercises. Here's the links if anyone is interested. http://asp.elitefts.com/qa/default.a...nd%20Exercises and http://www.performax4u.com/library.iml I haven't tried these but have added it into my exercise arsenal. I like changing things up and not doing the same thing all the time. Cripes, this was a long-winded answer to your question, wasn't it?

When I first read the term TOM on the 3FC threads, I thought "who the heck is TOM and how does everyone know him?" You are not the only goober!! Took me forever to figure it out. I am so very duh at times! I loved the term and see it so often now that I assume everyone figured it out long b/4 I did.

Yeah, I'm hoping they don't term supplements as drugs so that we'll need rx's for them. What a disaster that will be.

Good luck tomorrow for your weigh in. How cool is it that your clothes don't fit 'cause they're too big??

Gotta run; Lost is coming on. Gotta get my Sawyer fix!

Jo