Hello!
This is one of "those Mondays": The Monday that I begin my (latest) journey to start over, end old habits, start new ones. In short, the first day of what we used to say "my diet" but we don't say that anymore.

I need to lose weight, I want to lose weight. For all the usual health reasons and some less-usual ones.

To help myself get serious about doing something to get rid of the extra pounds I've gained, I bought something yesterday to help me exercise; I started a new food journal today; and (checking watch while eyelids droop), it's almost bedtime and I haven't overeaten!

Fess-up #1: I also did not use my new exercise gizmo either. Reasons (excuses)? Got home from work late (9 p.m.); spent time on the Internet instead. (I wanted to find an online site to help me commit to my weight-loss goal, and that's how I ended up here. So my time wasn't THAT wasted....)

Fess-up #2: The REAL reason, the primary motivator for starting over yet again to lose the weight? Vanity. I have a reunion of sorts in the fall & would like to shed a few pounds by then. That's the truth. If I didn't have this reunion, I doubt I'd be kicking myself in the arse to get this show on the road. I know, I'm supposed to lose the weight for ME and not for others. But the truth is the truth. What can I say?

I'm 57.5, 5.1, 170, by the way.

My Achilles heel? Night-time. 'Cause for me, night-time = snack time.

I'll close now, say hello/good night. I look forward to this forum!

Good luck AuntBea! (love that handle!)

You`ll find lots of support, comfort and some great ideas and good recipes. A reunion is a great way to keep you motivated. Once you start losing you will feel great and light.

check in on the board to hear other stories and stay motivated!

Best of luck to you in melting those lbs away,
HelenMay

Thank you for writing, HelenMay! Congratulations on shedding some pounds already! We're the same height but you are lighter than me. You are my inspiration. I too have hypothyroidism. All that my Levoxyl has made me lose is some hair on my head; no pounds. But I have been a huge couch potato for 2.5 years. (I have some physical limitations that make exercise not too easy.)
For me, I think weighing only once a week will help me from getting too discouraged about the slow progress. Maybe that would work for you, too?

Hang in there....

I went through a phase where my hair was falling out as well. I think it was from the Synthroid but I think it was also because I was taking it along with a mega Folic Acid vitamin pill. The MD suggested that I take the Synthroid alone at night before I went to bed and the Folic Acid in the morning with breakfast and that did help quite a bit.

Are you taking something else with the Levoxyl?

Re the exercise - Could you do daily short walks? Or some stretching exercises.

LOL, believe me I`m the last one to talk about exercise. I hate it but at a bare minimum, I do try and stretch my old muscles.

Yeah about the weighing, it has been pretty discouraging but after all my whining and moaning, I finally dropped below 150 today. So the weighing can work either weigh......(LOL, I was just proof reading my post and saw that I typed weigh instead of way). Seeing that 149.3 this morning shows me that I CAN do it. I guess it requires more "stick-to-it-ive-ness" at this age for us and definitely more patience on my part.

What diet are you following?

Good luck today. I`m sending some thinning thoughts your way!

AuntBea! For support, encouragement, & friendship with those in the same boat, join us in one, or both, of the daily threads here at Age 50+. I look forward to knowing more about you.

Hi, Jane!
I love your "welcome" sign. And I have really been affected (in a good way) when I've seen that quote you have while I've been cruising this site. I am going to write it up and paste it to my mirror. It really is true.

I have a few topics I'd love to post to ask people about. Not really even related to being "over 50," though. Should I just start a new thread at the home position of "Forums" or where if not there?

Thank you for your good wishes!!



CONGRATULATIONS, HelenMay!! That's wonderful! And I remember when I got under 150 a few years ago, it was especially sweet. My doc had even said to me, "If you could just get under 150, that'd be a big help." (I'd hit 170 back then, too, and lost 35 pounds. Then, I gained it all back. )

It's kind of a chicken-or-the-egg puzzle for me regarding my ever-thinning hair. And it's complicated by having inherited very thin, fine hair. I've read that hypothyroidism can cause thinning hair; but I've also read that the medication can do that, too. My med is supposed to be taken first thing in the a.m., 1 hour before eating or drinking. I'm also taking, per my doc's orders, Vitamin D. That's it. I might just be destined to have this hair. I don't think it's falling out; just thinning.

Another thing about the thyroid med: It's had no affect on my weight. I'd hoped I'd drop some pounds, but I didn't do that except when I made a conscious effort to eat less and move more.

The thyroid med really helps with the "brain fog" fuzziness, though, and I do think I sleep better, though not necessarily longer. And I no longer have a 5 p.m. slump.

I love walking, and do a little of it. But not long, "trying to lose weight" walks like I used to do. I've got some physical limitations too boring to go into right now. But weight-bearing exercise, even walking, isn't really what I should be doing.

This is my third day of not overeating and of being in a "conscious mind" kind of state, where I guess it's like "being on a diet." But I don't think that's a bad thing. I'm just trying to be mindful that I want to lose weight and I can't do that if I am eating whatever I please. I'm cutting back on calories, keeping track so I don't fool myself into thinking I'm eating less than I am, and am being mindful of not eating too much fat or too little protein. I'm a real "one thing at a time" person about some things. For example, I would never quit smoking (not that I smoke anymore), start a diet, start going to the gym, and stop swearing all on the same day. I think when I try to be too "perfect," I just short-circuit and blow the whole thing.

Here's an example: This time last week, when I got home, I probably would have overeaten most if not every night--way too many calories for a snack. We're talking compulsive eating. This week, instead of saying on Monday, "I will have carrot sticks for my evening snack" or "I will take a bubble bath instead of a night snack" -- two things that, realistically, would have NOT appealed one bit, especially after a long, stressful day at work -- I said, "I will have a granola bar for my snack." Surprisingly, that did the trick. I ate it real slow, too. Yesterday, I did better: I had a cup of oatmeal (which ordinarily I would have had for breakfast.) Tonight, I am having a fat-free Greek yogurt & 1 small banana. And I'm pretty good!

Over time I'll be able to add more things (like exercise) to push myself more. But I just can't do it all in one day. That's what I think works for me. It has in the past. Of course my big problem will be keeping the weight off once I finally lose it.

Well, I have talked too much about myself.

I hope tomorrow is a good day for everyone here. Thank you for your support & good wishes.

AuntBea - congratulations on making it through day #3!! You can begin a new thread in this area with any questions, if you're looking for help from seniors. The group here at Age 50+ is experienced, and we have been around the block a time or two. Also, we have a lot of the same issues with weight loss as you may have. However, if you are looking for a broader group, just ask your question is whichever forum is appropriate. Such as exercise, food talk, weight loss support, etc. Please feel free to jump in one, or both, of the daily chat threads, where all sorts of issues are discussed.

seniors?? SENIORS??? US????? Nah! That just cannot be the case!

and ditto on the congrats AuntBea