Staying motivated

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

Help4me — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:10:11 GMT

Thanks for the welcome. I've been trying all week to get back here. I work 2 jobs and can't always find the time to do the things I want to do. I really like the SLIMFAST drinks. Can you believe I'm 61 yrs old and never tried them! They are very filling. I always thought I needed the chewing action to fill me up. I like the bars, too. Unfortunately, people at my day job keep bringing food in. They don't just sit it out on a table. They bring it to my desk! You put something good in front of me and I'm going to eat it. Well, I got to blame something on the 3 lbs I've gained since joining.

Twodaughtermom, you asked where I was from. I'm from Charleston, SC. Where is everyone else from?

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

twodaughtermom — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:06:45 GMT

Welcome back Glenbury,

Hope you have a good time and safe trip up north. I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble getting on the site.

Maybe you'll get some relief with your feet soon. I'm sorry it wasn't something as simple as RLS.

Is everyone ready for Christmas? I haven't started yet. I'm always a late starter. And it seems to get later every year.

I had several customers give me goodies today on my route. I had to deliver today smelling chocolate, and peanut brittle. My customers are so good to me. Yesterday was a bear considering the packages I had. I'm surprised I got them all in my car. I have a Honda Element. It's pretty roomy, but I can't arrange packages in it like I could my taurus. That car had a HUGE trunk.

Getting ready to go to Sarah's Christmas concert at the school. I don't get out much, so I'm really looking forward to a night out.

Everybody have a wonderful week.

Wanda

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

PAnn — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:14:09 GMT

Hi Glenbury! So good to see a post from you. A Merry Christmas to you, too!

It's too bad that you're having so much trouble getting on. Have you talked to Slim Fast techs about this at all? There has to be a way to cure the problem you're having.

Where are you going "up north"? From FL. you don't have to go far to be "up north". Come to Wisconsin. Now this is "up north". It's -4 right now and snowing! "It's beginning to look alot like Christmas"....

It may have been me that posted about baking fat free/ low sugar and using wheat flour. I make a certain kind of kuchen at Christmas time for friends and family and am not changing my grandma's original recipe. It's too loved of a treat by everyone to modify. Just have to watch how much I eat. So far I haven't done bad. I am going to make a Jello Pudding Pie of some kind for our Christmas get together this Saturday. I'll use fat free Eagle Brand condensed milk and probably fat free cream cheese if it calls for it. I have been checking for recipes on the Jello, Eagle Brand and Splenda sites. There are some that sound really good. The SparkPeople recipes, I'm finding, aren't very good. I'll keep trying, but am not getting carried away with this kind of baking for Christmas.

I can relate about feet. I have had foot problems for years. I have problems with my achilles tendon and also arthritis. I have ortho inserts that help. Have you tried them, yet? Mine were made for my feet by the podiatrist quite a long time ago. My toes cramp so badly. Since I started using the treadmill last Jan. and then making myself walk on the road this summer, it desn't seem as bad anymore. I just had to push myself everyday, tho. When mine hurt they also burn, like you mentioned.

That'd be so great for you if your friends follow thru and start something together. More support for you, too. I

Well, I better get back to work. Good to see you here again. Have a good week and enjoy your trip up north ans the rest of the holidays....PAnn

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

Glenbury — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:52:02 GMT

Merry Christmas to Everyone...............wow, I finally got on tonight, I have had one heck of a time getting on here. If I am not on this site for a couple of days I have to re-sign but I have to create a new password everytime..well I use the same one and it lets me in, however, its been awhile since I have been able to do this. First...a very Happy Birthday to Carolyn...the big "80" is a very important one...and I wish you the best year ever. Enjoy that party, sounds like a blast. I have been reading everyone's posts without being able to connect in here, very frustrating to say the least. Carolyn, I have had the burning feet and leg pain and all the pains you mentioned, very bothersome, I am now seeing a new neurologist, he says he thinks I do not have restlessleg syndrome, but am an insomiac.......I think I have really gone crazy, but I really think I just can't find comfortable shoes and all of this problem is due to bad shoes. I don't know if anyone knows anything anymore. I am all ready for Xmas, going up north Thurs for 2 weeks...It has been nice and warm here, but I see it will be cold up there for our stay. I cannot wait until Jan to begin a program that has substance again. I have been sabatoged at every weekend since Thanksgiving, and then fall off the wagon during the week. I and a couple of friends have vowed to start a program together with exercise and good motivational talks to one another. I forgot who was talking about trying splenda in cookies and other flours...a word of advice a WW person told us at a talk one day...the more you change your cooking in baking with substitutes to make the calorie count down, the more you actually eat of them because you are searching for that taste that it won't have by using the right ingredients, thus you eat more of them consuming more calories to find that taste it lacks. It does make sence. She is right, all this low fat, low no surgar stufl out today just makes you want more because it doesn't taste like it should. She said just eat 2 when you feel like it and walk away, you will be satisfied because it will be all you expect it to be. So here's the plan for now until Jan...I am going to be watching closely how much I can control myself with all the wonderful cookies I will be exposed to along with all the great food I will be served. I have decided to say some words to myself before endulging and begin some mind game with myself to keep in check. I will not deny myself any of it, just the amt. of it I allow myself to have. Wish me luck, we have some of the best cooks in our family and nobody knows a small portion of anything. Merry Merry to all of you Good People, enjoy your families and keep smiling as a New Year is approaching with wonderful times for all of us. Happy Holidays, will catch up in "2009" with ya all.........Glenbury from Florida

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

twodaughtermom — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:58:29 GMT

Still the same.

Not much has happened this week. Thank goodness. I did hear that my sister and her husband had to put their dog down the 12th. She had cancer. I think she was around 14 years old.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

twodaughtermom — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:40:09 GMT

Thanks PAnn for letting us know about the updates on SF. I started using it yesterday. I'm hoping this will give me a little nudge to start losing again. I really haven't gained except maybe 4 or 5 pounds since summer, but I really want to try to get off about 60 more. I really lose it in the summer, since I work out in the heat, and in the winter, I tend to stay the weight I got down to in the summer.

Sarah called me yesterday afternoon, close to 5. Her dog somehow got out of her kennel and ate some GMC powder (health store powder), half a stick of deodarant, some of her UTI pills and destroyed the bedroom. With it being so close to 5 I knew I couldn't get her to the vet before they closed, so I called them. They told me to give her hydrogen peroxide by the capfuls until she threw up. She should have thrown up immediately, but it took about 5 or 6 capfuls to get her sick. AND SHE DID GET SICK. Thank goodness she put her outside. She was still getting sick at 1 this morning. Poor thing. So.....if your dog eats anything he's not supposed to, just fill him full of peroxide. ha

Help4me, welcome. I know you will enjoy this site as much as I do. We're a bunch of ladies, some with teenagers, others with grown kids and grandkids, some of us with more problems then others, but we all have one thing in common, (make that two), we have either lost the weight we want to lose, or we are in the process of losing, and we all enjoy life and what it has to offer.

BTW, where are you from?

Wanda

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

PAnn — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:58:54 GMT

Welcome!! You've taken the first step by joining and you've also found a very good forum group here with us over 50's (and some close to 50 :-) This program works! I can attest to that. I have been on maintenance since summer, starting Slim-Fast last January. On the program I have lost 66#. I followed the program faithfully and found it wasn't hard for me. I have learned to change my bad eating habits and become disciplined, for once in my life! I am very happy with the way I eat now and how I feel about myself. Exercise is a key component to this or any plan for optimum weight loss. Myself, I walk outside in warm weather and inside on my treadmill during the cold months. Not everyone has a treadmill, but find ways to walk using gyms (some high schools offer public use of their facilities), walking the mall, etc. SF offers free pedometers, too. When I go shopping I park farther from the door, so I get some extra steps in. Be creative and definately challange yourself daily! This helped to motivate me on my 3-5 mile walks. Start out slow and work you way up over time. Don't jump in too fast. Let your body get used to any new exercise so you don't hurt yourself. I wish you well!

Hi all.. Did you know that SF has made some updates now?? Go to the forum "About Our Site Updates" and then to " Enhancements to Slim-Fast.com (Including new weight chart)". I went to the new weight chart and put my starting weight in from last January and then entered my current weight. It's a little different than the prior chart, but looks fine.

Wanda, Wanda, Wanda... just another day in the life of.., hey? Social Services will probably find out one way or another.

Wishing everyone a great, productive week!!...PAnn

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

Help4me — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:12:09 GMT

Hi I bought my Slim Fast tonight and start in the morning. I don't know how to post other than by clicking "reply". I am 61 and want to lose about 30 lbs. I've tried losing before but I really need a buddy or someone for support. Trying to do this by myself hasn't worked.

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

twodaughtermom — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:58:00 GMT

Hi PAnn, Carolyn and everyone,

There was a candle lighting service at the funeral home today. (The one that held my dad's service). Unfortantely, I was not able to make it. My daughter was in our Christmas parade today. I know they had to have froze to death. I was wearing a down coat w/ a lining, hood and gloves and I was STILL freezing my tush off. I sat out there for two hours, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I'll do the same thing next year. All the girls looked so cute with their white dress with green or red trim. They had their air blades decorated to look like candy canes. And of course I saw Santa Claus, HO HO HO!!!!!!!!

Went on dad's MYspace and left him a message. I still have a hole in my heart. I know with the holidays here, it's just going to get bigger as Christmas gets closer. I'm looking forward to my grandbaby coming home. Christmas will be the last time I see her in person until I can save me up enough money to go to Maine this summer. I guess I won't be going with Sarah on her competition next year. I only have one big trip a year. MAINE, HEAR I COME!!!!! I will just have to settle for the local competitions. They are just as exciting as the others and less expensive.

Still haven't started shopping yet. I was supposed to take Sarah after the parade today, but it was too late after we ate and she changed clothes. I guess we'll do it next week.

I have to vent about something....Sarah's boyfriends mom is a -----. She and her boyfriend have moved out of the house and left her 16 year old son to fend for himself. They have moved to Virginia. They brought back his dog this past weekend and he is sick. They didn't take him to the vet. They think maybe it's heartworms. When they left they gave him $13. I guess they think that's supposed to last him until he gets his SS check next week sometime. They went to Germany for a month and it was two weeks before they ever sent him money. He was eating at my house. I was taking/picking him up from school. Dropping him at his house to pick up some things. This is when gas was $5 a gal. She has her head stuck up her boyfriends butt and is neglecting her own flesh and blood. I have suggested calling SS, but her boyfriend don't want me to. He doesn't want to go to a foster home. I told him he would be alot better off than what he is now. At least he won't be worrying where his next meal is coming from or if the electric bill is going to be paid. The more I learn about her, the less I like her. I can't imagine turning my back on my own child....for anybody. BTW, she never repaid me for feeding her son, or using my gas to take him where ever he needed to go.

Thanks for letting me take out my frustration on you guys.

Everyone have a wonderful week.

Wanda

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

PAnn — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:46:24 GMT

I was thinking about just making my traditional Christmas treats as always. I just have to keep too many out of my own mouth. I'll try some using your suggestion, tho. I made some no bake the other day that are really blah. We used to make them when I was a kid and called them Mystery Cookies. They had oatmeal, peanut better, cocoa and butter in, nuts too, I think. They were good. I wonder if the deer will eat the ones I made the other day.. I can relate to foot problems, boy I've had that for a long time, but I did find that after making myself start on the treadmill and sticking with it my feet didn't hurt as much over time. Yours comes from the back, so I'm not suggesting you keep trying. Just listen to your doctor..Atleast you got one night of dancing when you were on vacation..memories:-) Even tho you gained on vacation and then getting sick, you have managed to get 6 pounds off again, so you're moving in the right direction Carolyn. Well, we're going out for fish fry after I finish work at 5:00, so I better get. Fish Fry is a bif thing on Friday nights here in Wisconsin. Hope all is well for everyone and that you are all is staying on track by being good now in preparation for when Christmas hits :-) The new year is right around the corner. Maybe it's a good time to reflect on last year's resolutions and to make new ones or update the old for 2009. My next goal will be to quit smoking! I'm confident that I'll maintain my weight now, so after we get out to AZ. for the winter (sometime after Christmas), I'll start working on that. It'll be harder than learning to eat healthy and exercise, that's for sure.

Wanda, I hope you're doing ok. I'm so glad you were able to have a nice Thanksgiving....PAnn

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

SeniorCitizen — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:25:21 GMT

PAnn,

So good to hear from you. I think that is a great idea to have one bought cookie/day as long as you are maintaining your weight loss! Marvelous! I am up about 6 lbs (after I had lost 11 before vacation) but with having the cold for over 2 wks., I decided I would just eat moderately & very healthy so I am feeling better and staying the same.

It would be fun to meet all of you.....so if you crash my party - please let me know who you are!

So far, I have invited 75 and had only 2 regrets so far. They had previous engagements and I only know them from art class. Have several friends from years ago and far off and so excited to see them again.

Every day I get more excited. If it was a surprise party, I would probably faint. It happened that my youngest daughter did that on my 70th birthday and after I got over the excitement, I loved it! Especially, seeing friends & family I hadn't seen in a while - you never get caught up on the news!

Today, I had art class and I started a new work. The drawing is all I did today and I usually am not too pleased but as time goes by, they take shape and I am always pleasantly surprised. My house is too small to hold them and my granddaughters want me to sell them but I grown attached to them after spending weeks on one & them having them framed......have never done that. It is a way to relax and I so enjoy the time I spend on this.

I have a suggestion for baking healthier....substitute half sugar and half flour w/whole wheat. The choc chips ones turn out fine....I add nuts too. You can get away with less of amount of fat too, but you may not want to experiment. I have so many grandchildren, they just eat them up....almost anything I make.

I make that old fashioned cocoa fudge that used to be on the Hershey's can, everyone loves it - I add one cup of nuts and it is soooooooooo good. My g'dau who is expecting in Feb-Mar asked me when I would have it ready as she is craving it! I told her I would work on it.

I have been so busy just doing the routine stuff, cooking, cleaning, etc. Had planned to make a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving but youngest son wanted Lemon Meringue so I did two of those. My husband keeps wanting the pumpkin! So, that will be next!

Wish I could find something to help my painful feet. I have a bad back that my spine doc says is causing the leg & foot pain & I refuse to take painkillers so I have difficulty walking very far without burning, painful feet. I can manage about 5 min. and have to rest. Yet when I was on the cruise, I danced & danced one night and could not believe I did so much but I was sore for the next few days. The rest of the time, I did not feel up to dancing, but then that runny nose & feverish condition had lots to do with that I imagine.

For the last few years, I have not done gift shopping as it is too much for my crowd....which is 20 plus so I just do the cash bit. I know its not as much fun as opening a gift but I hate to buy stuff that has to be returned.

I am hoping we can get our decorations for Christmas up this weekend. Hope all of you are getting your holiday plans up and running and are having a great time.

Carolyn

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

twodaughtermom — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:49:51 GMT

Great idea, PAnn

Everybody up to it!!!! LOL

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

PAnn — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:40:31 GMT

Hi Carolyn. Your 80th IS a milestone, for sure! This past May, my siblings and i threw a surprise 80th for our mom. She WAS very surprised and still says we did too much, but iIve told her, this was a special birthday and should be celebrated in a special way. She, like you, seems awful young for 80. My best wishes to you (early) Carolyn! Party like you never have!

I hope all is going well with everyone. One holiday down and another coming up. I did very good so far. I was worried about over eating..and I did, but got back on track two days later, after I'd finished the pc. of pie that was left here. I've been experimenting with Splenda white and brown and also wheat pastry flour. Can't say that cookies have turned out too great with wheat flour, tho. I check around on food sites for low cal desserts. I don't want to go the rest of my life not having sweets from time to time, so will keep trying new things. I had been staying away from baking while learning to maintain. Then I decided that once a week I'd have a store bought cookie. I knew if I baked cookies I'd eat waaaay too many. So far I have done fine. I'm still maintaining my weight and trying to get my walks in. I have been aching since last January and it was getting progressivley worse over time. I finally got in with a rhuematoid dr. and he is treating me for fibromyalgia and arthritis. I started walking less and less because I wasn't sleeping at night and generally hurt all over, even my face. I finally got back to walking after stopping about 3-4 weeks ago and actually slept good the past two night. Maybe I needed a break. I hated not walking because even tho I hurt alot later, I felt so invigorated after I finished the walk. I also found that even tho my weight was staying the same, I felt "flabby" from lack of exercise. I wish I could go back to doing regular exercises, but I know I can't right now. We all need some form of exercise, tho. My daughter broke her foot two weeks ago and was upset because she is immobile now (6-8 wks). I told her to atleast do some upper body exercises. Inactivity makes up too sluggish...Well, that's all from me for now. Hope everyone is doing good. I think we should all crash Carolyn's party!! PAnn

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

SeniorCitizen — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:53:02 GMT

Thanks Wanda,

My birthday is Dec 20 and my friends & family are so excited they too are telling me Happy Birthday early! I forgot to tell youall when it is.

I talked to the Mgr of the Banquet Hall today and she says it is already decorated for Christmas, so we will just have to get tablecloths & table decorations.

We have a D.J. hired and plan to order BBQ w/all trimmings when we know exactly how many are coming.

We have 75 invited (should have done 80, huh?) and so far no regrets.

This is such a milestone birthday that I figured we should have a hooray!

Carolyn

Re: The youngsters have a 3 month challenge - How About the 50 up group?

twodaughtermom — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:33:20 GMT

HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY, CAROLYN. HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WANDA