Lifestyle changes (Beverley)

Thank you Beverley for your supportive comments. I am in awe at how fit you
are - I don't think I could even balance on a bike these days, let alone
ride one. (Though I used to - miles every day as a child, biking to school.)
Anyhow - I had a "eureka" moment a few weeks ago, when I could no longer
ignore how being fat was limiting my life -- aches & pains, breathlessness,
inability to walk very far, etc etc etc. I had been bumbling along for
years, not exactly fat and happy - more fat and hating it, but not hating it
enough to grit my teeth and do something about it.

But now I'm trying to do something. I have been heaving my reluctant body
out of bed half an hour earlier in the mornings and going for a walk before
work, (early morning when no-one is about). I am cutting down on portion
sizes and cutting out fried stuff and processed junk (not that I ever ate
very much of the latter because there is not a lot available where I live.)
I am eating much as I always did, but a lot less of it. I'm recording what I
eat on Fitday and that has been a revelation to me! (For instance, I thought
I was sprinkling just a little parmesan on my veges until I actually weighed
it and found to my horror I had been putting on about 100 grams. Now I put
on 10 or 15 grams.) The main change I am trying to make is to be a lot more
active. Oh, and cutting down on the amount of wine I drink. That's a tough
one. But I was finding that I was reaching for a glass of wine as soon as I
came in the door after work and that made me a lot less disciplined about
what I ate. So that's out. I still have a glass now and then, but not on an
empty stomach.

Little changes I know but I'm hoping that if I make the changes incremental
I will be able to stick at it. I hope to retire from full time work next
year and I want to be fit enough to enjoy it! I'll keep you posted. I don't
have any goal in mind weight wise, I just want to look and feel better. But
for the record, I weigh just under 104 kilos (around 228lbs), I am 60, and
5' 3" tall.

It's been great reading posts from older people and knowing that it's never
too late to make changes!

Cheers
Judith



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Hi Judith,

I've been out of town and without my usual news reader, so I guess I
missed your original post. But I just want to offer encouragement
from another older woman. I'm 58 -- just retired a few months ago,
though I'm still consulting.

Around 6 years ago I had all the same physical issues you do. I'm
5'6" and weighed around 275. I started going to a gym to do water
aerobics because I had such severe knee problems that I could not walk
more than a couple of hundred yards without knee pain, and thought
water exercise would be feasible. That worked out well, and I got
back a lot of mobility. I eventually started looking into what else I
could do in the gym. I got into weight lifting and became fairly
serious about it -- won some competitions and stuff. I wasn't yet
focused on weight loss, but I lost some fat and built a lot of muscle
and pretty much rehabilitated my knees, even at my heavy weight. After
a couple of years, though, I decided it was time to commit to overall
fitness and not just being strong. I began counting calories and
adding cardio to my workouts. I didn't have a particular weight goal
-- just figured less would be better :-). As it turned out, it worked
better than I'd ever have imagined. I got down to what I weighed in
high school, or even a little less -- went from a size 26 to a size 6.
I went from once not being able to walk much to now being able to run
and climb mountains. Life is good :-).

So anyway, welcome to the group, and let me offer you my
encouragement. You can do this! And you'll feel better even with
small steps toward your goal.

Chris
262/130s/130s
started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004

You're right, one step at a time. Less food is a great start, for all of
us!! hehe

Stick around, as you progress in this you'll learn and appreciate all the
infos you can find in this group!

The only way you could ever fail is if you give up. )
Will~

"brenan" <brenan@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
news:1162535742_6233@sp6iad.superfeed.net...
> Thank you Beverley for your supportive comments. I am in awe at how fit
> you are - I don't think I could even balance on a bike these days, let
> alone ride one. (Though I used to - miles every day as a child, biking to
> school.) Anyhow - I had a "eureka" moment a few weeks ago, when I could no
> longer ignore how being fat was limiting my life -- aches & pains,
> breathlessness, inability to walk very far, etc etc etc. I had been
> bumbling along for years, not exactly fat and happy - more fat and hating
> it, but not hating it enough to grit my teeth and do something about it.
>
> But now I'm trying to do something. I have been heaving my reluctant body
> out of bed half an hour earlier in the mornings and going for a walk
> before work, (early morning when no-one is about). I am cutting down on
> portion sizes and cutting out fried stuff and processed junk (not that I
> ever ate very much of the latter because there is not a lot available
> where I live.) I am eating much as I always did, but a lot less of it. I'm
> recording what I eat on Fitday and that has been a revelation to me! (For
> instance, I thought I was sprinkling just a little parmesan on my veges
> until I actually weighed it and found to my horror I had been putting on
> about 100 grams. Now I put on 10 or 15 grams.) The main change I am trying
> to make is to be a lot more active. Oh, and cutting down on the amount of
> wine I drink. That's a tough one. But I was finding that I was reaching
> for a glass of wine as soon as I came in the door after work and that made
> me a lot less disciplined about what I ate. So that's out. I still have a
> glass now and then, but not on an empty stomach.
>
> Little changes I know but I'm hoping that if I make the changes
> incremental I will be able to stick at it. I hope to retire from full time
> work next year and I want to be fit enough to enjoy it! I'll keep you
> posted. I don't have any goal in mind weight wise, I just want to look and
> feel better. But for the record, I weigh just under 104 kilos (around
> 228lbs), I am 60, and 5' 3" tall.
>
> It's been great reading posts from older people and knowing that it's
> never too late to make changes!
>
> Cheers
> Judith
>
>
>
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brenan wrote:
> I am eating much as I always did, but a lot less of it. I'm recording what I
> eat on Fitday and that has been a revelation to me! (For instance, I thought
> I was sprinkling just a little parmesan on my veges until I actually weighed
> it and found to my horror I had been putting on about 100 grams. Now I put
> on 10 or 15 grams.)

I'm using fitday, too. I had an "Aha!" moment when I looked up the
calories in my pure maple syrup--it had more than my pancakes!

> The main change I am trying to make is to be a lot more active.

Nice.

> But for the record, I weigh just under 104 kilos (around 228lbs), I am 60,
> and 5' 3" tall.

I'm younger, but the same BMI. Good luck, Judith!

"Chris Braun" <braun@mill-creek-systems.com> wrote in message
news:5ocmk2tbpr51gpva29vhvot1tr14gt5vjq@4ax.com...

> Around 6 years ago I had all the same physical issues you do. I'm
> 5'6" and weighed around 275. I started going to a gym to do water
> aerobics because I had such severe knee problems that I could not walk
> more than a couple of hundred yards without knee pain, and thought
> water exercise would be feasible.

Water aerobics is a good idea. I am finding that after three weeks on my
walking programme I am having trouble with my knees. I'll check out the
local pool. There is no gym anywhere near where I live, (I live in rural NZ)
but there is a public swimming pool.


>> So anyway, welcome to the group, and let me offer you my
> encouragement. You can do this! And you'll feel better even with
> small steps toward your goal.
>
> Chris
> 262/130s/130s
> started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004

Thanks for the encouragement.
Judith



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brenan wrote:
> Thank you Beverley for your supportive comments. I am in awe at >how fit
you are - I don't think I could even balance on a bike these >days, let
alone ride one. (Though I used to - miles every day as a >child, biking to
school.) Anyhow - I had a "eureka" moment a few >weeks ago, when I could no
longer ignore how being fat was limiting >my life -- aches & pains,
breathlessness, inability to walk very far, >etc etc etc. I had been
bumbling along for years, not exactly fat and >happy - more fat and hating
it, but not hating it enough to grit my >teeth and do something about it.
>
I've had a bike since I was 5 years old but was only a recreational rider
until the last few years. It was the one exercise I found that I loved to
do.

Many of us have decided to make a change in our lifestyle for many of the
same reasons as you. I found I was gasping for breath when I tried to climb
one flight of stairs at work. I can now climb the 4 flights to my office
without any problems. It really does feel great!

> But now I'm trying to do something. I have been heaving my reluctant
> body
> out of bed half an hour earlier in the mornings and going for a walk
> before
> work, (early morning when no-one is about). I am cutting down on
> portion
> sizes and cutting out fried stuff and processed junk (not that I ever
> ate
> very much of the latter because there is not a lot available where I
> live.)
> I am eating much as I always did, but a lot less of it. I'm recording
> what I
> eat on Fitday and that has been a revelation to me! (For instance, I
> thought
> I was sprinkling just a little parmesan on my veges until I actually
> weighed
> it and found to my horror I had been putting on about 100 grams. Now
> I put
> on 10 or 15 grams.) The main change I am trying to make is to be a
> lot more active. Oh, and cutting down on the amount of wine I drink.
> That's a tough
> one. But I was finding that I was reaching for a glass of wine as
> soon as I
> came in the door after work and that made me a lot less disciplined
> about
> what I ate. So that's out. I still have a glass now and then, but
> not on an
> empty stomach.
>
> Little changes I know but I'm hoping that if I make the changes
> incremental
> I will be able to stick at it. I hope to retire from full time work
> next
> year and I want to be fit enough to enjoy it! I'll keep you posted.
> I don't
> have any goal in mind weight wise, I just want to look and feel
> better. But
> for the record, I weigh just under 104 kilos (around 228lbs), I am
> 60, and 5' 3" tall.

I've always felt that it's easier to make little changes than to change
everything at once. I still find myself needing to make changes to help
maintain my weight loss.
>
> It's been great reading posts from older people and knowing that it's
> never
> too late to make changes!
>
> Cheers
> Judith
>
The changes you've made are a great start. Just keep chipping away!
I've found this group very helpful in keeping my motivation, etc.

Beverly

"Beverly" <bowens@home.woh.rr.com> wrote in message
news:dTO2h.22710$pq4.5796@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com.. .
>
> I've had a bike since I was 5 years old but was only a recreational rider
> until the last few years. It was the one exercise I found that I loved to
> do.
>
> Many of us have decided to make a change in our lifestyle for many of the
> same reasons as you. I found I was gasping for breath when I tried to
> climb
> one flight of stairs at work. I can now climb the 4 flights to my office
> without any problems. It really does feel great!
>
>
> I've always felt that it's easier to make little changes than to change
> everything at once. I still find myself needing to make changes to help
> maintain my weight loss.


Hi Beverly
Sorry that I spelled your name wrong -- I've got it right now!

Judith




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"brenan" <brenan@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
news:1162593946_11595@sp6iad.superfeed.net...
>
> Hi Beverly
> Sorry that I spelled your name wrong -- I've got it right now!
>
> Judith
>
Not a problem. Many people spell it with the extra 'e' including members of
my family


>
>
>
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Newsgroups
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<comp_n_chess@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1162571575.390292.77580@m7g2000cwm.googlegrou ps.com...
> I'm using fitday, too. I had an "Aha!" moment when I looked up the
> calories in my pure maple syrup--it had more than my pancakes!
>
Not sure if you can get this product but we use it and like the flavor. It
really cuts down on the calories! I add it to a vegetable mixture of green
beans, carrots and cranberries to give them a slightly sweet taste.
http://www.maplegrove.com/sugar_free.asp

Beverly

On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 23:33:49 GMT, "Beverly" <bowens@home.woh.rr.com>
wrote:

>
><comp_n_chess@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:1162571575.390292.77580@m7g2000cwm.googlegro ups.com...
>> I'm using fitday, too. I had an "Aha!" moment when I looked up the
>> calories in my pure maple syrup--it had more than my pancakes!
>>
>Not sure if you can get this product but we use it and like the flavor. It
>really cuts down on the calories! I add it to a vegetable mixture of green
>beans, carrots and cranberries to give them a slightly sweet taste.
>http://www.maplegrove.com/sugar_free.asp
>
>Beverly
>
>

While I haven't tried it, DaVinci Gourmet also makes a sugar-free
pancake syrup, among their many other syrups. They can be ordered
online:
http://www.davincigourmet.com/produc...avored_syrups/. I
have ordered a number of the other flavors and enjoyed them. DH likes
them in coffee; I don't drink coffee but use them in various dishes,
including to flavor my fat-free Greek yogurt :-).

Chris
262/130s/130s
started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004

bowens@home.woh.rr.com wrote:

> Not sure if you can get this product but we use it and like the
> flavor. It really cuts down on the calories! I add it to a vegetable
> mixture of green beans, carrots and cranberries to give them a
> slightly sweet taste. http://www.maplegrove.com/sugar_free.asp

I love that stuff. I put it in my oatmeal and whey protein shakes. Only 10
calories in 1/4 cup.

--
Phil M.

"Chris Braun" <braun@mill-creek-systems.com> wrote in message
news:mtknk2dp94l6erpdd519jtgq3d6tg87ndr@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 03 Nov 2006 23:33:49 GMT, "Beverly" <bowens@home.woh.rr.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>><comp_n_chess@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:1162571575.390292.77580@m7g2000cwm.googlegr oups.com...
>>> I'm using fitday, too. I had an "Aha!" moment when I looked up the
>>> calories in my pure maple syrup--it had more than my pancakes!
>>>
>>Not sure if you can get this product but we use it and like the flavor.
>>It
>>really cuts down on the calories! I add it to a vegetable mixture of
>>green
>>beans, carrots and cranberries to give them a slightly sweet taste.
>>http://www.maplegrove.com/sugar_free.asp
>>
>>Beverly
>>
>>
>
> While I haven't tried it, DaVinci Gourmet also makes a sugar-free
> pancake syrup, among their many other syrups. They can be ordered
> online:
> http://www.davincigourmet.com/produc...avored_syrups/. I
> have ordered a number of the other flavors and enjoyed them. DH likes
> them in coffee; I don't drink coffee but use them in various dishes,
> including to flavor my fat-free Greek yogurt :-).
>
> Chris
> 262/130s/130s
> started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004

I have also bought the davinci sugar free syrup in the coffee section at
Sam's Club.