I intentionally buy Halloween candy I do not like. Also, I'm not a fan of milk chocolate so packaged candy like that doesn't usually tempt me.

Dark chocolate on the other hand is my love language. Kids don't like it, so it's not in the Halloween candy aisle.

I feel like I'm totally stuck. I'm up 1-2 lbs one day, and down those 1-2 lbs the next day. I guess it's just my scale. But it's frustrating that I'm not losing weight at the rate I want and have always been able to in the past. I'm wondering if I need to add more protein to my diet. I've never tracked food that way so I really have no idea how much I get. Nor do I know how much I should get. I guess I have some research to do. I also do not eat red meat. Don't love chicken either. I do eat fish, and shrimp.

I was sick with a cold most of last week so didn't work out for several days in a row. Other than that stretch I have been good. Walking on my treadmill 5-6 times per week. I do walking classes so it's a lot of power walking and hiking. Thankfully my ankle feels better. Don't remember if I mentioned that last week. Anyway, I think resting it those days I was sick helped. The last few workouts I haven't worn my weighted vest to not put more strain on my ankle but today I didn't feel anything so I think I will start wearing it again tomorrow.

Good news for me! My last blood tests (I get them fairly regularly) was perfectly normal across-the-board. The big change for me is that my mild anemia, and in general low red blood cell counts, are now unremarkable. I have totally upped my protein intake, and I am crediting that with the change. My doctor is very happy.

Umm, does it make us old if we are reporting on our health care outcomes? Noooooo. I saw my Dr. recently for a checkup and he was pleased. I was shocked at my BP. My BP has never been high, even at my highest weight (which was funnily before I had kids so a zillion years ago). But it is now at 91/66. Yay me. Cholesterol numbers were excellent, too.

This led to a conversation with my Dr. about goals. It was not something he could shed a lot of light on, TBH. My first goal was to take off my COVID weight. It took almost 2 years to get it off, because I am no longer willing to do unsustainable things to lose weight, and I am totally fine with slow and steady.

My Dr. said the only tool he has for weight goals is BMI-based, but he finds that approach not very useful. Individuals are different; BMI is calibrated to a population but there is of course a natural distribution around it. He says as long as I am healthy and happy, he does not have a medical argument for me reaching a particular weight lower than where I am now. That said, he added, generally the leaner one is, the better for health.

I don't want to get into a whole head game where I think I fail unless i get to "x," but "x" is a weight that requires more abstinence or more activity than I am happy with.

How did you choose weight goals? For lack of anything better, we just randomly agreed on another 10lb loss as a goal for now.

I am thinking of choosing other goals that are more controllable and kind of more on point. My new goal is 100 workouts by July 1. (~ 3 a week). I will meet with my trainers 1x a week and work out on my own 2 other times. I like my trainer but my schedule is a little complex for us to meet each time.(Now that I am done my 100 countries and 100 Pulitzers I need new goals. I guess 100 speaks to me?)

My Dr actually liked that workout goal better than a "lose 10lb" goal. Maybe next I need to have a nutritional goal --- 100 servings of veggies or somesuch. (No calorie tracking!)

ETA, texting w my trainer he suggested I set a goal of 2 or 2.5/wk on average ... with travel. holidays, etc ... I think the is right

My goal weight is based on the fact, first of all, that I have never in my life been at an ”ideal” weight — you know, according to The Charts — and so, aiming for that at age 61 is unrealistic. But there is a weight where I feel most myself if that makes sense. Still not thin, but healthy and not making me cringe when I look in the mirror. That weight is 10 lbs less than I am now. My “covid weight” was only 3 lbs more than I weigh now, and I did lose the weight in 2022? I think? But most of it has returned. And I know why, and I know what to do to move the scale in the right direction.

My BP is high, I am on a low dose of meds which has been working just fine for several years. It was high at my last appt, though, which I attribute to my lack of exercise in the preceding weeks, but losing a few lbs would probably help too.

I had no idea you had 100 Pulitzers! 😆

@mtnrdredux_gw I usually just read the postings and haven’t got much to share. Your question above ” how did you choose your weight goal?” I have an answer for that.

I have gone to the gym regularly for 43 yrs this month. I rarely get on a scale. I was talking with a friend at the Y the other day about this very subject. He is a very easy going laid back sort of guy, an avid beekeeper and gardener and impressively strong. He said ” I never weigh , I go by how my clothes fit/ how I feel.” I said thats interesting because that’s what I do as well. He said he thought most women worry about the numbers on the scale and I agreed. I acknowledged that years ago I did the same.

I have been a ” fit & feel” gal for a long time now. I weigh a good bit more than I look .

I agree with the posts when someone says ” I feel good in my skin”. If a person doesn’t it might be weight or something else that warrants looking at.

Great topic . 🙏

I have mentioned that I started wearing a CGM several weeks ago. WOW! what an eye opener. I have been type 2 diabetic for maybe 7+ years, had a 10# + baby, and a family history. I do not see why insurance won't pay for these if you are on oral glycemic agents as they teach you so much about how your body responds.

With watching by BS, I have lost a few pounds. Like in Mtn's thread above, I would be very happy with another 10 # loss.

In related health news, I have one of those "chessy" $49 health scans two weeks ago basically because of family history and being diabetic. Well, I have moderate arthrosclerosis. My sister had a scan about a month ago and she does as well. I was already on a statin for diabetes but now am also on a baby ASA and have become a little more diligent about walking.

This getting old stinks!! Enjoy every day, there are no guarantees in life.

The majority of my adult life (before I had babies), I weighed about 140 lbs and felt fit and healthy at that weight. Now I think 150 would be a good goal. I have a feeling, I might feel unhealthy if I tried to get back to 140 but we will see.

trailrunner, I have always used the scale to help me track. However, 3 years ago I was convinced by my adult daughters and friends that I should just go by how I felt and my clothes fit. I know it works for many, but this was not a good idea for me. I happened to be going through menopause and everything was changing. I also wear very loose clothing. In 4 months I gained 13 lbs. I was horrified when I finally stepped on a scale. I have not been able to get rid of more that 2 or 3 of those since (and they always find me again).

However, in the last month, I am down 8 lbs and it feels like it is just melting off. I am going to make an appointment with my doctor (I'm due anyways), but I honestly think the difference is retirement. I have a hunch I was eating to deal with stress from work and not having time to take care of myself. One of the best things about retirement is I have very few excuses not to walk and workout - so I do!

Go Jojo! Amd your hair looks very cool!

New rule: post brain-surgery (but only after your second consecutive one ,in a less than 6-month interval), you are allowed to brag about being beautiful and fit!

You go!

@jojoco Go jojo! Tremendous joyful feelings coursing through those veins. Your hair looks great! ❤️🙏

Wow, Jojo, I am so impressed! Looking amazing, my friend.

This week is flu shot on Wednesday ( already had covid shot), kidney doctor on Thursday ( Im a little concerned about my latest numbers) and the orthopedist’s PA on Friday to find out what’s going on with my aching hip. Crossing my fingers he says all I need is a steroid shot, not a hip replacement.

In other news, I am fat.

You all are so sweet. I had poster remorse and went to remove the pix but stopped after reading your supportive comments. And as far as my hair goes, I have an appt on Thurs with my old stylist. I've decided to keep it short for now and will have her clean it up (last "haircut" was a shave by the plastic surgeon in June!) One of my friend's is lobbying hard for me to grow it out, but I love the ease of having very short hair.

And trailing, I was a slave to my scale but am cutting back to once a week. I have actually gained weight since this summer but I am convinced at least some of it is muscle gain.

Ded, LOL. ”In other news, I am fat.” No you are not.

I have a hip ortho appt next week! Aren’t we fun! And I have an initial PT appt on Monday…after my mammogram. Sheesh.

As I keep telling my friends, my "check engine light" keeps coming on. and I agree, Deb. You are NOT fat! Not in the slightest.

@jojoco Wow very impressive! Your hair color and style looks GREAT.

Jojo and Sue, thanks but the scales dont lie. Id be a lot happier and so would my hip if I lost some weight.

Your friend,

Deb ( inside joke)

PS Check engine light. Thats funny.

@jojoco My hair is your lenghth today and I have my monthly haircut tomorrow ❤️🙏 so I’m all for short especially because I have a decades history of sweating ! I’m sure you get soaked at the gym too.

I love the ” check engine light” … at a few weeks from 75 believe me mine seems to have a short in it lol.

As to weight, muscle definitely weighs more . Given your recent medical history and your astounding rebound you are feeling and looking extremely fit . The only scale that matters is on 1-10 you are definitely a 10! ❤️

One of the best things about retirement is I have very few excuses not to walk and workout - so I do!

Yes yes yes! I have been mostly consistent with my daily walking classes since retiring. I tried before to be consistent but work would get in the way, or perhaps more accurately I would use work as an excuse to not do it. Now I have no excuses and I have been good about doing it first thing in the morning.

---

The scale can be one's friend or one's foe. It depends on the person. When I did Weight Watchers many years ago they said to not weigh yourself every day. That doesn't work for me. If I'm trying to lose weight, I have to weigh myself every day (or close to it). I need to see progress or not to know if I'm on the right track. A gain of 1-2 lbs will not change how my clothes fit. By the time they're tight, it's more weight than that. I need to know before my clothes get tight.

I do understand that for some it can become obsessive and not healthy. It's not like that for me. It's just a measurement of where I am on the journey. Also, when I see small progress on the scale, it's motivation for me to keep going. It just works for me.

When I get to my goal weight I tend to stop weighing myself every day but honestly that has gotten me in trouble. Again, by the time my clothes are tight I've gained more weight than a couple of pounds.

I know what my goal weight is. And it has nothing to do with the number. I just know when that's about what I weigh, I feel good. I like the way I look, and I like the way clothes look on me.

Totally agree jsk.

Has anyone else experienced height loss? My target weight had to be adjusted. What worked for me 1 inch and a half ago does not work now.

Jojo-- you look great! So very impressed with your spirit and accomplishments!

I don't have a goal weight -- I can take guesses based on the past but my body has changed quite a bit since I was at the lower weights. I want to be healthy and comfortable -- and yes, Mtn! At a sustainable weight that doesnt require constant battle. I am willing to work on it but not willing to fight it. Unlike many of you, I have a long way to go so I think I am better looking at short-term goals rather than the endpoint.

@eld6161 I just saw your question. Because my grandson is growing like crazy he wanted all of us to measure too😊. DH has lost 2”!!!! I have lost 1/2”.

I had a partial hysterectomy in 1996. My ovaries continued to work for almost 2 years. I had researched HRT by then. I had a couple weeks of drenching sweats that were so bad I had to carry extra clothes , Home Health RN, I would drip off my hands it was so bad.

I called my DR and he immediaiely prescribed what I had researched. I have taken it every day since 1998. I am certain it is why my bone scans are so good .

Trail, my gyn is saying we may have to re-evaluate taking estrogen (I have the patch) because I am over 60. Maybe I need a new dr… ?? I had ovaries removed probably 8(?) years ago and have been taking some form of estrogen ever since.

At my last physical the med tech said I was 5’3”, LOL. So I must be getting taller because my previous tallest height was 5’2-1/2”.

Thanks for everyone's input on goal-setting. I will stick with the 10lb goal because that seems reasonable, for lack of a more precise definition.

I will also keep my workout goal, but I personally feel that exercise should be decoupled from weight loss, because it doesn't always lead to weight loss and because it is wildly beneficial in its own right for both physical and mental health. Plus when people work out to lose weight or even tone, they tend to stop when they "fall off" the food wagon. I am trying to avoid that whole on/off a diet or regime mindset.

@mtnrdredux_gw I agree totally , being fit isn’t coupled with weight in many cases. My Dad was a perfect example. He had worked hard all his life and played football and baseball in college. His nickname was ” Fat ”…. I won’t address that . He could work anyone into the ground. He was born 11/1/09. He was 92 when he died and still swam in his pool.

@Sueb20 I have my opinions about HRT as does KSWL. I would NOT stop Estrogen now of all times. Without your ovaries you could take Estratest. That’s what I take. All women have a small amount of testosterone production and need it. You can research on your own . 🙏

I am on the other side of hrt. i had hormonal issues for years (PCOS). menopause was 50ish for me. surprisingly i sailed through it! It was almost a relief. Two years ago i had a total hysterectomy. My ovaries were shriveling up, so no reason to keep them. I chose no HRT and my dr was fine with that, she did not try to change my mind. i have had NO issues. My bone scan was great, I’m not shrinking, etc. Everyone is different and we need to do what is best of each of us and make an educated decision. Kudos to Carolyn fo researching. (Tina Marie)

ETA - i have actually lost about 10 lbs since my surgery but could stand to lose a bit more.

@HU-688559642 Tina Marie you are so right. Women have to do their research and it definitely comes down to quality of life … there is that ” fit and feel ” thing again. 🙏

HRT isnt an option for some of us-- I have a genetic blood disease that wont allow it (or BC-- but those days are in the past). I am concerned about osteoporosis but not as much as I am concerned about blood clots or stroke. I just muscle through the hot flashes.

In other news.. i just returned from the eye surgeon. My surgeries are scheduled for January. The 2025 dates are no longer available so it made my decisions easy.

Funky, I wish you all the best on your eye surgery! Keep us up to date. I wish you a very successful outcome!!

Thank you <3

I am excited to read physical books again (I must read on the kindle/ipad now for the high contrast/high resolution) .. excited to cook/chop/mince easily again.. but most of all, I am excited to see what fully corrected vision is like!

The surgeries won't address my double vision or the lack of depth perception but I have adapted to those. I still won't be able to drive but that's something I have adjusted to.

Best of luck to you, Funky. A new world awaits!

I started using HRT during perimenopause. It was such a help, although I never had the struggles some have. I continued on them for several years and felt good. Then along came the flawed “ nurses study” and I was told to stop. I sincerely wish I had continued on a low dose since the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Great news that you have a date, funky. Wishing you the best possible outcome.

I had a partial hysterectomy in 2006. Uterus and one ovary was removed. I am not on any hormone replacement. I had/have osteoporosis but my last scan last month moved me into osteopenia so a big improvement. I'm supposed to schedule an appt with someone to talk about a "drug vacation". I have yet to schedule that.

Great news on your surgery date, funky!

Jojo- you are incredible. Thanks for sharing your story and your pictures.

I should weigh more often. I can usually feel my clothes - but it's more a general bloated yucky feeling when I gain weight. My clothes are generally too loose or stretchy to notice too much, except when I put my jeans on this fall.

I lost about 25 pounds a couple years ago and I've been within 5 pounds over and under of that since then. I'd like to be a little smaller or more towards the bottom more often, but I guess not enough that I'm willing to try much more than I already do. I feel like this is a set pointof sorts for me and it's better for me to set other goals that IMO keep me just as healthy.

Mtn - there is some evidence that a wide variety of plant foods is good for gut health and immunity. The goal is generally 30 unique ones a week - maybe you could try for 100 different plant products in a month to keep with your 100 goal :) I don't think I know or like 100 differnet ones, but I'm sure there's a list somewhere.

@Funkyart Good Luck to you on your journey to better eyesight. It sounds like your world is really going to open up. Congratulations. c

Great motivation in this thread! Jojo--you are amazing! And I love your hair, too. Funky, glad to read you have your surgery dates set. The holidays will go by quickly, and it will be time for them soon thereafter. I'm excited for you!

Regarding the other topics here, I've weighed myself almost daily for the past 10 years. Doing so has helped me to identify all sorts of issues with my diet--foods that bloat, when I'm dehydrated, not panicking if I'm up a couple of pounds after a day of poor eating, etc. It's also helped me avoid weight creep. This doesn't work for many people, though--it's very much an individual preference.

Weightlifting has helped with my weight loss efforts. Muscle mass impacts resting metabolism, and more muscle means higher metabolism means more calories burned. The sayings that great abs are built in the kitchen, and you can't outrun a poor diet, are true. But muscle certainly contributes to the weight loss process.

Saying that, I usually go to the gym late afternoon/early evenings, and with daylight savings I'm having a hard time staying motivated. I walk to my gym, and it feels like I should be getting my pajamas on instead of my workout gear when it's dark outside. I'm going to take a few weeks to see if I adjust, but I may have to switch my gym time to mornings.

My yoga/meditation room will be done this weekend, and I'm excited to incorporate more of that into my routine with a designated space.

@jojoco You go, girl! That is some impressive pumping iron.

@Funkyart I am glad that you have your surgery date. I hope that your surgery is a resounding success.

I haven’t been on the scale in awhile, but decided to weigh myself because my jeans felt looser. It seems bananas, but since right before my surgery in February I have lost 13 pounds. My eating has not changed. I also feel better than I have in almost two years. The only thing that I can attribute it to is a return to health (finally) which has led to me being able to exercise like I did before I got long covid. It feels like a miracle to feel ”normal” again, and I am beyond grateful. I now have a very deep well of empathy for anyone who suffers from a chronic illness. Many of those illnesses are invisible to the casual observer.

@Feathers11 so happy for you that you are embracing the meditation/yoga. Our timing for our meditation is always at or very near to 4 PM.

It's interesting about the time of day and the lighting. I could never ever do exercise/gym / running except to start first thing in the morning whether that was 4:30 AM as it was for many years or somewhat later but still morning. We will always do whatever we are going to do starting no later than 10 AM.

Our meditation time is so lovely this time of year as our room is mainly West so the setting sun warms the area beautifully and then as it is going down you can feel the " gloaming" begin. I always embrace that time of day as I get such a sense of peace . Our eyes are closed but you can feel on your face and body the change.

I wish you much calm and peace and joy in your meditation time. c

Texanjana, that is a significant loss-- congrats! Also glad to hear you are on the other side of long Cov-d!

Feathers I also find that weighing daily helps me to identify foods that cause inflammation and bloating. I can sometimes get a bit obsessive when weighing daily so I will back off when it doesnt feel helpfull and motivating

And.. thank you all for the well wishes for my surgeries! <3 I could have scheduled earlier in the month but it would have been the day after flying home from my holiday travel. I am going 1/15 and 1/29.

@texanjana so happy for you! I can hear the inner relief and joy in your words . There is nothing to compare with feeling well and strong. May it continue to be so. 🙏c

I forgot to say in my earlier post, you go jojo! That is amazing. And I love your hair.

I really need to incorporate weights, but... For now being consistent with walking is helping and I will try to work in some weights at some point. I know me and I will never go to a gym so I have to do it at home. We do have a Tonal machine. I just need to use it.

Thank you, Trail! My room also faces west… I like that idea.

@jojoco, how did I miss that you had not one but 2 brain surgeries?!! You look fabulous and I too love your hair short. I wish i could wear mine short but it does not suit me or my face shape at all. Great form on the dead lift too! I’ve been using a cage-type thing for deadlifts and find it much easier to maintain form. Have you seen or tried ine of those?

@Funkyart, really happy for you on getting your eye surgery scheduled. I know you are ready for this next step and wish you the best of outcomes.

Some of you know I have been working out with weights for a long time. Yes, I’ve had some breaks in there a few times, but always come back to it. I’ve had periods where I concentrated on training for a half marathon, ski trips, and other specific things, but those always included weight training. Now i am mostly doing Pilates training and have been doing so for around 15-20 years. One thing i wanted to mention that we’ve incorporated is this very effective and easy thing to do at home. It’s called the Farmer’s Carry. The theory is that you should be able to carry half of your weight, balanced/carried between your two hands. For example if you weigh 100 lbs, carry 25 lb weights in each hand and walk fairly slowly to say your mailbox and back. Do this at least 3 times, 2-3 times a week. It will also improve your grip. There are so many other easy things to do at home, with and without weights that help keep us from aging too early. i know i’m ’preaching to the choir’ for some of you and I’m so glad to read you’re doing the things you are to stay mobile and healthy.

@OutsidePlaying that is so cooincidental that you mention the farmers carry! I was going to also but forgot. At my other gym we picked up one weight ex.- left hand and walk then put it down pick up right hand walk etc repeat. Great for balance . We also had long bars of varying weights 10#, 15#, 20# and 30# and carried them straight arm overhead while walking , could do different kinds of step patterns. The two weight carry works well with the kettle bells easier to grip.

Stairs at home are great as well . It would be so fun to have a gym meetup! wish I was still in AL. 🙏😊

Yes to grip strength, Outside!

Trail, I sometimes do single weight exercises with heavy kettlebells or barbells, and I remind myself to use the opposite hand walking them to/from the rack. That in itself seems like a workout. But over the years, I have developed some permanent callouses on my hands.

C, I was thinking the same think about a workout together. That would be so much fun!

I agree about the kettlebells, much easier to handle the heavier weight usually than a barbell.

Feathers, do you wear workout gloves? I wouldn’t be without them. Weights with that grid pattern etched in the handles tear up my skin too and will cause calluses, so I’ve been using half-finger gloves for years. Pretty sure i bought them at a chain sporting goods store so I could get the right size.

@OutsidePlaying you did it again ❤️😊 I am just seeing this and was getting ready to tell @Feathers11 about gloves!

So funny , we are gonna have to all meet 🙏. I actually have padded cycling gloves and wear those to work out. I also have heavyduty weight lifting ones with long wrist wraps for more support. They are great if you are gripping for hanging exercises.

I wake up every night and stay up varying lengths of time. I like to look for meteors and just be still in the dark. and check in here sometimes. 🙏 c

@Still trailing, 🤷🏻‍♀️💕. Indeed we do! I hope to meet Jojoco in April when we meet in her city for a GTG of several of us who post here. She is leading us on a tour of Longwood of course.

We might scare some people in a gym, lol!

Outside and Trail, yes, I've considered workout gloves. But a gym "dude" told me they mess with grip, and that callouses are just battle wounds, and I should suck it up. I think he then fist-bumped me. ;-)

I will look into them again, though, and thank you for the reminder. No one in my life now seems to care, but someday when I have grandkids (fingers crossed), I don't want them to look back and recall Granny's rough hands.

I haven't been able to commit to the GTG in April yet, but if I do, we will definitely fit in a workout!

@OutsidePlaying I am not that far from Longwood but April is too far out to commit. Will keep it on my radar as ya’ll are definitely very tempting . ❤️

@Feathers11 I have been wearing padded gloves for 43years . I may be losing my ” grip” but it ain’t because of the gloves 😂.

About grands and hands. I have my Mom’s and Aunt’s hands and feet. Genetic as well as arthritic anomalies. My

fingers have bumps from arthritis and my toes go wonky directions from genetic issues. This last visit with the 5 and 8 yr old they both asked for the first time while touching very gently ” does this hurt Dammie?”. I said no I am lucky they don’t hurt and I can always hug you both and run fast with you.

That was that. They moved on to more tickles and stories. Children accept difference better than adults . ❤️

I've had a super busy week. Congrats to everyone on their successes.

Got some time off the computer and did a MCM and modern home tour today. Weather was gorgeous and beautiful fall leaves that really added to the ambience of the homes.