Tag Archive | exercise

Gravy-Is it wrong if I love you?

Jan5

Happy Thursday! My husband was on vacation this week, lucky him.  He cleaned out the basement and found a 10 year old photo of myself and our son. I apparently enlarged it to a 8×10.  While I basically look the same, I was heavier back then and dressed like an old lady.  I had two chins, I was wearing a camp shirt, way too old for my 47 year old self.

Upon closer inspection of the photo, I realized I only weigh 10 pounds less now than when the photo was taken.  Back in 2009, I finally got my act together and lost 60 pounds in 10 months. Surprisingly, I only went down 4 sizes. I discovered thrift store shopping and reinvented my fashion sense.

Gone are the camp shirts and elastic waist pants. In their place chic cardigans and fitted jeans. While I’m currently not my ideal size, I try to dress nice and always have my hair and make up done.

Middle age and menopause are not kind to us women. I kept a majority of the weight off for several years, but the past year I gained back 20 pounds.  That 20 was on top of the other 30 that found its way back to me.

Thank goodness for Goodwill, as I’ve purchased several pair of bigger jeans. I currently have four sizes of jeans in my closet. As my butt has gotten larger, surprisingly my top has not.

Here’s where the gravy comes in.  My hubby does all the cooking at our house (lucky me). He made some braised beef with the most delightful gravy to ever touch my lips.  I was having it for the second time this week. As I was enjoying my leftovers, the photo from 10 years ago was staring at me from the fridge, where my husband so thoughtfully put it on display. Damn, I need to go on diet. I did so well for six years after I lost all that weight, but life happens.

My 40th high school reunion is this year.  I will lose the 35 pounds I need to get back to where I’ll be feeling good about myself.  I joined a gym two months ago, but health issues have kept me from going.  I know, it sounds like excuses, but being a 57 year menopausal woman ain’t easy. Thank god I have nice skin. On the plus size, I was small chested in high school, now I’m stacked. Ha ha!

I think I hear the treadmill calling me.

 

 

How much should the average adult exercise every day? — Think Smart

Dec3

For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends these exercise guidelines: #Aerobic activity. Get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. The guidelines suggest that you spread out this exercise […]

via How much should the average adult exercise every day? — Think Smart

Popeye’s breakfast

Mar26

I’ve been trying to drop a few pounds before my upcoming vacation.  I tried on some shorts a few weeks ago, and they were tight to say the least. So I stepped up my diet and exercise routine.  I saw an article in a magazine telling me about a miracle spinach smoothie to help you lose weight.  I like spinach, never had it in a smoothie, but it sounded like it might work.

So last Tuesday I started on my spinach smoothie kick.  I replaced my usual breakfast with this jacked up Popeye drink.  It actually didn’t taste too bad.  Here are the ingredients: 2 cups of fresh spinach, 2 cups of water, a tablespoon of ground flax seed, a scoop of whey protein powder and a cup of frozen fruit.

While it tasted okay, it looked like something you would see in a kid’s diaper. Good lord, such an unnatural shade of green.  Now I have been a regular exerciser for years.  I changed my routine a bit and added weights.  I bought some new shoes for vacation and thought I would see how they looked with my shorts. Oh crappity crap crap! The damn shorts are tighter now than they were before. WTF?!?!?!?!?

I mean I’m eating like a monk, drinking V8, snacking on Greek yogurt with fresh fruit. Not a lot of meat.  I must have really done something to piss off the diet gods, because my ass is getting bigger! I barely drink, don’t smoke, I don’t even drink coffee. I exercise for five hours a week, and nothing.  I know your metabolism slows down when you get older, but mine has basically stopped.

Diet Fail 3-26-15I must say I do feel better with all the veggies and fruit I’m eating, though it would be nice to see a smaller me in the mirror.  Oh well, guess I won’t be posting too many vacation photos on Facebook.

Okay, how is this even possible???

Feb18

As a middle aged woman, I’ve been watching my weight pretty much my whole life.  I recently came across a journal from when I was in high school.  I’ve been keeping track of my measurements forever.  Well I found some measurements from when I was a senior, which was a bazillion years ago. Anywho, I now weigh at least 50 pounds more than I did when I was that age, but my thighs are the same size.  How is that even possible??? Of course everything else got bigger, but apparently not my legs.  My “girls” grew quite a bit since then, but jesus, it’s not like they are stripper size or anything.  I was telling some of my friends about it and one of the gals asked what I did for exercise.  I walk about 15 miles a week on a treadmill. She said that was it, well why isn’t everything else smaller?? Damn you to hell menopause!

Just call me Morty, but my name is Sally!

Sep19

Ok, what is going on with my body? I swear I’m turning into an old man, but I’m a middle aged woman! WTH??? I have hair growing in weird places. Like hair coming out of my nose, black hair, and I’m blonde! I have more pubic hair growing down the back of my legs than in my pubic area. Is it trying to escape? Is it migrating towards my feet? Don’t get me started on the hair on my face? If I didn’t shave it off, I’d be a dead ringer for Grizzly Adams.

I know your body changes when you go through menopause (which I’ve been in for five years), but this is ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong, I like not having periods anymore. I would take them back in a heartbeat to not have all of this extra hair. Oh, and did I mention that the hair on my head would be going south if it wasn’t for the wonder elixir Rogaine? I’m just a middle aged hot mess!

I exercise five days a week, for an hour at a time just to maintain my weight. Do you think my legs might be a bit toned after walking 15 miles a week? Oh hell no! I have lost all of the muscle tone in my body. My shorts go to my knees and my shirts stop at my elbows. I know I should lift weights to firm up, but who has time after exercising an hour a day five times a week.

If anyone can suggest a good workout to firm up, I would really appreciate it. Now if you will excuse me while I go and trim my nose hair, and shave the back of my thighs! Good grief!