Where does the time go?

Wow, It's been over 3 months since  I was last here. How time flies! I wish I could say I've been busy losing the extra weight but that would be a big fat lie...I've pretty much decided that the more I focus on my weight problem the more depressed I get so instead I've been focusing on other things...

Since the last time I was here I've had a birthday and turned 61 years young...I didn't go crazy over getting older. I've pretty much accepted that there isn't anything I can do to stop from getting old except to enjoy the life I have. My group Thus had our annual April Party where all of us (7 people) who have birthdays in April could celebrate. We had it at my friend's J house, who is spending the summer in Paris, and surprise, surprise, our theme this year was France...She had her house set up like we were in France..it was so much fun.

I'm still struggling to learn French. I think I've got it down and then I wake up in the morning and I can't remember hardly what I've learned. It's weird that I can read french but have a terrible time speaking it..I can remember what a word is when I read it but ask me what a word in English is and I can't remember...But I'm not giving up..The way I figure is that it took me many years to learn to speak English (as a child) and French is much harder...

I'm back playing racquetball (sort of). My friend "T" wanted to learn and she is also learning French and struggling with her weight so we decided to try something different. When we play racquetball we keep score in French and try to only talk in French..it can get pretty hilarious...

My younger sister came to Georgia for a month to visit her daughters (both live here) and see her new granddaughter. We visited a few times but probably not as much as we should have. I like seeing her but she also depresses me. She likes to live in the past and that's not what I am about anymore. She still acts like she is back in the 70's. I love her but I'm glad that she lives in Wyoming. I know that's not nice but that's me!

The job is going okay...Princess Val has her good days and her bad days...the worst part of my job is putting up with her Dad. He is so negative about everything that some days I just want to smack him in the head. I don't understand how people can live with that attitude...it's so hateful.

I'm headed for work now and then I'll hit the gym afterwards.
A la porchaine! Plus tard!

Age!

Truthfully I've never had a problem with my age until this year...Getting older has not bothered me and I've always been one to not be afraid to tell how old I am. I know that most women freak when they turn 50 years old..I didn't!!!  I don't know what it is about turning 60 that has got me obsessing about age.

I don't know how I'm suppose to dress or act now that I am a "senior citizen"..And WHY it all makes a difference! .I don't feel "OLD" most of the time unless I stop and think about it or I look at myself in mirror and see all the wrinkles and how much older I look now than I did just a year ago and I don't know WHY I aged so fast..It's scary when I look down at my hands and see old hands or I see the age spots appearing on my arms. I keep telling myself they are just BIG freckles and believe me I have always had a lot of freckles (they go with the red hair)...Then I worry about whether I'm looking like one of those "old ladies" that are trying to look young.

I spoke to my Mom who is in her 80 tonight (my weekly call to her) in Wyoming. She was the most active person I've ever known until about 5 years ago, and know she uses a walker and has short term memory loss due. She has always been a "Character"..
In fact my sister who checks on her daily posted this story on Face book:
I went over to my Moms and she didn't have her glasses on. When I asked where her glasses were, she said, "Oh! I wear glasses? I was seeing just fine until you told me I wear glasses."

This is how I feel about being old...I feel fine until I'm reminded that I'm old!!!

I worry that I shouldn't dye my hair so dark but when I've tried lighter colors in the past I've hated it...I felt drab and ugly..Let me just say that my hairdresser who I go to to get my hair cut loves the color that I dye my hair...and I do get a lot of compliments from strangers telling me they love the color. I've always been the type to go for bright and colorful colors..I love being different from everyone else..not that I want to stand out but hey if you have it "flaunt" it.  At least I'm not doing the "Flaming Red" hair anymore..but I do still drive a "Raspberry" (pink) color truck.

I went by the blogging name of Sexy Sue for years and just changed it to Lady Sue this past year because I'm uncomfortable with being Sexy right now...it's hard to be sexy when you weigh over 200 pounds and are 60 years old.

I think that's one of the reasons I've been lurking at other blogs, trying to find if there are any other 60+ olds out there going through the same thing I am. I do find a lot of 50 year olds, which is something I didn't find 5 years ago when I was blogging and I do enjoy their blogs..But..there's a big difference from being in your 50's and being in your 60's. I know 5 years ago I didn't have any of these worries. I figured that if people didn't like how I looked or how I acted they didn't have to look at me.  I now worry that I will embarrass my family..although I really think  I've broken them in years ago to expect the unexpected from me. The stories they tell.....Not going there!

Not sure where I'm going with this blog..just something that is bothering me so thought if I put it in writing I could get myself over the obsessing...Not sure it worked! LOL
I'm off to bed...More later!

I just don't get it!

Last week I didn't do a bit of exercise...No gym, no TaeBo workout & none of the new workout program.
I was discouraged because the week that I did ALL I gained ...true it was only .5 pounds but come on, here I was sweating my butt off morning and night and I still couldn't even get a .5 pound loss...instead I gained...So when the snowstorm hit I was depressed..couldn't get out to the gym if I wanted too...and I just couldn't find the motivation to pop in the TaeBo workout and definitely didn't want to do the new workout with the dreaded "Inchworm"...So for 3 days I stayed home and did absolutely nothing...just sat around and watched the news on tv...oh yeah I did clean up my spare room the first day of the storm but truthfully that only took me about a half hour and there wasn't all that much "exercise" to it. It felt good knowing the room was clean enough so that IF I had company and they saw it they wouldn't think me a "slob". The 4th day of the storm I did go out and shovel my driveway..that was a workout and it took me 3 hours...but otherwise there was NO exercise all last week....
Anyway I decided that I would weigh myself this morning....a scary thing...I said my little prayer that I didn't gain but at least stayed the same weight...Would you believe I LOST 2 pounds...I just don't get it!

I've been checking into Hypothyroidism....I'm thinking that I might have a thyroid problem...from the article I read it seems that women 60 yrs and older are at the highest risk. What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism means your thyroid is not making enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. It makes hormones that control the way your body uses energy.

Most of the signs are there for me...
weight gain, dry skin & brittle nails, depression, bothered by cold,  & memory problems. It's been weird for me that I never had any problem losing weight 5 years ago doing the same things I'm doing now. I noticed my nails about a month ago and figured I wasn't getting enough nutrients in my diet. I've dealt with depression all my life but lately it seems to hit me more often and is harder for me to control. This past summer I noticed that I'm always cold at night...I've always loved going backpacking in the winter more than summer but I just couldn't face the cold this past winter, I figured it was due to the weight I'm carrying but now I'm thinking maybe there is something physically wrong with me...It would be nice if my memory loss is something physical too...it worries me that I have such a hard time remembering things...especially since I love to learn. I know that I'm in line for Alzheimer's and worry about it but knowing that there really isn't anything I can do about that now I just try to live my life to the fullest I can. And to do that I need to be as fit as I can get. There are so many things I still want to do NOW...and my weight is keeping me from doing it...so what is the answer?
Since I don't have health insurance I'm going to check into one of these "minute clinics" to see if they can do the blood test to test for Hypothyroidism. In ways it would be nice to have an answer and know that there is a treatment for it...My #1 niece is on medication for it...so I know it runs in the family...


I did do my new workout this morning...not because I think it's going to help me lose this weight but because I feel better if I exercise...I made a commitment to doing this 12 week workout program and I'm not going to let a little setback stop me from completing it.
As always I go forward...never letting obstacles get in my way...leaping over tall building here...see my cape flying in the sky. LOL

Rainy Day and Cravings!

It's been a rainy day today and I ended up staying at home after taking a couple of truck loads of stuff to the Great American Clean Up that Auburn was holding...got rid of some of the stuff I couldn't sell at my yard sale..
I also returned the exercise bike I was borrowing from my neighbor...for untold reasons I CAN NOT ride the bike...I know that a recumbent bike is ok but I can't sit on a straight up bike...which is kind of sad since some of my fav memories are of riding my bike early in the mornings a few years ago with my neighbor..I was hoping I could get back to that again..but have to face it...can't do it and will have to find another hobby that I can do to get exercise...for now I will be satisfied with walking at the park...or hiking!

All day I've been having cravings for sugar and chips...so I ate cantelope instead..but I still had the cravings...I kept going into the kitchen to see if I could find anything to eat that would satisfy me but there wasn't anything...I kept telling myself that FOOD is only Fuel. I spoke with my Daughter a couple of times and she helped me get through to a point...but I found that I couldn't settle down to do anything because I wanted those damn tortilla chips and sugar cookies....finally I broke down and went to WalMart but once I got there I decided to make healthier choices...I bought Pretzels & graham crackers...I also bought some fresh tomatoes and banana's...Came home fixed me a tomato/spinach sandwich, pretzels and a graham cracker for dessert...and I feel content now...
I really need to come up with a food plan...and stick to it..

Finding the Solution!

Yesterday I was busy making lists and figuring out what I want out of this Blog. I'm always gong ho for the first couple of weeks and then .....it all starts fall apart. So I figure since I'm aware of this problem then I should be able to find a solution. I want to have fun, take out the dreary from the process!

 I learned the last time I lost a big amount of weight that making "Goals" and "Journaling" are two of the most important things to keep one motivated...Also Having Support Groups. So I Sent out emails to a group of friends and family that I think will be a lot of help keeping me in line after the newness wears off. I think I'll call the group "Lady Sue's Court"...just an idea..nothing is for sure at this time..I also am part of a couple of other Weight Loss groups that I haven't been participating in much for reasons I'll probably go into later.

I have lost large amounts of weight twice in the last 15 years and gained back most of it both times..Each time I've learned a little more about losing and how to keep it off (losing is the easier part for me)...It is time I take all I know (and all my Support Groups have to give me) and put it into effect.

 I'm looking at what I want to be in the next 10 years (when I grow up..lol). My Mom is one of my inspirations, altho she is now having troubles with demetia, when she was in her 60's & 70's she was a very active woman...I don't think she started to slow down until she was in her late 70's. She has been a walker all her life..I think I take after her in this because for as long as I can remember I've Walked. I love my morning walks at the park (when I go). It not only helps me exercise, it helps me get myself together.  When I'm feeling bad about things a walk makes it all seem so much better. I haven't gone hiking much in the last couple of years because of the weight I've gained back. I can still do the hikes but I'm too slow to keep up with the younger (ages 30-40's) people (there are some people my age but they are VERY fit) in the hiking groups I'm in.  They all tell me that it's no problem but I get so frustrated so that I can't enjoy the hike.  I did hike on Christmas Day...and it was great...cold but great.

I'll be posting my wieght, measurements & goals in a few days (and probably pictures if I can get them) . I've got to get up the nerve first.  This is Step One of admitting to myself that I am not as fit as I think of myself...that's why I rarely look in mirrors anymore...it's like on the Biggest Loser...the first thing all the couples did this season was have a weigh-in in front of all their families and friends...scary but I can see why it is necessay. I'm thinking of doing the same thing tomorrow..