My weight lose journey has reached a plateau. Since returning from the mountains, I haven't lost any weight despite sticking to my diet and logging everything I eat. And worse, I realized this morning I've only lost five pounds in four months!
However, I'm truly not that frustrated. It's just another reminder that losing weight as a senior takes much more time. And that it's a good thing I've given myself a year and a half to reach my goal of losing a total of 10 pounds.
Plus there's a silver lining to this plateau. It's motivated me to give more seafood a try during our upcoming beach vacation. I enjoyed mahi mahi in Maui for the first time, so why not. And who can argue against the low calorie count of a pan-seared flounder or grouper?
So, yes, I might be stuck but I'm not discouraged. Besides, I'm also not gaining, which is a very good thing.
May 2018
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Rupert Update
Rupert was able to put weight on all fours two days after the vet gave him two shots in the butt. He's also eating and voiding normally for his age. However, he does seem slower and less active. Perhaps depressed?
The only significant change is Rupert's now sleeping on the carpet. Before he never slept on the floor, always preferring to be elevated. We suspect whatever happened two Monday nights ago scared him so badly he no longer wants to risk jumping.
Truth is, none of us seniors can do everything we used to manage easily. But I'm not sure Rupert understands that sad reality, which is why my heart aches.
The only significant change is Rupert's now sleeping on the carpet. Before he never slept on the floor, always preferring to be elevated. We suspect whatever happened two Monday nights ago scared him so badly he no longer wants to risk jumping.
Truth is, none of us seniors can do everything we used to manage easily. But I'm not sure Rupert understands that sad reality, which is why my heart aches.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Emotional Wreck!
Yesterday morning we woke to our cat barely able to stand. The problem appeared to be Rupert's left hip. In addition to not eating much the day before, we truly felt the end was near. And it still might be.
After crying most of the day, we took Rupert to the vet at 4:00 P.M. after she kindly fit us in. It turned out, however, that yesterday wasn't Rupert's last. And, I'm sure, today he's hoping for a full peaceful day of recovery.
X-rays revealed no brakes, so a soft-tissue trauma is suspected. (We think Rupert fell while jumping on the couch sometime Monday evening.) After giving Rupert two shots for pain, the vet sent us home. But, if Rupert's not much better in 48 hours, we'll face the tough questions such as trying a high-cost daily liquid pain reliever, paying hundreds more for a CT scan and MRI, or euthanasia.
Two years ago we gave up our finished walk-out basement to Rupert, where he even has his own couch. He's been ban from the main floor since he began pooping wherever he wanted. I did thorough online research to remedy the problem, and consulted two local vets. There's no fix. The kindest thing to do is find a space or room in your home where your cat can live out the rest of his days.
In all honesty, I look forward to getting our lower level back. My plan is to set up a space where the boys can be rougher and wilder, and play video games without disturbing the adults. So there will be a silver lining to Rupert's eventual passing. But the thought is still extremely sad. And why Rupert, despite the pooping problem, is not only our best but also our last pet.
After crying most of the day, we took Rupert to the vet at 4:00 P.M. after she kindly fit us in. It turned out, however, that yesterday wasn't Rupert's last. And, I'm sure, today he's hoping for a full peaceful day of recovery.
X-rays revealed no brakes, so a soft-tissue trauma is suspected. (We think Rupert fell while jumping on the couch sometime Monday evening.) After giving Rupert two shots for pain, the vet sent us home. But, if Rupert's not much better in 48 hours, we'll face the tough questions such as trying a high-cost daily liquid pain reliever, paying hundreds more for a CT scan and MRI, or euthanasia.
Two years ago we gave up our finished walk-out basement to Rupert, where he even has his own couch. He's been ban from the main floor since he began pooping wherever he wanted. I did thorough online research to remedy the problem, and consulted two local vets. There's no fix. The kindest thing to do is find a space or room in your home where your cat can live out the rest of his days.
In all honesty, I look forward to getting our lower level back. My plan is to set up a space where the boys can be rougher and wilder, and play video games without disturbing the adults. So there will be a silver lining to Rupert's eventual passing. But the thought is still extremely sad. And why Rupert, despite the pooping problem, is not only our best but also our last pet.
Monday, July 13, 2015
(Hoping) 70s Are the New 60s
My dad retired at 62 and mom followed a year later. Living all their lives on a lower-middle-class income, they retired with a ranch home and a condo on a lake, both mortgage free. They also owned a car, truck, and pontoon boat. And, for the first eight years of retirement, they regularly took week-long bus tours, stopping at age 70 when mom's dementia took over their lives.
Point being that, for the most part, mom and dad's 60s were carefree and fun and completely funded by just their social security checks and mom's modest pension. So where did we go wrong?
We had hoped that selling the family business would give both hubby and I much more free time. I imagined daily workouts together; greater sharing of house and yard chores; and more spontaneous and planned traveling. But, sadly, it appears that dream won't come true for several more years.
Today's reality is that, until we're Medicare eligible, one of us needs to work for group healthcare. And since hubby was able to snag a managerial job at age 62, he's the one still working 50-60 hour weeks. Which means I'm still managing the home front on my own, there's no spontaneous travel, and vacation time is limited by hubby's employer.
But, worse yet, we've realized, despite savings and the fair amount we got for the family business, we need hubby's paycheck. And now we're discussing hubby pushing retirement to age 68 instead of 66.
Here are the obvious differences I see between my parents and us. Although we made three times more than my folks, we also self-paid two children through university. My folks did not support education beyond high school. We also regularly took two children to the dentist, including braces for one of them. My folks only took their children to the dentist if they were screaming in pain. After seeing what happened to my mom, we have long-term health insurance. My folks never bought long-term health insurance. But I think the biggest differences are that everything costs more now, and money doesn't grow like it used to when my folks were in their 60s.
Over the weekend I realized I need to give up the hope of living carefree in my 60s. Today's reality is pushing that dream to my 70s. And I need to stop stressing over whether or not hubby and I will still be mentally and physically fit in six years. It is what it is.
On a positive note, we have been taking better care of ourselves for much longer than my folks did. Primarily because they didn't know better. So I'm going to focus on that difference, while continuing to pray that 70s are the new 60s.
Point being that, for the most part, mom and dad's 60s were carefree and fun and completely funded by just their social security checks and mom's modest pension. So where did we go wrong?
We had hoped that selling the family business would give both hubby and I much more free time. I imagined daily workouts together; greater sharing of house and yard chores; and more spontaneous and planned traveling. But, sadly, it appears that dream won't come true for several more years.
Today's reality is that, until we're Medicare eligible, one of us needs to work for group healthcare. And since hubby was able to snag a managerial job at age 62, he's the one still working 50-60 hour weeks. Which means I'm still managing the home front on my own, there's no spontaneous travel, and vacation time is limited by hubby's employer.
But, worse yet, we've realized, despite savings and the fair amount we got for the family business, we need hubby's paycheck. And now we're discussing hubby pushing retirement to age 68 instead of 66.
Here are the obvious differences I see between my parents and us. Although we made three times more than my folks, we also self-paid two children through university. My folks did not support education beyond high school. We also regularly took two children to the dentist, including braces for one of them. My folks only took their children to the dentist if they were screaming in pain. After seeing what happened to my mom, we have long-term health insurance. My folks never bought long-term health insurance. But I think the biggest differences are that everything costs more now, and money doesn't grow like it used to when my folks were in their 60s.
Over the weekend I realized I need to give up the hope of living carefree in my 60s. Today's reality is pushing that dream to my 70s. And I need to stop stressing over whether or not hubby and I will still be mentally and physically fit in six years. It is what it is.
On a positive note, we have been taking better care of ourselves for much longer than my folks did. Primarily because they didn't know better. So I'm going to focus on that difference, while continuing to pray that 70s are the new 60s.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Rocky Mountains Trip Report
Yesterday we returned from our Rocky Mountains vacation. Click here to see the condo in Keystone we rented for the week.
We visited Golden, CO before checking in and, everyday after, we picked a different town to tour: Breckenridge; Morrison (Dinosaur Ridge and Red Rocks Park); Leadville (Leadville Colorado Train and National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum); Vail (Betty Ford Alpine Gardens); Frisco (Frisco's Historic Park Museum); and, on our last full day, Georgetown, Idaho Springs, and Echo Lake.
Despite struggling with the lack of oxygen at such high altitudes, we managed to log a lot of steps. My favorite effort was the climb up the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. In fact, that entire day was my favorite of the trip. I loved the guided tour of Dinosaur Ridge and the beauty of the Red Rocks.
All in all, it was a good trip and I'm happy to report I ended up losing another pound. I indulged in a few sugary treats, but I always kept my calorie count for the day between 1450 and 1550.
There's a lot to do now before our Sanibel, FL trip the end of this month, so I only have time to share a few photos. Enjoy!
We visited Golden, CO before checking in and, everyday after, we picked a different town to tour: Breckenridge; Morrison (Dinosaur Ridge and Red Rocks Park); Leadville (Leadville Colorado Train and National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum); Vail (Betty Ford Alpine Gardens); Frisco (Frisco's Historic Park Museum); and, on our last full day, Georgetown, Idaho Springs, and Echo Lake.
Despite struggling with the lack of oxygen at such high altitudes, we managed to log a lot of steps. My favorite effort was the climb up the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. In fact, that entire day was my favorite of the trip. I loved the guided tour of Dinosaur Ridge and the beauty of the Red Rocks.
All in all, it was a good trip and I'm happy to report I ended up losing another pound. I indulged in a few sugary treats, but I always kept my calorie count for the day between 1450 and 1550.
There's a lot to do now before our Sanibel, FL trip the end of this month, so I only have time to share a few photos. Enjoy!
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| Fun store in Breckenridge. |
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| Dillon Lake near our condo rental. |
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| Beautiful Red Rocks Park. |
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| Real dinosaur tracks! |
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| Me celebrating a successful climb to the top of the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. |
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| Hopefully gives you an idea of the steep climb. |
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| View around Echo Lake. (Beautiful but, at 10,000+ feet, I was really struggling to breath.) |
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