Funny what you think about while walking along the street
A few years ago my doctor said I was overweight, I remember that visit quite clearly and for some reason when I was out walking the other day it popped back into my mind.
I wondered how people saw me at that time – was I chubby, plump or did I actually look fat? I know I certainly didn’t want to look like those descriptions and was most put out when he actually said that with a height of 157cms/ 5ft 2ins weighing 74kgs/163lbs (over 11 stone) was not a good look.
His reasons for concern were raised BP and the hip pain I had complained about. At that time it was my hip that bothered me more than my back. With the loss of some of the kilos the hip pain vanished which was a good thing because at one stage I found it difficult to walk up any stairs and much to my annoyance had to use lifts or escalators to get around large shopping centres, multi-story buildings and car parks.
Of course when the back started to play up a couple of years later and exercise was the last thing on my mind one or two….or even more….kilos went back on again but now, knowing the cause of the back pain (spinal stenosis) and how it can fluctuate from day to day (meaning come and go but never go away permanently ) we are constantly working on forms of exercise
Anyway as I slowly sauntered my way back from the park I went on to think about ‘What DO I want to look like’ and ‘How would I like others to see me’. I knew I didn’t want to be ‘skinny’ or ‘thin’ as that is not a good look especially on an on older person.
Though I have to admit, I don’t actually admit to being 78 very often, I have no idea what a 78yr old is supposed to feel or do so I just live my life the same as before ‘cept that at the moment there is a bit more emphasis on food and exercise.
Anyway back to body shape, my body shape.
I think I would like to look trim (sort of slim with shape) – trim seems to imply toned, in good condition, and that’s what I’d like to be.
Having a shaped body would be great – someone once described my shape as like an H – same at the top and bottom with not much of a waist so dresses with belts are out lol.
Yes, having a shaped body would be great and if there are no fatty bits flopping around it would be even better 🙂
Maybe toned would be a good thing, and I can achieve that by continuing with visits to the gym using the equipment and hand weights as well as walking for the fun of it…..oh and the back strengthening exercises as well
Half hour exercise a day and all that lol
I have just one recurring thought though….will I be satisfied when I am back down to the suggested goal weight or will I be greedy and want more? Knowing how hard it has been to get this far how will I manage to achieve that – will it be feasible or will my mind say ‘Forget it?’
Time will tell I suppose – we’ll cross that path when we get there 🙂
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It’s early Monday morning – the bin men will be round soon – circumstances have changed, the dreaded UK strain has reared its head and Victoria is back in lockdown AGAIN – for a very short 5day circuit breaker time.
Restrictions include…. Masks on inside and out ‘cept your own home, no visitors to home, 4 reasons only to leave home, 5 km radius from home zone, outdoor exercise with household or one other person only 2hr limit, no gym (or golf) so the bands and weights used last year have been getting some use on the back deck….work from home if you can which means the Australian Open can continue because professional tennis is a means of employment but without spectators because entertainment has been cancelled!
Time for breakfast then ponder how to fill the day. At home – Healthily
Such exciting times 😊
How do you manage to make your days interesting – exciting even – when restricted?
Joining Denyse for the latest edition of Life this Week – Self Care.
Linking to #MondayMusings hosted by Corrine at Everyday Gyaan
Still Waters 
Wondering what my husband will come up with next when scouring the internet for new recipes with which to enhance my life……certainly enliviening!
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They say variety is the spice of life Helen! Are you expected to produce the meal or does Leo cook it himself?
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Th cooking is down to me….he used to cook but is now in a wheelchair and thanks to COPD cannot stand long enough to cook. He’s quite good at the restaurant review, though!
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I use YouTube for all the exercise videos. There’s plenty of variety so it’s easy to ring the changes and I tend to do a variety of walking at home, line dancing, seated exercise, and strengthening & stretching.
Good luck with your weight loss/exercise journey.
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That’s a great way to‘entertain’ yourself with a purpose during the winter Eileen. With carpeted floors here I’d fall flat on my face trying to line dance – had loads of fun doing that years ago…the dancing not the falling 😊
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I have no problem finding lots to do. I’ve read over 100 books from our county library. I cook all of our meals. There is laundry and housework, and during the summer there was lots of yard work, not so much now. I exercise with 5 pound hand weights every morning to help my spinal stenosis in the neck. Floor exercises for the sciatica. I’ve been reading newspapers and blogs all morning and will finally get to my journal writing next and it’s almost 2 p.m. PST.
Terry and I have appointments for our vaccine, next month. Our medical provider emailed and said we could sign up. It will be Easter by the time we get both vaccinations, that is, if the supply holds out. Who knows if that will be the case. This whole vaccination thing has been poorly done, but I’m hopeful the new administration will get things going better than that other guy who didn’t even try.
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That was our life for the majority (as in month after month) last year. No vaccinations here yet….coming this month…..we’re low on infections nationwide except when ‘things happen’ like now. And has happened in other states.
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Well I don’t know about whether I lost or not but everything is so crazy right now it is impossible for me even thinking of setting any goals whether it be staying fit or anything. I think I am a bit depressed like most people.
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I admire your weightloss, I keep trying but I’m not succeeding.
I worked through the Sydney lockdown and everything seems to be as usual for me. I don’t know why I don’t get bored, I suppose I just don’t have much ambition!
I think at 78 you’re allowed to look however you want to look but yes, toned is a good thing
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I used to dislike that ‘try and try again’ adage but have learnt to accept it over the years.
Health and vanity are not good partners Kylie – they continually fight with each other. I know which should be the winner but barrack for the other 😊
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It certainly is easier to lift less weight up the stairs! Continued success, hang the perceived beauty of it.
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I tend to think there’s a little bit of vanity in all of us Joanne 😊
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I hear you. And should lose some weight. I have lost some, but there is more that would not be missed.
I have been gardening, gardening some more and reading.
We are much less restricted than you are and I hope this short sharp lockdown works, and the circuit is broken.
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I have trouble with the kilos that come and go EC. I’d feel much better if they’d leave and stay away!
With good luck some restrictions will be lifted later
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Right now, I’m much homebound and not crash hot in the health stakes – my brain fog has put the Khyber’s on trying to concentrate on much at all – cooking and artmaking. And some of the household chores have got a little behind or a “lick and a promise” – but somehow the day seems to move at the exact same pace as any day before I got a bit sicker! I set my alarm so that I regularly munch something and it’s just gone off – for 6pm, time to decide which bit of food to imbibe…
And then I will find some entertainment on his here machinery for the evening…stay upright as long as possible but my night time snoozing isn’t going well either…never mind hoping results to the tests will show a way back to “wellness”
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Fingers crossed your old but now new GP will have you sorted in quick time. Process of elimination is a necessary evil sometimes Cathy so hopefully yours doesn’t take too long
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Being in Victoria, we are suffering through lockdown. I understand why but knowing doesn’t make it easier to take. I keep wondering when I’m going to lose those extra kilos foiling during Covid lockdown last year
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Like you say Jennifer we know why and we will comply but for some it’s terribly hard. Except for one short period middle of last year I’ve coped, having The Golfer here is a plus for me…many on their own are not.
And yes I’m sure there’s been a ‘gathering and mixing of kilos’ some of whom are reluctant to leave 😊
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There’s a lot to ponder in that post. Perhaps shape as a goal could be de-prioritized in favour of ‘fitness’ – strength, suppleness, stamina. My goal is to be able to continue to do what I want to do in terms of walking, stairs, gardening, etc and not lose the stength to move myself or get out of breath doing it, maintain good balance (and control pain where possible).
We hope your ‘circuit breaker’ works. Our long drawn out lockdown is simply tedious.
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We’re all happy (and relieved) to hear that lockdown is coming to a close F. There’s no way we…or any Victorian….Australian even….wants a recurrence of the months and months we endured last year.
Exercising in a mask is tedious- thankfully we’re back to without if social distancing allows
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I am sorry to hear you guys are back in lockdown. You have done the best job of conquering this pandemic so far. Yes, I struggle with weight loss. Once it was for my looks but now it is for my health. I have lost 28 pounds during this virus crisis because I walk one hour per day. I saw a special on TV about a woman my age (74) who walked for 20 minutes a day in her one bedroom apartment and lost 120 pounds. My house is 1700 sq.ft. so plenty of room for me to walk inside if I can’t get out. 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening.
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Good for you Annie. My loss should be for health but there’s a little vanity involved as well 😊
I also read somewhere about a woman who walked round her rotary clothes line and lost weight – where there’s a will there’s a way…..I seem to have lost mine somewhere
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Life isn’t a lot different here, Cathy, than it was before the pandemic. Except that we aren’t seeing our kids and grandkids, and we aren’t going to restaurants, and we aren’t visiting other family who live close by. We can still use the phone and videocalls so feel fortunate there. We’re both healthy and both working. The biggest challenge right now is being advised not to travel out of province when my dad’s so sick out in BC and then, if I go anyway, not being able to see him if he’s in Intensive Care. Very confused as to best course of action and that leaves me in a kind of limbo. I guess it’s that way for many of us. -Kate in Saskatchewan
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Hello Kate I do hope things improve such that you are able to visit your father As you say we all know what’s best but it’s difficult when the heart is involved as well.
I realise each country has dealt with the pandemic in different ways but when our state borders were closed to each other there was a ‘compassionate permit’ available, involved the 14day quarantine stint and hard to come by. The reason for travel was often over and done with by the time a yea or nay was given. And also for us it’s ‘forget international travel’ those borders in and out are closed except in certain circumstances- incoming returning Australian nationals being one. And it’s through them that’s any infection is now coming into the country.
I suppose this too will pass…in its own good time and if we all play by the rules
Take care
Cathy
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Thanks for your honesty here Cathy and wishing you well through this latest lockdown. It must be hard and you’ve been through so much already! Your self care thoughts are very relatable. #lifethisweek
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Thanks for your comment Debbie…..lol you know me – tell it as it is😊
I’ve got some excess weight to lose, mainly for health reasons but also because I don’t want to look/ be thought of as FAT. And i need to get clear in my mind how to go about it
It appears to be that we’ve (as in Victorians) weathered this last lockdown quite well. Not too hard for myself and The Golfer but there are many….both here and around Australia….who have found it quite difficult to adjust to these challenging times
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Take care Cathy, I’m so pleased you’ve weathered that latest lockdown so well. It’s not been an easy time for Victoria and hopefully things improve for all of us in the near future.
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Hi Cathy, I love the questions you ask here – thank you! I can totally relate to your point about ‘will I want more?’ Then again, I try to stay curious but it’s not always easy. thank you for sharing and it’s definitely helped me ponder on my own goals #MondayMusings
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Cathy I was anorexic when young so very thin. And I’ve been very obese. I’m closer to the latter than the former at the moment. For a long time I wanted to be thin, but no longer.
I’d like to feel like I fit in – that people don’t look at me like some creature from the circus. I don’t mind the notion of carrying a bit of extra weight but looking fit and healthy at the same time.
Mostly I want to be comfortable in my own skin!
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Well done you on raising this issue of being overweight and sharing your thoughts. I was very big…definitely obese for some of my life periods…weight up…weight down (with effort) x 3…I said I lost and gained the same 18 kg! However, me in my unhappiest days was someone who often ate for comfort…when you think of it, no comfort afterwards. When I finally owned up to my fatness I wrote a lengthy blog post in Dec 2017. After I had head and neck cancer and was actually at my skinniest for decades. Not being able to eat much will do that.
Sounds like you have some strategies and at 78 I say “go you”. My GP and I talked about me doing some strengthening exercises via resistance bands today so I will be looking for some soon.
Thank you so much for linking up for #lifethisweek. Next week, the optional prompt is
8/51 Explore. 22 Feb. I hope to see you there and I wish you well for the week ahead. Denyse. #lifethisweek #linkup #Mondays https://www.denysewhelan.com.au
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