Thrive Without Janelle: The Accountability Group

[StatisticalOutlier]

19 hours ago, Absolom said:

I battle the "old lady tummy bulge" but it doesn't fold over so I don't have any discomfort or good suggestions @StatisticalOutlier.  I already do tummy exercises in bed at night or first thing in the morning.  I wonder if those keep it somewhat in check. 

I go to pilates classes six or seven times a week, and my abs are strong.  But that can do nothing about the new fat deposit and the loose skin that is outside those muscles.

I just remembered that back in my early 40s, I casually mentioned to a friend that I couldn't button my pants, and she replied, "fibroids."  She was right, and they were the size of a 20-week pregnancy.  But I felt no discomfort like I'm currently experiencing, I'm guessing because they were a mass that was behind my abdominal wall.

In contrast, what I have now is all outside my abdominal wall, and the fat is soft, and the skin outside the fat is slack.  I actually wonder if it would be easier to cope with a hard belly, because then it would just sit there and not squish and fold over on itself depending on how I position myself. 

I've never even had back fat, so any skin-on-skin contact is totally new to me, and very uncomfortable.

18 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I've literally BEEN them so I know EXACTLY how they think and feel! I spent most of my life a smaller size and went through a period during perimenopause when my "pot" was the size theirs is now and I thought it was huge THEN! I'd give ANYTHING to go back to having their "problems" RIGHT NOW.

The fact that you put "problems" in quotation marks tell me a lot.  But to reiterate--I'm not talking about the size of my menopot; I'm talking about the discomfort that it causes, which, yes, is a problem.

 

[Yeah No]

@Gramto6, how was your visit to the podiatrist? I had mine today. Again, I can't win for losing. It turns out that all my walking has caused these issues with my toes. Fortunately I don't have gout on the second toe of my left foot (thankfully) but it's some kind of benign cyst that can result from doing a lot of exercise. I had something similar happen about 20 years ago on my knee from doing a lot of treadmill at the gym. It's still there, it's just not as big now and noticeable. My toe, though, is not as unnoticeable. The doctor taped it to the toe next to it. I'm not sure what that's supposed to do but I think she's trying to minimize rubbing. My other swollen toe on my other foot (the same 2nd toe) is a mystery so she took x-rays of it to rule out a bone break. I don't think that's it. It looks like some kind of edema to me, but we'll see what the x-rays say. I'm supposed to go back in 2 weeks for a follow-up.

One amazing thing is that I've been really putting it out to the universe that I need help with finding out the cause of my general foot and leg swelling, which I've written about on the medical thread as possibly being caused by my rather large 11 cm. fibroid. The podiatrist asked me if I knew whether I had any vascular issues. I told her I'd had an advanced vascular sonogram about 17 years ago done by their most eminent vascular specialist and he said I didn't have any vascular issues, it was edema. Subsequent specialist visits never really figured out what it was. I still think it could be caused by the fibroid and my extra weight in my midsection, something I've complained here about often, even earlier today. I told the podiatrist that and she told me she would send me for a new more advanced test that will likely get to the root of the problem. I told her that's just what I was hoping for. I don't want to go for uterine artery embolization if I find out something else is causing my problem. I am very motivated now and don't want to give up. I am sick and tired of living like this. So anyway I am feeling good after this visit and hopeful that it will help find out the cause and possible solution.

It does suck that by trying to help myself by walking a lot I've only caused myself more problems with my feet. Story of my life. I can't win for losing. It's proof that getting more exercise doesn't necessarily yield success and can even cause injury. Now I'll have to cut back on my walking for a while so that my foot will hopefully improve. So forget weight loss too. I'm in a real bind here but I can't give up!

[Absolom]

1 hour ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

I've never even had back fat, so any skin-on-skin contact is totally new to me, and very uncomfortable.

I did say I didn't have any good suggestions. I can't imagine it is pleasant.  I remember when I had thigh chafing once and that was the sign to diet and I began some intensive thigh resistance training.  I simply could not stand it.  Fortunately it was fixable.  If it's that bothersome, you have my sympathy.

The part of the pouch that bugs me is 80 per cent of the nurses I encounter consider it a sign of having diabetes.  So have a couple doctors. They refused to believe me without seeing an A1C. 

[Yeah No]

Here's another issue I struggle with - Thanks to my big stomach, short arms and arthritis in my hands I now have difficulty trimming my toenails. The stomach is in the way making it harder for me to reach and I don't have the manual dexterity to hold and manipulate a toenail clipper while stretching past the balloon in my gut. I have been doing it myself but it looks like hell and I worry about hurting myself. Now that I have the swollen arthritis/exercise caused cyst I worry about clipping that toenail. I asked the podiatrist if I should go get a pedicure and she told me to hold off until we get to the bottom of what's going on with both toes. So she told me she'd refer me to a podiatrist that clips toenails. I never thought that at this age I'd have to have my toenails clipped for me and if most people that know me knew this they would be shocked, but here we are. 

I did buy a few supposedly easier to use toenail clippers online but they were a total waste of money for me despite great reviews. Why does nothing work for me that works for other people? Toenail clippers can't make up for a big stomach, short arms and dexterity issues.

BTW I do know that Medicare does not pay for toenail clipping but the dr. told me the one she refers to only charges about $50. Just a tad more than a pedicure.

Edited September 7 by Yeah No

[Gramto6]

At @Yeah No my podiatrist appointment went well. I was getting fitted for diabetic shoes. They actually scan your foot so the shoe is built exactly to your own foot specifications. Each foot is different. Fortunately Medicare pays for one pair of shoes and three inserts as needed a year for diabetics. Otherwise those shoes are really expensive! I'm getting purple and white athletic shoes:

https://www.drcomfort.com/meghan

Medicare also pays for him to clip my nails every three months because of my diabetes. Toe injuries can easily cause infections that can end in amputation for a diabetic. (My late DH had some logs fall on his foot and he hid it from me. By the time I saw it, his foot was black and he ended up having his leg amputated above the knee.) I had already clipped the sides of a couple of my toes so it was time to have a professional start doing them, I was not going to end up like DH. It isn't like a pedicure, he just cuts them and smooths them out.

As far as the fire by me, it is now only 25% contained. This is what it looked like out my window this morning:

This is what it looked like earlier this evening:

The air is still Unhealthy and will probably be so for a long time. Sadly.

Edited September 7 by Gramto6

[StatisticalOutlier]

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

If it's that bothersome, you have my sympathy.

Thanks.  It really is that bothersome.  No doubt because it's so alien, but that just makes me less sympathetic because all that means is that I had a really good run of it.  Oh well. 

Every once in a while I grab it with my hands and angrily go, "Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!" and then settle back down.

Quote

The part of the pouch that bugs me is 80 per cent of the nurses I encounter consider it a sign of having diabetes.  So have a couple doctors. They refused to believe me without seeing an A1C. 

Really?  Don't they understand that almost every post-menopausal woman has it?  I mean, Sally Field has it!

[Gramto6]

Yeah, I have my pouch too, I just try to live with it. I do have diabetes, but I doubt that the pouch has anything to do with it.

[Absolom]

11 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

At @Yeah No my podiatrist appointment went well. I was getting fitted for diabetic shoes.

Those shoes are really cute and SO much better than what Medicare covered just a few years ago.  I'm glad you're getting the podiatrist nail cutting. It gets harder to contort and do a good job as we age.  Medicare will also pay for it for anyone in assisted living who is on Medicare.

Those fires are horrible.  I'm glad the one is beginning to be contained.  I hope they succeed soon or you get three days of good rain.  

[Absolom]

10 hours ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

Really?  Don't they understand that almost every post-menopausal woman has it?  I mean, Sally Field has it!

You'd think. 😄 I do know some post-menopausal women without much of a pooch, but one is unhealthily thin and I'm not sure about the other one.  I'd say it's much more common than not to have one for sure.  The doctors and nurses concerned it guarantees I'm diabetic have all been under 40.  They don't have personal experience.

[lookeyloo]

I guess I feel less alone with the "thick middle".  I hate the way it feels even if I can disguise it in clothes.  And even though I am still relatively small-ish my body feels different and looks different "nekked" and I have trouble getting used to it.  I am relatively healthy, only take thyroid meds and now a low dose blood pressure, but I am 81.  I walk in my hilly subdivision and have been going to Orange Theory twice a week for their strength classes only.  I do feel good doing all that but there is no change in my body except it is stronger.  I got measured recently and oddly enough have not lost any height. Still 5"1 1/2".  I don't understand that.  Only one who has it can understand others who struggle.  And even Sally Field who has means and probably motivation.  She has professional people dress her for occasions so probably two spanx and magic so less noticeable for us but not to her.

[Yeah No]

12 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

At @Yeah No my podiatrist appointment went well. I was getting fitted for diabetic shoes. They actually scan your foot so the shoe is built exactly to your own foot specifications. Each foot is different. Fortunately Medicare pays for one pair of shoes and three inserts as needed a year for diabetics. Otherwise those shoes are really expensive! I'm getting purple and white athletic shoes:

https://www.drcomfort.com/meghan

Medicare also pays for him to clip my nails every three months because of my diabetes. Toe injuries can easily cause infections that can end in amputation for a diabetic. (My late DH had some logs fall on his foot and he hid it from me. By the time I saw it, his foot was black and he ended up having his leg amputated above the knee.) I had already clipped the sides of a couple of my toes so it was time to have a professional start doing them, I was not going to end up like DH. It isn't like a pedicure, he just cuts them and smooths them out.

As far as the fire by me, it is now only 25% contained. This is what it looked like out my window this morning:

This is what it looked like earlier this evening:

The air is still Unhealthy and will probably be so for a long time. Sadly.

I really like those shoes, they're cute! I had my foot scanned like that for custom orthotics but after 3 tries they were all very uncomfortable for me. I guess I am always a problem to fit with everything even with high tech imaging. 🙁

So sorry to hear about what happened with your DH. My husband is a diabetic and I worry about his feet. He goes for regular podiatry visits but so far his feet have been normal. I have more foot issues than he does.

And sorry to hear the fires are still an issue in your area. We had an extented period of that last year and it was awful. This has been one of the worst Summers I can remember even here in the Northeast. We have had some beautiful weather lately, though. Everyone is going out a lot because all Summer the weather was horrible. I call this type of weather "September 11th weather" because I will always associate it with the weather we had on September 11th. It was a beautiful, dry day with no clouds in the sky and temps. in the '70s. It made me face the fact that the most horrible things can happen on the most beautiful days.

[Yeah No]

45 minutes ago, Absolom said:

You'd think. 😄 I do know some post-menopausal women without much of a pooch, but one is unhealthily thin and I'm not sure about the other one.  I'd say it's much more common than not to have one for sure.  The doctors and nurses concerned it guarantees I'm diabetic have all been under 40.  They don't have personal experience.

I've had nurses guarantee that I have this or that but lately I take what they say with a grain of salt because so many of them have conflicted with each other and what my doctors are telling me. I can't believe they'd tell you that because pretty much every other woman over a certain age has a midsection issue. It can be caused by many medical issues but aging seems to be the common thread in it. It can also be a function of slowing metabolism as we age, age-related insulin resistance or cortisol or any number of things short of diabetes.

What probably irks me more is the common perception among many young (and not so young), thin people that we get these issues because we are "lazy", "eat too much of the wrong foods" or don't care about our health. If they only knew how wrong they were....

[ginger90]

14 hours ago, Yeah No said:

It looks like some kind of edema to me

It’s very easy to check for edema, on your own. 

[Yeah No]

1 minute ago, ginger90 said:

It’s very easy to check for edema, on your own. 

It does react like edema or even lymphedema when I press it and the way it looks too so that's why I suggested it. It's definitely looking like a chronic thing not a swelling from injury or anything temporary. I don't know why the doctor didn't touch it or why she thought it might be broken. I have had no pain at all in the toe and it's been like that for a while now. She took x-rays of it so I am sure that will be put to rest but I am not sure why she didn't pursue the edema angle. I also think it might be an arthritic thing as the internet suggested that and that seems likely with my history of arthritis. I'm sure I'm going to have to go for more testing to find out.

[Gramto6]

5,153 steps yesterday.

I didn't do as much walking as I wanted because my legs were bothering me.

My right leg and foot was really swollen and veins were showing on both legs so I finally went and dug out my compression socks and wore them for several hours in the evening. They feel better today but yesterday I didn't do much walking. I had Toxemia with both pregnancies and the residual from that is that I am very water retentive and it seems to settle more in one leg. I'm beginning to think I need to see a vascular specialist as lots of small veins are showing these days in both legs. 

So today will be whatever it is with no pushing for any goal and I think I'll wear the socks for a while too. The ones I have are knee high, quite tight and zip up inner leg with toes exposed. I think I'm going to check Amazon for a full stocking type that covers the toes too and is pull on. I think they will be more comfortable.

[Absolom]

3 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

full stocking type that covers the toes too and is pull on. I think they will be more comfortable.

Perhaps so.  It may be in the sizing.  My neighbor has that style and usually has to have her husband's help getting them on and off. She didn't want to have a zipper.  It's sad they have to be tight to work, but then it makes them so hard to work with. 

[Yeah No]

4 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

5,153 steps yesterday.

I didn't do as much walking as I wanted because my legs were bothering me.

My right leg and foot was really swollen and veins were showing on both legs so I finally went and dug out my compression socks and wore them for several hours in the evening. They feel better today but yesterday I didn't do much walking. I had Toxemia with both pregnancies and the residual from that is that I am very water retentive and it seems to settle more in one leg. I'm beginning to think I need to see a vascular specialist as lots of small veins are showing these days in both legs. 

So today will be whatever it is with no pushing for any goal and I think I'll wear the socks for a while too. The ones I have are knee high, quite tight and zip up inner leg with toes exposed. I think I'm going to check Amazon for a full stocking type that covers the toes too and is pull on. I think they will be more comfortable.

Gram, you and I seem to have some similar issues. Because of my leg swelling I wear compression knee highs, the ones that look like stockings, not sox. I don't find socks in general comfortable. I once tried that zip-up kind you mention that leaves the toes open but that didn't work for me so I stick with the stocking type. I also elevate my legs when I watch TV and at night when I sleep. My ankles and feet look pretty normal by morning but then as the day progresses depending on what I'm doing they look progressively worse. Unfortunately you and I both do a lot of walking and that tends to make legs swell. When I was sick with a cold in July and staying home for days my legs looked and felt great.

Do you have any thoughts as to what brought on your leg swelling? For me it's either exercise, sitting too long in an upright position and eating food with too much sodium. I was taking water pills for years but then developed a sensitivity to them so now I just take a lot of turmeric, B vitamins, ginger, magnesium, fish oil and a host of other supplements for inflammation and water retention and I actually think they really help.

[Gramto6]

@Yeah No I have always retained water after having Toxemia with both pregnancies. It was so bad with the first one I was on bed rest for the full last 6weeks. I went from 122# to 186# at the birth of my son.  I lost like 25 pounds just through the birthing process and then in a short time was almost back to my normal weight plus just a little "baby weight". Again with the second, it was bad but there is no such thing as 24 hr bed rest when you have a 20mo old running around the house and a husband that traveled a lot for work. So that kind of went by the wayside... Same thing after DD's birth most of the fluid was gone quickly. The Toxemia disappears right after birth, gone completely. But it leaves after effects.

I was told at the time I would probably develop high blood pressure later in life as a result of the Toxemia and I did. I also after that became easily water retentive.  What is weird is it is mostly in my legs/ankles much more so in my right leg. Why so specific I don't know.  and what make it really bad is when it is really hot!  My gastro was chasing my swollen legs for a while when it came up in conversation that I had had Toxemia. It was like a light bulb  went off and he said, that is why your legs get so swollen!! And he stopped worrying so much about it. I think he was worrying that it was somehow related to the liver issues I was having.  Apparently it is pretty common later in life after having Toxemia. The joys of getting old...yeah right!

 

[ginger90]

Just throwing this out there, walking can help compression stockings work better. 

[Teafortwo]

I wear compression knee-high socks when doing a lot of walking. I like the Sockwell brand best. They have lots of different styles/colors. Some are easier to remove than others. The ones with the highest compression (20-30 mm) are very difficult to take off. They even have one with a toe separator to help with bunions.

I also have a few Bombas socks. I love the company, but their high compression socks are even more difficult to take off than the Sockwells, and they don't have much variety in the lower (15-20 mm) ones. 

I was bummed at first at the idea of having to wear them but the styles and colors of the Sockwells actually cheered me up lol. I've got floral, cat, stripe, dotted etc. and they offer seasonal styles as well. 

[Denize]

Does soaking in an epsom salt bath help reduce your water retention?  When I broke toes and had a swollen foot, nothing helped the pain & swelling. An oldtimer at work suggested soaking in epsom salts. I thought it was an old wives tale because I didn't see how it could possibly work since the molecules are too big to go in through the skin, but apparently the water in the body moves out to dilute the epsom salt bath. I've found it works when I have any type of swelling.

[StatisticalOutlier]

12 hours ago, Absolom said:

The doctors and nurses concerned it guarantees I'm diabetic have all been under 40.  They don't have personal experience.

But isn't that why they, you know, go to school?

On a reddit thread, someone said she was trying to fight her perimenopause belly with pilates, and someone replied:

Quote

 

There's no such thing as a belly related to either period or menopause. 

The best exercise for that, is fork put downs. 

 

I did some sleuthing and she's in her early 40s.  So I replied, "Just wait."  😀

 

[Yeah No]

4 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

@Yeah No I have always retained water after having Toxemia with both pregnancies. It was so bad with the first one I was on bed rest for the full last 6weeks. I went from 122# to 186# at the birth of my son.  I lost like 25 pounds just through the birthing process and then in a short time was almost back to my normal weight plus just a little "baby weight". Again with the second, it was bad but there is no such thing as 24 hr bed rest when you have a 20mo old running around the house and a husband that traveled a lot for work. So that kind of went by the wayside... Same thing after DD's birth most of the fluid was gone quickly. The Toxemia disappears right after birth, gone completely. But it leaves after effects.

I was told at the time I would probably develop high blood pressure later in life as a result of the Toxemia and I did. I also after that became easily water retentive.  What is weird is it is mostly in my legs/ankles much more so in my right leg. Why so specific I don't know.  and what make it really bad is when it is really hot!  My gastro was chasing my swollen legs for a while when it came up in conversation that I had had Toxemia. It was like a light bulb  went off and he said, that is why your legs get so swollen!! And he stopped worrying so much about it. I think he was worrying that it was somehow related to the liver issues I was having.  Apparently it is pretty common later in life after having Toxemia. The joys of getting old...yeah right!

Oh yeah I forgot that heat is the worst trigger for leg swelling for me too. Duh, how could I forget? And until very recently this has been a beastly hot Summer so it's been particularly bad. I've read that one leg is often more swollen than the other. Mine are a little uneven but probably not as much as yours. 

In my case my leg swelling came on suddenly in 2006 when I was 48. I went to all sorts of specialists but nobody could figure out what was causing it. Then I started seeing a gynecologist and hormone specialist around 2008 that told me he thought my fibroids might be responsible. I might have pursued that angle but I lost several pounds that year and the problem went away completely. This was during perimenopause when I was up and down in weight but able to control it with diet and exercise. I had gone to Ireland with my husband for 15 days and his cousins fed us so well I had gained something ridiculous like 10 lbs. When I got down to 150 lbs. the leg swelling vanished,  and I kept it that way for several years. As I got past menopause I began to have trouble keeping my weight down so unfortunately as I gained my feet and legs also swelled again and my life got too busy with other things for me to focus on that. 

I am still convinced to this day that if I got down to 150 or even 165 the problem would get better by itself. There is really nothing wrong with me right now that wouldn't improve a LOT with that kind of weight loss, including my present toe swelling issue.  And that is why as I get older and suffer increasing discomfort and medical effects of being so overweight it has become my obsession to find a way to lose weight. Unfortunately it seems like every drug out there, even natural supplements, give me awful side effects. I still can't get over how that all-natural fruit based "metabolism booster" made me extremely hungry! Unbelievable.

That's so funny that your gastro. was addressing your legs. My gastro. does stuff like that and he has actually figured things out that the appropriate specialists haven't! Like he's the one that told me my water pill was probably giving me side effects and might have even brought on the vertigo I had last year and the continued bouts of semi-dizziness I was having. I was complaining to all my doctors about these symptoms but nobody but him figured it out! The only reason I never made the connection myself is that I had been taking the drug for years without side effects so I didn't anticipate that it would ever start giving me any. After I stopped taking the water pill, POOF, the dizziness vanished!

So I hear you about how symptoms can come back and get worse with age. It sucks, but as my father always used to say when he faced stuff like this, "It sure beats the alternative"! I still groan just thinking about him saying that, LOL. But he had the sunniest, most positive disposition and I often think about that to try to emulate him. But admittedly I have more issues than he ever had, so it's not as easy for me to accomplish.

4 hours ago, ginger90 said:

Just throwing this out there, walking can help compression stockings work better. 

So I've read, but for me it's more like a net zero effect because walking makes my legs swell more. I know, I sound like a "negative Nancy" but welcome to my world. 🙁

[heatherchandler]

On 9/6/2024 at 7:27 PM, StatisticalOutlier said:

I've never even had back fat, so any skin-on-skin contact is totally new to me, and very uncomfortable.

High-waisted spanx pulls all of that skin up and in.  Should get rid of the skin on skin problem. They are actually very comfortable too.

[Gramto6]

4,951 steps yesterday.

Stayed inside most of the day. It will be the same today.

Now that I have once again gotten into the clear out the old clothes mode, I think more is on the agenda for today. So much stuff I don't wear/haven't worn in so long...it can go!

@Teafortwo I looked at the Stockwell cat socks, they are really cute! I ordered a set of 3 in the 15-20 range just to try them out. The medical grade ones I have with the zipper (I hate!) are probably the highest compression so I do have those for now. But if I like the sock type, I am definitely getting those cat ones!! Thanks!

@Denize Thanks for reminding me about Epson salts. Years and years ago I used to soak my feet in them, but it wasn't really helping that much so I stopped.  It might be worth trying a bath (as much as I loath baths) when the swelling is really bad now though.

@Yeah No, for me weight seems to make no difference in the swelling problem. When I gave birth the first time I weighed 186#, mostly water, it turned out. But later in life at my highest non-pregnant weight around 170ish I still had the problem and at all weights going downward. In Dec of '22. after my serious fall I was down to around 125# and still had the swelling issues. So there is something more than weight alone in my case, going on. Thus my attempt at using the compression socks to help. I don't think in my case, with my history, there is anything that is going to "cure" the problem, I just have to deal with it.

[Absolom]

10 hours ago, heatherchandler said:

High-waisted spanx pulls all of that skin up and in.  Should get rid of the skin on skin problem. They are actually very comfortable too.

Have they improved Spanx over recent years to increase comfort?  I wore them for my kids' weddings and could not last even through half of any of the receptions before getting them off.

[Yeah No]

2 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

@Yeah No, for me weight seems to make no difference in the swelling problem. When I gave birth the first time I weighed 186#, mostly water, it turned out. But later in life at my highest non-pregnant weight around 170ish I still had the problem and at all weights going downward. In Dec of '22. after my serious fall I was down to around 125# and still had the swelling issues. So there is something more than weight alone in my case, going on. Thus my attempt at using the compression socks to help. I don't think in my case, with my history, there is anything that is going to "cure" the problem, I just have to deal with it.

I hear you. I don't have any guarantee that if I went down to my earlier weight now it would do any good either. I was still under the age of 50 when that happened. These things usually get worse with age, unfortunately.

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

Have they improved Spanx over recent years to increase comfort?  I wore them for my kids' weddings and could not last even through half of any of the receptions before getting them off.

I stopped wearing them years ago when I stopped working because they were too uncomfortable and I think might have been constricting my organs too much. And now they wouldn't do enough anyway. It's a good thing I paid attention to Stacy and Clinton years ago on "What Not to Wear" and learned how to "hide a tummy".

[StatisticalOutlier]

13 hours ago, heatherchandler said:

High-waisted spanx pulls all of that skin up and in.  Should get rid of the skin on skin problem. They are actually very comfortable too.

Never say never, but I don't ever want to wear a girdle.  Besides, I'd have to take it off at some point and the discomfort would come roaring back. 

I'm trying my best to get used to it.  When I was out to lunch today, I was by myself so I spent my time looking around (I don't have a smart phone).  The only people I saw with non-fat torsos were a few teenagers, mainly boys.  Hell, I went to yoga at a fitness club before that and the majority of women had guts on them.  All of these people have somehow gotten accustomed to their girthy midriff, so I assume I can, too.  It's been a couple of years now, but I'm guessing it's a slow process when it hits suddenly, especially later in life.

 

[lookeyloo]

I stopped wearing them years ago when I stopped working because they were too uncomfortable and I think might have been constricting my organs too much. And now they wouldn't do enough anyway. It's a good thing I paid attention to Stacy and Clinton years ago on "What Not to Wear" and learned how to "hide a tummy"

Indeed!  Dress for the body you have, not the one you want.  Color pattern texture shine.  Stacy London is coming out with a line of clothes I think on QVC and I think I read she and Clinton are working together again on some project maybe a show.  Mr. lookeyloo and I watched that show!

1 minute ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

Never say never, but I don't ever want to wear a girdle.  Besides, I'd have to take it off at some point and the discomfort would come roaring back. 

I'm trying my best to get used to it.  When I was out to lunch today, I was by myself so I spent my time looking around (I don't have a smart phone).  The only people I saw with non-fat torsos were a few teenagers, mainly boys.  Hell, I went to yoga at a fitness club before that and the majority of women had guts on them.  All of these people have somehow gotten accustomed to their girthy midriff, so I assume I can, too.  It's been a couple of years now, but I'm guessing it's a slow process when it hits suddenly, especially later in life.

 

Used to is a thing.  Like is another thing.  I guess I am used to it, don't like it and don't see a way around it unless I go on "Alone" and have to catch my own food.  But I am almost 81 and walking upright, so I am trying to be thankful.

[heatherchandler]

6 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I stopped wearing them years ago when I stopped working because they were too uncomfortable and I think might have been constricting my organs too much.

They have changed a lot, they shouldn’t be uncomfortable.  
 

8 hours ago, Absolom said:

Have they improved Spanx over recent years to increase comfort?  I wore them for my kids' weddings and could not last even through half of any of the receptions before getting them off.

Yes they have some that are basically just high waisted underwear.  I wear them as underwear.  So comfy and they basically just keep the lines smooth.  

They have some that are very tight but that’s for people who want that.  If you get the right size, they feel great.

Edited September 9 by heatherchandler

[heatherchandler]

4 hours ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

 

I'm trying my best to get used to it.  When I was out to lunch today, I was by myself so I spent my time looking around (I don't have a smart phone).  The only people I saw with non-fat torsos were a few teenagers, mainly boys.  Hell, I went to yoga at a fitness club before that and the majority of women had guts on them.  All of these people have somehow gotten accustomed to their girthy midriff, so I assume I can, too.  It's been a couple of years now, but I'm guessing it's a slow process when it hits suddenly, especially later in life.

 

I don’t think I’d ever get used to skin on skin, that’s very uncomfortable.  In my town, no one has a gut.  Lots of tummy tucks and lipo.  And for the little pooch, spanx!

[Yeah No]

6 hours ago, lookeyloo said:

Indeed!  Dress for the body you have, not the one you want.  Color pattern texture shine.  Stacy London is coming out with a line of clothes I think on QVC and I think I read she and Clinton are working together again on some project maybe a show.  Mr. lookeyloo and I watched that show!

Mr. Yeah No and I used to watch it together too! I so miss that show! Earlier this year I read that they had done a live show together last Fall and were putting something together for TV but never heard any more about it. So I just looked and found this:

https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/clinton-kelly-stacy-london-wear-whatever-the-f-you-want-new-show-rcna168366

The show's going to be called "wear Whatever the F You Want" and will air on Prime Video, which means I'll probably have to pay to see it. 

2 hours ago, heatherchandler said:

They have changed a lot, they shouldn’t be uncomfortable.  

I'm skeptical but who knows? I'd try it but I don't even know where to get them anymore and I wouldn't buy anything without seeing it first. I was never too fond of Spanx. I used to buy other brands, even some expensive ones but the high waisted ones all involved some kind of discomfort and the lower ones didn't fit right or didn't do the job or both. The ones with the long legs down the middle of the thighs didn't work for me either. Even when they had that light fabric that didn't hug my thighs at all I couldn't wear them with pants, you would see an indent anyway. 

I have tried stuff on in the past year or so but again, nothing fits right or it feels uncomfortable or doesn't work or all three. Now granted, I don't just have a little pooch like I used to, plus I am pretty sensitive in general so that might have something to do with it.

My favorite shapewear that was never uncomfortable is one that hasn't been made in probably a decade or close to it. I stocked up on it when I learned it was being discontinued and have it in 3 sizes. It was first marketed as a "panty girdle" by Olga and then by Nancy Ganz as a "tummeee brief" and "the greatest panty girdle ever made" (I would agree with that). The fabric is not bulky at all and amazing, they just don't make things that well anymore. It works better than anything I've ever tried, even newer stuff. It even shapes the rear end. Bye-bye cellulite. So of course it got discontinued. What else is new?  LOL 😏

Edited September 9 by Yeah No

[lookeyloo]

8 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Mr. Yeah No and I used to watch it together too! I so miss that show! Earlier this year I read that they had done a live show together last Fall and were putting something together for TV but never heard any more about it. So I just looked and found this:

https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/clinton-kelly-stacy-london-wear-whatever-the-f-you-want-new-show-rcna168366

The show's going to be called "wear Whatever the F You Want" and will air on Prime Video, which means I'll probably have to pay to see it. 

I'm skeptical but who knows? I'd try it but I don't even know where to get them anymore and I wouldn't buy anything without seeing it first. I was never too fond of Spanx. I used to buy other brands, even some expensive ones but the high waisted ones all involved some kind of discomfort and the lower ones didn't fit right or didn't do the job or both. The ones with the long legs down the middle of the thighs didn't work for me either. Even when they had that light fabric that didn't hug my thighs at all I couldn't wear them with pants, you would see an indent anyway. 

I have tried stuff on in the past year or so but again, nothing fits right or it feels uncomfortable or doesn't work or all three. Now granted, I don't just have a little pooch like I used to, plus I am pretty sensitive in general so that might have something to do with it.

My favorite shapewear that was never uncomfortable is one that hasn't been made in probably a decade or close to it. I stocked up on it when I learned it was being discontinued and have it in 3 sizes. It was first marketed as a "panty girdle" by Olga and then by Nancy Ganz as a "tummeee brief" and "the greatest panty girdle ever made" (I would agree with that). The fabric is not bulky at all and amazing, they just don't make things that well anymore. It works better than anything I've ever tried, even newer stuff. It even shapes the rear end. Bye-bye cellulite. So of course it got discontinued. What else is new?  LOL 😏

great news!  We already get Prime so YAY!!

[heatherchandler]

8 hours ago, Yeah No said:

 

I'm skeptical but who knows? I'd try it but I don't even know where to get them anymore and I wouldn't buy anything without seeing it first. I was never too fond of Spanx. 

 

If you have a Nordstrom near you, you can try them there.  I get the Everyday Shaping Briefs.

I am loathe to promote anything kardashian, I hate all of them.  But the skims brand is actually pretty great.  The tummy underwear works well.  Very comfy and keeps everything looking good.  

[Yeah No]

21 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

great news!  We already get Prime so YAY!!

So do we. Some stuff is free but we'll have to see if that is too. Fingers crossed!

4 minutes ago, heatherchandler said:

If you have a Nordstrom near you, you can try them there.  I get the Everyday Shaping Briefs.

I am loathe to promote anything kardashian, I hate all of them.  But the skims brand is actually pretty great.  The tummy underwear works well.  Very comfy and keeps everything looking good.  

Yes I do and that's where I used to try on and buy shapewear. I haven't been there much in the past few years while my spending money has been lower than when I worked. That will change in the next year or so when I start collecting various forms of retirement money. Thanks for the recommendations.

[Gramto6]

4,625 steps yesterday.

The fire nearby is at 36% contained but the other fires a bit further away are not even that close. The air is Unhealthy again today and is one of the worst days yet. I will only make only my 2 trips out, taking the garbage to the road and a grocery store run, other than feeding the cats. Otherwise I'm staying put inside. There may be rain midweek hopefully and I hope it is a lot! Maybe it will dampen down these fires!

[Absolom]

4 hours ago, heatherchandler said:

If you have a Nordstrom near you, you can try them there.  I get the Everyday Shaping Briefs.

I'm not finding that on the Spanx site. Any chance they are only made for Nordstrom?

ETA:  What I found at Nordstrom was a regular brief not high cut.  I think I'll keep passing on it.

Edited September 9 by Absolom

[Denize]

"Wear Whatever the F You Want" sounds like my type of show.

[MMEButterfly]

19 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Mr. Yeah No and I used to watch it together too! I so miss that show! Earlier this year I read that they had done a live show together last Fall and were putting something together for TV but never heard any more about it. So I just looked and found this:

https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/clinton-kelly-stacy-london-wear-whatever-the-f-you-want-new-show-rcna168366

The show's going to be called "wear Whatever the F You Want" and will air on Prime Video, which means I'll probably have to pay to see it. 

OL 😏

Thank you. I loved WNTW and learned so much about styling for my body type.

[Yeah No]

9 hours ago, Absolom said:

I'm not finding that on the Spanx site. Any chance they are only made for Nordstrom?

ETA:  What I found at Nordstrom was a regular brief not high cut.  I think I'll keep passing on it.

I found the Spanx Everyday Shaping Brief on other sites including Amazon and Town Shop (A NYC institution featured on WNTW and one I had a bra fitting at once). I often don't find products on manufacturer's websites. I've never figured that out. Maybe they only make it for a few sellers.

That's interesting that you don't think they're high cut enough for you. I thought they were a little high cut for my particular shape. Somehow high cuts don't work for me at all.

This is the Olga Tummee Brief, which is very old fashioned and dates back to the 1980s or even the '70s (I didn't even know it went back that far). I've been wearing them for over 20 years. I know it looks dated now but whatever works. And again, the fabric is phenomenal. It smooths and holds well but is light and comfortable. I actually find the newer fabrics inferior to some of the older ones, at least for my particular needs.

This is the Olga/Nancy Ganz brief in white, which I would never wear but I couldn't find any in nude or black.

 

[lookeyloo]

7 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I found the Spanx Everyday Shaping Brief on other sites including Amazon and Town Shop (A NYC institution featured on WNTW and one I had a bra fitting at once). I often don't find products on manufacturer's websites. I've never figured that out. Maybe they only make it for a few sellers.

That's interesting that you don't think they're high cut enough for you. I thought they were a little high cut for my particular shape. Somehow high cuts don't work for me at all.

This is the Olga Tummee Brief, which is very old fashioned and dates back to the 1980s or even the '70s (I didn't even know it went back that far). I've been wearing them for over 20 years. I know it looks dated now but whatever works. And again, the fabric is phenomenal. It smooths and holds well but is light and comfortable. I actually find the newer fabrics inferior to some of the older ones, at least for my particular needs.

This is the Olga/Nancy Ganz brief in white, which I would never wear but I couldn't find any in nude or black.

 

I think I still have some of them in my drawer, in nude and black.  But, now it pushes the tummy up into that zone just above my belly button.  They used to work great

[Yeah No]

2 hours ago, lookeyloo said:

I think I still have some of them in my drawer, in nude and black.  But, now it pushes the tummy up into that zone just above my belly button.  They used to work great

I used the laugh emoji because that's my issue now too!  😄  And that's one reason I have not found any new briefs that work for me. Actually the tummee brief I wear doesn't push my tummy up. I'm just happy I still have plenty of them in 3 sizes.

Edited September 10 by Yeah No

[Gramto6]

6,405 steps yesterday.

Not sure I am going to have close to that today. Tired from yesterday and the smoke will keep me in. Plus I foresee a long time on the phone.

Today I have a major issue to tackle and I dread even starting it. When my mom passed away (1988), she left my younger brother the family home in trust with the condition if he sold it or passed away, I or my heirs would get 25% of the profits. Well, every once in a while I will google him (I have no relationship with him or my older brother who gets nothing from the house). To my surprise I found the house listed on Zillow! The first time I saw it about a month ago it was at $1.3 million! (Upon looking again Sunday it now says "Off Market" at $1.19 million.) Little old house in excellent area. Stipulations in will were he was to be reimbursed for upkeep over the years and I figured he'd manage to get all my share by hook or by the crook that he is so I didn't pursue it. Talking to my DD who is also a lawyer (though not practicing), she said I should get my name and location on the title just in case he hasn't sold it yet. The will has been filed with the courts so I am in that document. But I need to be on the deed too I guess.

Sooooo today I am going to have to work my way by phone through the red tape in the CA Registrar's office (or where ever they send me) to be sure my whereabouts and contact info are on file. I can only imagine what kind of nightmare that is going to be from this distance! 

[Absolom]

20 hours ago, Yeah No said:

That's interesting that you don't think they're high cut enough for you. I thought they were a little high cut for my particular shape. Somehow high cuts don't work for me at all.

Oh I'm not really in the market. I'm beyond worrying about the pooch especially with everything else going on in life.  The Spanx that I've seen them and other foundation companies call high cut come up almost to the bottom of the bra.  That's to avoid creating the pushed up bulge.

 

7 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

Sooooo today I am going to have to work my way by phone through the red tape in the CA Registrar's office (or where ever they send me) to be sure my whereabouts and contact info are on file. I can only imagine what kind of nightmare that is going to be from this distance! 

Good luck.  Would it possibly be worth it to dump the problem on a CA real estate lawyer?

Edited September 10 by Absolom

[Gramto6]

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

Good luck.  Would it possibly be worth it to dump the problem on a CA real estate lawyer?

I don't know at this point I may well be just throwing away money. 

We've been discussing it over in the Everything Else forum :Family Ties: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly  Since it deals with  my brother I took the conversation there.

[Gramto6]

4,887 steps yesterday.

Not much walking, most of the day spent on the computer or the telephone. Getting nowhere both places. I think I'm going to try to get more steps in and concentrate on the exercises for my hands today.

[TurtlePower]

Hey you guys!

After years of struggle and feeling useless/hopeless and rejected by the agency I’d worked at for over a decade, I finally got a good job. And not just a job, but one in my field (museums). It’s a non-profit museum with a small staff and big goals. 

A weight has been lifted off my shoulders and my mood has improved so much that I didn’t realise how bad it actually was. I essentially shut myself in (except running/hiking), avoided people and was embarrassed to be asked, “So what are you doing?” I’d have to say “Nothing, I keep getting rejected.” So I avoided the risk of even being asked that question. I’m still in grad school — and now with a way to pay for it (I’d been putting tuition on my credit card along with medical bills) I feel so much less stress and worry.

I used to hate just existing. But now I have a purpose and an income (which is an internal thing with me, I always needed a purpose). 

[ginger90]

Congratulations @TurtlePower!!

[precious pupp]

5 hours ago, TurtlePower said:

Hey you guys!

After years of struggle and feeling useless/hopeless and rejected by the agency I’d worked at for over a decade, I finally got a good job. And not just a job, but one in my field (museums). It’s a non-profit museum with a small staff and big goals. 

A weight has been lifted off my shoulders and my mood has improved so much that I didn’t realise how bad it actually was. I essentially shut myself in (except running/hiking), avoided people and was embarrassed to be asked, “So what are you doing?” I’d have to say “Nothing, I keep getting rejected.” So I avoided the risk of even being asked that question. I’m still in grad school — and now with a way to pay for it (I’d been putting tuition on my credit card along with medical bills) I feel so much less stress and worry.

I used to hate just existing. But now I have a purpose and an income (which is an internal thing with me, I always needed a purpose). 

That's wonderful.  It sounds like a job you will enjoy.  I'm happy you're doing so well.

[Denize]

That's great, TurtlePower! A couple of days ago I saw a turtle and became worried about why we haven't heard from you lately. But this is good news that you were busy enjoying life and a new job!

Edited September 11 by Denize