Frump to Fab 2017 - A Whole New World

Rubyslippers77 wrote: »

Well done indie on your weight loss and lifestyle changes :T it is difficult to keep up with healthy choices when you don't have as much control over what's on offer, I've been snacking on cereal bars to escape the coffee shop temptations when it would be easy to escape the builders that way! And I agree that a champagne festival with no free champagne, not even one glass, sounds a bit rubbish. Are you going to see Shed Seven on their latest tour?? My indie music-loving friend has bought a ticket to that one off gig in August that I can't make - sniff!

Thank you as usual for your inspirational posts LL, makeover March sounds like a great idea! I've set myself the target of losing 7lb by the end of April; not where I wanted to be weight-wise but I just don't have the opportunity to exercise more and eat as healthily as I'd like at the moment.

Yes, I took some of my own snacks with me but it was little things like a lot of the seminar rooms not having water in and drinking too much coffee which made me feel really out of sorts as well as limited lunch options. Not going away again till Easter and will try to prepare a bit better for that - we get a packed lunch on our hiking trip but I might just take some of those John West tuna pouches and good oatcakes to have instead of sandwiches to keep the carb content down. I've asked for gluten free before, and that's fine when they do a salad but some places get gluten free bread which is generally foul and as am not gluten intolerant, just trying to avoid carbs, it isn't really an improvement over a regular sandwich. I take my own snacks rather than have the ones provided - chocolate, crisps and regular cereal bars (i.e. the ones loaded with sugar etc. I would rather have a protein ball that fills me up more), though there's usually one piece of fruit which is ok.

Not planning to go to see Shed Seven. I was always more of a Bluetones fan, though I did see Shed Seven and the Bluetones both supporting Ocean Colour Scene last summer.

Am gutted the Killers are playing Hyde Park the day I travel back from a hiking trip in Scotland. Not realistic to get back in time for anything other than the evening slot and as it's a day thing with lots of support the tickets are just silly money to only see the headline. All I have booked at the moment gigwise is Starshaped in August.

LaineyT wrote: »

Hello everyone,

I am still reading along with everyone's fabbing and enjoying all the tips. The healthy eating is going relatively well, have lost 4lbs so far and am happy with a slower loss rate as it's a case of breaking the habit of comfort eating more than anything. Think it helps that I am enjoying my cooking again and experimenting more with new recipes, with trying to avoid carbs it means more room for veg and we are averaging 6-7 portions a day. My aim is to have dropped a full 2 stones by the end of this year and be in size 10-12.

Cutting down on carbs definitely seems to be the best way to up the veg content. I can't imagine how you could get to the ten portions a day they are now suggesting we need whilst regularly having things like cereal, bread and pasta - need a good amount of veg or fruit (mainly the former) at every meal.

maman wrote: »

Hope you're pleased with the sonic brush sukey. You got that pack at a very good price. I can't really say it's made an amazing difference yet but I'm sure taking the time to pamper helps.

Glad to hear the healthy eating and weightloss are going well for you both Lainey and indie. Although we know it's good for health to eat well, it's motivating when the results show on the scales too. You're right about taking it slowly Lainey. IMO it needs a long term change in how we eat (and drink:o) to maintain a healthy weight not a crash course and then back to the junk. I'm all for having a treat but I think to many people eat junk food on a daily basis so it's become the norm.

I have a clarisonic but I have to admit I am not sure it really improved my skin noticeably and I haven't been as diligent as using as a result. I maybe was overcautious getting the sensitive brush. I have some fine broken veins in my cheeks that I didn't want to aggravate, but I think my t zone needs something less delicate to clear the pores out.

The scales told me this morning I have just lost enough to be the lightest I've been whilst living in London - and it's nearly ten years ago I moved here. :j. The last time I was about this low was when I got home from my last juice detox - and that's not a sustainable way of living.

I still have a long journey to get back down to a really healthy weight and then maintain it as I was overweight when I moved here, but it's a good milestone. Am a stone and three quarters below the weight I was when I turned 40 and I can really see the difference when I look back at photos from then.

The really positive thing is what I am doing feels more sustainable. I am now enjoying preparing my own food where I just used to see it as a chore and I don't get crazy hungry like I used to when I was eating more carbs and just trying to cut down on portions etc. I don't feel like I am really depriving myself either. I think I am finally feeling like the negative impact of being overweight is far worse than any sacrifice on the cakes / sweets front. Though if you told me I couldn't have a little dark chocolate that might just be a sacrifice too far. Fortunately the plan allows me that :-)

I've been to Ceroc tonight. Have stepped up to doing the intermediate class now as have done a couple of beginner workshops as well as the evening classes. Really enjoying it, today was rather stressful at work but by the time did the class and an hour of freestyle after I had a skip in my step again. Got another workshop this weekend too. Am sad that I can't make my regular class the next couple of weeks and trying to work out which night and venue to go to instead. I really want to do the things I am doing instead - Dreamgirls at the theatre and a seminar on the psychology of weight loss. I went to another seminar last night, on the neuroscience of powerful habits which was really interesting and gave me some more tips on how to make lasting change. Remind me and I will say more about that another time - just spotted the time and it's definitely past my bed time.

Hope the rest of the week goes well for all of you xx

Welcome timetochange.:wave:

Floss wrote: »

Time to change why not try chilling a jug of water with sliced grapefruit, lime or orange in, it tastes nicer than plain tap water

I'd echo that. I drink a glass of squash (grapefruit High Juice) with breakfast each morning in place of fruit juice. Some people have issues with 'no added sugar' drinks but I have so little sweetener that it doesn't bother me. Another thing I drink is hot water with a splash of lemon or lime juice. Other than that I'm happy with tap water although I seem to drink more from a sports bottle rather than a glass.


Great news about reaching your 'lowest weight in 10 years' target indie. I eat carbs but only things like potatoes, pasta and rice with meals and then cooked plain not deep fried or anything like that. I limit myself to a single slice of wholemeal bread a day and if I have cereal (porage of plain Puffed Wheat) then I don't have the bread. I have loads of vegetables (not a big fruit fan) but to reach 10 a day I'd have to start snacking between meals and that's not something I want do. I think you're wise to plan ahead and you're so right that it has to become an ingrained habit to effect lasting change.


It's an absolutely glorious day here, warm and sunny. I've been out for a walk this morning and then we stopped for a coffee in the sunshine. It was one of those organised health walks which I've been on once before. timetochange, it's so easy to just potter about at home and end up not achieving what you want. There's nothing to stop me going out for a walk any day but joining an organised one seems to help. If that's not for you then perhaps make yourself a planner and tick off your visits to the gym, walks or whatever else you plan. Sometimes seeing it written down gives a sense of achievement. That being said, although I think exercise is important (for a feel good factor if nothing else) it's what you eat and drink IMO that will get you weightloss.


I did my usual people watching while on my walk (sunny enough for Raybans today which always helps:cool:). It's amazing how the same basic clothes can look very different depending on choices. There are smart, sporty jackets and there are anoraks!:rotfl:


I don't have the 'rough' head on my Clinique brush but it does have a gentle area for cheeks etc. and a slightly rougher one for the t zone.


I'm slowly working through a load of products too and I'm definitely not keeping anything for 'best' any more. I did a light make up this morning: eyebrows (get me!), mascara, lippy and a brush over with the Bourjois Healthy Balance powder which (I think ) ruby recommended.


I washed all my make up and hair brushes yesterday too. Spring must be in the air!:D

time to change I use sparkling water and finds it tastes so much better than plain. I used to drink loads of fizzy juice and cordials but now only have once in a blue moon and tbh find they are too sweet now. Supermarket cheap version is as good as anything and at 17p if you don't like it haven't wasted much. Good luck and let us know how u get on xx

Welcome back Time To Change. I hardly ever drink plain water; usually have some sugar free cordial.

Chanie, I think it depends how much you like the dress. If you'd be excited to wear it and therefore wear it more often, it could be a good investment. I opted not to buy a dress recently for a similar reason; I already have two with navy backgrounds so would've preferred a different colour. I might get it later if it goes in the sale.

I have been naughty, but I don't feel any regret whatsoever. I signed up to an 8 week Pilates course under a physiotherapist. I had my assessment on Wednesday (£40) and the course itself is £80 so £10 a week, plus I have a programme to work on alone too. I did the first group session this morning and I actually really enjoyed it. I didn't find the exercises as hard as I thought I'd might, but it was all dynamic with no holding positions. I'd tried a class (twice) years ago and hated it - boring! And way too hard to maintain positions. I feel like my body isn't recovering from my workouts, and thought that Pilates might be the solution.

The really naughty bit I guess is that I signed up for the Bloody Good Life 101 course on Tuesday - that's over £500 on the credit card (interest free). In my defense I've already paid £100 of it off. I'm just sick of being b*tchy and reactive and I don't like who I become sometimes. When I pressed pay, I waited for the "you've made a big mistake" gut feeling to kick in and it didn't, nor has it reared it's head this week. I'm quite excited, actually. OH is less optimistic and says it'd better be worth it or he'll hunt the lady down. I ought to give him a score sheet to monitor my progress. :rotfl: