Summer Solstice Sensation

whitewing

Happy New Year!

I have found a fantastically fun website http://www.wordle.net/

It's not strictly frump to fab but anything that makes one feel enthusiastic can only give us a glow!

lessonlearned

Happy New Year Everyone

Remember now - no silly detoxes or extreme diets, gently does it!!!! Remember the fable about the tortoise and the hare.

WW - loved that site, so creative, will get my clever DS2 to show me how. I really want to learn more about computers this year - especially creative stuff and photoshop.

Which brings me neatly to

New Year Resolutions

This year it's fun stuff only. No more must lose weight, must declutter.
That will happen along the way anyway. This year I'm aiming to introduce some pleasure back into my life.

1. Learn to play keyboards

My lovely kids clubbed together and bought me a keyboard for Christmas.

2. Do more arty/crafty stuff

Have cleared a space in the spare bedroom, which is mine
so I can work and leave stuff half done if need be.

3. Rediscover my city

In the four years that I have been caring for my OH my city has had a bit of a facelift and I hardly know it anymore. There's a new Arts Complex which I haven't even set foot in yet.

4. Take up photography again.

5. Join a dance class

I have rejigged the carers hours to give me a couple of mornings free time. I will not waste them trawling round ASDA or Sainsbury's but do nice things.

Right now it's exercise time and then cook a nice New Years Day dinner.

lessonlearned

Progress Report

Weight 12st6lbs (12.8)

Bust 40 (43)
Waist 34 (36)
Hips 40 (41)
Thighs 21 (22)
Calves 14.25 (14.75)

OK weight loss is not dramatic - 2lbs in three weeks is a bit slow. However last Christmas I ballooned up to 13.4 so at least I will be starting off in a much better position this year.

Definitely feeling more toned, clothes feeling better.

Todays treatment - asprin face mask to forehead, nose and chin
30 mins exercise - 4kms bike, yoga, ball and weights
Face exercises


Meant to say hi to Rainbow. Don't worry about homemade face masks, there are some very good ones out there and usually quite cheap.

Went to Sainsbury's they've got a lot of offers on toiletries and bath products. Many half price so did a bit of a stock-up.

Carmen

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

Day 19/20

Well, I cannot believe I have not posted since last year
I was out of kilter for 3/4 days with a tooth abcess (sp) feeling better now the antibiotics have started to work I think I have been comfort eating sloppy food for a couple of days so dreading getting on the scales tomorrow, blow it, will do it now....gosh I have still managed to lose 1lb :j I did have a 3km walk yesterday maybe that helped?

LL, I also wanted to play piano as a teenager and alto sax as an adult. Even though I am a very optomistic person, I do need a lot of motivation Good luck with your keyboard playing LL and your other resolutions:)
I remember getting someone to deliver a free piano to my parents house when I was about 15 and the only place it could go was the hall (small) everyone struggled passed it and I would plink plonk on it every spare moment I got (could not afford lessons) Until finally the plink plonking got on everyone's nerve's and the piano had to go
:rotfl:

Thanks for the website WW looks interesting.

Congratulations Maman and your weightloss, fantastic result, keep up the good work.

Welcome Rainbow, yes I think we are all ladies (said in my best David Walliams way) but there is nothing to stop men joining us, our 'hang up's/ 'problems' are not exclusive to the female gender.

Top Drawer, I hope you are well. Your idea of getting in touch with old school friends sounds great. Don't worry about them judging you on what you have or have not achieved, you will soon find the 'genuine' ones that just want to re-aquaint your friendship
Facebook I believe is very popular these days but, maybe Friends Reunited would be a better place (little more low key)to start and find your past friends?

I know depression is a very hard thing for some people to understand, if it can't be seen then it isn't there! My experience with a close friend and a family member helped me to understand that 'pull yourself together' is a wasted sentence! Like you, with Dr's and the right medication people can cope quite well...most days, chin up Just coming here and 'chatting' with us is a great start, lot easier than down hill sking

Hello and welcome Lazydaisy (love the name)


Carmen x

whitewing

Hello. Haven't done much fabnesswise today but am sitting with a glass of water now and just had my vitamins.

Used some mandarin conditioner on my hair today and it's lovely. Smells good.

Have my perfume on too regularly even if it's just us. Have now found that LO will settle more readily if I use the tiniest bit on her blanket as she goes to sleep. Just the merest hint of course, nothing that interferes with her skin or breathing.

lessonlearned

Hi WW

That's interesting about your LO and the perfume, it probably works because it reminds your LO of you and gives comfort.

Oh Carmen, poor you with your abscess, how horrible. We really must be twins under skin because my teeth are bothering me too (no abscess thankfully). Seeing the dentist on Tuesday.

Why don't you start plink-plonking again, better still go for the alto sax - we could form a rock band. How cool. The oldest, hippest, rock chicks.:rotfl:

Just remembered - if anyone is interested - ARGOS have a range of offers on home gym/sports stuff - cheaper than Sainsbury's.

maman

Just catching up after a couple of days awol.

Happy New Year to you all!!

I haven't gone totally off plan over NY. We've done lots of walking (great that OH is joining me especially as he has to eat up all LO Christmas goodies:p)

Back later, must go off and listen to Archers (used to be an addict but much better now).:D

lessonlearned

"Me" Account

Decided I shall set up a "just for me" savings account for new clothes etc, treats. I can easily afford the odd charity shop purchase and the occasional ASDA/Sainsbury t-shirt or jumper out of my usual housekeeping budget. However, now that I no longer work I feel guilty about spending much on myself. I often see something and think "Oh no, that's too much, I couldn't possibly".

So, I'm going to rejig the budget - my housekeeping budget has rather run away with me of late anyway and it's time to cut back. I aim to save at least £5 per week in a separate account. I have nearly £50 in my small change jar so that's a good start.

Just done 4.5 kms on bike (going to work up to 6 kms daily)
Gym ball and weights & yoga in a bit, after I've peeled the veg for dinner.
Todays Treatment - Manicure

Am introducing one declutter task per day - Pack away Christmas Decs - chucking out a few tatty past their best ones whilst I am at it.

cave_2

Hello and happy New Year all!

I've definately lost weight over the new year, unfortunately due to havung flu and not eating for a week! The challenge for the coming weeks is to not pile the weight and more back on because my body is hoarding calories in panic :rotfl:

Urgh, I feel awful though. Really need to do some sort of deep moisturising all over - so dehydrated inside and out - central heating seems to be health's worst enemy!

Spent the last week in bed, trawling around the internet. Got really into some 'Fat Acceptance' blogs. These are mostly women who have struggled with their weight all their lives, and it's inspirational to see them separate their issues with their weight and self-esteem. There's a lot of discussion about how much worth we put on physical appearance, and how little we value our relationship skills/intelligence/personality/kindness in comparison.

I'm not huge, but I've always struggled with self-esteem, and I find these amazingly comforting to read. These three are the ones I've been following, but there are thousand out there

http://www.notblueatall.com (my favourite one!)
http://sew-misunderstood.blogspot.com/ (she makes the most amazing clothes)
http://fatheffalump.wordpress.com/ (amazingly honest)

Hope this helps someone

maman

:wave:

Sorry to hear you've been poorly cave. Thanks for the links.

I must admit I was getting very close to 'Fat Acceptance' but decided to give a proper eating plan a go and I'm feeling so much happier as a result. My plan is to continue with SW, seriously, for about another 6 months when I should be where I want to be. But each to his own and I agree that sew-misunderstood does make some fantastic clothes. I seem to have lost interest in clothes shopping since putting weight on. My idea of dressing nicely is to wear black from head to toe with a (pre-fat) jacket that often wouldn't do up and a pashmina as a cover-up. Buying some properly fitting clothes is another treat I'm looking forward to in the summer but I am enjoying fitting in to my existing wardrobe at the moment.

I'm making small steps:
-all Christmas Decs taken down yesterday which is a good 'decluttering' sort of feeling (I am sooooo pleased that life is returning to normal)
-dining room cleaned properly today (deep clean a room a week/fortnight is a resolution as DH does regular cleaning:))
-kitchen food cupboards cleaned and checked out (DD was complaining she found something out-of-date at Christmas:o)
-lots of walking done
-very few lapses from SW plan
-still working on my resolutions, all in head (or scribbled on small scrap of paper at the moment)
-read a few pages of Lark Rise yesterday. I'm determined to read something more than chick-lit and magazines this year.
-still doing a bit of knitting of an evening (recently taken this up after lapse of many, many years)

Hope everyone else is feeling good. I like the feeling of hope and optimism at this time of the year.