Summer Solstice Sensation

lessonlearned

Hi Cave - sorry to hear you've been so poorly (says she coughing away as she types). Hope you feel much better soon.

Thanks for the links. Like Maman I'm not really into fat acceptance either - not just for vanity - although that does play a part - but also for health reasons. I just don't want to go down that diabetes/heart attack/stroke route, at least not if I can help it.

I found the sewing one good, it reminded of a friend. She is rather on the large side but always looks wonderful - she reminds me a bit of Dawn French. My friend is always beautifully turned out, full make up the lot. She makes most of her clothes because she hates the average outsize stuff that's available.

When I've lost some weight I'm going to start sewing again. As a teenager I made all my clothes. Mary Quant had nothing on me. I couldn't afford shop prices on my Saturday job money so on Friday's I would go to the market, buy a couple of yards of fabric and be wearing a new outfit on Saturday night.

Well done Maman - you've made a fantastic start - like you I've decluttered the dining room today. Feels better doesn't it.

Today had carers here so got some free time this morning - dentist (well it had to be done), bank, mooch round charity shops - didn't see anything I fancied and library. Got some fashion and beauty books, as well as cookery and gardening. One book which jumped out at me is entitled "The Modern Girl's Guide to Fabulousness". I may not be a girl anymore but with that title I couldn't resist.

Loved Lark Rise the series, not read the book. Also love Cider with Rosie - one of my favourites.

Today

4.5 kms on bike, plus usual yoga and ball etc.
Eyebrow tidy

By the way, like many people my age I have mild to moderate arthritis and various joint/muscle aches and pains. I can truthfully say now that I am exercising every day I feel much better. That early morning stiffness is so much better and I'm feeling more supple. (That's only after 3 weeks too - so hopefully in a month or so I should be skipping around like a three year old).

Read a good piece in the Sunday Times about New Year Resolutions - more or less the same as we're doing really. Rather than doing something which takes away i.e. weight/clutter - she adds something new. A craft or skill. This year her target is too learn to do cartwheels!!! - Maybe a bit ambitious for me but certainly determined to get fit enough to go dancing again.

cave_2

I agree that being overwight comes with a swathe of health problems, but what I like about the blogs is that they approach the body as a vehicle or tool instead of reducing the body to a set of vital statistics - I've lost count of the number of times I've said 'I'll be able to do X, Y, Z when I lose weight' not really realising that the problem is more in my head than on my hips.

Saying that, I've really missed doing exercise classes since I've been laid up in bed. Think I'll wait until next Monday before trying anything again though. Going back to Body Balance and starting the normal gym for some cardio. Have been dying to get up the hills but while my chest is out and the weather is so cold I don't think I'll chance it! Have a caving trip in three weeks so have to be well for that..!

My learn-to-cook-new-things plan has gone completely out the window too, as I'm not eating anything at the moment really. Planning an authentic curry night on Sat, and I just hope I can actually eat a full meal by then! Right now I have an absolute revulsion for anything fatty/greasy that I hope will stick around for a bit... it will make avoiding buttery toast and cheese much easier!

Also, will someone please have a sit-down talk with whatever part of my brain decides where my fat goes. I only ever put weight on my hips, but lose it off my boobs. At this rate I'm going to be a triangle by 2012...:rotfl:

top_drawer_2

hi all again,

I disappeared for awhile with the New Year clear out, its amazing therapeutic to tidy my room, charity shop a load of stuff and ebay a load more. I actually feel lighter for it and I have regigged my room to make it more comfortable and have bought a gorgeous new rug. Its so nice to touch!! My ankle is still sore but I am walking normally although it does ache after awhile.

Lesson learned - I have heard of NLP but never tried it. I am currently attending counselling and doing a lot of reading around various confidence building techniques/social training too but will definitely add it to my lis of things I want to read books on to see if they may be helpful.

Maman - My hobbies tend to be solitary too; reading and dressmaking but am working on that with the new year classes surge. Hopefully I can find something I want to attend and is accessible.

Whitewing - The medication certainly does make a difference but it isnt the whole answer I dont believe which is a pity really as it could be so easy. I was told throughout my childhood that I was difficult and even now am made out to be obstructive in some way, when all I want is control over myself/what I do or dont do and so on. Sleep is heavily implicated to be involved in neural change in the brain so embrace sleeping! I love your idea of visual reminders of being an OK person - I might give that strategy a try as in my blackest moments I can't see any positivity so a reminder might be just the thing.

Rainbow - You just reminded me to look into yoga as it has been suggested before..... I read Sally Brampton's, Shoot the Black Dog - what an amazing book!! and she strongly recommended yoga.

Hey Carmen - so true; pull yourself together is definitely a waste and just implies that the person saying it could do it so why can't I/they? making me/them feel worse.

Cave - I like the idea of a fat acceptance blog. I read Gok Wan's autobiography recently and it made me think a lot about my relationship with food and who first initally "told" me I was what I believe I am. For me its a lot longer ago than I believed possible and its made me think a lot about how I reacted to some things when maybe other people didnt "know/see" these issues IYSWIM.

Tonight I am going to have a bath and an early night for tommorrow as its first day back at work. Will reveal my NY resolutions next time :cool::cool:;)

Jen

shegirl

Wow! I feel good! on my phone so can't give the link yet (or put what else is making me feel so good) but I found a site that gives you detail on your bodyshape and what exercise you should or shouldn't do for your shape! I'm an hour glass (pretty extreme one i think) and have always been heavier than people my size or bigger,turns out that's normal for hour glasses :-D fantastic! After years of feeling crap about weight I will no longer worry....(out of count so will post another message sorry)

shegirl

...I also discovered that weights,resistance,step and high impact aerobic exercise are bad ideas for hour glass figures because we bulk so easily! And I really don't want my legs getting any bigger.Anyway,to put it briefly this site gives info the helps you understand your body,what to do and makes you feel great about it :-D So for the weight inch loss thing I will now bravely say my stats are 45 bust,31 waist and 44 hips at the mo.Need to get that down,but more important is the 27 inch thighs :-(

shegirl

One important thing I forgot to post is,for those of us trying to 'shape up',lose weight etc is that you never change body shape,you can become a 'fat spoon' 'fat hourglass' 'fat ruler' or a 'fat cone' but essentially you always have the same shape but gain can make it appear otherwise to you. I think that's a good thing to remember for anyone who looks in the mirror or looks at photos and thinks 'I used to have such and such figure' :-) It's still there ladies!

Carmen

Managed a 4km walk yesterday, dentist appointment made and check up at the Dr's! Gave myself a much needed facial Mmmm, pedicure next!
I had an evening walk around the village to see the christmas lights again before they are taken down.
Bad night, O/H was coughing and spluttering most of the night with this awful flu that is going around! Will drive him to the doc's this evening and get antibiotic's as bound to get a chest infection!
Just going to have forty winks
Carmen x

lessonlearned

Fabness wise today has been a write off.

I feel "proper poorly". There's a lot of lurgies out there and I am definitely going down with something.

Spent hours at the hospital with OH who had to have a CT scan, feel tired and ill so off to bed, no exercise, no treatments.

Tomorrow is another day (Scarlett O'Hara - Gone with the Wind)

maman

'night LL, hope you feel better soon:)

top_drawer_2

Lesson Learned - hugs to you, lurginess is definitely doing the rounds.