Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

floss2

Willow92 wrote: »

Painted my nails again... I painted them pale blue on Sunday and they started chipping thanks to the hundreds of cardboard boxes I have to open for work...So I used 17 Lasting Fix nail varnish in Parma Violet. I'm not sure if it suits me though...

Willow, do you use a top coat? I use Sally Hansen to finish my nails off when I know they will get "battered", it works a treat! Not cheap, but lasts for ages, and saves re-doing them too!

pink_poppy

Morning everyone.

LL, I forgot to mention Burgen bread yesterday when you were talking about having soya. You can get soya & linseed http://www.burgenbread.com/our_products/index.html ~ it's low-GI, lowish carb (compared to other breads) & tastes blooming lovely I get mine in Tesco. Just thought I'd mention it.

Well I woke up with bloodshot eyes again this morning Not as bad as yesterday but they feel a bit gritty so hope it's not an infection ~ will bathe them with boiled water today & see if that helps.

Out for another 18 minute brisk walk last night (in the dark ) & will try & do the same tonight even though it was a bit on the chilly side!!

This is not really an act of fabdom, but I just have to tell you all that I made my first mortgage overpayment today :j I can't stop smiling & it's made me feel really happy so I thought it should count :rotfl:

See you all later

lizzie157

hi all'
Floss- I 2nd the advice about walking shoes/boots. When I started walking I often went in wellies and i ended up spraining my ankle due to lack of support. So I tried a cheap pair of walking boots from wynsors and although better my feet hurt after walking and also I ended up with athletes foot. hard skin etc. When I decided to buy a better brand from sportsdirect - fortunately have small feet so out of kids section- I couldn't believe the difference. Its well worth it and if you shop around there's always somewhere that has them on sale.

LL- sorry you're suffering re hot flushes. Could you seek a different Dr's opinion. An auntie of mine came off the HRT on Dr's advice but just couldn't cope not only with the physical but the mood swings aswell and was put back on it again not least for the good of her husbands health.

maman- a thread meet-up would be lovely.


Its lovely and sunny here again today. Went for a pub lunch with a friend and the dogs yesterday and sat out in the sun with just a t-shirt on- couldn't believe it was November.

No word from the counselling service yet so not sure whats happening on that front yet.

Completed my OU assignment.

On the fabbing front - still walking lots (with dogs), still Zumbaing, still eating healthier stuff unfortunately still eating unhealthy stuff too. Have started mixing foundation with my moisturiser and using this every day just on the bits of my face that need it. Small things but at least there in the right direction.

see you all soon.

Willow92

floss2 wrote: »

Willow, do you use a top coat? I use Sally Hansen to finish my nails off when I know they will get "battered", it works a treat! Not cheap, but lasts for ages, and saves re-doing them too!

No, I keep meaning to get a top coat then I forget...

lolly101

Hey Everyone,

Not been on for a while as I've been really busy lately. Well, I say I've not been on... I've been lurking!!! :rotfl: I love reading everyone's posts but don't always feel like I have the time or energy to reply to you all . I've not been sleeping much - averaging 5 hours a night again , and am feeling quite on edge at the mo as I've got so much on, and have my first assignment due next week (and I've not even started it yet! :eek:), I've also just remembered that I've got Social Services coming around tomorrow (will be glad when they're out of the picture!), so need to spend the afternoon sorting the house out as I've not been keeping on top of it lately!

Not been doing much 'fabbing' lately, I've got a tube of softening foot balm next to my bed and have been putting it on each night, I've been using it on my knees and elbows too , as I can feel my skin drying out a bit. I'm also moisturising after showering religiously It's starting to become second nature now, rather than an 'effort', iykwim.
I also bought two fancy toothbrushes today, lol. Usually I'll buy them on offer and just spend a £1-2, but I figured that £4 isn't unreasonable for 3 months use! I've got a 'Pulsar' one that vibrates and has lots of crazy looking bristles, and DS1 has got one with criss cross bristles and a very 'cool' pattern on. He hates brushing his teeth and I really have to nag him about it so I'm hoping that this will help... at least for a day or two until the novelty wears off!!!

OK, I really should get back to it. Will be back soon...

podperson

Hi all,

Am still catching up with you all so just a brief post. Had family up this weekend, which was really nice. Puts me on a little bit of a downer afterwards though as it makes me realise how much I miss them being up here. I do speak to them every week and go down when I can, but would see them at least once a week when I lived down there.

Hope the OU people's assignments are going well - took the day off yesterday to try and get mine mostly finished but as usual didn't really work out. OH had agreed to go a family funeral yesterday - he didn't really want to go, as I may have mentioned before he has problems with social situation and since it wasn't for close family (was actually his stepdad's first wife's family) and he'd only met the guy a few times when he was younger, then I said to him to just say he didn't want to go. Anyway, his mum ended up guilting him into going, he was worrying about it all week so ended up ringing her on the day and saying he wasn't going, then she was ringing him all afternoon, and getting his brother to ring him, saying he should come to the do afterwards otherwise they wouldn't be able to see him while they were up (why they couldn't pop round for an hour afterwards I don't know). Anyway, was nothing but hassle and stress all day so not great for getting creative work done! Apart from that have actually been ok with the writing lately, but seem to be a bit unmotivated with everything else Into November now so on the home stretch before Xmas and our Winter Solistice so need to give myself a good kick I think.

Hope everyone else is doing great and keeping up the fabbing. Oh, and saw a mention of a meet up somewhere - sounds a great idea

fedupandskint

Callisto wrote: »

Sparkles - Congratulations on the compliments, how much weight have you lost so far?

Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I haven't had a fabby day so far this week after a few awful things happening

Anyway I have lost 1st 1lb so far and hoping some more has come off for weigh day this week. I'm not sure if it will have as had a chip butty for tea yesterday to cheer me up and a vanilla slice today

Trying to be good so lets see.

podperson

Hi Tracey and welcome!

Firstly, please try not to keep beating yourself up over things. As you've probably realised it will just make you feel down and then it's so much easier to think, 'what's the point?' and reach for the biccie tin. Try making a few small changes this week, eg have a piece of fruit instead of a choccie bar, drink more water, do a half hour's exercise - even if it's just something smallish like going for a walk or having a dance round the house to some music. At the end of the week you can think - yay, I managed all that, now what can I do next week!
Obviously it's easier said then done but trust me I have been on so many fad diets and exercise programmes and what is working for me now is smaller lifestyle changes and trying to have a more positive attitude towards it. For example, I would constantly think things like - god, I'm so fat, I look awful in this top, my tummy is huge etc. Now I try and focus on things like, my jeans feel a little looser, I have pretty new make-up, if I squint from the side I don't look too big today :rotfl:
Anyway, I'm sure you'll find lots of help and support on here as everyone is lovely. Good luck with it x

MrsWoolfe

Hello Ladies and Lurkers!

I think the idea of spa/meet up is a great one:D a nice day/trip out for us all! maybe something to fix up for next year?

sending Good Luck Vibes for all of you struggling with assignments- definately don't miss that feeling, but I guess you need to remember why you are doing it in the first place don't you?

I have nice bright raspberry nails today:D was very impressed with the elf nail varnish, went on really well and it's a nice strong colour. I also tried out the eyelid primer today and just checked and my eyeshadow is still firmly in place- impressive since it went on @ around 6am this morning! will have to see whether it makes it really hard to remove make up though, if so will just use it for nig nights out etc....but so far very impressed with the bits I bought.

Managed to push myself to do a bit on the bike and then some strenght work last night, so think I will have a little break today- trying to pace myself so I don't give up too easy! but so far seem to doing ok with motivation...

speaking of which did anyone else see The Food Hospital on channel 4 last night? I found it really interesting- although I would have liked to see a more in depth look at what foods they had reccomended for people- although I suppose they have to be careful too incase people follow it without proper guidance?

Found it really inspiring as to how much difference they made for the guy with diabetes made me feel quite hopeful that I really can manage this by making good choices food/exercise-wise - I know my GP will want me to keep on the meds for that, but hopefully I can improve things enough to come off the blood pressure meds and the (never needed in the first place) statins that they insist on if you are diabetic- all to do with lowering my risk, but surely if I can lower my risk through diet and exercise there will be no need for the tablets???

It really helped to see that as the guy they had on was far more advanced than I am - had already started to have neuropathy issues etc - so if they can make such a difference for him fingers crossed I can too!

Motivation everywhere I look at the moment! Must be a sign!:D Sounds silly I know, but I'd been think about Dad a lot recently- time of year etc- and kinda feel like he's there going "come on now- you know you can do more, you're a fighter!" I know I know I'm a daft mare at times, but think I had been drifting a bit with looking after my health, these last few days I feel like I'm finding my "mojo" again...

on the other hand, this positive attitude has also come with a spending spree attached- must watch out that I don't go crazy with the shopping:eek: it's just such an amazing feeling when you can buy things and feel good in them, I think I had forgotten what that was like...will try hard not to get carried away, will save the rest of the bonus now for a proper overhaul and our Bali trip next summer:D

right think I've wittered on enough for now, hugs to all that need them and "Hello!" to everyone else!

MrsWoolfe.

PS sorry almost forgot- Welcome Tracy! no beating yourself up that's not our style!:D our motto is baby-steps stop feeling bad about that's already done- it will only make things work- pick one positive thing to do today and do it:D then tomorrow you will feel that little bit better and you will do more...it's like a viscous cycle in reverse!:D:D:D

lessonlearned

In the words of the old pop song it's as easy as 123, or as easy as ABC.

Welcome Tracy - don't torture yourself with what was - it's what's now that counts. As my OH would say when folk dwell on the past too much - "That was then and this is now".

Just take a note of the the little 123, ABC rhyme. That's how we're doing things around here. Just take it easy - as Pod & Mrs W have advised - just start with a couple of easy things and take it from there, slowly building your new routines into your day. As you do so, you will quietly discard the old bad habits.

For example mid afternoon munchies?? - swap cake/crisps etc for some fruit and maybe just one biscuit.

A good thing to ask yourself is - what nutritional value does this muffin/doughnut/slice of pizza/packet of crisps have. You know the answer.:rotfl:

A banana, or a bowl of berries, or a yoghurt on the other hand will be much better for you, will taste good and will stop you feeling ravenous until the next meal.

Our advice is to eat well and sensibly most of the time, have the odd treat. If you do have a really bad day, well as we say here - borrowed from our old friend Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With The Wind"

Tomorrow is another day

When you slip up or have a bad day or three then just draw a line and start again. As pod has said focus on the positives and ignore the negatives.

Yes Mrs W - I did watch the Food Hospital. I found it very interesting - like you I would have like a bit more detail but I suppose people could go to the website for more in depth info.

The diabetes pics were quite graphic but then again sometimes shock tactics are what is needed.

I remember Jamie Oliver doing a similar thing with what he called a "Living Autopsy" - mainly with computers. It was designed to show the effects of obesity on the human body and showed build ups of fat around the major organs. Very graphic but it did bring home the point about the damage that can be done.

I loved how the little boy's new diet had stopped his migraines.

Years ago when my eldest boy was just 2 years old he ended up in hospital with a severe asthma attack and spent 6 months on steroids.

I made it my mission to do everything I could to help him. I completely changed our diets to avoid all unnecessary additives. I bought a book called "E" for E-numbers My MIL saw the book and laughed at me saying I was being silly and since when did food ever hurt anyone.

The thing is I knew I was doing right. I quickly learned that if he had something that upset him his lips would swell within seconds, a sure sign that his airways were constricting and we would be in for an asthma attack.

With the help of the book I learned to make a few very simple changes to our diets, what to avoid and from then on his health improved drastically. Now he's a fit, healthy sports mad adrenaline junky - still uses his inhaler but rarely has an attack and has never needed steroids since. He still attends A&E on a fairly regular basis but that is usually for sports injuries and nothing to do with asthma.:rotfl:

One very simple switch was to change a preservative containing Sodium Benzoate for Potassium Sorbate. Both are used in orange squash which most children consume by the gallon. Easy when you know how.:D

It's the same principle as us really. In the afternoon do you have the jam doughnut or a bowl of berries. If you have the bowl of berries, then you can still have a couple of squares of chocolate in the evening, win-win:rotfl:

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