Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

Dawning

Hi, can I join you all please? I vaguely remember posting on the Summer Solstice thread right at the beginning, but it all fell by the wayside. I'm in a much better place to put more focus on me now, plus I've had a couple of wake up calls in the past few weeks so I do feel now is the right time for me.

About me, I have a very big number birthday coming early next year - and I am dreading it. I realised there would be no better way to celebrate it than to actually look better then than I have done for most of the 10 years since my last big number birthday !:D

I need to lose weight, between 4-5st really, but I'd be very happy with 3st. My GP wants me to lose weight as I have high blood pressure and have just been tested for type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol - waiting for the results to come back

I love make up (too much!), spa and salon treatments etc, but of course I'm on a budget and they are expensive. I do go to the salon for a trim every 8 weeks, and for a pedicure every 4-6 weeks. I colour my own hair as it's completely grey and I'm not ready to be grey yet. My clothes are a disaster mostly because of my weight - I just buy anything as long as it fits me....

I'm currently switching to a low GI type diet, it will be about reducing sugary foods (am addicted to cakes/choc etc), and eating a lot more veg and focusing more on the lower GI carbs with my meals. It's not easy, as I said I do love sugary stuff

For exercise I want to do more walking, yoga at home 3 evenings a week plus a class once a week.
I was thinking about getting a pedometer. If anyone can recommend a reliable (and cheap!) one, I'd be most grateful.

Right I've prattled enough. I've put my perfume on this morning, I am wearing 'Sky' from perfume parlour, there's a thread on the board all about them.

pollyskettle

Morning all. Lovely and sunny here today, supposed to be pretty warm later I think. I slept dreadfully as I woke up at 3.30 (OH on nights atm) to find the landing light blinking on.........then off..........then on............then off. Listening intently I realised all the children were asleep and found myself absolutely terrified!! Gathering all the nerve I had, I walked out of the bedroom, peered down the stairs to find.............one of the bloody kittens swinging from the curtain, which is in front of the light switch. Turns out he/she (we're not sure, but we've called him/her Boris!) was climbing the curtain and knocking the switch, then falling off, then climbing the curtain and knocking the switch.........ad nauseum. :rotfl:

Anyhoo, I jumped on the scales with gay abandon this morning and I've lost 2.4 pounds, which is rather nice. I've done my ritual 2.8 mile walk and I smell "Lovely" again. Looking at LL's post this morning tickled me as my mantra when I walk is "in (stomach).......and up (head)" so that I stretch out properly and practise my posture. My thighs are not thanking me for the Jillian Michaels DVD yesterday, and I've got day 2 to do today. :eek:

I guess I should say, while we're sharing, that's I'm a 36 yo SAHM to 3 hooligans (B9/G11/G13) and I live in the East Midlands.

Dawning

Oh, on the posture task, I do find that regular yoga practice is very helpful towards a good posture, but I've also just started to do Lotte Berk exercises. I dont know if any of you are familiar with the method, I read it about here although I had heard of her years ago. Even though I've only done it a little bit I do find myself more aware of my body and have been correcting my posture.

MrsWoolfe

Good Morning all!

Glad to see so many new joiners!

Well it's a lovely sunny day here, and fingers crossed the forecast for tomorrow in Brighton is looking good so far!

Nails are now painted a nice dark red- bought a red by china glaze ages ago, but it comes out too pale even with a few coats and has a slight orangey tint to it- does not look good on my skin tone, however, I now use it over a black polish and have to say it looks really good a very rich burgundy so at least I'm not wasting it:D

Re the posture task, generally I have pretty good posture - my parents had a real thing about making us sit up straight and not slumping shoulders etc so it was drilled in from a young age, so ine isn't too bad, could still improve though so I will be trying to be more aware of it today. Also wearing my perfume I've got a neroli and jasmine one from the body shop that I use for everyday, although I do like to chop and change scents fairly often.

Also managed to get myself in gear and picked out an outfit for today, so i'm in greens and grays and browns today with matching accessories and have to say I feel smarter/more put together than usual:D

I think that although I can't do anything too strenuous with the bum ankle yet, I'm going to try and do a little deep stretching/pilates tonight if possible something is better than nothing! Also need to try and remember to drink lots of water- have been forgetting to drink as much as usual and can feel the difference so that's my personal challenge for the day I think!

right ladies, am off to go fill the water jug (i'm on the third floor and water cooler is on the ground floor- well the steps count as exercise right????)

bye for now!

MrsWoolfe

*Jellie*

I've put on perfume and make-up today. I am loving reading what everyone is up to and picking up some tips. I've got the rest of the day off so I'm going to do some more decluttering, chilling etc.
Over the last year I did put pampering toiletries together but I haven't got into the habit of using them much. I need to try and figure out some routines that work for me.

lessonlearned

Hello Everyone

Lovely sunny day here - washing blowing on the line, another lot ready to go out when the first lot is dry.

A big warm welcome to the latest batch of newbies - I hope you enjoy visiting with us.

Dawning Hello, how nice to "see" you again. Welcome back. Don't worry about your absence - we all fall by the wayside every so often.:cool:

Mrs W - had a good look at that website - love your dress - so pretty. I had a good browse around - I absolutely adore the designs by Stop Staring! - very Roxy Music/Jerry Hall. A bit pricey at roughly £150 but I could get the sewing machine out .............

PK - Thanks for the story about the kittens - it made me laugh out loud. I too am East Midlands, outskirts of Derby.

Derby born, Derby bred, strong in the arm, weak in the 'ead.:rotfl:

There are so many posters now - sorry that I can't address each one of you personally. However, I do read all your posts and I do take note of what you are saying.

A couple of themes came out of the recent posts.

Firstly - how many of you were a bit upset at the results of the mirror task. I am so sorry if I upset you, it's just that's what I did at the beginning. A fair and honest appraisal was what was needed to get my a** in gear.

What really triggered my Frump to Fab journey was seeing a photo of myself that my DS2 had taken. I was so shocked and horrified that I promptly burst into tears. It was just the jolt I needed.

The second thing I noticed was that some of you seem to be concerned about wearing make up. Don't worry - if make up isn't for you then it's no big deal. By the time you are into this and start taking care of your skin you will probably find that your skin improves so much you don't need it.

I hardly ever wear "face" make up. I use a little tinted moisturiser in the winter, sometimes a little blusher if I need some colour. Apart from that - without wishing to appear conceited my skin looks perfectly ok without it. I do like a bit of lippy and a dash of mascara though.:rotfl:

Anyway as before going to split the post into segments again.

Back in a mo ...............

lessonlearned

Right I mentioned the other day that we could chat about getting organised and time planning.

Now I know that some of you work shifts and weekends but I thought that as the weekend is coming up you might have a bit of time to get yourselves organised.

First though I did mention motivation - well given the way you've all got the bit between your teeth I think we can safely say you are all pretty motivated at the moment.:D

Staying motivated can be a bit more tricky - we all have our off days or even weeks for that matter. Real life gets in the way of our plans and we fall by the wayside.

My top tip is when this happens - just draw a line, put it behind you and start again. Also use this thread - your'e in good company we've all stumbled, we are very supportive and you are not going to be judged. There are also a number of very helpful threads on this site, WW, Slimming World, Menopause Matters.

lessonlearned

Getting Organised

How you do this will differ with each of you - but here's a couple of tips you might useful. Things that I have done to help make life a bit easier.

I have a selection of baskets (yes I'm a right basket case) and pretty boxes in which I keep all manner of clutter - oops I mean treasures and essentials.

I have one which contains all my hair paraphernalia, hair dryer, rollers hairspray etc. When it's time to wash and style my hair everything is all together.

I have a basket downstairs which contains a few basics so I can do quick fixes without having to dash up stairs. (I also do quite a few treatments downstairs - more of this later in the time planning section). This basket contains hand cream, jar of vaseline, moisturiser, lip balm, manicure kit).

You can see what I'm getting at - keeping a few bits and pieces together for easier access, for as and when.

Three Top Tips (Ooh buy two get one free - bargain!!!)

Keep rubber gloves handy by the kitchen sink, use them every time you wash up or do something involving hot water and detergents. Detergents are very drying to both the skin and nails.

From time to time apply hand cream before you put on the gloves. The heat from hot water will help the skin absorb the cream.

Finally a recipe for a simple hand scrub - great for gardeners and diyer's

1 tabs vegetable oil - any cheapo will do
1 tabs ordinary sugar

Massage into hands for a minute or so, rinse off.

See you in a minute .........

pollyskettle

I'm in Lincs now LL, but originally from Hampshire and that little ditty we used to use there too!!

I am going to come back and read all about the organising as that's something I definitely need some help on, but I've just done the 30 day shred DVD again and I'm melting so I need to go and catch a breeze in the garden and cool down!

ttyl x

PS - I'm a bit out of sorts today too as our neighbours are moving out (we live in a semi). That means new neighbours and I really REALLY don't handle change well so I'm dreading it. Our current neighbour may not be my closest friend, but we know where we are with her and she us, so now we'll have to get used to new people again. I think it's probably a self esteem thing as I dread meeting new people

lessonlearned

Time Planning

Ah the big one!!

We all of us say we never have enough time to ourselves.

Stop right now.

From now on you are going to make time - beg, borrow and steal it if you must, but finding time for yourself has to be a given.

First clear your head of all the old myths - it's not selfish or self indulgent to want or need a bit of time to yourself. Don't feel guilty - you are not depriving others of your time and attention by taking a little of it to take care of and nuture yourself.

So - how do we find time........by not wasting it and by being clever and crafty. There's nothing wrong with a few short cuts.

What is the one thing that women can do that men can't (apart from having babies:rotfl:) Multi-task

All the beauty magazines will tell you to apply a face mask and then lie down with pieces of cucumber on your eyes. Who on earth has got time for that. Nah - Slap on a face mask and go and peel the veg for dinner. Your family will think you're nuts but who cares - just don't answer the doorbell.:p

Your hair needs conditioning - slap on the coconut oil, wrap a towel round your head and get on the ironing/hoovering or whatever.

Waiting for the kettle to boil - do a few squats or stretches.

You see where I'm coming from? Once you get the hang of it - you'll find lots of short cuts.

Can't find 30 minutes a day to exercise - who can.

But you can find 3 x 10 min gaps, or even 6 x 5 mins.

Do you really need to watch all those TV ads, hit the deck and do some sit-ups. Who knows, the family might even join in when they've finished laughing themselves silly.

Which brings me to the biggest time waster of them all - yes the TV.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy lolling on the sofa watching the box - but I've become a lot more selective, no more channel surfing in a desperate search for something to watch.

I am not for one minute suggesting you give up your favourite programmes - we all have our guilty pleasures - mine is property !!!!!!.

Use modern technology to your advantage - you don't have to watch the programmes when they go out - use your dvd player, on demand, sky plus whatever, to watch them at a time when it is more convenient.

Again multi-task. One of our lovely regular posters Maman - currently languishing on a beach in Turkey - often knits whilst she watches TV.

I do a fair few beauty treatments whilst watching TV, manicures etc I also exercise whilst watching TV.

Talking about TV brings me nicely to your next assignment.