Frump to Fab - Sizzling Summer Solstice to Awesome Autumn Equinox

podperson

Hi all,

WW - yay for the school holidays, am quite jealous, would love to have a bit of time free. It's great you're starting with the plans already though

LL - glad the estate agent visit went well. Meant to mention before, have you tried local estate agents/property companies for work doing viewings? I know quite a few in my area advertise for it and is usually flexible, part time work. I would do it but they usually want you to be free weekdays and be able to drive

Have been busy as usual, is interesting as I've been reading the book Rules to Wealth and a lot of it ties in with the new attitude I'm trying to adopt at the moment - about putting the work in for it and not wasting your time on unproductive things. That's not to say don't take some time for yourself or to unwind but doing something fun that you enjoy is different to wasting time, for example, watching crap tv just for the sake of it because it's there. I'm finding it harder to do that now tbh, I feel like I should be doing something useful instead. Finished some stuff yesterday so instead of taking the night off ended up making a facebook page for the photos, which have been meaning to do for ages
Been a bit lazy with the housework this week though and have the joiner coming on Friday so must have a bit of a blitz tomorrow!

maman

WelshWoofer wrote: »

Maman and LL - Couch to 5K
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

This has the plan written down but I would recommend you get the podcasts as they save you having to time yourself and I find that if someone else is telling me to do something I'm more likely to do it (even if I am swearing at the ipod by the time the run bits are coming to an end:p).
You don't have to run if you're not up to it yet - just walk faster or trot during the "run" phases. It soon gets a bit easier although I'm stepping up a week now so know I'll struggle again at the beginning.


Just back from swimming - 50 more lengths done:T
Think I tackle the next Couch to 5K run tomorrow - my first proper day off

Thanks for that ww. I will use the podcast but I wanted to read it to get my head around the expectations first. There was something on the news tonight about our lack of exercise as a nation which really hit home.:o

Glad the viewing went well LL. Did you watch the programme last week where they were experimenting with retired people going back to work? Interestingly they pitted an older woman and a (cocky) young man against each other in an estate agency. She was definitely best. So maybe pod's idea is a good one. Certainly worth looking into if you're interested. Good to see you pod btw.

Mooloo, that was a fantastic post, really uplifting. Thank you.:A I've been so miserable today watching the rain!! BUT I've heard that summer is due to arrive here on Saturday or Sunday. I can't wait!!

lessonlearned

maman wrote: »

Did you watch the programme last week where they were experimenting with retired people going back to work? Interestingly they pitted an older woman and a (cocky) young man against each other in an estate agency. She was definitely best. So maybe pod's idea is a good one. Certainly worth looking into if you're interested. Good to see you pod btw.

Mooloo, that was a fantastic post, really uplifting. Thank you.:A I've been so miserable today watching the rain!! BUT I've heard that summer is due to arrive here on Saturday or Sunday. I can't wait!!

Is summer really a coming-in. Well in that case we'd better loudly sing cuckoo.

Gawd but that takes me back to my schooldays:rotfl:.

Yes I did watch that programme - very interesting. I was shouting at the screen when that young lad was showing people round the house. Idiot. He hadn't a clue and yet he was so full of himself. I know this sounds mean but I was glad to see him brought down a peg or two. He definitely needed a lesson in modesty and humility.:rotfl:

I did find it shocking just how many of the young people had a very poor work ethic. They didn't even have the good manners to make a phone call to let people know they weren't coming in. How can managers put together rostas and make sure everything is covered when people behave like that. Felt a bit sorry for the "trades" joiner, sparky and plumber working in those conditions.

My plumber is adamant he's is retiring at 50 - actually changing direction - he is going to lecture in plumbing. He says it's a young man's game and his knees will never take it. Having spent the last couple of days kneeling down to paint door frames and skirting boards I can see his point.

Actually I've had a couple of letters recently asking me if I'm interested in going back on site. Problem is it's not really very easy to do it on a part time basis - you need the continuity to keep control of things. Again it's lovely in the summer but the winters are another matter.

TBH I really want to work for myself now - to pick and chose when I work.

PP - glad to see you are getting on with the "Rules of Wealth" - he talks a lot of sense and yes he pulls no punches about laziness. No-one could accuse you of that - stick with it and you will start to pull ahead. The odd hour or so vegging in front of the TV is allowed though - just not for hours on end night after night.

Maman - glad to see you are feeling better these days - I did miss you.

WelshWoofer

What happened to your early night LL?;)

Well, its pouring again now - didn't last long did it? Just trudged around the park with two dogs that now smell like wet wool. Poor things take ages to dry too so they're sulking.

Did a sneaky weigh this morning and miraculously its still heading in the right direction despite the party on Saturday and the Blackpool trip. I think I'm getting better at not ruining a whole day/week because of a blip in eating. I've done a bit more exercise, cut back in other areas and tried to drink more water. Proper weigh in tomorrow but its looking like I've lost another lb.

If it ever stops raining I'll try the next Couch to 5K later - although perhaps I should stop making excuses and do it anyway, rain or not.:o

Out tonight with the Spice lot at a comedy night, quite looking forward to it.
Its a long day to fill before then though and I was planning on going on a long walk with the dogs and starting to fiddle around a bit in the garden - the bl**dy weather:mad:
So instead I'll give the house a clean (save me doing it on the weekend), maybe mark some books to get them out of the way and hope that it clears up a bit this afternoon.
Roll on the sunshine......

lizzie157

WelshWoofer wrote: »

Maman and LL - Couch to 5K
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

This has the plan written down but I would recommend you get the podcasts as they save you having to time yourself and I find that if someone else is telling me to do something I'm more likely to do it (even if I am swearing at the ipod by the time the run bits are coming to an end:p).
You don't have to run if you're not up to it yet - just walk faster or trot during the "run" phases. It soon gets a bit easier although I'm stepping up a week now so know I'll struggle again at the beginning.


Just back from swimming - 50 more lengths done:T
Think I tackle the next Couch to 5K run tomorrow - my first proper day off

Thanks for this WW, will have look. I've just been using my phone to time myself. I can't quite manage to run the full time yet but as you've said I trot or walk faster. It is hard but I have done it twice this week, may have to stay on the first week for 2 weeks, maybe more but I'm going to keep at it. Have also been looking at tabata training on youtube and did a 4 min workout on this as well as a bit of yoga this morning.

PP and LL -I think I might try and get a copy of "Rules of Wealth" from the library - sounds interesting. Provided I am physically able (which if I continue to improve as I am just now, I should be), I'm thinking of advertising after the summer to see if I can get any work. Then depending on the results I'll take it from there.

Weather terrible again here am hoping it will brighten up so I can take dog out later.
have a good day.

podperson

Morning all,

Lizzie - I just got it from the library, and I don't think I would have bought it. It has some quite good basic ideas but a lot of it seemed more aimed towards people who are quite a bit further on then me, eg mentioning things like shares and property development. I have another of his called 'How to get thing done' which I've only just started but is looking very useful. Must admit am not a very organised person - and with all I have on at the moment I really need to be :rotfl:The first chapter made me smile as it was about how we sometimes feel that if we're an 'organised' person it makes us dull, boring, it's just not how we want to see ourselves, which is very me but must get over it as I need to make better use of my time rather then rushing round trying to get everything done all at once.

LL - think your plumber has the right idea, and with the rise in people wanting to go back into trades then am sure he will do well out of it. With the viewings, perhaps it's more the letting agencies/property companies rather then estate agents but up here they advertise for people to meet people at a property, show them round and you get a set fee for it - so part time and quite flexible as I think you just agree if you're free at the time. I know what you mean with the working for yourself, but I'm trying to look for a few flexible, part time bits that I could work round my own work (for when I can hopefully leave the main job!) then it gives a bit of a boost if I'm on a quiet week.

Am impressed with how you're all getting on with the couch to 5k - I did the first week of it I think last year but found it a bit hard work. I don't think it helped that I wanted to do it on the way home from work to save me time but then I had my coat/bag etc so was rather annoying. I never know what to do with my stuff when I (try to) run Maybe I'll give it another go. Weather isn't too bad today after chucking it down all day yesterday, have a wedding tomorrow morning so fingers crossed will be dry then - although she assures me she has 'wedding wellies' and a white brolly - gotta love a prepared bride :rotfl:
Hope everyone has a good day x

WelshWoofer

podperson wrote: »

Morning all,

Must admit am not a very organised person - and with all I have on at the moment I really need to be :rotfl:The first chapter made me smile as it was about how we sometimes feel that if we're an 'organised' person it makes us dull, boring, it's just not how we want to see ourselves, which is very me but must get over it as I need to make better use of my time rather then rushing round trying to get everything done all at once.

Pod - I'm one of those annoying organised people - diaries, lists, plans, always on time etc - I'd be lost without it all. Maybe a bit OCD?!:rotfl::rotfl:

Just finished the Couch to 5K week 3 run - it was actually easier than I thought it would be - not really easy but doable.
Still feel up to doing a bit of stomach work (no, not eating cakes!) so will get the 10 min abs solutions DVD out in a minute

Its finally stopped raining so after lunch I'll walk the dogs to Pets at Home to pick up some food for them. Will have to take a rucksack to lug it all back, its about an hour round trip to walk:eek: - think of the cals burnt!

podperson

WelshWoofer wrote: »

Pod - I'm one of those annoying organised people - diaries, lists, plans, always on time etc - I'd be lost without it all. Maybe a bit OCD?!:rotfl:

I love lists, can make them for England - it's just the sticking to them I seem to have a problem with :rotfl:

fedupandskint

Weigh in day for me today and an extra 3lbs gained since last one. Oh well, never mind, not particularly fedup about it as have been on holiday and it might be muscle weighing more too

Didn't manage Shred this morning as overslept a bit so may do it tonight or have a day off and do it tomorrow morning instead. Will see what time I get in first

**tracey**

Since I last posted I have made a few steps in the right direction.

I have been to the gym with mum and did an exercise dvd at home. I like the sound of the couch to 5k that a lot of you are doing but don't think I am up to it at the moment.

I epilated my legs and underarms and have been moisturising every other day.

I have also been taking my multivitamin, something I always seem to forget about, hopefully it will help give me some energy as I constantly feel tired at the moment.

A lot more to be done but at least I feel like I am heading in the right direction.