Frump to Fab - Sizzling Summer Solstice to Awesome Autumn Equinox

Everhopeful09

Thanks for the hugs everyone it helped get me through the day!

Didn't help that time of month so stomach pains & emotional plus cost £63 to get handbrake tightened. No idea if that reasonable or not!

Tomorrow will be better as boss free day so time for me to job hunt

Off to chill & cook dinner, maybe a vino Eh xx

fedupandskint

A very enjoyable bike ride this evening after work for 45mins.

Bitsy_Beans

40 mins yoga til my back twanged a bit so have called it a day.

Feel after looking at my body getting changed for yoga. Scles said I am 2lb heavier. I just seem to be getting fatter and unable to break this entire cycle :(

Off to watch some youtube videos to inspire me and cheer me up

lessonlearned

Good morning

Lovely day here - :j Enjoy.

Lizzie I just read your benefit blog and more than ever I am convinced at the utter futility of these work based interviews/career counselling. They are just not fit for purpose and a complete waste of resources. A private one might be better but of course they cost quite a bit and I don't really think you need it. You seem pretty switched on to me.

The more I think about these things - and I do try not to - the more my darling aunty S was right - don't rely on the state. It just lets you down when you need it most. As for the personality test :rotfl::rotfl:

I think LIzzie that your best bet is obviously attend them to "play the game" and ensure that you don't lose your benefits but in the meantime just continue trying to help yourself the way you are doing.

Which brings me to a lovely story to brighten the economic gloom.

I have a lovely friend who lost her husband to cancer just before Christimas - my friend in Devon. We'll call her S. She, like me, is one of those people who has been caught out by the changes in pension legislation and she has been treated shamefully by the State, left struggling on a pittance - far too ill to work etc.

Anyway her daughter is getting married and horrified by the price of head pieces, fascinators and the like my friend has made a range for the bridesmaids, herself and of course the lovely bride. She has also made matching necklaces and bracelets for the little flower girls. The lady who owns the bridal shop has asked her to supply her shop.

S and I talked about it last night, she is currently photographing them all for a portfolio and is set to start her little business after the wedding.

Isn't that a lovely story, inspiration growing from desperation. She can work at her own pace to suit herself and earn a little money.

The more I think about these things I think that for many of us in the future "portfolio" working is the way forward, paid employment where-ever it can be found and then building up sideline businesses for an additional income stream.

Anyway off to enjoy my garden, a little bit of fabbing, visit OH this afternoon and then tonight it's off to the cinema with my lovely boys.

Have a great day X

Ooops - forgot.

There was a thread on the discussion board about the Horizon programme re calorie restriction.

There seemed to be some knowledgeable people on there and the consescus seemed to be that the 5/2 regime could be split - the two days don't necessarily have to consecutive and the 600 cals for the fasting day could be split into two smaller meals.

Hope that helps. I'm going to give it a whirl.

lizzie157

LL thanks for your support.:) As you say I'm just going to carry on studying, looking for work and researching other ways to make money off my own bat. What a lovely story about your friend, I wish her all the best in her new venture.:) Hope you are feeling a bit better today. Have done 2 days on low cal ( though not as low as should have been, it in the right direction!) and just using the calorie counting has been a big help. I'm going to read the other thread now.
Have a good day everyone.

WelshWoofer

Good luck with the fasting LL and Lizzie - I know I couldn't do it, you're obviously made of sterner stuff than me!

Bitsy - don't be downhearted, its not like you. I've always found that I have to be in the right frame of mind to go on a diet/exercise/lose weight. The number of times I've started on a Monday and given up by Tuesday is huge. Your time will come.

Did the usually horrific task of trying on bikinis and beachwear last night in preparation for the little holiday next week and surprisingly it wasn't too bad. I think the exercise has changed my shape more than losing weight has - incentive to keep it up. Now don't get me wrong, I won't be parading around tescos in a bikini but I didn't look or feel as bad as I thought I would.;)

Just back from the park with the dog and its a lovely day - although he did manage to roll in a big dollop of fox poo so we've had to endure another doggy bath as he's off to his "nana's" on Saturday and my dad would be horrified if he even has a fleck of dirt on him let alone fox poo!:rotfl:At least he's clean now - will have to avoid the park for the next day or too to keep him that way. Will have to chase him around the house with a brush later to make him look like a bichon again rather than a wet rat.

Quite a busy day today - need to go for a run in a minute (hoping for another 4ishK without stopping), have to clean downstairs, mow the front lawn, do some washing and ironing, a bit of school work (made some real inroads with it yesterday so quite pleased with that) and get a suitcase down from the attic (easier said than done). I may pop to get some euros too of I have the time/energy.

Right, better get out for a trot around the streets before it gets too warm and I find an excuse not to go.

PS Really looking forward to watching the olympic open water 10K swim later - I really don't know how they do it, I can swim 1 mile but they do 6!! Unbelievable!

Bitsy_Beans

Thanks WW, one woman pity party is officially banished today :rotfl:
It was a combination of things yesterday, H was fed up with redundancy dragging on and a few other things. As usual weight and body shape was the easiest thing to pick on. Anyway have these moments which I accept is how I operate, can't be 100% positive all of the time. So have a whine and a moan and then pick myself up again.
I am determined the yoga will make a difference but it's so hard at times! Doing split downward dog gives me cramp in my hip area but if that gulf war veteran can combat keep falling over I am sure I can get my muscles in shape. Least i can stay upright. It's the same old demon......wants instant results

Anyway I know the weight is because I've been overcompensating for not snacking so need to watch my portions.

LL enjoy the film tonight. I want to see [STRIKE]Christian Bale[/STRIKE] the film too :rotfl:

WW ah the joys of fox poo. You can use ketchup on it. Neutralises the smell. Don't ask me how lol

Enjoy the sun, don't forget your suncream and hat if you need it x

podperson

Morning all,

LL - the 5/2 sounds interesting, might give it a try with you. I really do need to get in gear - have been horribly unmotivated lately What a lovely story about your friend, I hope she does well with it.

Bitsy - hope you're ok hun, know it must be frustrating but am sure he will find something soon x I know what you mean getting stuck in a cycle, just seem to have very little motivation at the moment - am hoping something new might give me a bit of a kick.

EH - hope you're having a better day

Lizzie - think you've totally got the right attitude, I know I used to get so frustrated with the benefit people telling me things that I knew already and had just shown them I was doing - were never any practical help at all but just had to go through the motions with them to get others things. Hang in there x

Bit cloudier today but still fine so far Walked to Asda last night and could definately tell I'd not walked for a while, was feeling it after 20mins Ended up slightly overspending but did get some hair dye and toiletries as well and should hopefully do me most of the week now. Think am going to give the 5/2 calorie counting a go - though does anyone know a decent programme for it? I tried myfitnesspal but it kept coming up with the wrong amounts for things (well a different amount from what was on the side of the packet anyway!). Unless there's an option just to put things in manually? - haven't had a good look yet. Also it's saying I need to be on 1200 cals a day to lose 1.5lbs a week - that seems rather low. Ah well, will probably start higher and see how I get on. Managed to fit in my skin routine last night but not my hair or nails - must try and do tonight!

Savvy_sewing

lizzie157 wrote: »

So this means my qualifications are totally useless then! :eek::eek:
OMG don't say I need to do em all again.:eek:
I too watched both the programmes on Atos, it wasn't anything I didn't know already from experience but it still amazes how they expect some of those they either throw off altogether or place in the WRAG group to find work. I don't think many of them would be able to hold a job down even if they were easy to come by. Maybe the idea is to kill em off then they won't have to pay for them in any shape or form. :mad:

Mooloo is 'feel the fear and beyond' worth getting. I've got 'feel the fear and do it anyway' and do find it helpful ( though I'm going to re-read it ), just wondered if to get this one too.

LL hope you manage to get the ESA but I agree what was the point really?

WW wow you really seem to be on the up. Go you! You seem to be really enjoying your life now. It's good to know it can be done.:T

Did anyone read the article in the paper saying that exercise is bad for you? It says it creates free radicals which are ageing and associated with increased mortality rates. Apparently the key is to slow down you metabolism by eating a very restricted diet. Interesting!
Have manage dto get some fabbing in: eyebrows and lashes dyed
nails done
at home facial done
I've done a bit each day. I've been less successful wth the exercise (apart from walking), hope to manage a bit today.:)

Sorry I have been away for a few days.
I think that its worth doing if your willing to do some soul searching and some exercises. And keep in mind that it was written in America so they are a bit over the top. But I think that its helped me no end.
I am still working my way through the book. Sometimes I am able to actually work on the exercises, sometimes i just read through it, depending on where I am and if I have time/access to the trusty pen and paper!

I have not done anything to fab up really. I have been trying to do some tummy exercises. But not very successfully.
Least I am trying.
But make up wise, and skin care. OOps its slipped again.
Shower and dry! Have massses of creams and potions, and still not using them!.
I really am terrible at taking care of myself.
I am probably dressing better, as I have been wearing some newer brighter clothes that I got in the charity shop, and some in the sales.
I have bought some cheapy undies in Primarni, as I am so short of decent things to take on holiday in a few weeks time.
I havent had my hairdressers appointment this week, been running around after the children this week.
But I will get it done next week, and may even have a trim too.
I want to go to the sunbed but as the sun has come out today, maybe I will take 20 minutes in the garden with a cuppa and a book for a change. Doesnt give the all over tan though!. I will end up with strap marks etc. Not such a good look when I get into that bikini in Portugal. (If I dare).
Depends on these tummy exercises. Ironically being careful about my weight etc for the first time in my life, and I have put on 2lb odd instead of loosing any. EEK.
Oh well, I am still within my peramiters for my height etc.
But with only 2 weeks to go before the holiday, I am not feeling confident that I will actually trim up much.

Skymist

lessonlearned wrote: »

There was a thread on the discussion board about the Horizon programme re calorie restriction.

There seemed to be some knowledgeable people on there and the consescus seemed to be that the 5/2 regime could be split - the two days don't necessarily have to consecutive and the 600 cals for the fasting day could be split into two smaller meals.

Sorry LL but you and they are wrong!!!!!!

After reading your post 621, I went and watched it again on BBC Iplayer, and wrote down what he said as he was saying it in the program!!!!!

Of course it's up to you what you do, but if the intention is to do intermittant fasting ala Mike Mosely, and expecting to achieve the results he did , then it is ONLY ONE 600 CALORIE MEAL A DAY on fasting days!!!!!!

S