Frugal Frump to Fab-u-lous Dharrrrrrrling Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox

Wahini_Betty

Evening everyone, first day back done! Managed to get make up on this morning and felt good for doing it too. Just taken it all off and put a face oil on to wear as I cook the tea and potter around the house. Have had a word with myself and the tv is staying off until 9 so I can get some housework done.

Welsh woofer I had to come on here to stop my hand wandering into the biscuit barrel! Going to start tea now to avoid the temptation!

Betty x

lessonlearned

Good Evening Everyone

WW - I "picked up" my OH in the pub.:rotfl:

Well done on the home made ready meals. Nice and healthy. I'm really looking forward to getting back into cooking mode now. Tonight was a steak pie and chips - tasty enough but very heavy and stodgy. I'm really fed up with quick fixes and snacky meals - I can't wait to get back into proper cooking mode.

I get my fridge freezer on Wednesday and tomorrow will be the last day at the old house - a thorough clean through and trips to the charity shop and the tip. After that I can start shopping and cooking properly.

Pod - Wow - well done on the writing. Go you. Think the miners story sounds great.

Re the sleep, I've been taking Nytol this last couple of nights to try and improve my sleep patterns. Not perfect because I'm still waking up through the night but at least I'm getting a few hours now.

I think sleep difficulties are often stress related or because we just can't switch the old brain off. I'm going to try and skip the Nytol tonight and just try a glass of wine and see how that goes.

I agree with the general consensus about gyms - I hate them. My solution was to exercise at home. I can do my workout in the time it would take me to drive to a gym. Saves money and time. I love dancing too.

I think the best thing to do is to try and build more activity into your daily routines, more walking etc. How about "extreme housework" where you give the house a real blitz, working as fast as you can so you get all hot and sweaty. A free workout and a clean house - 2 for the price of 1.:rotfl:

I'm lucky in that I do have space for a couple of bits of gym equipment, my exercise bike, my son's multi-gym which I use, or I will - just as soon as I can get to them again. I'm also thinking of adding a cross trainer. I keep them in the garage but what I would really love is a designated room - actually in the house - it would be much warmer and more inviting. I also have a yoga mat, a Swiss Ball and some hand-weights, plus several DVD's.

None of my equipment was expensive, the larger pieces were second hand. Some of the smaller bits - hand-weights, DVD's were presents from my family. You can sometimes get exercise DVD's free with newspapers. Asda and Argos seem to be the cheapest places for yoga mats, Swiss balls etc.

You don't even have to buy equipment. I sometimes do "step" routines by just using the bottom step on the stairs.

I'm afraid I have been rather lax about exercising of late, however I console myself by saying that moving house and house clearing is more than enough exercise to be going on with. Today I must have ran up and down the stairs - carrying heavy boxes - at least 50 times. I ought to be fit after that lot....

Bratz - hope you are feeling better now - poor you - sounds dreadful.

Welcome Weesmiles and any other newbies I might have missed. Nice to see so many joining us on our quest for Fabness.

mineallmine

Some positives:

Had a facial today which was lovely I felt very relaxed.

Getting used to eating wholemeal bread.

Did a mammoth declutter today. I read something, a single sentence that made me think. It was something like the bad stuff/the clutter is edging all the good stuff out. I'd never thought of it like that. So pleased I'm nearly back on target for getting rid of 500 things this month.

For those struggling to sleep are you switching TV/PCs/laptops/smart phones off and not looking at them before sleep? There's something in the way they project light that makes the brain think it's time to wake up.

:A

Rummer

Thank you so much everyone for your advice on exercise it looks as if I am just going to have to get on with it :rotfl:

Today I made an effort with a nice outfit, perfume and a light bit of makeup. I also avoided chocolate and generally ate healthily and move as much as I could to burn calories over the course of the day.

Maisie_M

Hi all

I am going to join in with you all again this year. I joined last January but with a 6 month old I just found it all too overwhelming and fell by the wayside. I only set myself a few goals for this three months as I feel I need to do this in baby steps if I am going to achieve them.

1. To lose 10% of my weight (have a lot more than that to lose but am doing it in 10% chunks).
2. Manicure once a week even if I don't put on nail varnish.
3. Get my hair back to a good condition and keep on top of it including cuts and colour.
4. Cleanse, tone and moisturise my skin at least once a day (aiming to be twice as part of a routine by the end of the three months).

esmy

Evening all!

Been missing for a few days but I think I've caught up with everyone's news. I love the positive vibes in this thread, even though many are struggling with all kinds of worries and pressures.

Well 'watchful' eating seems to be paying off (weight at the bottom of the post from yesterday). I've been logging my food on Myfitnesspal and that's been really helpful in keeping me going rather than mindless biscuit eating which I could do for Britain! Taking breakfast and lunch to work is certainly helping me keep the lure of Greggs at bay. I've also moved my newly fabbed desk so I'm further away from the goodies that get brought in to work.

Unfortunately exercise hasn't been going so well. I'm another gym hater - my only foray into being a gym bunny involved negotiating with the trainer to avoid the bike (why cycle if you're going nowhere?) and the evil stepper (I'll do more rowing rather than that) so it didn't last. I'm still planning to run when the nights get a bit lighter as at least one will have to be after work and I want to run on the local cycle track which is unlit and a bit isolated. I've bought a couple of cheap exercise DVDs today to get me started at home.

Pod - love the idea for your story - just my cup of tea!
LL - hope you get some downtime after your busy couple of weeks.
Lizzie - no advice but even though things are rough, you do sound more positive - and whatever your OH does, YOU have a wedding to look forward to.

Best to all.

14st 4lbs

lessonlearned

mineallmine wrote: »

Some positives:


Did a mammoth declutter today. I read something, a single sentence that made me think. It was something like the bad stuff/the clutter is edging all the good stuff out. I'd never thought of it like that. So pleased I'm nearly back on target for getting rid of 500 things this month.

:A

Yes I read that somewhere and I can believe it too. 500 items this month sounds fantastic.

I'm afraid there was just too much clutter to sort out prior to moving and I've had to box some of it up and bring it here. I will deal with it though and continue my de-cluttering mission.

I am the world's worst at losing things, especially keys and my specs. One of the things I read was about training yourself to put things away in it's own special place. Apparently it takes about 3 weeks before it become an ingrained habit.

We are giving it a try, a special drawer in the kitchen for keys, a peg for my handbags at the foot of the stairs, specs on the mantelpiece and a drawer in the kitchen for incoming mail. The plan is I will make sure that the mail drawer is cleaned out and dealt with at least once a week. At least that's the theory.

Not much personal fabbing today, in fact I've looked a bit of a scruff:o Tomorrow will be just as bad but I will be scrabbling around a dusty messy garage so I guess I can be excused......

OK Mine - will switch off the computer and TV now. I have actually finally got through to DS2 to switch off the TV when no-one is watching it. Persistance Pays Off. :rotfl:

evilsquid1603

3 mile walk done today! i didn't time it, Elle mag phrased it as just get round and cover the distance because if you struggle in the future, you can always remember that you did that distance once so you can do it again.

bratz81

WW and LL - yes feeling much better now thank you

Well I didn't manage the gym last night, my first day back at work took it out of me after being ill so I stayed in and caught up on my ironing. I did however walk into work today which has kick-started me nicely and am definitely heading to the gym after work tonight with the husbandino.

Skymist

mineallmine wrote: »

For those struggling to sleep are you switching TV/PCs/laptops/smart phones off and not looking at them before sleep? There's something in the way they project light that makes the brain think it's time to wake up.

:A

It's the blue light that interferes with melatonin production and messes with your circadian rhythm..... there's tons of info if you research it online! I wear funny-looking blue-blocker glasses over my reading glasses, after the sun sets, and have had a greatly improved sleep pattern!

S