Frugal Frump to Fabulous - autumn equinox to winter solstice

Bitsy_Beans

Hello, good evening and welcome
Here is the next chapter of our transformation from manky moths to beautiful butterflies (no offence to moths but they are dullity dull and horrible hairy beasties).

Anyway I have been caught on the hop as I had no idea what the date was today until someone mentioned it was the equinox. So time for a new thread. If you're a lurker or new to the thread don't be shy, jump right in. Everyone is welcome

If you're new here are the basics.
Baby steps. Rome was most certainly NOT built in a day, new habits take time and perseverance to establish. So start small, little things that make you feel good.
A squirt of perfume every day. Do NOT save it for best. You are worth wearing your very best perfume, make up, clothes and accessories every day
Look at your personal routines and look at where you want to improve. Want to look more stylish chuck out those old clothes that don't fit or don't flatter. Want to look after your skin more then study the best way to look after your skin. It's about changing little habits to make yourself feel better about you.

Me personally I have body image issues. It's hung over me for far too long and I need to sort it out. Time to get stuck into those self help books I bought and haven't read properly

I am also on a mission to get myself more organised and manage my time better. More organised means I feel less stressed and not constantly playing catch up which can only mean good things for my wrinkles

So feel free to chip in with ideas, comments or just join in with your fabbing progress. It's not a competition just do what you can

Link to the old thread is here.

podperson

Thanks Bitsy, you're a superstar! :j

So, as I mentioned the fabbing has dropped lately. There has been a lot of other things going on, but no more excuses, it's butt in gear time!

Might do a proper list later when I've had a bit more of a think, but the main things I need to tackle are:
Weight loss - not happy with my weight at all at the moment, has been creeping up for a while due to too much snacking an abysmal lack of exercise. I don't think my regular meals are that unhealthy but could definately meal plan a bit better so I have some 'quick and easy' things in without having to resort to junk.

Skin care - was doing quite well with this at one point and has slipped again so need to get the routine back up. I'm lucky that I have quite good skin but I am aware that that's not going to last as I get older if I don't put a wee bit of work in now

Wardrobe - could do with a few more staples for a start but generally just need to take more with it. Again, this was going quite good at one point and due to lack of time and the fact I'm not working in an 'offical' kind of office anymore it's been too easy just to throw on any old thing and forget about make-up, accessories etc. I think I need more of the attitude that it'll make me feel better rather than I have to for work or because I'm going out.

Think that will do for now. Completely agree with you Bitsy that a lot comes down to organisation - which isn't really my strong point :rotfl:but need to try harder with it and get into a routine.
Hope everyone is coming back for the shiny thread - and welcome to any newbies x

Rummer

:j Thank you for the new thread :j

Since I am pregnant I am determined to take good care of myself and this thread should help me keep on track. I have been managing the daily perfume spritz but there are a few more things I would like to get on top of

Luckily I have been given quite a lot of maternity clothes so I am actually dressing better than I was :rotfl: Beauty wise I would like to get back into a good facial skin care regime and to moisturise all over well.

Food wise I have been eating quite healthily however as always there is room for improvement. Soup may be the way ahead for me! I need to gently increase my exercise levels and try to go for a sensible walk a few times a week.

It is also important to me to take time to look after my emotional well being so I am making time each do to do something I enjoy whether that be crocheting, reading, watching mindless TV or some other thing I like.

Finally I am going to giving a lot of time and thought to improving our home needs quite a bit of organisation and some work done to it for it to be a better and more relaxing family home. Currently we are getting the bathroom done and trying to create a nursery in what was the dining room.

Well I think that is enough to be going on with at the moment

Rummer

Well I have made a good start today I just dyed my hair and shaped my eyebrows. Slathered on some moisturiser and I am now sitting down to watch and episode of The Borgias and to crochet. Lets see if I can keep this up.

lessonlearned

Thanks for the shiny new thread, Bitsy. Agree - you're a star.

Actually it's perfect timing for me because today I got the keys for the bungalow. Tomorrow I'm going to give it a good blitz, ready for the move on Wednesday.

Joy of joys, no plaster dust, no building works - just a nice clean and hopefully comfortable space. It is just a small one bedroomed very bland very boring box, decent kitchen, and reasonable bathroom, plenty of storage space.

I can pretty up the blandness easily enough, ornaments, plants, paintings, rugs and throws etc will make all the difference. It will be easy to run and of course I don't have to worry about maintenance, repairs or decorating etc, leaving me free to carry on supervising the renovation works with the boys.

It will be so nice to have wardrobe and cupboard space again. I'm sick of living out of suitcases and carrier bags.....OH was grinning ear to ear when I told him I had the keys, bless him.

So a new "nest" and a new start for my fabbing regime.

One of the plus points is that the nursing home is set in some lovely grounds, with a long sweeping drive - perfect for power walking. The plan is a good brisk walk round the grounds three times a week on alternate days, hopefully building up to proper running when I'm a bit fitter. The other days will be a full Swiss ball/hand weights workout. Each day will also feature either Tai Chi or Yoga or Pilates.

I will have so much more time to fit in some proper exercise, plus of course I will be cooking for one so I can concentrate on a really healthy low carb way of eating. I want to shift at least 2 stones. Shopping for one means I won't be buying biscuits or making cakes. If they are not in the house then I won't eat them.

Did anyone watch the Cutting Edge programme called "Fabulous Fashionistas". It was fab, fab, fab. It featured several ladies - the youngest was in her 70's, the eldest was 91. They were truly inspirational, looking fantastic and were as fit as fiddles.

Everyone of them exercised daily, all had interesting lives and and had a real zest for life. They came from varying backgrounds, one was a Peer in the House of Lords, but one in particular was actually quite poor with just a state pension. She looked sensational and bought all her clothes from charity shops.

You can catch it on demand on 4OD. Well worth a look if you get the chance. It certainly got me thinking - especially about the need to get serious about exercise. My back has been quite sore recently and it's my own stupid fault. I haven't done any proper exercise for weeks, make that months.

So ladies, new thread, new house, new me:)

G'night all and good luck on the next stage of our quest.

Let's Dazzle for December.

Kiwisaver_2

Thanks Bitsy for the new thread I didn't realise the date either, past few weeks have been a blur and I can't believe we're almost at the end of September already. I lost my fabbing mojo over the past month or so and am pleased to see a new thread to give me some new motivation.

I had already started this weekend to think about changes that need to happen and vowed to drink a whole bottle of water this week and made myself a healthy salad lunch for today and tomorrow, so timing is great!!

I got myself upto Week five of Couch to 5k only a few weeks back and was so pleased with myself for running a whole 20 minutes non-stop; but ther it stopped and I haven't kept it up and really want to get myself back to it and lose some weight. I tried to do a small run yesterday but felt very weak and feeble and gave up after the first few minutes.

Despite having been doing the C25K three times a week for five weeks I still managed to put on about 6 pounds over the winter months. I now weigh more than I have ever done at any time in my life - not good! :mad:

The onset of the new season seems like a good time to overhaul the contents of my wardrobe again and tackle shoe mountain. I already started to notice some cruddy old and ill-fitting things in my wardrobe that ought to go.

I have booked a facial for next Saturday too.

Look forward to catching up with you ladies again.

lizzie157

Hi all,
Thanks for the new thread Bitsy.
Didn't realize it was that time already.
Am currently keeping up the house fabbing, and the me fabbing still a long way to go but I'm determined to keep at it.
Am doing much better at not letting things slip too far back which is a good thing.
Still lots I want to change in my life but At least I'm heading in the right direction.
Happy fabbing !! xx

Rummer

After a good start yesterday the healthy eating was a bit of a disaster today ah well tomorrow is another day

smithers1981

Hi is this a ladies only thread?? i'm a bloke 31 with moobs! I'm onto week 4 of the couch to 5k and really want to tone up get fitter and look better.

My daughter has just started school and due to my shifts i seem to be doing the school run quite often and there are plenty of yummy mummies i don't want seeing my moobs!

Someone i went to school with has just done Iron man wales triathlon 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bile ending with a full marathon, and i'm finding the 5 minute runs in week 4 c25k hard....... small steps i keep telling myself.

Off to Dubai next march my goal is to be fitter and leaner and better looking by then....

Bitsy_Beans

smithers1981 wrote: »

Hi is this a ladies only thread?? i'm a bloke 31 with moobs! I'm onto week 4 of the couch to 5k and really want to tone up get fitter and look better.

My daughter has just started school and due to my shifts i seem to be doing the school run quite often and there are plenty of yummy mummies i don't want seeing my moobs!

Someone i went to school with has just done Iron man wales triathlon 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bile ending with a full marathon, and i'm finding the 5 minute runs in week 4 c25k hard....... small steps i keep telling myself.

Off to Dubai next march my goal is to be fitter and leaner and better looking by then....

It isn't specifically ladies only it just has been that way but please feel free to join in, anyone is welcome

Well done on the C25K so far, I can't get on with running I find it too hard

Rummer my fast day today went to pot so I shall start again tomorrow. New day and all

LL so glad you will be moving into your new home. Hope you will be happy there and have lots of lovely extra time with your OH xx

Lizzie glad you're still moving in the right direction

Kiwisaver enjoy your facial, I've never had one


I bought myself a little facial body brush from the Body Shop so will keep you posted as to whether it makes any difference to the old visage

Have a whole long list of "ought to's" but am realising that just means. I will continue to think I should do something rather than actually doing it. Time to change my internal dialogue a bit methinks....

Right off to catch up with Downton Abbey. Drooling over the gorgeous costumes

Teacher2b

Hi all! Happy new thread! How has that come around already? I'm having the world's earliest night. The sooner I'm alseep the sooner Monday is over... think the dark dreary weather today has got to me! Boooo.... a more positive post will follow tomorrow... I promise!