Frump to Fab - Onwards and Upwards

happe

I have made the smallest start to my fabbing journey this week. I have invested in some anti aging hand cream, some vaseline for my cuticles and lips and a new nail file. Used to have lovely hands and nails, shame I have neglected them for so long. I have been moisturising face and body too so hoprfully my skin shall soon have a youthful glow again.
People are slowly beginning to notice my weightloss which makes it feel so much more worthwhile but the best news of this week is that sfter some routine blood tests and a visit to the nurse, I am now off of any medication for type 2 diabetes and my blood pressure pills have been halved. I feel fantastic x

Rose_Wood

Good Afternoon All

It's very quiet today. I hope that means everyone is having a great time whilst looking fab. Hope you are feeling a bit better tru. Congratulations on the weight loss and coming off the medication happe.

I had a bit of a wardrobe sort out this morning. I packed away all my summer cropped trousers as I doubt I shall get chance to wear them again as after Thursdays wonderful weather it has turned rainy and chilly. I tried on and sorted all my winter trousers and long sleeved tops. I have 3 pairs of smart trousers for work in various greys and blacks, one dressy pair of black trousers and 3 pairs of jeans/casual trousers. One is a pair of cords that are a bit short but ideal for country walks with trainers, my new jeans and a pair of brown velvet jeans that aren't smart enough for work any more but I still like wearing. I've got them on today with a raspberry pink top in a soft jersey. I have a really nice pair of black jeans hanging up that are too tight at present so they are my incentive for the next week. I've also several pairs of too small trousers packed away to fish out once I get into the black jeans to aim for next. I was pleased that most of the tops looked really nice in spite of being fitted - though if put on with a pair of trousers that are too tight look terrible because of my muffin top. However, with well fitting trousers they looked fine - and hopefully will be even better in another couple of weeks.

Since then I've blanched a load of green beans from the garden to freeze, cooked lunch as I am working tonight and will just take a flask of soup and made a couple of apple crumbles from 2 large windfalls that came down into the hens pen last night and that DH found before they'd had chance to be pecked.

I've also designed a personalized reading book for DGD with photos and sentences underneath but am struggling with the printer at the moment.

I'm at work all evening from 5 so will either put on a smarter pair of trousers and a cream top or try out some of my short dress and thick tights combinations and wear one of those.

My only exercise today will be walking to work (about three quarters of a mile). I get a lift home with DS in the evenings so won't be walking back.

Rose

Rummer

:eek: the grey is back again already :eek: Just as well I bought oodles of dye when it was on special offer!

I didn't really go for a glam look today as I was in the park during the rain but I did look practical So to make up for it when I got home I popped on my new shoes and wore them round the house :rotfl:

Kiwisaver_2

happe wrote: »

People are slowly beginning to notice my weightloss which makes it feel so much more worthwhile but the best news of this week is that sfter some routine blood tests and a visit to the nurse, I am now off of any medication for type 2 diabetes and my blood pressure pills have been halved. I feel fantastic x

That is fantastic Happe, a win win situation; it must be very satisfying to get some positive health benefits from your weightloss .

I did mostly house fabbing yesterday and culled my cookery book collection that was spilling out all over the place; I rarely use some of the books these days as I tend to look for things online if I need to. I've decided to change up the colour of my accessories in our lounge, so off out today to find a nice bright, modern print or picture to start me off.

Someone above mentioned having a clear out of tatty old knickers, well I decided weeks ago that I was going to go through my 'drawers' systematically one by one and decide whether they were keepers or could be thrown away. So every morning I have picked a pair and tried them on and decided whether I was wearing or throwing them, then re-assessed at the end of the day whether they were keepers or not. Some never made it past the initial trying on and were binned straight away, due to being grey, tatty, poor fit or whatever.

Once they had passed the test and were washed and returned to action I have put them to one side in another drawer, not to be touched until I had been through all the rest. Ha ha, who knew I had so many knickers? It must be five weeks now and I have not worn the same pair twice and sometimes wear more than one pair a day but now I am really scraping the barrel and left with just the worst of them. Two pairs never made the cut today and only a few more days to go before I can start again and back to wearing the good'uns; I might be a little more discerning and ruthless and do a second round elimination. :rotfl:

I've decided I'm going to do the same with bras next.

System

happe wrote: »

People are slowly beginning to notice my weightloss which makes it feel so much more worthwhile but the best news of this week is that sfter some routine blood tests and a visit to the nurse, I am now off of any medication for type 2 diabetes and my blood pressure pills have been halved. I feel fantastic x

Oh brilliant news, well done you :T

Been to the hairdresser this morning, was persuaded not to have it all chopped off
I look so much better now my hair has been dyed and had a conditioning treatment, I need to go more often, Rummer you're right it's worth the cost.
Spent some of this afternoon trying on clothes in M&S with OH 'advising' :rotfl:
Have spent the last couple of hours on M&S website, they have a style advisor where you put in your colouring, size etc and they tell you what colours & shapes will suit you. It's quite helpful actually. OH will be that it agrees with him - if I tell him :rotfl:
Thanks for posting folks, it's interesting and useful to 'chat' with you all.
LL you're quiet, hope you're OK?
Rx

tru

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Morning :hello:[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Thanks Rose PMS isn't as bad today [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]happe Great news, that's brilliant :T[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Kiwisaver I love your knicker assessment method [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Don't you just love a back-handed compliment? Someone asked if I'd lost weight and said I looked slimmer, I said thanks, yes a little bit but I think it's mostly down to being able to move around more since seeing the osteo, and so being more toned because of it. They then decided I only looked slimmer because of the clothes I was wearing. I shot them a look – you know, the look that only women can do – and they soon shut up [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Talking of toning up – I'm slowly being pulled in and tightened up but you can't see any muscle definition (except a tiny bit on my arms – not the back of my arms though, I hate that bit!) because I need to burn fat. I can't properly burn fat because I can't move that fast or lift heavier weights yet, but my exercises would be more intense and my leg would heal quicker if I lost a bit of weight. I know I'll get there eventually but I feel like I'm stuck in an endless circle at the moment [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I'm looking a bit Hair Bear Bunch right now Will sort that when I have a shower in a mo. I'm going to treat my feet today too.
[/FONT]

Rummer

Rosy Delighted to hear you are pleased with your hair Now I need to take my own advice and get mine sorted as I currently look like the less glamorous lady in Scooby Doo

Tru Regardless of the reason clothes or hard graft you look fabulous! Enjoy the compliment and forget the reasoning Great news about the dentist.

Kiwi Oh I did laugh at your post, what a fabulous way to get organised :rotfl:

LL I hope you are well, drop by when you are free to let us know how you are doing

Rose Wood Sounds as if you have been very productive, keep up the fabbing!

Floss Fabbing and money saving, go you :j:j:j

Happe Hopefully the hand cream will be what you are looking for. Well done on the weight loss

Betty I am so impressed at your organisational skills, you really are getting your wardrobe in order :T

Rummer

If I missed anyone in my above post then I am sorry I do read each and every post and I am cheering you on every day however sometimes time gets in the way and I don't manage to celebrate your successes the way I would like

I have gone rogue this weekend and have had a fabulous time :rotfl: although I did keep up the evening skin care regime

This week and the following weeks are going to be crazy busy and I am trying to get myself organised so that they go as smoothly as possible. I will be fabulous!!!!

lessonlearned

happe wrote: »

People are slowly beginning to notice my weightloss which makes it feel so much more worthwhile but the best news of this week is that sfter some routine blood tests and a visit to the nurse, I am now off of any medication for type 2 diabetes and my blood pressure pills have been halved. I feel fantastic x

:T:T:T that is fantastic news. Well done you. Reversing your diabetes is wonderful……………..

Not a lot of news. I'm doing ok, although I do have the odd off day, usually when I've slept badly, which does happen at times.

On Friday I wasn't too good - chest pains, stomach problems etc but I stuck with the plan and went to Pilates. I was sneezing and sniffling quite badly and one of the therapists suggested that my adrenal system was struggling.

My last GP said the same thing a while ago because of the high stress levels I was suffering from as my husband's carer, so add a bereavement into the mix, plus the ongoing situation with my parents and you have a recipe for a compromised endocrine system.

Anyway the therapist and I filled out a questionnaire.

A score of 130 or over is seen as your adrenal system is under severe stress - my score was 208. A maximum score for women is 240. Ideally I need a blood test to check cortisol levels but I'm in the process of sorting out a new GP so rather than wait I have decided that I may as well start taking immediate action to improve my adrenal function.

My neck glands are swollen and tender and my temperature has been fluctuating so I don't really need a cortisol test to confirm a diagnosis.

So its definitely time for a sea change, more rest, as near to a paleo diet as I can get, and I'll pop into the health shop tomorrow to get the appropriate vitamins and supplements. And of course I will take all necessary steps to reduce stress and find ways to relax. The hardest will be stopping caffeine. I have reduced my coffee and tea intake, currently 3 cups of coffee and two cups of tea a day. I can't just stop dead or do a complete switch to caffeine free. I will have to do it gradually and reduce my intake over a few weeks.

So I've had a gentle weekend, on Saturday a bit of paint stripping with DS2, a paperwork sort out (getting there at last;) and today helping DS1 burn some garden rubbish. I love bonfires and I could sit watching the flames for hours, so that is what I did. :rotfl:

Then tonight curled up on the sofa with the cat, with a glass of wine watching Downton.

My sister and I have had a chat and we feel the time has come to discuss mum's end of life care with the nursing home because Dad either cannot or will not face up to the fact that decisions have to be made and instructions given. It's not fair to the nursing home, they need to know mums wishes.

I've no idea how long mum has left, but given that she is hardly eating or drinking and her blood sugars are uncontrollable my sister and I both feel that things are escalating.

I honestly don't know where I'm going to find the energy from to deal with this. I've given it a lot of thought and I just don't think I will be able to handle another bout of racing around, registering the death, arranging a funeral etc. I just hope that BIL will step up to the plate. I'll tackle dad's paperwork but I'm afraid I will have to say no to anything else or that 208 score will creep up even higher and I will be in real trouble.:(

Sounds a bit harsh I know but this time I'm not prepared to play Russian Roulette with my health. I'm too old to keep punishing my body, the recovery time just takes too long. I think there comes a time when you just know you are flirting with the devil and you have to stop….. You just have to listen to your body.

Three years ago I almost suffered complete burn out. I got away with it then. I never fully recovered but I have been "well enough". This time I might not be so fortunate so I'm not going to push my luck. I shall be prepared to say no when I have to.

Thankfully I think I've more or less done the worst of the financial and legal stuff for my OH, just a few bits and pieces left and a few letters left to write, so at least I haven't got that hanging over my head now. I can now finally ease off the accelerator, delegate a few responsibilities and shed some of my workload.

Anyway enough about me. Some fabulous posts - great to hear about all your wardrobe culls, (love the organising of the knicker drawer) charity shop bargains, weight losses and makeovers.

Rummer - sounds like you have the right approach. If you can prepare in advance and get organised then hopefully it will smooth your path for the busy times ahead.

Apparently the fine weather is here for a few more days yet, so I shall make a point of getting out and catching the last few rays before the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness (ah you can't beat a bit of Keats:rotfl:) overtakes us.

G'night all. X

lessonlearned

Another bad night, feel dreadful, running a temperature etc.

Have decided to cancel all but the most necessary appts this week, just keeping the physio and pilates. These are purely for me and will help me de-stress and relax. The eye test can be postponed (again).

So this week my Adrenal Recovery Plan begins in earnest. Today I will rest and just potter about, making sure I get out into the sunshine. I have a batch of windfall apples so I will play the domestic goddess and fill the house with smells of apples and cinnamon.

I had intended to check in on mum and dad today but as it is at least a 30 minute drive each way I will have to leave it till later in the week. I just can't manage today.

Sorry don't mean it to be a whinging, woe is me post, but I just feel bleugh……I guess it's to be expected, after all its only six weeks yesterday since OH died. I'll just have to be patient and kind to myself.

This morning I have had a nice long soak in the bath, washed and styled my hair and am dressed in fresh clean clothes, nothing too adventurous but a great improvement on three years ago when I almost crashed and burned and seemed to live in either my dressing gown or worn out joggies and sweatshirts.

At least this time I haven't regressed to the bag lady look.

Hope you are all well and busy fabbing.