Frump to Fab 2016 - Lets make it AWESOME!!!

sofarbehind

Ah shadyclover that service sounds beautiful. Your granny sounds like an amazing woman, I'm so sorry for your loss.


I've been sticking with the couch 25k and can run for a whole three minutes without stopping. Erm so a long way to go but even a tiny bit of progress is good. I am inspired reading everyone else's running achievements. I've been eating rubbish and spent the weekend on my own as usual, which I hate.

greenbee

Well done sofarbehind. I can still remember how good it felt progressing from 30 seconds to 3 minutes! I went out today with no deadline and managed 12km. It took 1hr 50 minutes due to the mud, but I felt fantastic (well, I did once I'd eaten, had a bath, and sat on the sofa for a bit), and surprisingly managed to go to my swimming lesson as well.

Haven't done my work packing yet, but I'm sure it'll get done...

sofarbehind

Greenbee 12k! 12k! In this weather as well. Wow! I am in awe of your fitness. You should be very, very proud of yourself.

greenbee

thanks sofarbehind - I have no idea what's going on, as I was struggling with 3km before Christmas. I'm not running very fast - the mud sees to that, but it also means I'm not worrying about speed as it's just a question of keeping going safely, and accepting that at times I'll have to walk (or paddle!).

I do find running good for stress, and clearing my mind (face it, at times it's all you can do to run and breathe at the same time!) and at the moment I have to concentrate really hard on the mud and where I put my feet. But it really is helping with some of the mental blocks I've had with work. It's good to get outside too - and sometimes that's the hardest bit. I don't actually mind running in the rain once I get going (good kit is important - I'm wearing a jacket, gloves, neck warmer, ear warmers and cap, and I have my phone over my baselayer and under my jacket in a waist belt. I use headphones as I need music to run). I also have trail shoes, as normal trainers aren't up to off road running as I found out last winter - and today was so muddy at times the soles were completely caked and so the studded soles made no difference!

I do also have a waterproof jacket, which I rarely wear, and make sure I have decent running tights, bras and socks. As you're starting out, I'd suggest bras as the first investment, then properly fitted running shoes, then socks (blisters are no fun) and then the rest of the stuff (good to have a water bottle that's easy to hold too). I don't have anything particularly expensive, as it's been picked up in online sales (or given to me as presents) but I do try to have enough that I can't use the excuse of it all being in the wash not to go out...

Once you've completed C25K you may decide that just getting out 3 days a week and doing 3-5km is enough (I find running three times a week means I can eat what I like - any less and I can't. This seems to be fairly common), or you might decide you want to challenge yourself more - in which case there are training programs for couch to 10km too. But for the moment, just keep going. And keep updating us with how you are doing. You never know... you might start to enjoy it

indiepanda

Good morning fabbers. Lots seems to have been happening while I've been away for a few days, enjoying reading about the running successes and the fashion tips.

Perfume is one of my (many) weaknesses, I am trying to steer clear of my local (and incredibly good) local perfumery because I have plenty in stock already. Ok, if you look after it well (keep it in the dark in a coolish place) it will last much longer than perfume companies like to admit, but all the same, I have rather too much. Among the Jo Malone's I used to love the Red Rose one but I've moved to a cheaper rose one by the Cotswold Perfumery which is still lovely. I like the Lime, Basil and Mandarin one and have been thinking about the one of the ones with Oud as I don't have any perfumes with that in, but I think when I was last in Selfridges, Bella Bellissima had some Oud ones which were more interesting. Mentioning the Cotswold Perfumery, far from cheap, but one of the best courses I've ever done was a day making perfume at the perfumery in Bourton on the Water. In my dreams if I had another career, perfume making would be it.

I was at a yoga and juicing weekend Fri-Sun and am feeling more relaxed for it. Saw a girl there I was on holiday at the same time as in Turkey and we were not sure at first if we recognised each other. When I finally asked if she'd been there a particular week she said she had wondered if she recognised me, but I must have lost quite a bit of weight since then. I'll take that :-). I don't think I've actually lost that much weight, but I've replaced some fat with muscle, which of course is heavier and improves the appearance no end (not to mention being healthier)

I don't actually know how much I weigh at the moment. I am worried to get on the scales in case I have put on some of the weight I had lost, and then will get miserable. Plus I find I can get a bit too obsessive with the scales if I am not careful. Anyway, I found a creative solution to wanting to know how much I have lost without knowing what I weight. I've weighted myself at the boyfriend's place with my eyes closed, and he has written down what I weigh, so when I am down the next time, he can tell me if I have lost anything. Won't be for a while yet as he is very busy with work and up in London for some of it (i.e. we will spend time together at mine) so will save me from doing that thing of weighing myself every day or so and getting depressed or overly excited about what is just a change in retained fluid and not movement in fat.

I sent him off to the studio this morning with a belly full of porridge and a lunch box with some munchy seeds, oat bakes, a protein bar and a green smoothies (I had the rest of the smoothie for breakfast). He might not need it all, but he's not expecting to be back tonight till nearly eight at the earliest, and I know he sometimes has some awful snacks, so I thought I'd give him something healthier to try. Going to get the soup maker out and make us some carrot and coriander soup to have for dinner later - just something light as he will be eating late and I won't want anything heavy before yoga.

I have a personal training session this morning and a facial this afternoon. Could do with getting a pedicure, but I think I am going to need to leave that till next week, got a few too many chores to get done today. In particular, I need to get through a massive laundry backlog - did two loads yesterday, got another one in, and still have at least two loads in the basket. Bought a heated airer from Lakeland via Amazon so hopefully that will help get dry more quickly. I do hate having wet clothes hanging around.

Trying to get tickets for a gig in July today - the boyfriend and I are planning to go together. Am slightly surprised that I am not at all freaked out about the fact we've only been together a month (yesterday was exactly a month after our first date) and we are making plans for six months away. But I guess once you've told each other you love each other and want to spend the rest of your lives together, planning for six months ahead isn't that big a deal. Some of the girls on the yoga weekend had seen a photo I'd posted of us on Facebook but I hadn't made a big announcement about us being together on Facebook, and said they'd been hoping he was someone special as we looked happy together. I even ended up leaving a bit early to get home to see him, was just missing him so much. Had seen him Friday morning too, so wasn't like we'd had that long apart. Anyway, he is as soppy as I am, so it's fine!

greenbee

So pleased things are going well Indie

Good idea not to weight too often. I've spent most of the past year stuck at 4kg more than I was this time last year, so in total have 8kg to shift. I really do need to start recording my food and monitoring calorie intake as this definitely worked.

The next couple of weeks will be a challenge as I'm travelling for work, and have 5 flights (first is across the atlantic, second local, third across a continent, fourth local, fifth back home) and they take up so much time. Fitting in exercise while I'm away (particularly as it will be too cold/icy/snowy to run outside in most places) is going to be hard, but I'm determined to make my step goal daily and swim at least 3 times a week. Food is also usually a problem, so I'm going to restrict myself to the healthy heating part of the menu (within reason - it's the same hotel chain throughout the trip, so it may get a bit samey!) and limit alcohol. I'm also wondering about trying to treat airline time as fasting time... but not sure whether I can do it!

I'm in urgent need of a waxing appointment, and a pedicure, but no time before I leave (I need to pack, and have pilates tonight and tomorrow morning just before my taxi arrives!), so I'm thinking I can take advantage of the hotel spas at some point. Or the extra layer of insulation My toes seem to have mud permanently embedded in them from the running, but I did manage to soak most of it off in the bath last night.

I'm successfully using intensive foot cream (burts bees coconut) most nights, and a lighter one (crabtree and evelyn) during the day which is slowly making my feet feel happier. I've also located some lemongrass body oil which I'm busy using up in the mornings - it's energising as well as moisturising. And I'm putting coconut oil on my hair under my swimming hat to reduce the impact of the chlorine.

Today I'm off to get my impressions done at the dentist for the crown to go on my implant. I get the new tooth when I get back - it'll be odd to have a full set again!

lollyfin

Oh indie that made me smile I'm so happy for you and I don't think the length of time you have been together matters I think you just know, DH told me he loved me after 3 weeks, proposed at 3 months together and that was 23 years ago.
I'm starting c25k again today but oldest DD is starting too so we can keep each other accountable.
I'm really enjoying my yoga in the mornings so am planning on adding in a short session before bed as well, I'm not very good but I love it.
I'm keeping up with my normal fabbing and have added an oil body moisturiser for after my bath/shower it seems to last longer on my very dry skin than ordinary cream based ones do.
Greenbee I use coconut oil on my hair as well it really makes a huge difference and I'm another one who's in awe at the amount of exercise you do. I really want this year to be the one where I get fit and healthy, I'm hoping the little changes I make over the year add up to big changes in my body.

Mary-

ShandyClover, so sorry to hear about your Granny but what lovely memories you have of her.


I wish I had the energy of some of you on here with the amount of running and fitness regimes you have.


I used to be really fit but due to health reasons I am hopeless now but I really need to try and do some gentle exercises to start me off. I really loved walking but the weather is too bad just now to even attempt it.
I have got a cross trainer at home and should really try and use it.


Anyway, I cleared out my wardrobe yesterday and have got rid of loads of stuff, some of it hardly worn but I know I am not going to wear them, some I don't like so they are all going to the charity shop.


I think my DH thinks I have gone mad as that is two weeks in a row I have given loads away, when previously I never parted with anything.
I told him this is the new me and he replied great but don't be buying more clothes to make up for the ones you have given away.
I won't buy anything else as I have more than enough to keep me going.

J_emptypurse

Lovely to hear about your new and exciting romance indiepandaI wholeheartedly agree about not using weighing scales. I put mine away when I found one of my teenage boys stressing about his weight. How your clothes feel is a better way of telling you if you have put on weight, but I admit you can kid yourself as well.

Shandyclover Sounds like your Gran was a lovely lady. I am glad you all enjoyed being together whilst you remembered her. I will look into perfume oils. All the perfume I wear at the moment I have been bought which is nice but I would like to choose my own new one.

Sofarbehind Keep at the running. I am sorry that you have been alone over the weekend, that is when you need to get your fabbing and running done so that you are free to do other things when the opportunity arises. One of my New Year resolutions is to say YES to more of the invites/opportunities that come my way. I tend to say no so as not to upset/annoy my OH who hates changes to his routine. I worry that he is determined to be an 'old man' before his time.
I have been looking on line at new hairstyles - must have had mine in the same style for 15 years. I wonder if I can be brave enough to make a change.

maman

Great news that your romance is going so well indie. Delighted for you:). Thanks for the perfume info. too.

Mary- wrote: »

I wish I had the energy of some of you on here with the amount of running and fitness regimes you have.

Same here. I'm ashamed when I read all the effort many of you put in.:o

J_emptypurse wrote: »

I wholeheartedly agree about not using weighing scales. How your clothes feel is a better way of telling you if you have put on weight, but I admit you can kid yourself as well.

Totally agree. I only weigh about once a month and the rest of the time I use my 'clean jeans' test. I can always tell when I put a pair on whether they are tighter/looser than previously.


chanie, one of the things that's made me feel more dressed up lately was buying a pretty blouse. Mine's a dark green sort of chiffon with a tie in the neckline. I've worn it for meals a coupe of times and even wore it on Christmas Day. It looks good with a pencil skirt and heels but also with smart jeans. Indie recommends her jersey dresses as easy to wear too. My winter favourite is a jersey shift with cap sleeves that looks good with a cropped cardi. And I've got a couple of velvet skirts, the rich fabric makes them feel a bit special.


Today I've been very much dressed up for warmth but made a bit of effort with my hair as it makes such a difference to whether I feel fab or not. I've changed my style just a little emptypurse (new stylist) and I'm pleased with it. It's still a chin length bob but more cut in at the neck. I made an appointment today to have it done again to keep the style going.


Hope everyone's coping with the weather. Shame you aren't travelling somewhere warm and sunny greenbee.;)