Frump to Fab 2019 - Here We Go Again

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies..,,,

-5c here......brrrr. So, I have lit a fire in open fireplace in my kitchen diner. I'm practising to see if I want to install a woodburning stove this year. I think the answer might be a resounding yes. :rotfl:

In the sitting room there is traditional open fireplace which has a gas fire fitted. It's pretty but it's ancient and costs a fortune to run. I need to replace it for something more efficient. Not quite sure whether to go for an"open type" fire or a gas fired burner. I need to do some research.

Anyway for now I'm cosy enough although to be honest until I've sorted out the insulation I may as well set fire to £5 notes to keep warm.....it would probably cheaper. Hey ho.....Serves me right for buying a house "with character".

And, although I did do some draft proofing I can see where there is room for further improvements for next winter. It will all be worth it in the end.

Might nip out later. The fog is starting to clear.

Keep warm and safe on the ice.

Maman.....not long now until you will be escaping to India.

Moll

Hello everyone , Hope you are all managing to keep warm ,A VERY foggy icy day here today , but it cleared thank goodness around dinner time , I take my Dad to a cafe run by the Sally Army in the village a couple of mornings a week , Got a nice surprise this morning as my DD and GD walked in , GD had been to the dentist , so they stayed and had a breakfast with us before she went back to school ( Theyd seen my car outside) so it was a nice family gathering on a cold and frosty day . Poor little mite still has her baby teeth and shes got to have 6 removed as they arnt right .............. Me...... panicking already thinking what shes got to have done , ,,,Her....... thinks its great as she thinks shes going to be rich from the tooth fairy , ( I need to think on her logic more)
You would have laughed , id had a good sort out , and taken a couple of bags of unwanted stuff to the Sally Army for thier Brick a Brack table ........only to see they had a "Tree" for sale . Not a real one , but it looked real , about the size of a small apple tree, and it was all leafy and sprayed golden , Looked Fab , and i thought how nice it would look especially with lights on , out in the garden , It was ONE POUND,,,,,,,,,,,,so i couldnt leave it could i .........Poor old Dad hes nearly 90 , Id got him in the back seat , and you can imagine what we looked like trying to get it in the car LOL So how was your day ???

Moll

Maman your nails sound good , Thats one area ive got to work on , I put cream an my hands A LOT but so far this weather isnt helping , but ive started wearing clear nail varnish till the nails grow more , so they look a lot better

LL The fire sounds nice and cozy , I was wondering what gym equipment have you got to use ? Thanks for answering my PM . Ill get back to you x

Madam mim , sending hugs , stay upbeat you are going to be fabulous xx

greent wow thats a massive weight loss in a short time well done. When is the wedding and graduation . Youll look great

lessonlearned

Well that's January done........a new month tomorrow, so time for a recap. Time to check progress.

Are we all still on the wagon or have some of us fallen by the wayside. Never mind, just start again. January is not an easy month so you are allowed a few slip ups.

A dear friend of mine, a lady several decades older than me at the time, once said that she felt that January was not a good time to diet or start new regimes. She said if she tried she was doomed to fail so she always waited until Lent.....then she would emerge at Easter, slimmer fitter and transformed. It worked for her.....:D.

Anyway, I'm pleased with my progress.

Nothing spectacular but I have done some decluttering and now that I have my designated exercise space I am once again exercising every day, currently using my elliptical trainer and doing some yoga. Then in the evening I make sure that I am not too sedentary, so I get up every hour, potter about for a few minutes and do a few more simple exercises using small hand weights.

I have lost a few lbs and two inches off my waist, hips and bust so I'm definitely toning up.

A surprising thing........after the first few days of going dairy free, which I have to confess I did find difficult at first, I no longer crave cheese.

I googled "cheese addiction" and sure enough there were loads of articles about this.......apparently cheese is as addictive as Cocaine. :rotfl: Who knew, but it's definitely the case that this time going "cold turkey" has been more successful than trying to cut down. I have tried that several times and it's never worked for me.

I have stuck to my no spending on clothes or books. Just my black beaded evening bag and my trenchcoat, total spends £5.50. :T. So my finances are looking much healthier.

Sleep is still a bit hit and miss but reducing screen time seems to help.

All in all a productive month and making good steady progress.

Oh.......and Just this week I have had love letters from each of the two Johns.......:rotfl: I'm still not that fussed but it's good for my morale.

lessonlearned

Moll....I've got an elliptical trainer, and an exercise bike. Currently doing about 5 mins on each.

I shall be on the lookout for a treadmill and a rowing machine later. My son has a multi gym weight machine thingy buried at the back of his Workshop, under a pile of wood and diy stuff. I used to use that every day, and even when he was wheelchair bound we used to get my husband on there too.

My son has promised to dig it out when the weather improves and he gets time to sort out the Workshop. I'm in no hurry. I am currently using 1kg handweights so it will be a while till I work up to "the machine":eek::rotfl: I just need to do it in easy stages.

I also have a gym ball, good for improving core stability, a yoga mat and various dance and yoga DVDs and a resistance band. Going to try and start using the resistance band for leg exercises next week. Got to be careful with my knee though and my hamstrings and hip flexors are very tight so gently does it. I am currently concentrating on trying to loosen those up and also freeing up my frozen shoulder. So far so good.

I know it sounds like I might be a bit overcautious but it has been a long while since I exercised properly and I am not just out of shape but my muscles are very stiff due to the fibro. I need to build up slowly so as not to trigger a fibro relapse or further damage my knee.

No more bull at a gate, but slowly, slowly, catchee monkey.

[Deleted User]

Well done on your progress LL. You have achieved a great deal.

I’m glad January is over. It’s very cold here at the moment, but at least we don’t have it as bad as our American friends:eek:

I haven’t posted recently, RL has got in the way a bit, but reflecting on the month:

I’ve lost about 3 lbs - not as much as I’d hoped for, but at least a step in the right direction.

I’m still drinking water - I start off well, but then forget to top up during the day:doh:

I haven’t bought any new clothes this year :T I know it’s only the start of February, but an achievement for me!

My nails aren’t perfect, but looking a lot better.

My goals for February:

Lose at least 5 lbs, hopefully 7 - that will take me back to my desired weight.

Continue not to buy any clothes.

Try and get more exercise by walking more.

Drink more water during the day.

I think that’s enough for now. Don’t want to overdo it:rotfl:

Good luck to all fabbers with your February goals:)

teedy23

Hello chums, sorry to have shot away so suddenly the other day lol. Still in pain with my back but find if I keep moving its not too bad. Had a visit from my little charges tonight and they are lovely. I need more crafting stuff so will take them out on Saturday to replenish stocks. Today I went to the college and had my hair coloured and around two inches cut off. I'm feeling a lot better about that, the colour drained me and the rubbish being cut out makes it looks healthier.
Monday sees the start of my three weeks of facials and galvanic body treatments. I will try hard to drink more water and do more exercise over this period to maximise the effects.
I wear perfume every day now and wear ear rings, however I am in the midst of an earring walk out, I have lost three single earrings in the past couple of weeks , same ear too ! One pair I only recently rediscovered, still in the box, never worn, one gone. I remember my hair getting caught in the earring claw when I was out in the street and think that's where I lost it. Blinking cold here but not windy and just a smattering of snow, frost and ice are making it dodgy to go out though.
good luck to all with your goals, keep fabbing.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Well done LL on achieving your personal goals in January.

I am on the right track to continue to lose more weight and tone up in time for my holiday in May. I am incorporating more walking and more exercise in my daily routine.

Even though the weather has been very cold, I am not using that as a reason not to get out of my warm home and do a little walking. I have to take it fairly easy at the moment, but as I get fitter I will be able to walk further.

Wednesday2000

i think I only managed to lose a pound in January. I think it's because I'm still not feeling 100% well after this flu/sinus thing I've had.

I just went to have reflexology and then ear candling again afterwards. It is freezing outside and there is a horrible cold wind. It was nice to go in there as they keep it really warm and I have to soak my feet in hot herbal water first.:A

It wasn't nice coming out of the herbalists as it felt twice as cold as before!:rotfl:

I bought some pore strips and a new eyebrow pencil. I bought a brown one but it is too dark so I had to get blonde.

I think it's because I've been walking outside in daylight the past few months and the sun has lightened my hair a lot. It's as blonde as it is usually during the summer!:D

My new primer arrived so I will try that tomorrow.:)

So the new plan is to lose half a stone in the next three weeks before I go to the concert.

I have booked reflexology for next Friday and I have booked to see the hygienist and the dentist too.

maman

Hope everyone's well wrapped up against the cold.:)

Being near the coast, it's milder here and we've had very little snow. It's coming down at the moment but it's the wet stuff that doesn't stick.:)


I'm pleased with my nails at the moment moll. They've grown well after me cutting them right back. On Monday I plan to have the shellac back on for my holiday.

Despite the threat of snow, we went out to eat with friends last night. DH was concerned I might be cold in the restaurant in my long, grey silk skirt and burgundy jumper. Then I showed him the thermal vest and leggings I had on underneath!:D

This morning I went out in the quilted coat I bought to go to Poland last year. It's really warm but also lightweight. It's only a cheapie from Matalan and I'm hankering after a better quality one. It won't be this year though.

I had quite a good month as far as my goals were concerned. I read two books and started a third. I know I've upped the water intake as I had a huge bottle of blackcurrant squash (1.5l) and it's all gone. Drinking the hot squash has really helped me. I probably manage at least an extra litre a day alongside copious amounts of tea.:) What I've not been brilliant on is the exercise or even the getting out in the daylight. All my goals will be easy to maintain when I'm away and then I'll try harder when I get back.:)