2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Cherryfudge

Laura_Elsewhere said:

Re the chenille - nice work on retrieving it! Have you tried doing alternate rows of the chenille and the dolls-yarn? No idea, but it might be worth doing... 

That's an interesting idea, thanks @Laura_Elsewhere. I'm trying to work it out in my head and it has Potential.

Like you, I was in part motivated towards healthier living by wanting to maximise my chances against Covid-19. I'm just been watching the programme 'The truth about boosting your immune system' which has raised interesting points about exercise, diet and sleep. This last is on my resolutions list and meanwhile, after a week indoors apart from work, I've had a walk in the snow. Packed tight and crunchy - very nice! Will be in for a cuppa soon, are you refilling the teapot Pip?

@PipneyJane, I'm the same as you re hypothyroid weight distribution and I'm surprised at how much better my clothes look on a stone less of me, even if I'm not at target yet. It's quite money-saving getting to a size where I put them (and me) under reduced stress and still feel I look better even though I've not bought new stuff.

However, I have been thinking about those collars and 'fronts' they used to add under sweaters and jackets to give a new look when rationed fabric was scarce and I reckon that might be a way to do some modern clothes boredom-busting. It might use some stashed items or reuse the good fabric from well-worn or damaged tops, just as @thriftwizard's pretty knickers did! I think they're super, thriftwizard, and you should be proud of yourself!

TwibbleDee

PipneyJane said:

I have a new teapot for you all to test, once we get out of the air raid shelter.  L!dl are selling those Bodum "Assam Tea Press" teapots that have a built in tea-strainer.  Perfect for loose leaf tea.  We bought one this afternoon and I think it made a very nice cuppa.

Thanks for the book review, @Rah.  I am tempted to track it down.

@Cherryfudge and @Laura_Elsewhere, there is a third "shinker".  I lost 9lb during the first Lockdown.  Like you, Laura, it was all due to implementing daily walks after work, to destress and break up the day into "work time" and "home time".  (I didn't start running until July.)  No massive change to our diets - I've always focused on high fibre, low fat and getting our 5-a-day.  

I think I've mentioned before that my fitness goals for 2021 are to regularly run 5k and to build some strength/muscle.  I need to lose at least the same amount of weight again, to comfortably ensure that I can wear all my clothes.  I have classic hypothyroid weight distribution - all excess weight goes around my waist.  I reckon that the stuff that fits me well now will be fine if I wear a belt but, worst case scenario, I'll just add a couple of darts to the waistbands.  

If I used more loose leaf tea, I'd get one of those tea pots.

I was down about 15 pounds by the end of December.  I've gained 5 back - need to get back on track.  I'm still aiming to hit the top of Guadalupe Peak (if you don't know me, I'm the resident American from Texas) by the end of 2021.  I should probably sit down with the calendar and figure out which weekend in October or November would work out well for that...

Cherryfudge

TwibbleDee said: I'm still aiming to hit the top of Guadalupe Peak (if you don't know me, I'm the resident American from Texas) by the end of 2021.  I should probably sit down with the calendar and figure out which weekend in October or November would work out well for that...

We will be cheering you on... from basecamp. Perhaps we should have another Little Mending fun run to mark the occasion? 

Baileys_Babe

Like many others, I also need to lose weight ideally about 30% would get me into 'normal' range. One good thing is I managed not to put on any weight in 2020. I need to increase my activity levels and reduce my portions. My body finds it very easy to hold on weight due to a metabolic disorder but my joints have always been troublesome not being so heavy should easy them.

PollyWollyDoodle

We’ve still got that three-legged race in the calendar!  I am someone who’s always disliked exercise but a couple of years ago I recognised that I needed to make some changes if I was going to enjoy my later years (I have an older sister who has made some poor choices in this respect, so I know what happens if you ignore these warnings). 

Anyway ... I started going swimming regularly, and a few things helped me to keep going. I go first thing in the morning, to get it out of the way and to ensure no distractions - it’s so easy to find reasons not to go. I get everything ready the night before so I can just get up and go. And most importantly, I had to change my mental narrative from ‘I’m Polly and I hate exercise ‘to my name is Polly and I swim three times a week’. That might sound bonkers but it’s helped, because even on the days when I really don’t feel like it, I go because it’s what I do. Obviously I can’t go swimming at the moment so I started running instead but using the same principles, and I have managed to keep this up and finish the Couchto5k.  I can really feel the benefits, not in weight loss but in improved breathing, reduced joint pain and generally moving more easily. 

So join me tomorrow morning outside the village hall, we’ll do some gentle laps of the cricket pitch and see how you feel. 

TwibbleDee

PollyWollyDoodle said:

And most importantly, I had to change my mental narrative from ‘I’m Polly and I hate exercise ‘to my name is Polly and I swim three times a week’.

So...the correct answer isn't, "Hi, I'm TwibbleDee, and if I'm running, I'm out of ammo"?  (And yes, in my area, you should even go for walks armed because of feral hogs and coyotes)

TwibbleDee

PollyWollyDoodle said:

We’ve still got that three-legged race in the calendar!  

I've forgotten who my partner is!  I know they were tall!  I'll go find the correspondence from last year if they don't pipe up.

Cherryfudge

PollyWollyDoodle said:

 I started running instead but using the same principles, and I have managed to keep this up and finish the Couchto5k.  I can really feel the benefits, not in weight loss but in improved breathing, reduced joint pain and generally moving more easily. 

So join me tomorrow morning outside the village hall, we’ll do some gentle laps of the cricket pitch and see how you feel. 

TwibbleDee said:

PollyWollyDoodle said:

And most importantly, I had to change my mental narrative from ‘I’m Polly and I hate exercise ‘to my name is Polly and I swim three times a week’.

So...the correct answer isn't, "Hi, I'm TwibbleDee, and if I'm running, I'm out of ammo"?  (And yes, in my area, you should even go for walks armed because of feral hogs and coyotes)

@PollyWollyDoodle, congrats on your 5K! Fantastic achievement, your name is Polly and you are a runner as well as swimming three times a week. (Proven).

@TwibbleDee, you made me laugh but I assure you if we see you running with feral hogs and coyotes after you, we will all be running too and will be hoping you have ammo on you as we are only armed with slices of cake.

Was Pip your partner? The list has fallen off the Village Hall notice board, we really must get a new board as this one is full of pin holes and nothing stays up, but people have been saying that since at least 1930 and nobody dared as it was donated by Margo Ledbetter's mother and Margo would be sure to notice.

Baileys_Babe

Cherryfudge said:

Was Pip your partner? The list has fallen off the Village Hall notice board, we really must get a new board as this one is full of pin holes and nothing stays up, but people have been saying that since at least 1930 and nobody dared as it was donated by Margo Ledbetter's mother and Margo would be sure to notice.

How thick is the notice board? Would it be possible to turn it over and have a surface where the pins stay in? That way Margo Ledbetter shouldn't be offended and our noticed should stay up.

PollyWollyDoodle

Very make-do and mend!  @TwibbleDee I think I’d be a much faster runner if I lived where you do!  😂