Frump to Fab 2024

helensbiggestfan

Hello Lovely Ladies.  

Well here we are, just about to start a nice shiny new year.  I am soooooo excited.  Bursting with plans and schemes.   

But first.........alas, to my shame, I have allowed the Frump back into my life. 😱.  She simply has to go.   

So I am resolved to post on here more regularly and to hold myself accountable.  I am not giving up the fight,  lol. 

On a more positive note.........2023 saw some big changes in my attempts to improve my health and well being.  

It saw me undertake some serious dental work. 5 implants.  The process is almost complete. I get my final crowns (8 of them) in February. It will be so nice to have my mouth restored and to be able to smile without feeling self conscious.  Although it's been a lengthy process, beginning in January, it hasn't been nearly as painful or as traumatic as I feared it would be.  

The most difficult part is the cost. .  I have been skimping and saving, going without a proper holiday since 2018 to fund the treatment.  However,  when we began the dental practice offered me the opportunity to spread the cost over 10 months interest free so of course, despite having the money sat in the bank, I took advantage of their offer.  That way I get a bit of interest on my savings so I shall actually be up in the deal.  Win-win.  And great money saving.

The second big change was back in January when I undertook a course of chiro treatments to deal with some musco-skeletal problems.  Very painful and it did rather take it out of me but I persevered and thankfully my body is now properly aligned and my posture is much improved.  I just have to have a maintenance appt every 6 weeks to keep things ticking along.  

The third and final huge change was I have finally managed to QUIT SUGAR in my hot beverages. 💃. I have been trying off and on for decades but just never managed it.  Finally something clicked and 4 weeks ago I finally did it.  I even went cold Turkey!!!  I felt dreadful for about 3 days but after that it's been easy.  I've had no cravings at all, my taste buds have changed and I have no desire to eat sweet things.  I tried a mince pie over Christmas and it tasted awful, sickly sweet and cloying. 

So.....although I have sadly allowed myself to become a bit of a frump again I think I have made some very important health gains.  

So, as we go into 2024 I shall be redoubling my efforts, starting with the following........

1.   First of all I want to quit caffeine. 

2.   I need to lose at least 2.5 stones
3.   And of course, exercise more to become more flexible, to lose fat and gain muscle.  

So there we are......

Feel free to join in and please, just kick me in the derrière when I wander off the straight and narrow.  

In the meantime........

I hope you all enjoy your New Year festivities.  Have fun. 🎉🥂🍾

basketcase

Aha!  Here you are...  I followed your previous thread with great interest and would like to join you for this one.  2024 is definitely the year of the overhaul for me.

Amongst other things on the 24 in 2024 thread I'm committed to losing 24lbs over the year.  This will be a great help, but 2.5st would be much better.  How do you plan to lose yours?  I'm going to actually use the Slimming Eats recipe books, rather than just use them as diet pawn (I know that's not the correct spelling, but it might get exclamation pointed if I use the proper one! )  I'm also going to try to remove Unprocessed Foods (UPFs) from my diet gradually, having read a few books about them.  Coupled with moving a bit more, of course.

A word of warning about the dental work.  I knew a girl who was really self-conscious about her front teeth.  She was getting married and was determined that she was going to smile properly on the photos, not just move the sides of her (closed) lips upwards.

She had implants, showed them off to us (they looked great), got married and brought in the photos.  And she wasn't smiling "properly" on a single one!  She was so used to keeping her teeth covered she automatically did that.

So don't forget.  Once you've got 'em, flaunt 'em! 

Hoping you have a great New Year celebration and looking forward to 2024.

chanie

hi fabbers,

place marking for the new thread.

Ive been MIA for quite a bit of 2023, so i want to get back to keeping up with you lovely people. 

hopefully, will see you all on the other side (2024).

sukeyboo

Hello everyone,

About time I stopped lurking and joined in too 😁.

Thanks for setting up the new thread @helensbiggestfan and good to hear all your news. Like you, I took the plunge at the end of 2022 and spent the early part of 2023 wearing clear aligners to straighten my teeth. I am over the moon with the results and only have to wear a retainer at night now. It has made me feel less self-conscious and I can smile away without feeling awkward about it.

Like others my main goal for this year is to get fitter and eat more healthily - I don’t need to lose any weight as such - only about 4lbs of Christmas excesses 😱. 

It is a big birthday year for me - I will be 60 in November so the aim is to be ‘Sensational at Sixty’ 😀.

Look forward to hearing everyone else’s goals and progress - and wishing you a very happy and healthy 2024 🥂

helensbiggestfan

HAPPY NEW YEAR 💕💕

Hello Lovely Ladies - here is wishing us all the very best that a bright shiny new year can bring,  A  nice clean slate to start over.   

Welcome Everyone.  

Let's Get Started........

I am starting with a nice gentle day to ease myself into what I hope will be an Fab-u-Lous year.   It's a lovely day so I am going to get some fresh air and clear the cobwebs.  

Tomorrow I'll get down to business........

Enjoy the day. 💕

FlacosFloozie

Hello,

I didn't post much last year. I did make some progress last year with getting my hair cut more often and improving my wardrobe. Fell off the wagon with exercsie towards the end of the year.

Anyway, went for a run this morning. Once home had a shower and used up some nice body butter after. Currently wearn old scruffy clothes as I'm just about to start cleaning the oven.

Ambyth

Morning,

I would like to join on this journey.

I have to lose some weight (starting to move into the 'necessary for health' category!).
Start back jogging.
During a declutter session I found my nail polishes - get a bit of sparkle going again. 
Find a way to remember to drink more water - hopeless at doing this in work and can go all day without a drink.

Quiet day in today and back to work tomorrow.  

Message soon

artistlifestyle

Hello @helensbiggestfan I’ve found you tonight and join in your 2024 journey. 

We all have goals, plans, and hopes for this coming year, and can encourage each other. 

I’m finally on a couple of days break from tomorrow after working pretty much daily since Boxing Day. 

Tomorrow I’m buying a new pillow, I’m hoping it’s in the sale, plus having a cuppa out, and a walk. 

Flexibility is on my list for this year plus a much better work life balance, and making more connections. Small steps. 

I love reading everyone’s posts and best wishes to EVERYONE for the next twelve months.  

Makingabobor2

Found you. Book marked to follow along

sukeyboo

@Ambyth - I love painting my nails and have an extensive collection of polishes - probably far too many 😉.

Back to work for me today - even though I have to wear a uniform for work, I always wear perfume and makeup which makes me feel ‘fab’. Have been using the Boots No. 7 ‘Future Renew’ range for a few months now and find it really suits my skin and has improved the appearance and is keeping the wrinkles at bay 😁

OpalGirl

Hello @helensbiggestfan, Happy New Year and I'll join in your 2024 journey. 

2024 is a big year for me as I turn 60 in February. @sukeyboo I will join you in your aim to be ‘Sensational at Sixty’ if that is okay.

Lots to aim for this year - I want to continue my decluttering efforts and progress my plans for renovations, get fitter and lose some more weight (I lost 12kgs last year), and I am seriously thinking of retiring later in the year so need to get all my financial ducks in a row.