Frump to Fab 2024

Abbafan1972

Morning all and happy new year to everyone. 

Thank you @helensbiggestfan for starting the
 new thread. 

I have fell off the wagon big style. The latter part of 2023 I have been struggling with my MH, (I haven’t been to the doctor though) which is something that is alien to me. I think after losing my cat in September, that was the start of the slippery slope.

I need to lose weight. I have gained a lot and many of my clothes don’t fit me. I am normally quite active (going for walks), but during the last few weeks I have lost the motivation for it. I think the cold weather and dark nights don’t help with that. I gave up going to SW group some time ago, as I felt I wasn't benefiting from the group and just wasting my money on the weekly fee. Although I know the plan inside out. I don’t have any plans to rejoin at the moment, but need to get my bum into gear and do something. I work from home, so the temptation for the biscuits is always there. 

It is my birthday at the end of this month, although not a special one. 

Looking forward to following this thread and keeping up to speed with everyone’s progress. Will try and post more often. 

Speak soon. xx

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Ladies & Welcome to the new thread.  

It's lovely to see so many of you, newbies and returners.  So....let's get this party started.  

Like many of you,  I too have slipped back into old bad habits and what has followed has been the inevitable weight gain and just general lack of "oomph".  I have very little energy, hardly surprising when I'm lugging extra weight around.  It's my own fault, all due to wrong food choices and lack of exercise.  I have foolishly allowed the Frump back into my life and she simply has to go.  So I'm showing her the door.....

I feel like I have a mountain to climb and I know it's going to be hard going, so I am going to break it down into easy stages, setting myself a series of mini goals.  I have a total of at least 2.5 stones to lose.  I am aiming for the first 20lbs by my birthday in July. I think that's realistic and achievable.  

After decades of trying I have finally managed to give up taking sugar in my teas and coffee.  I have been sugar free for around 5 weeks now. No cravings.  So pleased with myself. 

So onto my next challenge......to quit caffeine. Unlike quitting sugar I cannot go cold Turkey with caffeine, it will have to be done more gradually.  I would like to be caffeine free within two months, I think I could manage that.  I too need to drink more water so that will be my second challenge.  

Like Abbafan I too have a wardrobe full of lovely clothes that I just cannot fit into.  I refuse to buy anything new in larger sizes so for the next few weeks I shall just have to make do with what actually fits me and try and jazz things up a bit with accessories and jewellery.  

We will get there ladies. We can ditch the frump and become the fabulous women that are hiding behind all those layers of baggy shapeless clothing.  I will never be "young and beautiful" again but I can be chic, stylish and elegant. I will never be an athlete or a gymnast but I can lose weight and become healthy, have more energy and develop a more flexible and stronger body.  

It's starts today.  I have already gone down to cups of coffee a day and I have bought some very nice decaf coffee.  The aim this week is no caffeine after 2 pm. I might start by mixing my own blend half caffeine/half decaf.   Also start drinking more water, some yoga and some (indoor) walking.  The weather is awful but I now have a treadmill so no excuses.  😂.  

Onwards and Upwards ladies.........spring is on its way.......

Makingabobor2

Although I want to improve my self and my life this year, I don't want to lose any weight as I am actually underweight for my height. I eat loads and just can't seem to put any on. I am trying to get fitter and build muscle. It just doesn't seem to happen. I am going to try more protein and a lot less sugar.  I normally exercise a lot, but after breaking my wrist it slowed down a lot, and now with this horrible covid still making us both feel bad, I have zero chance of exercising. 
I think the thing we all need to remember is its not just about exercising by getting the steps in, which will help of course, and I try and aim for a minimum of 10000 a day....when I'm not ill.....lol.    But we need to do the right things to ensure  a healthy old age. Remember its not the years in our life, but the life in our years.   So with that in mind, I am going to be increasing my workouts with weights, as soon as I am feeling better. Also more pilates, yoga and dance classes online. I follow a brilliant lady on FB that does all sorts of stuff and its aimed at people of our age group. 
I'm also going to get out & about more and learn more new things. 
I signed up to some free courses on the OU and there are some great ones to choose from, you should take a look. 
Travelling is big on our agenda for this year as well. I read a thing the other day that said try and go to a new place every month. Not sure if that will work, but will give it a try. 

Watty1

Hello ladies. 

I gave up a long time ago (sigh) but am back to try again.  Starting point for me is stretching my calves and doing the only physio exercise I can remember that a physio gave me a couple of years ago to address my ankle and knee pain. If these do not help I will go back to her.

Makingabobor2

Watty1 said:

Hello ladies. 

I gave up a long time ago (sigh) but am back to try again.  Starting point for me is stretching my calves and doing the only physio exercise I can remember that a physio gave me a couple of years ago to address my ankle and knee pain. If these do not help I will go back to her.

Don't know what causes your knee pain, but there are some great exercises on the Osteoarthritis society page that might help you

Watty1

Oh that is an idea - the physio said the pain was to do with tendons i think ..at the time I was getting what dr said were stress fractures in my ankle from running and physio said would have been knee pain if I wasn't a runner.  Will look up the exercises tho as would prefer not to pay physio just now so thank you for a super idea..

Makingabobor2

You're welcome. Sometimes you can find exercises on NHS site as well

sukeyboo

More than welcome to join me @OpalGirl - my birthday isn’t until November so i am hoping to be a lot fitter by then 😁. You are quite right about strengthening exercises @Makingabobor2 - they are especially important as we get older and our bones get weaker.

Good luck with the caffeine detox @helensbiggestfan - I am lucky that I have never been a coffee lover and only drink two cups of tea a day - generally it is water most of the time with wine at the weekends 😉.

FlacosFloozie

Day off work today so managed a few bits.

1) Tinted my eyebrows- this makes a massive difference. They've gotten paler the last few years and between that and glasses my features can fade into the background.

2) Blow dried my hair- this adds volume. I've always had fine straight hair but its definitely thinning with perimenopause. I got it cut to a bob and properly blow drying does make it look better- I have a style instead of just hair.

3) Painted my nails- quick pick me up. When I was a student I painted my nails all sorts of colours. I've gotten into a rut of mot bothering as I can't wear colour at work but I have a whole shelf of polish doing nothing. Fingernails are clear with a strengthening polish and toes are dark red

Watty1

I am trying my hair up.  A lot of my hair has fallen out and I've been hiding the thinning and loss with hair fibres but in a declutter I found a messy bun.  I was going to throw it out as whilst it drew attention to the parts that were missing, but, this morning I tried something different and piled it up on top and secured it with a few pins.  I'm going to leave it in today and see how long it lasts. It is an experiment and I'm quite pleased with it!