Frump to Fab 2024

thepurplepixie

sukeyboo said:

thepurplepixie said:

I think some redheads burn more easily than others.  I'm in the goes bright red in minutes variety hence sit in shade, cover up and wear factor 50.  One good thing is when I had a facial, birthday present from DD, the beautician said my skin was very good for a 70 year old, when I said I always wear factor 50 she just said that explains it.

I had a similar comment when I had a facial recently 😀. Like you I start to burn within minutes - I have to be careful even if I am just hanging the washing out in the summer.

Oh how I'd have loved a tan when I was young.  I hated that my friends would look all sunkissed and golden and I was pasty white me or lobster red me.  I guess it has worked out for us though so there's always a positive if you look hard enough.

helensbiggestfan

Hello,Lovely Ladies.  

Picked up this little beauty from a chazza for £45.  I shall paint it of course, not decided on the colour yet.  Depends on what I'm going to use it for,  it will either be a desk for a study or a beauty station/dressing table.  It would just need a mirror.  It has  a little knee recess or, if necessary I could just remove the door from the centre section to open up it up.  It's a nice solid piece which will look great once I've given it a bit TLC.  I also bought a nice wooden blanket box.  I'll try and post a pic of that too.   

helensbiggestfan

This needs a bit more work, the top has some damage  but it's only superficial.  For £10 I'm not complaining.  Either a blanket box for the bottom of a bed or maybe a toy box for the grandchildren.  Again I can decide where it will go once I have moved.  I know buying furniture before I've moved seems a bit like putting the cart before the horse but they are exactly what I've been looking for.  I can store them in my spare bedroom for now so they won't be in the way.  

I also hit the £1 rail, bought two skirts and two pairs of trousers.  And some DVDs,  10 for £2.  I've decided to replenish my DVD collection. I am somewhat disenchanted with streaming services, you can only watch what's available ifyswim. And sometimes I struggle to find anything I fancy,   Whereas if I own the hard copies I can watch what I want when I want.  And for 20p a pop you can't go wrong.  

Was due a badly needed chiro treatment today but unfortunately she had to cancel.   A bit frustrating because I'm walking around like Quasimodo again. Lol. Not a good look.  Can't be helped. I can manage for another week.  

Bit dull and miserable here.  Need to nip to Lidl.  Don't fancy it much.....💕

Watty1

Especially like that blanket box!  Very nice.  I have bought a lot of DVDs too recently as they were all things I wanted to watch and mostly they are way more than the 10p the charity shop charges to download and watch.  

helensbiggestfan

Happy March Everyone. 

Hopefully a step closer to spring, but alas it's not spring weather here.  Wet, cold and miserable.  Definitely an at home day. Bedroom sorting and a facial later.  

Keeeep fabbing.  💕

thepurplepixie

Saw my Chiropractor today, I'm feeling a bit down as my hip doesn't seem to be getting any better.  I slipped and injured my lower back and as it healed I was left with this pain in my hip and thigh,  It has been 3 months now and at one point I thought it was healing really well but I seem to have gone backwards and has been agony for the last 5 or 6 days.  The Chiropractor says it is improving, getting stronger and better movement but it is so sore.  You don't feel fab when you are in pain do you, it shows in my face, I look drawn and I know it is the pain.  Feeling a bit sorry for myself today.

Watty1

@thepurplepixie  Please try a physio.  Total understanding here. I banged my knee nearly 2 years ago and ignored the "twinge" from "time to time"   By the start of this year it was so bad I couldn't walk up stairs properly and was thinking something was seriously wrong. I saw a GP who suggested physio and I found one privately who was just fabulous.   I had seen her before - one appointment and she gave me some exercises to do and wahoo. I'm not pain free (but probably would be if I was more diligent on the exercises).  

Sometimes I think a different approach is needed and you are right about not feeling fab in pain.

Watty1

My last post leads me to my check in. I am not feeling fab at all.  I am shattered.  Last night I slept from 10 pm to 8.30 this morning waking only at 4.30 when my partner got up (he starts work really early).  He always makes me a cup of tea and i usually get up around 6.00    No chance of that this morning

I wish I could say I felt restored but I feel I could sleep another 10 hours.  Blood tests tomorrow and appointment with hormones place pre-booked for when results come through.
Hoping that offers some solutions.

At the moment I think if I stick with clean teeth and clean face and clean underwear I am winning!

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Ladies.  

Purple Pixie. Hope you feel a little better today.  You've hit the nail on the head, yes it is hard to even attempt to feel and look in any way "fab" when you are in pain.  Pain does indeed become etched on our faces. It's in the way we move our bodies and carry ourselves, the texture of our skin, our nails, our hair, everything is affected.  It's written all over us. And yes pain does drag us down and lowers our mood.  It's hard to feel cheerful and optimistic when fighting pain, when you are feeling drained and exhausted.  

I too am struggling with pain at the moment.  I have to work hard at remaining positive, so I am very deliberate about what I feed my brain. I listen to motivational podcasts, watch upbeat films and you tube content, read uplifting books.    

I know more exercise would help with both pain relief and enhancing mood but when you are in pain it becomes difficult to exercise.  It really is a vicious cycle, less exercise, more pain, more pain, less exercise.  I'm trying to break the cycle.  

Now that my dental treatments are nearly complete it's time for me address my pain issues.  Not just mask the pain but actually get down to the nitty gritty and sort out the underlying problems. I have booked a block of chiro treatments, starting tomorrow. I have also booked a consultation next week to see about my right knee and right shoulder. I've had enough!!!   Time to stop procrastinating.  The dental treatments are almost complete so i will now have the time and hopefully the energy to put in the work.  

 I am making good progress with my implants, although a slight delay with getting my final crowns fitted.  Was scheduled to have four done yesterday but the lab who make them had messed up and only one was completed in time.  Still I got that one done yesterday and aiming for the next 3 next Monday,  then hopefully the final one sometime in May/June.  I am very pleased with the one that was completed yesterday.  

My implant journey has been long and a bit arduous at times, taking around 18 months so far but if the first one is anything  to go by then it will have been worth the wait.  Hopefully I will have the same success with my outstanding muscles/skeletal issues.  I just have to remember the old mantra......

"Persistence Pays Off". 

It's a cliche but that old saying that Rome wasn't built in a day does have a ring of truth.  Bodies can heal but it can take time (and effort on our part).  I have learned to be more patient and to actually listen to what my body is trying to tell me. No more burning the candle at both ends.......😉

 Our bodies are an amazing piece of engineering but we do have to give them what they need if they are to function well and we are to stay healthy as we age.  In my case I know that many of my pain issues are the result of trauma and neglect.  Nine years caring for my husband with all the lifting, transfers and pushing large tilt in space wheelchairs etc, all the stress and worry.  Then the icing on the cake ....two car crashes and a bad fall.  At the time I just soldiered on, never sought proper medical attention and never allowed my body to recover and heal properly. Now I'm paying the price.  

We reap as we sow and actions (and in my case also inaction) have consequences.  However, I'm fighting back. With a vengeance. 😂 investing time and money in me.  It's my turn. 

I did the best I could looking after my husband, often sacrificing myself in the process.  No complaints I did it from love.  Then, after my husbands death,  I gave my sons an early inheritance to help them onto the property ladder, helped them with house renovations etc, so now I am investing time, effort and money in myself.  Hopefully it will prove a good investment.  

I believe "health is wealth" because I can say from experience being sick costs money.  My husbands terminal illness nearly bankrupted us and I've had to work like a demon to avoid total financial Armageddon. My last house renovation took three years of hard graft but it paid off financially and now I have the time and the money to pay attention to myself and work on my health and well being.  

Anyhoo.......spring is just round the corner.   I think the recent cold wet miserable weather doest help with joint and muscle pain. I definitely feel I need some sun to work its magic.  Not too long now, let's hope it's a nice warm spring and summer.  

Todays Fabbing.......Whilst I have been writing this I have been using my foot massager, next some gentle pilates type stretches, then breakfast and then give myself a facial before heading off out.  It's dry and bright so aiming for a gentle walk - knee permitting. 😂  

Day 46 caffeine free, and three months cutting out sugar.  💃.  Wahoo.  Am I reaping the benefits. A big resounding YES. Averaging 7 plus hours of uninterrupted sleep, skin looks and feels tons better, better digestion, bladder no longer irritated (sorry if tmi) but it's one of those things that we don't discuss but which can really affect our quality of life.  I had thought that constantly needing to spend a penny was just part of aging and I just had to put up with it.  Well I was wrong, the culprit was caffeine.  Yes caffeine withdrawal was rough but again persistence did pay off.  Will I go back to regular coffee and sugar.  No way!!!  I haven't felt this good in years.

Now.....if I could just shift 2 stones......😉

thepurplepixie

@Watty1 Thanks for the advice, unfortunately I've already seen a physio and he made it worse.  The Chiropractor was diplomatic and didn't criticise the physio but he said it would be better for me to fewer repetitions and for one exercise he made it slightly easier.  The physio was very nice but maybe a bit ambitious for someone my age although I have to confess I don't like to moan and I may have given the impression the pain was less than it was, I tend to do that.

I had great success with a physio when I had a neck of humorous fracture, worked like magic I just wish there could be some magic for me this time.