Frump to Fab 2024

SandyShores

Oh purplepixie, that's so sad that you are feeling down.  6lb loss sounds good to me as I think I have found your 6lbs.  Being in pain is awful, it can really get you down without realising.  I suffered with my back and neck for a few years and then I found a really good chiropractor who sorted me out and I go every 6 months to keep everything in check.  I know its an expense but a bit like a car, your body needs a tune up every so often.

Glad that you are feeling a bit more positive and hope you have a happy birthday.  Try not to do too much, sometimes you just have to focus on one thing and look after yourself.  I've got a list of low cost/low cal things that I can do to cheer myself up when I'm down, things like a bubble bath or a walk in the park.  I've also found a relaxing yoga session can completely change my mood - there are loads online with some lovely relaxing music go go with it.

2Scratters

Good Day Fabbers,

Well that's the 2nd lot of hair colour used from the box I use intermittently to put some colour back on me. I must admit I am not too keen on the faded Ginger that goes blondish as I am aging. The fact I can squeeze 3 do's from a box I can afford to keep on top of myself better. So today I am quite copper coloured and this coming weekend is my early "Retirement do". I resigned from work with just under a year to retirement age after having enough and I am worth more than making myself ill. 33 years done in that career. It is being held in the village pub who do great food and having a breakfast morning do instead. Quite a few of my work colleagues are not really drinkers or take favour to that sort of socialising. Also at this time of day no need to get dressed up specially, just turn up, it gets bellies filled and when they are ready the rest of the day is their own.  Literally 2 miles down the road is the sea. Win win. 

Take care of yourself - you are soo worth it!!

2 Scratters xx

Wednesday2000

I'm sorry purple pixie. Hopefully you can turn things around a bit and end the year well. Being in pain does affect your mental health, understandably. Xx

Wednesday2000

2Scratters said:

This coming weekend is my early "Retirement do". I resigned from work with just under a year to retirement age after having enough and I am worth more than making myself ill. 33 years done in that career. 

Congratulations!

OpalGirl

2Scratters said:

This coming weekend is my early "Retirement do". I resigned from work with just under a year to retirement age after having enough and I am worth more than making myself ill. 33 years done in that career. 

Congratulations! I am retiring in November after 43 years working - I too have had enough and can't wait.

helensbiggestfan

Hello Lovely Ladies. 

Pixie.  Sorry to hear you are struggling.  Life can be extremely difficult at times. I think it's normal to feel down when life keeps throwing hurdles and curved balls across our path.  It takes a lot of energy to stay motivated and keep working through the issues.  I think the best thing is try not to overthink things. Try not to look too far into the future and just take it day by day, lots of rest, good quality food, some gentle exercise, self care and finding joy and contentment in the small things.  

  If you think therapy might be beneficial then give it a try. What have you got to lose.  Dont feel embarrassed, there's no shame in seeking help and support.  If you broke your leg you wouldn't try and heal it yourself, you would go to A&E and get it fixed.  I view mental health and emotional well being in the same light as physical health.  I think they are two sides of the same coin, the two go together.  

I don't know if the following tips will help you.  Working through grief I discovered a range of strategies to help me which I continue to use to this day to help me stay grounded and positive.  I stopped being a news junkie and I avoid negative content on social media and the like.  I got rid of my tv licence so now I never even consider watching mainstream tv.  I am very selective in my viewing habits. I know it sounds as if I'm being a bit of an ostrich but I'm not really. I do keep up with current affairs and know what's going on in the world but I try not to dwell on the horrors.  Whenever I start to feel down I concentrate my viewing on good quality drama or comedy.  I view toxic, low quality so called entertainment and junk tv the same way I view highly processed junk food. Best avoided where possible.  

I am not a person of faith but someone put me onto the concept of something called "God's List".  Here's how it works.  You make two lists of everything that is bothering you or making you unhappy.    One list is your list and the other is God's list.  Your list contains everything that falls within your remit, if it's not within your power or influence then it goes on God's List.  You only work on your list, fixing and changing what you can.  You leave the rest to God (or fate or time or whatever you want to call it). Oddly enough I find that the stuff on God's List tends to get resolved without my intervention, all in good time. 

A good example for me was grief and loss.  (Husbands illness, near bankruptcy, his death and then the deaths of my parents - three deaths within two and half years).  Yes it was personal to me but grief was something out of my remit, not within my power to change.  It happened, it was unavoidable, I couldn't simply make it go away, no choice but to bear it.  I am with Churchill on this. He said "When you are walking through hell you just have to keep going". I had to just keep going, trusting the process  and believing that in time life would get easier.  

This might sound unfeeling or even cynical but I have found that for me it helps me to remind myself that nothing lasts forever. No matter how bad or how good nothing in life is really permanent, everything is subject to flux and change.  Whilst on my journey through hell, when my husband was dying before my eyes, I used to remind myself "this too shall pass".  From day one I knew my husbands illness was terminal, I knew there would be years of heartache and pain but I knew that one day he would be released and it would be over.  It took 9 years and it nearly broke me, but I survived.  

Of course there was the aftermath of his death to deal with, the grief and loss but that was my journey, not his.  I was just relieved that his ordeal was over.  Now, some 10 years later, the horrors of his illness have receded and I am left with happy memories of our life together and of course I have his two wonderful sons and the grandchildren he never lived to see. I still have the odd bout of melancholy when I miss my husband but I think that's normal so I just accept it and ride it out.  I tell myself that is ok not to be ok. It's been 19 years now and I'm still here, still working to heal myself and get healthy again.  Fabbing is all part of the process.  Life is good, I am content and at long last "happy in my skin".  Fabbing, self care, and using style to show up and be the best I can be.  

Anyhoo......enough philosophising.lol. 

Congratulations to all those retiring or recently retired.  How exciting. A new life beckons. I love being retired.  Free as a bird. Every day is a holiday.  😁. It's wonderful.  

My quest for "optimal health" continues lol.  The anti inflammatory diet seems to be helping. On Sunday I was able to test my hypothesis.   I spent the day with my eldest son and his family.  My son is an enthusiastic cook and the food was excellent as always although rather carb heavy, with rather too many "treats".  Yesterday I had a pain flare up.  Went straight back on my healthy eating programme yesterday and today my pain has subsided again.  I don't think it's coincidence, rather most likely a case of cause and effect.  Anyway I shall continue with the programme and see how it goes.  I do miss bacon though.......lol.  

thepurplepixie

Just had my covid jab so I count that as doing something positive.  I'm off to the tip in half an hour, clearing some physical junk is positive for me, I hate clutter and I'm married to a hoarder, what a complication that is in life.

I don't have an appetite which I guess is quite useful if you are trying to lose weight.

Makingabobor2

hope the covid jab went well @thepurplepixie and you don't get any side effects. We have ours on Saturday, so will feel better once its done. Getting flu one at the same time.  
Going to the tip always makes me feel better, love getting rid of stuff. A therapist once told me that having a physical declutter is a good way of decluttering your mind and emotions as well. So I am always decluttering.  Hope you perk up a bit soon. x

Well I've been AWOL for a while as we have been away for a few days. Just trying to get back into everything now. Had a Reiki session yesterday which always makes me feel good and will probably make a hair appointment soon, which will help get rid of the frizzy mess.  So onwards and upwards with the exercise, decluttering and just getting life the way I want it.  
Hope everyone else is doing ok

2Scratters

Hi Peeps, 
Popped in and noticed we have gone very quiet. Hope you are all well and being busy during the dry days with RL.

I'm feeling Fab due to getting my act together with all sorts of stuff that keep blocking some of my procrastination progress. We just need to keep pushing through. Having done an unintentional tidy of wardrobe whilst looking for specific items which were found also lead to tidying other bits. I am SABLE (stuff acquired beyond life expectancy) in makeup, lipsticks and perfume. I'm not thinking what they have cost, more like what they will save me now (she says feeling a little smug  ) 
 I've also lost 12lb in the last couple of weeks. Yes it was planned and am working on it. Feeling "lighter" feels good. Don't worry am still 4stone under tall  I'm away with the girls at the end of next month for some winter sun for a week so there is focus for me to keep working on me. 

Keep fabbing out there ladies

2 Scratters xx

Makingabobor2

Enjoy your winter sunshine @2Scratters. Think we could all do with some of that to give us a boost before the dark days set in.