Frump to Fab 2024

sukeyboo

Thanks for all the get well messages - I am feeling much better now.

Pampered myself over the weekend with a face mask and a manicure - I have been using a strengthening treatment on my nails and they are looking better. Does anyone else suffer from ridges going down the length of their nails? I know horizontal ones can be a sign of certain deficiencies but can’t find out much about vertical ones - maybe it is just age 😱.

I spent a lot of money (for me) on having my teeth straightened at the end of last year and it was worth every penny - I actually smile properly at people now and feel confident doing so 😁.

Lost another lb this week so only another 4-5lb to go to reach a weight where I feel comfortable - like you @helensbiggestfan I have been looking for inspiration for new recipes and I think that a bit of a ‘shake-up’ in what I have been eating has helped me stick with a healthier eating regime (it’s not a diet 😜)

@Watty1 - you are doing well - good on you for getting a cleaner in if that supports your mental health - we all need a bit of help sometimes.

artistlifestyle

Thanks @helensbiggestfan I’ll get there, I’m determined to; paperwork is not my strongest suit, and it all has to be fitted around work. And please don’t dwell on ‘the last move’…. Move for now, an opportunity to be settled and in your own place, somewhere with scope and if in the end it’s not the last one then don’t worry. We all have degrees in hindsight, and we don’t know what the future will bring. Find somewhere you like, that’s within budget, comfortable, with good location and somewhere you can imagine being. Close to services, shops, family etc. so many people focus on the end, or the last move that it blocks other possibilities. Please look at lots of different types of properties and you’ll then know when you see the one. 

@FreetodoasIlike put the @ sign and start typing the name you want with correct spelling. It will eventually pop up in a box, click on it and that’s how. Hope this helps.

My studio will be next, and that’s a big job. I’ll have to try to find some muscle power, possibly paid, to move old bookcases down two flights of stairs. Up to now I’ve made do with any storage type furniture I had and it’s a horrible mismatched mess. Not at all conducive to creativity or flow. Now looking for second hand ikea stuff. Last year was sorting clothes cupboards and drawers, the whole kitchen plus under the stairs, this year admin and studio. I’m also running the previously sorted kitchen larder and freezer down and washing the jars so eventually a big shop will be needed to replace and as I was given a Tesco voucher for Christmas so it’ll come in handy for restocking. 

Have a good week. 

helensbiggestfan

Good  Morning Lovely Ladies 

Sukey.  Glad you are pleased with your dental work.  Having your teeth straightened will not only make them look better but I bet they will be less prone to cavities and decay  because overlapping crooked teeth are so much harder to keep really clean.  So a good long term investment.  

 I think good tooth care and, where necessary, preventative measures or restorative work really are worth the time, effort and money.  It's just a pity dental work is so expensive.   I consider myself fortunate I was able to find the money.  I have had to make sacrifices such as no holiday for almost 6 years now but I dont regret my decision. It will be worth it. I have been very self conscious about the state of my teeth and I'm sure being able to smile with confidence will make a big difference.  

Artisteslifestyle..........thank you for your advice about my impending house search.  You are right about not trying to plan so far ahead.  I think I have been overthinking things and worrying too much about my future needs, so much so that it has led to indecision and procrastination.   I think they call it Analysis Paralysis.  As you say none of us know what lies ahead, we can't plan for every eventuality.  

I am going to just focus on finding somewhere I like in an area that's close to my family and within easy distance of shops and amenities and stop trying to plan too far ahead.  I'm just going to get the last bit of dental work out the way and then start viewings in March.  

FreetodoasIlike

@artistlifestyle. Thank you for showing me how to quote. I hope it works!

@sukeyboo. I’m glad you managed to get your teeth sorted. As @helensbiggestfan said, I also wish dental work wasn’t so expensive. Long ago in the days when I had an NHS dentist there wasn’t really such a thing as implants. There were crowns, of course, which you could get on the NHS but when my three front teeth refused to take a crown (kept falling out) the only alternative to dentures was implants (not as common in 2007). Now, of course, every private dentist is doing them, but I really only had the choice of two in my town. Of course, had I gone to a larger city, the choice would have been much greater. When my NHS dentist retired around that time, I had no choice but to seek a private dentist as I couldn’t find an NHS dentist in my area and so I chose one close to where I then worked. When she sold the practice, I didn’t quite gel with the guy who took over (I guess having had a lot of work done I wasn’t quite so attractive in monetary terms to him!).  His loss, as I found another one close by who was happy to replace my old fillings with crowns (purely cosmetic) and now I need implants - hey ho.

Well, after saying I was going to deep clean my kitchen yesterday, I can now hardly move. The tops of my legs ache because foolishly I was down on my hand and knees scrubbing the floor. I do use a steam mop but it doesn’t really always do the trick. I think I’m getting much too old for this palaver. I really need to try and exercise a bit more. Just a bit more walking, nothing like gym workouts! I am going to try and clean the oven today (a job I hate). It’s really not bad enough for a professional oven clean (as the cooker is only 12 months old).

@sukeyboo. Well done on your weight loss journey and that you only have a few pounds to go. I think that’s the key really, isn’t it? When you reach your ideal weight, not go above 5/7 lbs and get it off whilst it’s easily doable. I used to do this, but I’ve become so lethargic recently and the extra stone and a bit just crept on. So much more difficult to lose than just 5 lbs or so.

@Watty1. Sorry to hear you’re struggling a bit. I’ve no plans to “fab” today, I’ve showered, washed hair (cooker cleaned - hopefully) and I’ll take that as a win. I was going to do my feet but that will have to wait for another day. There is a podiatrist/chiropodist at the top of my lane (next to my hairdresser) so I think I’ll make an appointment in the next few weeks as I have some little corns on the sole of my feet and two unattractive toe nails, which she may be able to help with. Talking about hair, I handed lucky in finding this hairdresser. As I said, the salon is within walking distance (so useful when it snowed a week or so ago) and although I was sceptical, she did a fantastic job. I had been going to the same hairdresser since she was 25 (now 41) but then she set up her own business. Although it was a drive away, I followed her. However, a year and a half ago she announced she was selling the salon and was renting a chair in another salon not too far away but not easy parking (main road, near a primary school). When she announced she was pregnant at 40 (happy for her, as she didn’t think she could have children) I decided to look more locally and found one within walking distance. I just went in to book a consultation and she was on a break and saw me straight away. My hair has never looked better. I am grey but was having low lights (chin length bob) and I was looking for a change (sometimes, if you’ve been going to the same place for years, they can get a bit complacent). Sorry to ramble but when I took a photo of what I wanted, she did exactly that! It took a month or so, but I grew out my long fringe and now have pure white (my natural colour) down both sides of my face. It actually makes me look younger and it’s quite edgy (well, for me anyway). What’s everyone’s hairstyle like? Has anyone embraced the grey? Sorry to rant on, my cooker cleaning is calling. 

Free

FreetodoasIlike

“landed” lucky not handed! Forgot to say, even though it’s a local salon it’s not very cheap. Well, obviously cheaper than a city centre salon, but more expensive than the one I used to go to. She’s the “style director” so is probably more expensive than the others. I pay £75 for lowlights and a cut every 8 weeks. What does anyone else pay? Is it worth it to you? It’s worth it to me, as I always feel better and it gives me a boost. Since I retired though, no gel nails, which I think, I fact were ruining my nails.

Makingabobor2

I used to pay £47 for colour and a cut & blow dry. I am naturally dark but had been blonde since 1987.   Stopped going after covid and let my natural grey grow through, but its a lot darker than I thought it would be. Thought I would be more platinum, or hoped I would be,  as it was starting to go quite silver at the edges and roots. So now I go to a lovely lady with a home salon and just have a dry cut and she charges £20. Really pleased with that.  Just wish it would hurry up and go more silvery....I'll be 67 this year and can't believe its still so dark at the back

FreetodoasIlike

@Makingabobor2. I went “white” in my 30s (68 now) and always had lowlights since (like the reversal of highlights - brown foils instead of bleach) which I’ve kept up. It seemed to work for me rather than pure white at a fairly early age. Now the brown bits at the front are pure white (my natural colour). This is an old photo but you get the drift? Sorry for the full size, don’t know how to reduce it. The white streaks are my natural colour.

On my previous post about weight, I was watching a couple of TV programmes last night. The Michael Mosley one irritated me a bit (well HE tends to irritate me a bit with his sanctimonious attitude). It’s just like a copy of “you are what you eat” with a few medical tests thrown in the mix. Really, it’s all just common sense. The two gay guys last night were boasting they were cooking from scratch, but it was obvious they were eating too much, with too much salt and sugar, which was affecting their blood pressure and sugar levels. 

The other one (I morbidly like watching “fat” shows, like those on Discovery+ (1000 lb sisters/1000 lb best friends/my 500 lb life!) was around the world in 80 weighs. The UK group this week were in Texas, one of the 10 poorest states (although large and rich in some parts) where 14% of the population lived below the poverty line and are obese. There was a body image person on it who embraced her size (which was good) but pointed out that although fresh/wholesome food was available, it was much easier, quicker and cheaper to go for the unhealthy option. There are so MANY obese people in the US and when I watch these TV programmes I often wonder why they let themselves get there, so much so, that they are unable to work and rely on welfare. My point is, that the trick is not to get there in the first place. I felt great a year and a half ago, but then the extra stone and a half crept on and I realise that if I continue, it will be another stone, then another stone. I need to nip this in the bud NOW!!

I was overweight as a teenager/in my twenties but lost weight for my wedding (only lasted 3 years, but that’s another story!). The weight fluctuated by a few pounds but I felt Ok. I don’t feel Ok now and it’s depressing me. To think of it, I might actually BE depressed and that’s causing me to eat more. On the surface, I have nothing to be depressed about, but there you go… I just feel SO lethargic. I do the basics but I used to do so much more. I think that my 102 year old mum being in a care home doesn’t help. I know she is in the best place (it’s a good place and they specialise in dementia cases) but I absolutely dread visiting as I hate to see her like this.

SO, I am going to get out of this spiralling rut. Get more fresh air, lose this extra weight, get into my clothes and get my mojo back. Visit my mum positively and take a walk afterwards to count my blessings, that I am NOT 500 lbs and that there are a lot worse off people than me.  Easier said than done but I’m going to try my best. On another note, has anyone tried a herbal cure for mild depression/lethargy, like St John’s wort? And if you have, did it make a difference? I once got prescription medicine from my GP years ago when I suffered a bout of depression. It worked, so maybe I should go down that route again.

Sorry @helensbiggestfan - this is supposed to be a “fabbing” post, not a “whinging” one! I’ll post again when I feel more positive.

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Ladies. 

Freetodo.....ah bless you, don't worry about having a little whinge. We all need to vent and let off steam now and again.  

I would be very careful with St John's Wort, it can interact with other medications. It sounds as if you are making the right lifestyle changes and that might be enough to help turn things around.  If not, and you do feel you are spiralling down, then perhaps a visit to your GP is required.  

I too felt that I was in a rut (hence restarting this thread). I knew it wasn't a clinical depression as such but I did feel pretty low.  I am starting to feel much better but I can relate to how you are feeling, especially the lethargy and lack of energy,  

I do feel better since quitting sugar and caffeine. I'm certainly sleeping better but I think it's still a bit early to reap the full benefits. My blood sugar levels are being quite stubborn 😟.  Patience isn't my strong point so I have to keep reminding myself that I am trying  to undo the work of decades of sugar and caffeine misuse and that it will take months rather than weeks to repair the damage. 

I do understand how the weight gain is making you feel. I feel the same,  I think weight gain affects us both physically and mentally.  An extra stone is the equivalent of carrying 3 x 5lb s bags of potatoes strapped to our bodies -  there's more pressure on our joints, and our hearts have to work harder. It's no wonder that weight gain makes us feel tired and lethargic.  We look in the mirror and we don't like what we see, our clothes don't fit, so again it's no wonder we feel demoralised.I think there's a vicious cycle at work, we feel awful and lack the the motivation to do what we know needs to be done. We need to break the cycle.  

You may not like Michael Mosley's style but he does know his stuff.  I have his book "Just One Thing". In it he advocates small simple changes. I don't agree with them all, especially cold water treatments, no way!!! 😂. However,  I do agree with his idea of small tweaks, adding up over time.  

The Compound Effect.  It took me a long time to really appreciate it (maths never was my strong point) and like I've said, I sometimes find it hard to be patient and think about the long term. But now that I fully understand how the compound effect works I am very enthusiastic about it.   It's not just an abstract concept, it has real life applications.  We can use it to improve your health and fitness as well as our finances.  

Freetodo. .....don't give up, don't give in to feelings of overwhelm.  Just take small steps each day.  Rest when necessary.  Keep at it and you'll get there.  

helensbiggestfan

Well an amazing 7 hrs sleep again, and as a nice bonus I was awake nice and early for a change.   For the last few months I have  been turning night into day,  awake till the wee small hours and then waking late and feeling slow and sluggish.   Having established better and deeper sleep, my goal now is to go to bed earlier so that I can get up earlier. I don't want to waste the day by starting it late, I want to be up with the larks and rise and shine. 😉.  Hopefully, it should get easier as the days lengthen and we get more daylight,  

Met a friend for lunch on Wednesday. Had a quick mooch round M&S. I have to confess I wasn't very impressed. My friend and I both came to the conclusion that the clothing was "uninspired".  For the size of our city the shopping choices are really disappointing.  

I have known my friend since we were giddy teenagers. We worked together and we would blow all our wages on the latest 60s fashions. She loves clothes as much as I do and she has always been a snazzy dresser.  Back in the day, our city had some amazing boutiques and several large department stores.  All gone now and what we have left is so just so dull and uninspiring,  Shopping for clothes used to be such fun.  Now it's hard to find any enthusiasm, the offerings are just so dismal.  Poorly made garments, garish colours, cheap fabrics and so little variety.  Maybe I should take up sewing again......lol.  No wonder M&S struggle.  They have definitely lost their mojo.  

I did buy some new make up and moisturiser.  (Not from M&S). Still trying to find a good moisturiser. It's like trying to find the Holy Grail. 😂🤣

FreetodoasIlike

@helensbiggestfan Thank you for your kind words. I don’t think I’m “clinically” depressed just lost my get up and go - need to find it again! I might give St John’s wort a try as I don’t take any other medication. Years ago I recalled that it may interfere with HRT so avoided it. I took HRT until I was 60 so now that I am no longer on it, I might give it a go. I don’t really take any other herbal supplements, only vitamin e for my skin so I don’t think it will interact with that.

MM does irritate me I’m afraid, I just feel he gets too much exposure, but I’ sure he knows his stuff. I did though buy the book he wrote with Mimi Spencer “the fast diet” and I know it works. It worked for me in 2021 when I went without food waiting for an ambulance (twice) for my mum and then hours in A&E. At the same time, I broke my wrist, so again was 8 hours in A&E, so I went without food for some lengthy periods. Not ideal, I know, but I know the principle works. And then, with breaking my wrist (right, dominant hand) I found it difficult to cook/chop/manage pans, so lived on cuppa soup for a while. As I said, not ideal, and not the best way to lose weight. I know it’s not rocket science, if you eat less and exercise more you lose weight.

The M&S store closed in my town but the one in the retail park 6 miles away is still open, but I haven’t been for a while. I DO like their jersey wide leg trousers though, which I wear in the house with a nice top, as I find them so comfortable. I don’t wear them outside though! I’ve never seemed to find anything  stylish in there for a while.  I think we’re a similar generation. Years ago, there were two quite upmarket stores in my town and several lovely boutiques - all gone now - such a pity. I remember going into town with my friend every Saturday and we usually bought something. We didn’t have much money and probably blew most of our wage, but it was so much fun.