La Dolce Vita - 2024

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Friends.  

Wednesday, it sounds like you have some nice trips and outings planned.  

I'm afraid I've not much news.  I really haven't felt much like doing anything beyond the basics, spent time with the family last weekend but other than that I've done nothing and been nowhere, mainly because I am still on my caffeine reduction journey and it has been rough!!!!  Some days I have felt pretty grim but I'm not giving up.  I am almost there, I should meet my end of January target. and then, hopefully, I will feel much better.  

And then it will be on to the next challenge.......losing weight and getting fitter.  

It doesn't sound much like the La Dolce Vita lifestyle I am aiming for but I console myself with the fact that the changes I am making will, eventually, help me achieve that goal. I have gone well over the allocated year I initially set myself and am behind schedule with my goals.   It often seems like one step forward and two back but I think perseverance and resilience are key.  I will keep going.  

If I want to live a rich and rewarding life then getting healthier is paramount.  My husbands illness and the years of being his carer wrecked not only our finances but also my health and it is taking a long time to rebuild.  I won't give up, I will get there.

Money wise I'm doing ok.  I did have a little splurge with the massage gizmo (I see that as an investment) and I did treat myself to a fabulous coat which I didn't need but which I fell in love with. However, I have managed to rein in my household spending and reduce my food budget this month,  so it's not all bad news,  I've had several no spend days this month.  

Lovely bright sunny day here, although as yet still very chilly.  Will wrap up warm and go for a walk later.  Need to take the car for a spin too,  she really doesn't like the cold, so I have to make sure I turn the engine over and take her out every day or she sulks. Who knew a car could be such a diva.  😂🤣

Hope you are all well and happy and managing to keep warm.  💕

Siebrie

An excellent exercise for lower backpain: lay flat on the floor (have something to support you close by to help you get back up!), feet flat on the floor, near you bum. Slowly lift your hips until there is a straight line from your knees to your shoulders (those are still on the floor). Keep position for about 5 seconds, then lower your hips slowly. Repeat a few times. Repeat once or twice per day until backpain is gone.

helensbiggestfan

Good morning ladies.  

Thanks for that Siebre.  I do that stretch myself and you're right it does help with lower back pain.  

I have a blinding headache and a bout of hay fever type symptoms this morning, nothing serious, it's just because I have reduced my caffeine intake again.  Each step down comes with a range of withdrawal symptoms.  Never mind nearly there.  One more step down and then I'm done, totally caffeine free.  I'm sure I will reap the benefits further down the line so it will have been worth the struggle.  

One thing for sure I simply could not have gone cold Turkey with caffeine the way I did with sugar (I am not that brave). and I certainly don't think I could have done it if I was still working. Often it was only coffee that kept me going.  

One of the advantages of being retired is that I can finally afford to take the time needed to work on my outstanding health issues. None of them are serious or life threatening, each one is relatively trivial. However, when you add them up, they have had an impact on my quality of life, and that's what really counts,  

I have deliberately kept my diary free this last few weeks to do what is necessary.  It does mean that my life has been somewhat lacklustre of late, not going anywhere and not doing very much, but hey, everything has its price.  I am glad I chose the winter to do it because it doesn't really matter when the weather is bad if I need a sofa day to ride out withdrawal symptoms. 

Lovely bright day here today and hopefully warming up later,  a scorching 5C is predicted for later. 😂🤣. 

Have a great day......

 

helensbiggestfan

Hello my lovely friends.  

No news I'm afraid.  I have been nowhere and done nothing.  I'm such a bore. Lol.  

It's Day 3 of going completely caffeine free and I feel utterly vile.  I don't know how long the withdrawal symptoms are going to last but I won't be doing much of anything until I come out the other side. So I'll just have to amuse myself as best I can with Netflix and a good book and ride it out,  

as Churchill said. "When you find yourself walking through hell, just keep going". 

Hope you are all well.  Hope your Vita is more Dolce than mine.  😂

Wednesday2000

I went through a phase of drinking a lot of coffee when I was in my twenties and I felt awful coming off it. I still try to not drink too much of it now. 

I haven't been doing much either. I have been trying to get through my kindle books as I buy books that look interesting and then never get around to reading them! I did finish one off yesterday by Johann Hari. 

I am going out to get my hair done today and it is pouring with rain. I will get caught in it on the way there, but should be okay coming home. I was going to look for a dress for the party in the chazzers first.

I saw that New Look have a sale on boots and they are only £20, but the pair I liked only had size 9 left.

I was saying to my friends and brother that I am going to have to meet them in London when we are already planning to go in as we keep spending far too much on hotels/trains now we live further out in Essex. I sent my friend a long email yesterday with all the dates we are going to be in London so hopefully we can find dates that match up.

I really want to rein in our spending as well as we keep spending far more than I want to, it is mostly trips to the local Coop or Tesco which are adding up. I'm not going to bother going to the cinema either, unless it is something really good as we saw a couple of films recently that were really bad!

i am meeting someone from this forum for a walk to the beach this week which will be nice and it is meant to be sunny. I'm so glad it isn't as cold as was.

I did start meditating again yesterday so I am about to do that before I go out.

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning My Lovely Friends. 

How are we all,  it's a lovely bright day here, not especially warm but it's so good to see blue skies and that bright yellow thing in the sky. 🌞. 

Day 6 of being caffeine free.  The worst of the withdrawal symptoms are over and I'm starting to see some real positive changes.  Sleeping 7 or 8 hours, brain fog lifting.  No upsurge in energy levels yet, which is what I am really hoping for, but I'm sure that will come.  All in good time,  

So.....that's me both sugar and caffeine free at last. I am astonished I managed it.  I have been trying for decades but kept failing.  Success at last. Wahoo. 💃. Next week I intend to make a start on my weight loss journey.  If I want to live La Dolce Vita then I need to be slim and stylish. I will never be 30 again but there's no reason why I can't look good in my 70s.  

Speaking of looking good, even though I'm an old crone........

Was having a laugh with my DIL the other day. Unbeknownst to me, a few years ago when she and my son first got together, she posted a picture of me taken on a cruise to all her family so they could see what her new MIL looked like.  I am wearing one of my favourite evening dresses,  and without being too conceited, I look red carpet worthy.  

The photo was a joke "Time Life" magazine mock up, the type of thing they often do on cruises. For a laugh I decided to let them take my photo, making it look as if I had appeared on the cover of "Time Life".  She sent a copy of this photo to all her family and friends. She has a huge extended family and friends scattered through Central and Latin America.  She calmly told me that it went viral in about 4 Latin American countries and that I'm quite the celebrity. 🤣.  The Chinese Whispers gathered pace and apparently I was friends with the queen and often had tea with her.......😂🤣.  Just goes to show how rumours get going.  

Wednesday. It can be expensive trying to keep up long distance friendships and relationships. Train fares, hotel bills, restaurants etc really add up.  The last few times I have visited family in Scotland or a friend in Devon it has cost me a small fortune.  Before I met my husband I had a 5 year long distance relationship, I don't recall it being so expensive back then.  Train fares are extortionate now.  When I had my bathroom done my plumber suggested I disappear for a while.  I decided to go to somewhere like Bath or York for a few days until I realised that I could cruise the western med for 14 nights for less than the cost of 5 days in the U.K. Crazy.  

My first job was at British Rail as it was then. As a perk I got 4 free U.K. rail passes plus 1 European free rail pass per year.   After that you paid only 1/4 fare.  Needless  to say I travelled all over the pace, both in the U.K. and Belgium.  I would go to,London at least once a month because it cost me peanuts.  I saved the free passes for longer journeys.  I now get a free local bus pass, which is nice and for which I'm very grateful, but it's not quite the same. Lol.  

Still not been anywhere or done much but I shall be entertaining this weekend.  Just family but it will be nice.  I actually feel ready to start socialising again, hopefully now that the worst of the sugar and caffeine withdrawal symptoms are clearing I shall soon have more enthusiasm and energy for getting out and about.  

Getting fed up with living like a hermit......😉

helensbiggestfan

Hello My Lovely Friends. 

How are we all.  I had a lovely weekend, Saturday with the family was fun and then yesterday I just pottered about.  Today more of the same. still in my pjs.  I shall get cracking shortly.  It's grey and miserable outside so nothings spoiling.  Shall give myself a facial and a bit of a mini home spa.  

Still caffeine free and loving it. Feel so much better.  Well worth the initial horrors of withdrawal, definitely starting to reap the benefits now.  Today sees me begin my next challenge,  lose some weight,  aiming for 10lbs by Easter.  

Have you ever taken the decluttering too far and later regretted it,  I did exactly that. 

Before I moved into this house I got rid of some lovely clothes and am now regretting it. I thought I needed to decimate my wardrobe because I wouldn't have enough space when I moved,  how wrong was I.  This house is fantastic for storage. 

 I won't make that mistake again.  Even if it means that next time I move I have to box things up for a while until I get wardrobes built etc.  I've learned my lesson......😟.  

I also got rid of a lot of books and yes, you've guessed, I regret parting with some of those too.  So last week I reordered them, second hand off Amazon of course,   I am also re buying CDs and DVDs I parted with and regret.  In future I shall be a lot more circumspect......hopefully without developing hoarder tendencies.  Lol. 

I have also starting booking some nice social events.  

Time to get out here and start mingling again.......😂🤣.  

Christianne1957

Thought of this thread today as I have borrowed "The Art of Frugal Hedonism" by Annie Raser-Rowland from the library 
Hoping its a good read!

helensbiggestfan

Ooh that sounds interesting.  Let us know what you think.  

Well hello everybody. (Said in best Matthew McConaughey southern Texas drawl). Lol. I love his voice. I love his motivational talks too, really inspirational.  Apparently his bedtime relaxation tapes are also very good.  

Anyway, how are we all.  I have had a good week.  I have been sleeping like a babe.  A good 7 hrs a night, plus a nice daytime nap most days.  Going caffeine free is definitely having a good effect on my sleep patterns.  Still no energy surge yet but I'm hopeful.  I definitely feel brighter, more optimistic, less brain fog and more clarity.  

I even went out this week......haha.  Met a friend for lunch and had a mooch round M&S. It was bitterly cold and I was in quite a lot of pain so didnt stay out too long but it was nice to have a change of scene and always nice to meet my friend. We have known each other for 58 years!!!!  And yet we can still always find plenty to talk about.  

Other than that not much news.  I am on granny duty tomorrow which will be fun, exhausting but I do enjoy it.  And then on Monday I have my penultimate dental treatment.  The final fitting should be around 3 weeks after that.  So hopefully by the end of February everything should be done and I will be flashing my new smile.  

This last year or so I feel that I have been on quite a journey, implants, musco-skeletal adjustments, quitting sugar and caffeine.   Now all I have to do is lose 2 stones, work on my fitness and buy a house.!!!   The final pieces of the jigsaw.  It will be the 10th anniversary of my husbands death this year, so the timing couldn't be better.  

At long last I am almost ready to move forward and start a new life.  

Wednesday2000

Hi all,

Are you looking for a house in the same area you are renting at the moment Helen? My window cleaner comes from Kent and he was talking me out of Margate as he said some parts are very run down. I am going to look around Broadstairs when I go there for my birthday next month.

I went and met someone from this forum yesterday and we went to Jamie Oliver's uncle's restaurant. It was nice and had sea views. I feel so much better now the weather has warmed up.

I just went to get my nails done for the family party tomorrow. She lives on a street near me that we viewed a house, but I was looking and cannot see what house it was. I was going to get a blow dry today too, but my mobile hairdresser had to cancel. 

We just got tickets to see the band Heart at the O2. It is the same week as we are seeing The Killers so we booked my dog in for the whole week. That kennel makes a lot of money from us! We have 5 concerts in the same 4 week period in June/July now.