Frump to Fab - 2025

Makingabobor2

Found you. I'll be popping in and catching up with your news.
I need to make sure I get back on the exercise, as I've slipped a bit during December. My goals are....
Too get up earlier
Exercise more regularly
Cut out the sugar/cakes/biscuits
Look after my skin more

Gòod luck with the new year

Janeryan

Happy New Year all. 
I have gained a stone from side effects of taking medication so need to get rid of it! 
Also want to start wearing some of the clothes that have been languishing in my wardrobe so going to try some new outfits out 

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies, 

Happy New Year to you all. I hope all of you achieve your personal goals in 2025.

I decided to take charge of my health by losing weight in 2024. I managed to lose 2 stones in 2024 and my personal goal for 2025 is to lose another 2 stones. I went from 17 stones 21bs to 15 stones 21bs. 

All the life lessons that I learnt from being part of this thread, I continually put into practice in my life on a daily basis. I wear perfume and jewellery every day. When I am going to Karaoke, Reggaeoke or the theatre, I will make more of an effort and layer my Elizabeth Arden Red Door, with the matching products and wear some make up. 

Makingabobor2

sugarbaby125 said:

Hello Ladies, 

Happy New Year to you all. I hope all of you achieve your personal goals in 2025.

I decided to take charge of my health by losing weight in 2024. I managed to lose 2 stones in 2024 and my personal goal for 2025 is to lose another 2 stones. I went from 17 stones 21bs to 15 stones 21bs. 

All the life lessons that I learnt from being part of this thread, I continually put into practice in my life on a daily basis. I wear perfume and jewellery every day. When I am going to Karaoke, Reggaeoke or the theatre, I will make more of an effort and layer my Elizabeth Arden Red Door, with the matching products and wear some make up. 

Brilliant achievement last year. Good luck with this year. I'm sure you'll do it

skint_spice

Well done Sugarbaby you look amazing and so happy! 

Wednesday2000

Hello to all on here and to Sugarbaby. Nice to see you again and well done on the weight loss. I went out in Brixton the other day and I thought about you strangely enough Sugarbaby as I know you know that area. I walked past to see the flat I lived in 40 years ago when I was a child!

I could do with losing weight myself as I gained some over the winter.

sukeyboo

Great to ‘see’ you sugarbaby - I remember you from before. Long time lurker here and used to be regular poster but life gets in the way sometimes ☺️. No weight to lose as was ill all over Christmas and lost 4.5lb 😱 which wasn’t great as I didn’t need to lose any in the first place. 

Must try harder on my fitness levels though - was doing well but has fallen by the wayside recently so planning on getting out and doing more walking as a start. Had a significant birthday last year and don’t want to let myself go now that I am in my 60’s.

helensbiggestfan

Hello Lovely Ladies and Welcome. Lovely to see both new faces and returners. I do so like hearing your plans, dreams, success stories about weight loss and dental implants (esp Sugar Baby, well done you, you look fab-u-Lou's). 

And yes I even like hearing about your setbacks. It is good that we can share the bad things as well as the good.  That way we can support and encourage each other.  On line friendships are just as potent and valuable as those we experience in RL.  

I always try to view my failures as a learning experience. My takeaway being how can I improve, how can I do better, how can I refrain from making the same mistake again. What's that old saying "to err is human, to forgive is divine". So I try to practise being divine, not only forgiving others but also forgiving myself.  

We women are often very hard on ourselves.  We sometimes set ourselves almost impossible standards and then get dismayed or angry when we fail to reach that level of "perfection". 

Loving oneself, even liking oneself, seems out of reach for so many women. Low self esteem, fear of failure, negative self chatter.  We have been conditioned to be "the good girl", to be almost invisible, not make a fuss or be a nuisance, to people please, and to sacrifice ourselves for others.  I think that's why so many of us "let ourselves go", the reason why we become frumps in the first place is because in looking after everyone else we put ourselves on the back burner.  We self sabotage by neglecting our needs and so suffer the results.  What we need is to be kind to ourselves, love ourselves so that we can be comfortable in our skin. To put  our own oxygen masks on first.  

 I am pleased to say I am finally comfortable in my skin ....but it took a long time to get there.  I still have the occasional dip. This last week I experienced just such a dip.  I'll explain. 

Since becoming a widow I find I sometimes suffer from bouts of anxiety.  I never experienced this before my husband died. It's a new and somewhat disturbing phenomenon for me. Rather unnerving at first but  I have come to understand that this is part of grief and something I may have to live with from now on.  That's fine, no problem I've learned how to accommodate anxiety and work round it.  

When I was young, single and carefree I enjoyed the boundless confidence and optimism of youth. Like most young people I felt invincible.  Then as I got older I knew I always had my husband I could turn to.  He was my rock, my greatest supporter and my biggest cheerleader and I always felt safe and protected.  I lost that when he died.....but it's ok.  

Anyway, due to a series of issues and mishaps that have occurred over the last few weeks which I wont bore you with on this thread because I've already outlined a few on the Dolce Vita thread I have struggled a bit with anxiety this last week or so.  Sleep issues  and stomach problems being the main symptoms for me,  

Thankfully today the anxiety has been kicked into touch and I'm feeling heaps better.  I actually slept for 7 hours straight last night - wahoo.I woke up feeling me again, that awful sinking feeling that comes with anxiety had gone. The anxiety monster had left the building.   Funny how the world looks friendlier and less intimidating when you get a decent nights sleep.  And joy of joys my digestive system has stopped sulking.  Lol. 

I learned some time ago that the only way to beat anxiety was to take action. So that's what I did. I did what was necessary, even though it took a hefty toll on my bank account 😱😂. So now I can face the new year with a clean slate, hopeful and optimistic.  

I am still a mass of aches and pains, not helped by the sudden drop in temperatures,  it's absolutely Baltic out there and apparently "winter is coming" .....starting tomorrow!!  

Good luck everyone, just huncker down and ride it out. I wont be taking any chances on the ice. I shall stay safe and warm, pottering about and just catching up with myself.  

  

Makingabobor2

Yes, stay away from the ice. A friend of mine slipped on ice last winter and broke his elbow.  I have had 2 falls in the last 5 years, first one tripped on kerb and broke my shoulder and 2nd one I just slipped when walking on some gravel and broke a wrist.  Neither of them involved ice, but I hate walking on icy roads, so will be avoiding them at all costs.  Plus the really cold weather makes the OA in my knees hurt....oh and my nose and eyes just stream.....lol.  

Duchess2

Sorry your anxiety reared its head @helensbiggestfan. At least you recognise it for what it is and you rode the wave. Sometimes we can’t prevent life’s challenges, but facing them head-on and knowing that you will come out the other side is a life-affirming and strengthening exercise and if anyone can do it’s you. Take good care xx