Low Carb Week 7 - Our final weeks

[BIWI]

Forgive me friends, for I have sinned ...

DS1's birthday today so I've been very absent from the thread.

Here is the spreadsheet for you to confess all

Will confess all tomorrow

Good luck to you all

@cheeseisthebest I do a watered down version of the cgm which seems to have got on top on the frizz mostly. I still shampoo but use silicone free conditioner and leave in loads as well as silicone free styling. Bit of trial and error and touch wood its working better than anything else. Just don't get caught up in the strict cgm where all sorts of things aren't allowed and it ends up confusing!

I've recently been using this shampoo/conditioner/primer and it has helped a bit. I think my hair has become damaged, as well as being much drier - the texture of grey hair is noticeably coarser, and I'm pretty grey now . Plus, of course, coloured hair tends to be drier as well.

Can't help re the retinol, I'm afraid. (But would be interested in the answer too!)

I'll send you some olaplex (no 3) if you want it cheese. It does nothing for me! What has helped is slathering on a cheap and cheerful hair mask a couple of times a week.

I think Shag will be more expert in these matters

BIWI ah, that makes sense as to why some things spit and others don’t! Thank you.

@nowlook and @Ninkanink thanks for your comments and observations. I have read Marie Kondo. If it was easy for me I wouldn’t have set myself the challenge. What would be easy would be to wear something different everyday for a year probably!! I need a big stick on this issue.

So one of day one skirts goes. The other dress that I considered day 3 is definitely never going to be a favourite it does not spark joy. Not the one I posted a photo of.
You would not believe the amount of completely unworn still with labels stuff. I have also set a challenge to myself to not buy anything new for the remainder of 2021.

@prettybird I am really enjoying the story behind each pair of earrings as well as seeing them. Thank you.

Question for all you good cooks. Any suggestions for what to make with smoked salmon Philadelphia cheese which is in my fridge? No meat based ideas please.

Make a creamy sauce to go over spinach, Savoy cabbage or asparagus with a poached egg?

Thank you. Yes I did stick cgm for ages but would leave the house with wet gelled hair and go to work. Really not a good look!
Could you tell me actual brands you are using that work?

@Jollyholibobs I love fashion and beautiful things and I love shopping so I totally understand having way too much of lots of things. Nothing wrong with that per se IMO and if I had serious money and the room for it I’d be one of those eccentric women with one (or more) of those fabulous old treasure trove houses wherein the veritable Ali Baba’s cave reveals itself...But sadly that’s not the case and I value my mental and physical well being enough to keep a handle on things where I can. And amazingly I actually enjoy having less and using everything more a lot more than I ever enjoyed it when it was the other way around.

Doesn’t stop me mindfully buying more of the things I know I actually really do want and will definitely use, though.😉

I’m still saving £1 per day. I’ve also resisted the lipstick and will continue to do so until we can go out for a proper evening out. Had a look at various cookery books but again, I’ll buy one or two when the season changes from Spring to Summer as I have so many already and I’ve got 3 recently bought Diana Henry books to tide me over for dishes to suit winter/spring.

I did buy a French faux fur coat (eBay) which I’m hoping will fit and be perfect!🤞

Oh totally forgot to say...

BNWT sells very well on eBay/other pre-loved selling sites. I’ve made enough over the couple of years I’ve been seriously clearing out to comfortably buy 2 Mulberry bags. That makes it well worth it to me - I get to feel good in my space but I also get to reward myself with a carefully chosen item or two to replace what I’ve got rid of.👍

@Ninkanink wise words thank you. Most of my BNWT is celebrating my reduced size and is the reason I need to clear out the stuff that brings no joy to get it in the cupboard. But there are a few others....... so good tip.

And liking the sound of a faux fur coat. Now I haven’t got one of those.....

NO!

Items from good brands also sell well without tags/having been used as long as they’re still in great condition.

@NoraEphronsNeck Thanks!

Ditavonteeseed I've never heard the term flesh tunnels before. Is that what they're called? I'm afraid to Google it lol!

FusionChefGeoff we can easily fluctuate up to two pounds day to day so I wouldn't worry too much about being a pound up.

CaptainObvious to avoid splashes of hot fat then use less fat, lower heat, or a different type of fat.

Ninkanink don't forget not balling your socks so they don't get tired and taking everything out of your handbag every day.

Cheeseisthebest Superdrug do their own version of Olaplex 3 which might be worth a try.

I've had a shock today with my period arriving eight days early. What's with that?! I thought I was in perimenopause last year but then everything went back to normal again. I had assumed perimenopause would mean fewer periods not more of the blasted things.

Today's earrings for my challenge are gold stars. They're not really gold though as I bought them from Superdrug when I was a teenager and they cost something like £2 for three pairs of earrings!

@cheeseisthebest boucleme is the one that helps for me - especially the intense conditioner as leave in.
Yes timing hair washing is an issue! I'm washing and diffusing in evening and by time morning comes the crunch has been sruched out overnight. Doesn't then take much to fluff up in morn but I've got v v fine hair

@Stuntnun I didn’t remember those!

I do keep my handbag very tidy and minimal - in fact it’s one of the things that signals to me that I’m not looking after myself properly and my life is starting to overwhelm me...when my handbag gets chaotic I know my life or my mind has tipped over to chaos state. Then when I switch over to another one, I clean out the previous one completely, make sure it’s clean inside and store it away until I need it again.

Tbh I don’t follow anything too slavishly - it offends my cultism radar - so I didn’t actually follow the process to the letter and never worked my way through her ‘system.’ I also don’t have a hoarding problem or anything so it wasn’t a matter of breaking down huge psychological and emotional barriers...I got what she was saying by the time I was a few chapters into the book and took that away and used it. I think what I needed from the book was a way to disengage from the idea that I needed things to do something for my state of mind that I could actually do for myself.

@cheeseisthebest palmers have a coconut hair mask which I leave on overnight and wash out in the morning, it works wonders on my dry curls.

@cheeseisthebest Hair treatments fall into two rough categories: protein or moisture. Olaplex 3 is a protein treatment so will help if your hair is damaged (eg after bleaching). If your hair is just dry, then any cheap hair mask will do (I like the Garnier Ultimate Blends tubs).

@cheeseisthebest I have no hair advice but I started using retinol at Christmas. I'm 40 and my skin was looking really dull and grey. I still get teenage spots. I couldn't manage to get my head around what I should be putting on my face, it sounds so bloody complicated! In the end I went with one of the "starter" retinol, Luna sleeping oil by Sunday Riley. It's expensive but seems to suit my skin (oily/combination). Spots have been reduced and I think my skin looks brighter. I'm going to buy another bottle when this one runs out I think.

Make sure you use SPF EVERY DAY when using retinol. I haven't had any peeling or redness but I think my nose is a bit oilier than it was.

Olaplex 3 isn't a protein treatment, it's a bonding treatment. Curlsmith have a new protein treatment which has great reviews but it sounds like you need moisture @cheeseisthebest
What's your current routine? Did you try using foam or mousse rather than gel? I'd recommend a sulphate free shampoo, silicon free daily conditioner and then a weekly conditioning treatment as a minimum. I rate Umberto Giannini for budget or Curlsmith or Boucleme if you want to spend money.
Olaplex 3 did nothing for my hair because it's not colour damaged

Special Saturday Request

Please could we have more photos of all your lovely cats/dogs/horses/sheep/pets & animals? I loved having a peek at everyone’s animals last time!

Your wish is my command

Did I mention we now have a working heating system? The cats are certainly appreciating it .... sitting on the pretty Klimt pashmina that dh got me last year for Christmas and the socks I knitted for him for his 60th.

@Stuntnun I'll save you googling.

Pets