Hop on, the train is about to leave frumpsville

[DULLDull]

I posted on chat a few days ago about this but thought this might be am even better place.

I am frumpy and I hate it.

I am 45, 3 stone overweight and a SAHM who feels has lost her mojo since motherhood descended 12 years ago.

I want to change so I am hoping to start a thread for any like minded fellow frumps.

I am thinking clothes, hair, make up, diet and style tips in one place to help release our inner goddess.

Anyone care to join?

On the flat stomach thing, I've found that following a lower carb / no refined sugar diet is unfortunately the best thing for me. I say unfortunately as I bloody love pasta, bread and biscuits.

A couple of weeks doing the above always made a difference (and then I usually fall off the wagon) and it then in turn stops me craving sugar a lot.

The biggest driver for this was when I realized my tummy stuck out as much as my boobs I had a transverse breech pregnancy which has ruined any muscles, but tbh, the rest of it is cake...

Count me in! For nails, I recommend a manicure to get them started. You will be amazed at how fast they grow after a bit of TLC. Easier and cheaper than gels. I would recommend Christopher Hopkins book ‘Staging Your Comeback ‘ as a great way to start gathering ideas.

AgathaTabithaBagatha

Off thread but your post was hilarious

Wait for me too please...?! < falls on in ungainly manner hops on>
I'm 38, could do with losing 3 stones, am generally feeling a bit lost and don't quite recognise the person that I have become. Like others, I need to find a 'look' that works with my actual lifestyle (not an imaginary and much more romantic one!). I need things that work with walking dogs, gardening, cycling everywhere etc...
I am happy with my hair (have a pixie which gets cut every 5 weeks), but have otherwise totally lost my way....

have had a fairly good day low-carbing (ignores one slice of home made lemon drizzle cake because home made doesnt count)
Been to dentist for appointment number 2 in a programme of 8 (weeps) to create new crowns and bridge for front teeth, and have been to optician for new bifocals.
I will de-frump, I WILL!

Shove up on the bench!

I have NYDJ and they do indeed help. But they are not cheap. I’d recommend trying them on in John Lewis, noting the size and style, and looking on eBay. I got a pair of black skinnies on there for £7 recently. They are a little snug but I will get there.

Wait for meeeeeeeeee!

I am staring 50 in the face, am very overweight and had a shocking day shopping with size 8 teen today. Tried a few things on and cried.

Also have MASSIVE and TERRIFYING new project at work which is going to be my promotion ticket. This involves a national road show series consulting key stakeholders. Next job is likely to be board level so need to sort myself out.

I remembered whilst crying that I have two huge black sacks of beautiful and expensive clothes that would fit me if I bloody well lost three stone so that's my first target.

Have booked the day off work tomorrow to do some planning for operation new Lunarsey. Menus, exercise, beautifying stuff, it's all going in my diary tomorrow!

I'll join in too.....I'm over 60 and looking at retirement garb. LAst winter it as jeggings and long tops.
To all those mentioning nails ...... The local beauty therapy training school ran some teaching sessions recently. The secret to decent nails is:
file only in one direction
Then decent base coat, three coats of colour then top coat. Allowing to dry between coats. Apply all in three stokes per nail, centre then each side.
I bought OPI base coat and topcoat via Ebay ( I think) and then use whatever you have.
I am looking at nails that were done 2 weeks ago- no chips and I have been gardening and washing up with no gloves.
Try it- it works,. The only problem is that when they do start to chip it is the devils own job to remove the rest.
Wish I'd known this years ago.

Today I went for a walk to do errands when I would normally drive and made myself a proper lunch instead of snacking. Baby steps.

@happypoobum
Is it pencil or ink eyeliner you are after?
If pencil, I use benefit bad girl pencil. You draw it on, it has a smudger thing if you want to soften it. Give it a couple of minutes to set and it doesn't move all day. Has totally stopped my panda eyes.

I am in the middle of my self improvement journey. Over about 4 years I have Marie Kondoed to 90%, lost 2 stone via calorie counting, had a slow wardrobe revamp (needs overhaul again tbh, but preggers again so need to see what my body is like post pregnancy). Did accompanying make up overhaul and beauty regime update.

Things still to do: fitness overhaul. Planning to crack this on mat leave. Needs to be sustainable once back to work. Mini style update once baby is out. Once back at work I need to concentrate on my drive there. Been a bit quick between these pregnancies and I've definitely felt frustrated at my lack of development and progression. Work for me is a lot about my identity and self esteem, so again very important for me personally to invest in. Plus some long term health issues to get properly on top of. And finish the financial overhaul.

I was pretty lost there for a bit after baby 1. It has been great, long slow overhaul, revisiting ideas I last explored in my teens around style and beauty. Investing in and prioritising myself has been brilliant for my self esteem. Our family home etc is much better for it, as is our family nutrition following all the learning I did around that. It has been brilliant actually.

I'll never quite get off the frumpington express - I will probably never quite invest enough time or money in it, or have the right figure. But I am back down in economy, having divested myself of my 1st class ticket!

Liskee, if your nails are looking sorry for themselves with polish the Dior nail glow will be just as bad.

My nails are strong and have always been long and grow fast, treated myself to the Dior polish and I thought it was not that good, it peels /shrinks from the edge and the colour is to candy pink for me. For the price I expected better.

I almost always have some polish on, but do take care of my nails they are never ever yellow from wearing polish too long. Base coat, colour x2 then top coat. But Im not obsessively buffing, soaking and so on, just when Im sitting watching TV etc, massage oil into my nails, olive oil or discovered Burts Bees hand cream which is good for nails

Love Revlon nail polish always worn it, OPI IMO is not as good find it chips easy, even Rimmel 60 is fine if you apply it well.

I have stubby fingers so slightly longer nails helps!

Welcome aboard new passengers. This train can stop at any time to let new people on and there's always room.

I like watermelonjuices idea about self care appointments.

LittleMy77 I shave my upper lip. Is that an option? My hair is very fine and fair and I probably only need to do it once a month. There is one persistent wirey black hair that I tweezer.

JeremiahBackFlip I know what you mean about wanting to teach your children about image when your own parents weren't fussed. I also know what you mean about buying whatever you see as you rush though m and s. I have spent a significant amount of time over the last few days ( hours) putting a Pinterest board together of autumn clothes. I have just logged onto any High Street shops website I like and looked up their autumn collection. It's a bit of a mix of clothes I'll be able to wear if I lose some weight and those I would probably only wear if I was at my target. I am going to clear out my wardrobe and draw up a capsule wardrobe list for autumn/winter and then reger back to my Pinterest board. Its been eye opening doing it like this as I normally get to November and realise I don't have enough jumpers and then rush out and buy whatever I vaguely like only to find its not so great with what else I own.

Lunarsey sorry to hear you had a bad day. I have a size 8 teen as well. They are buggers aren't they

mimibunz thank you for the book suggestion.

DaisyMay2 thank you for the manicure tip. I just need to stop being so lazy and try it.

Well done StarFace I Marie kondoed my house a few years ago. It was so therapeutic. I just dig that book out and do it again. I hate clutter.

I have been adding to my Instagram style collection. if anyone wants some suggestions to follow: my fashionable 40s, 40 plus not giving up yet and my midlife fashion.

I still haven't done my nails or cleared out my wardobe. I did sort my sons room yesterday though which took hours. Somewhat ridiculous as it's barely bigger than a cupboard but he wants to hold on to every toy he's ever owned in the last decade. I convinced him to put some in the loft which I then plan to get rid of

I'd like to follow along, please : ) I've been overweight, ungroomed and badly dressed since I was a teenager. Now I've lost almost 2 stone (though I've another 6 to go!) and I'm starting to get excited about unfrumping my new, healthy self. I don't have a clue where to start though, never having done any of it. So I'll be sitting quietly in the corner of the carriage, taking notes.

First things first - I'm off to Pinterest...

I have a shopping challenge! Non frumpy, but very very comfortable, sandals. I had planned on Saltwater but the colours I like are all sold out and I need them before I go on holidays.

Any suggestions?

DULLDull I have been doing that for a few years, looking on Pinterest ahead of the season then finding the pieces. Feeling smug as I was so envious of a lady on Christmas Day in a stunning red dress while we were on a beach holiday last year. I found one I loved reduced to $20 two weeks ago and every time I see it hanging in my wardrobe all ready for (our) summer & Christmas I give myself a little high 5! 🙂
Well I’ve washed my hair, shaved everything & ignored the children’s fighting and arguing. I find Rosehip oil products nice for my face lately, I’m getting lines around the eyes (33 soon) and some Rosehip oil night cream and a good nights sleep does wonders.
Tomorrow I plan to tackle my water intake. Way to low 😒

Two quick questions:

1. Have any of you for lines on your chest and if so what can be done? I have 4 vertical lines presumably due to a large bust.

1. I am blessed with wide feet and high arches so shoe buying is a challenge. Have any of you tried the brand Gabor. I am lusting after some leopard print wedge ballerina pumps on the JL site.

treaclesoda do you want flat or wedge? Are you average width?

How about any of these www.eccoshoesuk.com/ecco-womens-sandals/c56 treaclesoda?

I have wide-ish feet. Think I want flat, or a very very low wedge.

Tbh I shuddered a bit when I saw the link was Ecco (my octagenarian mum's brand of choice!) but they had a couple of pairs of slider type sandals that were actually ok

Glad to hear my mid-life frump distress is amusing you, delph.

Blimey, this train is getting busy. What an appalling sight we must be en masse.

What's the collective noun for frump? A bleh of frumps? A podge of frumps? A gallumph?

Onwards to Minxville!

Dull I am blessed with ample norkage and also have lines. I have found that the only thing that makes a difference is facial moisturiser. I suspect that the facial creams have a higher % of active ingredients than body formulated creams. I've been using the cheap moisturiser from Aldi to reasonable effect.