Operation Fit - what is it?

Operation Fit - what is it and why??  When I was out on a walk the other day I took a random photo of my shoes (as you do!) and I think a picture tells a thousand stories.  I realised when I looked at it later on, that actually you can see one side of my bottom is much bigger and lower than the other side............. In fact I'm pretty sure I'm growing an alien in it! But seriously, this is the lump that appeared a few months ago now and appears to be getting bigger every day! I've been MRI'd, scanned and x-rayed to within an inch of my life - and there's nothing life-threatening

My Plastic Surgeon (Mr Gorgeous) has told me its Lipodystrophy and is happy to do some work on me to remove this lump and a few others too that are not so prominent.  

I could have had the operation now, but all sorts of things prohibit it until end of November - but in any case - he wants me to be in the best possible shape for the operation and most of all my recovery. So whilst I've started upping my walking as much as possible the training doesn't start proper until the end of August. Just as well really as work is driving me insane and the Gin has taken a bit of a bashing over the weekend......But that was just the weekend - I'm back 'on it' now! 

So, back to the 'lump'! There will also be some liposuction - maybe not in that same operation, and one other op after that - maybe!!! So I have about 17 weeks to lose a bit of weight (with a fantastic holiday the fortnight before it!) but more importantly get a lot fitter than I currently am. 

I could probably have the op done on the NHS but I'd have to be prepared to wait a couple of years, so I'm paying for this myself and will have it done privately. My money = my choice.

But it's not going to be an easy 17 weeks by any means - we have a chaotic lifestyle which means we don't eat regularly and days off are often not days off! Getting an hour or 2 to myself to exercise is hard going. But, I am going to give this my best shot. 

So, am I scared...?? A bit! Am I excited ......? Hell yes!!! Am I prepared to work hard and get fit...... What do you think??!!  

You may search my time-worn face, You'll find a merry eye that twinkles
I am NOT an old lady
Just a little girl with wrinkles.

Happy Saturday campers - how are my born in '56 and later friends doing! I walked into the garage twice today before I remembered what the heck I'd gone in for!!! Do you do that?? 

So! I called this page and group Fab from 56 and my intention was for it always to be upbeat and inspirational - but actually that's blooming hard work on it's own......... because when I wake up in the morning and my legs have to find themselves the ability to move and I try not to 'ohh' and 'ahh' as I hobble out for the first pee of the morning (definitely) not the first pee of the night, it doesn't actually feel that frickin fabulous!  

My left knee won't bend as much as it used to and I think I'm perfecting the art of the old lady waddle! You know the one............rock from side to side like you're on that perpetual boat! My left hip aches if I dare to lay on it for longer than a couple of hours (chance would be a fine thing) and my right toe aches if its too damp!!!!!

Now tell me what the feck is there to be cheerful in that! Please don't remind me I'm alive - I think that (gratefully) when I look in the mirror every morning. BUT I've also stopped arranging any meetings early in the morning as my face needs much more than a coffee and a yogurt to de-crease itself! 

So what shall I do to cheer myself up this afternoon (apart from write these ramblings and bore you lot to death) I think I'll buy some new life enhancing make up! Givenchy to be precise - beautiful pots and containers and just seeing the pictures on the web cheer me up! Look at that cute little perspex pot with that colour just waiting to sculpt my cheeks....... yes cheeks! No flipping cheekbones anymore but still have cheeks! 

Oh........ and I have a holiday to look forward to in 2 weeks time - but more about that later, 

Enough for now (Thank the heavens for that I hear you cry!) 

Much love

Liz x x x

Teeth!

Or as my old Mum used to say to me - "Teeth? Nuisance coming, nuisance when you have them and an even bigger nuisance when they're going"!  I think she wasn't far wrong!

I've NOT got great teeth - straight up they could be much better. I have gaps, fillings and they're not a beautiful colour. For some of this I'm afraid I do have to lay the blame at my Mums door (sorry Mum if you're looking down on me as I type this) and also the culture of the '60s when I was little. Mum didn't encourage me to clean my teeth as we do now, and when I went to the Dentist (who I inherently had a fear of) then it was for extractions (with a black rubber mask over my face - still can't bear the smell of rubber) and awful smelling gas that knocked you out and off you went.  Oh crikey, I can smell it as I type!!!! 

But where did we go after the dentist??? Straight to a sweetshop to stop my tears!!!!! 

The fear of Dentists has stayed with me all my life, and I never actually went to a dentist for many, many years in my 20's and 30's until I found a great private dentist who dealt with scared patients and I've gone privately ever since. I make myself go every 4/5 months even though I know that many times I will sit there quietly crying (even for a check up - I know I know!!) heaven help the dentist if I need a filling.............. I also get quite a rush of adrenaline as my body goes into flight or fight mode, that means I'll have a headache for the rest of the day and evening. 

Now, I'm mature and my teeth are starting to give me problems by receding gums and should teeth be saved or extracted.  So why do we have problems with teeth as we get older?? 

Well I am not a dentist and I am not a medic, but when researching this issue guess what I found causes us problems??? Yep - good old MENOPAUSE!!!!  Aargh............

During menopause and other times of hormonal fluctuation, women are apparently at a greater risk of dental problems, including gum problems. During menopause, this is most commonly associated with changing oestrogen levels and the natural ageing process.

During menopause, as the body prepares to shut down the reproductive functions of the ovaries, oestrogen levels begin to spike and fall erratically, eventually leading to a significantly decreased production of oestrogen. This drop in oestrogen can increase the risk of gum problems, tooth loss, and osteoporosis.

I had no idea that Menopause caused these sorts of problems - I really didn't.........

So! What can we do apart from the usual dental appointments, flossing, brushing etc etc; 

Make lifestyle adjustments - exercise regularly, get sufficient quality sleep, brush and floss twice daily, eat a balanced diet that includes calcium from leafy greens and dairy foods, fruit and veg is rich in Vitamin C and this is great for your mouth health.  Foods rich in phytoestrogens - like soy, flaxseed, and peas - can moderately raise oestrogen levels. Lean red meat is also apparently good as is Almond Milk. 

You should avoid excess amounts of sugar, alcohol and tobacco, high stress levels and if you encounter problems - don't just think it will go away - SEE YOUR DENTIST. 

Now I could just sit and cut and paste but instead, here are some websites/articles I've researched and which I'm sure you'll fine interesting, 

http://www.prima.co.uk/diet-and-health/healthy-living/news/a38248/smile-health-post-menopause/

http://www.yours.co.uk/health-and-wellbeing/health/articles/how-the-menopause-could-affect-your-teeth



Happy Flossing!

Liz x x x x

Let's talk Menopause

I'd like to say that the above image isn't representative of the menopause but sadly for so many women it really does seem to be the case. Personally I had more trouble with the Peri-Menopause than the menopause itself! Oh yes, dear girlfriends there are 3 stages of this nonsense; Peri-menopause starts anywhere from late 30's to early 40's. That's when periods start to be erratic and often heavy. For me, that was the very worst part and I had some awful embarrassing times when my periods were so heavy I was afraid to go into meetings or out and about in case I had 'an accident'!  Menopause and then there is the post-Menopause anywhere from 10 months to 4 years after where most if not all the symptoms come to an end. 

So -  The Menopause - generally starting around 48 - 50 years old - this is where periods stop! It's a natural part of ageing and happens because Oestrogen levels decline.  Common symptoms include all of the above in the picture but also depression, vaginal dryness (try putting that in a picture) and often reduced sex drive. 

For many women it's a relief to not have the bother of periods anymore, for others it's often seen as a loss - there is no longer any chance of having children.  There's often a sense of loss of femininity as well due to the physical changes we undergo. Because of the lack of Oestrogen there are also associated health risks; Bone density changes, hair becomes thinner etc, bladder loss of control etc, etc. 

If you read about menopause you will see a whole load of things you can do; HRT, natural remedies, vitamins, dietary stuff - interestingly Japanese women rarely have hot flushes or sweats as they traditionally have a low fat and high in soy products (tofu etc).

For me the Menopause and since has been ok'ish - I would say the mood swings were the worst but I've always been a crotchety prickly person, so not much new there! 

The hot flushes were probably the worst, but it's nothing to be ashamed of so I made fun out of them when other people were around me. As for sheets or duvets - who needs them! Windows open - windows closed every 2 minutes - so what! 

Interestingly I found that sweet things (including wine - 😢😢😢) made me worse.........??? 

I don't miss periods in the slightest - I was bloody glad to see the back of the monthly blighters! I have taken the opportunity to look at my diet and try to be healthier in my food choices.  I did explore HRT but chose not to go down that route.  I think you just have to remember that this is natures way of bringing a natural close to our child bearing age and on to the next exciting bit of our lives - free from periods, fear or pregnancy and a time to learn who we really are........... What do you think?? 

Cruising? It's a no from me!

Ok - so now that I'm not connected to oxygen or a drip  (regular FB readers will know) it's a good time to review (fairly in my opinion) my first ever cruising experience. 

Did I enjoy it?? Not particularly! Would I do it again? Almost certainly not. We were on the Balmoral (Fred Olsen) and were on the Norwegian Fjords trip in January.

Firstly the good:- The embarkation was a dream and a mile away from the hassle of airports! 

The food was incredibly good - most of the time. The grill room was amazing though and eating a meal with new found friends in a force 10 will stay with me forever.  The quality of the Beef used was exceptional. A galley team of 93 consistently produced all day food and cakes that were superb! (I suspect many still thought they were dining at a Michelin restaurant and expected even better). 

The service from the likes of the 2 here Danilo and Bancha, and our Cabin Maid Emma was exceptionally, exceptionally good. Always smiling, always happy despite seemingly being there from morning to night! Nothing was too much trouble. Great ambassadors for 'Fred'.  As were so many of the team aboard the ship. You were met with those smiles most of the time from most of the team. 

We did (despite my comments to follow) also meet some quite lovely people who I believe we will remain firm friends with. 

The entertainment far exceeded my expectations and the young troupe of dancers/singers were very good as was the dance duo Epic Moves and the comedian Micky Zany. How they all managed to perform in the rough seas I will never know. Yet still I heard moans about that! 

Talking of rough seas - it was January/February and guess what? We had rough seas but the Captain was incredible at keeping us on as smoother path as possible. However, the moans and groans from some passengers at not being able to go on deck was amazing!!

Norway itself for the little I saw was beautiful and the friendliness of the people was amazing. The trips were I thought expensive initially but actually were hardly any more expensive than booking it yourself. The Northern Lights were beautiful - not once but three times we saw them - as were the killer whales and dog sledding.  All magical memories!

But there was much I didn't like...............

I couldn't bare the culture of boastfulness of many of the clients and wow some of the arrogance of the 'cruisers' was incredible. For example - Flo and Fred (not their real names) were dining guests with ourselves and some new friends and the thought of having been saddled with them for 15 nights filled me with dread - but they appeared not to like our company and we found them spirited away after just a few evenings. So if you were unfortunate to be with people who normally would not have been to your liking or company you were in effect stuffed unless you (clearly) asked to be moved! I would have liked the opportunity for more 'free' company dining for that very reason.

But the 'one upmanship' displayed was breathtaking. It almost became a joke when in conversation with guests as to 'how many cruises' and 'where'! Heavens forbid you should say you weren't sure you liked it so far! I thought I may be taken outside and made to walk the plank for daring to suggest it was less than wonderful on one occasion.  

I also struggled with the sheer gluttony from some cruisers, as well as the rudeness and attitude to the  staff - waiting staff in particular  ....... My goodness I now know why the Brits (in particular) get such a bad press!

Lots and lots of attention to not contracting Noro Virus with a welcome when going to dinner consisting of a smile and hand gel! Great. But not when you then witnessed people picking up food from the buffet with their fingers and then eating it - bypassing the plate completely.
I found a steely glare worked wonders......... 

Captains Meet & Greet consisted of a smile, hello and photos but no bodily contact in case of NV! There were even signs asking you not to touch items in the ships shops! 

But oh my goodness the ship was old and tired; there wasn't the glamorous feel to it I had expected and anticipated, there were dressier evenings but it wasn't enforced so I felt little point to it. Our corridor smelt damp and the deck furniture was poor and rusting. Our cabin (not cheap I have to say) was beyond tired. 

It's clear 'Fred' has a super loyal following with some guests doing back to back cruises, and many extolling the 'Fred' virtues at every opportunity. 

Was I unlucky in our choice of first ever cruise? Were my expectations too high in the first place? Friends have said yes to those questions but I'm nowhere near brave enough to try another.  

However, I've seen a rather nice top notch boutique River Cruise that's taken my fancy......💕 

Welcome to Fab from '56

Hello, and welcome to my first blog post from "Fab from '56". I'm Liz and yes I'm shock horror 60! Shock because I always thought 60 was old.......... yes even until I was 59! 

But do you know what - I'm actually ok now I've got here. 

So as with all good things, lets have a little background about how I got to 60. 

• Aged 10 - Daddy had died and Mum had re-married. I was in a new school, new area and no friends & quickly labelled as the 'posh kid' because I didn't swear, drink or smoke. Yes at 10! (oh how that was to change as I grew up!!) It was that kind of school in that kind of area! 
• Aged 20 - Married for 3 years with one child and one on the way (yep - married at 16!!)
• Aged 30 - Married with one beautiful son, our second cherished daughter had been born with Cerebral Palsey and died at the age of 8 months. I was working full time and life was a blur 
• Aged 40 - Our beautiful son had flown the nest and there was a great deal of naval gazing as I started to re-assess where I was in life and what did I want - especially as my darling Mum had died
• Aged 50 - I was in a new relationship, in a new town and a new career. Hurtling towards a divorce I could never have envisaged!
• Aged 60 - 1 new Husband, 2 gorgeous grandchildren and I'm happy, settled and finally I've found the peace and love I had craved

There you go - a potted version! Now you only have to look at the lines on my face to know there's much more to all of that, but it gives you a fair idea of the life I've seen and lived. 

So at about 55, I realised I was probably going to get to the ripe age of 60 and I started dreading it! I mean really dreading it!! It didn't matter how much tosh I read about 60 being the new 50 - it meant nothing to me. 

I ate too much, I certainly drank too much and gradually slipped into a wallowing self induced coma of self pity. Then something major happened to me last year. It was pointed out to me I might not see 60 if I kept that lifestyle up and suddenly I realised I WANTED to be 60!!! Also 70, 80 and 90 - if possible thank you God. 

So out went the rubbish food, out went the booze.  In came the walking, the trips to a clinical hypnotherapist (the lovely Nick) to sort out the food issues and I started to look forward to being 60 as my health reflected better choices! 

So - that's me! The Black and White photo is from the very talented Carolyn Seager who made me look quite sexy (so my Husband says) thanks in part to the great make-up from Carole Lacy and the photo at the top of this blog is from Martyn Norsworthy who has captured the me that most people see, and as my Husband said "oh yes - I like this one!". I like them both - I think they are both me! By the way, I should say neither are 'airbrushed' I've earned those lines! 

Also, I'm quite normal - I've always lived in a rented Council property till I/we could afford a house 5 years ago, I used to know what was in my purse to the last penny and whilst thats not the case now I'm certainly not wealthy but I'm vaguely comfortable. I know that being 60 with no family or no job or poor health is not fun - I hope though that this blog will appeal to all women. 

So! What will I be blogging, face booking and twittering about? Not quite sure yet - but I'm thinking a bit of beauty, a bit of health, perhaps some serious stuff and maybe just a bit of chat! 

Please let me know what YOU would like to see in it and above all - enjoy the energy I put into it. 

Namaste

Liz x

http://clinicno3.co.uk
http://www.carolynseager.co.uk
http://norsworthyphotography.com
http://www.southhamshypnotherapy.com/about/