Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describes a sense of exhaustion and post-exertion malaise, even when you have gotten enough rest and sleep. The disease is characterized by six months of incapacitating fatigue experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. The cause is unknown, but it is a...
OK folks. Lets talk grooming. Fortunately I am still able to work. Unfortunately it is in the suits n heels type of corporate environment.
I'm a full figured girl but have always know how to work the six inch heels and dress to flatter my curves. So I've always held my own in this high polish, sometimes highly superficial setting. Make that past tense...
I'm only 42, but when I started getting sick within about 3 months my hair turned white. So now I look 10-15 years older than my peers ( I hate that).
I've also gained 60 lbs since I started getting sick (I hate that more)
And I can't wear high heels anymore more (really hate that .. seriously..I have over 100 pairs of high heels at home). I also find that flats for work are generally butt ugly. So I find one pair, wear it every day for a few months until it starts looking really pathetic, going shoe shopping is too much effort so it really has to look seriously ragged, then I trade it in for another butt ugly pair...
My hair is a mess. I cut it all off a year ago for easy maintenance but even short hair is too much work. At home color jobs come out horribly but I dont have the physcial fortitude to be at the salon every 2 weeks touching up the color.
I used to do a mani-pedi every month, now its down to one-two times per year. My fingers and toes are a mess and I know it.
I don't have the energy to shop for new clothes..my body hurts too much for the mani/pedi/facial thing..I dont even have the energy to pick out makeup and jewelry.. even keeping up with my laundry is a bit too much.
I have to admit, I've been stepping out looking ragged and most times just feel too crappy to care.
Yet I do believe that putting ourselves together nicely helps us to feel much better about ourselves and improves our outlook. So, my question is, how do you stay on top of the basics? Not trying to look like Kim K here, just trying to not look neglected when I step out in the morning...
I'm a full figured girl but have always know how to work the six inch heels and dress to flatter my curves. So I've always held my own in this high polish, sometimes highly superficial setting. Make that past tense...
I'm only 42, but when I started getting sick within about 3 months my hair turned white. So now I look 10-15 years older than my peers ( I hate that).
I've also gained 60 lbs since I started getting sick (I hate that more)
And I can't wear high heels anymore more (really hate that .. seriously..I have over 100 pairs of high heels at home). I also find that flats for work are generally butt ugly. So I find one pair, wear it every day for a few months until it starts looking really pathetic, going shoe shopping is too much effort so it really has to look seriously ragged, then I trade it in for another butt ugly pair...
My hair is a mess. I cut it all off a year ago for easy maintenance but even short hair is too much work. At home color jobs come out horribly but I dont have the physcial fortitude to be at the salon every 2 weeks touching up the color.
I used to do a mani-pedi every month, now its down to one-two times per year. My fingers and toes are a mess and I know it.
I don't have the energy to shop for new clothes..my body hurts too much for the mani/pedi/facial thing..I dont even have the energy to pick out makeup and jewelry.. even keeping up with my laundry is a bit too much.
I have to admit, I've been stepping out looking ragged and most times just feel too crappy to care.
Yet I do believe that putting ourselves together nicely helps us to feel much better about ourselves and improves our outlook. So, my question is, how do you stay on top of the basics? Not trying to look like Kim K here, just trying to not look neglected when I step out in the morning...
I've also been having more and more footwear problems.
On my worst months, I try to get together the energy one night per week to lay out a few outfits, down to the earrings, so I can get up and go in the mornings--when I'm typically at my worst. I found a powder that's foundation + powder in 1 so I don't have to do both steps, and I often apply the last couple steps of makeup in the car in the parking garage.
Shopping is such a nightmare, right? I haven't gone in forever, and I'm desperately due. Seriously, I know this is pretty personal, but if I don't force myself to at least go underwear shopping soon I'm going to be in real trouble! In the past, what I've done is gotten a friend to go shopping with me so they help me keep my momentum, and can do double-duty of picking out things for me from one rack while I look through another. And once you find your sizes at a particular store/brand, WRITE IT DOWN. Especially for shoes. I hope to establish a good list soon so I can do some of my shoe shopping online in the future.
PS : Other advice sounds good, especially the laying everythign out part.
Do you ever have the days where you have everything that's perfectly beautiful and just dont want to wear it?
Its just so depressing to feel fat and ill looking all the time.
I try to shop online a lot so i dont have to physically walk around the shops. I also wear boots a lot luckily there in fashion over here so when i find a pair i like a buy i buy about 3 pairs.
As for my nails i get my sister to shape and paint them for me when she comes to visit.
Lane Bryant's clothes are so pretty back when I fit their smallest size I would find stuff they didn't have in my size and be sad I wasn't big enough to fit it.
If the rest didn't sell you, this should. I live in a wealthy area, near Microsoft. I however am poor. In addition I am overweight due to the cfs. I was in Whole Foods one day and a woman stopped me to gush over my sweater, clearly in love with it. I beamed and told her where I got it. "Really?" She asks, incredulous. "I haven't been there before. I'm going to have to go there."
That compliment felt so good.
I was in pain a few months ago because I out grew all my bras around my ribs. I went to a Victoria's Secret because their bras last a long time and make me look 10 years younger. It is the ideal place to shop with cfs.
I told them I needed to replace all of my bras. They brought me straight to a fitting room, measured me (privately), asked what I wanted in a bra. They had me wait there where I could sit. They then brought me all the bras they thought I'd like. Then they checked on me and brought me different sizes. Finally they wrote down all I wanted. Those were the tester bras so then I needed to go get unworn bras to purchase. They walked around with me, taking me straight to the bras and pulling out the proper sizes and letting me pick colors. They even carried them for me. Without them I probably wouldn't have been able to stay long enough to get more than 2 bras.
I have always worn flats when working due to jobs where I had to stand up all day and wear dress shoes. Some of them are very pretty. When you go shopping, purchase more than one pair if you can. This way you won't have to go back for a long time.
Maybe you can sell those high heels.
So sorry you are in too much pain to do a mani-pedi. If I could afford to I would go regularly. I find it so relaxing. Especially when they do a foot massage. The massage chairs are nice too. I've only been able to do that a few times.
I hear you with the laundry. Last week I finished all my laundry and put it all away. I was so excited. It's the first time I've been able to do all of it in years. This doesn't count the kids, just mine. But still, it's been years! I don't even mind that there is a new load of laundry on the dresser and I need to wash a load or two now. Just knowing for one afternoon it was all done makes me feel good. It took days...sometimes I only put away one thing and rested.
I haven't built up a good set of stores for online shopping because I still need to get a list together of my sizes everywhere. But I think it'll be great once I do it, even if I only eliminate shopping for basics like camis and underwear. Anything to eliminate an errand, right?