Has anyone reinvented themselves after letting themselves go?

[mommathatwearspink]

Since having my two children I have completely let myself go. Something I swore I would never let myself do and I’m really annoyed with myself. Between having two young children (4.5 and 1.5) and suffering depression, I’ve just stopped looking after myself... I didn’t even realise I was doing it. I would really like to reinvent myself in 2019 and start taking pride in myself again. Has anyone reinvented themselves after letting themselves go? What did you do?

I moved country, walked to lose weight, colored my hair; just challenged/changed myself to prove something to myself

Couch to 5K together with a low-carb diet. Took about a year but I'm really impressed with how far I've come.

I need help with this. I'm very impatient, I had been going to the gym for a month and although I was a bit more toned i still had a saggy little belly flop. So I gave up and now I've piled 7lbs back on over 6 weeks.

I don't k ow how anyone gets a flat stomach, is it diet?

Are there any mum weight loss meet ups? I'd be willing to meet another mum foe motivation and support :)

Multiple times!! lol

I find it's most important to get into the right frame of mind. Being determined, but knowing that it's a marathon not a sprint, and understanding that the odd fuck-up doesn't mean failure and giving up, it's just a setback.

The most effective way to do it is to bring in gradual changes and habitualise them one at a time before bringing in the next change.

Also, using CBT techniques really helps. So instead of my internal monologue consisting of berating myself and picking out all my faults, I consciously blocked all negativity and concentrated on positive, complimentary things to tell myself. My motto being that I would do/be better/closer to my goals today than I was yesterday, and better than today tomorrow. Cheesy as, but works!

Following for ideas! I go in waves - take care of myself for a bit start getting a bit lazy then back to my usual grotbag self until I get the urge to spruce up again. And the cycle continues...

I'm hopefully in the process of doing so. The past couple of years have been pretty shit health wise and I can't exercise at all, which is how I've always kept weight off before. I've finally found a way of eating which seems to be working in terms of weight loss without being constantly hungry (paleo) and hoping this is the start of me looking and feeling half decent again

Once I lost a fair bit of weight, I coloured my hair and got a new hair style. Have also changed to dressing for me rather than the jogging bottoms and unflattering T-shirt's. I wear dresses/jeans/tunics and feel good about myself.

I did. I lost a dramatic amount of weight - just busy - cut my hair, bought new slim clothes, got a new job and felt so much better. Kids were 4 and 1. It was great.

Now however I need to do it again. A very bad few years, various illnesses and I look old, am overweight, unfit, single, directionless.

I need to sort my health out, get some new clothes, ( I am living in leggings and oversized tee-shirts), find a new place to live, (am camping) and start the next phase. It can be done - but it takes energy.

Give everything a good scrub and polish. Moisturise, tidy your eyebrows, get a haircut-a realistic one you can care for yourself and which suits your hair type. Make another appointment for no more than 8 weeks time. Try to get into the swing of keeping it looking nice. if your hair is good it's 80% of the battle. I was 3 stone overweight, knackered and emotionally fried after I had my baby but I managed to keep my hair looking nice and everyone kept telling me how well I looked ( think the extra chub helped fill out my eye bags as well).

Don't wait to lose the weight before making other changes etc.
Want a new hair style do it now.
Want new clothes? Buy them now.
If you feel good in the body you are in losing weight will be easier.

I have three kids and a couple of years ago took up martial arts. I lost a lot of weight and got really fit and toned. I also run and cycle and did a triathlon this year. Got myself a fancy road bike and love whizzing around in my fancy lycra

I wear nice clothes and make an effort most days. Got hair straighteners for the first time etc.

I have bumped into people on numerous occasions who I haven't seen in ages and they literally didn't recognise me. One was a lady who snubbed me as a friend so that was satisfying!

I'm a different person now. Or rather I feel the real me is now shining through. As a result my marriage is great, I want sex! And I've made friends and socialise more. My kids are proud of me and I'm a better mum.

Yes after my first baby I really couldn't be bothered, and I did 'let myself go'. I used to be really into fashion, makeup, hair and a healthy lifestyle. All went out the window.

I had my second (and last) baby six months ago, and now I'm out of the newborn fog, I'm really enjoying finding 'me' again. For me that's healthy meal planning, buying some new clothes, getting my hair done and actually styling it, and I've been getting gel polish and treated myself to a new skincare and makeup regime. I'm making sure I wear a bit of makeup everyday.

I don't really have any weight to shift, but I do want to tone up because I'm skinny-fat, so I'm going to start yoga/Pilates.

Thanks for all of your advice
Im going to write a plan of action!

Yeah I do it everyday few years then backslide: I'm not good at sustaining things.

Yes. I lost 3.5 stone in my 40s. I looked amazing, having previously lived in fleeces. Piled all the weight back on, but have started again. Lost 10lb so far...

If you want a left field idea and have a bit of cash to spare then you could buy a cargo trike. My kids are the same age as yours and I go whizzing around on mine. It's great exercise and huge fun; I literally grin like an idiot when I ride it. Kids love it too. We also use ours for nursery/School run. This is ours: (warning theyre pricey) www.christianiabikes.com/product/light/

It's had a really positive effect on my mental health and as a result I feel good and want to take care of myself. Good luck OP XX