Lockdown self-care plans turned to shite, please tell me I'm not alone

[LeopardPrintKnickers]

This is very trivial compared to the wider issues around Covid-19 I know, but I wondered if I was on my own here or there were more of us...

When lockdown was first announced, I decided to use this time, away from other people and the mad rush of day-to-day life, to make myself feel better, stronger, healthier, happier...

So, I made some plans:
I would continue with my very strict low-cal, food replacement diet that's hardcore but really works for me
I researched which online yoga classes were best and ordered a mat
I planned to walk the dog every day while listening to a podcast or something that would inspire me
I would drink a shit-tonne of water to aid weightless, stay hydrated and make me look gloomy and 10 years younger

The combination of these things that not only would I feel better from the outset, but I would emerge from lockdown feeling a million times better than before.

The reality is, juggling three kids, homeschooling, working full-time from home and all the challenges of lockdown, means I've done precisely jack shit. No, actually, worse than jack shit - I've actually regressed.

I weighed myself yesterday and I've put on a stone. A stone that is really showing and I really didn't need - making my overall goal even further away. My yoga mat is untouched in a cupboard. I live on tea and make food choices constantly because well, food right now is life. I don't drink water. I'm too knackered and lethargic to walk the dog.

I look dreadful. I feel dreadful. Worst of all though is having made all these plans I feel like I've let myself down, when really, I know I'm just getting us all through this as best I can.

Every part of me wants to pull it back and start with the plans I had, but then I see crisps or a flapjack and it all gets put off until tomorrow. Or the day after.

Is anyone else feeling the same, or am I the only one to be totally bollocksing up lockdown?

I have found my people!

Working from home full time and work is crazy busy. Have 3 kids with me and trying to home school them at the same time. We were in the middle of having an extension done before lockdown hit so currently have 2 of the kids sleeping in my bed, my eldest in her room, an en suite and half a kitchen. I know it's the very definition of first world problems but fuck me it's hard.

I'm doing the C25K and shower every day but that's about it. I look like fucking Hagrid. Haven't worn make up since lockdown started, have given up straightening my hair and am in trackie bottoms most of the time. The plan was that I'd loose weight, tone up (or at least get the bingo wings under control) and somehow become all groomed and glossy. I was going to make delicious home cooked meals every day and would be endlessly patient with the kids and their school work. The reality? I'm half assing everything, feel guilty about the kids - worried I'm not doing enough home schooling, guilty about work and stressed about the state of the house.

Anyone want a ?

Oh and @amber763 you're my hero!

Yes me! I've gained so much weight, house is chaotic, just getting everyone dressed and out the door for some exercise is almost impossible, the bloody dog could probably do a better job of home schooling my kids at this rate!

Yes me too! And I'm not even working from home, all my work has dried up (self employed) but homeschooling 3 kids is driving me insane, schools are setting a lot of work even for the 6 year old and I can't get them to do it all. I stagger through Joe Wicks every morning but have piled on the pounds and my skin has never looked so bad. Acne like a teenager even though I'm nearly 40 😭 In a moment of madness I dyed my hair turquoise near the beginning of lockdown and after the first wash it turned a really manky green colour so have spent most of the rest of the time trying to restore it to normal without damaging it further. In short, I look an utter state.

Hi, i have just joined mumsnet- basically inspired by your post. Well, 'inspired' is maybe the wrong word. Because I'm at fuck it stage now- nearly year after your post, i know. But I'm curious; did you follow any of the advice? How'd it go? I did notice the post was at 7 something am - and some of the replies- which made me laugh. 7 anything is so bloody organised! Ok, so i have been back at work (was on furlough) and start at 6 but that's different. Somehow I am incorporating that into having turned day in to night and night in to day and doing home School .. hell, i meet myself coming back regularly now. And I don't like what I've become either! Fat, lazy sugar and caffeine addict. And a pizza/ curry/ fish supper addiction.
One thing at a time- ha! I changed loads. All at once. Just in the wrong direction completely. Remember to drink?! Ha ha. What can I say about that. Never did drink enough water. Now drink plenty of wine. Never ever drank at home before.
Dear God, please say there's hope.??

Oh yeah and the lovely lady that commented about putting on 2 pounds or something; rreally? I nearly choked on my wine.
And- and this has fecked me off- when i tried to type 'mumsnet' in, my charming device insisted on suggesting 'Munster'.
What the Holy Crap is that all about?

Yep same here. It’s all so depressing. I was doing pretty well Pre covid and managed to lose most of the baby weight but still had a stone (!) to go. The only way I could do it back then was a sort of half-arsed fasting 3 days a week which seemed to be sufficient to lose weight (albeit at a glacial pace!). I found it doable as I knew I could eat normally the rest of the time. But WFH, 2 toddlers, anxiety, covid stress ... I now can’t even seem to muster the wherewithal to do 1 or 2 days of it a week. I start off well but by mid afternoon I just can’t be arsed and Jack it in, aiming to start again the following week

As a result I’m STILL about a stone off my target weight and feel absolutely hideous- my shape is all wrong, stomach is huge, arms wobbling, seem to have developed an extra chin ... and yet I still can’t stop eating shit.

The only thing I’m managing is 5 minute workouts every other day - I do 5 minute abs and 5 minute arms or cardio on YouTube - not kidding myself it’ll make a huge difference but is better than nothing just to get things moving and is so quick. Might be worth something very achievable like that?