What have you done in the past...

[SuckingDownDarjeeling]

That you don't think you could do again? Or wish you could do again but think you'd struggle?

Just a general thought I'm interested to hear people's input on. For me, it's definitely weight loss. I lost about 5/6 stone about 15 years ago. It wasn't easy, I really did try hard and put a lot of effort into it.

Since then, I've gained weight since having kids and I can't imagine having that level of drive and determination again. I definitely want to though! And will keep trying. It's just sparked a thought about what other things people have managed to do in their past that they think they'd struggle to do again.

I can imagine in another decade's time, I'll be wondering how I managed so many sleepless nights with my kids 😅

Saving? Weight loss? Kids? Leaving a bad relationship? Carrying a heavy bag from the car? Anything you're proud of having been strong enough to achieve?

I gave up smoking for four years. I started again 3 years ago and haven't managed to quit yet. I feel like it should be easier this time because I did it before, but I'm finding it so much harder.

Also, I used to work out hard for 4 hours in the gym at least twice a week, usually more. I am going to join a gym when the lockdown is lifted but I have a feeling I won't find it as easy as I used to!

Writing my dissertation. I jokingly say it nearly killed me, but I actually did nearly kill myself over it (obviously there were other underlying issues as well) and I couldn't go through that again.
The sleep deprivation of babies: DC2 is now 5 and still a terrible sleeper, but when my maternity leave ended she was 10 months old and slept for about 2 hours at a time but only if I sat up and held her, I couldn't put her down or lie down or she would wake up and cry inconsolably, waking her sister up too. I worked 13hr shifts on about 4 broken hours of sleep, and I have no idea how I survived.

Sometimes I wonder if remembering that we did it before somehow makes it harder?! I struggle to remember what kicked me up the backside to do it in the first place 🤷‍♀️

Ending my marriage. It took phenomenal amounts of strength. I wonder if I could do that again.

@NoMoreWeepingAndWanking hopefully you won't have to

I have to say I'm very impressed so far!! Well done on achieving so much, it's inspiring.

Well I'm not planning on ever getting married again so that will help...

Skydive

Weight loss- I lost 9 stone 5 years ago then I had a baby, mental health issues and subsequent weight gain wish I’d tried harder to keep it off

Study for 5 years in the evenings and get a degree. Kids were not born when I started, but I finished when my youngest was 2. Can’t quite believe I did it really

Running a marathon. Did London 2 years ago and desperately want to do another as it wasn't a great day and I was disappointed with my time but for the last 2 years I have been plagued with injury, chronic fatigue and various associated inflammation and pain. Having a better time recently so started running again but still walk running just up to 5k. A marathon feels impossible.

Also giving up smoking...gave up for several years but now keep stopping/starting again. I just love it so much. Never stop wanting one! Obviously it would help the running too!

And I agree weight loss. I don't find it easy now and I don't mean it's hard to lose weight I just can't stick to it for more than a day!!

Karate.
I was in training for my black belt when my fibromyalgia started getting worse. It's been years since o had to quit and I still miss it.

YY to the baby days. Ds2 didn't sleep through till aged 3. The damage to my mental and physical health has been harsh. I love the very bones of him, but there's just no way I'd have another.

Working in retail - fibromyalgia. Even the thought of it is painful.

Weight loss and giving up smoking for me. I lost nearly 7 and a half stone 25 years ago but I put it all back on again with interest. It only took me a year to lose it. I started trying to lose weight again 2 years ago,and so far I've lost 4 and a half stone. It is SO difficult this time around. It seems unbelievable that I lost nearly twice as much in half the time last time.
I started smoking when I was 17 and gave up when I was 35,for a combination of health and financial reasons. It was amazingly easy,despite just going cold turkey,no gum or patch replacements. I started again when my mum died 8 years ago,and have been trying on and off since then to give up. I've tried vaping but it just doesn't cut it for me. Every time I give up,a few weeks in,a minor crisis occurs and I start again. At nearly 10 quid a packet,I really can't justify the expense. I can't figure out why it's so difficult this time.

Taking my brother to court for historical sex abuse, and winning, and seeing the fucker wangle/lie his way out of a prison sentence. Wouldn't bother of I could do it over.

for @Alma.

Climbing. I used to love it. Now I get vertigo.

Work for twenty four plus hours straight. I used to work backstage in theatre, the turn around time between shows was often very tight. I’d start work at 12pm for the Saturday matinee, work that show and the evening show. Once the evening show finished we’d take apart the set and remove the sound and lighting over night, load it all into trucks then once those trucks went the trucks with the next show in them would arrive and we’d do the whole process in reverse. I struggle to stay up past eleven now .

There's lots of things I would like to do but haven't done before (misses the point!) Probably never will which I find hard to come to terms with. Couldn't possibly again go through what I have over the last twenty years. Hoping for easier times ahead, but my priority is leading a stress free life, which doesn't fit with the things I would really like to do.

Wow! that's all amazing! For me I'm not exactly sure what's the biggest problem losing weight this time around. I was much younger before and I didn't enjoy food the way I do now. I feel that's more relevant than the suggestion that it's harder to lose the older we get, because I see so many examples of people losing weight even at 50+ and I refuse to believe I can't do the same

Illnesses getting in the way of things sounds demoralising and I'm sorry. And the idea that you could develop vertigo after being an avid climber is shocking! I had no idea that could happen.

I actually used to work 60+ hour weeks - I'm not even in a position to consider that again right now but I do wonder if I'd be able to hack it.

I was very surprised when last year my mum suddenly quit smoking. She actually had no intention to, she just wanted to try vaping and at first she hated it, but it turned out she needed a more powerful 'vape thingy'. Once she had that set up for her in the shop, her open pack of cigarettes never appealed to her any more after so many decades of her smoking and me wishing she would stop, it just happened. That still blows my mind.

I'm sorry Alma I cant imagine how that must feel. I hope you know that you did the right thing regardless x

With one child in my 20's I used to be so fit and tidy and motivated.
Now with 3 children in my 40's I'm so unfit, house is permanently a mess and I'm exhausted all the time.
I think back in wonder at how much energy I used to have.