Anyone fancy a bit of an overhaul before Christmas thread?

[Helgathehairy]

Please don’t throw me in the stocks for mentioning Christmas!!

During Covid everything has gone to pot a bit - I’ve put on weight, none of my clothes fit right, hair (and eyebrows) desperately need doing and I’m still a bit hesitant to go somewhere to do something so non-essential. Kids have been home constantly and Self-care & housework has become sporadic (at best!). I have elderly family members who are high risk that I’m helping and I’m wondering about exposure and contact and sometimes my mental health takes a bit of a battering due to demands from them. DH is working and we cut back spending well at the start (mostly due to me not going to the shops)but I’ve stated doing a bit more impulse shopping as shops opened and DHs job is connected to the travel industry and isn’t secure so I really need to stop. Next week my kids are back in school and I really want to get things more organised. I like a deadline to keep me on track.

Here’s my thinking - on Sunday it’s 100 days to 1st December. I really want to arrive at the start of December feeling more organised and less sluggish, calmer and just feeling more ME.

Previously Princessing threads have run on the Style & Beauty board but as this is more of a comprehensive overhaul I thought chat might be a better fit??

This is a previous PrIncessing thread for an idea, there have been lots more, including a pandemic one, but this one was started by me. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2458842-Countdown-to-Christmas-princessing

So anyone interested?

(I’m on my phone, which isn’t great for long threads so apologies if it’s a bit disjointed, I just wanted to just get it down.)

I’m doing well with the decluttering the house and keeping the garden de weeded etc

But... am struggling with the healthy eating. I’ve made my meals better but then I’m rewarding myself for having a healthy meal with them eating crap... so lunch had a cucumber, feta and tomato salad then because my lunch was so good I had an ice cream and then crisps...
Any tips for this?

Day 93 - sorted through more clothes today and made another big pile for donating.

No exercise today as was at the shops but managed decent steps. Going for a swim with a friend tomorrow.

Overtherainbow i have a box of treats which contains nothing above 100 calories (skinny whip bars from Iceland/B&M and snack a jacks when craving crisps they do ice creams in Aldi's at less than 100 calories too) it means I don't feel I'm missing out too much good luck 😋

Day 93

So Goal Number 1 (everything in it's rightful place) after the plumber, tiler and electrician all failed to turn up, didn't work. They are due back this week. Did, however, do a lot of tidying up and the house looks a lot better. Loads more to do. Need to break the back of it this week - we have a sleepover planned this coming weekend.
Goal Number 2 - some form of exercise 6 x week completed. Swam half a mile this morning. Signed up to an Aspire 'swim the channel' challenge to keep me going.
Goal Number 3 15 mins of translation/writing a day - managed to randomly do some Friday; BH tomorrow so should get some more done.

It has been good having just the 3 targets for this week; will revamp tomorrow.

No tips from me, my eating is awful.

Had visitors today so gave the main rooms a maintance tidy and the house isn't looking bad. I'm saving the more detailed cleaning for the children going back to school.

Trying my night time tea for the first time tonight after a week of really bad sleep. Fingers crossed.

Also ordered a new Fitbit charger for a step challenge in September. I was sure I would find it during my tidying up but sadly not. I'll probably come across it tomorrow now I've paid for another.

Sleepy tea didn't work....

I will join in. I'm starting the gym next month ( via gp) when the kids go back.

I'm also trying to do a major declutter and only buy things as I need them ( so I need a new budget system)
I downloaded to TOM app but it's been sporadic at best with the kids home 24/7.

I really wanted to go back to work and do my PGCE next year. But with covid and wrap around care being hit at my dd infant school I think it's another year of being a sahm.

I might as well start treating it as a job, rather than extended maternity leave.

DAY 92

Had a post done and it didn’t post for some reason.

Today is going well:
Dog walked
Phone calls made (I hate making phone calls)
Living room cleaned as per TOMM
Took DD2 to the park after pre-school
Load of laundry done (just need to fold & put away)
Floors vacuumed and mopped.

Deep clean of whole house done
Second week online course done
Utility/large storage area and larder decluttered, organised and sorted
Freezer empty (defrost later)
Eating not brilliant as had two celebrations and a bank holiday weekend this week!
I'll be going into one of my jobs twice a week from now on, so am v excited about that, feels like a new start all round.

Is it too late to join?

At the start of lockdown I was all "this is my chance, I will sort myself out" but then just let everything slide.

My main thing is losing weight as I feel really unhappy with how I look so want to shift about 2 stone. No alcohol either, id be really ashamed if people knew how much I've been drinking and I can't just seem to have a glass so it will be easier just not to have it in the house.

My youngest starts school at the end of the week but Thursday and Friday are settling in sessions (hour each day) and then the following week will be half days before going full time so I want to give the house a really good deep clean before December, think I will do a room a week. It think this will be easier with the kids out of the house.

Reading all your posts has got me motivated and now I've written it down fingers crossed I will actually stick to my goals!

Day 92: more bloody laundry! We only went away for five days ffs . Almost done now thank God, and mostly all put away too.

Unexpected child free afternoon courtesy of my brilliant in-laws, so am swinging between using the time to get loads of stuff done or snatch a rare chance for a hot cup of tea and a long bath 🤔. Have cleared two bags of outgrown children’s clothes and shoes and done a quick ten minute tidy in each room, so I think that’s enough for now. Bath time!

CosmicMonkey My middle DC has three weeks of half day settling sessions! She doesn’t get properly going in Reception until 21st September

I feel rotten today so I'm taking it as a rest day. I have taken my vitamin and done the laundry and cooked a healthy dinner, but that's my limit for today.

Can I still join? I could really use the motivation and accountability. Am Dutch, so don't really understand stones, but I'm 94 kg, and would like to get to 90 as a start.
In addition, we managed to tidy some parts of our house over the summer, but still heaps and heaps to do to get it really liveable and nice again.
I want to stick to a good set of vitamins, fruit instead of chocolate as snacks during the day (Higher Ed lecturer mostly teaching online in 4 hour videocalls), and a daily walk or something.
I already drink 1-2 litres of tea every day.
Sleep needs to become a priority.

Day 92

Goal Number One Everything In It's Rightful Place is progressing. Lots of ruthless getting stuff ready for the tip. Fingers crossed that the tiler, plumber, electrician (not the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker!) all turn up as rearranged for this week. Otherwise I will be very cross.
Goal Number Two Lots of Exercise 6 exercise sessions per week. This week will be 2 x gym, 1 x yoga, 1 x swim and 1 x spin class.
Goal Number Three Writing/Translating 15 mins per day; this is harder in the mess we are currently living in, once Number One is underway I will make a nice space for this activity.
Goal Number Four. Log all food on MyFitnessPal. No judgement.

Here's to a good second week for us all.

Day 92-work day again. But l have had a tidy of my kitchen food cupboards l thought l would have loads of out of date food but no it’s all ok.

Done 13,000 steps ate well and vitamins where taken and l am also in bed to wind down before l am going to asleep at 10.45pm l Hope.

Goodnight all.

And flossing!

Day 92 - swam 660m before baby sensory class which was good. I'm starting to get a nice little tan from swimming outdoors (I don't live in UK so that's making me feel better also).

Did a tabata workout in the afternoon which really helps burn calories and only 30 mins. Just been using workouts I've found on YouTube.

While kids napped I gave self a gel mani and pedi. And tried out my new purple shampoo in shower.

No house tasks done today so will aim to do some sorting tomorrow but a good day on the "self" front.

Hopefully not too late to join in on this ladies- Day 91

Plan is to

Keep on with intermittent fasting and daily steps
Yoga when I can each week
Making sure I have time for my college work for a counselling course I am doing on Wednesday evenings
Taking time to do something self care like each day - nails, hair mask, face mask that kind of thing
Sort out one drawer or cupboard a week as mid house renovations things get moved round and round without us checking we actually still need them

Have a good day everyone

May I join please?

Lockdown has seen me gain some unwanted pounds! Don't want to face the truth on the scales.

I'm starting with the C9 detox today. I will weigh myself once I've completed the program. I'll probably do slimming world once I've completed the detox.

I want to lose around 2.5 to 3 stone I guess.

Snipples I’m so jealous of your outdoor swimming, that sounds wonderful. I remember swimming in a lake in the Dordogne years ago on holiday and really enjoying being in open water without being buffeted about by waves and swallowing salt water 😬

EastofEdna Everything In Its Rightful Place is such a good goal, I definitely need to work on establishing what the rightful place is for so many bits and pieces. What are you translating from/to?

Day 91 was supposed to start with a run but I had such a bad night with DS (toddler who doesn’t do sleep) that I don’t have the energy right now. Hopefully later when I feel a bit more together. I’m also starting a 30 day decluttering challenge today, Day 1 is clear out two kitchen cabinets. Gulp.

Have a great day everyone

Another late joiner to the group but I've been with you in spirit since day 1.

I'm trying to get back to low-carb eating and 16:8 fasting cycle (both of which were derailed by toast during lockdown!).

I'm also trying to get to grips with meal planning - have invested in the Plan to Eat app which import recipes, makes it easy to plan meals and creates a grocery list.

Linked with the above, I'm a YNAB-er and DH and I are trying to stick to the grocery budget. We read a blog post where instead of budgeting monthly the groceries budget is split into weekly amounts. Its a bit a more work to set up and input but it works much better for us in terms of having budget oversight.

Apart from that, school is back today so I'm just trying to remember how life used to work and how it works in this new reality!

Happy 1st September! Crazy how this year has flown and yet dragged at the same time!

Had a little weigh in this morning and I'm down 12 lbs since I started exercising more and tracking macros. 19lbs down since day before giving birth (DD2 is 4 months). I want to lose another 2 stone or so. Should be manageable if I stick at it.

Had a quick swim at lunch. I'm really lucky as we have a 20m pool at the end of the street so I'm trying to make good use of it before I go back to work.

I'm going to give the bathroom a good clean and clear out later. I ordered a wee tidy to put DD1s billion bath toys into (arrived today) so I'm going to put that up. Hopefully will make a big difference.

Hope you're all doing well. Three months until 1 December!

DAY 91

December 1st is on a Tuesday so it’s exactly 13 weeks today.

I’m tired. DD woke in the middle of the night then there was something scratching at my back door, which was a bit creepy!

Have walked the dog and am doing a fast day. Going ok so far!

@SydneyCarton - translation is from French & Russian into English. I just pick up bits of newspaper articles online and translate them. For some reason I have always found it a very soothing activity. Thank you for asking. Hope you can get the kitchen cabinets done.

Goal Number One Everything In It's Rightful Place is progressing. The electrician's turned up finally and have completed (not without a lot of huffing and puffing). Plumber, joiner tomorrow and the tiler when he can fit us in. Now electrician has been the bedroom stuff that was dismantled for them to access a light fitting can go back in the bedroom, hurrah! More Things In The Right Place.

Goal Number Two Lots of Exercise 6 exercise sessions per week. Gym session this morning, swimming booked for Friday, another gym session on Thursday. Can't get booked on a spin class though, might get out on bike instead. Yoga on Wednesday. I have new trainers, so maybe a 30 minute plod around the block will do for No 6.

I have lost my lockdown weight, but have stalled the last week. Still 2 stone to go. A pound a week until the C-word will get me well on the way.

Goal Number Three Writing/Translating 15 mins per day; done for today.

Goal Number Four. Log all food on MyFitnessPal. Started, doing it as I go along today. Want to get a seven day stretch done for starters.

We can do it.

Day 91:

First day back at work and pleasantly surprised I managed to stick to my fasting until lunch. Not as hungry as I thought I would be but lets see how I am when the children are back in!
That was my only goal for today really but wanted to check in and keep myself accountable.