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.)

Yep been waiting till kids are back at school for this

Day 88 I did have a really lovely day with just my big two DCs. Nice to just do what we wanted and a self esteem boost as it reminded me that I can be a fun mum and have a laugh with them. :)

Day 87 bit of a flustered day overall but I managed to have some time watching comedy and laughing out loud which cheered me up. Also got some more organising done for the start of term and I’m starting to think about some day trips which will give us something to look forward to! Finally I’ve written a to do list for tomorrow rather than leaving even the writing until the morning, as we have lots to do to make sure the girls are ready for school/nursery.

Okay, so trying very hard to keep going - it is like trying to put up a tent in gale force winds. So much to do to get dc ready for school, so little time and energy!

Two friends in hospital
Sleepless night worrying
Nervy/excited dc preparing for school after six months at home
Pressure from work to be really stepping up

The self care goals are in danger of slipping down the list of more urgent priorities, but I am not giving up but I will make them more achievable by making them smaller this weekend.

Today:
Lime and soda this evening on ice
Lashings of water and lemon all day - will make a jug
Salad is already in the fridge waiting thank goodness, and dinner is planned already for later
1/2 cycling
Childrens rooms tidy and orderly, clean clothes all put away, bags packed, uniforms pressed and ready, ready for school tomorrow!
A bath this evening with candles and lavender oil
Early night for all

Thats it. I think I can manage that and it will be more than good enough, given all the other demands from family, I need support for friends in health crisis.

Yesterday was productive but I failed on the booze and healthy eating part which is probably the one thing I really need to get a hold on.

Today will be better !
Skin regime will be perfect
I will drink lots of water
I will drink no booze
I will eat healthily!
I have to taxi my husband and son to various places
I will meal plan and shop for the week
I dyed my hair on thursday and today I am getting it cut for the first time since this whole shitshow started.

I really really need to get my essay started so that is my afternoon plan once everything else is done. I also need to tidy and clean today.
Not sure I have quite enough hours today for everything I want to achieve but I am going to give it my best shot.

Day 87: not too bad but I seemed to be constantly doing housework and childcare and cooking the whole day with very little to actually show at the end of it all . The declutter challenge was to sort out the junk drawer and it does look better, although not much actually got rid of. Some progress on the laundry front.

Day 87: rough night with the toddler and my period has started so I am Not In The Mood today. Declutter challenge is pantry shelves, which I had a quick look at yesterday and are not too bad so shouldn’t take long. I want to make an effort with the laundry and do some ironing for tomorrow’s school uniform bits (both DDs will be starting in the morning from next week so it’s going to get a lot busier).

Have a good Sunday everyone

Still waiting on a builder so house looks cluttered with lots of things out of place. But I am taking what's not needed to the tip!
Finished buying school supplies yesterday, so DD has new uniform etc good to go for next week. This was harder than anticipated since lots of shops seem to have a shortage of pleated school skirts!
Diet is going okay - slightly over on calories yesterday but nothing too drastic.
Today is another tip run and a pile of ironing - I lead a life of glamorous excitement 😁

Day 86 not sure about the rest of the day yet but I had a decent breakfast and just did a gym session (which also included a short walk on the way).

Day 86: currently congratulating myself on a job well done for this weekend. House isn't finished but looks lovely and it feels like its finally coming together. Very happy. Clean grouting is just the best isn't it!
Didnt binge eat this weekend either. Long may it last.

Tomorrow's list
Work
Plan tutoring lessons
Kitchen floor
Buy shoe rack and other bits from dunelm.

Day 86

Healthy eating has gone well, I’ve lost 2lbs this week which I’m very pleased about.

On the house front, I’ve changed all our duvets over to winter ones as was feeling cold in the night - the night time temperatures definitely seem to be dropping. Also need to organise someone to come in and service the boiler.
Has anyone had someone come in to clean the oven? Is it worth it? I hate cleaning the oven but I like it done in time for Christmas.

Just checking in, it's so motivating to see what other people are doing. Well done on all the successes big and small.

It's been a bit hit and miss for me going back to work and DCs starting senior school. Usually I am completely overwhelmed and stressed at this time and I've managed to stay quite organised this year so I'm really proud.

I've done really well with first goal of establishing good habits: drinking 3litres of water, taking vitamins, replacing tea with hot water and lemon and eating 16:8 - all have happened most days.

This week I've also ordered the new part for my broken shower, unblocked the shower drain, ordered new shampoo before running out, for new ink for the printer, bought a smart bulb so I don't have to get out of bed to turn off the landing light when the DCs have gone to sleep and sorted out the coat cupboard, getting rid of everything that doesn't fit.

This week: carry on with good habits, add new ones (some alcohol free days and cutting out sugar and carbs) and make some headway with de-cluttering the DCs bedrooms.

Day 86- finished week 2 of c25k today and did over 13000 steps. Had a long day at work so haven’t done much today home wise, l have a week off now so l am going to get stuck into the things l need to do.

As l started weight watchers l thought like would give you the ring total of my weight loss 9lb in two weeks. I am thrilled .

Day 85

New Goal Number One Stick to food plan: Today will be Day 1 after a hectic weekend

Goal Number Two Lots of Exercise 6 I ‘owe’ myself one session from last week; which once I have caught up on sleep tonight will attack from tomorrow. I have signed up for a swimming challenge and the Red Cross miles for refugees, so will need to start clocking up those miles in Sept.

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

Goal Number Four Log all food on MyFitnessPal for seven days. Today is the last day for this. Saturday was a pretty bad day carb wise; but it was an exercise in logging with no judgement, so all good. I have menu planned for this week and will input.

Nice to see everyone’s progress and victories – small and big.

Have a good day everyone.

Day 85: declutter challenge is to clear out handbag and purse, but since we’re still not really going out and about much this didn’t take long, so I’ve also done my work laptop bag (again, WFH for now so not long here either!) and restocked the changing bag with nappies and spare knickers etc.

All going well with usual good habits (drinking water, 16:8, multivitamin etc) although I don’t think I can get out for a run today. Will have to try for tomorrow morning instead once all DC are at school or nursery

DAY 85

I'm still here! Very up and down days but I'm sticking with it!

I have my evening routine sorted - lunches, kids pick out clothes, load the washing machine, quick tidy. It makes the mornings so much easier (not so much calmer, but easier)

First day of my morning routine today, so take kids to school, come home and immediately exercise, then dog walk, shower and dress for the rest of the day. Then breakfast if not a fast day.

So today I'm feeling good. Next step is to do a bit more housework. I dusted the tv unit (it's black glass, I HATE it) and vacuumed.

I haven’t posted since my first post but have been reading and it’s helping me stay motivated so thank you all!

I’ve not had any alcohol for a week and started at the gym today so hoping to see some drop in my weight soon.

My littlest is doing half days this week but once she starts full time I’m going to pick a room a week and really deep clean it ready for Christmas.

Day 85- had my car mot-ed and it passed so the money l have saved on the potential fixes l am paying to have my car Scratch fixed (somebody hit me and left). This week l am getting my hair done, my teeth checked, my eyes tested , my eyebrows done. The c25k and l decided to do the 30 day shred on the on the alternate days to the c25k.

House wise the Christmas decorations are getting sorted out and the bedding/towel cupboard are going to get a tidy. I’m hoping l won’t need to have any teeth work done after tomorrow and then l can just have Friday to myself.

Going to buy stamps and Christmas cards after l have had a sort out of the decorations.

Day 85
10mile bike commute, healthy tea, multivitamin, 1.5ltr of water, 1 snack. 15 mins on the rowing machine, moisturised, nine o clock bed for half hour of book before lights out at half past. And I got a couple of hours on the sofa with the teen.
Feel remarkably awake and with it at 330am when I got up for work this morning!
Also booked a night away in oct.
This is totally unsustainable but wow, what a buzz when I got it all right!
Have a good week everyone

Bit of catching up to do from me...

Day 87 - took kids to a children's museum today so lots of running about. Was good and had a healthy soup afterwards.

Day 86 - a quiet day as visited a friends new baby and then a short walk in afternoon.

Day 85 - better on the exercise front. Swam 400m and then a 45 min workout in afternoon.

Day 84 - will go for a swim later and try and get another 800m behind me.

Really want to lose 2lbs this week so need to drink more water and have lighter meals.

Decluttering continuing one overfilled drawer at a time.

Day 84

New Goal Number One Stick to food plan: Day 2 today

Goal Number Two Lots of Exercise 6 x week. I might have to stay up till midnight to get a slot on a spin class when the next lot are released! It's infuriating, they get booked out, but when you get there, there are always spare bikes (even accounting for SD). Need to book swimming as well. My gym session was stepped up in weights today - am feeling it now.

Goal Number Three Writing/Translating 15 mins per day; Done for the day.

Goal Number Four Log all food on MyFitnessPal for seven days. Day 1 today.

Keep going.

I was feeling very much that I was not succeeding with this. We are living in limbo in many ways here and I feel all at sea! I have lost 3lbs though by making small changes that Ive barely noticed so thats a positive - I'll be honest and say the fact that I'm even looking at this thread is better than how I normally fair at getting my sh*t together. I normally make a start and then when I start flagging I avoid the thread to avoid facing my inadequacies!

I haven't drunk any alcohol for over a week and have started a regular yoga class plus a couple of runs or online yoga classes in the week. Still look like poo though 😂 I've also started ironing my clothes!

Next up is replacing my very carb heavy diet with something healthier. I also want to try low fodmap as I get insane bloating but don't know how realistic that will be.

Day 85 shaved legs in advance of yoga the next day 😂 and got lots of planning done, and finally implemented new evening family routine which will hopefully make life run smoother

Day 84 had yoga class (really difficult this time), told DH off for assuming a particular mental load thing was mine when it makes more sense for it to be his (it’s the ML stuff that really stresses me out), nice family time watching telly in the evening which we don’t really make time for. Also we started putting our screens in a box for dinner and while doing the routine - we all need less screen time!

Day 84- l let myself down l knew l had the dentist and l decided to do my c25k after it, when l knew l wouldn’t, l went the dentist and have to have a tooth out (planned for next week) but needed to be paid for cost £62.

It was our wedding anniversary and my not so dh , bought me a box of malteasers and he said he was sorting tea out so l said remember l am doing weight watchers and he was like oh erm he had ordered an Indian takeaway and knowing that korma is full of cream ordered me a veg curry biryanis. I only ate half of it, turned down the starters but just felt crap.

Day 83- l still feel like crap bloated and blergh. I have done the missing c25k and l have coloured my own hair as l am getting my hair cut later, l always colour my own hair..

Day 84: finally went for another run yesterday and it felt good (once I’d finished!). Declutter challenge was to clear out my makeup bag, which took all of two minutes 🙄, but I did get rid of some worn down eyeliners and a lipstick that just doesn’t really suit me. Self care and 16:8 etc all on track, plus new name label stickers arrived in the post so most of the school uniform stuff is done.

Day 83 (today?): another two kitchen cabinets to clear out and organise and some uniform bits for DD1 to pick up, plus two separate school pickups, plus trying to fit in work around all this! Plus keep on top of the laundry pile, children need a bath and hair wash, we all need feeding... Wish me luck!

@kitschplease what's low fodmap? I'm intrigued.

Day 83 - burned off over 500cals on a walk earlier and been really trying to drink more water. I order a liter of still water every time I go to a cafe/ restaurant and that helps.

Swam 920m yesterday which is my best distance yet. I enjoy it but it's more beneficial for toning and general mental relaxation than anything else as it doesn't burn many calories unfortunately.

I've been prepping for Christmas bit by bit and found a beautiful copy of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas to put away for DDs first Christmas this year. I'm so pleased.

Keep up the good work everyone. Anyone got any good quick healthy breakfast ideas? This is where I struggle.