As my title implies... I'd appreciate some help trying to improve my lifestyle. I'm ashamed to say, but part of my highly stressful job involves advising people how to lead healthy lifestyles, but I can't seem to integrate this into my own life!
I'm a busy mum of 4, my work days are 11-12 hours and I work 3 days a week. I have to admit that I've always been overwhelmed in the kitchen, so we do order more take aways than a normal family. I just don't know where to start, but I really want to provide my children with a good, healthy diet and not instil my own issues in this area into them.
My parents DID NOT raise me this way. My mum was a SAHM and we had regular, fresh meals with lots of variety. I think a problem is that my mother is from a different culture, food is very carb-focused and what I ate growing up doesn't necessarily translate to what is a typical traditional British meal, if that makes sense. I've always been terrified of messing up in the kitchen, and I know I have some anxiety here, although I am perfectly able to manage most of the rest of life! Unfortunately my husband was an only child and indulged by his parents, he doesn't quite understand what is 'normal'. For example I had to stop him rewarding my eldest child with sweets before school for getting ready on time. His parents did this with him, so he thought this was okay! It feels like more of a struggle because he's not quite aware there's a problem with this aspect of life, although we are fairly similar in most other aspects.
Another problem is exercise. Essentially, I don't 
I tried couch to 5k but found I couldn't complete day 1! I've recently been involved in a car accident and have whiplash, I've seen a physio a few times and can just manage his exercises, I'm not sure I could manage more at this time, but would ideally like to do something regularly so I know I'm physically fit!
The reason I'm considering all these things now is because I stayed with a friend over the weekend. She carefully homecooked her meals, prioritised the children's 5 a day, discussed exercise with me, and I sat there like a numpty nodding along, I suppose pretending that I do it too, when I don't. But now I feel so ashamed at the disservice I'm doing my poor family. I really, really want to make that change and be a positive role model. I'm afraid to ask my friends as I'm sure I'll be judged and I'm not sure I could handle that feeling as terrible as I do about this already!
This may seem alien to some of you, but I think I just need some advice regarding how I can achieve this in my life. If you do all of these things, then how, and what kind of effort do you have to make?
Please share any advice you may have for me, I'd be extremely grateful. Thank you. 