Have you ever managed to turn your life around?

[Cupofteaplease21]

I feel like towards the end of each year I always think next year I will sort my life out but I never do! I need to exercise, I need hobbies, I need to eat better!
Am I missing something or do I just need a massive kick up the bum? I have a busy life, work full time, 2 kids at different schools, dog, etc but want to do something just for me!

Last year finally lost the 2nd baby weight- long term goal, took the time I needed for me,
consistent. Going to the gym4 times a week- stepping out over the kids dinner time, going at 6am before work, going at the weekend when the DH took the kids out. Lost the weight over 6 months.

You need a plan!

Goals. Then break down the goals into short term targets.

Like, next week I will go to the gym twice. Next month I will book a class each week. By 3 months time I will try X sport. Etc etc.

Make it achievable, schedule it in to your life. And do it!

Using some sort of diary is essential. Phone calendar, written planner, computer app, as long as you actually look at it and use it then it will work.

Oh I love the planning idea! I did try horse riding this year which I thought I would love and didn't. I'm not a massive fan of the gym either but I like swimming.

Read atomic habits if you haven’t already. It’s a great way to think about introducing new habits and actually doing them!

Thank you I will look for that.

at the end of 2017 I was miserable, I’d not lost my baby weight and I wasn’t working, generally felt very down. We bought a treadmill and I decided to low carb, and started running. I was so unfit I threw up the first time I ran ten minutes, but something made me carry on and I ended up running 1000 miles that year and lost 3 stone. That led to joining a gym as well, and I work out most days either running outdoors or classes. I’ve made new friends, one of whom is a very close friend now who I would never have met if we didn’t run together.
I have fallen by the wayside a bit this year due to a few injuries and I’ve regained a few pounds but on the whole I have kept up both the weight loss and the exercise regimen.
like @OnlyFoolsnMothers said, you have to carve out time for yourself, even if that means getting up early. I do 6am classes or will run in the cold, rain, dark to fit it in, but for me it is worth it to have something in my life that is just for me.

Thank you that's so inspiring. I need a friend who would exercise with me but no one will! I could do classes at the gym, that might be a good start.

I always feel like I need some sort of perfect week by week plan with perfect food, exercise, be ultra organised etc and then just feel that thats really overwhelming and I don't end up doing anything! That's been my issue for years!

@OnlyFoolsnMothers amazing well done, wish I could do this

Thank you. You know what else helped- telling myself I deserve me time, I deserve to do something for myself, my husband doesn’t get daddy guilt when he goes to the gym. He encourages me to be selfish too.

i put on two and a half stone during lockdown, was truly horrified,. I have no time for gyms but came across richie swan on instagram. He had been doing workouts during lockdown. He does a Sort Your Fit Out Programme that runs for 8 weeks with a week break. He offers live insta workouts, body weight, hitt, pilates, yogae, glutes and abs etc etc. He also teaches you about being calorie deficit and that exercise is more for feel good rather than weight loss ( unless and extrema athlete ofcourse) i am fitter than I have been since I was in my teens. Love it as my go to and even if i have a blow out I can bring it back.Lost my weight which waa 2 stone

I meant to add that they are all recorded so you can do them on catch up= his style worked for me and i am part of his private SYFO group and I am off to a get together in Brighton next year

I got a fantastic planner one year, where you could set weekly and monthly goals. You could then reflect on them each month, what you'd achieved and where you could improve.

This year I've just totally given up. I had a PT for 4 months and didn't really lose any weight. I think I'm just overwhelmingly busy. I'm hoping to start again in the new year - I'm starting new job, get in a good routine, etc.

Wow! Good on you!

I have never been an exercise person. 2 years ago I started with exercise 2x a week and increased it over time.

Now I do 1hr HIIT cardio every week day. I do it with a resistance band and 1.5kg weights in each hand. Majority of this I do in the morning, I sacrifice sleep. Sometimes I do it at night, but I prefer to get it out of the way in the morning.
Saturday and Sundays I do at least 1.5hrs and sometimes 2hrs.

I am so proud of myself, I'll never be a size 6-8 like I was in my 20's. Kids changed my body.

But I feel good, I feel strong and I have not sacrificed food. I love eating.

I have done it for me, it was not easy and some days are not as easy as the day before. I also just do it in my kitchen. I don't have time for the gym.

Do you use a specific workout?

I’ve improved ( not sure about transformed) aspects of my life. What I’ve discovered is that it’s really important ( for me personally) not to let perfection be the enemy of good, or even marginally better. There’s no point in me saying “right I’m quitting alcohol completely”. I need to just say “I’m not going to drink unless I’m going out out.”. If I’m going to commit to exercising it needs to be manageable amounts. There’s no point saying “oh I’m going to do 90 mins in the gym every day”.

so my tip would be “baby steps”. Just try to be a bit better. Then once that’s a habit, do a bit better again.

@RosettaStormer I have slowly moved over and now only doing Growinganannas on YouTube. I used to do a mix of PopSugar too.

Great advice.

Yep the atomic habits book is really interesting. It explains how changing what you do, by really small good habits might not show up straight away. But there will be a tipping point where you get the 'ta da!' I can now do this! But it wasn't the one last time you did, it was the hundreds of small events running up to that last time.

So getting away from the all or nothing mentality. And as you say, baby steps.

Definitely managed to turn my life around.

Fell pregnant at 16, my dad made me move out, very poor A levels as was trying to be a mum and run a household.

Fast forward, I'm still with DH (16 years later), another DC, own our home and went to university and qualified as a lawyer 3 years ago. I still pinch myself and think of how lucky I am.

This year I've just totally given up. I had a PT for 4 months and didn't really lose any weight. I think I'm just overwhelmingly busy.

^

Did you change your diet?

I just get so overwhelmed, especially with eating, should I low carb, low fat, 10 fruit and veg a day, shakes, fasting, what's best???