Stuck in cycle of feeling crap and not looking after myself.

[Bemyclementine]

And I really really want to turn it around.

I'm single, working parent to dc 5 and 7. Older parent, struggle with persistant anaemia and hypothyroidism.

I'm overweight by around 2.5 stone.

I seem to have been ill, or under the weather for weeks now, or a DC has been ill and its exhausting. I havent been able to focus on healthy eating or getting exercise, I go to bed too late and was drinking too much wine. None of which helps me to feel good. I've stopped drinking and have a bottle over a weekend now sometimes.

I really feel like I need to look after myself better, but equally feel like I don't have the mental or physical energy.

Not sure why I'm posting really. Just overwhelmed.

One quick easyish meal with veggies is to boil some pasta and heat up a couple of tins of ratatouille (Tesco do one that's less than a quid a tin). Stir the ratatouille into the cooked pasta and grate cheese over it. Very tasty and not too dear to make, would feed 3 - 4 of you. You can also do it using those packet noodles with the little flavour sachets, instead of pasta. I think most of the big supermarkets do tinned ratatouille. And if you're feeling a bit more energetic you could also cook some separate vegetables (eg. broccoli or mushrooms) and add them to the ratatouille. Pads it out a bit.

Oh and adding a veggie stock cube to the water you cook the pasta in gives it a bit of flavour, kids find it tastier in my experience.

My first thought is to make sure you are taking your meds. Water by the bed with your first set if possible.

getting on top of meals this time of year is tricky but we run term time dinners
Monday Gado Gado ( satay sauce, boiled eggs and veggies)
Tuesdays Tacos
Wednesday curry\pasta
Thursday Bean Enchiladas
Friday Fish and Chip ( straight from the freezer)

@Charles11 thanks, I think I'll maje sone soup for my lunches. DC will eat the usual veg (carrot, brocolli, cauliflower, peas, green beans) but neither like the veg from a stew or casserole, so I don't think they'd like a chunky veg soup. Maybe if I whizzed it all up they would.

@FusionChefGeoff I think going to bEd and reading/watching tablet is a good idea, I'm going to try that. I'm terrible at self care, I don't have a shower in this house so have to have a bath and it's just another chore. But I do need to pay more attention to myself.

@Andsoforth it's definitely about mindset. I need to reframe things like eating well exercise, as doing nice things for myself.

I am reasonably active and we are outside a lot, but it's an every day thing so doesn't really count as exercise.

I've just made myself a nice coffee (I've ditched instant as I was drinking too much coffee too) in the French press, and a bowl of porridge with blueberries and cinnamon.

I do take meds religiously every morning, thyroxine, one for high BP, and an antidepressant which is a recent addition. I'm not so good with iron (can't take it at the sane time as thyroxine, ) and vitamins.

Be kind to yourself. Sometimes self care means healthy eating, skin care routines, exercise and meditation. But a lot of time it also means duvet days, tea and cake, a good book, and some super early nights. You can't push yourself to make healthy changes until you've given yourself time to rest and recover. But it's all self care and all moving towards the same goal.

The coffee and porridge sounds excellent!!

Ignore PP who said start next week!! Yes, you should treat yourself - that doesn't have to mean a box of Thornton's and a bottle of Baileys!

The best form of self care / treating yourself is nourishing your body with healthy, tasty food.

So don't feel deprived, have cream / syrup etc if you want to - the porridge and fruit is so good for you! If you can eat gorgeous food throughout the day you are more likely to avoid the 'fuck it I deserve a treat' that launches into crisps / chocolate in the evening.

I tend to eat quite high fat / good size portions (low carb) in the day which really helps avoid evening snack attacks.

Great start op!
Good idea to reframe your idea of treating yourself.
Your porridge and blueberries was a good treat for your body as its healthy. your body can utilise all those nutrients and get benefit from them.
What we call treats, things that are often high in sugar or lots of chemicals, is the opposite for the body. It has to work really hard to process all those things and gets no benefit from them.
I'm sure occasionally it's fine and most of us will eat food like that but it's only a treat for your tastebuds really.
If you want cakes and sugary stuff, it's better to bake you own.

Breakfast sounds delicious and being on top of meds is a huge thing. In terms of exercise what about doing one. Mine is burpies. I do one more than the day before. While i wait for the coffee machine to warm up. Today was two. Its not that it will get me fit but its like it starts the movement so I feel like moving more later.

I've had a pretty good day. I reined in my "I'm going to change my life!! TODAY" enthusiasm, and have thought about small sustainable changes. I'm starting with my weekly shop which I'm just about to update- adding more fruit, veg, and vitamins. This week we will all get out 5 a day, and i will start the vitamins. I'm going to buy some soup for my work lunches.