Anyone up for a ‘sort yourself out’ supportive encouraging thread?

[SpringOn]

Hi,
I’m 47, feeing old. I’ve very much lost my way with style, exercise, hair, you name it.
I need to:
lose two stone
decide what to do with my witchy mostly grey hair (I’ve been growing out dark brown dye for 10 months, decided to go grey, but I feel so old! Don’t know whether to go back to dye or stay grey).
mu wardrobe is a disaster. I have some decent smart work stuff but my casual clothes are basically lairy leggings and hoodies. I am a size 20.
My house needs a good clean and de clutter
I want to grow veg and have lovely flowers in the garden

Good bits:
I have a great husband, three fab kids and a job I love
I walk the dog for about 20 mins every day

Anyone want to join for self- improvement on an encouraging thread?

Welcome @Bemyclementine , @HormonalHetty , @SparkleEgg and @Dracuuule For gentle realistic self-improvement, you are in the right place! It’s already so reassuring that there seem to be a lot of us out these struggling with the same things.

So, how about each of you choose one thing to add to your day for this week which will move you towards your goal?

The whole wardrobe sort out is definitely needed here, I honestly feel like I have nothing at all to wear that I like and look and feel good in. Any of you lovely ladies on this thread got style sussed? If so, any pointers gratefully received 😂

Great suggestion - please may I have two though? 😂 I want to drink a glass of water every two hours (setting a reminder on my phone now) and meditate every evening.

@HormonalHetty HRT has been a real game changer for me. I also have a chronic long term health condition (arthritis) and together menopause and pain have had me floored for the past couple of years.
I’m now on treatment that works and HRT and ready to get things sorted. It took a few months for the full effects of HRT to kick in and I am feeling much more like myself again, hence the thread. I hope it is a similar effect on you.

@SparkleEgg I’m sure you’re not a complete mess. What things do you want to sort out? Small changes consistently are the best way to make things stick so don’t go too mad all at once!

@Dracuuule those mini greenhouses are brill. What are you going to grow? I’ve planted beans, kale, beetroot and broad beans, but I went into the greenhouse this morning and it looks like they have all been eaten by mice! So I will be starting again later.

@RJnomore1 how did you get on with the house. It definitely works for me setting a timer and then blitzing. Specially if I have a good podcast or audiobook on the go. Or music. I listened to a brilliant Audible series last week, which is also kind of how I got started on this improvement journey. It’s Darren Brown’s Bootcamp for the Brain and Bootcamp for life. Really interesting and also comforting.

Yes @Brewskipa you’re allowed 😂. I’m half way through my first bottle!

@SpringOn oh no! That's such a disappointment. I've tried to grow things in the past but they all seem to get eaten by slugs or something so I just gave up.
I decided this year, I was going to try again when I got really annoyed that local supermarkets had no salad items for a while.
I want to grow tomatoes, various lettuce, rocket, some herbs and strawberries or raspberries. I might get a blueberry bush too.

I'm about 10 minutes away from New furniture arriving. There is nowhere for it to go. House is cluttered. I'm trying g to sell stuff as I need the money. Ordered the dc new bedroom stuff to force my hand.😖

Today I will do some decluttering. Toying with just charity shopping ALL OF IT.

yes, I was thinking of getting therapy to get me out of my middle aged peri-menopause worried parent rut

@Bemyclementine Oooh exciting! New furniture sounds good, did you manage to make space for it?

@Okisenough Welcome. It’s amazing how many of us feel the same. I think therapy can be really good. While you get it set up, why not join us for some gentle encouragement to look after yourself? Do you have any goals you’d like to aim for?

Its in the house, but serious work needs to be done before assembly!

Ok, posting my progress today.

Did first Couch to 5k run
Had a healthy breakfast
Had a healthy lunch
Didn’t snack
Took my vitamins
Drank 2l water

ordered a pair of trousers and a top from M and S
Was flattered because despite my lumpen figure someone on Style and Beauty referred to it as ‘gorgeous’. I am pleased and it gave me a real lift 😁

Hope you have all managed to do something to make you pleased today. Please post any progress for encouragement and recognition!

I'm in. Early 60s, need to lose 4 stone (yes really), need to start exercising again, need to eat properly. No kids, one cat.

Welcome @ColdHandsHotHead
What’s your plan? I think all of us here are after a balanced approach to self-improvement. What works for you?

I will join in! 56 post menopause, 5ft2" and 14 stone! I look like a telly tubby but less happy!

*need to declutter house as I want to move but it's all my husbands and 22yr olds crap!

*need to declutter so I can decorate

*need to lose 2-3 stone but not Weightwatchers or SW as I always put it back on and more

*I'm also growing out dye and embracing the grey - regular haircuts help with this

*I need to get my act together as feel a bit lost - used to be confident, danced every weekend and rode horses - now I'm ok confidence wise in general but only dance in the kitchen and afraid of falling off the horse I share

Good luck everyone

I would like to walk 10K steps a day again, which I used to, and cut down on carbs (which I love but could eat exclusively). So I am thinking carbs with one meal a day only, eat three times a day in an eight hour window, aim for eight portions of veg and two of fruit per day.

If I manage to do that for six months, I will lose weight.

What I need is other people on a similar journey.

This is a great thread. I need to lose the 6lb I've put on since Xmas and then maintain - not as much as some I know but it's often these few pounds that are the hardest to keep control of.
Also need to:

• sort out my hair and make some decisions about how to handle increasing grey (commit to salon every six weeks, or embrace something entirely new)
• put time into self maintenance eg skin care and eyebrows and nails
• streamline wardrobe and find a "uniform" look that works for me for this era of my life as I don't have the time for fashion anymore. Currently stuck in jeans and jumpers and while I look fine I feel very boring and not myself
• get on top of home renovations.

@SpringOn thanks for the welcome. Overall I just want to take care of myself a bit more, be kinder to myself, do exercise, decent skincare, eat better food, sleep better, find some time to meditate, find what sparks joy! Lol, not much then. If I am in a better place mentally and physically then I can also handle the stress created by things outside of my personal control too.

@ColdHandsHotHead
Sounds very reasonable! And here are your tribe! We are all on a similar journey I think. Ah, carbs are also my downfall. In almost any form!
Are you starting today, tomorrow or on Tuesday? I find meal planning and meal prep really helpful. I made extra chia porridge at breakfast and stuck it in a jar in the fridge - I will add fruit and yoghurt and it will do for tomorrow breakfast.

Me too. I have some chronic health problems and often struggle to drag myself through the day! I am retiring in the summer though and hope to have some energy for my own health and wellbeing then.
I've actually forced myself to do so e cleaning in the bedroom today as I discovered a few clothes moths the other night!
Targets for the remainder of today:
Shower, take small items out of bedroom and put roomba in to vacuum the rest of the carpet, attend evening Good Friday church service, empty and fill dishwasher, hang washing on airer once it has finished in machine. Sort out what I will wear tomorrow ( psychologically find it much easier to get out of bed if I have already worked out what I am wearing).
I'm 58 and live alone!

And welcome @YukoandHiro

You’re right - my extra 30lbs started with only half a stone I didn’t deal with - and I wish I had. What works for you? Also home renovations sound exciting (and disruptive!) what are you having done?

@Okisenough

That’s a lot! What are you going to start with? For me, it is all about the evening before - if I can manage a bath, set out my clothes and an early ish night, I often manage a good day the next day.

so could you start tonight with a bath or shower, skincare, then an early night? Maybe even put our exercise clothes and the you can do that too when you wake up?

Please can I join? Just spent another holiday avoiding the mirrors. Have 2 stone to lose and a life to sort out.
would be lovely to have some hand holding!

@SpringOn I think tomorrow. That gives me a chance to dispose of some carbs this evening . . .

When I say dispose of, I mean consume.

Thank you for this thread, I could cry reading through it! I thought I was the only one. I'm struggling terribly at the moment. After Easter I'm on a mission on self-improvement, I'm determined not to let my MH hinder me any longer. I'm a shell of who I was 12 years ago, since 2013 it's been downhill for me and I want the old me back! (Sorry for rambling...)

@EducatingArti Welcome! Chronic health conditions are horrid, I am sorry you are suffering. It’s really important to be gentle with yourself and not do too much. I’m the same that it is easier to roll out of bed if the clothes decision is already made! Sounds as though you have a busy couple of days ahead.
Keep us posted about whether you got through it all later on!

Welcome @Gloaming23 You are very welcome, hand holding, encouragement and support are here for you!
what is your priority for the next week or so? What are you feeling most down about? Let’s make a plan to help you feel better!