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?

Thanks for the reminder to update @SpringOn I had a good week last week. I have been off work so have managed to fit in some exercise every day - gym/walk/swimming with the kids. My approach to eating is very disordered so I'm trying to stick to 3 meals a day, no snacks and much less bread. Had a good week on this front although had sandwiches and cake at in laws last night. Was planning to go to the gym this morning but I didn't really sleep and feel terrible. Plans for this week are:

• 3 gym sessions
• 2/3 walks in the sunshine at local beauty spots to fit some exercise in around working from home
• find some real books to read and charge phone downstairs to minimise pointless scrolling on phone
• tackle huge ironing pile today
• gradually cleaning/ tidying the house over the course of the week - 2 rooms at a time. Kids are still off so keeping it tidy will be a challenge . Hope everyone has a good Easter Monday.

Morning all, 5.5 mile wall done yesterday, was beautiful, and sone nice chatting time with mum and sis. Failed on my other 2 tasks though. But hey ho it was Easter Sunday. I will struggle to get going til things are back to normal but making a big start on decluttering over the next few days. DC are going to my parents for T/W/T while I'm at work and will sleepover 2 nights. Even though I'll be working this will free up a lot of evening time fir me.

Surviving not thriving sums me up too @Okisenough. I’m actually working with a life coach at the moment, which I used to think was a load of BS, but turns out to be quite practical in its focus. I obviously don’t know the reasons for why you’re thinking about therapy, but if it’s practical changes you want, life coaching may be worth considering?

I had a good day yesterday, if we ignore all the chocolate (which I think we should considering the circumstances 🐰). My meals were healthy and I used most of my time in a more productive way than sitting in front of the telly. I even remembered putting on some face cream (the self care bar is pretty low here!)

I also got a 2km row in and am amazed by the difference it makes. I’ve gone from pasty faced to pinkish glow overnight.

What I want to achieve today is:

healthy meals and not too much chocolate
not spend the entire evening in front of the tv
clean the bathroom
may be go for another row (my goal is only every other day, but I really want to get back to where I was only six months ago when I was super fit and rowing an hour a day, six days a week. It’s going to be a long hard slog to get back there from where I am now 😔)

Have been for a swim this morning and I feel so much better for it.

Stayed AF at a family lunch yesterday which I'm pleased about and am aiming to do the same today!

Have booked a body conditioning session at the gym tomorrow. Quite scared about that! 😬

I’ve tackled the spare room this morning. It’s not perfect but it looks tidier than it did yesterday!

Argh the DC are HYPED today. We sorted their bedroom out a bit, they make a mess as quick as its tidied. I'm really strung out with the constant noise and chatter- they're just being kids but Jesus it's hard work at times.

Hi everyone,

just a quick one to keep me accountable. Felt a bit crappy and low energy this morning, Sat about a bit.

Then went in the garden, repotted a plant, did a bit of work, a bit of tidying in the bedroom. Then out to tidy up the flowerbed outside.

Then went for a run. Third day of couch to 5k, week one complete. Felt AMAZING. I had an epic playlist - have you heard the songs by Jax? Been running round the field belting out ‘Cinderella Snapped’ and ‘Victoria’s secret’ 😂😂 Lord knows what the neighbors think 🤪😂

Not a good day, fell asleep around 6am, up at 11 with the dogs then fell back asleep until 3pm 🙈. Very sluggish now. Went to get adhesive for finishing ensuite floor so will work on that later. Got washing done, putting that away then changing the bed and cleaning bedroom floor.

Not a good day either... had (period-related) cramps all day long and couldn't get anything done. I drank enough though. Baby steps 🙈 But tomorrow should definitely get me started:
-I'm meeting a friend at noon and we'll go to the gym 💪
-1l water, 1l fruit tea
-instead of constantly snacking on cream eggs I will have 1 after gym and thoroughly enjoy it!
-finish decluttering the bathroom cupboard and also empty the wardrobe and bring the spring/summer stuff in.

I have this week off and although I have a bit of work to do, it should definitively be possible to improve the house and the garden!

Ok while I was writing that my das dropped by to bring me another mountain of sweets ♥️🙈. Challenges ahead but I must stay strong 😂

Well done everyone, I am really enjoying reading all the updates and getting inspiration from all the changes you are making.

Yesterday was not a brilliant one for diet thanks to a family dinner but I tackled the admin task that’s been hanging over me this week and I feel much lighter for it.

Today I was so happy to see loads of new shoots popping up in my new flowerbed, it’s made my day.

I was feeling a bit drained after all the family stuff over the weekend so went for a quick walk round the fields which gave me some energy.

I’ve got an exercise class tonight which I’m looking forward to. I’ll have to eat after it which is not great for my hours of intermittent fasting but they’ll just have to flex for today!

Tomorrow I have work which isn’t great for my step count but I’ll try to go for a walk at lunchtime and drink more water than I usually do.

I need to:

Lose 3 stone
Sort out the house (not terrible but too much clutter)
Apply for new job
Do more creative writing and be brave enough to read at open mic poetry night

My day has been good in parts. I did my volunteering job but fitting in food around that is awkward so I had a naughty sandwich (that was absolutely revolting and serve me right but I was so hungry I felt sick) as well as a croissant for breakfast. No carbs for me this evening. Did manage to walk 6K steps today, so it's not brilliant but better than what I did yesterday (don't ask). Did not eat biscuits, cake, large quantities of bread, sweets, chocolate or crisps, though so that's good.

I’ve had a good day. Reasonably healthy food, exercise, plus some time spent productively ✅

The one thing I didn’t do, was clean the bathroom, but that was because DH beat me to it. I’m not complaining! I spent the time sorting out my art supplies instead. I haven’t painted for a few years, but live in hope of getting in the right headspace again at some point. Just going through my brushes, paints etc felt kind of therapeutic and a step in the right direction ☺️

I’m hoping for a repeat tomorrow, i.e. healthy food & not a lot of snacks, some kind of exercise and not spending the entire evening on the sofa.

Seem to have spent a large portion of the day ironing. But at least cleared the ironing mountain! Back to work tomorrow and salad lunch all prepped. Aim is to get up early for a run, drink loads of water and be super productive at work!

New boots ordered, half price in sale, wuhu!
Sorted out undercrackers/top drawer.
More wardrobe sorting needed but made a good start.
Biked in the rain, day 4.
Watered planters, then it rained!

Hope everyone had a great bank holiday!

I felt totally blah today thanks to a bit of a cold/hayfever. Also didn’t really walk much unlike the last three days before so that definitely impacted energy levels. I did manage to do a few admin tasks that have been stressing me out though which is a big win. As is often the case, been worrying about them for weeks and they took a total of ten minutes to do in the end!

Tomorrow I’m working in the morning then entertaining DD in the afternoon. Probably limited time for exercise realistically so my aims are:

Eat mindfully, not for the sake of it.
Dig out my sewing stuff so I don’t sit and scroll all evening.
Source tiles for upcoming bathroom refurb

I'm interested in a couple of you seeing coaches/therapists as I think one of my problems at the moment is that I don't really know what to do with myself. I think that there are two things behind this. First, I feel as though all of my non-work time should be dedicated to the DC even though, as 13 & 10yo, they want time to themselves and need to be becoming more independent which includes doing various day to day tasks themselves. Secondly, having spent my teens working hard at school/Uni, my 20s working insane hours in my job and my 30s running around after young DC with no support other than childcare when I was at work & the occasional visit from grandparents who lived 4 or 5 hours away, now that I do have some time to myself, I don't know what to do with it. What do I actually enjoy doing? Last time I had free time, I was probably 10 or 11 and mainly re & re-read Chalet School books for want of other options as we lived in the middle of nowhere & I had very few friends. I know live within a commuting distance of London, am cash rich albeit time poor and have a good assortment of friends,

@fullofeasterchocolate I know exactly what you mean. One thing you could do is just try a couple of things out and see if anything appeals? I taught myself how to draw a couple of years ago, which worked for me because I could do it at home whenever I had time. As you don’t live in the back end of beyond, as I do, you could perhaps have a look and see if there are any classes you could do nearby in whatever subject(s)appeal to you? Alternatively there’s so much stuff available online, especially for arty/ creative things that it’s relatively easy to try a few things 😊

Morning all great hearing about others ideas. I fell into a carb fest tomorrow but back on intermittent fasting today. I have joined a gym but feeling a bit scared to go! I am going to take the plunge this morning and book on a tai chi class for starters!

today I will stick to IF and Fast 800 plan.
Drink 2litres water
Dance for short bursts when I get up from my desk for each hour I’m working ( work from home).

Do daily household chores
plant some seeds - time permitting.
Oh and take vitamins!

Hope everyone managed to do what they set out today. We can do this💪

I love hearing how you are all getting on! A few (including me) were lower energy yesterday: my big challenge is to accept that and rest rather than try to push through, do whatever it is badly and then crash out.

Did much better with food yesterday than expected so I’ll take that as a win, but no coursework or housework as we ended up going for a massive walk and I was wiped out after.

Today:
Hang out w kids am; loadsawork pm
Run this morning
Long fast starting at 4pm (well, long for me!)

The house won’t get a look in but will aim for a tip trip later in the week.

Jumping in.

Need to lose 20kg and just look after myself better really. Due to some slightly complicated reasons am looking after 2 houses at the moment so need to keep on top of those too. Slightly complicated by the fact that I’ve got a slipped disc at the moment.

First goals are going to be losing 1st 5kg, drinking more water, taking a multivitamin and a short walk everyday. Getting better sleep may help with all that so may add no screens after 10pm.

Morning all! Great tip @BunsenBurnerBaby about resting when we feel low energy- and interesting that several of us felt like that yesterday.

I’ve woken up a bit the same today (!) and with a headache - which I suspect is because I failed with my water yesterday and barely drank any!

Today I will
Take vitAmins
drink 2l water
30 mins on clothes in bedroom
Hoover house
book car into garage

i also have a lot of DC running round to do today as they have activities.

Good luck everyone!

@fullofeasterchocolate honestly do you know what I would do with free time based on that post? Re-read the Chalet School books. Start simple, something you used to enjoy doing and I bet it will spark more ideas!

My goal today is to drink lots of water and play lots of brio with my son.

I’m the same @fullofeasterchocolate , really don’t know what to do with the free time I’ve gained in recent years. I started doing jigsaws in lockdown and love them but they are quite expensive. Perhaps I should re-do a couple of seek out a jigsaw swap - is that even a thing?

Today, I’m:
getting my roots done
drinking 2.5l water
10k steps
low carb eating
having a ladies lunch with dd and dm.

Lovely and sunny here today, hope everyone has a great day