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?

@BunsenBurnerBaby and @SpringOn
I also was tired yesterday. I really didn't move off the sofa, and like you, rather than getting frustrated, I decided that I probably needed it.
I do need to do some things today, starting with a shower and then visiting a friend.

My day was ok I guess, definitely better than yesterday. I actually got quite a bit of decluttering and life admin done, went to the gym and also had enough water. But my plan to have just one cream egg failed miserably.
Tomorrow we are off to a mall and I need to find some comfortable shoes and a few nice shirts. Apart from that
-go to the gym again
-1 liter water, 1 liter fruit tea
-no fast food at the mall
-maybe clean the car. That depends on how long shopping takes. Don't want to plan too much and then get disappointed

Well done @Doro371 , loads of positives there! Don’t worry, we’ve all fallen headlong into a nest of crème eggs at some point or another! Progress not perfection! Fruit tea as well as water is a great idea. I didn’t manage my water yesterday and woke with a headache which I am sure was because I was dehydrated.

Today I had a meeting which went great, and went on a run though it was pouring with rain and felt incredible afterwards.

Hope your day was ok @EducatingArti and @BunsenBurnerBaby

I know I'm a bit late to the party but please may I join? Found this thread a couple of days ago and have been flipping through it since, and I really need to make a change if I'm honest with myself. I've loved hearing how people are making changes and progress already, and the really friendly supportive vibe that comes through in the messages. Although I've been sticking my head in the sand, it feels like the time and a good place to start.

I've just lost my sparkle recently, put on lots of weight and have become quite unfit when I used to be constantly on the move.
I'd love to:
Lose some weight - I haven't dared weigh myself yet, but I expect probably in the region of 2 stone to come off if I'm honest. I'm a bridesmaid towards the end of the year and would love to be feeling a bit better about myself by then.
Get fitter - I've just got an exercise bike and going to try to commit to doing at least a bit on it 5 days a week.
Eat more vegetables - I work shifts and I'm not as good at eating well around them as I should be.
Stretch more to keep my mobility as okay-ish as it can be.
Drink less alcohol.
Do my skincare more often and develop a proper routine.

If I'm honest there's loads of stuff I'd like to change! But I don't want to overwhelm myself by trying to change too much, so I'm going to focus on the bike, less alcohol and eating a bit better to start. I'm excited to get started now I'm typing it all out - looking forward to joining you all!

Evening all, I'm loving reading all of your updates and bits of background. I say thus with love but bugger off with your older childen and spare time 🤣

Great day today. Spot on with food, and water. Just need to not eat all the eggs tonight. 10k steps even though I was at work. 1 bag filled for charity. And feeling positive!

Those of you with spare time - things I'd do. Exercise classes. Ride my horse. Go for a run. Read. See friends. If I had spare money - Spa. (Sigh).

Ran this morning
cleaned the bathrooms
did my tax return and business financial admin (had been putting it off)
did my coursework
AND did some client work
AND did well with food

i expect I will crash tomorrow though.

Hello @SunriseOnSlaughterBeach ! Welcome. Yes, don’t try to do all the things at once. Go you @Bemyclementine ! Hope everyone else moved the needle a bit on a few things, and @SpringOn here’s to a hydrated headache free day tomorrow.

Been reading this thread but not checking in (which seems to sort of defeat the point...) Anyway, last few days have been mixed. On the plus side got outside for walks with the kids, didn't snack after supper most nights, made time for reading/board games/an interesting podcast, did basic kitchen/downstairs reset before bed. Less positively, had wine every night, spent too much time on MN, haven't properly exercised, ate too much during the day, haven't really done anything that contributes to sorting things at home longer term or that won't need to be done again the next day (which feels like a big part of the problem - can anyone relate?)

I'm trying to think what to commit to for tomorrow. @Bemyclementine also got younger kids (2 and 5) which feels like a bit of a different situation. Tomorrow I'm looking after them all day, and I might be driving to parents in the evening if they test negative for covid/feel OK to have us as originally planned for this week. Feels difficult to predict how much time I'll have, and my bad habits often relate to feeling stressed about kid-related stuff. But I suspect I'm making excuses for doing the easy thing. Tempted with

• Staying off mn (except for checking in here tomorrow evening)
• Guided meditation
• Get outside for some kind of walk

Couple of things I thought you might like. Happier podcast (Gretchen Rubin) has some nice ideas for challenges, habit change etc. And Laura Vanderkam's rules in Tranquility by Tuesday - she emphasises a little bit consistently adds up so thought it might relate here. They both seem to have a lot of money to throw at their own challenges so not necessarily completely relatable, but I think there are some nice ideas.

Hi @prettygirlincrimsonrose and thanks for checking in! I remember with little ones it is even harder to plan /prioritise yourself. Sounds as though you have made some positive steps though like all of us there are still things you’d like to improve. MN is also a time sucker for me - I block it for hours at a time (sometimes days at a time) so I stay off my phone.

so today was great - and I weighed in too - have lost 4lbs which is a great start despite some chocolate and honestly I haven’t really been focused on food, instead I have been running most days. When I run, I eat better.

Tomorrow - I have a day of leave with my older boys
so I think:

1 hr of gardening
1 hr of cleaning
30 mins of sorting my clothes (and ditching those I never wear)
maybe a beach trip. Gonna be raining but sometimes that can be fun!

Another reasonably good day here. I did fine on the food front, with the exception of a few biscuits when faced with some work related stress. That’s progress for me though. Only a week ago most of the packet would have disappeared 😬 I also rowed 2k and did some reading. Not bad for a workday.

I’m going for a repeat tomorrow- healthy food, exercise and spending at least part of my evenings in a more productive way. I may add going to bed at a reasonable time to that list. I’m too much of a night owl, and it’s doing me no good whatsoever 🦉

my Easter break is over and today I am determined to start doing the things that make me feel better to look after myself . I have a horrible long term illness and stressful job. I am a single parent and have a large dog and run down house.
luckily I have a very happy relationship (we don’t live together) .
I need to look after myself and put myself first to cope better with everything.
today - healthy food and a walk with the dog and keep on top of house work.

I am off to catch up with the thread now .

Have a great day @PamelaBanisha ! I do recommend the Organised Mum Method to get and keep on top of the housework. Or there is a podcast called ‘crisis cleaning with Flylady’ (which you need to google, I have never found it on the podcast apps) which is a clean with me for an hour and I have used it several times as a ‘clean the whole house’ reset.

Enjoy the dog walk and have a great day!

Good morning everyone,
Have a successful day!
@prettygirlincrimsonrose I will listen to this Happier podcast while working on my chores today! Thanks for the tip

So I made it to body conditioning class yesterday. Omg I'm stiff this morning!

I did 15 minutes on my exercise bike last night, while reading the organised time technique on my kindle. Multi task!

Today - breakfast and lunch planned to take to work.
Charity shop run in my lunch hour.
Tomm cleaning x 2 when I get home.

Hello everyone,
Room for another one?
I'm 51, size 18, full time high pressure career, husband, 2 teenagers and a dog, and I feel like my soul is getting smaller as my backside is getting bigger.
You all seem like really lovely people, and I'd love to join you. I'm trying to make myself take small steps and actually make long term changes but I really expect instant results :)

I'm going to start by:
Drinking 2 lt water each day
Fasting overnight between 8pm and noon
Doing one session with a pt each week
Doing 10 squats and 3 press ups each day

If I can do that for a month, then I'll start looking to build on it. I would LOVE to enjoy a sunny holiday this year and not be embarrassed about how I look.

Morning all! I’ve come down with a horrible cold. Barely slept and had to cancel plans for an Easter trail today with DS.
my goals for today are to rest, read and drink lots and lots of water.

Sorry @Bemyclementine and @prettygirlincrimsonrose for banging on about older kids = more time. I think the sentiment is similar tho - we put ourselves last don’t we?

I didn’t manage the 10k steps yesterday, I didn’t fancy getting soaked to be honest. Will get them done today, I have a site meeting so will walk to that which will contribute to the total nicely.

Older kids may mean more time and less physical grind but I find it much more stressful. The stakes are higher with teens / young adults and they need you in a different way.

thankYou @SpringOn for this thread it is really helpful

I have a fair amount of spare time, but that doesn’t mean I have no reason to be here and I’m sure it’s the same for everyone else on this thread.

I found that comment about people with older kids complaining a bit insensitive to be honest, even if it was said in jest. We don’t know what people’s reasons are for being here. It could be mental health problems, long term illnesses or just simply losing your way after decades of looking after other people. It’s all valid.

Anyway, my triumph for the day so far was remembering to put on some moisturiser. That gives you some idea of where I am in my self care journey😂

Morning all! I've had two days where I have pretty much crashed. I didn't move from the sofa on Monday and apart from visiting a friend, I didn't do anything yesterday either. I'm kind of ok with just having needed the rest, but I think today needs to be different!
I'm still in bed, but just about to get up, have coffee and do some "morning pages" to see if that helps my motivation and feelings about the day.
As a minimum today I want to do a load of washing, sort payments for my mum ( she is starting with dementia so I am managing her money/bank account) and tidy and wipe around the kitchen!
🤞

I have been reading through but not got round to replying in here. Apologies, after such a lovely welcome too

We had guests all Easter weekend and it all went a bit wrong alcohol/chocolate and food wise! Anyway, that's done now. I'm trying to get back on track but am falling into my school holiday slum. My son also went back to uni which always makes me feel sad for a few days. Sitting round doing nothing, when I know id feel much better if I got out the house!

Today I'm going to

Get my little one and myself out for fresh air and exercise

Eat a healthy lunch and dinner (had a protein smoothie for brekkie)

Walk the dog

Use the peloton ( even if it's not till 10 tonight!)

Have a good day all xx

So I have written morning pages and realised just how distracted and all over the place my mind was. Then I've got the load of washing in the machine, started roomba to do another vacuum in the bedroom to hopefully help keep on top of moths ( not as good as doing all the edges again myself but hopefully better than nothing).
I've done mum's admin but need to do some of my own really. I think I'm going to blitz the kitchen for 15 mins next.

Been feeling a bit bleurgh this week, so let myself have a lie in. Pleased to say I've lost about a kilo in weight, which is a good incentive to keep on. Have slipped a bit on the water so concentrating on that and the low-carbing today, as well as going for a walk. We're supposedly getting warmer weather next week, and I can't wait!

Welcome to @shutthedamndoor . Yes, definitely room for another one! We’re all just taking small steps to look after ourselves and be accountable, in whatever way we can. Small steps consistently is what we are aiming for. Many of us are choosing three things each evening to do the following day. I have three basics and then add three - so daily I am taking my vitamins, doing couch to 5k and drinking 2l of water. And then I choose a few extras to help move me closer to where I want to be.

A reasonable day today - I have felt a bit low energy and just wish I could shake this low level lurgy I have had for weeks!

But on the pluses:
we got the car fixed and collected it, and it wasn’t insanely expensive
my new trousers and top from M and S arrived and they are lovely and comfy and flattering and might just be the start of a new look for me. I got a 20 in both but they are both a bit big so either I have dropped a size or they come up very big - either way, I’ll get an 18 next time. I am definitely getting another pair after next payday! The blouse is also nice - both keepers and will be good for work and casual stuff, hooray!
I also had a haircut which was much needed
Walked the dog
i had a healthy lunch
i took my vitamins
i drank 2l water

I have lost four pounds in the past week since I started the thread. That is a massive plus.

and I am quite looking forward to work tomorrow- which is a nice feeling 😁

Great to hear of everyone else’s progress too! It’s amazing how paying attention to what we want to do and celebrating what we do is helpful.

Thank you all for joining. Feels great
to know there are
lots of us in the same boat and lots of us working together to change things 😁

You have just reminded me that the only thing I have drunk today is one small cup of coffee.

This is typical me, and an ongoing problem.