Eight weeks to sort myself out - lose weight, get fit(ish), clean the hovel

[workatemylife]

I just checked the calendar - eight weeks till Christmas and I really need to sort myself out. And not just in the Christmas preparation department. I need to sort ME!

(1) Lose some weight. I have been a total pig for the last few weeks and it shows. Starting tomorrow, ditch the mindless eating, up the intake of healthy food, and get myself back into the clothes that I like

(2) get fit. Oh help. We signed up as a family for a boxing day fun-run and I can't see how I can do that in my current lardy lazy state. Couch to 5K or some other planned exercise is required.

(3) sort the house. One room per week, clear the clutter, clean the space properly, and fix anything that needs to be fixed. Get this done and I might have space to put up a Christmas tree in December

I've got myself into a state where I can't be bothered and I need to turn that corner now. The house is a mess, I want to do that fun-run, and I stepped on the scale this morning and I'm ten pounds over my 'happy' weight.

Week One plan: Monday
DCs back to school. Decide which room to tackle this week. Packed lunch for work, and stop the mindless scoffing that comes when I buy lunch. Walk / cycle rather than drive, and work out where to fit C25K into my week. Money saved on food / snacks goes in a jar, and that's my pre-Christmas treat fund. New clothes / outfit, maybe, if I take this seriously.

Anyone else want to join in?

Can I join in too please?

I am rejoining Slimming World tomorrow as I've gained some of the weight that I'd previously lost.

I am planning to eat my way through the freezer and many radom tins and jars in the kitchen to create some more space. Following the same idea in using up all of the lotions and potions in the bathroom for similar reasons. I've have so many bottles between the two rooms with just an inch left in them.

I need to finish unpacking boxes from a recent house move. I have several chronic illnesses so I'm needing to rest a lot, but also need to get things done.

I'm setting myself a target this week for at least 50 things to go onto ebay.

I desperately need to start filing paperwork.

Being disorganised brings so much stress into my lide by not being able to find things, late payments etc. I'm also trying my hardest to clear some debt too.

Full steam ahead, as soon as I've slept off some tramadol!

End of week two - six weeks to go (help!)
Done some sorting in the DCs rooms, although nothing actually seems to stay where it was put! Paperwork much more under control in the bedroom / study but I need some proper storage for things like cards, pens and paper, giftwrap and other stuff that it is handy to have around but which just piles up around the place.
Weight loss - two pounds off things week! happy with that, although again I think I was down three pounds on Saturday morning and only two today. Annoying, but I think I'm being quite strict Mon-Fri and then indulging more at the weekend. Not good in the short term, but if it turns out to be sustainable, then I can deal with that.
Exercise - plugging away at C25K. I really want to get it done, but I hope that it turns out to be enjoyable at some point. I feel virtuous when I get home, but I can't say I'm finding it fun.

Hello CMH I probably have 50 things to put on Ebay too, but I never have much luck selling things, particularly clothes, which are exactly what I need to be shifting. Good luck!

Using things up in the coming weeks is a great idea. I hang on to that last little bit in jars and bottles, when it would be much better to use it, or just admit that it will never get used. Earlier in the year I gave up keeping things for 'best' especially if they were gifts. I was finding that nice toiletries and candles etc were lurking in cupboards in anticipation of some special occasion which never came.

I know what you mean about chaos being a stress-causer, and that must be even harder when you're already tired and unwell. Look after yourself.

work great that you have lost 2lbs, that is inspiring .

I'm still plugging away on the knitted scarves and alternating with the flower cushions .

I have some sturdy storage boxes from The Works, picked them up cheaply and they are ideal for crafts and paperwork.

And I designed some gift tags and printed them out onto card, to decorate the cellophane-wrapped stocking fillers [santa].

Hello everyone. Still going strong here. Had a busy weekend with two parties. Drove to both, which was hard work after 10pm once everyone had had a few but worth it the next day!

Still exercising. I also hate running and the first few weeks of C25k are horrible. When I did it before I didn't really get into it until about week 7 or 8 and that was after repeating week 6 for about three weeks!!

Weight loss - just 1lb this week which, if I'm honest, is a tad disappointing because I was strict with myself and worked hard. However, in the two weeks so far I've lost 3lbs now which tallies with my goal of 1.5lbs a week so I shouldn't be too dispirited.

This week's aims: to clear the rest of the rubbish in the dining room. To get the spare room ready for family at Xmas, to get the Santa presents wrapped and make a start on wrapping other presents.

CMH (firstly, welcome) you are so right about using stuff up and I also agree with workatemylife that it is pointless keeping those lovely gifts of smelly candles, hand cream etc (and I get a lot of these because I'm a teacher) for best. No time like the present ('scuse the pun).

ManitobaOwl can you show us any pics of the things you are making? It is so wonderful to be creative; I wish I was but I'm rubbish at anything crafty. I can bake a mean cake though (which goes some way to explaining my current physique).

Great idea constance - manitoba, can we see some of your lovely creations?

constance any weight loss is weight loss. I'm trying to see this as turning the corner and reining in the bad habits, which will hopefully be a longterm investment. Either that, or a love of cake (which it seems that we share!) will undo all the good work over Christmas Do you have pictures of cake that I can stare at without eating?

I live in hope that I might start to enjoy running. It isn't happening yet. DP offered to buy me some running gear for Christmas but I said no!

Yes, I will post some pics at the weekend, as I am away this week.

On a different note, I've done loads of walking and been swimming every day, as there's not much else to do here. I hope that has a positive effect on the scales too, although I would settle for just feeling a little healthier and fitter.

How's everyone doing? I haven't checked in for a while, have been really busy at work and the children seem to have lots on at the moment - but in the midst of all that I'm actually finding it really helps my sense of wellbeing to have put some goals and structure in place in these other areas

It was my day off yesterday and I managed to do some cleaning jobs I'd been putting off. And have been gradually decluttering over the last couple of weeks but lots more to go at!!

Been on 2 runs this week and have been using MFP again, I find it really helps me think about what I'm eating. I was shocked at the number of calories there were in a piece of cake the other day, and it wasn't even that nice! I'm trying to be healthier and cut down on treats in the week and then let myself think about it less at the weekend.

So I'm pleased with my week overall. Just got to keep it up now!

Just read this thread and I’m inspired!
I started a diet this week, so scary to admit that the pounds have been piling in and I’m the biggest I’ve ever been. Realistically I’m hoping to loose 7lb by Christmas. Then I can do another stone into the new year.
As for the decluttering - great idea!! I’m goung to start with my ds room this week. Make room for all the new birthday and Christmas gifts.
Good luck everyone

Hi all! Welcome @Chocolatecake12 7lbs is very realistic for before Xmas, so I hope you reach that. I also have further weight to shift in the New Year and I reckon to get to my target weight will take another 3 months.

Did my weigh in yesterday - 2lbs down! Absolutely delighted and this is now the longest I've stuck with a diet in about 10 years! I normally do two weeks, then something comes along like a dinner party or a stressful day at work and I think "oh sod it all, life's too short" and drop the idea. This is why I've put on so much weight over the last 7 years.

I have a weight goal which I'm not sure is realistic. This is because I've started doing weight training and I'm actually quite muscly now. Not like a body builder or anything (not my cup of tea), but certainly toned. As muscle weighs more than fat I'm wondering if a weight target is appropriate, and maybe I should look at body fat % instead. Does anyone else do this?

The de clutter isn't going well. I sort of emptied my dining room of crap, and then bought a load of Christmas presents. I find it's the best place the wrap them all because there's a nice big table in there. So it's looking like a paper bomb has gone off in there again. But at least there is Xmas progress. I'm hosting book club on Tuesday and the heating has broken in the dining room too. No idea where I'm going to host it!!

*jelly10 - I know what you mean about calorie laden cake that isn't that nice. I'm trying to train myself to ask myself "is this actually worth the calories?" at my first bite and if it isn't then stopping there. It's been surprisingly effective.

Morning all, pics as promised. Will post others when complete. Hope everyone is set for the coming week.

manito that’s really fab - all I can knit is a scarf!
I went for a long walk yesterday and although I went out for breakfast and over indulged I didn’t eat again until dinner and only had small portions and no dessert!
Hoping to start on ds room today.
Do any of you have a kitchen drawer or two that are just stuffed with junk? I really need to sort mine out.

That's gorgeous manitoba! I'm impressed by the knitting, but love the colour too.

chocolatecake my kitchen has a drawer that is full of junk. DH is an expert at stuffing paper and bits and bobs in all kinds of places! He''s away visiting some mates overnight next Friday so I plan to tip all his stuff in a heap in the middle of the floor and sort it while he's not looking. This week's project is a toy cupboard, shared by DCs, and somewhat over-fed.

jelly I've not used MFP for a while, but maybe now is the time to start. I'm not the best judge of calorie content, and I admire your 'is it actually nice?' approach to eating cake.

Constance fantastic news on the weight loss.

Checking in today. I've lost one pound this week, which I'm a bit about because I've made a real effort with the couch to 5K thing and hoped that would compensate for some overindulgence. But I typed the details of my 'runs' into a calorie counter, and it turns out that I burned off less than the equivalent of a chocolate bar. I'm at that time in the month when I seem to lose willpower as well but I am determined to stick with the plan rather than give in entirely.

Stern words to self: I'm still a pound lighter than I was a week ago, I've kept up with the exercise, and I am going to make this work.

Five weeks to go!

ManitobaOwl that looks amazing.* Really professional. If I tried that there would be uneven rows and dropped stitches all over the place.*

Just checking in really.* Nothing major to report.*

Thank you all .

Done this one in school colours, but the one still to finish is a rainbow one. Will post when done!

@ManitobaOwl that is lovely! I need a new project (and a new hat!) - you may be my inspiration.

Not a great weekend food-wise as I was away with friends. But I did enjoy it more knowing that I'd eaten more healthily all week. And today I've got back onto the healthy eating (though there is still time for it to go wrong!) and I've been for a run so I'm really hoping I'll be able to stick at it for another week. Well, for longer than that, ideally I want this to be a longer term more healthy/mindful approach to eating. But one day/ week at a time

House is still a tip but hey, you can't have it all

@workatemylife a pound off is a pound off - and something to be proud of, well done. The running will get easier, I'm still not great but this time a year ago I could only run to the end of the road before I had to stop and walk and now I can go a lot further. And it burns a LOT of calories!

Right so I’m feeling quite excited that I’ve managed to stay on this regime for longer than any diet in the last 10years so armed with that I’ve only gone and signed up to a year long fitness test starting in January.

Constance, I am in awe. I have a big anniversary coming up next year and need to get into better habits. jelly,the hat pattern is a free download from Ravelry, it's called The Magic Hat .

OK. Have got 2.5 days to get this house sorted. It. Will. Happen. 🤣

Op you're going like the clackers you will def loose good amounts of weight and tone up by Xmas. Inspiring me to move my arse. I did one week every day of excersising, even ten minutes and after one week I have seen differences. One dd room has been totally cleaned out and is amazing

Trying ti eat lower carb, but the big thing I am trying ti do each week is one day fast. I feel so much fabulous the day after but obviously it's tough going.

Morning! Still plodding on this week. I'm going well with the food and exercise (haven't weighed myself but am not expecting much of a loss because I lost more than expected last week, so I think it just evens out a bit). House declutter is on going but need to wrap presents now. I don't have anywhere good to hide presents so I need to wrap them as they arrive. This means I'm super organised for Xmas but it also means that there's wrapping stuff out for absolutely ages until it's all done.

How is everyone else getting on?

jelly10 I'm not a natural runner but a few years back I did the c25k all the way through, and realised that everyone can do it. It's bloody hard though.

Novemberblues my DH did the 5:2 and lost loads of weight. Now he only fasts one day a week and keeps it off effortlessly. I tried to do it but found that on my fasting day I got horrible palpitations and the next day I would absolutely crave, crave, crave sugar. Gave up. It was torture.

Just dropping in for a quick catch up. DS1 pointed out this morning that this time next week it will be advent calendar time, which is more than a little scary!
All sounds good constance. I need to get moving on Christmas presents and cards soon, although DH has apparently been on Amazon today and claims to have sorted a lot out. If his sorting deviates from the present plans in my notebook there will be trouble . But since I'm better at planning things than doing them, it is probably as welll that he's taken the initiative!
november thanks for the encouragement. I did feel better after the first three weeks of effort with diet and exercise, so I need to be patient with the weight loss. I like the idea that even a little change to routine can work.
I have just about persuaded myself that my trousers fit better today, but Monday's weigh in may tell me that this is just a delusion! I've done two of my three runs for C25k this week. Constance and jelly great that it worked for you, although it does seem hard work. For some reason, today was bizarrely tough, but I think it was a mental thing. I went out thinking it is cold, I'm tired, and I can't be bothered, and my legs behaved accordingly.

I lost 2lb in my first week so feeling happy about that.
Haven’t managed to sort out the house much amor de clutter so that’s my task over the weekend.
There were chocolates at work today so I had a couple of those........that’s my downfall - I find it very hard to say no to these things.