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?

Morning all. I'm CS but with my Xmas name change (do you get it?). Actually I name change very regularly here (about once a month, following on from an incident when The Daily Mail lifted a story from a thread I started, so I opt for a generally incognito presence on the boards).

As predicted I didn't lose weight this week, but I also didn't put any on. So hurrah.

Have definitely broken the back of the Xmas wrapping and have begun to sort out the chaos of the utility room today.

Hello everyone! Great to hear how everyone is doing. I wrapped some Christmas presents on Friday and felt very smug! Most of the presents are bought now but still got a few to do. The decluttering has ground to a bit of a halt, I need to refocus. Eating hasn't been great but I always give myself weekends off. Back on it tomorrow

Happy Monday everyone. Four weeks to go!

Well done chocolate on the 2lbs off. Brilliant start. I have zero self control around boxes of chocolates!

Hello to CS in incognito mode. I think I need help with the new name though. Something to do with the C and D and L? Sorry, I'm no good at puzzles.

You all seem to be making more progress than me with actual Christmas stuff. Ooops. I'm having a painting week this week, touching up bits of the house that are bumped or chipped. I don't know how far I will get with it, but I've managed one wall in the kitchen which does look better so that's encouraging. I touched up some scuffed paint in the bathroom but I really don't like the colour in there. Would rather redecorate completely, but maybe not right now.

Decluttering: FAIL. Bringing the Christmas stuff down from the loft has recluttered my tidied up study / bedroom. Aaarrrrgggghhhh!

Couch to 5K: slow, slow, slow. I'm managing, but I think I'm still running too slowly for a 30minute run to get me to 5K.

Weight loss - down 2lbs this week But I was on the scales this morning while waiting for hot water to get as far as the shower and before breakfast, so I'll probably have gained a couple of pounds already!

Trying to keep up the momentum, although I have pretty much ground to a halt over the last few days.

The good stuff: sorted out the scrappy paintwork around the house, not that anyone else noticed but it made me feel better. Almost done with the DCs room, although I need to take the stuff somewhere - charity shop / clothes bank etc. Some nice things that I might try to sell via Ebay. Couch to 5K still plodding along. Depressingly slowly, but if I think back a few weeks, I've definitely made progress. Weight loss this week is one pound. Given how much I let the diet slip, that's a much better result than I expected. I've been putting aside a roughly equivalent amount of money every time I've resisted buying cake / chocolate etc at work, cafe etc, and I had enough in the pot to buy myself a new skirt. Well, BWNT from Ebay . I hope I've not been too optimistic about my size and shape.

Less good: The cupboard of doom is still full. This is my target for the current week, and I need to be harsh with myself. I bought some patio cleaner which claimed that it could just be poured on and would somehow transform the path into a gleaming beacon of slime free paving. It doesn't appear to have made any difference at all And I need to get moving on the Christmas presents that need to be posted out to friends and family this week.

And finally, what do I want for Christmas?! DH asked the other day and I have no idea. I quite like surprises, but DH wants clear advice - he still remembers a recent disaster in the 'surprise' department where his inspired choice turned out to be something of a misfire.

A quick hello to the others who started out on this attempt to get life sorted a few weeks ago. Hope you are all managing to meet some of your goals.

Mixed news here. I fear that I am not really a runner, especially in the cold weather at the moment. Not been out for a few days.

Weight loss is a slow process. One pound off this week. I treated myself to a nice candle a week or so back using money that I had saved rather than spending on unhealthy things. It was lovely, and a motivation to keep on target. But I went back to the shop yesterday to pick up another only to find they had sold out. I came out with a chocolate orange instead!

House far from perfect, but better than it was. Christmas decorations going up (and dim fairy lights and candles) seem to disguise a lot.

Christmas present shopping has been going on in earnest the last few days. DCs stockings are done, and I have DHs main present sorted (he gave me a huge hint, thankfully) but I might get him a bottle of his favourite drink as an additional surprise. Need to get some other things in the post to friends and family though, ASAP.

Sorry I've not been on the thread recently to update.

Weight loss has stalled and exercise non-existent. I always seem to find an excuse and get really angry with myself over it.

On the present front though, scarves and hats complete and wrapped. Cushions still in progress, but getting there.

Other crafts are on hold (just too busy) but will be picked up early next year and made for birthdays.

All other present buying and wrapping complete, and the house is now tidy enough to put up the tree and decorations.

Hope everyone is starting to feel the festive spirit .

Well the tree is up, house clean, decorations up. All shopping except fresh food delivery is complete.

Cushions have been finished and wrapped, and all Christmas parcels ready to exchange tomorrow. Phew!

I think I need a lie down .

Here are the photos, hope this works ....

Merry Christmas to you all and I'll see you in January, no doubt, on the weight loss / getting fit / getting our shit together threads .

I tried to post earlier but it never appeared

Manitoba that looks stunning. My home made gifts are a bit more, well, variable! It sounds as if you have everything in hand - enjoy the Christmas festivities!

I'm still plugging away at the eight week plan, although I'm admitting that some of the little projects I hoped to complete were just too ambitious. Painting the garage door, for example. But I do intend to take all the stuff that I have cleared from the house to the dump / recycling / charity shop before Christmas. That will probably be my last task.

The DCs finish school mid week next week, and at that point my weight loss / exercise ambitions go on hold. I don't want to live on sprouts all Christmas when there is Christmas baking to enjoy.

So yes, I'll be seeing you on the 'getting our shit together' threads in January, working out how to clear the Christmas clutter, complaining that it is all over, and promising all kinds of things for 2018.

Thank you work.

The way I see it, we all now have a head start in January, even if we did not achieve everything we set out to do .

Enjoy your Christmas guilt free .