Has anyone managed to break the depression/bad lifestyle cycle? I'm looking for advice.

[clutteredup]

DD2 is 18mo and I feel like I've just started to crawl out from under a mushy haze mainly due to DH now working near home again. As a result of the last 18 months, having 3 DC at home on my own most of the time and DH being stressed with work, DD2 not sleeping, I have put on 1 1/2 stones in weight and do no exercise and manage on a very base level to keep the DC fed, clothed and to school and back. DS, 7 yo, has not improved at school at all this year and I know this is my fault for not being there to support his school work and DD1 is constantly whining for attention as I can't give them all the attention they need.
Anyway I know that if I exercised more and ate better that I would feel less down and get more done - the thing is it sounds easy but I'm so tired all the time I can't get motivated to exercise and when I feel down I eat badly and eat the wrong things.
I was wondering if anyone else had been here and managed to break the cycle successfully so they can tell me how they started. I just can't seem to make the first move, I try and then give up half way through the day.
TIA

whjat do you want out of the appointment Itati?

FMV - My GP is supporting me and it's going to take a bout three months to get me off them. She has also suggested that I start running again, but rather than try to do it of an evening, get up a little early and run before DH goes to work, so I guess that's my goal.

Tomorrow I have to take DD to hospital for some blood tests first thing, so I think I am going to aim for doing a run on Thursday morning. Having written it down now I don't suppose I can get out of it.

Thanks for the support and thank you for starting this thread Clutteredup.

if you can get your get-up-and-go back enough to go running, that will be a magnificent goal! That will probably help as much as ADs

I go to the doctors with my urine sample and wait. And wait and then 20 minutes after my appointment time I am told the doctor has had to leave so no appointments. I left my sample and the nurse tested it and rang me. There is a bit of blood in it so it is going off for more tests. She is doing me a blood form too so I will have tests done this week. Couldn't ask anyone about the trouble with my leg and I have been limping all day.

itati it sounds like you're having a bad time all round at the moment - can you prebook an appointment for a future date - surely you must be able to gat a same day urgent appointment. Poor you.

I wrote a long post yeaterday and then DD2 managed to delete the whole thing, at which point I gave up completely. She's 18 mo and a complete terror at the moment- that's half my trouble as i get so frustrated about not being able to do the simplest of things. i spend my whole time running around undoing the damage she's just caused so there's no time to do anything else. it's what's getting me down most at the moment.

I have been having breakfast everyday and so far have managed to steer clear of the biscuit tin- I nearly caved on a couple of occasions but knowing i would have to admit i'm a failure on this thread helped me get through - (thanks FMV - )and i only had a small bit of DD1s uneaten tea on monday rahter than eating my way through all the extra bits and syrupy pancakes for pudding.

I'm actually finding this harder than i thought as i think my blood sugar levels are going haywire at the moment as I've been used to depending on sugary things to get me through the day - hopefully this will ease up a bit - I'm trying not to worry about what I'm eating at mealtimes as I'm not eating the rubbish in between.

lilRed if you can go running that is brilliant - what time would you be getting up to go? I've never done running properly before and when I've givenit a go I've felt a bit foolish as i get all hot and bothered and then can't walk for a week afterwards. I need to start doing some exercise, at the moment DD2s pre school is a drive away so can't do the morning school run but should be doing the afternoon one - I just don't seem to get organised to leave 40 minutes to get there in time. Term's nearly finished now anyway so I'd like to think of something i can do which i can do through the holidays. Any tips on how to get started given I am overweight and undefit?

My house is in a mess at the moment too, i don't seem to be able to keep on top of anything and that's getting me down. I just seem to be drowning at the moment. Meals are just another hassle - I need to try and get a bit more organised and then maybe things will start to fall into place a bit more. I'm just not sure where to start - I feel i want to reinvent myself into one of those people who can cope and have immaculate homes..........not likely I think

Hi itati - how is your leg? soundslike you're having a bad time.

itati?

Message withdrawn

Found you!

Still pain in leg and arm. Can't decide what is worse, walking or driving to school. Will be later home as kids have treasure hunt after school. Doing an easy tea though so it won't take long. Have done naff all today apart from washing and making some muffins. Well overdue for cleaning out the hamsters and are meant to be finding some info, but been on here instead!

Hi Dior , its good to know its possible. i know what I need to do its just getting out of the rut and doing it. its silly really as i never used to be like this, i used to walk everywhere and hardly ever used the car, but since we now live more rurally i use my car far more and with the 3 DC I can't face the whinging and moaning that go along with getting them out of the house - its a pain to get them in the car too- when thy're out they do enjoy it though . Its just getting started. When i had PND the thing I used to do was to batten down the hatches and go stir crazy indoors - its not really agoraphobia but it s prtobably verging on it. i know once I get started it will be alright its just making the first step. See I've done it again, its too late to walk to school now

Hi itati,
Sorry had a call during last post.
I think you need to go back to the doctors if you've got pains. Do you think they might be stress realted or sometihng else?

hello lovelies,
Itati - are the pains are recurrant problem or a new thing?

Washing and muffin-making are 2 good achievements. Can you make the hamster cage or finding out the infor your next goal?

clutteredup - I'm not sure those people really exist (or not without their own ''issues''
Remember, make your goals achievable and specific...

Would it help for us all to make a list here of some ''healthier'' snacks you can all try during the day? Eating little and often is much better for blood sugar levels than huge meals and nothing for several hours.

I have had both before but not sure if stress related as tbh I seem permanently stressed atm.

I will ask DH to do the hamsters. The info stuff is hard to do which is why I don't want to do it.

OK, so what can you do to reward yourself for doing it? Nice bath? Magazine and a cuppa/glass of wine?

TBH I am scared to do it

ah, no magic cures for that... But I do know that the fear is almost always worse than the reality. And the hi
gh you get after doing something you've been avoiding is pretty good!

I am sure you are right.

itati I am the master of avoidance and FMV is absolutely right the actuality is always far better than the fear - good luck - are you afraid you can't do it? That's what normally makes me put off things like that - if that's the case look back at other stuff you have done the same that's been good and remind yourself how good you are at what you do - I'm sure you're brilliant
i have done a whole pile of ironing after school today and cleared up my kitchen (which DD2 is about to destroy once more )- so i have achieved a couple of things today - you're right FMV small goals one at a time - its just there's so much I want to turn around about my life at the moment - i know the eating properly and exercise will help give me the energy to face more so i do need to start with that.
I have planned what I'm cooking for tea when DH gets home - late today will have to put the DC to bed on my own tonight - and have plans to do the next load of ironing this evening ( this might not happen)
yes please - some healthy snack ideas would be good, I'm avoiding snacking at the moment becasue all i snack on is biscuits or lots of bread and toast.
Thanks for the support, I'm up and down at the moment but it's nice to feel that I'm not doing this on my own , it really helps.

I will do it but not until the kids are in bed. I also have some time on Friday when DS2 is at playschool. Needs to be done asap but not tonight.

ok, these are just suggestions and some of these are dull. I leave it up to you and your conscience whether you choose to add other things
But remember, almost anything is still better than choccy biccies
These things will help slow-release energy, rather than the sudden spike then big slump you get when you eat mars bar etc...

brown toast with peanut butter, or marmite
Rice cakes
oatcakes
Mushroom/bean pate
falafels
nuts/seeds/dried fruit
soy yoghurts
puitta bread and hummous
olives
hummous and veg sticks
banana
Home made flapjack/fruitloaf
ryvita, cottage cheese/fruit

I can't say too much but I am taking someone to court and have to look for evidence for how it effected me then, and since.

do you mean affected you physically and mentally...? Do you have to find evidence of gp/hosp appintments attended etc?

Sounds like hard work, but hopefully for a good outcome. Good luck!

More mentally and emotionally really. They are expecting to get GP records back to childhood but I moved a lot and the new GP never seemed to ask for the previous one. I doubt I would be able to find them now.

I'm sure medical records get forwarded automatically - do you have a NHS number?