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Original poster

Have you ever managed to 'relaunch' yourself, in style, health or other ways?

79 replies

Legacy · 20/02/2006 12:38

I feel like I need a major 'overhaul'.... The last 7 years have been a constant whirlwind of stress and change:

  • difficult births of 2 kids
  • made redundant
  • DH left job and started up on own
  • death of a parent, serious illness of inlaws
  • on-going relationship issues (now resolved I think) ...

Anyway, I am about to stop work fulltime and go freelance, ideally spend more time with kids and focus on family life and DH a bit more, but I feel like I need a complete 'life makeover'!

a) Am about a stone overweight
b) health is crap - get out of breath too easily
c) Have no decent clothes, because I won't buy any 'cos of a) (in denial that size 12 can look a bit tight sometimes)
d) hair is boring
e) teeth need whitening and straightening
f) need to rebuild my friends and social life

I don't know what happened really - I seem to have lost all my 'spark' and confidence...

Just wondered - do people really manage to 'relaunch' themselves (new & improved). And if so, how did you do it/ get the motivation etc?

OP posts:
noddyholder · 21/02/2006 15:03

blanx toothpaste and an electric toothbrush are brilliant for whitening teeth

littlelamb · 21/02/2006 17:25

Just a regular toothbrush, so I don't really know how it compares to a cheaper electric one. But fully worth the money, in my opinion. I hope to live to a good old age with my real teeth, and a regular toothbrush just wasn't doing the job

006 · 21/02/2006 17:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PeachyClair · 21/02/2006 18:25

Yes

I had been up and down in weight for years, as long as I can remember really but it was sort of controlled until I ahd ds2, then ds3 blew it right away! I wasn't massively conerned- DH didn't mind a bit- but there's a history of high BP in my family on both sides and familial hypercholestaemia (sp?) too, so I decided on my last birthday to join Weightwatchers, I have now lost about 3 stones and feel loads healthier.

The resultant changes to my diet have also meant that the bloatedness and absences I suffered have gone too (related to wheat / dairy intolerances but I could never stick to the rigid diet before) and as a result I can speak more confidently and have more friends, I used to get very bad throats and find it difficult to engage with people during the absences.

This has also conincided with me going to study which was on the cards before the weight loss, but as a packgae it has made a really big difference to me.

I'd had a bad few years like you- no loss of parent thankfully (Sympathies btw) but DH was seriously ill with depression, we lost our house as a result (not repossessed but would have been had I not taken decisive action and sold it) and our eldest son has Aspergers.

PeachyClair · 21/02/2006 18:29

(NB: I still have odd clothes and hair now, but instead of being still the clothes I had as a teenager- and I am 32- they're now odd coz i like odd. Same for the pink hair).

My teeth are rubbish though, partly for medical reasons (had hyperemesis) and that makes me [sad. And I ahd to move away to got to Uni which means I don't see much of my old close friends. But onbalance it's been worth it and I can go back home one day when I qualify if I want.

006 · 21/02/2006 18:46

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Simplyred · 21/02/2006 18:49

Good thread!

I want to worry less and live more!

I spend too long thinking if only - and need get on and make it so.

I've had 7 years of feeling dowdy and old before my time (kids, life etc) now what to re-emerge fantastic in every way!!!

madmarchhare · 21/02/2006 18:53

What good posts Candiemom.

mumofthree64baby · 21/02/2006 19:02

Hi Everyone,

First time on this website and I am delighted to read that I am not alone!!! I had a baby girl 8 months ago, I also have a 6 year old girl and a 4 year old boy. I started back at work in Jan. Four mornings a week and just as I was getting used to it again. Babysitter let us down. Now my little angel is on a waiting list for a great creche and will go there at the end of March. But I am trying to juggle work in the mornings from home.(Great boss thankfully, I work in a university as a senior researcher!) But its a nightmare between the little one needing changing in the middle of a conference call, needing a bottle in the middle of writing a report and of course needing a cuddle in the middle of trying to answer emails. She also has been suffering from reflux since birth so my clothes are destroyed and as for getting time to get the eyebrows shaped, the hair coloured and time even to dream of a facial............. Oh I dream!!!!!! Also when she started sleeping through night, I like an idiot started waking up and I find it awful hard to get a good nights sleep.

You know I know to the outside world, I have the nice house,nice car, nice husband, nice kids, nice clothes (joke,,,,,,, at this stage they reak of babypuke. Lets face it she doesn't mind if its gucci or gap!) I hate that word nice. Do any of ye feel that us Mums have to be SUPERMUMS and SUPERWOMEN and SUPERWIFES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks girls just got all that off my chest!!!

Have a good evening!

PeachyClair · 21/02/2006 19:15

welcome, mumofthree64baby.

ssd · 21/02/2006 21:30

some really inspiring posts here! thanks!

candiemom are you a therapist you sound like you know what you're talking about.

perfumelady · 21/02/2006 22:24

ordered my self some blanx toothpaste from ebay, booked myself some highlights and a cut and blow dry, chucked out to charity a load of old clothes, ordered some new ones from next and all this i done this afternoon thanks to the inspiration from all you ladies, just got to loose a stone and stop smoking now.

mojomummy · 21/02/2006 23:11

& me - I've lost my Mojo - hence my name !

I'm not fat, although have a saggy wobbly bottom which I have recently started to excercise.

Just had my hair highlighted & she did a fab job

Have had a brace for the last 2 yrs & 2 mths...& having it off on Monday (I hope) YIPPPEEE !

I think simple steps in the right direction - you seem to know where you are going & a list that you can cross things off are a great help.

Good luck & if you want info on braces etc, let me know.

mumofthree64baby · 22/02/2006 08:52

Morning Girls,

Any suggestions for getting some eneregy????Or at least increasing it. Every time I say it to people, they say your a Mum with 3 kids. But is that supposed to right us off because we have had kids. Of course your wrecked with kids, but there must be Mums out there who have energy.

I got out of the shower this morning and despite all three and hubby looking for me, I routed through the rather old makeup bag and restored the face with some sort of glow!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Enjoy!

madmarchhare · 22/02/2006 09:42

Welcome MO364baby, renewing that grotty old make up and bag always goes some way to making me feel a bit perkier.

Energy wise, let me know if you ever find out.

Passionflower · 22/02/2006 09:43

What is this blanx toothpaste you all speak of???Is it as good as dentist bleaching??

006 · 22/02/2006 10:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumofthree64baby · 22/02/2006 11:02

Hi oo6,

I went to doctor after my little one and told him I was wrecked, had trouble sleeping and just generally felt awful. First thing was oh you probably should go on antidepressants and they will help you sleep and you will be a new woman. Only that I knew from having two other kids I wasn't depressed, wrecked yes, depressed no I would have gone down that road. Why do they right you off as depressed because your a Mum. Yes of course you feel down when your wrecked and like everyone else we have good and bad days. I think the fact you never really get to recover after having a baby you just never get your energy back. What surgery would a man have that would involve him getting up the very next hour and having a little thing at his chest looking for food, virtually no sleep for at least 3 months and still remain cheerful, energetic and god help you if you have other children who have no comprehension that Mum may not even be able to pee comfortably!!!! Oh the joys. But as for energy I guess its the lack of it that unites the Mums!!!! Iron levels are always a good start. I had blood transfusions after my three so I always keep an eye on the iron. My friend who like me is a working mum of 3 and her kids are dreadful at night so she gets less sleep than me, swears by drinking loads of water and a little walk in the afternoon...........She is a nurse also and this morning emailed me to say she has discovered that half the doctors she talked too are on gingseng. Anyone tried it??????????

006 · 22/02/2006 11:09

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mumofthree64baby · 22/02/2006 11:13

What age is your little one. My one is 8 months and I swear by the sleepbags, she is comfy out in the cot and as I write she is asleep for the morning nap. Afternoon nap is always a bit dodgy thanks to her brother and sister not comprehending that quiet means not roaring at each other, TV blasting and in and out to the loo!!!!!

Eye cream...Good on you!!!!

006 · 22/02/2006 11:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumofthree64baby · 22/02/2006 11:25

The school runs are such a mess. I know exactly where your coming from, the poor things are just in the car and comfy and out they have to go. Your great to be still Breasfeeding, I had to give up at 6 months thanks to mastitis happening literally every few weeks. Our little one has gastric reflux so she would feed, vomit, be starving again and my boobs were on fire. Vicous circle.

Its great that there are honest Mums out there who have been through it or going through it so at least you dont feel too alone. I have a sister in law with four kids and she makes me feel so inadequate as everything is always fine she says, kids great, work great, life great and she always glows. Supposed it helps when you have two grannies living very near you and they help out the whole time. Thats another story with me.We live about 2 hours away and we never get help as granny is too busy helping the others.Oh here I go moaning............ Can I have some of your eye cream so I can SEE better!!!

mumofthree64baby · 22/02/2006 11:25

The school runs are such a mess. I know exactly where your coming from, the poor things are just in the car and comfy and out they have to go. Your great to be still Breasfeeding, I had to give up at 6 months thanks to mastitis happening literally every few weeks. Our little one has gastric reflux so she would feed, vomit, be starving again and my boobs were on fire. Vicous circle.

Its great that there are honest Mums out there who have been through it or going through it so at least you dont feel too alone. I have a sister in law with four kids and she makes me feel so inadequate as everything is always fine she says, kids great, work great, life great and she always glows. Supposed it helps when you have two grannies living very near you and they help out the whole time. Thats another story with me.We live about 2 hours away and we never get help as granny is too busy helping the others.Oh here I go moaning............ Can I have some of your eye cream so I can SEE better!!!

006 · 22/02/2006 11:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumofthree64baby · 22/02/2006 13:13

Hi oo6

Since I last wrote, I have been trying to sort out lectures for my Professor, feed my daughter her first meat dinner. Also collected little fella from montessori and my daughter has to be collected at 1.45. Its all go isn;t it. The outfit for your little one sounds great. I live in Ireland and getting outfits for the school play etc are always a Mums nightmare.The King for the Nativity Play had me demented looking for crown that wasn't a barbie one or princess one. He refused point blank to wear his sisters crown. Yet has no problem prancing around in her ballet outfit.........
Keep up the good work.

Just heard on the radio on the way home from school that colonic irrigation is the way to clean us out and feel good inside and outside? Have you ever tryed it?