lone parents housework / keep fit / healthy eating thread

[meglet]

We can only do the best we can. No point in going on housework threads if you're a working LP who never has a break from the kids. Or if you're a SAHM LP with small kids who can't get to the gym.

So, a thread for us to start the New Year with good intentions and to juggle it around everything else we have to do .

• I banned Minecraft today and tomorrow after some shocking behaviour (kicking each other in the supermarket) the dc's had a burst of enthusiasm, dysoning and tidying up to get back in my good books.

• I have managed to get out for a few runs over Xmas. We stayed with my mum for a couple of days so I went out then.

Here's to a positive start to 2015.

Depends where you're off to...could be faaaaabulous in the right setting, oui?

I dared buy myself a little something in the COS sale, but as XH has decided to skip his child support payment this week it will have to go back to buy food and cat litter. Ah, it's a glamorous life being a single mother, isn't it?

I dont know where to go realy as ive never had to go anywhere child friendly before I had dd I went on girly holidays where alls I cared about was if it was boiling hot and the cocktails were cheap, how times change.

Any ideas wheres nice but safe for me an dd (6) ?

I got a lovely new dustpan and brush set in tesco recently. It has a flower and ladybird on it

well today I have sorted out the box of Odd socks in my bedroom... Then went bowling with DS and his mate..not sure how much that counts as exercise. However we stopped at Mcdonalds for lunch on the way home..I did just have a MC Rib rather than a whole meal.

misstiredbuthappy we are going to Lanzarote just myself and DS (7) though will be nearly 8 by the time we go. This is the first time I have taken him abroad though. I am quite nervous thoough travelled round the world pre child.

well I have just got out one of the puzzels I bought in the charity shop for christmas. (new unused though) such luxuries.

Sock sorting is very cheering starlight.

I saw this pop up in my TIO and realised I hadn't done my 15 mins today, then dashed to the bathroom and cleaned the glass shelf off. Just waiting for it to try before I put it all back.

I'm signing in again. I've got a major overhaul in many parts of my life overdue, so using this thread for motivation.

Went to see nurse on Monday, initially intended just a check up & some help/advice re losing weight. Ended up getting my long overdue smear done & now know how much weight I've put on in the past year and a half

Checked the BMI calculator thingy & need to lose 4st 1lb to get back to a healthy weight. I'm not going to shy away from that now, I've been in denial too long & avoiding getting off my arse & doing something. Somewhat perversely I'm disappointed that I didn't get more of a telling off from nurse - despite my rather huge frame atm I'm otherwise in good health so I need to just up the exercise & reduce the crap eating. Always found squeezing in exercise the problem, in between running round after DD & work. So, just trying to figure out how/where to do that.

My main problem is the state of my house - I've been procrastinating de cluttering for about 10 mths & just going round in circles. Got huge piles of crap everywhere to go to dump/recycling/charity & bundles of paperwork to be shredded. Gave up after I broke the 2nd shredder so need to get what's left into bags to be sneaked into work on Sunday's to shove in confidential waste

I have no idea what kondo is, I'll seek that out when I've finished working out my food budget & seeing where I can make my money stretch further.

I'll be back in a bit.

I find if it is in bags it seems to go out the house quicker....no idea why?

I got my DS to make his volcano while his friend was here so I could throw it away and make more space...

I have just completed of day 3 of my wii fit... I am not sure I would of motivated myself however..DS did say have you done your wii fit today...So I can't say I can't find 30 mins a day

Can I join please?

Lone parent to 21 month year old DS. Just finalised a very shitty and horrible divorce which has taken over 2 years. My exH has not seen my DS, so the only break I get is when I'm at work, or if my parents can help out.

My house is ok - I find clearing stuff out therapeutic and gives me a sense of control.

But the weight has crept back on since I've been back at work this year. Too much of the wrong stuff, especially as DS goes to bed. He's a bad sleeper, and I feel permanently tired.

However, I'm going to try and do a Davina 30 minute work out every other evening. And eat less shit. Would like to lose half a stone, would love to lose a whole stone.

Well done on getting your smear done tension.

I walk around the house with a supermarket bag and make myself fill it with what ever clutter and trash I can put my hands on. Only takes 5 mins if your house is a bit messy and the kids have piles of crumpled paper aeroplanes, tissues, dried out pens and pieces of happy meal toys.

That's a new years resolution for me right there. No more happy meals. I'd got it down to once a month but even then the toy boxes seem to be strewn with bits of plastic crap.

While I am thinking about it, can everyone remember to check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, replace batteries if needed or replace old units that have expired (10yrs or so). One of mine is 10yrs old, although it still works, but I've got a replacement to pop up tomorrow.

dd and I have sorted out a carrier bag ful of books for the charity shop and one for the loft. the charity shop oneis by the front door and Ihae to try and not cave in and put it in theloft anyway. I am trying to tell myself that I do not need to keep several "That's not my books... " it would cost more in petrol and moving costs to keep them and move them to a new place than it would to replace them if any grandchildren appear in about twenty years time... it is just I am too sentimental and clingy on to stuff for my own good. I hate how we live but find it difficult to part with stuff.

I have managed to wash all the stuff that ds got the contents of the bin on. four loads of washing. I have not managed to sort out the washing he tipped out of the laundry basket though.

Well managed to make some headway with the playroom today and clear quite abit - but I am struggling to get my backside into gear on the exercise front..will try to do a dvd 3 times a week starting from next week.

Loving this thread though - I'm being a lot more productive than normal!

blackeyes I have slight hoarder issues too. There's stuff in my loft that was put there 10yrs ago and I've never touched it since. I might still want my old ZX Spectrum .

Well done to everyone who has made a start, no matter how small!

Tomorrow I'm going to make a start on tidying the bathroom cabinet i still have the medical kit I took to India 14yrs ago still in there. 15 mins a day for 3 days should get it all out, sorted / binned and put back nicely.

Brilliant idea, meglet to all check smoke alarms. That's my job first thing!

Day 2 of healthy eating has gone well, and I've steam mopped all my floors and found homes for the Xmas toys, so feel I've made a little progress. Also managed to get some revision in for an exam I have Wednesday, so feels like a productive day!

miss my holiday tip with dc alone abroad is, 1 all inclusive 2 make sure theres a free kids club and 3 have a look around the local area about kids attractions and places to go.

I took dc out today and had the steak salad instead of steak chips mushrooms onion rings ect. Quite hungry now but I've brushed my teeth and im refusing to scoff anything!

I am joining too.
Much stuff to get rid of. Couple of items on gumtree tonight. More soon. Plus the charity shops, freecycle and the dump to come.

Diy ongoing.

complicated non rs/fwb thing going on.
mh ishoos if I don't get enough exercise.

X taking one of his infrequent days with the dcs tmrw. May get out on bike.

Been out walking a bit but at a child pace . . . . . . . . .

Heaps of exercise dvds and a turbo just need to get the kids bedtime sorted so I have the energy!

This might not belong on this thread but feels the right place to post it..Tonight I have sorted out an activity for my DS to do that I was going to do about 10 months ago. It is not life changing but does make me feel far more in control of my life..

You positive lot! I'm reading and being impressed! Will post more later but help! Just remembered I have an interview on Tuesday and only tomorrow night when kids in bed and Monday night to prepare, any tips on how to prepare for interviews when you are tired out?

I am not sure on the interview stuff itself..Make sure clothes cleaned and ironed before.

Try and get as much as you can done in the day so you have less distractions..Good luck for the interview "onionlove*

What is the interview for? Is it likely to be competency based questions?
We can test you I'm sure! I'll start...

Give me an example of a time when you solved a difficult problem?

Yeah its competency based and there will be a task, there's loads of paperwork to read about which competencys they will test and how to structure answers but I don't really think at my best after 8 at night, have to try to crack it tomorrow x

Unfortunately then it's prepare prepare prepare.

Good luck for the day.

onion sorry don't know how old your dcs are. Will sticking on a film give you a bit of time to prepare?
Don't forget to check companies website and do some background. We always ask what you know about the company/job.

Also of you get asked a question and need time to think, take a sip of water or get a tissue out before you answer. Take your time.

Also kerp the paperwork handy. Rather than reading it all at once, snatch 5 minutes here or there. Read a bit and digest it throughout the day tmrw.

And no MN

Good luck with the interview, onion