please help me stop looking ropey!!!

[madmomma]

Please help

I've just had two babies very close together, and a long, shitty bout of depression.
My appearance has taken a beating and I don't know where to start in order to stop the rot.
It's like everything's just slid and now I look half as good as I did 3 years ago.
I've got some nice products (somewhere,I think) but I struggle to be consistent in caring for myself and sometimes I'm so tired by the end of the day that I fall into bed without doing a proper skincare routine.
I think maybe I need to start small. I'm sick of neglecting myself and feeling old. Any ideas on how to kick start myself? Thanks

MadMomma I went from a large size 18, see a picture here to give you an idea. I got to the point of needing to buy size 20 and it made me start dieting. Now I'm a 10 in most shops, see picture here I'll pull the pictures later tonight or tomorrow once you've seen them.

I go to SW every week, hoping to get to my target this week but I'll still keep going every week to make sure I don't let myself slip into bad habits again. Its either old school green and red days or the new style Extra Easy. I just do green days because it suits me. On green fruit and veg is free and I only have the right amount of cereal, breads, dairy and meat.
SW isn't for everyone though, its just about finding what suits you and putting yourself first a little bit.

Thanks for sharing those new - you look fantastic (apart from the black, circular face ;). It looks like two entirely different bodies! You've done so well. I'm going to properly look into SW. I'm veggie and I really can't do a low carb thing cos I don't like eggs or fish. I would definitely need to be able to eat as much as I wanted of something, even if it was broccoli. Thanks for the inspiration

I'll pull them now you've seen them. It has made a massive difference to me and it has got easier as the DC have gotten older. I felt selfish putting myself first for a while, but the whole family is better off with a healthier and happier me so it wasn't selfishness really. Sounds like you need to do the same!

Rapidlash is about £25 on Amazon.

You need to stick with it. I'd read about people having wonderful effects but it took a while for me to notice the difference. But now, it's great!

cutitoutandrestartI'm so sorry your health is troubling you. It sounds like you've achieved so much, especially for someone who finds it hard to be consistent (as do I - with self care anyway)

I did the same (18 mth gap!) and have only just fixed it now by losing 9kg and sorting out my warderobe. I also did SW (although online) and have used it as a way of changing my whole attitude to food and treats (for example I have just had a Millie's Cookie at work and, whereas I would have seen that as a 'wasted day' and gone on to have crisps and a large sandwich at lunch, I know now I will just have some soup for lunch and a fish / pasta / yoghurt dinner, if that makes sense?)

I would really recommend it. Ironically, I only decided to lose weight as we are thinking about a 3rd and I felt that I had yet to recover from the first two and that it could finish me off totally.

I would also recommend looking at your wardrobe and throwing out everything that you wouldn't wear even if you were slim enough and things you just don't like yourself in, and then buying nice accessories to update what you have until you lose weight?

Finally, I would say get some primer and / or bb cream and always do eyes and lips before leaving the house. It takes seconds and makes such a difference!

Good luck!

don't worry about me I am just knackered and falling apart

I can sympathise with the tiredness even if my youngest is soon to be 3

I have ordered the loreal lash stuff from ebay for £3.70 something to see if a) I can stick to it regularly and b) it does anything.

I second Ferrygirl in sorting through your wardrobe. I do it in batches so its not too daunting. I only keep what fits well regardless of what size it says on the label. I have kept a couple of bits to slim into but not loads.

In terms of discipline and trying not to drift into bad habits I have also created a rule of not buying anything bigger than a 12 to force me to focus a bit more.

Before kids I would never have even considered a 16 but a year after dd2 was born I was delighted to get into a 14. I just think it is about relearning all the stuff you take for granted before having kids. I would never have left the house looking a wreck before them but afterwards I just lost myself completely and, so you are definitely not alone. It does take an effort, but not as much effort as I thought it would iyswim? Sorry for rambling! Hope that makes sense?!

Well I've had a massive clearout of things that are too small, too frumpy or falling apart. Worryingly I have very little left, and of what I do have, only a few pieces suit my messy SAHM life. Major shopping needed. I'm skint at present, but will have a lump sum soon which should cover what I need and a few things I want. I can't remember the last time I bought an item of clothing that wasn't maternity. I'm just going to start with the basics, like jersey tops and go from there. I look and feel bloody hideous in jeans and most trousers, so I reckon I need a few day dresses too. Does anyone know which shops to get good quality basics from?
ferrygirl before my last 2 kids I was a size 12 and am now a size 16, which doesn't suit me at all. I think when the weight has crept on slowly and throughout pregnancies, it feels unshiftable because it feels like part of your identity iyswim? I can't remember what slim feels like and at the moment losing a dress size or two doesn't feel achievable. I'm definitely going for slimming world though: I feel ready.

I did WWpropoints and lost 3stone by the time DC3 was 7 months. I am now thinner than I have ever been. The big thing for me was co-sleeping, so i could feed and sleep. I am not tired and so I dont eat for a pick me up. Start by getting yourself two outfis for SAHM/mat leave/,, I found it quite helpful to go to Gap with a 30% OFF voucher and let them run round getting stuff..