Argh, work stress is making me look ugly and old and I comfort eating

[FunBagFreddie]

Can work damage your good looks and youthful looks - at least what's left of mine? I think so and I want to know if it's just me.

Argh, I'm really busy with work these days, which is good, because I'm self employed and earn more money. On the bad side I'm working up to 14 hour days some days, never have time to do much, and if I'm lucky I'll do a workout DVD 5 times a week and fit in 3-4 40 min walks.

I am very stressed, just started smoking again. Don't eat properly for a few days because I'm so stressed and feel too busy to eat - today I've had 2 boiled eggs, some sprouted hippy beans shit and four quorn burgers, is that good enough? Is that normal? I just don't know anymore. Then I'll binge like a demented woman. I've put on 4 pounds in the last 2 months.

My skin looks shit and I'm not having much time to devote to beautification, grooming and pampering. I look really old and ugly and I'm considering a salycilic peel - or whatever. All of my nice sexy (but in a respectable mid 30's way) clothes just don't look as good with the extra few pounds. Bugger

If I stop the evil weed again it will be size 14 - 16 again and two years of slimming dowb.

Is it possible for work to turn you into a haggard old whitch? How do you work like a workaholic for periods and manage to look vair Naice? Any advice please and sorry for the rant.

cedge - Are you American of in the UK? I only ask because it's hard enough to get a GP referal for something 'serious' although wrinkles are no laughing matter. NHS, dermatologist?!

Begonia - I had the best sleep ever last night after having a relaxing essential oil bath upstairs still stinks of patchouli. I can't remember the last time I had a whole 8 hours!

I don't drink, or eat much chocolate, but you're right, the smoking has to go.

1. Get enough sleep
2. Drink plenty of water: from midday to 5pm aim to drink a whole 1.5 litre bottle.
3. Cut down drastically on sugar
4. Plan your leisure time well, involving fresh air when appropriate

I think it is possible to be a workaholic and be sparklingly healthy, but you need to approach it with organisation - you are irreplaceable, you are the product, you are the asset. Everything else is secondary to that.

I think female vanity means we are more alert to the effects of work stress. We look in the mirror and see the effects of dehydration, sleep deprivation, poor eating habits etc - men keep going and going - and hence have higher rates of stress-related health problems.

Im in the UK :)
Ordering online is much easier. I would have thought you can get it from your GP, but your right... it could take a while!

Green Smoothies are a great way to quickly improve your diet.

Hoopdepoop - good advice. Drinking enough water is one area where i fail miserably.

My two penn'orth:

OK, my mother's advice: early night 2x a week and you will cope with most things. This can mean just downing tools and leaving the work unfinished ad house in complete disarray, but the plus side is you will get much more done the next day. Weekend lie-ins don't work as a sleep catch-up really, you need those 2 early nights.

Drink lots of water, as others have said. Avoid simple carbohydrates. Keep your diet varied.

Have a break from things midday for a short time, during which try to go outside. Makes a lot of difference to the stressy thing.

Beware of stuffing your precious downtime as though it were work time by doing too much at once (reading AND listening to music, sorting out letters etc AND watching TV etc). You get overloaded. One thing at a time. Lounging is much underrated.

I find the two best stress busters are socialising, in a low-key way, and doing culture stuff (cinema, theatre, art galleries). It is so easy to put off on the basis that you're tired, but actually very refreshing.

So, I got my glycolic souffle from Amazon today and have used it for the first time. My face feels tingly so far - when do I start to look gorgeous?

Lol, it wont do miracles alone, but within a week you should notice less blackheads etc :)
If you dont want to use retin a, you could always do a homemade mask (like an aspirin mask) on weekends and use this cream during the week. That should help improve things over a few months.

OK cedge, I would like to use retin a, but I know for a fact my GP will be reluctant to let me have such a frivolity on the NHS. I don't have the faintest idea where to order it from online, how would I know if it's genuine?

I'll try an asprin mask. Also, when the next fortnight is out of the way, I'm going to have a couple of less hectic weeks I think!

I have ordered from alldaychemist in the past and it was genuine, but some people have had trouble with this site.I always use a cheque rather than a card.
I also used inhousepharmacy with no problems. They are more expensive though.

What strength should I get?

I used 0.05% and it did ok. 0.1 % will be too strong i think. Try not to use a card if you go with alldaychemist.

OK thanks cedge . Does alldaychemist let accept PayPal? I might use the other one, not sure yet.

Btw, I applied my usual makeup after using my souffle, and I don't know what it's done, but it's made a real improvement. I might have to start sizzling too.

Thanks!

I dont know if it accepts paypal.... but some people have had money taken from their accounts after using alldaychemist (i think their site got hacked once). Used my card at the other with no problem.
Glad to hear its helping : )
A lot of this will be in vain if you dont stop smoking though! If you cant do that, at least start green smoothies or take a vitamin c supplement : )

Thanks cedge, That retin a looks worth a go, it's a pity that you get stung for duty and the Royal Mail handling fee though.

I already take a 1000mg vitamin C supplement, and I'm going to see a hypnotist for the smoking. Hopefully I won't get the weight gain when I stop again!

Yes, i got stung once but managed to evade it other times.
If you know anybody going on holiday to india, just get them to grab you some.

How did you get round paying the thieving gits?

I don't know anyone who going on holiday to India.

They just sometimes seem to seize it and other times they dont!

Everything I order from the States gets seized

If the value is under a certain amount £15?? then it shouldnt do. But its hard to keep it under that amount.