I need a complete re haul from top to bottom. I'm over weight, frumpy, nearly 50 and. Want to turn it around

[flipchart]

So where do I begin?

Make up .....but who? Where how?
I've been given a good recommendation for a hairdresser but that will have to wait as its in London and I'm in the Ribble Valley.

Up to about 3 years ago (before I put loads of weight on) I was up to date fashionable and loved it. Now I haven't a clue.

And so it goes on!

So, where do I begin! ( or do I just embrace years of frumpdom )

Just stop eating so much. Cut your portions in half. Job done

I've always loved my midweek days off ( today is one)
I always did loads of stuff. I'd go walking in the Lake District,go shopping in Machester, get the train to Edinburgh and so on. All my friends are day workers including DH. My boys are at school or work so I d spend a lot of time by myself. Then about 12 months ago I'd still make plans to say, go walking, but then couldn't be arsed. I'd put it off by an hour, then another hour then it was too late. Then I'd feel like I had wasted a day, then I'd do it again a few days later on my day off.

So I was just sitting there getting fatter with no purpose or motivation.

What a sad sck I'd become!

However if I was going out with DH, I can soon spruce my self up with a bit of help from my friends Mac and Bobby Brown!!

You do sound a bit peri-menopausal TBH- but the way out of it is exercise..
Set yourself a routine such as walking from 9-10 or whatever and really stick to it.

I think the trouble with "planned" exercise is that it's just that: planned! I find that if I plan to do exercise I fail, simply on the grounds that it's additional to what I'm already doing. So why not try to build it into your day, so it's something that's part of your routine eg walking to work instead of driving, walking up stairs instead of taking the escalator, walking the long way to the shops etc. It builds up. I recommend mfp simply for making you very conscious of your calorie intake and expenditure.

I think the trouble with "planned" exercise is that it's just that: planned! I find that if I plan to do exercise I fail, simply on the grounds that it's additional to what I'm already doing.

I don't understand that. All the people I know who are religious about exercise have a routine- ie go tot he gym at 6am, before catching the train to work, or going to the gym at 6pm straight from work.

If I left it until I felt like it then it would never be done! I work for myself so allocate either a morning or early afternoon to exercise- a good long walk- and lifestyle changes like talking the stairs instead of a lift are just that- lifestyle. They aren't true exercise though they do add up .

flip - yeah, I sometimes have days a bit like that - I have to confess that MN is not helpful to me at such times, I sometimes witter away far too much time here instead of getting on and doing something 'real'.

yummy: I agree (a bit). But most of us mortals aren't religious about exercise, are we. Apart from anything else, for most of us, getting to the gym at 6 and after work is a big ask. Particularly with littluns. And exercise, in my mind, should at least be enjoyable, otherwise it's going to be hard to keep up. And that's the thing imo-if you can't/won't keep it up, then aim for something more doable and therefore long-term. Walking, perhaps the odd swim, a zumba class, a pilates class combined with a controlled calorie intake work best for me, at least.