Has anyone really let themselves go and come back from it?

[myfavouriterain]

Just that really.
6 years ago even after child birth I looked OK. Size 8, younger than my years by around 5 years.
Depression, single parenthood, poor diet and sedentary lifestyle later and I'm size 16, lol older than I am.

Has anyone come back from being this run down, what did you do and in what order, how long did it take, results?

*look older

Yes. I now dress for my new figure and have embraced the grey. I look my age, don't care about that. I'm always clean and tidy, but not 'groomed', can't be arsed and don't have the time. I wear a lot of Skunk Funk and DMs. Red lipstick, red or black nails if I paint them (when the fancy takes me).

I have a loving partner and greet friends, so I don't feel lack of on-trend eyebrows, gel nails or Converse have held me back.

I embraced the new me! Embrace yourself!

When I was with my abusive ex, I didn’t care anymore what my body looked like and quickly became overweight.

After the seperation I lost 16 kgs.
I didn’t diet, just felt so scared and miserable that I couldn’t eat. I lost it in 3 months time by not eating, smoking like a chimney and lots of cycling.
Wouldn’t advice on doing this to anyone!!

Hmm well I'm not high maintenance, wouldn't do my nails or brows if you paid me.

Im interested in looking healthy. Without make up.

Yes, I did - went from size 8 to 12/14. It may not sound much but i didn't carry it well esp as I am 5'4.
I did Michael Mosley's Fast 800 coupled with HIIT DVDs (going to the gym isn't my thing) and lost 10kg in 6 weeks.
I now maintain by eating low carb but not restricting myself socially (will have wine, puddings etc).
Have slacked off the DVDs so need to pick that up again.
I look younger for it, skin has cleared, clothes hang better and most importantly, I feel better.

I suppose I did.

After I had a baby I put on loads of weight - about 20kg. I refused to buy new clothes for almost a year. I didn’t look after my skin or hair. I was just so exhausted.

About a year after my son was born I decided things had to change. I started going to the gym to do strength training 3x per week and started running. At first it was hideous and I hated every minute - now I can pop out and do a 15km in the evenings and I do a lot of racing. I don’t win, but I do alright! It’s taken me two years to get to this stage but the changes were visible really quickly.

I bought a whole new wardrobe when I hit my target weight, started doing my hair, sorted out my makeup. I feel good now. I try to do one thing at a time - so I get into the habit of straightening my hair, for example, or painting my toenails, then move into the next bit needing work

It was all precipitated by a post on Mumsnet from a user who said she was in better shape after she’d had a baby. I read that and thought, oh well, if she can do it so can I.

I don't paint my nails or dye my greys (have dark hair so they do show) and haven't changed my make up routine but I do wear basic make up to look polished (concealed, powder, eyeliner, mascara, touch of blusher and lip balm)

Numerous times. I looked amazing after my divorce as people often do, lost the baby weight, spent lots of time and money on me.
That is the key. Exercise will make you glow and not want to eat shite. I needed next to no make up when I was at the gym 5 times a week

A really good haircut will make you feel 100% better, and ask the hairdresser for something that's easy to manage yourself. No need for brows, hair colour etc if you don't want that, but a good skincare routine will make you look healthy and retinol is your friend here. Just do one thing at a time and before you know it you'll feel and look much better!

Sort of. I have managed to lose a bit of weight, not with exercise plans or an overhaul of my entire diet, that's impossible for me. I can't remember where I read it but I read something about doing a massive life overhaul ultimately being unsustainable for most people, there's a reason we sit on our arses eating cake when we get a minute. So, the idea is to change one thing. Instead of scoffing chocolate all afternoon I try to eat proper food, and replace some processed food with fruit. Started riding my bike to work instead of the bus (it was terrifying but now I"m used to it!). I've plateaued a bit as life has got hard again but I know I can do it.

I had issues during my teenage years, so by the time I was 20 I weighed 22st and looked AWFUL.

By the time I was 23 I weighed 10st 10lbs and looked A LOT better.

Quite obviously there is a lot of "middle" to that story, but the short and succinct answer to the question in your thread title is "yes".

I had similar OP but medication helped fatten me up. I discovered retinal/hyaluronic and glycolic acid, thanks to the beauty experts on here and to my M&S advent calendars over the years. Regrew my long dirty blonde hair which is natural and very few grays (possibly thanks in part to Amla Gold hair oil). Dr Atkins has the fatness undef control,back to a 12 from a fat 16 and still reducing. Acquired a dog and walk everywhere now and she is super company and an excellent destresser. Am now back to being IDd on the odd occasion i buy booze (am a low maintenance scruff which helps cultivate the youthful look i think but also my skin is really goo thanks to the above. Drink lots of water,fresh air at every opportunity, plenty of sleep, also at every opportunity! And a 'don't give a fuck attitude'though this needs to be genuine!. All very cheap, simple and achievable. Took about 6 months to rescue my skin (i looked like a bag of smashed crabs after months of poorly sleeping infant who i was dealing with alone.
This is the year i plan to emerge from my chrysalis triumphant!

Apologies for typos etc, my phone hates me.

'A bag of smashed crabs'

I've gone from a wobbly fat lump who lived in leggings and floaty tops to a size 10/12, and I now dress how the fuck I want without having to hide my fat.

(I should add I lost thirteen stone in one go by ditching ex H.)

I drink tons of water, hardly any booze, go to bed at 10pm very latest, and I gym or run five days a week. Sounds boring as hell but I feel like I'm actually living life now.

It can absolutely be done.

Yes I did. I took up running (more of a slow jog really). It changed everything.

Went from 90 odd kilos to 62ish. Twice! First was weight I gained when my marriage ended, second was baby weight and I guess I'm going to have to do it again (20w with baby no 2 and huge already).

I'd start with the weight - there's nothing like the high you get from getting slimmer, the confidence. Every kilo lost had me checking myself out in the mirror, getting excited about clothes again and it sounds vain but when you love the way you look, it makes a difference on the outside.

The method I used for weight loss was just walking everywhere/baby wearing (or anything that knackers you basically, so carrying a heavy bag, walking uphill routes etc). And food wise (most important) just weigh and track religiously on the MyFitnessPal app, including alcohol.

Following with interest. I have really let myself go lately. I'm a fat spotty mess. I look like shit and I hate all my clothes! I don't even know where to begin, so I'm hoping to get some inspiration!

After I became a single mum- I really let myself go. I went from a 12/14 too a 20. My hair was never nice, I just really didn’t care anymore, I constantly comfort eat. I gradually lost the weight by cutting out all takeaways, chocolate etc. you don’t have to do any of this, I now get my brows, i get my brows done and my hair coloured ( mum does it me, £4.50 in savers) I’m back to a 12/14. You can do it!! X

Should be lashes- I do them myself with a kit from eBay so not expensive!

I've started therapy and it's helping me on this journey.

Spent teens to early 40s several stone overweight. Cue existential crisis and the weight fell off (I do not recommend this as a diet plan, mind). Suddenly I had cheekbones and just the one chin. Ten years on the changes have gone from the inside to the outside and, on a good day with decent undies I can rock a size 8. Flattering hairstyle and clothes mean I look ok for an old bird. More importantly: I do the things that matter to me and I express my feelings more.

I'm going to sound like a complete twit here but a couple of years ago I started a little internal mantra of 'making positive choices'. So each time I didn't binge on chocolate, or each time I pushed myself to walk fast up a big hill, I just said that to myself. It made me FEEL better about myself, without needing anyone else to know.

I also gave myself the odd 'making positive choices' mantra when I was indulgent, because sometimes that's a good thing to do in life, ice cream sometimes is damn good for the soul!

Anyway, I lost about three stone and gradually sorted my skin (retinol plus sunscreen), made myself be more active and added in some body-maintenance like painting my nails occasionally. I had some set backs but didn't let myself give up, just picked myself up again and carried on.

I lost 4 stone after finding ex narc husband was having an affair and so I divorced him.

I have M.E/ C.F.S so I no longer do anything sporty.

I dye my hair blonde with Superdrug box colour.
I have little money, but I am practically vegan have been vegetarian for 35 years.

I paint my own nails, and because I have alopecia I don't have eyebrows and hardly any eyelashes.

But people still tell me I look young for my age.
So yes you can come back from letting your self go.

Trying. I've dyed my hair as it was going white, I've lost 1 1/2 stone, separated and got a new partner who actually likes me for now rather than the constant jibes about my flabby tummy.