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?

Welcome xx

OK. I'm starting with water. I know I need to become active, but my logic is, my body need to be hydrated if I'm going to ask it to work harder and its probably the easiest route to improved skin.

So, the first aim I have is to drink at least 2 litres plain water each day between now and new years.

This isn't about dieting, it's about health so I'm going to keep a rough log of how I look and feel rather than using scales or waist measures.

I have signed up for a half marathon......this is the most unfit i have ever been.....i need to turn this around......water sounds like a good start for me!!
Thanks for the start I so desperately needed!!

We are going for a decent walk today, probably will have lunch out too but I’ll be making it healthy

Please can I join too? I'm going to start with drinking the water too, hoping I'll see an improvement in my skin and my dark circles!

Water with Lemon juice is great

Excellent plan. I have a large bottle that I take to work each day but I always fill it with squash. Water would be a better option and now is a good time to make that change. Taking DS swimming later, if won't be particularly energetic but I will be away from food at least!

OP, have you any plans to start exercising too? As gently as possible, just drinking water isn't going to have the sort of health impacts you suggested you're after. As pps on this thread have said, it's being active that really makes the difference.

I starting with water too and plan to start couch to 5k after new year. Am hoping I can stick to it.

I'm with you OP (waves) Going to look into C25K seems to be recommended alot. Don't know if I'll be able to get passed the thought that everyone's looking at me while I'm doing it though. Oh look a fatty run hahaha.....

Running on the spot in your living room is equally effective

C25k changed my life. Not an exaggeration - really really really recommend it for anyone who thinks they could never be a runner. Mine took me from couch to half marathon and it’s changed many things about my life but especially my mental health.

Yes. I went to Weight Watchers and got myself a personal trainer. I lost six stones in total and the whole process too seven years. But the first four stones came off in under a year; it was the fine tuning that took the time. All this happened between the ages of 43 and 50.

I'm now training for a bodybuilding competition.

Yes, you can do it. Lots of luck

The water is shit round here so I just ordered a filter bottle which will help the water intake.

I'm clearly run down, so I need to look at supplements and diet next.

Can I join in? I’ve gained 3 stone over the last few years which I would like to shift, but more importantly I want to look and feel better, smarten myself up a bit. Drinking more water is my first target as well.

I’m also doing the couch to 5k and agree with others it’s great. I feel so much better for doing it and in turn it makes me want to eat better ect, don’t get me wrong it isn’t easy at first but it’s so worth the feeling

I find that whenever I'm in a happy, settled relationship I tend to get comfortable and let myself go. I stop making effort and eat like a pig. Earlier this year my mum took me to one side and told me I'd put on weight. I needed to hear it. I started Slimming World and managed to lose two stone but have slipped back into bad habits over the winter. You absolutely can make positive changes you just need to be in the right frame mind and committed to it. Little things like regular, decent hair cuts, nails, nice skincare products will also make a difference to how you look and feel.

I got myself a notebook, and today I wrote down my weight, measurements, how I was feeling, the fact I went for a 4km walk, and tonight Ill write down how many steps I took today.
I know my phone records all this, but the act of writing it down has made me stop and think about what I'm doing.
I've also made a pledge to wash my face twice a day and moisturise, which I know I should do anyway but I don't always do it.
I'm giving up alcohol for at least January, possibly longer, and we're going to try and eat healthier in general, less takeouts.
I need to lose at least 3 stone, but I'm not going to make myself unhappy trying to do it, just take it slowly.
You can do this OP, just take it slowly and don't beat yourself up if you have a bad day, I read on pinterest "Just because you have one bad day doesn't mean you've ruined everything. If you have one flat tyre do you slash the other three?"

Can I join please? I think realistically I need to lose at least 3/4st! Some days I'm so miserable with how I look all while knowing I'm the one that can change it!! I'm definitely going to start with water, I'm drinking no where near enough!!

All welcome xxx

Not wanting to sound or be defeatist but I'm starting with water while thinking through the exercise part. There are some obstacles

1. I'm a LP, no shared custody, no other support and not sure whether I can always take dd 6 out as I get back from work around 5 when she is already shattered and needs homework and bed time doing
2. We live in 2 rooms so very little floor space for dvds. No TV, but dvd player on an 11 inch laptop, or the phone
3. Work is non stop I rarely get to take a break off any kind. I don't mind this, but limited scope for movement during the day. Job is sedentary.

One thing I fixed before Xmas was bed time. I used to eat loads of junk after dd went to bed. Now I go to bed same time as her and training myself to wake at 4-5. So could possibly use that time of day to do something.

I have similar barriers, OP, in that I have sole care of the kids before and after work, so have to incorporate all weekday exercise into my commute or my lunch break.

I do this by cycling to and from work every day, and running 3 or 4 days on my lunch break. Even if I can only fit a 20-min run in, it's better than nothing, though on other days I can do 50 mins.

When I used to have a much longer commute, I'd get the bus or train a certain distance, and run the rest. If you could think of your commute as an opportunity to exercise, then that opens up so many new options...

If you can get YouTube on your phone and put 10min fitness it brings loads of different quick routines up and you don’t need loads of space. I like the ten min yoga

Literally running on the door with your knees up as high as you can will flatten your stomach.... pretend skip, shadow boxing works up a sweat

Thank you Liverpool that's something I'd not thought of and might have enough space for.

Other ideas unfortunately don't work for me right now but thanks as they might be useful for others on here.

I've turned it around twice. Once when DC were small and I'd put on lots of weight. I started attending a Rosemary Conley class twice per week and went back down to a size 8.
Five years later, life had been very stressful, my weight had crept back up. I did the Michael Mosely 800 diet, walked everywhere and went from a size 16 to a size 10.
Last year, I had an accident, my mobility was badly affected and my weight has crept up again. My scales aren't working. I look awful. I need to turn it around again but in a way with minimal, gentle exercise.