Fancy being a Goddess for 2020?

[Pinkarsedfly]

Bear with me. I’m 45, size 14, about as far from a Goddess as you could possibly imagine.

But...I read a comment from a MNer on one of these boards a few months back, I think it was on a thread about stopping overeating, and it’s really stuck with me. The OP was asking how she could stop bingeing on crap, and a pp said something like, ‘Eating good food in the right amount is more goddess-like. Treat yourself like a Goddess.’

I really liked that. It stuck with me. I like the idea of channelling an innner goddess much more than princessing. So I thought I’d start a thread of ideas about how to be a goddess for 2020.

So far I’ve thought of:

Take regular exercise - not in a sweaty gym, but running outside, yoga, stretching etc. Good for the mind as well as the body.

Eat well, and not too much. There’s not much goddess-like about shoving your hand down a tube of Pringles and getting crumbs down your front.

Drink more water.

Looking after skin, maybe use natural products?

Be creative and try to use more positive self-talk?

I don’t know if I’m barking up the wrong tree, but I’m feeling my way towards treating myself better and hoping it has a knock-on effect.

Any other potential goddesses out there with more ideas?

[BlueSkies2020]

Morning!

Get well soon poorly goddesses

Some success yesterday. Went into work for the first time in many months (mat leave) and had a couple of comments about how lovely I looked I did use a Dr Dennis Gross peel the night before which gave me a nice glow. My cousin who lives abroad who visited recently, also texted to say my skin looked great when she saw me

Today I’m going into town for a ‘back to work’ wardrobe. Parents are very kindly gifting it to me which was a total surprise. They are also looking after baby while I shop. Feeling totally spoiled I did a wardrobe audit last night to see what I need (trousers, jacket, tops).

[Love51]

How are you all getting on?
I've cut out sugar successfully, despite it being constantly in front of me at work! Keeping up the skin care, and exercise. Wearing make up more often than not for work. I'm also starting to 'plan' my outfits, which has resulted in compliments - although more than one person has then fallen into 'not that I'm saying you looked like shit before!'
Water. I don't want to drink lots of water when it is cold. I have had the occasional herbal tea at work (one day I was frozen so found I was drinking tea constantly, so at least replacing one or two with herbal stops me getting too caffeinated).

[BiBiBirdie]

I'm doing OK- I've still been cutting back on coffee, that was quite hard actually, as it started giving me headaches, but I'm sleeping better and seem to have got over the worst.
I did have one Jaffa cake on Wednesday, first sweet item I've had since January 1st and considering it was 1 and not 1 box I chalk that up as a win.
I'm also finding I can still eat foods I like but I check whether I can make it myself rather than buying. The amount of foods with sugars and salt in is mental. Made DP and I spaghetti Bolognese and garlic bread all from scratch yesterday and it was so much nicer.
He actually said yesterday that he can see a difference in my bum already but he still keeps saying I need to do this because I want to as he is marrying me not my waistline.
I do seem to have more energy though so will be starting some actual workouts this week.

Keep up the good work goddesses

[AwdBovril]

I've had a few ups & downs over the past few days. Went for hospital treatment (felt gruesome afterwards, but better now). Picked up a multipack of Korean sheet masks in TK Maxx & have been try to take more time to chill out etc. But, been having horrendous heartburn & nausea whenever I eat. Also, we have to move into a homeless shelter as our LL has now sold the house, we've got about 2 weeks. DH is finding it especially hard to cope with, he feels like I supported him for years when he was unwell & now it's his turn & he should have a F/T job (can't find one).

I'm hoping the horrendous nausea & heartburn is going to translate to some weight loss. It's triggered by volume (can eat about 4 mouthfuls) but also fatty, very acidic or sugary foods. I can just see that dealing with it in the hostel is going to be a piece of cake...

[Tablefor4]

Hi @awdborvil I only browse here, but I wanted to respond to your last message. I’m really sorry about your housing and feeling so awful.

[Love51]

AwdBovril sorry to hear that. Have you got a Shelter supporting you? I hope you and DH find something suitable soon.

[Love51]

@BiBiBirdie I wish I could eat one Jaffa cake! Or one of anything sweet.
I consider it a mark of maturity that I haven't yet met! Well done!

[Pinkarsedfly]

AwdBovril I’m so so sorry to hear about your housing situation. That is beyond awful. I hope with all my heart that things turn around for you quickly.

You’re a Goddess for worrying about your husband and thinking of his feelings. You have every right to be all ‘woe is me’ and that doesn’t come through in your post at all.

[AwdBovril]

Thanks, we're in touch with the homelessness team at the council & there is a shelter in town, so at least for the moment, DH & DD will be able to get to work & school ok. DH works part time & is on a training course to try to improve his job prospects. He does have some paid hours but they vary & TBH he's not actually qualified for his job, he has only got any paid hours a) basically on a zero hours basis, & b) because he worked there on a p/t voluntary basis for quite a while before some hours came up that no-one else could cover, & by then they'd recognised that he's fantastic at it. We're dreading having to move away because he'll have to start again, work-wise, & it's the first job he's ever had that he loves.

I'll be ok because I don't have any practical or family ties here, TBH. But I'm worried for DD & DH. I'm a bit worried about getting lost if we do move away - I have memory loss & I get lost easily in unfamiliar places. I'm practically wedded to my smartphone for this very reason!

[Pinkarsedfly]

Good vibes and fingers crossed, AwdBovril

[Pinkarsedfly]

I don’t believe it. I’ve just done two massive posts and my phone ate them both.

Is MN broken?

[BiBiBirdie]

Thank you @Love51, trust me, this is a huge milestone for me. I literally love chocolate, was banned from it as a kid so as soon as I left home, I became quite the connoisseur.
But i really want to lose two stone before I buy my wedding dress. When I met DP, I was a size 6/8. 20 years later I'm a 16/18, mostly in my tummy, I have a terrible diet and the wedding dress issue has given me the kick up the arse I needed. I cried at Christmas when I saw a photo someone took of me at a kids Christmas party, I looked awful.
It's meant the DCs are eating far more fruit too, they're both skinny, sporty beggars but they would eat sweets after dinner every night and pinch biscuits too. And I couldn't moan when I would eat a packet of biscuits to myself.

@AwdBovril I'm so sorry about your LL. Has he gotten an eviction order yet? There are rules on selling a tenanted house- we were in the same situation in 2014 and thought we would just have to leave. But our Local Authority told us at the time the tenant has to agree to move and not be left homeless as a result unless the house is repossessed. Might be worth finding out?
I know regardless that you can legally stay until he gets a Bailiff order to remove you, and if you have no rent arrears and are a good tenant, that can take months.
I hope you get sorted soon though, I found ginger beer gone flat is good for heartburn.

[Doilooklikeatourist]

Back in the land of the living., but having had the cold from hell I look dreadful
I d need to buy a better day cream ( I’ve got a body shop vitamin e emulsion , think I need something a bit thicker )
Going for a walk today , and I will get my 10000 steps in ( for the first time this week )
@AndBovril , so sorry to hear of the dreadful situation you’re in. Just hoping something works out for you

[PhoenixMama]

I lost you all! @andBovril I'm so sorry for your housing situ. Your attitude to it all sounds amazing!

I've had a week of Goddessing and am feeling pretty good. Another couple of pounds down to my lowest in 10 years!

I definitely need some facial help though - the Eve Lom one sounds amazing - what else do people like?

Also talk to me about mascaras - I need a new one. I love big thick full lashes. Just tried the Boots #7 rose gold one & wasn't impressed. Happy to spend up to around £24 for a great one!

[Mummadeeze]

I find this mascara good: www.boots.com/maybelline-lash-sensational-lash-multiplying-mascara-9-5ml-10191189

[Mummadeeze]

I also used Lancôme flash bronzer gel on my face twice a week and get lots of compliments about looking well / healthy. A little fake tan goes a long way in my book! Am also 45 and size 14 but feel toned and fit and fairly happy with my size. Joined the gym on Friday and have been three times already (novelty hasn’t worn off yet!). Went for an evening swim last night and then had a sauna and a steam. It was so quiet and relaxing. Felt really good taking that hour to myself :)

[Werking]

It’s taken the whole week since Tuesday in bed and I’m not quite there yet, but I’m coming out of the flu.

With my goddess mindset I’m focusing on the positive rather than the negative. So, that I’d set up some good routines in the week or so before I got ill so I simply have to go back to those.

I’m not going to be aiming to hit my physical goals this week as I’m still recovering. But I’m going to try and get back to getting up at 7am and taking my dog for a walk. I’m a lifelong night owl so that was a big thing for me. My sleeping schedule has been out of whack this past week as I’ve been sleeping during the day.

I hope you’re all ok, nay, glowing @AwdBovril that’s horrific - did your landlord not give you much notice?

[AwdBovril]

Thanks to all of you for your good wishes. We don't have any rent arrears & according to the man at the council housing office, at this point we've got a great reference from the LL. TBH we don't want to jeopardise that so we're not going to make any trouble, there is space in the local homeless shelter, & we've been advised to go & specifically not to try to stay past the date we've been given. Once we're in the shelter, we will apparently be in the top priority band for social housing. Have spent the day packing stuff, we have a storage lockup unit which we rented a few weeks ago, slowly transferring stuff there. That's just made me realise, I need to check with the council that it wouldn't count as us making ourselves voluntarily homeless.

I will try flat ginger beer, thanks for the tip, BiBiBirdie.

[AwdBovril]

Werking - we were told in autumn that they wanted to sell, & they initially gave us a month to leave but I went to the council, who contacted them & explained we were literally going to be homeless, & they agreed we could have until a sale was going through. House is now imminently about to exchange, so we need to be out, ASAP. TBH, the lady who's buying it is lovely & it's not her fault that the LL suddenly decided to sell all their properties - we've heard through the grapevine that the LL decided a few months ago to sell their entire portfolio, some 40-odd houses. Probably retiring, or anticipating a bad Brexit & prices plummeting.

[Werking]

Ah, at least they gave you more time @AwdBovril. Are you council tenants with a private landlord then? Wow at 40 properties. You are coming across as strong and philosophical about it and I commend your goddess attitude.

[AwdBovril]

No, it's just a private rental. Thanks, everyone has been really decent when we've told them, except my family who said we shouldn't be taking DD to a homeless shelter as they assume it will be full of druggies, prostitutes, immigrants & "goodness knows who else". Because they're the sort of people who end up homeless. TBH, if they weren't offering to pay for a moving van (when we find an actual house) I'm not sure I could speak to them at the moment. But we literally have no money to pay for one, & the alternative is losing all our furniture. I know that sounds really mercenary.

Have come to the conclusion that wheat = heartburn trigger. At least at the moment. What a pain in the bum. I will definitely lose weight at this rate! Always a silver lining.

[Love51]

I had my first sugar day today. I was at an event with popcorn and lemonade, and realised that I might not get lunch.
Here's the proud bit - I had my (primary school portion) of popcorn, my one cup of lemonade, and ate sensibly the rest of the day. Stupidly late lunch, but nutrious food.

I'm doing well at lots of exercise and limiting sugar. Rubbish at drinking enough. Planning to do a face mask and dye my eyelashes soon.
How's everyone else doing? Found anything that helped? My husband is working away so I'm tied to the house outside work hours, but did yoga dvd as I missed my planned run today.

[littleredlipstick]

I've been lurking and was doing well at being a goddess but this week has floored me with the worse head cold I have ever had. Trying to put stuff on my nose to prevent it looking like Rudolph but I can't stand the sensation of it.
So I have been recuperating on the sofa reading about the spreadsheet organisation of clothing budgets and capsule wardrobe so might look in to that for the next few days. Treated myself to a new teapot (it pours from the bottom and is brilliant for 1 mug of tea) and some boho rose tea from T2 about time I treated myself to something!

[Werking]

@AwdBovril Argh families. I hope this week ha going ok.

@littleredlipstick I’m because I’ve also been enjoying that thread while ill. Having a spreadsheet and buying things one at a time is a level if goddessing I’m not sure I’ll ever reach. I think we need to invite the OP of that thread to do a guest post on here teaching us how it’s done

I am still ill and wiped out, and the flu seems to have reignited my anxiety which was control up to now. I’m feeling unsure of myself and very anxious about re-engaging with my project (I’m self -employed) and getting it done. I’m behind on quite a lot if I pier any admin and I haven’t opened my diary for at least a week. I feel anxious white doing that.

I’ve got an important work call tomorrow that I have to prepare for in the morning so I’m going to have a bath and wake up tomorrow and GET SHIT DONE.

[AnnieJ1985]

Any room for an AWOL Goddess? I have been dreadful at keeping in touch. I've just caught up on your posts.

AwdBovril sorry to hear about your having to move out. You come across very goddess-like about it, I don't think I would be so gracious! Could your heartburn be from stress? It must be stressful... we're moving soon and the thoughts of packing etc can be overwhelming.

littleredlipstick and Werking - hope you are both feeling better! Rest up as much as you can. Active Goddessing can wait, we will glide through it, rather than sprint.

My own week has been hit and miss. I joined a small gym for 12 PT sessions. When I say I haven't exercised properly in 20 years, I am not exaggerating. I am woefully unfit. Anyway I have done 2 sessions, which nearly left me for dead, and I am now feeling a mixture of delighted with myself and OUCH...my ass is so sore (Do Goddesses say "ass"?)

Also this week I feel a bit lost 're clothes and my hair. I have a nice short curly cut, people compliment it a lot, and I do like it... but... I don't know about the colour. I have let my dye grow out a couple of times, and I have (what I think is, anyway) a nice colour naturally, but around my temples is salt/pepper now. If it was all over, I would be happier with it I think... can a hairdresser make the rest match in with the greys/whites, instead of covering them with all-over brown (again)? I think I have myself fooled that the curls make the regrowth look less obvious. Hmmm. Much to think about...

My clothes are another tale of woe, but frankly I have moaned too much for one morning, so I am going to sign off now, pop on a facemask and make some herbal tea.

Grace, Light and Energy to you all 😇