Slightly overweight caterpillar (Princessing for those too old to be a princess...) ...

[Karcheer]

dreams of being a butterfly...

In my 20s and 30s I knew who I was (City girl) had regular treatments and looked pretty good even if I do say so myself.

Since I turned 40 (im 47 now) i've lost my identify, and to be honest I just don't bother anymore. The last year (lockdowns) have caused me to be even worse.
If i look at myself I don't even recognise who I am...

I'm 100% fed up with myself.

Is there a princess thread at the moment?

If not anyone else want to join me on a Caterpillar to Butterfly journey?

So far i've booked in highlights and a trim, pedicure, manicure, waxing, facial, massage - all spread over the next 6 weeks.
I've a PT session booked for Wednesday.
I'm trying to keep (falling a bit) to Exante.

I've ordered 3 bras in various sizes as i've no clue what size I am anymore.

I need to sort out clothes, make up etc

Who is in on our journey of self discovery (haha!) ?

I'm in. This is the first night of no chocolate for weeks. Have had a bath and shaved my legs.

Tomorrow I WILL lose a stone.

I actually feel better already somehow having just admitted how much of a caterpillar I am at the moment. Will start wih drinking more water every day and wearing black jeans instead of leggings or trackies. Baby steps but still progress right?

I need to get back on the programme with eating well! It's too easy to turn to the snack drawer, my self control has waned. And hard to find inspiration / motivation for healthy meals. DH isn't interested in food except as fuel and DD moans about any meal she is served which makes life difficult.

Have done my cleanse tone moisturise this morning, rather than a splash of cold water. Todays task is to cut and file my nails before returning to work tomorrow.

I have my mani and pedi appointment today! Yah! So i've shaved my armpits (haha - this is a big thing because I'd clearly forgotten for most of the lockdowns). I forgot to put on body lotion, but I did do my hair properly, make up on and even wearing earrings. im wearing black coated jeans and a reiss jumper I actually feel a bit normal.
But I was sweating getting ready - feel like i've done a workout and now need a nap.
I feel exhausted all the time - I guess this is age, lack of good food?

Checking in again .

Thank you for your sweet compliment @cathyandclare.

Yesterday was a good day, had healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner plus walked for a few hours! Got myself some lovely earrings to wear as new and improved me .

Going to try and resist the delicious donuts that DH bought yesterday and that are still sitting here in my kitchen. Planning on taking a bath tonight and giving myself an at home pedi and paint my toenails. Classy red or bubblegum glittery pink ?

Me too please. I'm 64 and have started losing my lockdown weight gain but struggling for consistency with my exercise regime. Just about to start week 4 on C to 5K and trying to do yoga 5 days a week. I've got my first haircut and colour tomorrow. My hair is longer than in my teens now and strangely everyone seems to think it suits me so I may adopt a sort of modified rock chick look for the coming months, can have it lopped off when I get tired with it.
My main problem areas are that my hands look 30 years older than me, and I've got some liver spots developing on my arms. I'd like to find somewhere to get them laser zapped along with a few other little belmishes.

Checking in today. I managed to deep condition my hair yesterday and pop in some soft rollers so actually wearing it down today instead of scrunched up. I need to do my nails this evening, maybe I need to allocate a set 20 mins every evening to DO something to me. Currently researching microblading, I have to spend more and more time making it look like I have some eyebrows.

Checking in, managed to be good so far on the diet front- chicken salad and fruit for lunch.

I’ve got an online exercise class to look forward too tonight. I can never be bothered to do it but I always feel better afterwards!

Tomorrow’s job will be to give myself a pedicure as my feet look horrendous.

Well done you all.sound like youve enjoyed spending time on your self care and new routines. I got woken up at 4am by DD1 who'd had a nightmare and then I couldn't get back to sleep.so my morning routine was out the window but I've had lots of water to drink, a herbal tea instead of a coffee and managed to avoid chocolate so far. Early bed tonight, am sure that's good for you too!

I have been trying to drink more water, but last night I was up to the toilet twice! I think I need sleep more than I need water.

Full make up on every work day and I’m being much more vigilant with my skin care regime. I think it’s starting to make a difference. Wrinkles haven’t magically disappeared but I look healthier, less corpse like.

Well done everyone. I have stuck to my diet really well and am having salmon for dinner, with NO ALCOHOL

I also called up and made two hygienist appts at dentist. They had no appts until July, so I am going late July, but also had a cancellation for Thursday and it randomly fitted in with my crazy work diary so I have that to look forward to.

I still am unsure whether it's OK to use a three year old Gift card to have eyebrows done - what do you think?

Oh! and I also bought this nose hair removal kit from Amazon. I will report back >

I realise the danger zone of Evening Snacking is not yet upon me, but so far the food is going well today. It might need to be a very early night though!

Am feeling very inspired by this thread. Cut and colour this week will be a boost.

I’m terms of weight and health I’m following Feel Great Lose Weight, which I recommend.

I'm in.
I've begun to feel like my body doesn't belong to me so I'm starting to reclaim it. I've been sort of trying to ignore the physical side of me for far too long, but need to start to aknowledge it.

Today I've eaten better and bought some vitamins, and some hair products (due to big time heat damage).

My biggest achievement today though is i brushed my teeth. Its been a real struggle for me for lots of reasons, but this morning I did it and tomorrow ill do it again.

I'm ashamed that the teeth brushing will be such an uphill struggle but I'm determined to conquer it!

I'm trying to be mindful to not splurge on lots of products that I'll never use, or cheap fixes.

I managed the painted nails, drinking lots of water, eating lots of fruit and veg.

I mean I also ate and baked biscuits and no exercise at all is happening today.

But tomorrow I will definitely exercise. I wonder if I need to go cold turkey on the sugar. I cannot resist!

I've dyed my hair tonight with an esalon order which I saw recommended on here somewhere. I'm happy with it, which is rare when I dye my hair myself. Have highlights and a cut booked in a couple of weeks so that will lift the block colour.

Also dyed my very fair eyebrows which now need a tidy up as well.

I started this 5 weeks ago and feel so much better already. I didn’t plan ahead just made sure I made a change each day. Some days I’ve had to force myself. I’m 60 next birthday and have been working at home for a year and I am more slug than caterpillar.

So far I’ve had my hair cut and coloured and booked a reflexology treatment and an eyelash and eyebrow tint.

I made sure I washed my hair and got dressed rather than dry shampoo and pjs (yes that bad when your office is next to your bedroom) some days make up. I’ve progressed to doing my own facial, nails and fake tan.

@StellaLeonte I used st tropez watermelon gradual tan, I prefer Natio sun kissed though.

I’ve walked every day only for half an hour most days, longer at weekends. I’ve drank more water and eaten better. It took about 3 weeks before I felt that it was worth it but now I feel that I want to do it.

Not quite butterfly yet, more of a hardy buttercup.

@Butterfry good on you for managing to brush your teeth.

Diet terrible again today, started well, Yogurt and blueberries, lunch at 4pm Snickers, Wotzits and 1/4 of leftover Easter Egg, Dinner CHicken curry (homemade) too much Naan Bread.

Oh it was so nice to have my mani and pedi.

Got home looked in the mirror and I must have been rubbing my eyes all day - looked like the lessen spotted Panda eyed Caterpillar...

ARGHHH!!!

Well done, @Butterfry - et al. You’ve got this!

@Karcheer thats my diet some days too. Starts well.with breakfast then goes badly wrong for lunch so I just give up and eat chocolate all afternoon. Self sabotage or what. I had a good couple of weeks when I made myself lunch at breakfast time, might have to try that again tomorrow for my 1 new thing a day. Was so happy to put my pj's on at bedtime, my jeans only just fit me these days

@MsAnnFrope

I managed the painted nails, drinking lots of water, eating lots of fruit and veg.

I mean I also ate and baked biscuits and no exercise at all is happening today.

But tomorrow I will definitely exercise. I wonder if I need to go cold turkey on the sugar. I cannot resist!

MsAnn, when I gave up sugar I found it easier to do in decreasing circles sort of. So first week no actual sugar (in tea), sweets, biscuits or cake. Then week two add in hidden sugar in bread (switched to vogel if I must have some now), very white carbs etc, then week three get hardcore and remove fruit and any sauces that have sugar. I sometimes go back to old ways, eg on a Sunday I might allow myself pudding but everything tastes very sweet to me now. My downfall is wine because somehow I've convinced myself there is no sugar in dry white wine 🙄😁

@TipseyTorvey did you continue to cut out fruit and bread? I'm not aiming for that. Just not reaching for the chocolate when I'm tired or stressed!

Well there's pre-covid and then there was during lockdown couples with homeschooling and work. So pre covid I really did stop all wheat/sugar but would allow lower sugar carbs for a couple of nice meals at the weekend. Gradually my gut changed to the point where any wheat at all caused horrible bloating and stomach cramps so mostly just stopped. Fruit I would eat berries or apples but just kept clear of higher sugar fruits. During lockdown it all went to hell in a handcart. So trying to get back to it now and lose the extra stone!