Emerging from lockdown - how to feel better about myself

[Littlemiss74]

I’ve struggled with anxiety during the last year for various reasons & have let myself go a bit as a result whilst working from home.
Now it’s time to start returning to the office I want to sort myself out.

I’m 46 & have put on a little bit of weight so my clothes are all a little tight. My skin is clear but sallow with dark circles. I would like some nice make up that gives me a natural healthy look but am overwhelmed by all the choices. I would love to have nice defined but natural looking eyebrows but am worried about them turning out too dark. My eyebrows don’t have a naturally good shape, how can I change this? How do people get great looking eyebrows? It seems to make a big difference.

I feel generally a bit of a mess, run down & unfit. I need to eat more healthily as have been turning too much to comfort food. I do walk the dog daily but I would like to start doing some weights workouts at home, any recommendations? When do you do it around work, kids and everything else?

Does anyone have any tips for where to start getting mojo back & feeling better about myself? Thank you

Start with a decent multivitamin? A poster on here recently recommended these, which you can get from Holland and Barrett.

Good eyebrows can really frame your face. Maybe a beautician appointment for an eyebrow shape and dye? I would reccomend that as a first eyebrow step, rather than micro-bladed brows, which can be a bit 'full on' if you aren't used to it. IMHE they generally look better on under 30's, not my (considerably over 30) group. Once you have a good shape, it's easier to maintain it by removing strays every day. If you can run to it, a facial every so often would improve the look of your skin.

• Go get some sunshine. Now. Most of us in the UK look at our worst in early April; it's because we've been Vit D deficient all winter (or even longer).

• Stop snacking. Completely. Just don't buy the snacks.

• Do Couch25k (bonus: this will get you outside). Kids can do it with you. I've seen mums jog with their prams! You can do it around work - it's daylight from 7am until 7pm now.

• Experiment with light-reflecting concealer (not too much) and eyebrow pencils which are your natural shade.

• Book that haircut!

• Stomach crunches/weighted hula hoop are quick and easy to do.

How about fake tan for your face, that gives me a lift. Exercise wise then 30 day shred maybe?

Boy Brow in Blonde from Glossier for natural but groomed eyebrows

@daisiesinmay that sounds like a good idea, which fake tan do you use for the face? Don’t want to look too tanned in April but agree a bitmof colour would be nice & healthy looking

@TrainWhistleChoir yes I def need a multivitamin - I already take Vit D so was looking for one that doesn’t include that but not sure if that exists. Thanks for the link

@SpongeBobJudgeyPants i have had eyebrows waxed before which I like but I have never quite achieved the shape I would like. I’ve tried various eyebrow pencils but can’t find the right colour so I don’t feel it looks very natural.

I would describe my eyebrow colour as mousey! I do like the look of the Benefit eyebrow palette but its quite expensive for me so worry I would buy it and it be wrong colour. Does anyone have this?

@crumbsnamechange yes sunshine def makes me feel better as does getting out with the dog, clears my head.
I need to plan some healthy snacks to buy - apart fruit I can never think of what to buy and convenience crap sometimes has seemed the easier option!
Haircut & colour booked but not for 3 more weeks - cannot wait!
Couch 2 5 k I have attempted before when I was a gym member so yes I could try this again.

Can anyone recommend any shortish online videos for weights workouts I can do at home?

Totally know what you mean @littlemiss74 I struggle as I really love crisps and chocolate.

Maybe try and get into nuts (not too salted as will dehydrate etc.) and apple slices with peanut butter (I spent a fortune in Pret on this), dark chocolate, yoghurt and honey etc. Boring but curbs the cravings over time.

Davina McCall has a website with masses of workouts from 10 mins to full sessions
Or if you have a dvd player her old DVDs are great too

Healthy snacks - carrots, plain oatcakes, yoghurt, rice cakes
But try to just stop snacking if you can, and have a glass of water instead