Help! Want a complete overhaul

[pureolive]

I want a complete overhaul, I'm in my late 40's and I'm overweight, my face looks puffy and tired I've just aged.

The last few years have been tough I think stress and drinking too much alcohol have really taken its toll on me. I don't know where to start on getting back on track. I want to lose weight and look healthier and less tired. I've just been browsing photos and I honestly look awful, I'm the biggest I've ever been in my life. I've tried the gym but I just don't have time to go in between working and being a mum and doing all the usual day to day stuff.

My first port of call is ditching alcohol, I've been looking at booking a facial in the hope it makes me feel better. I wear boring clothes because nothing looks good on me, all my weight gain is around my middle.

Any inspiration, ideas or words of advice will be greatly welcomed.

You'll see a huge difference if you stop drinking. I would give that a month. You'll inspire yourself to make other good changes. Fasting is a great tool for weight loss. And strength training. Build your new habits one at a time though.

Giving up the booze will make the biggest change , you will lose the puffiness and should after a few days be sleeping better so you wont be so tired, and you may even shed a few pounds - I always feel and look better when Im doing dry months - just got to learn to add them together and give it up again for good

We all know to lose weight is a calorie deficit , you cant out run a bad diet. I found it an eye opener finding out a pound of weight gain is an extra 3000 calories, and you have to cut those 3000 calories to lose just a pound !!

Im the type who needs constant encouragement and accountability when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off so yes I did join SW last April and yes Im over two stone lighter and have kept to target for the past 4 months but I still go every week, for the accountability. It works for me. I dont stick ridgedly to plan anymore, but the weekly weigh stops me going all out hammer and tong back to my old eating habits , If it looks like Im gaining and heading out of target , I reign it in, so Im never getting to that sod it moment where I stop bothering. I want to remain slim now cos at my age Ive got to be as healthy as I can ( woman in work just 2 years older had a heart attack last week )

I walk. I walk and walk. When I first started walking I could barely walk the length of myself and the wee hill I have to go up and down would near on kill me - had to stop for a rest going up. Now 5k is a 45 min walk for me - including said hill. I walk at least 5 days a week, its improved my heart health considerably, my mental health beyond measure and it stopped the hot flushes

You know what you need to do its just finding the way thats sustainable

Good luck

Thankyou both. I've switched to drinking cbd drinks in an evening to relax instead of alcohol.

Looking at recent pictures I look bloated and putty and fat. I really need to start making some changes. Alcohol is definitely my biggest enemy.

I've thought about doing SW for more motivation but I'm going to see how I go making the obvious changes first.

Defo try to get the alcohol down, its easy for me to say, Im the biggest p - head under the sun, but as I said up thread, if Im doing Dry January or Sober October, I really do see the changes in me . Unfortunately I never keep it up

And getting outside for a walk,even just 20 mins around the block if you are a city dweller, makes a HUGE difference. And its easy to fit in. No special clothes, just decent footwear - and out the door. I live rural and I walk a side road. Bores the hell out of me, I know every inch of it, but I walk it at least once a day , to clear my head, get a bit of peace from family demands and I do miss it if the weather has been so bad only a madwoman would venture out

Getting a cleansing/moisturising routine in place has also helped, as well as going through the wardrobe and getting riid off clothes I never wore because they didnt fit or I didnt actually love. Gone from a bulging wardrobe to having to keep up with washing and ironing so I have choice

This is the second time in my life I have had to shift more then a couple out pounds ( this was covid,lockdowns,menopause weight gain ) , previously in the 90's I did WeightWatchers . As I say, I really do need accountability so for me they work. Others are more disciplined and are happy tracking calories , you need to be honest with yourself and work with what you know you can work with

You have made the first step, you have looked in the mirror and have decided what you see is not how you want to be