Help please, I'm such a mess. No idea where to start!

[Bournchet]

Over the past couple of years I have 'let myself go' <eyeroll> . Not sure if it's a result of low mood or laziness or I just generally didn't give a fuck. Combination of all three probably.

I took a good look at myself yesterday and here is where I am:

Overweight and seriously out of shape, under exercised. I know that sorting this is priority #1. losing at least 2st is where I need to start but that's going to take me at least a few months.

Hair - I do have it cut regularly and it's in pretty good shape when I take time to style it, but most days I just don't bother. Happy with the colour.

Skin, hmm, not really in a routine here. Have lost touch with what products do what, when to use etc. I do cleanse every night although sometimes it's just a quick wipe over with Garnier Micellar.

Makeup. I do like to wear a basic face every day but I have no idea how to look current, good products etc.

Clothes. No style, mostly due to my weight and lifestyle I just buy anything that fits, and ditto what I said about makeup. I don't need to look fashionable as such but do want to at least look current and not stuck in 2004.

About me, over 50, live semi rural, WFH. I go 'out out' very rarely, have the occasional country pub lunch, try to do an outdoor walk daily. Looking in my wardrobe I need to come up with some ideas to look better put together when at home, out on walks and for pub lunches - I have lots of stuff but not sure how to make the items work well together. I'm good for out out clothes for autumn and winter.
Can anyone offer any suggestions or advice please. Especially interested to hear from anyone who's been in a similar situation and turned it round!

How is your mood now? I have been in a funk for years and felt like you, but due to a difficult personal situation at the start of the year I started on antidepressants and feel like a different person. It's incredible how much easier it is to exercise and to motivate myself to do other self-improvement activities (reading, learning a language, playing an instrument, socialise). So I'd start there and check that you're feeling well.

Diet and exercise - be honest with yourself about diet. Eating healthily is arguably easier than exercising, and will make more difference to your weight. Drink plenty water, cut down on sugar and alcohol, eat more vegetables and protein.

Skin - balm cleanser at night then a night cream. Moisturiser and SPF 50 in the morning. There's acids, vitamin C, retinol too, but cleansing and moisturising is a good start.

Clothes - if you're planning on losing weight don't spend too much here. I don't know what you normally wear so hard to advise. I think leggings are fine for home and walks, and even the pub. Balance them with oversized shirts or jumpers on top, and chunky boots. I've just discovered the Lucy and Yak quarter zip fleeces - they're great. Cosy, comfy, but look more put together than my old cheap ones.

I am you pretty much, but 46 and more rural. I have ballooned due to perimenopause.

Be interested to see what ideas you get. I do work in the office twice a week but have some ok semi casual dresses for that. It’s the casual I struggle with.

Do you have any social life?

And, working from home, do you have colleagues / clients that you ever meet in person?

It seems to me you’ve lost any motivation (outside yourself) for looking your best. Would that be correct? If it is - I’d suggest you think proactively about how you can increase your engagement with new situations. How far are you from a city? Do you have distant friends or family you might meet up with to visit an exhibition, see a play, attend a concert? Does your work involve any potential for conferences or other work related activities where you would meet peers? You don’t mention any particular ‘hobbies’ or passions that take you away from home?

I do think you might need something …

I'm a similar age and I find Trinny is good at inspiring us to put clothes together in a different way once you get past the fact she's tall and willowy!

I think a couple of stretchy dresses work well for the ups and downs of weight gain.
Can you go to a stylist in a dept store? Book one in or look on Facebook.
Its motivation and a lifestyle to go with the outfits?
I had a stylist round and decided I wanted clothes to go with my gym (hoped for) routine so focussed on that first, then the lifestyle you want to achieve and how to look good doing those things.
Also buy key quality items for yourself now (as clothes you got away with in 20s etc can look cheap when you're older).
Treat yourself as you are worth it, just need a little maintenance!
It sounds like you have the motivation so that's a great start 😊💕

I could have posted your post @Bournchet Age 52, menopausal after a hysterectomy this year, also had low vit d so no energy to do anything, bar eat. Drinking far too much for my liking, and not exercising apart from two slowish dogs walks a day.
Ive joined a fb group for this inside walking thing I keep seeing advertised but yet to look at it properly. I get emails from Adrienne about her yoga sessions she does on YouTube, but yet to do those.
Thank you for posting and I hope to read something that makes me think yes, I can do this!

I have just bought a Garnier Vitamin C serum with SPF 50. You can use it as a moisturiser or over moisturiser - which saves getting a moisturiser and separate SPF though I prefer a moisturiser underneath as my skin tends to be very dry. I don't like miscellar waters as they tend to dry my skin so only use in emergency!

I am now 64 and use less make up. Rarely foundation unless going out.. I sometimes use tinted moisturiser. but as my skin behaves itself I mainly do up my eyes with liner and mascara - sometimes eyeshadow, and always lipstick. I only bother with blusher when I am going out. And yes I am one of those who only does my upper eye, nothing below as apparently it ages you!!