I need an overhaul… where to start for some quick wins?

[edgacremeegg]

I’m late 30’s with a high pressure job, long commute 3 days a week, a toddler and a teenager, so don’t have much free time. My diet is rubbish, I don’t drink enough water, don’t get any exercise. My face is spotty and puffy, I’m always tired. I’ve lost over 3 stone but a lot of muscle mass has gone so my arse is saggy, my stomach is bloated, despite only weighing 9.5 stone.

There’s so much I know I could do but I’d like to try to get things started and feel some quick results to get motivated to do more.

Any ideas for where I can start for some quick wins to make a difference?

Drink water, moisturize moisturize moisturize, reduce any alcohol intake, try to prioritize sleep. Take daily vitamin D high strength. Try to step out into day light or drink a cup of tea outside when the sun shines.

Book a cut and color. Make sure you have a capsule wardrobe of things you can easily thrown on that make you feel put together.

Get some weights or a kettlebell and do some strength training at home? 10 squats while you're waiting for the toaster, 20 press ups while you're waiting for the kettle to boil...

Carry a water bottle with you everywhere, put something you like the taste of in it if you're not a fan of water (squash etc... wine prob frowned upon haha)

Stop taking your phone into the bedroom with you if you do that, you'd be surprised how much it can improve sleep.

It's all about finding stuff you can do without adding more to your plate.

I also need to do this!

This might be the last thing you want to do, but for me, a morning walk with a 20 minute podcast or just in silence really helps me. I make myself a cup of tea in a travel cup and it’s just pure headspace- also fresh air and some extra daily steps

I also have a lovely shower or bath before bed each night, and don’t leave the bathroom until I have put lovely body lotion on.

Start with the diet and water - will have a much bigger impact than lotions and potions! Meal plan and prioritise making your own food for lunch than buying out. High protein and low carb. Build walking as a minimum into your daily routine. Buy a treadmill if you can’t get out to exercise with the toddler and don’t think about running on it to start with as you’ll never use it - walk up hill 30mins every day and it’ll tone you up. Go to bed 9.30 - read and asleep by 10. No phone in bedroom. Changing these habits is your best starting point. Reduce alcohol to weekends only. Eyebrows and hair cut too.

Eating better will help with the bloating. Have 30 different plants a week (tick them off on your fridge - it includes grains, beans and fruit, veg) and drink loads more water. Stop drinking alcohol if you still do.
'Snack' on exercise - so squats a few times a day, press ups against the side, lunges, clams whilst you're watching the tv etc as pp says whilst other things are going on.
Get yourself a little note book or a pad to put on fridge - check things off - you'll find it easier to sustain it and more motivating if you can see you're completing it.
If you have the money for it I'd recommend a personal trainer.

Diet and exercise - can you buy a healthy takeaway lunch on your commute days, like a salad with some protein? A walk in the round the neighbourhood in the evening?

Skincare - do you have a gentle hydrating cleanser? Get a hyaluronic acid serum or a moisturiser that has it and use some sort of exfoliating acid once a week to start. Your skin will start to feel smoother and softer pretty quickly.

Congratulations on your weight loss.

I would pay for a body style analysis to find out what body shape you are, and what colour palette suits your skin tone (I’m a pear and autumn). The one I did sent me recommendations to what would suits me and it’s made a real difference to what I wear and how I feel about myself and clothes. The one I did was online - you sent in photographs, measurements and answered a questionnaire and wasn’t that expensive. (And I’m older and not exactly skinny bunny).

Paying for a ‘body style analysis’ when she isn’t getting enough nutrition?

As posters above have said, @edgacremeegg, you need to drastically improve your diet. That’s probably what’s causing or exacerbating tiredness and spottiness and incidentally preventing you from being able to organise things so that your health is prioritised. Eating well doesn’t come under ‘free time’. It’s crucial, and your whole family’s life should be centred on it.

Get a weekly veg box. There are others but I find

Riverford

really excellent and easy to use. You do not have to buy a pre-set box, ever, or sign your life away. You can just pick what you want and use it like any other online grocery for eggs, milk, cheese, bread, etc as well as fruit and vegetables. (Plus meat if you eat it.)

Get a good store of wholefoods - beans, peas, (dried or tinned) lentils, barley, oats, quinoa and batch cook at weekends. Your teen should be able to assist. This is my favourite online supplier and it’s cheapest if you buy in bulk.

Hodmedods