January 2025 starters - goal weight era

[HeidiLite]

New thread!

work dramas are so draining. I finally have some opportunities as my challenging colleague has just started her maternity leave, so we now have some opportunities to redistribute tasks in a way it would actually make sense for the company. But at the moment she thinks I'm her friend and ally so I cannot get too involved and it must look like it's all our joint manager's doing. Delicate.

I had a bit of a mad gym day - one session in the morning (back and abs)with a friend, plus the usual spa. Then long dog walk and went back to gym with DH and DS, did legs. There was a guy clearly very new to gym. Nothing wrong with that, we all have been there. I was doing belt squats and he came over. I told him I only have one set left if he wants it, should I take the weights off? He goes that oh no, not necessary.

So I gave him the belt and let him crack on. I was doing 140 kilos. It went exactly as you might imagine. Lord give me the confidence of a mediocre man..

oh lord. I’ve spent the whole day prepping for my interview. I got my husband to test me just now. I couldn’t remember a frigging thing. I just babbled through and he said it made no sense at all. FFS. Now not feeling very confident at all. He did the whole ‘well just do your best’ thing which is what you say tk people who are woefully undercooked for something. Fuck fuckity fuck.

can you start the prep again from scratch? Sometimes I find that if I have prepared too well, I try to cram everything I know into my speech and start rambling.

I think my problem is recall. I can’t remember anything I’ve done in the last 10 years. It’s been a total blur. I’m trying to write myself some shorthand notes just now to jog my memory when I’m on the spot. I’m using ChatGPT as well, which is surprisingly helpful.
I am now totally panicking though.

Feeling like pulling out of the interview for tomorrow. I’m really not ready. What’s worse - doing it and being absolutely terrible or cancelling and wasting an interview slot that someone else could have had?

The only thing that matters is you @Polkadotdash , not anyone else’s chance at an interview. I would be inclined to have a go, and I say this as someone who almost pulled out of the interview for the job I’ve got now. I really wasn’t feeling it on the day, not one little bit. I almost pulled out but recognise now that it was probably part fear of failure having come second at half a dozen jobs in the year before.

I hope you feel like you’ve made the right choice, whatever you decide to do, but please dont worry about anyone else’s chance, that’s not your problem. 🌸

I would go. At least in my case, if I didn't, I would always wonder what if. If I try and fail, at least that's clear. I wouldn't consider other people's slots though, not your problem.

I so wish I could help you @Polkadotdash but I’m actually officially the Worlds Worst Interviewee. It’s a miracle I have a job at all.

I can’t understand how to use all the STAR techniques and interview strategies. It just confuses me. I give shit examples and generally come across as a total loser.

Luckily I have worked in my industry for 27 years, and have reached a level I am comfortable with. I say just go for it. Relax. Tell yourself it’s going to go incredibly well and that they will love you. 💐

Thank you! I’m really in a bad headspace with it all. I definitely think it’s the cause of my low mood last week. I feel really under pressure to perform and feel like there is a lot riding on this. I have eaten nothing but bread and cheese today, in various forms. My overweight-ness cause is 100% stress eating.

Leave it for tonight @Polkadotdash, like everyone lose, I’d stick with it. You were invited because they saw potential. Nerves are completely normal and if you forget things just pause. Good interviewers know how to get the best out of people, that’s their job! Be you, believe in yourself and do your next. Absolute worst case is you don’t get it and get feedback to help next time. Best case is you have a new job. I know it’s easy for us all to say. Lots of luck and I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow. ( also im terrible when I practice with people I know, it’s ten times worse!)

Best of luck today @Polkadotdash. I thought of you earlier, honestly I have been there, in a horrible work situation, applying for jobs that people know I've applied for internally and all the pressure that brings.

Let us know how it goes.

All the very best @Polkadotdash. Sometimes I think we can prep too much. For internal interviews I always think the important thing is to be yourself as they wouldn’t be interviewing you if they didn’t think you could do it.

break a leg @Polkadotdash
And yes Jins is right - it's an internal interview, they already have an idea what you have done and what you could do. You'll do great.

Agree with you all, loads of luck @Polkadotdash

Thank you all, you lovely people. Thank you for sending me good vibes through my phone. It went ok. I didn’t get stuck or go blank, thank god. I could have waffled a bit less I think but I stuck to the 45 mins. I used the best examples that I had, which I’m pleased about. I’m just so relieved it’s over now. I really did tie myself in knots yesterday. I’m exhausted now.

That’s brilliant news, well done @Polkadotdash, it’s always stressful but sounds like it went really well. Hopefully you can have a nice relaxing evening! Keeping everything crossed for you:

Well done @Polkadotdash👏

Bravo @Polkadotdash. It's done now, and walking out feeling like you've done the best you could, is all you can wish for.

I've been doing my usual if getting back on it this week after a heavy Sunday WI. OH has been off for three Easter holidays, so it felt a little like we were on holiday!! No structure generally equals more drinks and food. Luckily, I also did lots of exercise and walking, but had to rein it in. And I'm proud of myself because I have done exactly that and WI this morning is back in the 2lb zone. Since being unable to run long distances I haven't managed to get below that zone, but that's ok.

I've been sorting out meetings re work opps which have come up as it all got leaked to our industry media last week. Got an interesting call later which I'm trying to get excited about (and failing) and a day of meetings next week. I'd be really interested in more fractional work, but so would everyone else, so will have to see.

I'd love to see some of the clothes you have all bought. I'm yet to get mine down from the attic, but I need some inspo. I'm bored of jeans and turtle necks - my staple for the winter.

we knew you could do it @Polkadotdash !

I haven't swapped my wardrobe to summer clothes yet, will try to tackle it this weekend, to see what I have and what I'm still missing. I have bought way too many cute holiday dresses - totally unwearable for office or even casually and certianly don't have enough holidays to wear them all. And have way way too many winter clothes that I wore once and decided it's not really for me. So 80% of time I still wear 20% of my wardrobe.

I think my percentages of worn/unworn are even more skewed. I’m particularly annoyed with myself as I made some gorgeous summer dresses over the last couple of years and saved them for ‘best’. I should have worn them until they were ragged.

Well done @Polkadotdash. Sounds like you handled it well. Fingers remain crossed that you get what you want from the process.

The tension in our house at the moment is hideous. Funeral planning has sent DH into a tailspin and when he starts flapping and not listening DS2 gets vexed. I’m acting as go between far too much. The happy family day out at the zoo feels a long time ago

ah sorry @jins , sounds stressful but I guess quite normal.

But yes, wear all the clothes. My grandpa always used to save everything for the best - we gave a wardrobe full of totally unworn clothes to charity after he died.

@jins that sounds so stressful. Funeral planning is one of life’s inevitable tasks but bloody hell it is absolutely exhausting. It stretches and pulls you about like you’re in a washing machine. Sending you calming vibes to weather the storm.

And my recent Vinted selling peak came from being really honest about what’s in my wardrobe that I never ever wear. I read something about not buying/keeping clothes for your fantasy life and I thought ‘yeah I’ve got loads of things I’m saving for when I’m cool, hip and thinner’ but I actually live in elasticated waists and various shades of black. So loads of stuff went. Plus anything that was uncomfortable. I’m old. I need comfort. Which brings me back on to buying size 16 stuff again. It’s breaking my heart. I sold some lovely size 16 stuff last year because it was too baggy, especially on the bum. Kind of regret it now that I know im not even going to make it to a consistent size 14.

I’ve been wondering how much longer I stay on the jabs. I’m thinking maybe until most of summer is done. I don’t want to gain anything before then but paying £250 a month not to gain weight isn’t exactly rewarding.

Spending my lunchtime asking ChatGPT why I’m not losing weight. It was quite helpful but it said I’m not eating enough protein (Surprise!) after telling me I shouldn’t eat cheese anymore. Basically my existing diet is just ever decreasing portions of carbs and fat, where I should be eating vegetables and sadness, I suppose 😆 At least it didn’t berate me for not drinking an Olympic size swimming pool of water a day.

And just had a call to say I was second choice for the job, but it’s gone to someone else. Story of my bloody life! Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.