It's time to put some focus on myself again {AD} – Mummascribbles

AD – This post contains one affiliate link and one company that I am Independent Ambassador for. No company has asked me to mention them and this post was written completely by myself. 

The start of this lockdown was like a downward spiral for me. When Oscar went into self-isolation back in March, I suddenly stopped doing the school run. The other half was working from home and took over all of them. I was still doing the dog walks at this time, but otherwise, I was at home with poorly Oscar. Then I got the cough and I went into self-isolation myself. No school runs. No dog walks. For two weeks. And not only that, that damn cough lasted so many flipping weeks, I barely left the house even when I was allowed out. I couldn’t stop coughing so it wasn’t sensible to be seen outdoors in public, even if I knew that I had spent two weeks in isolation. So because of all this, I went from walking 20 odd thousand steps a day, to walking nowhere. I was coughing my guts up so I couldn’t exercise at home, Oscar was feeling rubbish so wanted me to sit on the sofa with him all day, and it was the beginning of what for me, was a mammoth weight putting on period.

It got worse though. Because whilst we have been stuck indoors, I have eaten so much crap. The other half would buy treats from the shops, and I would eat most of them. He would buy a pack of digestive biccies and I would eat most of them. If there is one thing I really struggle with, it is things like cakes and biscuits. If they are in the house, I really struggle to not eat them. Thus, when I made rice krispie cakes smothered in melted marshmallows and golden syrup with the boys a couple of weeks ago – I ate most of them!

It has by no means been a slow weight gain, it has been a very, very fast one. I suddenly got to that point where I can’t bear to look at my body in the mirror. I can’t bear to look at myself in any kind of tight fitting clothes. When I sit down, all I can see is my stomach. When I put my bra on, all I can see is back fat. And honestly, it is not a sight I am ever happy about. Also, a few months ago I put my wedding dress on – when I first tried it on, it was huge on me, and this time it was no longer huge on me! And I am hopeful that our second attempt at getting married will actually happen!

So I knew I needed to do something, but finding the motivation and the time while in lockdown with two kids (one of which has needed homeschooling and the other who I have had to make sure hasn’t continuously sat watching Ryan’s Toy Review), a dog, and a still working (albeit upstairs, but working) fella – well, I couldn’t find any at all.

So, weeks and months have gone by, with the only exercise that I have been getting being a dog walk (once the cough diminished enough) – one day it’ll be an hour’s walk and the next day it’ll be half an hour, as we take it in turns to do the big one and the smaller evening one. That is it. Absolutely nothing else.

It had to change. I had to do something. So I did. This week I have signed back up with my Results With Lucy account {Aff}, this time for a whole year’s subscription. It is the one thing that I know always motivates me and I really enjoy doing. And I have got proper stuck in! I signed up on Monday and on Monday evening while the other half was cooking dinner, I did my first workout in the ‘New Beginnings 2020’ programme that I decided to start. Usually I just find different workouts to do in the workout bank, but this time I have decided to try a programme to keep up with, to try and motivate me more. That first workout felt epic. I felt so good afterwards.

Tuesday morning I got up and did a half an hour yoga workout. I knew I would be doing the big dog walk so I knew I didn’t need to go crazy. And then today, non big dog walk day, I popped on at lunchtime while the boys were busy playing upstairs, did the second video of the programme (25 minutes), and then a 15 minute yoga session. Boom!

And you know what?

Even though I still feel the way I felt when looking at myself – because it is early days for anything to look different – I do feel so much happier knowing that I am actually doing something about it.

Plus I have been doing other things as well that have made me feel so much happier about myself. I have been drinking loads of water every day. Something I barely ever did, but now every time I go into the kitchen (which is a lot with the kids here all the time), I pour myself a glass of water and drink it there and then. I am not a sipper of water, so this is the best way of getting enough into me.

And, I have been looking after my skin. I started using Tropic Skincare (this link will take you to my online store – rep name is Lisa Cornwell) almost a year ago and am now an ambassador for them because I love their products so much. Their products have completely changed my skin to the point where I am now not bothered about whether I am wearing make up or not. In fact, I haven’t worn make up the entire lockdown period, whereas it used to be that I would wear it at home, and I couldn’t leave the house without it. This is a true revelation for me!

Not only do I use their ABC Cleansing products night and day, I also give myself regular face masks with their face mask collection and am working my way through their serums and oils.

It has really changed my skin for the better, and my mood. When I look in the mirror, I no longer see that drained, pale, unhealthy skin, but fresh, glowing skin – even when I have had a bad sleep!

Even though I have spent the last three months really kind of hating myself, now that I am doing something about it with my skincare routine and my exercise routine, I am finally starting to love myself again.