My own mini-make-over!

Maybe you guys already do this, but I havent been in the past, but I do now and I realize it helps in my weight loss journey..

Before, I would wake up, make coffee for my husband and I, make his lunch, make sure my teenager has everything before he hits the street to the bus stop, then wake up my 10 year old, make him breakfast and make sure he he isnt late...then I drink some coffee, piddle around the house with my ragged t-shirt and sweatpants that I use for pjs.  I always said I was going to put some decent clothes on, put my make up and do my hair, but most of the time it never happened, then I would find myself having to run errands, and I would just put a brush through my hair and put a jacket over my worn out clothes and hoped I wouldnt run into anybody...I figure since I didnt work anymore..why bother, and my friends and family know how good I look when I do dress up and put my make up on...WELL..those days are OVER.

I get up before everyone, I take my shower, put some decent clothes on, put my make up on, make coffee..THEN do all of the mother/wife stuff that is expected from me.  My kids ask.."where you going mom...whats with the makeup?" my husband smiles and tells me how pretty I look. and I feel SO MUCH better about myself.  Now I am getting interested in looking good and concentratring on "ME" for once.  I then get out a blank piece of paper for my To-Do list and I try to accomplish the things on paper, and fit in 20 minutes of Pilaties while everybody is gone.  Concentrating on looking better, and finishing jobs instead of putting them off, has made me too busy to think of what I am going to eat for my next meal.  I am turning 50 next year and for my birthday, my husband is sending me and 4 of my other good friends away for a weekend and I have less than a year to take some of this weight off and I want to look good for that trip....a focus of mine.

I am telling you all this in case there is someone out there who finds my story very much like their's...God gave us only one body and we should make it work for us and be healthy for not just our families, but for us...I will keep you up with my progress and let you know how it is going...it gives me cofidence that I thought I already had, but was short of!  Good luck in your journey...however you get there, lets just get there!

Hi rosepress,

I love your story! I'm divorced and work from home, so it was super easy for me to go for days on end not wearing anything but pajamas and not doing much more in the way of a "beauty routine" than washing my face and brushing my teeth. After falling into this pattern, I started to get the idea that dressing up to go out just involved pulling on jeans (instead of pajama pants) and yanking a brush through the tangled nest that I once called hair.

However, when I started loosing weight, I found myself ever-so-slowly taking more interest in my appearance. I rediscovered makeup and hairstyle products. I even was able to dig my ironing board out of the back of the closet. When you put a little effort into your appearance, it is amazing how much better you feel about yourself. I used to think of primping as vanity, but now I see it as a sign of a healthy self-esteem. The more time you spend on caring for yourself, the more you will value yourself and pay attention to your needs.

Congrats on turning a new leaf -- and on looking so dang good while doing it!

I enjoyed your story, because for many years I was a caretaker for both of my parents, and when I was unemployed, they filled my day with their plans not letting me have much time for myself. Years have gone by and circumstances changes, now my dad passed away in 1990 and my mom is with my sister, after I took care of her for a total of 20 years, and I look back and wonder, why didn't I make that extra effort to work on me first and then in everyone else. At that time, my husband and me had a baby, we were strugling financially, and my self esteem was in the gutter. Great post, thank you. Now that I work full time I do take care of myself and feel better about myself. I am sure you will help many with your post, GREAT JOB!