Can I undo the damage of the past few months?
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free skin care · Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:11 pm

In the past few months I have been under a certain amount of stress with a job change due to redundency and family illness. I have not been sleeping well or getting any exercise. I've sort of been falling back food, especially a lot of sugar to keep me going and healthy food and supplements have gone somewhat out the window. I feel like all this has really taken a toll on my skin it looks pasty and I have a load more fine lines under my eyes Sad

.
I need to sort myself out and get back into some sort of routine and be healthy again. Have any of you been through similar stressful situations (silly question probably!) and if you felt it impacted badly on your appearance was the damage undone once you go back to taking better care of yourself?

Thanks everyone for reading!
Pandora x

free skin care · Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:22 pm

pandora77 wrote:

In the past few months I have been under a certain amount of stress with a job change due to redundency and family illness. I have not been sleeping well or getting any exercise. I've sort of been falling back food, especially a lot of sugar to keep me going and healthy food and supplements have gone somewhat out the window. I feel like all this has really taken a toll on my skin it looks pasty and I have a load more fine lines under my eyes Sad

.
I need to sort myself out and get back into some sort of routine and be healthy again. Have any of you been through similar stressful situations (silly question probably!) and if you felt it impacted badly on your appearance was the damage undone once you go back to taking better care of yourself?

Thanks everyone for reading!
Pandora x

A year an one half ago I had major reconstructive foot surgery. It was a good year before I could walk normally. Let me tell you the surgery aged me ten years. Bad Grin

Once I felt strong I joined a gym, walk two miles a day, try to eat healthy. I am springing back.

My point is that if I can rebound at my age I know you can. Hope your life gets back to normal. Wink

free skin care · Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:34 pm

Thanks for your reply Winnie, I know I am worrying too much but I just feel that I have undone a lot of the good work I had done prior to this unheaval. I am just feeling a little defeated at the moment, like I don't have much left in the tank. I probabaly just need a good nights sleep and a more positive attitude!

free skin care · Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:44 pm

Hi Pandora..Just want to chime in and offer my 2 cents worth.

As long as there's life, there will be stress from time to time. And the longer it lasts, the greater the impact will be on your skin and health.

The big secret is learning to deal with the stress, so the impact on your life in general is minimal..

Here's what 'helps' in my experience;

-Allow yourself a few days of poor me, life sucks.

-Walk off that stress, and get extra exercise.

-Try to eat lots of fruits + veggies, and cut down on processed sugar, caffeine + fatty meats.

-Call on a couple of good friends, who won't mind you spilling your guts for a while.

-Seek professional help for the really serious stress.

-Enjoy every minute of a healthy life, and try not to sweat the small stuff.

K

free skin care · Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:10 pm

pandora77 wrote:

Thanks for your reply Winnie, I know I am worrying too much but I just feel that I have undone a lot of the good work I had done prior to this unheaval. I am just feeling a little defeated at the moment, like I don't have much left in the tank. I probabaly just need a good nights sleep and a more positive attitude!

Kassy had some great advice. We have all been there at one time or another and it is not pleasant. Sending big hugs to you pandora77.

free skin care · Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:52 pm

I think it is possible to undo past damage. Positive change is always possible. Just concentrate on making baby steps. I think the first thing you should concentrate on doing is getting a good nights sleep. You need enough sleep to feed your body and mind. Then it will be easier to be more conscious about what you're eating and you'll have enough energy to get some exercise. Even if it just means taking a ten minute walk. Don't get discouraged about your current situation, you can get through it and end up liking how you feel and how you look much better.

free skin care · Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:12 pm

I'm sorry you had difficult time in the past and you passed that test. Keep smiling, think positive and maybe make a list of things you want to correct or get back in order in your life.
Take small steps and soon you've reached your goal!
As for skincare advice, use vitamin C during the day, wear sunblock and maybe use a light version of retinal at night.

Good luck! Smile

free skin care · Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:09 pm

To add to Winnie and Kassy:

I recommend lots of water (sip it all day long) - with lemon -
My morning starter is to Use a whole lemon in 16 oz. of water. Excellent! I try to get at least 64-80 oz. of water a day. (and use at least one lemon a day)
Some say the lemon water brightens the complexion. It also is good as a de-toxifier for the system.

Also get out and exercise - the more the better - part of the get well program! And you will feel better for it.

Lots of rest - this is when your body does it's best healing.

Also some foods help with your metabolism: Suggestions are
Pears - high in fiber and shown to decrease hunger.
Grapefruit - half a grapefruit before each meal - helps with insulin-a fat storage hormone.
Almonds - a good snack and actually shown to help you lose weight. YES, you need to eat fat, to burn fat - but only the Good Fats will do it. (EFA's).
Navy Beans also help - they have a fat resistant starch - also high in fiber.

More about that fiber. I would get a large canister of Fiber Con (I think it's called) and use it in anything you drink. 35 grams of fiber a day has been shown to be very helpful in weight-control and in appetite control. Throw out the sugar.

Take vitamins.

These changes will help your looks, your attitude and add to a better tomorrow.

Oh and stand tall!

Best of Luck,

Sis

Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:20 am

I'm sure that it's possible to undo the effects of a stressful few months, at least the visible effects because I'm not too sure what the lasting effects are on your body. I have had a very stressful year and at times my diet (and even water intake) have really suffered as well. Together with such stress come lack of sleep, which means lack of time, which means less time/energy to use all my favourite products. Unfortunately, my skin is the first to show such changes in my life but I am happy to report that with the right skincare my skin is starting to look great again. I have been through a phase like this in the past and know that glycolic acid, vitamin C and a few other key products always make my skin bounce back quickly. One thing that I have always been careful of, even when I neglect the rest of my skincare regime, is to use sunblock. I believe that is damage that cannot be truly undone.

All the best with getting your health and skin back into shape, I hope that you can quickly resolve whatever is causing you so much stress and get yourself into a new healthier routine.

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