Waa! Girly holiday coming up!

[Froglet]

Hey all, been trying to stop picking for over a year now, but in last months haven't really been bothering to be honest. Im so lazy! But now I have what is probably every skin pickers worst nightmare- I have a girly beach holiday approching this summer. A bikini with my skin and belly?! Nooooo!
So I need to do something fast. I was thinking if a tried to do something for my weight, that would be benificial for my skin too... less spots less picking maybe? Any ideas for an easy to follow diet that is good for skin? Im so badly motivated, but if I keep reminding myself of what Ill look like on the beach maybe I can do it?
I want to be able to enjoy my holiday without worrying bout my love handles and rubbish skin!

[lauryn]

read superfood rx but add no high fructose corn syrup to the list
shop certified organic

exercise promotes circulation meaning more bloodflow to the face for healing

[kimj]

Exercise!
Excercise is helpful for both your health AND picking because it takes up time, and this is time when you could otherwise be picking your skin. It's pretty impossible to pick at your skin while you have weights in your hands. Good luck...I know what it's like to be unmotivated and try to get ready for something like this in a hurry, but I know you can do it. Have fun at your beach party thing

[anonymousartist]

Drink plenty of water (fill up a few liter bottles and leave them in your fridge. Go through at least two a day).

Walk and hour per day (do some of your water drinking during this) or do something else you find enjoyable or more strenuous if you can handle it, but you don't need to do anything more.

Eat every three hours. This will keep you from craving junk food (so will turning off the tv because of the food commercials). As much fruits and vegetables as you can for snacks. Yogurt is great. Make sandwiches, wraps and salads for fulfilling meals. If you eat chips switch to the baked kind, or pretzels. If you like chocolate and ice cream go for no or low-fat pudding and low fat chocolate milk instead. When you shop stay out of the processed food aisles except when you know exactly what you want. Just run and get it. Stay away from superstores. And read labels!

Avoid foods with high saturated fat content (you don't want to eat more than 10 grams of satuarated fat per day anyway). This also makes it pretty easy to avoid foods that are too fatty.

Soy products, lean meats and seafood without breading are good choices as well.

You want to avoid high calorie foods. You want to eat mostly carbs, proteins, and fats in moderation.

If you combine eating whole foods with moderate exercise you will lose weight and find that it's easy and fulfilling. You'll also feel better in general after a while. (also, some people swear by the supplement inositol, to help stop picking. I would look up some dietary sources of it if I were you. I have done some experimenting with just eating more foods with inositol and found it helped my anxiety and depression. It is also implicated in helping weightloss. I just think because it's found in nutrient-dense foods it will help because you won't have to eat as much junk to be full during the day).

Remember, low calorie and low saturated fat. And nothing too concentrated in added sugar (for example, try to stay away from cookies because they're full of fat and concentrated sugar).

Get a textbook on nutrition if you can. Don't believe the crap in women's magazines or even some of the best-selling books. (Although I read a Shape magazine once and it had pretty sound advice).

And don't try to push perfectionism on yourself! Your friends aren't going to judge you at this party (they'll probably be feeling slef conscious about themselves). So just have fun.

--Becca

[Froglet]

Thanks thats helpful! Especially the last one. My flat faces a huge park, so I think Ill start getting up early and going for a walk like you said. I live in edinburgh and with the views of the castle and surrounding hills, it will be just the way to start the day! I will start the diet after my next food shop, hopefully it will give me the energy to stop picking too. I know I cant stop picking properly without a bit of a lifestyle change, Ive been so unhealthy Im sure it adds to the prob! Thanks for the advice!

[Krib]

yep, I'll be trying with that advice too, I'm supposed to be going to Malia in July. How do people cope with keeping mates waiting around while you "get ready"?! Hopefully the (burning hot??!) sun will help my skin..?

The "be yourself" advice is the best I guess.

[Froglet]

In the past, I have used the exuse for wearing makeup on the beach, that my foundation has an spf factor in it. The sun usually improves my skin so I find by a few days I can wear less. But on holiday at the beach and stuff, no one really cares. You see all shapes and sizes etc walking about the beach. Im just gonna try and forget about it. My friends know my problem so hopefully they'll be sypathetic. Especcially one of them, who suffers from acne too... bet shes cracking up too!
Incidently, that friend is planning on trying laser treatment for her skin. 4 sessions for £500. Im interested to see if it works. If I didn't have spots, Im pretty sure I wouldn't pick as much. Anyone else tried this?