Anyone want to join me in a March "glow up"?

[LavenderIsland]

Getting ready to emerge from wintery clothes and comfort food and wanting to look better, I feel it's time to sort things out.
Starting a bit before March to give myself 6 weeks to lose a stone and sort out my skin and hair, I'm doing the following -

Eat nutrient rich food
No snacking
Daily walk
15 minute daily weight workout
Daily skin care and moisturising
Haircut
Weekly face mask
Weekly hair mask
Foot mask

As well as that I'm starting to declutter and want to read instead of being on my phone at night.

Come join in

Thanks OP, this thread is helpful!
I joined the gym, but need to keep my routine firmly in place as sometimes I have let work prevent me from going. I don’t do much there (treadmill walking / jogging plus some weights) but it’s better than nothing! Ditto for my diet. I wanted to lose 2 stones and made a little progress, but have fallen back in to old habits (evening snacking!)
I would also like to get off my ‘phone and read more, go to bed earlier and spend more time outdoors.
I know that doing little things works way better than trying to achieve everything at once, so I’m going to begin by meal planning again, going for walks and getting back to the gym!
Good luck to everyone on this thread!

Yes, work taking over is a bit of a problem! It's why I've aimed to try for little and often on the home workouts, and meal prep is a bit of a lifesaver! I also plan meals that require a bit of 'bubbling' like a chilli or a veggie pasta, and then i force myself to do my 'power half hour' while that's cooking, as I'm already sat down then. (Getting back up after I'm down is an issue!) Telling myself to go and get an early night also helps (mostly) as I then go up and still have energy to moisturiser etc. It's not foolproof but I try to 'double up' on tasks where I can.

I'm 8 months pregnant but I'd still like to join as far as I'm able. I've been struggling not to fall asleep in the mid afternoons and I know it's too many carbs and no exercise beyond housework that is causing it.
My skin needs a good exfoliate as well, I'm missing doing dry skin brushing but I don't think its reccomended in pregnancy.
Thank you for starting this thread OP, hoping it will inspire me.

Ooh I just want to add to my list- increase my hours at work. I have limited energy so I will make sure to have hourly screen breaks to stretch and empty my mind. I also want to gain a bit of weight in muscle, maybe 5lbs by the summer 💪

Well done to all those losing weight already.

I've a quiet morning today so made dahl this morning so that will be my lunch with a wrap filled with veg.

Apple slices with a sprinkle of cinnamon makes a nice dessert.

Might do my power half hour now.

@GameOfJones can you tell me about the shakti mat? Pinterest is pushing these on me big time, are they worth the money?? What's the benefits?

I have had my Greek yoghurt and home made muesli for breakfast. Am cutting down snacking during the day and will get out to walk the dog shortly if it stops raining…..
Tried doing some exercises whilst brushing my teeth and waiting for the kettle as folk have suggested!

Love the name “power half hour”. I did mine from 8-8:30 this morning. Took my vitamins, drank plenty of water and green tea, did my skincare and just walked the dog in my break. I’m already in 8027 steps and it’s not even lunch time 💪. Feeling good and the sun is out 😄.

Yes please! I'm back to a longer daily walk and low carb. I'll aim to start shaving my legs again and using some body lotion too!

Yes please ! Exhausted today after travelling delays on plane etc most of the day but will start tomorrow, off to Oz early April so need to pull myself together

I'm in! (Thanks.)

I did my walk, had my Dahl with oatcakes and then had such a busy day.
Need an early night.

Has anyone started reading instead of being on your phone?

I would love to join @LavenderIsland thank you

Away to have a Pamper bath, will pop back later to catch up on the thread.

I’m in! Husband left me for someone else last year and my confidence is at an all time low so want to try to make myself feel more like me again in town to go away with DC in Easter holidays!

ooh good idea!

I really need to prioritise some self care. I’m 41 and run around after DC2 and DC5. I’m permanently tired and depleted; I exist on caffeine and paracetamol. Most days 🙁

I do 16:8 intermittent fasting - started 9 months ago to lose some weight and to try to hold back my endometriosis. Am totally in the habit of that now and have lost a decent amount of weight. My endo bloating is much better than it was too.

My skin looks terrible though, I ache so much in my shoulder blades, my hair is lifeless and lank. I am addicted to my phone to numb my brain. I do hardly anything for myself, for relaxation or fitness / wellbeing.

Started the year with the intention of reading a book a month - am still on book one! It is quite long though…

Had a manic day at work but stuck to my meal plan until I got home and hit the biscuit tin. But I read a chapter of my book with the biscuits so perhaps they balance out?!

Started the week well.

Kept on top of all my chores
First day of intermittent fasting almost completed
Had high protein lunch and a protein drink
Took my supplements
Just got to do skincare and get to bed on time.

I'm trying to read instead of scrolling OP but failing miserably.

Well done everyone. Keep on!

What supplements does everyone take?

Extended my power half hour to an hour tonight while dinner was cooking and now in bed with fake tan on doing my scalp massage! The sun today definitely helped with motivation, thinking about summer.
Didn't drink as much water today as id like - 2L is great for my skin but I would have liked to have done 3. I'm going to chug a pint when I wake up, while the kettles boiling in the morning! Hope everyone had a productive evening.

Well done everyone. Looks like everyone is motivated right now but we all know that it's easier at the beginning and then the motivation starts to wane.
Let's all help to keep the momentum.

Look at me not reading 

@thinkofablinkingnamewoman definitely a good balance there. Mental energy still requires sustenance (maybe not the kind found in the biscuit tin but it's just the odd occasion, right? )

@Cloud44 I usually take omega 3 fish oils and floradix. Vitamin d and b12 complex intermittently.

@thinkofablinkingnamewoman there was meant to be a smiley face there! It sounds like I'm telling you off. Sorry it wasn't meant to

Last week, I had bloods taken at the local pharmacy. Surgery told me my iron was normal, but I felt awful.

Turns out my B12 is fine, but iron is at the low end of normal. Ditto magnesium. Calcium is right on the bottom line of normal and vitamin D is below. I'd been taking Seven Seas capsules for a couple of weeks prior to the blood test.

The low vitamin D might explain some of my aches and pains, apparently.

Ohh I want to join! Great idea, OP x

I’m in too please! Not well at the moment but will post more once recovered.

@Cathy31 I love mine! It isn't actually one of the proper branded shakti mats.... it's one of the cheap versions off Amazon but I love it so much I'll probably upgrade it to a proper one. It's essentially a mat with plastic spikes on it and a little bolster pillow also covered in spikes that you lie on. I bought it for my bad back and it's apparently meant to help with circulation and can help with stress and depression.

I can definitely attest that it makes me feel calm. You have no choice but to fully relax when you're laid on it. It's uncomfortable at first but after a couple of minutes I get a really warm sensation (probably from my circulation). I do 20 minutes and always feel relaxed by the end of it. If you get one, start off using it on top of your bed and with a thin t shirt on until you get used to it. I now use one with my top off and laid on the floor. Get down onto it slowly but there's no option but to get off it quickly.... that's the most uncomfortable bit I find. I don't know if it's helped my bad back yet but I'm glad I bought it. I think mine was about £20 from Amazon on an offer so was worth a punt.

Yesterday:

Not so much glowing up. I had a shower and shaved as I think I was becoming more bear than woman!

2 x 2 minutes of HIIT.

Booked an osteopath appointment.

Ate my 5 a day. Rocket, peas, sweetcorn, olives and red onion.

I also did a good declutter of the utility room and the bathroom cupboard. It's amazing how much junk had accumulated there. Toothbrush heads for toothbrushes I no longer own, half used bottles of products I don't think I've used since we moved house 5 years ago! Hopefully by keeping it better organised I can see what I actually have.