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

@Idratherbepaddleboarding
What kind of books do you like?
I love going to the library to have a browse. I choose a couple of books that I know I'd enjoy, not get round to reading them and then have to pay a fine

I got Nowhere To Hide by Keri Beevis which I thought might be an easy and good read to get me back into reading. It was on offer on kindle.

Can I join!!!!!!? Great thread. Just started IF as way too many pounds round the middle.

I have got back into reading big time last year. My library has a collection of quick reads...very short books so it didn't overwhelm me!! Library fines are actually really easy to avoid.

I just finished the frequency of us by Keith Stuart which was brilliant.

Ed sp

Erm… I have no idea! The last set I read were the Games of Thrones ones. That took a while! And I’m still waiting for the last one if it ever comes out.

i didn’t have time for my power half hour this morning as I'm in the office all day. I have to remind myself that this is OK as I get a bit obsessive about these things. It’s such a nice day I just want to be outside soaking up the sunshine though 😭. If I was WFH, I’d have gone out for a run instead of going on the cross trainer.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding I tend to mooch round the library and pick a few that catch my eye and take it from there. If I find something I've read before and liked, I look at what else is around it on the shelf. Usually have DC with me so snap decisions, rarely get a complete non-starter though!

I'm doing well for remembering my supplements and back at exercise today. I tried a Body Coach HIIT today and enjoyed it much more that grow with Jo/growing annanas so will probably stick with these for a while. I'd quite like to try a Zumba type one of anyone has specific recs.

I do need to start thinking about addressing the chocolate situation, it's the biggest struggle for me, but my meals have been pretty good!

I have so far only successfully added taking my supplements 😂 so in awe of those of you smashing it! I’m telling myself every bit helps though.

Not so much glowing up but lots getting done here. I've done fast800 this week so I feel really good and starting to get energised. I had a productive day at work, and I went to a 6.30 am gym class.

We have got plastering going on at the moment following some electrical works so pretty much every room is going to need decorated, so that feels overwhelming but I am going to sit and write a plan rather than just have it going round and round in my head!

This weekend we are going to London Saturday but then I have Sunday and Monday off. I plan to focus a bit more on my glow up after tomorrow.

Disastrous start for me. I got a sinus infection, and conjunctivitis, and my period within a couple of days of posting 😫More or less back to healthy now except for my bloodshot eyes. I've been to a yoga class this morning, taking my kids to the park this afternoon which will be 40min+ walking. And loads of housework - 3 days out of action, can you imagine the mess? I'm having nuts, berries and yogurt for breakfast, salmon on toast with veggies for lunch, and I don't know what - maybe dhal for dinner. Going out for drinks with a friend before dinner so I do need a plan, otherwise I'll just eat junk when I get home. No makeup with my eyes the way they are, but I'll change into clean jeans after the housework (oh the glamorous life I lead 😂)

Over the weekend I'm hoping to read in the evenings a bit, get outside, maybe go for a swim with the kids if my eyes are ok. And not snack!!! It all sounds like small things but the snacking especially is my downfall. Might go off crisps for lent...

Post period is always a good phase for me, so I'm feeling pretty positive despite the setback!

@GameOfJones thanks for the info re shakti mat. I'm definitely going to try the cheap one!

Ooh I've just stumbled across this, can I please join in? I've been in a low place these last couple of months, and the strain is showing on me physically. I need to make better choices and show myself the care and attention that many undeserving people have had from me instead. Hard lessons learnt, but I'm ready to start fresh!

Everyone's welcome @LostInAMist

I've got some good ideas for food from this site so I thought I'd recommend. Anti inflammatory is a good place to start I think. Lots of issues are caused by inflammation.

www.eatingwell.com/article/7894310/anti-inflammatory-meal-plan-for-beginners/

Oooh, am I too late to join in? I'd love some accountability.

I'm pretty good at eating nourishing food already but I do need to take my vitamins. I'll spend some time this weekend deciding which to invest in! Any recommendations?

I need to drink more water, and do my nightly skincare. I also want to start using nail/cuticle oil and get back into the habit of foot cream.

Agree with putting my phone away I really am addicted and not present when people talk to me, and it affects my sleep.

Joining in.
Had a chiropodist appointment and my hair cut yesterday Feet are now without hard skin, hair is great. I’ve got a decent skin care routine apart from spf so that’s something that I need to sort out.

Started taking daily collagen and multivitamins a few weeks ago and now added magnesium supplements too.
Exercise is nonexistent at the moment so I need to give myself a kick up the bum. I’ll start with some yoga, and more walking. Definitely over weight, pushing 58 and loath dieting so it will be small changes

Thank you @LavenderIsland 😃
That's an interesting article. I've been looking at inflammatory foods in my horses' diet, never thought about it for myself! I've started intermittent fasting over the last week, it's been going surprisingly well. Just need to make my meals more nutritious. Have been taking a good multivitamin for the last month as my eating wasn't really existent, so I shall continue with that. I must stretch more! And consistently use skin care, I've been lax with it. I'm sure I'll have other things to add to the list reading others replies, but that's a start for now!

I have also had a sinus infection and had very sore bloodshot eyes 😞. I am cracking in with my HB diet which is great. I need to up my exercise as I hate it … definitely a couch potato but I am booking a spa for Monday so will have a swim.
I have started a multi vitamin with fish oil so making an effort.
Love this thread so thank you OP x

@GameOfJones please can you tell me about the shakti mat, what benefits do you see/feel?

I have considered getting one, but have quite a low pain threshold!

Loving all the ideas, and have been implementing quite a few of them for a few weeks already, but definitely need a kick up the bum to stick to some things.

My skincare routine is pretty fixed now, it has become a habit.

I've started using the treadmill daily, getting up and on it for 6am (if feel so much more energised if I start the day with exercise, and i get so much more done in the day).

Recent haircut and eyebrow shape and tint.

Really want to work on my nails, even just a weekly home manicure. Do fairly regular home pedicures, but could be weekly, as my feet need it.

Daily steps are easier to achieve if I've done some morning treadmill. I walk my dog too.

I intermittent fast already, but my diet since Christmas has been shocking, I need to go less processed and think about what I'm putting into my body.

Gave up alcohol last year.

I have a wedding in April, and would love to like myself on the photos!

Lost 2 llbs this week and have a haircut today and a pedicure tomorrow!

Joining in as well. Been watching glow up and Princessing threads for a long long time and finally going to join one.

I do spend time and money on myself but it’s joining it all together and being consistent. I have a demanding job with odd hours at times, DC with health issues etc. We don’t live near family apart from a very frail relative so not a huge amount of support but we manage between.

We have a bike and treadmill in the garage. I can do that most days and have a wifi extender going in so I can watch stuff on the iPad whilst I exercise.

I need to lose at least a stone and for me that’s keeping an eye on mindless snacking if working late or home late and wine etc. Getting outside at lunch for a walk instead of just scuttling across to the shop if at work or doing housework if working at home (or even having a lunch break if wfh). As the user name suggests 10 minutes in the car can get me at the coast for a walk. I have sciatic flare ups now and then so a bit of weight off will probably help.

DC health issues means we do cook a lot of food from scratch so I think it’s quantity and a bit more self control on the old carbs… lunch was homemade broccoli and blue cheese soup I made the other day and a gf wrap.

I’ve had some events this past month and although I looked quite nice I was aware I’m at my heaviest and need to prioritise my health as well as everyone else’s sometimes.

Prioritising yourself is hard . Just as my kids are more independent my parents are getting frail . My mum told me I was looking tired when I went to see them last weekend . I have worked from home 7-11am taxied to airport 60 miles away, flown for an hour and driven for 21/2 hours the other side to see them .
FFS I was wrecked !

Has anyone treated themselves to any pay day glow up treats?

DH has got his first bonus from his new job so we each had a budget to treat ourselves. It feels amazing after a loooong time of only really having money to pay the bills!

I’ve bought some Aussie curl cream for my hair. I usually just use cheap gel and scrunch but it can still feel a bit crunchy. My hair feels light, bouncy and very curly and I smell amazing 😂.
I’ve also ordered some spring coloured hoodies, T-shirts, leggings, some tennis style skirts with shorts built in and a couple of all in one playsuit type things. I still have some budget for some new shoes but I’m not sure what would go with the skirts. I’m usually a Vans and Converse kind of girl.
I’ve also got a new gel nail lamp as my old one is on its way out and some scales to try to make sure I don’t lose any more weight.

I feel very spoiled and it was actually hard to spend money on myself!

Power half hour done, green tea and water drunk and skin care on top of 💪. I will be glowing by summer!

This weekend, I’m going to sort my wardrobe out and wash my summer shoes.

Sorry this post is so long!

Ok, so facing up to what I'm working with, and what I've done so far to challenge it 😅
Weighed myself, 73kg, so minimum 3kg to lose. Not massive, but I know it's ignoring these little increases that mean they grow quickly. Started intermittent fasting, looking at my meals and planning on making them more beneficial.
Spotty, early ageing skin on face... Using SPF 50 Korean skincare moisturiser in the day, evening is body shop vit C daily polish, No7 protect and perfect, and L'Oréal aloe water.
Spotty, annoyed skin on body, body shop tea tree shower gel.
My hair isn't growing back as well as I'd hoped after shaving it off 2 years ago due to damage and a bit of a breakdown... It's all virgin hair now, natural colour, but not as thick and fast growing as it was. No particular style, just shoved back in a bobble.
I haven't shaved in over a year because my skin hates it since a medication change (I end up looking as if I have a flesh eating disease) but I hate being hairy. And the spotty skin on my legs etc isn't helping matters!
I need a foot peel mask before I aim for a pedicure, and I am trying to apply hand cream and lip balm before bed.
In all, I just look tired and like I don't care about myself. I work outdoors in a smelly job, I have an outdoor lifestyle at home, and I look a bit like a neglected scarecrow. Clothing is an issue for another day! Any pointers or suggestions gratefully received

So many good suggestions here.

I've tried before but can never stick to this. I will try again.

Weight - I've lost a stone. I'd like to lose 1 more.
Hair - lots of breakage at the front. I need to use hair masks and treat it better with a heat protection spray or such.
Hands, feet, and nails - completely neglected. If like to look after these better.
Skin - dry. Moisturising routine needed. I'd like yo start lightly tanning for the better weather coming in.
Exercise - currently do zero. Would LOVE to pencil this in every week.
Phone use - put it down!

See. That feels overwhelming but I'll give it a go. Young kids and a compressed week makes pockets of time for yourself more difficult.

@LostInAMist I’ve just started a Skin and Me subscription for Tretinoin which is meant to help both spots and signs of aging. I got my first month for £3.50 and next month I intend to trial Dermatica’s which is even less! Then I’ll pick which one I want to continue with. It’s only been a week but so far I think I’ve come through the “purge” (spots coming out) and my smile lines look a little less horrific so I can see it working in the longer term 🤞.

Happy March everyone! I've booked lots of yoga classes for this week. My eyes still look hideous, as if I've been crying for hours, and I feel kind of run down because of it, but not as awful as I did yesterday. Definitely won't be swimming this week though! I'm reading in the evenings, which feels much better than TV. And taking vit d, and getting outside. I've also bought some retinol, but I'm afraid to use it until my eyes are better as I'm uncomfortable enough already!

Update, i just had my first salon haircut since 2020! Feeling fresher, plus a fringe is cheaper than botox. Also went to boots for some self tanner and face masks so tonight I'll be applying both of those. Feeling good! My husband is already sick of me talking about the March glow-up and it's only the 1st 😂

Thanks for the thread Lavender Island. I always think this time of year is much better to start afresh. I'm joining from today - focus on eating healthily, sorting out my rosacea, less phone time and more books, run twice a week and do weights.