If you had six weeks to try and make yourself look and feel better, what would you do?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I need an overhaul. Most particularly, I'd like to lose half a stone and I'd like my skin to look better and my hair to look glossier. Ideally, I'd also like my nails to be stronger/longer.

What could/should I be doing? This is what I've thought of so far -

1. drink more water
2. eat less crap
3. Sally Hansen stuff on nails
4. handcream on hands and body lotion on legs (which get v dry and itchy) at least twice a day

Things I have already got which might help -
Aveeno and Clarins body lotions
Sally Hansen Miracle Strength thing
Aveda and L'occitaine hand creams
L'Occitaine serum thing
Neals Yard Rose moisturiser
Aveeno face wash
Olay Regenerist three point treatment cream

Please help this wobbly 42 year old look and feel a bit better! :)

Oh I am brilliant at sleeping, so I don't need any help with that! :)

Too scared of Shred, I think.

What do low carbers have for breakfast? I eat mine at work so it has to be really easy to take in with me. I usually take cereal, or porridge, or a scone or teacake type thing, or those breakfast biscuit things or yoghurt and muesli.

I don't drink fizzy drinks and only drink de-caff coffee but I do like my Earl Grey and the de-caff one isn't as nice (will give it another go though).

Love the idea of Morning Pages btw. I used to write poetry but haven't done any for ages - but Evening Pages would be much easier to fit in for me!

fresh air and exercise are best.

I am a fan of this; www.renskincare.com/p/3036/Glycolactic+Radiance+Renewal+Mask

the result is like after a facial (my skin feels dry after using it though, so need to moisturise well afterwards, but it really smoothes the skin!)

massively up my fruit and vegetable intake. I don't know why it works, but it clears my skin and flushes my cheeks within 3 days.

Limit myself to one slice of bread a day, and no pasta. too much gluten makes me flaky.

Same with milk, I'd switch to soya.

i'd buy a very nice, gentle face scrubby wash thing,and use it every day.

I'd go to bed at 10pm and get up at 7am every day.

I'd scrubby scrub my skin with a handful of salt crystals and olive oil (I have quite dry skin, so mine can handle the oil) in the shower every day.

I'd go and get my hair done, and my eyebrows tidied - I always feel so pretty and ladylike with tidy eyebrows.

I'd go for a brisk walk at least once a day.

And wrt your nails, I'd use cuticle oil.

I use this, which I get for free because my sister is the staff cook at a major spa, so the staff adore her and give her freebies - and she's 22 with radiant and beautiful skin. So she gives it to me

Oh yes, and drop the booze because it makes you pruny

I agree with all of the above plus buy yourself some nice underwear it will make u feel better. Always make an effort with your appearance ie put some make up on before going out. And sex is very good exercise too! Good luck

Remus try the Shred, honestly it works and it's not as hard as you might think. You can get it for a fiver on Amazon so it's not stupid money if you hate it. It will make you hold your stomach in and walk taller which in turn gives you positive feedback when you look in the mirror.

Sex works wonders too

Oh and for god's sake make sure you are wearing A PROPERLY FITTED BRA AT ALL TIMES!!!!!!!

'Drop the booze' makes it sound as if I'm always drinking! I have maybe three or four alcoholic drinks, no more than once a month. Have never, ever had my brows done - like the hairdressers, I hate the idea of being looked at and poked at and at least at the hairdressers I can hide under my hair!

YY try to have sex every day, it does wonders for your sense of contentment

But remus, you asked me what I would do

Bra - sorted
Sex - sorted
Nice clothes - sorted (mostly)
I wear make up every day (except when I'm staying in)

In 6 weeks? - I'd cut out alcohol ( I always feel fresher without it), make sure I got 8 hours sleep per night (the best way to do this and develop good sleep habits are consistent to bed and get up times), increase fruit and vegetables and exercise. Body lotions, moisturisers etc have their place but aren't going to have impact on their own

lose weight

stop drinking
have botox?

:) Colditz. And here was me thinking that everybody on here was a saint / totally in control weirdo and it was just me who eats bad things and drinks coffee etc.

Shred shred shred. Seriously, it gets amazing results.

haircut and colour, drink loads of water, nail envy on fingernails, might get that gel stuff done if I was going to keep it up.

no, this is what I WOULD do. As in, if I cared enough to stap drinking wine and eating crisp sandwiches for tea most days occasionally.

If the sun keeps shining then u will naturally feel better about yourself.

Ooh very interesting thread! DD3s wedding in 7 weeks and this has motivated me to get going on some improvements to my regime. Although being an old bird there is a limit to what can be achieved in 7 weeks methinks:o

Exercise - 2x 30 mins of aerobic stuff every day
Drink 8 glasses of water
Eat healthily - 5 a day minimum, avoid all red meat
Vitamin B - lots of and perhaps a multivitamin a day
Go to the hairdresser
Get your eyebrows threaded (makes a difference even when you think it won't)
Go and have a facial and if you can afford it, one of those dermaroller treatments
Teeth whitening? Also expensive but also does make a difference

I don't think any of those lotions and potions you list in the OP will make much difference, unless you have dry and flakey skin.