What one thing has made the biggest difference to how you feel about yourself?

[Coveredinweetabix]

I am feeling particularly haggard today as too much cake and chocolate over the Easter weekend has left me spotted and bloated and DS has been up umpteen times in the past few nights with his teeth so I look really tired. I also haven't managed to fit in any exercise for the past month and feel a lot less toned.
I've been making lots of promises to myself today about exercising every day, taking make up off properly every night (which would involve bothering to put make up on every day), drinking more water, eating better etc but, realistically, they are not all going to happen. I've even considered that oil pulling thing.
So, what one thing has made the biggest difference do you think to how you look or feel about yourself. I day dream about daily personal training sessions but they're out on both cost and time grounds.

What does body brushing do conq?

I have a body brush (for some reason) but never used it

Not eating sugar and getting out for a run as often as possible! (even if only for 20-30 mins)

Would love to know more about body brushing too, please.

Also - all of the low carbers: is anybody doing this a vegetarian, and cooking family dinners everyday? If so, can I ask how you manage it please? I work full time and haven't got time/energy to be cooking two different meals. Our meals are mainly based around potatoes, rice or pasta with lots of beans/lentils/vege. Would it be impossible to be low-carb?

Covered - to reduce sugar, I have only cut out chocolate, biscuits, cakes, sweets, sugary drinks and similar treats. I get my sugar hit instead from things like fruit, almonds or those Nak'd bar things. I still eat pasta and potatoes etc, but do try hard to use brown rice and pasta and to use lentils in cooking to reduce the need for potatoes. I also have one or two glasses of wine or beer three/four times a week. If I did the low carb thing and cut out the booze I would probably see huge differences. But, as it is, I have already noticed improvements in my skin and have started feeling a lot less sluggish just by cutting out the sweet treats...... I have to realistic. If I went cold turkey on the whole sugar shebang I would probably be miserable....

Losing weight.
Yoga, riding my bike, hiking (exercise + mindfulness/being outdoors)
Cutting out sugary crap (still get sugars from complex carbs and fruit)
Using moisturiser every day (revelation!)
Eyebrow threading
Polished toenails

And for less Style and Beauty-related stuff:
Nurturing my friendships
Taking care of myself (long course (years) of group therapy some years ago; more recently a big course of dental treatment; even more recently registering with doctor and committing to taking part in the routine tests they wanted)
Making a huge effort to stop negative, critical or judgemental thoughts about me or other people.

Getting up early enough to give my hair a good blow dry (and yes, using the Babyliss Big hair to give my bob volume)
Nails - neat cuticles and well polished (I use a pale polish on my nails, dark on toenails).
Being thin - sorry. I do watch my weight. I sort of live on WeightWatchers with cheat days.

Well, I did the Shred last night & then had a bath & exfoliated & moisturised; I flossed & applied full make up this morning rather than just cleaning my teeth; I had a fairly successful fast day (over by 100cal); hope to Shred in an hour or so when I get home.
I'm thinking of doing low carb as so many of you swear by it but did it 10yrs ago for three months and was just grumpy.

A decent shampoo and conditioner that works with my hair.
(If I got a second it would be my tinted moisturiser for when I'm feeling blotchy)

Jan - the water will make you feel energised. It took me a while to realise it, but I thought to myself I 'could' drink two bottles of red wine on a Friday night [with not so sophisticated results mind!] so why can't I drink the equivalent in water a day? So I have a large water bottle and I make sure I fill it up twice a day. Once in the morning, once in the afternoon.

Balenciaga & Remus this diagram shows the direction you need to brush your body over your legs, arms etc. You start from the sole of your foot on your left side and work the brush a'la this diagram, its all to do with stimulating the lymph system and aiding blood circulation. I notice a difference with the look of my skin particulary on my legs if I don't do this for a while.

Thanks for this, Conquita. What kind of brush do you use?

Yoga every day
Green tea (3 cups a day)
Plenty of water.
Varied diet.
Keeping slim
Laughing.

Remus I use this one from the Body Shop. I am sure there is an equivalent in the UK Body Shop too:
www.thebodyshop.com.au/Product.aspx?Id=390

I remember when i was younger thinking, 3 things I'd love for my self esteem. Thin, a driving licence and tan. I got the first two eventually but my skin doesn't tan and I've come to accept that :)

Letting go in 3rd trimester of pregnancy. I've tried really hard to control what I put in my body but have still gained more weight than I thought/planned.

I've decided to just enjoy the next 6 weeks and deal with the aftermath later. Already feel less stressed....

wilkos - well done you.

Thanks, Conquita.

Conquita may I ask? How much pressure is needed? I was possibly a bit heavy handed as I ended up with stripes (from the rubber nodules in between the bristles on the mitt) up my thighs, where it have stripped off my fake tan! I wanted to go on holiday with sleek, non-cellulite legs but not stripey!

I'm gonna get shot to pieces for this, but here goes: two years ago I decided it was time to get myself in order. I lost two stone (which I've kept off) and had my boobs done, going from an A cup to a D cup. They're not massive, they look in proportion with my frame and I'm delighted with results. I should have done this years ago.

No shooting here Friday! Good for you. I'm a huge believer in taking care of yourself and doing what you can to make yourself happy. I hope you're enjoying your new look and the confidence it gives you

Exercise in any form. Far and away the biggest contributor to my well being.

I'm currently inactive, haven't walked or run for 4 months and its slowly killing me. Exercise is life changing for me in an instantaneous way, I wish I could back into it .....

friday - not shooting here either, I really could do with my boobs being done, 2DCs haven't been kind to them, I just can't justify the cost, how much did they set you back if you don't mind me asking?

I was going to say 'The Shred' but I can see you're already there. :)

What makes me feel good about myself, gives me a boost is that Im a good dancer & people do comment on it (not meaning to sound vain but I like that I can dance). Also that after christmas I resolved to get more into feeling and looking healthier..daily exercise, drink more water that kind of thing. & its paid off as I look better, which boosts my self-esteem. Next will be treating myself a bit more..maybe a beauty treatment every couple of months. Im the type to look a wreck when Im moody or things aren't going well around me so, every little helps

My surgery cost £5400. I had it done at a BMI Hospital in the Midlands. There are cheaper options, and you can save a small fortune if you want to risk overseas surgery - but on the grounds that my health is paramount, I had it done "properly." No problems, or complications. A very natural result from a fab surgeon who does also does NHS reconstructive breast surgery. I was always too small on top, and too big at the bottom. Losing 2 stone sorted out my bottom half, the surgeon sorted out my top half, and I now look shapely and in proportion. Nothing like Page 3 or Jessica Rabbit I hasten to add!!!!

ok, I thought £5-6k so that's about right! That's what I need, I don't want to look like I'm smuggling Right Said Fred down my top, but would quite like to get my old 'Ds' back. Hmm, keep saving for a bit longer, perhaps a 40th gift to myself...