Get set for summer aka Operation Renovation

[Helgathehairy]

Hello, welcome, take a seat and get comfy!

A few years ago I started a countdown to Christmas thread. This year it inspired a few follow on threads so now we're on our "Get set for Summer"

The basis of these threads is adopting 20 habits which make a difference but don't take too much time or effort. The habits come from previous threads but can be adapted to your own needs.

Relevant links:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1559450-Anyone-interested-in-a-100-day-Princessing-challenge
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1834373-A-new-princessing-defrumping-groomed-challenge
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1771443-Fuck-I-look-like-a-middle-aged-frump
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1406737-How-to-be-groomed

Please forgive spelling errors I'm on my iphone with a baby asleep on me'

takeme that is a brilliant attitude! I wouldn't think of the compliments as not being sincere though - when you start to make little changes like hair and nails, or make an effort with the clothes you choose, it's amazing how other people notice those things too. And yes, if you feel and act confident, that changes how people see you too!

Hair is done (well, brushed but looks smart enough that I can leave it down) and I've put on a full face of slap ready to go meet a couple of friends and their young'uns.

Passport photos are done and renewal application has been posted.

I bought a lovely journal type book from Wilko a few weeks ago and didn't have a clue what to use it for. I've decided to use it to write about the things that have made me feel good that day, and positive changes that I have made with a view to some long term goals I have.

Glad you're feeling more positive takeme.

Today's mammoth task is to change over winter/summer clothes and do a wardrobe declutter in the process. I am determined to be ruthless and only keep things which fit & flatter me. I had my colours/ style done a couple of years ago for a birthday present - it was great and everything made sense but I still have a large number of "wishful thinking" purchases in there - eg I bought a Boden Breton tunic which does nothing for my curvy figure but I kept it because it fitted my idea of a yummy mummy look . So I'm going to be really strict this time, even if I only end up with five outfits.

I will report back!

Good luck spangle . My wardrobe reorganisation will have to wait because now I'm pg there are lots of things that might come in handy with bf or pg, but will defi itely shunt smaller bits to the back - rapidly expanding belly here!

am doing well on cleansing and on conditioning hair. Not so well on body moisturising and flossing. Am drinking a fair bit of water and eating lots of fruit, ut craving carbs and salt atm which is not helping!

Thanks all!!

Nails are coral. Really nice colour actually. I started using the gradual tanner and its lovely next to the tanned skin.

OOh would love to get stuck into wardrobe but am so broke! Desp need new clothes. Where does everyone shop?

Had a very busy week, but just about managed to stick to the am/pm cleansing routine. Took the advice from here and organised clothes the night before and it really saved time. Yesterday, I reached my target weight been five months of cutting out rubbish and doing regular exercise, but I feel so much better now, and at least it's a good excuse to buy new clothes! Now, need to sort out the eyebrows/hair (can't keep up with the greys, they come in so quickly), and my legs. Think it's doable in time for my holiday . This thread has been a great motivator, going to keep checking in for the next six weeks to make sure I stick with it. Thanks for all the advice!

Well I'm completely hacked off so I need to vent to unload.
(This might be long)

Back Story: I'm a vegetarian, non smoker/non drinker nearly 48 yo
I'm going into peri-menopause (had blood tests done ) and cholesterol bit high.
I have a gall stone which is causing on/off pain but always there and ongoing back trouble.
Sleep isn't a good deep sleep now due to night flushes (and I'd imagine it'll get worse in hot weather)
I have to drink loads of water and get up in the night to pee.
Heartburn - hellish
So, I need to cut cholesterol and lose weight. Got atorvastatin, stopped crisps and only have small amount of cheese once a week. Switched from white to brown seedy bread. Thought about Low Carb but it goes against everything I need and can do.

with me so far ?

My abdomen feels so bloated and tight. I haven't had a period since Feb and that brought extreme pain (this has been going on for a few months which is why I had the scan and found the gallstone)

So basically, I'm a painful, bloaty bag of shite now. My job involves bending/sitting which doesn't help at all.

And for some unfathomable reason, I've put on 7lb in a week.

As you were.

Scanned through the whole thread and am impressed and inspired - well done so far.

I am also trying to look after myself a bit better - recently had a hair cut, shaved legs last night, a bit of fake tan, will try to give my feet a treat tonight

70 I really feel for you, those hot flushes are a bitch. Have you tried benecol/flora proactive yoghurt drinks (or similar) to help bring your cholesterol down? DP has elevated cholesterol thanks to diabetes, and using the benecol drinks and flora proactive spread makes a massive difference to his readings. Sorry if you've already tried this. If it's any help, current medical advice is that dietary cholesterol is not as massive an element in raising blood cholesterol as they once thought, they've even back tracked on the advice about eggs.

Hi , thanksControl I used to drink those Yakult drinks (but they're good bacteria I think, not cholesterol lowering)
I don't eat butter/margarine except when it's needed in cooking (I don't like the texture or taste, never have done).
My mum had her gallbladder out and I'm the ideal candidate (FFFFF-fair/fat/female/fertile/forties)

I have an appointment next month to see the surgeon about the gallbladder so I'm aiming to have it whipped out as soon as humanely possible

The flushes are a pain in the tonsils but I am at the 7lb gain (though it could be fluid, I'm waiting for AF....c'mon, hurry up AF )

Hello all

I haven't read everyone's updates, sorry but will go back and read when I post.

Haircut didn't happen on Friday so am going to see if I can get it done this week & then put another dye on it. Might try the dark chocolate though & see if I can get a more uniform colour before our night out. Have washed, intensive conditioned and properly styled tonight. Seem to be getting a bit lax lately.

Need to pay more attention to my skin too, it looks bloody awful (at least I think it does - might just be a that time of month thing ) but intend to up my water intake from tomorrow and cut some of the caffiene. If anyone has any other suggestions on top of my daily hot cloth cleanser, moisturiser and weekly mask I'm all ears!

Feet are pumiced and all nails neatly filed ready to paint tomorrow. Think I'll either go pink or orange but not sure yet.

Summer wardrobe is creeping out finally, have a couple of minor repairs to do (just some sherring elastic and a couple of buttons to replace as far as I can see).

Anyway, enough waffling from me, will be off to read what everyone else's been up to! Hope you're all enjoying the sunshine

marking place.

70 how frustrating. Did they look at your good vs bad cholesterol? My total cholesterol is a littke high but I was a bit reassured by having a good good:bad ratio. I must admit I am drawn by the low carb ethos but have found it hard to stick to

The wardrobe declutter went ok. i managed to part with plenty of items that were too small/unflattering/random eBay bargains never worn. I have quite a bit left but not much in the way of work wear so I've ordered a couple of things - tried to be a bit more adventurous and not buy black/grey. I also need to spend a bit of time putting outfits together (shouldn't be too hard as everything is neutral colours - I need brightening up!) - oh, and clearing up the huge mountain of discarded clothes

I've been sticking to most of my things on the list but failed to get to bed on time - and was then woken by cat 1 wanting to go out, cat 2 (not even ours) wanting to come in, cat 2 wanting to go back out, a snotty 3yo joining us, a wee, and then finally waking in a panic that I hadn't set the alarm (I hadn't) and realising it was 15 min before alarm should have gone off.... yawn!

I'm plodding along nicely. I'm not going to buy an clothes for the rest of the month.

I'm upping attention to my hands and nails. I'm using Vaseline on them every night as someone on another thread recommended, so I'm not going to paint my nails until later in the week.

70 DP is forever ringing me up from the supermarket asking 'is it yakult we get? It's much cheaper!'. You're right, that's just the good bacteria one. If you look for either the benecol or flora proactive that contains plant stanols and/or sterols, that's the one that actively reduces your cholesterol, and really does work! Good luck getting the gallbladder op scheduled, I hope it comes through quickly for you. The weight gain really sounds like it could be an approaching AF - fingers crossed you get that out of the way quickly too! Mine is due tomorrow and the bloating and weight gain is horrible as is the trapped wind, I just want to fart for England

butterfly well done on your successes - keep your eyes on the prize :) the weightloss will come, just be persistent. I've noticed it can sometimes take a couple of weeks for my weight to catch up with my actions.

Well done on the wardrobe declutter spangles!

Please help me make a decision - I am going down for a rare trip to see DP's adult un-estranged DS next weekend. I am having a hair trim the morning that we are travelling down. My greys are really starting to show but the only dye in the house is one that is quite a lot redder than my current colour. I can't afford to buy another colour before then. Do I a) go down and strut my greys, or b) go down and hope the red doesn't make me look like mutton dressed as lamb? For those of you on the fb page, it's the same dye as gave me seriously red/orange hair a few months ago, but this time will be going on mid brown hair instead of freaky blonde so the colour would hopefully be tamer.

Control was the blonde a dye? If so, you might find the red doesn't stick very well. I spent ages trying to force my salon blonde to be red a few years ago, it just kept washing straight back out again....I'd be tempted to strut the greys for the mo & pop something more chocolatey on instead when you have the cash spare to invest

Polly I saw the vaseline tip to encourage nail growth as well, has it worked for you?

Polly I saw the vaseline tip to encourage nail growth as well, has it worked for you?

Hello hello hello. Quick hello before I come back properly tomorrow.

Had a great week in New York. Seriously tired though, DD didn't sleep well the entire trip. She went over with 3 teeth and has come home with 6!

Went a bit mad in Sephora so have lots of new skin care to try.

Only put on 3 pounds so I have at least 1 stone to lose and hopefully 1 and a half to take me to 9 stone.

I was happy with what i'd packed before I went over but I look very chubby in all the photos. I was going for loose and comfortable, I ended up with baggy and shapeless. Really I could have gone down a size but it's hard sometimes to get my head around smaller sizes.

Walked LOTS, had my fitbit and we were doing 20,000 steps most days as DD slept really well in her stroller provided we kept moving!

I caught a cold on our last day and as a result had the most uncomfortable flight home ever. I was going hot and cold and DD was asleep on me so I couldn't sleep in case I dropped her and I felt really queasy. Went to bed with her for a nap around 11, woke up and DH was snoring next us, when I checked the time it was 3.30!

Will come back tomorrow, off to try put DD down.

Polly I saw the vaseline tip to encourage nail growth as well, has it worked for you?

Sorry, I've missed a lot and don't have time to name check everyone but

takeme what wankers
control I'd dye it and if it's too much then shampoo with head and shoulders.

Polly I saw the vaseline tip to encourage nail growth as well, has it worked for you?

oops...my wifi had a moment & I didn't think I'd posted...turns out I did four times

I'll be back later on to try again

Bahaha lucysmam I love your multiple posts, they make up for lack of epics :)

Yes, my blonde was a bleach jobbie, I went form mid/dark brown to white blonde, then darker (slightly) then red. I'm now mid brown but it's mostly dye over blonde that hasn't come out. My roots are darker still.

Helga yay to New York! It sounds fab, and the pictures on fb have looked great!

Hmm like the idea of h&s'ing it out if I don't like...

Hello All, I would love to join you all.
Short term:
Drink 2 Ltrs of water a day
Eat proper foods (no crisps, biscuits, confec or cake)
Walk daily
Condition hair every wash
Cleanse, serum and moisturise twice a day.
Foot scrub and daily foot moisturise
Tidy hand and toe nails
Exfoliate
Body moisturise daily
De-fuzz weekly

Medium term (2 weeks today)
Daily tan to build up colour and then alternate moisturise and tan every otheR day.
Increase exercise to include an early morning walk
Reduce wine to weekend only
Introduce a Sunday night pamper session to include face and hair masques

Thank you for inspiring me!