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'

I drank 4 litres of water today!!

and not had any booze for a week

and made time to put my makeup on this morning despite it being a school run only day.

butterfly it's called Operation Renovation - not sure how to add people though, sure someone will be along to sort you out!

Helga the pic you put on fb reminds me of one we have with dd when she was about 4mths old.

Control how are your teeth now?

TakeMe I hope you're feeling better now & will ignore twats like that in future! If you join our fb group too, you can show off your hair to us lot!

I know I've missed people but am typing while walking to school so will be back again later on with a proper post, hopefully this one won't post FOUR!!! times

Morning all! Been a bit AWOL since my first two posts . But I have been making good progress!

Exercise is now back on track (not helped by DH being away on business for 10 days meaning I can't do my weekend exercise as no one to watch DD). I'm aiming to do gym 2-3 times a week (bike for cardio and weights), yoga twice a week, ballet barre once a week and dance once a week. On a 'bad' week, I still manage to do 4 sessions and on a really good week I'm managing all of them!

I've also made good progress with my diet. I have IBS and an autoimmune thing which means I should try to limit histamine producing foods. And even though I am fairly fit, there is that extra bit of flab around my hips and thighs that just DOES NOT SHIFT. Even though I have been AWOL, this thread inspired me to do something about it! I've reworked my diet, cut out the bad IBS foods, cut out the histamine foods that I was eating a lot of, and am low carbing. Been just under a week now and although I am nibbly occasionally, I feel SO much better (less bloating, less wind, much less tired) and am not really hungry.

Other than that - got my roots touched up, hair cut, am usually remembering to exfoliate, etc. Tomorrow when DD is at nursery I'm going to swap over summer for winter clothes and get everything ironed and sorted out.

Although I'm trying not to buy new stuff (would rather any money went on things like hair, eyebrows), I have fallen for a chambray dress from Banana Republic (I was led astray by another thread!). It is fab - just need to decide whether to keep the lighter or the darker blue. Decisions, decisions!

Will be popping back to the thread much more often!

butterfly FB request approved, you're in

Lucysmam they're getting better thanks, I can eat mostly normal stuff now but anything that makes my blood pound is still out.

Diet going well, just need to stick to it and steer clear of beer, wine and cider!!! Work is a bit manic at the moment, lots of stress flying around. Trying not to fall into my usual habit of comfort eating. Doing ok so far - bags of crisps consumed this week: Zero :)

PS - fried bread is healthy if it's cooked in olive oil, right?!

Meant to say earlier, also, thank you ladies - I've decided to go down au naturel this weekend, rather than risk what could be a rather vivid red, going on the last time I used it! I'll wait until I have a rescue-chocolate in the house before using the red :)

Still trying to catch up on sleep (and washing) but at least DD is co-operating and went for a 3 hour nap at 9am so I went back to bed!

I've already started menu planning for June. Half our problem is we don't have the right ingredients in and end up having takeaway at least once a week. I want that to stop.

Have an hour alone, DH has taken DD to pick up our dog so after a disappointing bath where there wasn't enough hot water I'm lying on the bed listening to the rain reading a magazine drinking tea. I've just used a Glamglow face mask from my Sephora haul m.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=GLAMGLOW%20YOUTHMUD™%20TINGLEXFOLIATE%20TREATMENT%20-%20P375741&skuId=1497700&productId=P375741&_requestid=62948
My skin feels really soft and lovely and it hasn't irritated it at all.

I've been doing well with the water today as well. I'm going cold turkey on Coke.

Glad you had a nice time in NY Helga. Sorry about the cold though .

Also trying to meal plan. At the moment I'm only managing to do it 2 days at a time (my brain just fizzes out), but it is working. I've also been reading through recipe books and marking suitable recipes. I hope this will inspire me!

Good luck with going cold turkey on coke. I'm going cold turkey on chocolate [smiile]. So far, not too bad. But my period is due next week and I am sure the cravings will start!

Hello
I've read through the whole thread over the last few days and have made my list. Hope that's ok..

1. I don't really wear make up other than eyeliner and mascara and maybe some tinted moisturiser. And I rarely wear that. But as of yesterday I plan to wear it every day.
2. Swim twice a week in my lunchhour. I used to do this regularly but I've got out of the routine.
3. Sort my feet out. I do a lot of running so they're not the most attractive but I painted my toe nails on Sunday and have booked a pedicure for next week.
4. Haircut booked for next week.
5. Run three times a week. One long, one easy and one fast/hard.
6. Wear something other than black trousers and a dark top to work. I got all my summer stuff out on Sunday and now it has gone cold so I need to brighten myself up.
7. Clean my face every night.

Think that's enough for now. Does it sound ok? Will go and hunt out Facebook group.

I think I have found the FB group. I've submitted a request to join .

Addicted - I do flamenco. My feet are vile . Callouses, bruises and black toenails. I try and keep the hard bits down and nail polish is an absolute necessity! Off to re-do mine now.

Control that's probably a good idea re. waiting until you have a back-up plan for your hair! My dye's pretty much all washed out, it's very frustrating trying to get something to take over the blonde I think I'm going to get it cut to above shoulder length that way it'll be half blonde/half chocolate-ish & might not seem quite as bad as the masses of blonde still on the ends...we'll see!

butterfly that sounds like the sort of thing my four yr old would ask (not known for her tact...she once asked why an African-I think- gent on the bus had his lights out !). It's nice to finally wear something lighter though, am going to invest in a few more cheap floaty tops from Primarni over the coming weeks.

Helga and cardamom good luck on going cold turkey on the coke & chocolate. I'm cutting back caffiene but forget I still need to drink the water

Ok I think I tried to join the group thrre!

Hello Addicted Your list looks good to me! It's all about little things building into big things!

Karbea where you got to!?

I've had a laaaaazy one today...mooch round town, afternoon in nanna's garden doing nothing sort of day I spied some rather nice maxi dresses in New Look but think you need to be about 10ft tall to wear them so not sure whether to bother or not.

It's typical we're off out in just under two weeks & my nails are breaking again If any more go, I'll have to file them all back to the same length & may just go with neutral polish I think.

Still not sure about shoes for with my dress so will pop pics of the pairs I found on fb for opinions

Just noticed the time! Best be off to order some food really otherwise we'll be meal planning round several types of snack cheese, past it kiwi fruits and cereal for tomorrows tea

Hi all!
I have been lurking and reading with interest and need to join you all.
I have really good weeks and then everything gets too much re work, home and my back and I sort off give up for a few weeks, so I need a minimum list to stick to even when low.
So, 1) feet, pumice 3 times a week plus cream and socks to bed
2) paint toenails weekly
3) de fuzz legs every other shower!
4) body lotion application after every shower
5) condition hair regularly
6) dry and style hair
7) basic make up each day
8) remove makeup each evening
9) up water intake
10) find 15 min a day to just relax

Can I join! Please!

Right that's it...as of this minute I'm determined to be better all round and stick to the following:
-Drink much more water, less tea (how many 'pint' glasses should I be aiming for a day?)
-start jogging/running (any tips?) or even scheduling in a regular family walk.
-exfoliate daily
-get to bed earlier
-carry on shredding, have lapsed this past couple of weeks, but back on it again tomorrow morning. Going to get up and do it before work whilst kids in bed. Defo.
-buy multivitamins (any suggestions?)

I'm trying to shift a bit of weight (about a stone) and tone up. I've been eating much more veg and less carbs, and double cleansing daily, toning and using an anti ageing moisturiser.
Had HD brows done (love love love) and have booked a facial for the end of the week. Tonight I need to sort my nails out and get everything set for tomorrow.

butterfly well done on your inch loss!

Helga New York sounds fab! I would love to go sometime.

I have been keeping up with my list pretty much but succumbed to wine last night . I did manage to get to bed early as planned but DS was up in the night with a bad cough/temperature and spent the rest of the night asleep at the end of our bed (for some reason he won't sleep in between us) so my legs were bent at an uncomfortable angle; then DD came in to join us and was pushing my top half out of the bed. So I am STILL sleep deprived.

I put my 4 year old car in for only its second ever MOT today and came out £525 lighter . So I need to do beauty on a budget for the time being! I had been planning to book in at Toni&Guy for a much needed haircut but instead I've had a go myself after watching a few YouTube tutorials. I have long straight-ish hair not in any particular style so I figured I could pull off a diy trim. It looks ok, I went a bit shorter at the front than I planned to but not too bad after styling. It looks better than it did before and will see me through until I save up a bit of cash.

Sonnet I love the idea of a Sunday pamper night!

I've decided to have a stab at the 5:2 diet after speaking to several people at work about it yesterday - they have all lost weight, blood pressure and cholesterol down and feel much better for it. I've done a 500kcal fast day today and it wasn't as bad as I feared but I'm not sure if I will keep it up. I'm just so hopeless with diets but I'm hoping the fact it's only two days a week will mean I can stick to it for a while.

I think I've found the right FB group - just submitted a request to join if you'll have me

Polka I try to aim for roughly 2L of water so four ish pints (but I never fill the glass right to the very top). I used an app called Hydro last year which did hourly reminders to drink 1/4L & kept a track of your intake

Can I join too please?

I lost almost 4st two years ago and have put 9lbs back. Feel rotten and clothes in danger of not fitting.

My plan is

• back on SW plan until I loose 1/2st
• moisturise every day - face, feet and legs
• accept defeat and find an eye cream that works for me
• sleep more

Thanks lucysmam Well, I'm nowhere remotely near drinking that amount maybe in tea so definitely need to make that one of my main goals. Reminders sound like a great idea.. Will look for app.

spangle I'm going to give the 5:2 fasting a bash too! My friend's been doing it and looks & feels great. I must check out ideas for 500cals worth of food.

I also just got the My Fitness Pal app... It's great.