Roll up, Roll up, It's the annual Countdown to Christmas "look after yourself" thread

[Helgathehairy]

It's 120 days to Christmas Eve!

Now that I've got your attention.

Call it what you will - Princessing, amazoning, Operation Renovation - the ideas behind the threads are the same. We want to look good for all those Christmas parties, get togethers and critical family members and we want to start building small habits into our days NOW so we're not trying to find something to wear when we should have left 5 minutes ago.

This will be the third Christmas thread but I can't take too much credit. I basically took most of the ideas from this thread.

The idea, in a nutshell, you make a list, it can be as long or as short as you like of small habits that will help make you feel better, look better, feel more in control, more prepared for Christmas.

The original princess thread had one list that everyone worked off of. I think it's better to personalise your own list but I'll post that list here for inspirtation.

1. 8 glasses of water a day
   
2. Exfoliating
   
3. Using some kind of teeth whitener
   
4. Using some kind of regenerative face cream
   
5. Intensive nail care (feet and hands)
   
6. Some kind of eyelash growth serum
   
7. The Shred / other intensive exercise
   
8. At least 2 extra fruit & veg
   
9. Healthy breakfast daily.
   

10. Hair oil (moroccan hair oil for eg, or kerastase etc)
11. No alcohol during the week
12. Daily vitamins
13. Body brushing
14. At least 2 servings of salmon or other fatty fish per week.
15. One early night once a week. Suggest 9PM.
16. Regular hair removal
17. Give up one naughty favourite item e.g. chocolate/crisps
18. No more fizzy drinks
19. DAILY body moisturising.
20. Warm water with lemon first thing in the a.m.

This is the shout out I did to see if anyone was interested the first year and there are a lot of list ideas in there.

As I said before (I think, this is getting long now) not everything on your list has to be style and beauty related. Other incarnations of this thread have included things like sorting clothes and decluttering in general. On my list I have an item to meal plan and make sure 2 days a week I'm prepared for the 5:2 diet. I'm also going to try and follow Organized Christmas so I'm not flapping at the last minute (although I have it easy, very small house and we go to the PIL for Christmas Day)

I'm going to include a few links now that are helpful. I'll get my list up soon, at the moment I just have it written in a notebook, and the notebook is in the same room as a sleeping baby so I'm not risking going in there!

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

I thought I had more links than that but can't seem to find them right now! Not a bad start though. Will be back later with my list.

[GiniCooper]

The best I've ever looked is when I was doing a bit of cardio, a bit of weights and loads of stretching.

The guy at the gym told me, do this this and this.
BUT during warm up and cool down really make sure to hold each stretch for as long as you can. Building up to at least 40 seconds per hold.
Plus do the stretches on days I wasn't in the gym, morning and evening.

[BigFairy]

Can I join please? This is just what I need as I look dreadful - hoping it will help keep me motivated and on track to actually do something about it. I will think about my list and post later. It will be mainly diet and exercise for me as my figure is the problem. I was recently asked if I am pregnant again Would love to get back in shape by Christmas. I want to lose at least a stone, preferably 1.5 and tone up all over. I also need to sort my wardrobe out.

[Helgathehairy]

Welcome everyone.

petals perfect excuse for pretty new notebooks!

My number 19 on my list is get my bags organised. I went to town yesterday to get some bits and only realised when I was queuing to buy carrots I'd left my wallet in a different bag. Depending on how long I'm leaving the house for and whether DD is with me or not I tend to have 4 bags on the go. Need to get sorted.

[kaykayblue]

Has anyone started yet? I had a bumper day yesterday!

20 minutes stretching
50 minutes kick boxing cardio workout
Had three healthy meals with no snacking inbetween
Gave myself a home made facial scrub
Did a hot oil treatment for my hair (it's basically olive oil in the microwave for 20 seconds. Hardly professional...)
Used body lotion (it felt so nice!!!!)
Put nicer make up on than usual
Had a dance party in the evening with just me and my partner (he succumbed eventually!)

My arms are sore after doing sport every day since last friday, but I'll probably still try and get through the Gillian Michael's No More Trouble Zones video later.

[kaykayblue]

PS, I am open to workout recommendations if anyone has any. I already have Insanity, but it's not in the flat at the moment. And also, is too hard for me right now.

[MsVanRein]

I'm in. I'll have a look at the list properly later and see if there's anything I want to edit for my own use but I'm definitely on board as I've been a bit lax lately!

[TeaAddict235]

kaykay, if I send you my body will you do the same and then send it back?(meant in a non dodgy way of course ) that sounds great, all in one day.

Also I'm a total bag changer too, my mum calls me a bag lady .

[Helgathehairy]

kaykay That's impressive! I feel tired just looking at that! Just be careful not to burn out!

My no. 20 I think is stop buying take away coffee. I'm not too bad, but even 2 (or 4) a week add up. I will be sampling the Christmas coffees when they come out (but I actually find a lot of them too sweet. I love the starbucks ones but my nearest Starbucks is 1.5 hours drive away, we just have a Costa)

Will post full updated list in a minute without all the waffle.

[Helgathehairy]

1. Drink a mug of detox tea first thing
   
2. Follow Organized Christmas cleaning/organising planning for Christmas
   
3. Meal plan weekly/monthly
   
4. 5:2 diet.
   
5. 1.5l of water a day
   
6. 10 minutes of mindfulness a day
   
7. Shred at least 4 times a week
   
8. Body brush and moisturise at least 4 times per week
   
9. Micro-pedi
   

10. Cut down on sugar
11. Try to introduce Sunday night as a pamper night. Bath, face mask, hair mask, nails etc
12. Find a decent supplement and actually take it!
13. Stop drinking Coke.
14. Get and use eye cream.
15. Try and go for an early night once a week.
16. Regular hair removal
17. Floss!!!
18. Budget, budget, budget.
19. Keep on top of wardrobe & bag organisation
20. No more take away coffee until Christmas

[kaykayblue]

Thanks Helga and TeaAddict!

I actually find it WAY easier to start doing things, than stop doing things. For instance, I glossed over the fact I still had three glasses of wine!

[Smilesandpiles]

OK. My list.

1. Moisterise feet every night. I always forget to do this and end up taking days to get my feet okish in the summer.
   
   2)Drink warm water and lemon in the mornings. I do actually like this and feel a lot more alert than I do just drinking tea.
   
   
2. Organise everything for the following day, the night before
   
   
3. hair mask once a week
   
   
4. look after my nails more
   
   
5. take healthy snacks when out and about
   
   
6. buy a diary and keep all apointments in it
   
   
7. Polish boots more often
   
   
8. prepare evening meal in the morning as much as possible
   
   
9. get out of bed when the alarm goes - don't just hit snooze then go back to sleep
   
   
10. move alarm clock to other side of bedroom to force me out of bed.
    
    
11. bed at 10 and read for 30 minutes.
    
    13)stop swearing
    
    14)drink 1L of water a day
    
    
12. budget, budget, budget. Get all bus fares in for the week on Saturday. Allocate £10 for bread and milk throughout the week. Meal plan.
    
    16)start eating up the food in the freezer.
    
    That'll do for now.

[Marylou2]

Adding my list now as I don't know where the last 24 hrs have gone!!
I will,
Body brush 3 x a week
Cut out all unnecessary sugar
5 alcohol free days a week at least.
30 mins walking x3 per week.

[BiddyPop]

Today, I drank more water than usual (about 4 big glasses) but not a lot of healthy food (not all that much food full stop really).

I went into Boots and got nail and cuticle cram, hand cream, hair oil and firming body lotion. And a couple of tea rtee face masks to do a deep clean.

I even manged Tupi use the hand and nail stuff, and the hair oil.

I only had 1 beer, not a half bottle of wine.

And I am going to be d shortly for a good long sleep.

Operation Christmas glamour is underway.

[Loungingbutnotforlong]

Ok - i am in :-) i have a stone to lose and really need to sort my wardrobe out. Will post list later. Eek 117 days!

[WowWowSauce]

I'm in.

1. Whole 30 (I have coeliac and am getting fat and need to sort out diet and a few lifestyle things)
   2)This will involve a lot more cooking, preparation and organisation so I always have food with me. Make sure I have breakfast and lunch with me in the mornings.
   3)To this end, I have arranged a weekly veg box and can go to the butcher/fish shop most days.
   4)And less coffee/no dairy. One espresso per day and then water/rooibos
   5)Curate wardrobe. Fill gaps (boots/shoes!) and get rid of horrible black baggy horrors that I got to hide the coeliac bloating.
   
2. I also need to organise outfits not just grab the nearest thing.
   7)Yoga. I've signed up for a term near my house, and will sign up for another on my way home on Fridays.
   
3. meditation, at least six days a week. I'm already doing this but it's a new habit; I need to make sure it sticks.
   
4. Cleanse and moisturise daily. I have decent (and cheap, hooray) things and need to make it more of a routine.
   
5. Make up daily, just the minimum.
   
6. Waxing too. Found somewhere decent and affordable so get on with it. It's only ever 4-6 weeks ffs!
   
   I'm also trying to find a new hobby, not just take care of my appearance, though I think that will help a lot.
   
   I'm surprised I have so much. I thought would only get up to five things!
   
   On the plus side, I'm already having regular haircuts from a decent hairdresser, have been improving my eating habits, and have been buying decent clothes in colours that suit me. I know how to cook and how to eat clean too. So it's all pretty do-able.

[waitingforgodot]

For those doing meditation, can you recommend any links/websites/downloads-pref like headspace but free (and Headspace kept crashing on me during my free trial so puts me off a bit).

[Helgathehairy]

Well I did a bit of shopping yesterday to get ready. Now have vitamins, eye cream and footner.

Penny's have started getting their a/w stuff in so I indulged a bit. I got a grey comfy cardigan with toggles, 2 long sleeve thermal tops (I had one last year and it was a great base layer) and navy fake ugg type short boots. I wear them as slippers but they have a sole that you can run outside in.

Today I've done an hours walk on the beach with my dog but I got a large coffee from mcdonalds drive through on the way home.

[Helgathehairy]

Penny's = Primark. It's called Penny's here in Ireland.

[Octopus37]

I reach the big 40 in early January, have had a bit of a tough year, am going to do the following:

1. Continue with my skin care routine
   
2. Try and moisterise my feet every night
   
3. Try and run or do zumba (on youtube) at least twice a week, once youngest DS is full time at school in a couple of weeks
   
4. I need to lose a about 8 pounds, really want to be back at 8st for my 40th, cannot diet properly as I panic, get hungry and fail. Therefore just tying to cut down a bit and be more mindful about my eating. Have given up crisps but could not give up chocolate
   
5. Drink more water
   
6. Sort out my wardrobe
   
7. Try and polish my nails more
   
8. Get my hair cut and dyed.

[Smilesandpiles]

Primark is either, Primarni or Primanki here.

[Helgathehairy]

wowwow I'm really interested in the Whole 30. Been looking into it (and paleo and "real food") but not quite ready to take the plunge.

[specialsubject]

using teeth whitener either doesn't work or damages teeth.
no adult in normal health who isn't pregnant needs vitamins.
no face cream 'regenerates'
body brushing does nothing.

so one thing on the list is damaging and two others are wastes of money and or time.

there you go, money saved for sparkly tat! :-)

[WaxyBean]

I'm in - I've let myself go this year and need to get back on track. I'm also trying to cut out all processed foods and alcohol and up the exercise. I'm probably 2 stone off my fighting weight and would like to lose at least one before xmas. I'm trying not to worry too much about my wardrobe until I've lost at least some weight.

I'll try and write myself some goals over the weekend.

[WowWowSauce]

Helga I'll let you know how I get on. I'm starting it tomorrow (after I've eaten all the rubbish in the house today). I think the hardest bit will be not having milk in my coffee. I got an espresso maker as that's the only type of coffee I can stand black - so now I need to stop adding sugar to it! And will drink rooibos or water through the day instead of all the coffee.

Godot - I read something aloud to myself before I start meditation, it helps me relax and remember what I'm doing. But mostly I focus on the breath.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I bought some Soap&Glory Drama Clean Micellar Water (I was a bit hmmm because it looks like, well, pink water but I love it. I was getting no joy from my BodyShop eyemakeup remover, still had panda eyes the next day)

Dyeing hair today

Used up the rest of some scrub (getting rid of bathroom clutter and soft skin)

Ordered a pedometer

Back at work tomorrow but the roads will still be quiet as the DC don't go back till later this week.