It's the Countdown to Christmas

[Helgathehairy]

115 days to go

Here we go!

Drank a load of water, so far so healthy- scrambled eggs and salad for lunch and then plan to do stir fry for dinner. Took baby for walk in pram earlier, done sooo much housework!

Baby very unsettled today so no naps between housework...tired which is when I start craving calories :( must...resist!!!

So my week 1 review:

1. Drink a mug of detox tea first thing - done every day except Saturday
2. Follow Organized Christmas cleaning/organising planning for Christmas - fail
3. Meal plan weekly/monthly - done more or less, missing a few meals but mostly done
4. 5:2 diet. - did properly Monday & Wednesday, and slightly higher cals on Friday
5. 1.5l of water a day - Done every day except Saturday
6. 10 minutes of mindfulness a day- mostly done
7. Shred at least 4 times a week - complete fail, didn't do at all. Will start this week
8. Body brush and moisturise at least 4 times per week - kept forgetting about this, will start this week.
9. Micro-pedi - changing this to foot care. Can't do footner just yet as have blisters from new trainers but will use micro-pedi

10. Cut down on sugar - not doing badly actually. Had some but definately not as much as usual. 11. Try to introduce Sunday night as a pamper night. Bath, face mask, hair mask, nails etc. - DH not feeling well and DD teething so no chance tonight 12. Find a decent supplement and actually take it! - Done, although I have forgotten a few times. 13. Stop drinking Coke - done 14. Get and use eye cream - have forgotten a few times but am using. 15. Try and go for an early night once a week - DD teething so not happening at the moment 16. Regular hair removal - Done 17. Floss!!! - have missed a few days but done 18. Budget, budget, budget - I need to stay out of Pennys!! 19. Keep on top of wardrobe & bag organisation - Done 20. No more take away coffee until Christmas - done. Have had a coffee but I had it in the cafe so doesn't count!

Welcome to everyone new. Just jump in, we're a friendly bunch.

I'm geared up to re-commit from tomorrow.

blondie I know that feeling. Is there anything small you could have to help? I get through a lot of peanut butter on toast!
Edith you sound so fit. I think you're my inspiration!

lucy I would definately say that counts! My big weakness after drink is junk food that night and craving carbs the next day. Well done for avoiding that.
singing that's really good information about vitamins. Will have a good read of that soon.

Well done everyone! My first week was not too bad though lots of room for improvement:
-skin care routine, body brushing and body lotion - did every day
-drank more water and less alcohol
-started exercising again - only twice (aiming 5x per week) but I noticed I had more energy from it so hope I will do more this week now I'm getting back into it
-did not manage early nights
-diet was worse thing as too much sugar still - I had lots of biscuits in house due to having guests but did not buy more this week so hope to do better

I'm also planning to sort through my clothes and have a made a new rule that I won't buy anything new unless I feel really good in it rather than thinking it will do. Not beauty related but also want to sort out house by Christmas too as very chaotic (we moved recently which is partly why I stopped exercising as have been so busy).

Hello all,

Had a better day today thankfully. Lovely morning at the park, afternoon cleaning cooking, preparing lunch for next two days at work etc.

Then, did a double cleanse (Vit c oil followed by cleansing balm), slathered on a hydrating face mask, then jumped in shower, washed the day away and shaved legs (I am bad at not paying attention to this, but my love of slim cropped trousers mean I need to keep on top of this!) moisturised all over afterwards with coconut oil (I love this, got it after reading about it on s & b and it's the best body moisturiser I have ever used, and it's cheap as chips). Filed and polished nails, clothes ironed and ready for tomorrow. Now heading to bed for my early night
Hope the kids sleep, here's to a better week and to keeping focused!

108 days to go

horrible toddler DD woke me at 4am and is yet to go to sleep again. As a result, I'm eating more than usual today. Which I'm fine with, she will crash tonight and I will go to bed at 9 and feel all fine again tomorrow!

Cooking something easy for tea, soup probably as I feel awful. Headachy and grumpy! My Mum is coming round in a bit so she will play with the DDs for a while for me.

Aw Helga thanks! I don't think I have ever been inspiration before

Had a bad start to the year with a bout of depression and anxiety. Doctor recommended exercise and I ended up doing a big sponsored walk in May and then after that giving running a go with the C25K thing and now I love it! Have entered a half marathon next April and working towards that.

Everyone seems to be doing so well! We're going to be SO fabulous!!!

Blondie just saw your post, you poor thing, those are hard days. Hope that you are doing okay and that you get a decent sleep tonight.

Helga, please tell me more about detox tea....

lucy oh no that's rubbish. Hope you managed ok for the rest of the day.
edith it's just called "detox" by Twinnings. TBH I know it's not doing anything really but it's better than my usual huge mug of normal tea. There's also the benefit that when I don't have tea first thing I don't want it as much for the rest of the day.

Had a decent day. Was going to be a fast day but DH texted me to see if I wanted to meet him for lunch. So tomorrow will definately be a fast day. Did tick off detox tea, vitamins, eye cream, water and removed make up.

Ah cool, I really need to cut down on caffeine so must investigate some alternatives.

107 days to go

Thanks helga I'm bright eyed and busy tailed this morning! Back on track today, I will...

Oil cleanse
Drink green tea
Eat my greens

I'm actually spending the day cleaning and tidying our events kitchen, we're hosting a conference next week and want to make sure it's sorted so they don't have to use our kitchen. Cleaning that involves ladders = exercise which is good!

lisam I'm a coconut oil fan too! I love it on my dreads, it makes them lovely and soft.

Bit nervous today...college interview tomorrow!

What detox tea can people recommend?? Would like to try one in the mornings.

netty36 - A couple of people have mentioned the Twinings "Detox" blend. You can get lots of others though. They are basically teas which mix together a few different types of herbs. You could also try drinking green tea - it does have caffeine in it, but it's incredibly good for you. If you find it a bit bitter, you can get it mixed with lemon which takes the edge off. I love it personally.

I think I have been mostly doing okay...

Exercise (min 30 mins 6x a week) - I've been consistent with the 6x a week, and normally do between 45 mins to an hour each time.

Cut down on booze - Yeah...I haven't done this.

Start using body cream - I've been okay but not consistent.

Stop biting my nails - Okay, so maybe I've only been managing the sport then....

Eat more nutritious food - I think I've done pretty okay at this actually. I still slip into old habits every now and then, but overall I'd say my diet during the day is much better.

Haircare - I've done a few hot oil treatments, and am still trying to work out how not to comb it when wet, whilst avoiding hair remaining soaking wet, or drying into a mass of knots.

stretching - well I'm hardly a yoga guru now, but I am doing much more!

skin - have to wait until my cycle changes really.

Buy few bits of clothes - I might take this off the list as I don't NEED anything just yet. Should wait until winter kicks in.

Relax and enjoy my hobbies more - Yes! And whether it's this or the endorphins from exercising, I feel so much happier lately.

I went to the pub last night and drank..... lime and soda!

Having one of those days where I feel like I'm 2 steps behind where I should be. Managed a fast day until DH got me a Mars Ice Cream - it would have been rude to refuse!

106 days to go

Eek! 106!

I swam this morning before work. Ate well except for about 10 Minstrels (someone in my team brought in chocolates to share, too much for my willpower to resist!)

Drank lots of water and no caffeine at all.

Going to weigh myself either tomorrow or Friday and will report back.

Good luck everybody! Keep going!

Great going guys!

Keeping up with skin care but my face is now flaking off
Can't remember my set ideas but I'm eating better, exercising better, moisturising everywhere more often and drinking more fluids on average!

105 days to go

Guys I hope you don't mind me jumping in and joining too. My goals are

1- loose 2 stone by Christmas - I am nearly 9 stone overweight so if I stick to it this shoulda come off easily before Christmas

2 - skin care - cleanse, tone, moisturise, eye cream 2 x a day

3 - pamper evening once a week - hair mask, face mask, de fuzz, mani and pedi.

4 - drink 2l of water a day

5 - give up smoking - I have been and bought patches to start this tomorrow

6 - buy some jewellery to liven up the outfits - I stick to jeans and a tunic everyday and whilst I am loosing weight I don't want to spend a lot on new clothes.

7 - go to bed on time 10.30 - 11

8 - walk for 30 minutes a day to start and then maybe start couch to 5k

9 - wear make up everyday. It makes me look so much better and I feel a bit more confident.

Phew that's a bit of a list. I have finally had my lightbulb moment watching educating Essex. There was a girl on there crying because her mum was dying. It made me sob and scared me so much that it could be my children in that situation if I don't sort myself out. I am not going on a diet as such. I have tried them all. I am really strict on the families diet - very clean eating but I then stuff me face with crap when they aren't around. I could use the excuse that my depression and anxiety has caused this but to be honest I think it's made it worse. I am going to carry o eating clean but have no junk. I have made some energy balls this morning to hopefully help with cravings.