I'm going to transform myself - would anyone like to join me?

[BeautifulMaudOHara]

I need to get a grip and I think posting here might help me!

I need to lose some weight, concentrate on personal grooming and give myself a makeover, generally. I want to look and feel better and up my look at work.

Is anyone else interested in joining me?

My aims and ideas are (yours may be different):

Get my teeth bleached
Find out whether to (or how to) deal with my fairly new moustache FOR EVER
Ditto chin hairs
Sort out my fungal toenail
Get a new work wardrobe at some point
Get my nails gelled and keep them maintained
Give up sugar and carbs
Sleep enough, drink slightly less
Be happy!

I am generally, but I do need to look less like a hag, I have let myself go a bit and it's got to stop. Anyone else in?

Great thread, I've been reading and am definitely in the right frame of mind for it. I'll be turning 40 at the end of the year and feel the time is ripe for a few improvements!

I've just had my second session of six of ILP on my lower legs - local salon had a really good offer and I've put up with ingrown hairs after shaving/waxing/epilating for way too long. It hurt more this time but hopefully it will be worth it.

I also finally bit the bullet and had about 5 inches of hair cut off yesterday, it's gone from bra strap length to a shoulder length long bob. Determined to try and keep it in better condition, I've always had split ends despite never having bleached it and rarely using straighteners. I think it doesn't like the hard water here, and tangles and splits as a result. Plus since I upped my gym going I have to wash and dry it several more times a week. But it must now be in as good a condition as it's going to get!

I got DH to buy the Pearl Drops whitening kit from Boots today as well, so I'm going to start that tomorrow. Figured it's worth trying before spending £100s at the dentist.

Also planning to - USE body lotion. I have really problems with this. It's cold when I get out of the shower, and it just makes me colder.
DRINK MORE WATER. I drink loads at the gym and then forget the rest of the time, maybe just a glass with lunch and one with dinner. Not too bad with alcohol though, probably about a bottle a week max usually.
MAKE AN EFFORT WITH MAKEUP - I'm lazy and it tends to give me spots, but I have bought a new Lancome foundation in a compact which seems a lot easier (and no spots so far...)
CONTINUE EATING WELL - I'm pretty healthy and have gone pescatarian recently, but I do have a bit of a crisps issue...

Loving reading everyone else's efforts.

Managed over 16k steps today, drank plenty of water and did a bit of feet pampering when I got in from work, ready for my new shoes tomorrow night I am also going to try the reverse ponytail blow dry before I go out tomorrow to try and add some oomph to my hair

Id like to try and do the 10k steps a day, but I don't have a doodah for counting them. Can someone recommend me a gadget?

A pedometer from a sports shop or a Fitbit type thing or even a smart phone will all count your steps

damsen I really wanted a fitbit but I just couldn't justify the money, especially for a rechargeable one. I searched for 'fitness tracker' on amazon and managed to find a similar gadget for 13.00! It seems to still connect to an app on your phone and has a charger/USB and tracks steps, sleep, calories etc. It hasn't arrived yet but i'm hoping it does enough and I haven't wasted my money! Over 100 pounds cheaper than a fitbit though....!

I got my fitbit from CEX for a lot less money and they seem to be on groupon every now and then as well.

Sounds like you'll be making a trip to the passport office or on the phone all day Monday clutching your credit card, so many. I hope it gets sorted.

I've been doing quite well, and as I continue I can see my house is also looking like it needs a bit of transforming. And the interior of my car:)

Glad to hear there's a gadget that wont cost the earth.

Averagebear please will you report back once you've tested it out? If its as good as it sounds ill buy one of those! Thabks

Well DP is doing a double shift today so he's out the house til midnight, just me and the pup home. I thought it'd be a fab opportunity to have a pamper session.

So I ran a bath, started the top to toe defuzz and exfoliation with face mask and hair mask applied... All of which was thrown into chaos when the bastard dog attempted to jump in the bath with me. Cue five mins of madness- soap suds, bubbles and bath water EVERYWHERE. Swiftly followed by the handyman at the door, here to fix the front door. There's me, wrapped in a bathrobe still soapy and damp, dog running round like a loon shaking water everywhere, and the handyman dismantling my front door.

I had planned a long and lazy morning doing nails, applying body lotion and generally attempting to be a woman. No such luck.

Sigh.

Read the whole thread. Immediately drank a pint of water and took the reluctant dog and child on a 2 mile walk.

Damsen that made me chuckle! at least you gave the pampering a try!!

Well, I have done my nails, sit ups and cleansing today and have chosen my outfit (complete with matching shoes and bag) for tonight.

Although I have added a new target to my list - get properly fitted for a bra. I haven't been fitted since I had DD and I appear to have developed some weird armpit overhang (that I am hoping is bra related )

donge what's the reverse ponytail blow dry?

Went riding today. Put a bit of a face on before I left the house. Made myself look a bit tidier.

Am on day 3 of no hit wash so dry shampooed hair. Have started carrying a water bottle with me so I can keep hydrated.

damsen Well, my tracker arrived. Its chunkier than I think the fitbit is, only seen my brother's briefly. Has a charging USB doodah technical term , seems OK. Only problem is, to set it up you need not just an iPhone 4 or above, but it also needs to have Bluetooth version 4 which mine doesn't! So it took me an hour to find this out. I've set up the app on dh's phone but that does mean I'll need to use his phone to check my results each day. Also, the Instructions are in quite poorly translated Chinese so that's why I didn't realise why it wasn't loading! I'll update you tomorrow with regards to a few things such as: whether it automatically resets at the end of each day, because if it does then I'm happy to just jot down my scores rather than use the app, and I'm also interested in how it tracks sleep (which is what I'm more interested In to be honest). I would probably say that if your phone supports the app (ie has version 4 Bluetooth) then this seems like a reasonable purchase. Its called go buy tw64 Bluetooth v4.0 smart watch on amazon and it was 12.99. With regards to the Bluetooth, that seems universal to all trackers so if you don't have a compatible device then none of them will work for you.

*hair wash

StarChaser I'm glad it made somebody laugh, cos let me tell you I was certainly not chuckling myself!

AverageBear thanks for the update. I'm also interested in how it performs with regards to the sleep thingy. Keep me informed!

Inspired by this thread, today i finally managed to get my shit together!

Ate low carb and only had 1 latte (soya instead of normal - not sure if this is healthier but definitely sounds it)
Went on 2 brisk walks - 1x 20mins and 1x 45 mins
Getting hair cut and highlighted tomorrow
Also getting eyebrows threaded and tinted tomorrow
Have dug our my heeled boots and given them a polish ready for important work meetings this week.

Still to do:
Make a dentists appointment and find out about whitening
Make appointment to find out about tear trough fillers - massive eye bags and grooves are 1 of things that really age me imo

Hello! I've been following this thread from the start, but have decided to stop lurking and post

Had a little splurge today in the Next sale and in Boots on make up and hair products. Feeling quite pleased with my purchases.

Have just given myself a home facial - hot cloth cleanse, scrub, mask, serum and a massage with moisturiser. Feeling all glowy now.

Also laid out outfits for tomorrow (church, and it's my turn on the reading rota so I have to stand up in front of everyone) and the week ahead (office job). Going to wear black and white floral print trousers with a black top and a black cardi tomorrow. Trying to wear dresses to work, so have laid out various dress and cardi combinations to wear with opaques and brogues.

Have been at MIL's this weekend, so not much going on in terms of treatments. Took DD on a farm visit and felt very inappropriately dressed as all I had brought down from London was a few dresses/opaques/ballet flats and a smart coat. I definitely need to sort out some stylish casual outfits for these occasions. At the moment, I'm either in a smartish dress or slobbing it in DH's trackie bottoms. There is no middle ground! Still, I managed to get out for a run this evening so am feeling pretty happy.

Welcome, Jemima! I really like the idea of laying out my outfits for the whole week...

Hi Jemima, welcome! What a great busy thread, well done everyone

Felt terrible the past few day, sore throat (lost my voice!) and very head coldy. Went to bed at 8 last night and slept until just before 9 this morning. Not ate very well, felt the need to comfort eat. But I did use a hair treatment today!

Today I've shaved my legs etc and used intensive moisturiser all over.

I've been crap on the sugar and carbs front but will try again on Monday

Had some wine with lunch oops but also had an hours sleep this afternoon as a result and had a lie in until half eight this morning.

I have definitely been thinking more about my appearance and general well being as a result of this thread.

I'm also up to date medically, phew, as I've had recent appointments with the dentist and optician and a mammogram and a smear test and all is ok so that's good.

just loving this thread and gives me a big kick up the jacksy!
need to sort out proper eye makeup just black mascara being used and i look drained - look better without! perhaps the you tube tutorials may help?
have massive problem with hair roots through in 2weeks try to match up colour with home dye but its patchy- cant justify going to hairdressers every 2 weeks!
will aim to go much lighter i reckon

Evening!

Jemima - could you let us know what beauty products you've bought please? Need to overhaul my make-up collection and have literally no clue where to start!

Was going to treat myself to a nice pampering session tonight but sis turned up so trying to do it all again tomorrow.

On the plus side...have been carrying water with me throughout the day to keep myself hydrated.

Next step...diet! Anyone else fancy doing this with me next week?

www.jaduncan.com/?m=1

Sorry...It's the Lose 14lbs in a week diet