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?

I started this last year when I got back from a month long holiday and was bloated and boozy with bad skin and dry hair.
I allocate a different treatment each night
Eg Sunday- home facial (exfoliant scrub, clay mask and overnight cream)
Monday- home mani pedi- use scholl electric file/buffer thing and then just clear or pale varnish (low maintenance!)
Tue- hair mask treatment done during my evening shower
Wed- exfoliate body with homemade coffee scrub and then apply a gradual tan moisturiser
Thurs- teeth whitening treatment
Fri- remove skin from heels and moisturise overnight in socks

Daily-
good clean and floss of teeth
Shave legs
Moisturise body
Green smoothie each morning

I used up all my existing make up and bought new, quality, flattering products
I lost 10kg on the low carb high fat way of eating (this is amazing!)
'New' wardrobe but I'm on budget so these were mainly charity shop finds but lifted my game esp at work
No alcohol during the week
No processed foods
Swim once a week
Gym/spin once a week

I'm feeling better than ever and you soon get into a routine. My evening treatments are usually done after tea once my daughter is in bed while I watch TV

puthy, that sounds fab!! I'm stealing some if your ideas for a 'daily timetable'

Hi I would like to join.

In many ways I am pretty healthy - I eat well and make all food from scratch and I don't have much sweet stuff. I do a LOT of intense yoga.

I have simplified my skincare regime which helps and I do get gel nails done. I have a fab hairdresser that comes to my house and I have found some really good hair products which are helping. The babyliss big hair is my saviour too.

But... I am not losing weight. And I think that is all down to wine. I have fallen back after a dry January to drinking too much almost every night: I need to stop that as it hits my sleep. So after today, no midweek drinking unless I am out with friends (which is VERY rare!)

Going on holiday in 2 weeks. Considering adding a fast day or two.

puthy good sounding routine

Today I am planning on doing a mani / pedi ( bought new polish yesterday) and dying my hair to cover up the grey. Had a good haircut yesterday... The whole wash cut and blow dry rather than just a quick dry trim which is my usual approach. Also got my eyebrows tamed. Today is also the day I start on shifting the lard.

Can I join please? I have put on a stone and look like ive aged 5 years since I got married last July
We are house building, so have limited bathroom facilities, and I have been using that and the fact that have been writing my dissertation eating three bars of chocolate and a tube of pringles every day in the library as excuses for how terrible I look.
I need to:
Lose a stone
Tone up
Sort my hair out- get a decent cut and sort my greys out, possibly Brazilian blow dry
Eyebrows- over plucked as a teenager, so they are too thin, but also a bit wonky...
Shape and clear polish on nails
Sort feet- pedi and sort my bastarding verruca out
Use my Philips lumea- worked well before wedding, but hair growing back now
Bleach teeth
Find new dentist
Drink lots of water
Throw all my clothes away and start again- I look like a bag lady...

This thread has prompted me to book a hair cut for next Thursday (will have a chat then about colour, not brave enough and too skint to jump straight in) and to order some crests strips for teeth whitening.

I joined the gym last week, so need to keep that up, and have been better on water since then but still too much wine

I'd like to join please! Had my last baby last summer and returning to full time work next month. Need to get my mojo back!

I have about a stone to lose, I'm on week 4 of C25k and for the first time ever I'm actually enjoying running! Weight has slowly started to drop off, but need to look at my diet really. Stupid question now, what are carbs? I know it's bread, pasta, potatoes, rice... Anything else?? Does Weetabix count? I love my morning weetabix and have cut down to just one but piled with fruit and fat free Greek yoghurt, do I have to give that up?? What can I use to replace rice/pasta with our family staples of bolognese/chilli/curry??

My skin and hair are actually ok, considering I really don't look after them. Need to get into a proper routine especially at night when I usually just fall into bed without doing anything.

My wardrobe is awful, frumpy mumsy shite. I'm one of the many who is waiting to lose weight and also feels that I look crap in everything so what's the point?

Make up is fine, nails need attention, teeth are pretty good and I'm also not a fan of the bleached look.

Will keep posting but thanks for the kick up the bum to get this all out and have an action plan!

NotPennys

Weetbix and most fruit are all carbs I'm afraid- Greek yoghurt is ok, so that with some berries maybe for breakfast?
Replace pasta with zucchini noodles or (my fave) 'pasta' made from broccoli and cauliflower stalks
Replace rice with cauliflower rice which is really tasty when roasted
Replace potatoes with kohlrabi, turnips, daikon radish and on occasion sweet potato
Add as much natural fats ie nuts, butter, cream, avocado, olive oil as you need and also eggs, meat, green veg
Look up low carb high fat (lchf), heaps of info and ideas and honestly the weight just falls off- my husband lost 12kg in 2 months!

Went for a run and remembered to take my make up off before bed. But I didn't moisturise before bed :(
Today I am about to go for a run, then i must apply some nail varnish to my toes. Going to do a banana facemask.

Have just read everyone's aims and mine are similar.
I'm already on top of my skincare, am cleansing, acid toning a couple of times a week, using serum, day and night cream and doing a weekly mask. Skin is looking so much better for it.
Need to drink more water!
Need to keep on top of my nails, have been keeping them short, clean and using cuticle balm when I remember.
Trying to look after my hair but really need to book a haircut to have it tidied up. Also I want to grow my hair after a practical blunt Bob was cut in last year, is it true that regular trims help with growth?

I have 20kg to lose and really want to achieve it but keep slipping up and feeling defeated. BUT yesterday I walked about 8.5 miles(walking the dog while DD napped and then around London for miles on evening out) and although I ached afterwards it felt great knowing i had walked so far! I walk the dog every day for an hour/hour and a half but want to work out more ways to fit in more walking everyday. It didn't feel like hard work yesterday(might have been the alcohol) and I normally get exhausted and sweaty when I'm walking. I can walk to sainsburys but then can't buy much so I always drive, I can walk to town but worry unless DD is napping she will get bored. Any tips?

Today's plan is create my own thread in S&B for make-up recomendations.

I want to look pollished. Im fed up of doing Make-up in the morning then getting to work looking like a spotty teenager (Im 37). Id like to have glowing skin and just generally look good. I fancy having a nice lip-gloss. Just dont know where to start.

Im also going to do my eyebrows and nails.

Go for a walk to get to my 10K steps. Its something I need to do every day.

Can I join in please? This thread is perfectly timed - I've rejoined the gym last week and I'm trying to make an effort again with my appearance.

Long term I need to lose 3 stone of "baby" weight (youngest is 2 ), and revamp my wardrobe.

Short term I need to sort my hair out, keep on top of general maintenance like eyebrows and nails, and start taking a multivitamin daily rather than remembering for 2 days then stopping!

Oh I would love to join in please! I am in need of a transformation, I have put some steps in place already but a support network and inspiration from others would be appreciated.

So my challenges are:-

Loose weight - by clean eating / paleo. I feel so well on this eating plan, I just need to stick to it. I've got all the books and lots of meal ideas.

Skin care - I have just invested in the dermalogica range of skincare but haven't started using it yet till all my old bits and bobs are used up. I'm itching to get going.

Hair - I recently found a great new hairdressers. I went a bit too short though and feel a bit jowly so growing it out for now. I love the colour though.

Dental - I need to start brushing and flossing at night. I wouldn't leave the house in the morning without brushing my teeth but haven't got a proper night time routine. I want to look at whitening too but that's a way off.

Clothes - I am going to stop buying whats easy (ordering online from White Stuff and Fat Face) and actually go shopping! I hate shopping. The clothes from those two companies never last and always look rubbish after a few washes. I just buy them because I know they fit well (at first). I got a tip for a company called COS on here and am trying some of their stuff (hopefully arriving tomorrow). I really want to be better dressed. I go out with some lovely friends every couple of months and always feel like the dowdy one as they are far more glam. I am rubbish at organising my wardrobe too and need to do far better here. I want to get to a stage where I have something other than jeans to wear.

Gym - Need to do more here. I go to bootcamps, need to go more and do other things also.

Backpain - Need to start looking after myself. Pilates probably, but feel uncomfortable till have lost a bit of weight.

Phew - that's a long list!

Good luck everyone, really looking forward to your updates.

Ooh can you tell me more about paleo please choose?

teeth whitening

Above is a link to an article I found looking at the best teeth whitening kits. I think I might invest in the £25 one from boots.

Yes, Paleo or Clean Eating is about cutting out processed food, carbs to a degree, dairy (for some people), gluten and any 'modern' foods. It is eating like cavemen did (the paleolithic era) so lots of protein, good fats and natural foods. There is a load of stuff online about it.

www.marksdailyapple.com is a great resource, although there are lots.

My interpretation is about finding what works for me and sticking with that, so for me little amounts of dairy are fine.

A typical day may consist of a smoothie with almond milk, avocado and curly kale.

Lunch maybe a salad with leaves dressed with avocado/olive oil, cucumber, eggs, celery, radish.

Dinner could be organic chicken with roasted peppers/aubergines/onions.

Lots of water.

Unlike other 'diets' this works for me because I don't feel hungry/miserable/thinking about food all the time/wanting alcohol at the weekend.

I've learned lots of tips too such as making bone broth which is great for skin (collagen), nails, general health.

Hope that helps. I've only got into it over the last few months. It looks confusing at first but stick with the research and it's quite fascinating.

Hope that helps.

Id like to join too! I need a complete overhaul in nearly every aspect of my life :(

I recently left my job for a completely different role, after two months of misery in back in my lovely old job. My hours and wage have increased, and I've recently bought a new car, so career wise I'm happy for now. I love my home but my garden is a pit. The garden makeover plans are in place, so by summer ill be happy with that too.

My lifestyle needs a makeover. I recently rejoined the gym but I've only been once this week- this is going to change. I've got a dog, but I'm ignoring opportunities to go for lovely long stress-busting walks with the little guy.

Hair- stopped dying it and had it cut a couple of months ago, needs to go a bit shorter now. I want to find a shampoo/ conditioner that works for me, so my hair actually lasts more than 12 hours before getting greasy.

Nails- not too bad, I enjoy doing a home mani-pedi and foot spa, but need to up the regularity.

Make up- want to invest in one or two decent products, and only use tinted moisturiser- save foundation for nights out/ occassions.

Brows- I work for a lady who owns several eyebrow salons- zero excuse for the slugs on my forehead!

Skin care- useless. Buy all the gear, never use it. Need a routine morning and night.

Wardrobe- a mish mash of Primark and Matalan easy comfy clothes, which last a couple of months before looking horrid. Nothing fits me as I have gained weight, need to find my size and get a bra measurement too. Need to bin 75% and replace with a couple of nice pieces.

Teeth - happyish but really could do with whitening.

Also need major deforestation as others have mentioned. I generally feel uncomfortable in my body, I want to take pride in what I look like and look after myself. I just want to loom out together. Goal time- summer!

Loom out together = look put together

I'm taking lots of advice and inspiration from everyone and their ideas. Thanks all, for that.

I've still got flu and feeling v down in the dumps. Missed a half marathon I was supposed to be running today :( I have another in a few weeks so am going to focus on that.

Not feeling 100% but will have to go back to work tomorrow. Will focus on drinking 2l of water, sticking to 1400 cals, seven fruit/veg, 10k steps mon-fri, no phone in bedroom, 8 hours of sleep. Hopefully this'll help build up strength/health again.

Well I've been rubbish on drinking water so far today, but have just filled bottle, so will try to have a couple this evening, and maybe hot water and lemon before bed. No wine now until Friday

Have bought a manicure kit, so going to try to tackle scraggy cuticles tonight. Have also bought eyebrow mascara/gel, so going to try to tidy up brows tonight and fill in with this. If they are still looking a bit sparse, I have some eyebrow tint somewhere that I've never been brave enough to attempt!

Am going to root in wardrobe for something other than too tight jeans to wear tomorrow, and go for a run before I go to work.

The sun has been out here today, so that is helping with my motivation a bit, and I keep spotting more things on this thread that I need to sort out!

I graduate on 11th July, so using that as my deadline to get on top of it all!

I want to do all of this but really struggling to find the motivation, even reading this I know I will never do it

Epic fail of a weekend, loads of wine, 2.30am night out on Saturday bug I had fun! Will start in earnest tomorrow

So today started well, if only it continued that way!! After my success with my hair yesterday I was feeling good so managed a facemask and cleansing routine plus a full defuzz. Also cut my nails and painted them a funky but smart deep purple.

This morning, feeling all motivated, did hair and make up and then (even though it's Sunday which usual results in uber-laziness) put on a pair of nice black skinnies, and a smart pink shirt. Still have weight to lose but feeling pretty good......then life hit.

My toddler decided today was a good day to be car sick on the way back from the supermarket, cue nice pink shirt slightly tinged with sick. Then toddler (probably distressed from the car sicking) becomes insanely clingy, holding on to me like a monkey whilst we have visitors. Then refuses to sleep whilst being so tired she can't even function, resulting in angry clinginess. By the time the afternoon came, my hair was frazzled, my mascara was mostly under my eyes, I smelt of sick and my nail varnish had chipped.

How do you manage life without turning into a frazzled mess!

Never mind we can all start from fresh tomorrow!

I drove last night so I didn't drink. Got up and did loads of uni work but still have a mountain to climb.

I am using MFP again as it does help kick start me until I get bored of it. Am sticking to 1200 calories. Did my nails and will do a facemask later.

Feeling pretty good. Just looking after yourself in small ways does make you feel stronger I think.

Will make sure I am in bed by 10pm and may book another reiki session for next week. Asking myself "What would Elle do?" has been really helpful

Good luck everyone.