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?

Well, I managed to do my 10,000 steps today but I don't have much else to report.

I really need to get a daytime jacket to wear instead of a fleece.

I feel your pain StarChaser, BeautifulMaud and Bellygirl! I managed to do a healthy food shop today, but looked AN ABSOLUTE MESS while doing so. Feel like none of my clothes fit, very uncomfortable.

But tomorrow is another day! StarChaser well done on the good start to the day :)

I read a Joanna Lumley quote about beauty and she said you should just try your best when getting ready in the morning, and then forget about it. If it's good enough for Patsy it's good enough for me!

Not a terrible day in the averagebear household. My feet are looking quite nice now after the footner treatment, just a few more days i reckon. Dh and older dcs went to conkers today but I was feeling wretched with this cold so stayed in with baby. Did a good tidy out of the cupboards so I can save a bit of money shopping and planned a few meals. I've also been through my toiletries and chucked out everything really old and have sorted out a moisturiser, face wash and serum that I'm going to use every day. I plan to use it up until its gone then use something else. Went for a short walk. I've also planned the next few days so I can fit in some exercise, so tomorrow I have a walk planned with a friend and Tuesday I will walk ds to nursery and back. I've been taking metatone tonic, recommended by DM to help build me up after this cold so hopefully should perk me up a bit soon! Can I just say as well how nice this thread is, I was very tempted to come off mumsnet for a while as I found it so demotivating on some threads where people can be so blunt and uncaring, but this has restored my faith!

Well day one consisted of:

• Doing my eyebrows
• doing my nails
• going for a walk so I managed my 10K steps (Ive done 13686)
• looking into what I can do to make myself appear groomed all day rather than for 5 mins in the morning (and that's before Ive left the house)

I have also shaved my legs and used a deep conditioning treatment on my hair, but I do that every Sunday and have for years.

Tomorrow my plan is:

• 10K steps
• Go to Slimming world
• grab a couple of essentials (exfoliating face wash, BB cream) from Morrisons on the way to work

Sat here with a face mask on drinking a glass of water.. Go me!

Today I have done my finger and toe nails, they look and feel so much better. I've also managed not to eat anything obviously sweet and no alcohol has passed my lips. I feel very virtuous

Next week - no alcohol, no obvious sugar, increase veg and walk every day even if it's a quick 20 minutes.

I like your Joanna Lumley quote moving - I might have to just start making all my social engagements at 8am to get the benefit of the effort

Well I think everyone deserves a round of applause for today's efforts. We are all motivated and making steps towards the changes we want. And even though my day could have been more successful I am not going to be defeated and this thread is definitely keeping my spirits up.

For me, tomorrow's aim is to not get covered in sick drink plenty of water. It's my birthday this week so I am not going to even think about dieting until next week but drinking more water is something I can change straight away.

Right day 1 for me today.

My plan is to eat on plan, starting with a smoothie with frozen avocado (sounds awful, but great to use in smoothies), some greens and some almond milk. Lunch will be smoked mackeral salad and dinner salmon and roasted veg with cauliflower rice.

I am at home to day so aiming to get lots of water (always more hesitant to when out and about due to needing the loo!).

Day at home blitzing the house. I always find a decluttered clean environment allows me headspace to think about other things far better. Then crack on with some admin things that are overdue and need doing.

Getting weighed first thing, then putting my fitbit on (it's usually lost/out of power - but I love it when I do get organised enough to use it). No time for formal exercise today but will try to move as much as possible.

Starting teeth routine tonight.

Good luck for the day everyone, sending lots of positive energy.

I like that Joanna lumley quote too.

I'm going to try to think "what would my Jilly Cooper character do?" (Maud O'Hara is a gorgeous Jilly heroine)

I have book marked a local beauty salon and am going to call them today for a nail appointment. Friend I saw at the weekend has Botox, teeth whitened, decent manicure and looked very well groomed so that made me even more determined. I was the lumpy bumpy country cousin to her sleek London media look, eek!

Sympathies on the puke and skirt but it's Monday everyone, onwards! I slept well last night and only had 2 glasses of wine with lunch so I'm feeling good today

Can I join, please? Reading this has made me inspired!

I've got three weeks before a wedding.

I'd like to lose a few pounds, get a haircut, order some flattering makeup, drink more water and eat less carbs. And drink less bloody wine!

Aim for today:
Weigh myself
Swim 30 lengths
Drink 6 pints of water
Ensure breakfast and lunch are low carb
Make a veggie curry for tea (no rice)
Do one hour of quick fire housework

Good luck all, let's have a great start to the week!

Also I totally agree with chooseyourhard that getting your home clean and tidy and just generally sorted allows for greater clarity of thinking. That's prompted me to cracking downstairs, thank you!

Well done everyone!
I managed a 3 mile walk yesterday but did have a roast dinner out and a slice of cake later so not really that great. Just want to keep myself moving as that's my main problem. I'm not eating loads just haven't been eating great, so a healthy food shop will help today. So far hot water with lemon and half a cup of oats with yoghurt and some strawberries for breakfast. Going to try to not have any bread for a while as I am eating too much again as an easy option!
Would really like to get a proper manicure and pedicure soon as I find it easier to do it myself after my nails have been done by a professional first. Might see if dh will pay for it at the weekend. Hands and feet are in a mess from a winter of chapped skin, thick socks and gloves.

I sorted hair out! Bloody expensive month for my hair, but you live and learn. I am going for a long walk or maybe a swim.

Hi everyone . Aren't we doing well!!!!

My big news.....I have ordered a babyliss big hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also took the chipped varnish off my toenails and they are having a rest. When baby wakes up I will buy emery boards, those cuticle pusher things and cuticle oil (assume all these things are in boots?). It's a fast day on my 5:2 so will drink loads of water (to fill the aching void) and am going to yoga later.

Can I ask a couple of questions? Firstly, what products do I need to go with the big hair? Secondly, what is HD brows and do I need it??

Love and princess dust to you all!!!

Yesterday was another good day- a long walk in the forest, perfect for rosy cheeks!

Done body combat today and have relooked at flylady- I did not realise you could just go to the site for the plans, the masses of emails put me off before so this is a good find for me. Just going to get changed out my gym kit and polish my tv stand (if your DH ever suggests a black glass tv stand like mine did, just say no unless he will clean it daily, it's so horrible to keep dust free). Then study for a while to exercise my brain and Hoover etc.

My food intake has been good to what I want it to be (probably horrifying to most of mumsnet, the carbs, the carbs )

I am as groomed as ever (ie. Bare minimum) but I ordered a big pack of razors this weekend to start getting back in to a good defuzzing routine.

Morning all,

Babyliss big hair is amazing - I love mine and it really smooths and shapes my style. I tend to put some mousse on, blast dry upside down then run through with the big hair to style, plus a little spray / wax at the end.

Had a good weekend here, no wine and had my 12 mile moonwalk training done and dusted so feeling pretty good.

I fancy a Babyliss big hair too, and one of those pro-curl ones (as I am terrible at doing it myself) am waiting to see if the birthday fairy brings me some money to treat myself.

I am wondering if we need some inspiration pictures. I definitely am unsure of what style I want to copy. I kind of want to rock Kerry Washington in Scandal at work (without the designer price tag) but not sure what my home inspiration is.

Just a note on the Babyliss big hair. I have one and I do rate it for styling my hair.

The only thing is that I have very fine hair. If I blow dry with a hairdryer I can go two days without washing.

With the Babyliss, it looks great on day 1 but it needs washing the second day. I am convinced it is to do with the fact it smooths the follicles so well.

Just wanted to point that out.

I feel like a new woman already, I spent the weekend sorting out hair, make-up, beauty stuff and clothes then did a mammoth tidy up, dust and Hoover of the whole house. I'm knackered but happy!

Today I'm going to do my hands and feet and put body lotion on after my shower. Baby steps!

I live this thread! It's making me far more motivated to get on with it.

I did my hands, feet and eyebrows last night, and used my Lumea.

Have had a healthy breakfast and lunch, plenty of water, and no chocolate so far. Have booked into a fitness class/weigh in tomorrow evening.

Actually got up half an hour early so that I could put my make up on slowly at home, rather than in the car mirror outside work!

Wearing a dress, cardigan, boots instead of jeans. Feel loads better than I did this time last week, thanks for the support!

Love not live...

hi everyone-- weekend was write off but that is always to be expected- now back to checking in daily to keep motivated. No sugary junk yet today but 4:00 biscuits will be the hard part.

re: castor oil- I just put some on my fingertip and then blink into it so eyelashes get some- but have read best way is to paint it along your lash line. I may start trying that. I put it on at night and is gone by AM. Anyone having any great success with dying their eyebrows at home?

Yay for haircuts and big hair!

I have a nail appointment for Friday and will also speak to them about chin and upper lip hair removal (beauty salon not nail bar, obvs!)

All of this is very inspiring, but is anybody trying a complete make over with very little money.
I suppose i could stretch to a good haircut but not the colour.
I would buy a box but can't find the right shade.
I am dark brown and whichever I use goes a horrible auburn/copper colour after a couple of weeks, even less in spring and summer.
Have been told there's red pigment in all brown dye, so think I must be doomed and stuck with the silver.