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?

Dammit, I'm still poorly! That's been 10 days now and I feel so washed out. Been drinking more water and eating well, but I have to admit I've eaten a few biscuits to keep me going and can't say I'm looking particularly radiant or groomed right now. Its my slimming world weigh in tomorrow so I'm coasting until then, ready to face the music tomorrow and start fresh on the food, trying to cut out sugar and snacking on rubbish. I have dragged myself out for a walk each day though so that's an improvement of sorts. Happy Tuesday everyone!

Okay well today has been a bit of a disaster food wise and my hair has refused to play ball but on the plus side, I did buy myself a new dress and cardigan today which I feel really good about. So some progress was made.

Checking in:

Weight is coming off quickly, which it always does when I start to diet, then I plateau and give up!

I have been drinking hardly any alcohol, and trying to drink more water.

Also been defuzzing and moisturising everything. However, I have noticed that I have come out in loads on spots on my face and chest. Very annoying that healthy living should cause this - hopefully it's a temporary blip.

I keep asking myself "What would Elle do" and bizarrely it is working as I don't believe Elle has ever eaten a chocolate biscuit.

If I could just get my disability a bit more under control I could exercise more and eat more

Checking in here too.

Not managed the 10K steps again Im not very good at that am I. Oh well.

I did manage to straighten my hair again (which wasnt too hard to be fair as I gave it a really good go yesterday) and I wore the same lip gloss.

Also I had to go to a different town for a meeting today. This did not last as long as I thought so I went into Boots on my way home to get some more stuff. I got some fancy hair stuff to tame the frizz. Some BB cream and tooth whitener kit. Will see how they go.

I had a go at filling in my eyebrows, but I couldnt tell a difference.

My food has gone to plan (apart from not having enough water due to leaving work early) today.

Managed 13k steps today as it was busy at work.
Going to do a face mask and hair mask later and re do my nails

Did lots of hair removal earlier in the week, and yesterday practised a new up-do I'd seen on a YouTube tutorial. Things went awry today though: scoffed a lot of cheese. Unsurprisingly I am feeling rather fat now. But the posts here are very motivating, so I'll make sure tomorrow is a better day. Might tint my brows before bed, so today won't be a total write-off.

Keep going, everyone - soon we'll all be looking FABULOUS!!

Painted nails a lovely rose hold colour, hair cut booked in for tomorrow and hd brows booked for next Tues.

I did Body Pump this morning and for the first time actually noticed a difference in my stamina and strength. And at the weekend DH commented that I wasn't walking as slowly as I used to. So although these things aren't immediate changes to my looks, in playing the long game I'm feeling positive.

Have scrubbed my utility room today as I have a man coming to fix the dishwasher tomorrow, I'm getting quite into this cleaning malarkey, I'm picking up a cloth and doing when I see stuff instead of thinking I'll do it later.

On the negative side, I'm pretty sure my person would not have a kebab to save washing pans as the dishwasher is broken she would be absolutely disgusted in fact!

Checking in ladies. I did well yesterday with good eating, no crisps, choccie, cake or biccies. I even skipped the chips with my chicken salad for tea! However I was a pound heavier this morning than on Monday morning.

Been out for a walk today, managed 8000 steps. TOP TIP - listening to a podcast is a brilliant way not to get bored while out walking.

Semi healthy tea is all planned for tonight, will have some nice peppermint tea in front of the tv later.

I also treated myself to some Molton Brown goodies for a pamper.

Checking in - the house is looking great as it's for sale and I had the potentially-shaming issue of estate agent photos to make sure I sorted it!!

I am not looking great - the stress is making me sleep badly and eat even worse!!

Am going to try and do one beauty thing each day, as suggested upthread. Face is defuzzed, hair recently cut, and good make up regime sorted (although looking for holy grail lippy) so not too bad, I am just cross at the lack of willpower and exercise!!!!

Hello everyone, I made a dentist appointment eek!

Crap food but no booze so far this week and early nights

I look shit though but hey - it's got to get better I reckon

Well today didn't go quite to plan. Toddler was cranky, so pottered at home mostly. Ended up eating more than I had planned, and not walking very much. Drank more tea than water and did none of my planned beauty tasks.

On the upside, I made a bit more of an effort with clothes than I usually would (denim skirt, breton top and boots instead of jeans and DH hoody) and did hair and make up.

Have just been to my first boot camp class- it killed me, but if I can keep up the motivation I can see it will make a huge difference to my shape. Am undoing all my good work with wine though now

Can I join?

I'm slowly building a new wardrobe up, have purchased some new make-up and skin products. Have been drinking loads of water and am building up the courage to go to the dentist.

What's the price of tooth whitening?

Brilliant thread.

I have bought new moisturiser and cleanser which I am actually using twice daily. Noticed a big difference and it's only been a couple of days.

Also bought fab new hand cream and it has transformed my cracked chapped fingers after only using it twice.

My plan:

Daily
Cleanse and moisturise AM & PM
Wash hands frequently & apply hand cream AM & PM
Drink 2 litres of water
Give hair a good brush before bed instead of just a quick comb

Weekly
Home manicure
Home pedicure
Hair mask
Face mask

Fortnightly
Use Lumea - legs, underarms and bikini line
Tidy eyebrows
Losing weight is a big must for me this year. Gained over 2st since last July due to depression, anxiety and stress. Was off work for 3 months and spent the time eating! Back at work now but body and soul took a big bashing.

Thread came just as I was beginning to think it was time to get a grip and sort myself out. Turned 40 last year so no time like the present.

Sorry for mammoth post but feels good to have so many sharing the journey.

Foodwise, not great today but not a disaster, a couple of sweet treats crept in.

Managed over 16,000 steps! Not because I was virtuous but because I was busy.

I have been slipping, badly. Not enough hours in the day. And you know when your toddlers do a u turn on their sleep? Mine's almost a teen and with all that's been going on she 'needs' me to put her to bed and stay with her. The plus side is that we fall asleep at 9, laughing our heads off. The down side is that my mascara is about 24 h old.
I MUST get into the habit of taking my make up off the minute I get in through the door.
Right. I'm going to do 7 mins of davina, meditate and have a shower.

I think I need to stop drinking alcohol ever. I think it's becoming a bit of a problem. I drank too much last night, it was really unnecessary on a Tuesday and I just can't seem to drink in moderation. I'm not drinking every day or anything but it's increasing at a rate I'm not entirely comfortable with.

So that's something else going on my list.

Hairspray that is what triggered me to start making whole lifestyle changes. We had got into the habit of having a bottle of wine between us every night, plus a g&t or two if it had been a particularly rough day

I vowed to cut down to 3 nights a week- Friday, Saturday and one week night. I am sleeping better already, and face looks less puffy. Have lost 5lb in a fortnight too!

Had wine with dinner last night and feel shit this morning, so going to stop altogether during the week

Hairsprayqueen I am the same when it comes to alcohol. I am trying to stick with one bottle of wine on a Friday and Saturday night only. Hopefully help with the weight loss.

8Fencing that's a really good idea about taking make up off as you come in through the door. I often take my contacts out straight away, so need to do it at the same time.

I have a day of essay writing ahead, so not much movement for me.
Today's aims are:
Don't give into the vending machine chocolate in the library
Take plenty of water so I dont end up buying cherry coke
Go to gym tonight
Do hair and make up

Oh, and don't bite my nails/cuticles absent minded when I am writing
Might take hand cream with me and put it on when I take a break to remind me.

Terrible day yesterday... Mad amounts of sugar... Cola... Biscuits....mini eggs. Awful. Then alcohol. Which I must stop. But I have arranged to buy a bike. Planning to cycle placed rather than just get in the car. Hopefully that will help shift some lard. Resolving to be better on the diet front today.

I get sugar carvings if I do silly things like cutting out carbs for lunch. Do you do that?

I figured if is better to have carbs with lunch thansnacking sweet stuff in the afternoon!

Baked potatoes are my friend

I am much happier if I can stick to not drinking in the week (which I haven't for ages) but I am going to keep at it.

Ikwym, hairsprayqueen, I am Mrs all or nothing too and can easily drink a bottle of wine (or more) and feel completely fine. But I have resisted so far this week and won't drink tonight either.