Can I turn into a goddess in a couple of weeks?

[Bostin]

I'm a bit ropey and realise it's a tall order but I figure I could improve my overall appearance in a couple of weeks.
What works best to have an impact in a short period of time? I already exercise so will carry on with that. I am thinking avoid sugar and alcohol. Good cleansing routine. Any tips gratefully received.

Brow threading, lash extensions, cut and colour, dental polish, makeup class...?

Abstaining from alcohol is great - you see the results immediately. Less so with sugar, IMO.

Nails short and clean at all times. Drink 3 litres of water a day at least. Double cleanse if you don't already. Lash tint and eyebrow tidy up. Moisturise knees, ankles and elbows religiously. Use some super-intensive conditioner on your hair (elasticiser is brilliant by Philip Kingsley). Try and do 100 press ups and 100 sit ups each night before bed. Get lots of sleep. Definitely cut out all alcohol.

Sleep, water, no carbs, no alcohol, exfoliate, new bra, haircut, continue to exercise.

if it's for a particular event book a wash and blowdry

if limbs are dry use urea-containing foot moisturiser all the way to knees, and on elbows too

sunscreen

Depends on your budget really! Good ideas from pps. Eyelashes tinted (or extensions), brows threaded and tinted (HD brows, but look closely at reviews), hair cut and coloured (natural looking highlights are best), invest in some new make-up preferably from a store or concession where you can get advice, go outside and look in a mirror before buying though. A few pieces of statement jewellery and simple clothing will look classy too. Get your nails done, shellac is great, neutral tones are the best for "goddess like" I think. Then get yourself a couple of outfits that make you feel glamorous, I love a good playsuit. Drink loads of water, eat lots of fruit and no alcohol! :)

For those recommending giving up alcohol, can I ask how you relax in the evening? I would love to give up alcohol to improve my looks but can't imagine an evening without a glass of wine.

Have a glass of something else. DH and I swore off for three months last year before a sporting event and drank a lot of mocktails.
Fever Tree ginger beer with a squeeze of lime; you barely notice there's no vodka in it; ditto their tonic with lime or cucumber.

I've just given myself a similar task as it is 3 weeks exactly till ds breaks up from school.

I'm - cutting out alcohol and Diet Coke and upping my water, gradual moisturising fake tan, lashes tinted and threaded, eyelash extensions. Taking my make up off every night and doing the teeth whitening thing. I'm also going to do 30 day shred every day as I noticed a really quick difference with that last time.

Good luck!

Fever Tree ginger beer with a squeeze of lime

I will try that. Thanks.

MrT, what's the teeth whitening thing?

For those recommending giving up alcohol, can I ask how you relax in the evening? I would love to give up alcohol to improve my looks but can't imagine an evening without a glass of wine.

If you can't imagine not having a drink every day I would focus on your health before worrying about your looks, you have developed a psychological dependency if not a physical one.

I have found my desire to reach for a drink is actually a desire for something fizzy. I just have it all ready and nice and cold. I actually prefer not drinking in the heat.

There are people who can't go a day without chocolate or snacks. A glass of wine in the evening is really my only vice and it helps me unwind.

I gave myself a big fat kick up my big fat arse a few months ago. I made some hefty changes (some which could be made in two weeks, others which took a little longer). I feel like a different person now; it's amazing. I have my confidence back and I am loving life rather than tolerating it.

I lost two stone on Slimming World (this is what has taken the most time, but implement some of the basics and you will see a big difference in two weeks e.g. cut back on booze and refined carbs and sugar).

Drink 3 litres of water a day. Actual plain water - not tea, coffee and squash etc.

I got my hair colour sorted and started using PROPER shampoos.

I've been using St Tropez gradual tan which means I have the confidence to get my legs out and wear shorts.

I bought an at-home gel nail kit (Sensationail). My nails are short, clean and n painted all the time. It makes a world of difference.

I also treated myself to some new clothes; Warehouse have a good sale on at the moment.

There are loads of things I still need to sort out, such as the 13lbs which is hanging around (mainly on my arse). I'm by no means a goddess.

Re wine: MN is funny about that. The wine police like to bleat on about how anyone who drinks on anything other than Christmas and birthdays has A Problem. You don't. For one night, have a cup of tea or a got chocolate or a posh lemonade. Whatever. Anything that isn't wine. It won't hurt you. The first evening will be the hardest (I speak from experience). It's extremely do-able though.

A hot chocolate. Not a got chocolate. Obvs.

(Although got chocolate is always a good thing, I guess.)

My infallible 'OMG I look shit' remedy is a week of zero alcohol, bed and lights off by 10pm (ie 1 hour earlier than usual), loads of healthy food, and at least an hour swimming or cycling at least 3 times during the week, ideally in the evening followed immediately by a warm bath and bed.

Combine with a cut and colour (obviously latter may be unneccessary if you don't have hair with weird splodgy grey patches) for absolute best results :)

It really depends on your 'problem areas' and your budget, doesn't it?

Agree with the lifestyle advice given here. Apart from that, in my case there are the following buyable holy grails, so to speak:

A good hair stylist/colourist (instant +10%), the best moisturizer you can reasonably afford (need not necessarily be actually expensive, just really, really good) and clothes that actually fit well.

I could arguably ditch all of the other beauty routines/items in my life and look only marginally worse if I got to keep the above.

More water.
More green veg.
Oily fish, almonds, nuts.
No caffeine.
No alcohol.
Lots of sleep.
Exercise.
Fake tan.
Low carb.
Moisturer, lots of it.
Haircut if you need it.
Pedicure.

If you can get only do two things drink more water and sleep more.

Wow thank you. Last time I looked there were no replies! Just reading through them all now.

No bread or pasta always works for me

Use body lotion and foot cream every day. Drink more fluids, but not the alcohol version. Make every mouthful count - good nutrients rather than sugary stuff. Good multi-vitamin and 1000g of either flaxseed oil or starflower capsules a day. Walk at least 10k steps a day if you can. Keep a positive vibe, good posture, head up. Avoid the news, twitter, Facebook. Be in a lovely positive can do bubble for a few weeks.

Take vitamin D.

Sleep. As long as you can. Nothing will make up for lack of sleep.

Drink water but I find anything more than 1-1.5 litres a day doesn't add any extra benefit

Take off all makeup religiously

Use high spf sunscreen everyday. I use at least spf 30

Wear a hat when it's really hot.

Exercise 3 times a week. Am very bad at following this advice!

I've cut out all alcohol but not sugar. I feel so much better. If alcohol was invented today, it would be illegal. And I love a G&T so this was really hard.

I moisturise every day but definitely could do with more work on the problem areas (knees, trotters etc).
I bought a body brush today so will incorporate that.
I have a stash of bits so just need to get back into the habit of taking them.
I could definitely reduce carbs but cannot cope with vlcd when I have tried before it has resulted in binges.
Trying to sort out a haircut and eyebrow shape. Manicure if I can afford it.
Sleep I could do with more as I tend to sleep badly half the time.
No caffeine today but will miss my lattes.
Am just writing this down to cement it all in my head. Very helpful.