Is it really possible to improve how we look?

[Yogapoga123]

I've totally lost track when it comes to looking after myself. I've put on weight in lockdown, feel fat and incredibly sluggish and my clothes all feel tight. I struggle to exercise and I comfort eat. Today was the classic catching myself in a shop mirror moment, wearing shabby clothes and I just thought 'wtf, I look so awful'.

I think some of my lack of motivation is down to thinking, well what's the point. I'm not sure whether I can really make a difference to how I look. I fear it's too late!

So, please tell me, what differences are within reach? Is it really possible to make improvements without buying a whole new wardrobe or different lifestyle? And if so, what exactly? I just don't know where to start.

Please help me motivate myself.

Wear clothes in the right colours to suit your colouring , especially against your face .

Hair washed and styled every day , a little make up , especially lipstick , nails neatly manicured and polished . Perfume everyday .

That’s how I lift myself in these difficult stuck at home times .

Hair cut! Get a hair cut! I know exactly how you feel. I can't bear to try on clothes and have no idea what fits and suits me having put on weight.

My friend cut my hair for her college course on Monday and it's made a world of difference! I'm still looking fat and dumpy but my hair is good!!!

This Australian lady, Peta, has loads of videos for face exercises and they do work. But you have to repeat each exercise 50 times so it is tedious. I haven't advanced past set1 but my open pores are less and 11s less than they were and cheeks look a bit wider. I'm 67 btw.
I do them when watching tv.
There are a lot of her youtube videos so can be a bit confusing but here's one.

Get some Dove self tan moisturiser. Don’t faff around with the light one - go medium/dark. Just slap it on after a shower. It won’t give you a deep tan, but it will give you a healthy flow. It smells nice and it’s cheap.

I agree with the above advice on
Hair cut
Bit of false tan-Indus tanning drops-dead easy and build gradually
Face masks once or twice a week-mae a big difference to me.
Drink tons of water
Diet-I've been doing intermittent fasting and it's worked for weight loss but I also feel more energised.
Getting outside in the day light if you can. Great for the noggin

A lot of us are in the same frumpy boat. I have put on a stone and NONE of my pre lockdown. Clothes fit. I wear joggers all the time. The vaccine has focused my mind and I have stared dieting and exercising.

Dh got smart scales which I poo pooed but has made a huge difference to my approach to weight loss. I used to get despondent if my weight plateaued or went back up. Now stand on the scale each day and my app shows me weekly average etc so I can see the general trend is downward. I have resigned my self to a long slow weight loss journey

Good luck

Skincare :

I use a Balm cleanser twice at night (espa, elemis, love the espa Pro Cleanser with the beads in, Emma hardie, or m&s do this great rose range that's really reasonable)

I use an acid (Paula's choice, zelends pads, Sunday Riley, pixi tonic)

I use a serum (espa, medik8, elemis)

I use a moisturiser (I'm actually not too fussy on this stage, this is where I would go cheap and cheerful)

I use an oil (Herbivore, Zelens or rosehip oil)

In the morning I use vit c serum (medik8 or Oskia) then I add some Spf then I use a cc corrector and some lip Balm and I'm good to go.

I really enjoy my nightly rituals, if this is a big chore for you and you don't take pleasure in it, I'd say cleanse, acid 2x per week, moisturise and use vit c and Spf in morning.

I get that you want to lose weight, but it won't happen overnight, so could you try playing with the proportions of your clothes to create an illusion? You may be working against rather than with your body shape. Read about the "golden ratio" in clothing - it made a huge difference for me.

Doing a few small things to make yourself FEEL better can sometimes motivate you to make other changes too. Top 5 would be:

1. Getting outside for a brisk walk each day in the fresh air
2. For me, putting on a bit of light make up every morning- just some mascara, some tinted moisturiser and a bit of bronzer. I know some people don’t wear makeup, but I feel nice when I do.
3. Doubling the amount of vegetables on my plate
4. Wearing some nice earrings
5. Painting my nails

If I feel I have made a bit of an effort I feel better about myself and make healthier choices generally.

It's definitely possible to look better or worse, but better tends to require a lot more time and effort as the years go by (slower metabolism, more tired/wrinkles etc). I think it's worth it though if it helps your wellbeing/mental health in the long run.

• good diet
• good sleep
• exercise (nothing excessive needed imo)
• good skincare (doesn't have to be expensive)
• flattering make up
• good hairstyle/care
• clothes that suit

Know how you feel OP. I find when I start drinking water and eating more fruit and getting a bit more sleep, but to start off I'd say a pampery shower, shave or whatever you do, put hair conditioner in hair for about 20 minutes and then blow dry, style etc. Then wash face and use moisturiser. Moisturise your body. I find when I have nights like this I feel better and then start wearing make up, jeans instead of tracksuit bottoms and a nice top.

And OP, cetaphil gentle wash and cerave moisturizer and you will honestly feel like a million dollars!! Enjoy!

Start by treating yourself to some nice clothes that fit you now. Even if you do lose weight, it's going to take time and squeezing yourself into too tight clothes in the meantime will just make you feel worse.

I felt the same in the autumn. Just felt really crap about myself. I'm eating better and exercising. The weight is coming off very slowly (which is why I say buy clothes!). I treated myself to some nice new underwear too. I coloured my hair, had it cut, I do my make up and nails. Lots of small changes, but I feel so much better in myself for them.

1. Walk tons, I do about 1.5hrs a day with school runs but I feel so much better and revitalised afterwards.
2. Drink loads of water, I have the mango bottle so drink a few of these
3. Eat big at breakfast but less later on, I don't eat anything past 6pm
4. Threading eyebrows/face : I look like I've had a facelift
5. Marie Kondo your wardrobe : only keep things which bring you joy
6. Korean exfoliating cloths: make my skin feel amazing
7. Decent hairdo/colour

I'm no supermodel but I brush up well with all these tips!

Diet - eat healthy - cut down on alcohol - drink plenty of water - keep moving!
Wish I could always follow my advice! But when I do it works for me
Dress to suit your shape, colouring and lifestyle - whatever your size
Keep up with the basics - clean shoes/boots - iron clothes if they need it - do whatever makes you feel good! I don’t wear make up ever but always have nails polished! I keep on top of eyebrows between waxes - have a regular hair trim.......

@Yogapoga123

Wow, a lovely lot of replies, thanks everyone. Encouraging words and really helpful to hear from those who've been there and made steady changes. Doadeer not smug at all, that's amazing progress well done.

It seems like the weight loss thing is pretty crucial really, as it affects lots of other areas - like how I feel about myself when I look in the mirror, the horrible tight fit of clothes, especially trousers uuurgh, then the whole not wanting to buy more until I lose weight but at the same time looking scruffy and feeling yuk. If I can tackle that, then maybe it's a bit of a snowball effect. So hard though - I have no energy and just want to wallow and eat crisps.

I'meatingveryhealthily I admire your willpower, I really do. I just can't seem to motivate myself to exercise, not even in my own house. In the past I've run a bit, and done classes, but I can't seem to muster it up this time. It's all mindset isn't it. How can I scare myself into getting off my arse..!?

Scare yourself GENTLY! I've just lost 3 stone using Michael Moseley's FAST 800 diet (intermittent fasting and v nutrient dense low carb food) and exercise. For me it all hinges on the exercise as that gets me in the zone (though sadly it's the not eating so much/ bad stuff that loses the weight). Get a Fitbit type thing and start aiming for 10k steps, then up that, or bike or whatever floats your boat.

My skin is better, I can wear nicer clothes, I feel happier (in as much as nice clothes make you happier). I'm more bendy and I know it's good for my health. I still look my age, look like me but at least there's no feeling of guilt that I should be doing something but am not!

Good luck, you can do this!

@Yogapoga123

If anyone has tips on skincare, please share. At the moment, I sometimes use an oil based cleanser (have dry skin) and I slather on a bit of moisturiser at bedtime but it's nothing very high end.

I think I'd be happy to spend a bit of £ and become a bit more high maintenance but I don't know what to buy or where to start!

It depends on what you like/ what works for you, but I love La Mer soft cream. It seems to work well but I love the feel of it and so it's a little treat twice daily. Expensive and really boring container but I forgive it that because it seems nice.

I feel the same OP.

Currently 37 weeks pregnant and apart from the very obvious bump, my face has filled out and become very puffy. I don't recognise myself at the moment.

I've gained around 3 stone, so that's something I will have to work on once the baby arrives.

I'm mostly shielding now, so many days are spent in PJs and baggy maternity wear.
I haven't bothered with hair/make up for months now as I hardly leave the house.

Was recently looking back on photos from last year when I was slim and always made at least a bit of an effort with hair and make up... I seem so far away from the person I was a year ago sigh

What differences are within reach ?
Hair . Cut and coloured properly.
Nails. Looked after .
A nice coat for when out just now . Get a loose puffer type and it will still be OK when you lose weight.
A nice pair of boots to go with above coat . Your feet won't shrink.
A bit of make up on .
Buy yourself one cheapy jumper /top in the sales to make you feel better NOW .
Try low carbing. Cut out the sugar . You don't need to exercise obsessively as your weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise.
Sleep.
Water and less alcohol.