Post-Pandemic Princessing - Summer 2021

[BloomRoses]

Would anyone like to join me on attempt a "princessing" challenge aimed at when things (hopefully) start to open back up in the summer?

After nearly a year of lockdown consisting of comfort eating, social isolation, a lot of anxiety and a lack of exercise I feel like I want to dedicate the next few months to a lot of self-care so that I can emerge from lockdown feeling a little brighter and more confident than I currently do.

It doesn't have to just be beauty-related but can also be things related to nutrition, mental health, exercise, etc.

Links to previous princessing threads who I credit for the idea :
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1156122-Project-Princess
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1559450-Anyone-interested-in-a-100-day-Princessing-challenge

Disclaimer:
I know using the term 'post-pandemic' is maybe a bit overly optimistic but I can't resist a bit of alliteration and anyway, I'm choosing to be optimistic.

My List:

Health:

• One form of exercise everyday even if it's just simply a walk around the block
• Replacing any kind of evening comfort eating with a healthier dessert like fruit or dark chocolate
• Have half my plate made up of fruit, veg or salad at lunch and dinner
• Replace white carbohydrates with brown carbohydrates (brown pasta, brown rice, etc)

Beauty:

• Body brushing and using a pumice stone on my heels every day before my shower
• Face tanning drops twice per week
• Sunday pamper evenings: pedicure, manicure, exfoliate body, shave, face mask, hair mask (Olaplex)
• Use Olaplex number 6 or moroccan oil in my hair every day
• Grow out my eyebrows a little
• Use retinaldehyde 5-6 nights per week
• SPF 50 everyday

Mental Health:

• Have social media-free Sundays
• Everyday do some form of grounding or meditation even if it's just 5 minutes or so
• Read books based on psychology
• Look for a new job
• Make more of an effort to reach out to old friends

Yes! I am in.

Already doing a lot of this, but I need to keep it up:

• exercise; both cardio and strength 3-4 times per week
• more water
• no alcohol (for lent at least)
• more fruit and veg
• iron my clothes . I have a dreadful habit of not bothering my arse
• less sugar and junk food
• wear make up more often
• read more books; less screen time
• sort out underwear! Need a bra fitting...but obviously can't! I have ordered a new bra, after the shop advised me over online chat so 🤞
• some sort of activity every day, like you op, even if it is just a walk with dcs

Yes please I desperately need to do this - I intend to LIVE this summer in all the beautiful outfits I couldn't wear last year but lockdown drinking and eating have put me in a terrible place.

My list;

Body brushing and lotion at least 5 times per week

Weekly facial

Foot and hand cream at night

Exercise every day - walk and weights ideally

Much smaller portions less refined carbs

Cut out wine and majority of drinking

At least 2 litres of water a day

Clear out wardrobe

Yes please!

I am aiming for:

Exercise - I've walked 10k steps every day since Xmas. Maintaining this until summer is the goal. Hopefully continue the slow and steady weight loss with this.

Beauty: body brush, maintain good skincare routine, keep up with home manicures.

Style: continue to curate my capsule wardrobe. Keep getting rid of bits I don't wear/suit.

HWB: do not work at weekends. Continue daily reading habit. Continue to organise walks with friends.

Drink much more water.
Do some form of exercise daily, little and often feels more doable and I’m less likely to make excuses not to.
Oil my cuticles and get my feet sandal ready.
Hopefully will lose a few lockdown pounds and look a bit brighter. I’ve been using touch up my appearance on Zoom and I can’t rely on that in real life.

My list -

Find a diet plan that I can stick to to hopefully lose my lockdown stone
No more snacking
2 litres of water per day minimum
An hour of walking each lunchtime
Skincare routine every night without fail
Olaplex every week
IPL every week
Footner
Exfoliate every day and moisturise properly
Fake tan once a week
Read in bed every night instead of TikTok videos!

Can I join? I think I have put on about 2 stone since the first lockdown (am too scared to weigh). Would love to look better for when I can see friends again.

List currently is:
Hygenist appointment
Moisturise rough feet
Start the beginner shred (again!)
Drink 1 litre of water
No more than 3 coffees a day
Go low carb
Face mask once a week

Yes! I've started but I'll check in with details soon.

Oh fantastic, can l join. Last year l took part in one of these and l lost 3 stone, l have no debt and have over 2k in savings now and a nice tidy house with good routines for eating and exercising which l have let slip a bit. Now it’s time to fix my face and lose more weight l have at least 4 more stone to lose.

So my list is

Start going to bed at 10.30pm (lm posting this at 12.20am 🙄).
Get back on track with ww.
Run three times a week, 30 day Shred and row.
Wednesday/Sunday pamper.
Book hair/eye appointments for next three months.
Foot cream each night.
Nails each night.
Sort out wardrobe and give away items not worn for 3 years or more and give away clothes which are too big.
Find my new slim style for June.

I’m going to love this.

Yes! My immediate thought on hearing Boris' end of lockdown plans was "shit - I need a good diet, a daily run and an appointment at the salon quick!"

Yes me please

No alcohol
No white carbs
Kettle bells x 4-5 weekly
Park half way to work and walk (weather permitting)
I’m going to seek out face tan drops
I’ve started body brushing and using almond oils after showering
Go to bed early to read x 4-5 times a week

Any recommendations for face tan drops?

I've heard the Tropics ones are good, @harrykanesrightsock

Well, I went to bed at 9.30pm and read Wolf Hall for an half an hour. It's depressing how much I have to concentrate and how little progress I make with that book!

Have had a big glass of water (and an aciclover tab to stave off period-related cold sores), done my AM skin routine.

Wearing a lovely Boden cashmere slouchy jumper to feel all snuggly.... With dinosaur print leggings :/

Also put on perfume, for the first time in months 👑

I am in!!!
Exercise to get rid of spare lockdown tyre around my middle
Stop drinking
Stop snacking
Moisturiser body everyday
Get apt for hair asa it opens up
Reinvent my appearance- new wardrobe

I'm in please, WFH and have been very inactive!
Body brush, face spf, get dressed and get out of the house every day!
Cardio x 3 a week (Couch to 5k restarting Mon 1st March)
Les Mill Strengh type x 3 a week
Pilates or Les Mill Body Balance x 3 week
Book in hygienist and haircut.
Get ready to socialise again in the summer and attend already booked energetic music events in the autumn/winter.
Fun times are coming!

What is princessing?

Can anyone recommend a diet that works for them? I’m done low carb for years very successfully but in the last few months have suffered awfully with keto rash and I just can’t do it anymore.

I’m very all or nothing so find it easy to keep to strict regimes but can’t do something that gives you a treat day as it would turn into a treat week for me

I’ve not got loads to lose, I’m 5”5 and 135lbs so probably about 15lbs I’d like to get rid of

Hello Pizza, maybe you don't need to lose weight?
I would try weight training and microbes instead? I'm 50, 5'2, 140lbs, size 10 and 28" waist. Goat milk Kefir and gluten free diet has fixed my bloating.

There is also intermittent fasting @Pizzaandgarlicdip, if you like the idea of treat days.

I hate it myself and it causes me to binge! But many people swear by it.

Hello Pizza, maybe you don't need to lose weight?
I would try weight training and microbes instead? I'm 50, 5'2, 140lbs, size 10 and 28" waist. Goat milk Kefir and gluten free diet has fixed my bloating

I've been reasonably good at the princessing stuff the last few weeks but haven't prevented a 2kg weight gain. Oh well. As things ease I will probably drop that.

Some of my recent new habits are:

• eat some mackerel or sardines on toast twice a week
• more veg
• dumbell workouts from youtube.

The thing I really need is a haircut.... I will have to wait a while for that!

I'm in!

No alcohol - did Dry Jan but fell off the wagon big style in Feb
Low sugar diet - cook more from scratch
Increase exercise - walk on beach once the DC are back to school (too busy recently with everyone trying to entertain their DC whilst off school. Not blaming them obvs!)
Hygienist. Christ knows what she's going to say about the state of my fangs.
I have had the same hairdresser for over 20 years so have a colour cut and blow dry booked for the morning of April12
Eyebrows need some attention. Ditto Feet.
Start using gradual tan ready for summer.
Tanning drops on face - agree Tropic are the best ones I have tried.
Not sure about what to do about my nails. I used to have regular SNS dipping but it's possibly an expense I could spare.
I did a huge wardrobe and beauty overhaul and stocktake during lockdown so that's all sorted. I just need to use the beauty products and stop just wearing the same old jumpers and joggers!

Thank you @BadAssJackieWeaver and @BallsToYouSue having to give up weight training at the gym is definitely what has contributed to my weight gain I definitely need to get back into some sort of exercise routine. Did a 6km fast walk at lunch today so pretty pleased with that.

Intermittent fasting could work well actually as I’ve done it before combined with low carb so maybe that along with no snacking could be the way forward.

I sympathise with everyone needing a hair cut. My hair is dyed an ashy blonde but my roots are dark brown and down to my ears! I’ve booked in for the first appointment on the 17th and cannot wait.

Also debating what to do with my nails. I’ve had acrylics for the last 10 years and they’re finally beginning to regain some strength so I’m considering maybe starting to do them myself and just getting them done for holidays/special occasions. It’s definitely been a positive for my bank balance.

I also finally invested in the Braun silk-expert IPL machine a few weeks ago so I’m determined to keep up the weekly treatments in the hope of being hair free for summer