Anyone fancy a good old-fashioned 100 day princessing thread??

[Communionmom]

i haven’t seen one of these in a while and I need it!!!

I’ve been a bit of a mess since lockdown. Overweight, drinking too much, house a bit of a mess, sleep patterns gone out the window, not much exercise (I do walk the dog but he’s older so it’s more of a gentle stroll).

I want to feel like me again and I like a deadline.

In 103 days it’s 28th November, which is pretty much the start of Christmas. We also have a Center Parcs holiday booked.
Now if you’re Irish (like me), Christmas starts on 25th November (The Late Late Toy Show) so it’s actually 100 days today!

In the past, people would come up with a list of 10? things they want to focus on over the 100 days. I think In the early challenges there used to be 1 list but later ones were more individual with everyone having their own list.

My basics are

1. 7.5 hours sleep a night (I never seem to get to 8)
2. 2L water a day
3. 16:8 fasting
4. Shower, teeth & wash face daily.
5. Start back with TOMM cleaning schedule
6. use Lumea hair removal weekly
7. deep clean every room
8. figure out how to deal with my wavy hair
9. get my eyebrows done
10. exercise, even just for 10 minutes, everyday.

I might tweak some of these but it’s a starting point.

so anyone else in??

I so far only have one very slight upper lip hair and I can tweeze that every few weeks. The chin hairs are becoming more forthright though!

Ooh, I’d love to join in please. 100 days from now is 16th December - just in time for the start of all the Christmas events.

I’ll have a proper think about goals over the next couple of days but big one is to continue weight loss, I’ve lost 6kg since start of July and I’ve got another 12kg to go. If I can do 6kg between now and 16th Dec then I will be very happy!

I want to make this round of princessing feel like a luxury experience. I’ve tried it in the past and focused too much on what I need to give up and change in a way that felt quite stressful and punishing. This time I want it to be enjoyable so that it is sustainable long-term. I don’t want to spend tons so I think the “luxury” but is going to be more about my state of mind than £££!

ChiaraMontague welcome! I am also trying to be more mindful (hate that word!) about doing nice things for me. I've replaced my mascara, I am moisturing my body more often, trying to give myself ten minutes more in the morning to concentrate on getting myself ready, rather than the kids and rushing me.

Well done on the weight loss. I've got 2 1/2 stone to lose now, lost 1/2 a stone. Antidepressants caused me to gain four stone, I am trying to reach 10 rather than the 9 I started at. Just doing it very slowly now I've stopped taking them.

Making a bit of progress here.

Getting dressed nicely every morning instead of shuffling around in my dressing gown and slippers. Definitely feeling more princess-like.

After two or three weeks of empty promises, I’m starting to drink more water. Can’t always manage the 10-a-day fruit and veg malarkey, but trying hard.

Keeping up the pelvic floor exercises.

Really glad of this thread. It’s a great motivating tool!

Two things have been holding me back from the exercise I'd like to get back to: a painful frozen shoulder and an ongoing Crohn's flare up that has been pretty debilitating. Still, I'm drinking more water, making (some) healthier food choices, keeping on top of my meds (always been a bit haphazard before) and I'm on holiday so lucky enough to be sea swimming every day which, I think, is doing my shoulder some good and obviously cancelling out the afternoon sangria (ahem).

@RaininginDarling Swimming in the sea each day sounds amazing!
I'm doing ok on the self care, not so much on the diet and exercise. Waiting for the weather to cool down a bit more then will get back into C25K. Have ordered the Look Fantastic Advent calendar for a bit of winter cheer.

Those who are menopausal and taking vitamins, what are your must-have basics? Im thinking about trying supplements. Would love to find something that would nourish hair too as I've noticed its thinning out as I get older (which I'm not happy about).

Can I join in please? Lots of great ideas on here. @RaininginDarling I have the Nutrihair for my hair, and I take one from Health & Her, called Intimacy Multi Nutrient, which I think was from Holland & Barret. The hair works quite well, haven't taken the other one consistently enough to say if it makes a difference, but this is one of the things on my 'list'.

Thanks @SpongeBobJudgeyPants 💛 I'll give that a go!

I'm not on HRT and am trying to stave off symptoms with supplements, I take Collagen Hydropro from Amazon for hair and skin and do find it helpful.

Good to know @vjg13 - I appreciate hearing what works for others

Had a chance to think about my list :

1. Water consumption - usually pretty good but it can slide on certain days. About a year ago I found a formula on the Whole Life Challenge website to calculate how much water you need which was 22ml per kg of body weight (or 1/3rd ounce per lb of body weight) so I will try to stick to that. I’ll have a big glass of water first thing in the morning so I’ve made good progress.
2. Sleep - implement a proper routine instead of getting too little sleep for weeks and then having an epic lie-in. I’ll do this by having a wind-down routine in the evening, no screens for at least 30min before bed, having hard copy books to read in bed (instead of scrolling on my phone), and sticking to getting up at the same time every day. I’ve got an alarm clock with a sunset setting which will help - if I use it properly!
3. Proper nutrition with a focus on delicious high quality ingredients. I’ve been reducing my meat consumption over the last few months and I do feel better for it, so I’m going to continue that. And it will make it cheaper to stick to my high quality ingredients rule if I’m limiting meat. I saw someone upthread has a fruit&veg only rule for snacking which I will steal with pride! No eating after 8pm at all and doing 16:8 2-3 days a week.
4. Exercise - increasing my incidental exercise (walking instead of car for short journeys) so I get my steps up to 10K a day. Weights twice a week - need to think about bone health! Pilates a couple of times a week (I go to a class once a week but need to do exercises myself as they really help my shoulder & neck pain) inc Pelvic floor exercises. Would like to add in a yoga class for flexibility & meditation, and some additional cardio but will see how I go.
5. Mindfulness / Meditation - used HeadSpace app. Also stop mindless scrolling of news & social media. I know it is bad for me but I still do it! Make time for reflections each day & time each week to do something for myself
6. Grooming - plan outfits for work etc and make sure I’ve got everything ready in advance; wardrobe audit and repair, restyle or recycle things that need attention; do nails regularly (even if that’s just cuticle oil and file plain short nails); use body moisturiser and actually use the Lumea that I convinced myself I needed at the beginning of lockdown and have used maybe twice!

Back in 2019 I received an unexpected bonus at work and I used it to invest in some Princess-ey things that might be interesting / useful to others :

1. Personal stylist - I had a style analysis (basically telling me what would suit my body shape and colouring), a wardrobe detox and a personal shopping session. I probably spent £800 in total (and £500 of that was on new clothes!) and it was really worth it to find out what suits me and to get some suggestions of new styles that I would never have tried myself. I find it much easier to look put-together now. I used an independent stylist at first because I wanted the home visit to go through my wardrobe, but have since used the free styling service at John Lewis which is also pretty good.
2. Makeup consultation and lesson - I had a 1-2-1 appointment with a makeup artist who taught me how to do a lovely daytime look, as well as a few tricks for evening makeup. She worked with my own makeup bag (making some suggestions of things to buy to fill in the gaps) and wrote everything down for me. I used an independent makeup artist (she usually does bridal makeup) but since then I’ve been to SpaceNK when I’ve wanted to try something specific. They are good because they have lots of different brands, so they don’t push the whole range from X brand.
3. Bra fitting - I actually did this before the personal stylist. I went to Rigby & Peller who have a free fitting appointment. Discovered I was wearing totally the wrong size and the bras I ended up with improved my self confidence by 1000%! They are expensive (and you can usually find what they sell cheaper elsewhere) but as a starting point they were absolutely brilliant.

Thank you @Floydthebarber and well done on your weight loss too! I think the key is to make it as enjoyable as possible instead of a long list of things we can’t do / must give up etc etc … I have a long chequered history of failed diets etc - if it was possible to punish myself into the perfect body I would already have it! So I’ve decided to try enjoying myself to improvement 😂

@RaininginDarling , i follow dr mary claire haver founder of the galveston diet.
i take: a multivit, a vit d omega 3 complex, a collegen supplement, as well as extra fiber. i will soon be adding a tumeric supplement as well.
i'm in the process of loosing some extra weight so i thought it best to cover the basics while i limit my intake.

Thanks @fallfallfall - have you noticed much of a difference, taking that combo? I imagine it takes a while to kick in.

@RaininginDarling i've been taking the combo since june. prior to that all i ever took was a simple basic cheap multivit.
i've lost a good chunk of weight, during that period i haven't had any illness or comments of looking pale and sickly. i don't have access to a family dr. and i hope it's helping to prevent osteo and bone loss, hair is thick and my nails have not split or broken but i think that is thanks to the opi nail envy.
basically, i didn't think i had anything to loose to try this while limiting my food choices.

Can anyone suggest a good treatment for nails ? Is it nail envy or a good nail oil ?
What's your favs ?

@KittyCatsby after hours of reading and listening it depends on what’s wrong with your nails. Thin, dry, too many acrylics etc.
my nails are thin naturally, so the bend with the slightest pressure, they don’t break though. the original nail envy is working great. I’m also doing twice daily cuticle oil and not thrilled on the texture of California Mango. But I’m 3 weeks in with zero breaks.

@KittyCatsby I like Rimmel Nail Nurse and it is a product that I buy as soon as I run out.

Superdrug Argan Therapy Hair Mask this morning then rinsed hair in shower .
Haircut booked for next week .

@70isaLimitNotaTarget I booked myself a haircut as well. Have to wait a few weeks but my hairdresser is worth it!

@ChiaraMontague fruit and veg ftw! It was much easier when it was hot and Also find it easier to stick to at work as I just don't take anything else with me for snacks. Great list of goals!

@RaininginDarling I've been held back from exercising with a UTI that is taking an age to disappear. I just want to get started (and feel better).

1. Doing well on no evening eating. Managing to stay away from crisps/nuts/cheese etc.
2. Doing pretty well with snacks but generally not snacking at all rather than fruit or veg (unless at work, then I just prep better). Resisting biscuits is easy, it's bread/toast that is my downfall.
3. Had a bottle of wine last weekend to celebrate finishing my project (though since I rarely drink more than 2 small glasses of wine in a sitting, it lasted me most of the week!). Definitely saving wine for when we have guests or a special occasion. No fizzy drinks.
4. Am drinking plenty of water atm to try and clear this uti.
5. /6/7 Haven't restarted exercise yet as have been trying to get physically better so no today, swimming or C25K yet, though may try and start yoga on my days off this week.

8.Had a little pamper this evening after putting youngest to bed - shower, body moisturised, facial scrub and mask, feet soaked/filed/moisturised. Must remember to use an intensive conditioner next week as well.

Good work @PatienceOfEngels - hope you feel better soon.

I am hugely ashamed that, after starting this thread, I just completely disappeared.

I was battling a chest infection that didn't want to clear up and then my girls went back to school and I started completely deep cleaning the house ( I only have their room and half the living room done)

I am here, I am still around and I'll try and join in more often.

Pleased that you’re ok, @Communionmom .

Completely fell off the thread im restarting tomorrow so my 100 days will finish on the 21st December. I've a few things coming up and I want to look abit better than I do now. I'm attaching a photo of my goals to remind me what they are lol.

The only thing I have really stuck to is taking my vitamins. I'm currently taking folic acid, cod liver oil,evening primrose and biotin. I've noticed my hair seems to be thinning so if anyone has any recommendations for vitamins I would be very grateful.