Six weeks to total revamp?

[CharlieHadAPigeon]

i am the frumpy mum in the school playground.

Fat. Pasty. Frumpy clothes. Older than average (had children late). Crunchy hair. Shy. You know the one.

Now the school holidays are starting I’m wondering if I could go back in the autumn completely transformed. And finally fit in.

Any ideas for my Sandy from Grease transformation?

I could still do with some revamping but my tips would be increase your water intake, get a good haircut and take a look at your skincare. I love Face Theory products.

That's sounds like me. I am def one of the oldest there and my youngest hasn't even started yet! I'm 43. And pasty and overweight. All the other mums seem to turn up in gym gear, don't know what that's about.

LVL lashes made a massive difference to my face. And a quick tinted moisturiser and blusher, takes a minute but makes a difference. Apart from that I have few tips.

Thanks for the tips. I’ve never heard of Face Theory so will take a look. Also the LVL is a good idea. I used to get it done several times a year but haven’t recently. I’ll book an appointment just before school starts back.

Sure you look better than you think! Maybe a wardrobe edit would help (only keeping things that you love, flatter you and are in good condition). Some shops do a free personal styling service (I think John Lewis does) - that might be worth a look.

Good idea about the personal shopper. It might give me some up to date ideas.

You can make a big difference in 6 weeks. I recommend low carb, high fat (see the Bootcamp threads) if you want to lose some weight, improve skin. Sugar in excess is ruinous for looks. Cut out alcohol, up your water intake.
If you don't exercise, there's loads of Pilates/Zumba etc on YouTube.
Beyond that, a good haircut makes a big difference.
I'm trying to do all this for myself at the moment. I've also ditched all the clothes that look terrible.

Everything @LadyBird1973 said! Good skin definitely comes from within. I'm usually terrible for eating badly, but the last 6 weeks or so I've been making a concerted effort to lose my pandemic weight (in preparation for a beach holiday) by eating very low carb, high protein/veg meals, and in that time I've lost a stone, and also my skin has become so much smoother and clearer. As an example of how quickly things can improve, in just the first couple of weeks the area of skin above my chest, which had been quite bumpy/spotty-ish for several years (and no amount of exfoliating helped), cleared up completely. If you're not happy with your weight, swapping carbs for protein/fat is the way to go, as it fills you up on far fewer calories, and you can lose weight relatively quickly without having to feel hungry all the time.

If you want to make physical changes, you need to lift some heavy weights. Nothing against yoga etc but you won't get much in the way of outward physical change from it in 6 weeks. Think more like lifting/crossfit. You can make big differences in 6 weeks.

So much is about confidence/mindset - Read fierce self compassion by kirstin neff.

but physical stuff:

Get some vitamins
Magnesium for sleep
Fish oils
B vits
D3
General multivit

Diet- lots of water. Fresh veg and fruit, up your protein- protein yoghurt is an easy way, and a clear whey protein is like squash!

Teeth- if you're bothered by them, Teeth whitening strips are really good!

Bleach London do an amazing intensive conditioner.

Do you used facial acids? Nip and fab are decent and not too e oendive. Often codes and deals about

Get a loofah for the shower and use a moisturising shower gel - sanctuary shower mousseis amazing!!

If you have dry skin on feet and heels, don't bother with a pedi. Go straight to a podiatrist! Get the skin sorted abd paint your own toenails. Much more cost effective! If you can't stretch to a podiatrist, get footner.

I like Dove Mouse gradual tan if you want a tan - apply it with a glove/mit. It doesn't smell and is foolproof!!

Face - takes less than 2 mins for me
-Origins vit c Tinted moisturiser

• nars concealer under eye
• Eyelash curlers
• Clinique long lasting mascara (don't bother if lashes lvl)
• bobby brown cream blush

Clothes - who do you admire? What style do you like? What do you feel comfortable in?

I'm joining in, not looking at the Return To School time but I have a holiday in 100 Days <<squee>>

My hair has a tendancy to go a bit cotton-woolly but after last year when I was really ill I lost loads , so I'm grateful it grew back ! . It's also very grey and fragile but no dyeing, I am 100% fine with grey .. I'm stepping up my intensive conditioners again (Elasticiser) and those blue shampoo/conditioners to brighten

I need a swimsuit , would prefer a tankini so easier to go to the loo .but no bikini .
I also need to work on the awful middle section of my body .

I don't drink, never smoked and vegetarian. Majorly cut down on chocolate so I very rarely eat it now (Christmas/Easter/Birthday )

I cannot do Low Carb/High Fat as my insides would combust but I can work on really reducing carbohydrates .

Drink loads of water but there's always scope for more !

I'm using Alpha H Liquid Gold a couple of evenings a week

Castor oil on my eyebrows (not any results yet but early days )

Good advice already, one thing I would add do a small change "every day/ week" as if you try to adjust everything at once, you may not be able to stick to it.

I would add , go through you wardrobe and donate/sell/bin any clothes that don't fit or don't make you look good. Have a look at vinted for buying new clothes if you're on a budget. Look for inspiration on pinterest for finding your style.

And drink lots of water, and wear SPF every day are my 2 go to principles!

Thank you for all the tips.

Today I made a start by

• Fake tanning face and body
• Filing/moisturising nails
• doing a mini pedicure
• putting a bond repair treatment on my hair
• drinking lots of water/taking vitamin (already routine anyway)

Have you considered having a colour analysis done? If you're updating your wardrobe anyway then it's really helpful in helping you choose what suits you. Wearing the right colours can really make your skin glow and bring out your best features.

@CharlieHadAPigeon I’ll keep you company on your 6 week revamp!
I always feel like such a frumpy mess while all the other school mums look fabulous! When I do make an effort I always seem to get it wrong too 😣
I desperately want to lose a stone to get me back to pre children weight, I’ve been trying since February and have lost a measly 3lbs! I’ve got into a good routine at the gym doing a mixture of body pump, barre and yoga and although I feel so much better for it I’m not really seeing physical changes I’d hoped for. I have a decent skincare routine and get my hair and eyebrows done regularly, definitely need to overhaul my diet I think and sort through my clothes

I did one years ago and need a refresh to be honest. Mine was pretty drastic so I don’t recommend all this, but I did a summer 6 week bootcamp and lost 2 stone (800 cals a day, no sugar, no alcohol, 3 boot camps a week), lightened my hair and got a few extensions for thickness, had a series of facials so my skin was amazing, controversially had Botox and also lip and chin filler (only half a ml to plump, but it made a difference while still loooking natural. Also had lash perm and natural gel nails.

I went back and felt a million dollars, but it’s alllll slipped since then and I need a kick up the bum again!

Rizo had more fun than Sandy.

I am going to join you.

I desperately need to join you too. Fed up with feeling less than put together. I started C25K a while ago and loved it and felt so much better but then got sciatica and had to stop! Need to get back into some exercise again. Hair needs a major doing, and need to lose approx 3st. I don't like buying clothes as feel I don't 'deserve' them until I've lost weight.

Welcome aboard, fellow revampers! Yes, Rizzo had way more fun than Sandy, but that’s because she wasn’t frumpy. Be more Rizzo!

Thanks for the suggestion of getting my colours done. I’ve done that in the past so I know which colours to wear, but although things look great on the models, and I think they look ok on me when I buy them, when I see photos I look dowdy. The personal shopper idea is a good one once I’ve lost some weight.

I did a short run yesterday (poured with rain all day today).

Well done for getting out for a run!
I sorted through my wardrobe yesterday and have two big bags to send to the charity shop. Need to make a list of items I need to fill the gaps in my wardrobe but ideally would like to lose some weight first!
I ate reasonably well today and went to the gym this evening. Not a bad start!

It’s late now but I started today with vitamins and gym and going to make a big effort now for summer

Weight Watchers for a healthy and sustainable way to lose weight. You can still enjoy foods you like but all part and parcel of a balanced diet. They have offers on and if you stick with it then you will see a result in six weeks that will motivate you to continue. You also earn points for exercise!

Get rid of any clothes that don’t make you feel great about yourself and look at why you feel better in other pieces and try and get more like those.

Stop comparing yourself to others as much in terms of looking frumpy etc. and think about all your positives like good posture etc. the fact that you went on a run deservedly makes you feel good and concentrate on those things.

Do what you feel comfortable with in terms of ‘you’ and don’t feel pressurised in to making big changes just because it might appear that you should. For example dying your hair crimson and getting a piercing. If it’s not you and you aren’t comfortable with it don’t do it. Make incremental changes and your confidence will build and then you can build up to bigger and better if you want them.

and As you
like running if you’ve not already tried it do the couch to five k!

Couch to 5k is definitely on the list for the summer. I can get nearly to the end of it during the summer holidays. I’ve done it before but didn’t keep it up afterwards.

Sounds like you e made a good start. Other things I'd consider:

Tretinoin for your skincare (on prescription from dermatica.do.uk), started 2 years ago I'm late 30s and you wouldn't believe the change in my skin and I get so many compliments and get told I look younger.

K18 hair repair mask- transformed my hair it's fab.

Colour analysis- I want to do this!

Sometimes when I'm in a rut I do a cheap clothes haul to just get a few more new pieces. Primark/SHEIN you can get plenty for a small amount.

Oh I'm in! No school run but it's a good motivator to have a 6 week time- frame!