How to feel happy and look gorgeous

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Recently I’ve been feeling overweight, tired, saggy, unkempt and fed up. I’m ready to make some changes and would love any suggestions of things people have done that have improved their happiness, appearance and well being.

Anything really. Supplements? Good habits / routines? Beauty products? Other purchases? Food and drink? Treatments?
There’s so much out there so it’s hard to know where to begin!

My two so far would be

• no alcohol in two weeks and my sleep is better and I feel more cheery
• Doing jigsaws or knitting quietens my mind

I'm nearly six feet tall, about 10-11 stone suits me. I've lost 4 and a half stone since August 2024 and I've got 3 more to go!

Exercise in the fresh air every day.

It's the start of everything - confidence, health, better skin, better posture, better mental health, more energy. It costs nothing, you don't need any equipment, it's always there.

Exercise
Collagen
Hair cut
Nails
Nice make up
Clothes that are you and not just in fashion

Wear perfume and jewellery.
Wear things YOU like, not what the latest
influencers tell you to wear.
I’ve stopped dying my hair and it’s in good condition.
I wear an spf every day.
I use serum.
I get my hair cut regularly.
If I like an item of clothing I buy it. I don’t care if it’s ’ in fashion.’

Is that advice or a humblebrag? Honest to God.

Op, I took Orlistat for a couple of years to drop 2 stone, and lost 3. I really needed that kick-start as nothing else was working for me. I eat well and have always worked out but was always 2 stone overweight no matter how hard I tried.

I've never drunk alcohol so can't really advise on that.

I walk daily too, and although very friendly on walks, especially when my dogs are with me, I do try to keep to myself as there are a lot of retired people where I live and they will make a beeline for you in the park, and have no respect for the fact I've only got 30 minutes because I'm working.

I also took up running and people would be shocked to discover how easy it is once you've got past the first horrible hurdle.

Also regular face masks, face serums, a good haircut and colour every 2 months, and clothes that fit.

What age are you OP? If you're in your 40s or later check if HRT would be an option for you.
For me, it sorted the sleep and my concentration so I now have some energy to focus on other things.

Multivitamin every day with food. Supermarket ones are fine.

I love some of these ideas, and to add my twopenneth:

LED face mask - I swear by mine, and it's become a daily part of my 'get home and unwind' schedule. As soon as I get home, I get changed into comfy clothes, take my make up off, have a 10 min decompress on the bed with my mask, pop up on my evening skincare and then I'm ready to relax.

Depending on your age and your skin, I can definitely recommend Profhilo which isn't a filler, but it injects hyaluronic acid deep into the skin. I've had it a couple of times and while it was pricey (and I found it quite painful), the results were amazing.

Skintags/moles - if you have some that bother you, I paid to have a couple removed and feel 1000 times better and more confident.

I don't wear a huge amount of make up but I swear by Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter as a must every single day - I feel dull without it.

As for other things - I now look for ways to elevate my every day. I prioritise quality beautiful things over things I might want in the moment so I buy items less often, but have things that will last and make me happy. I don't save beautiful perfume or jewellery for best, but wear and enjoy them every day. For work, I treated myself a while ago to a lovely work bag and a beautiful notebook which I write in with a very fancy pen with coloured ink, and these things make mundane tasks feel more glam, which makes me happy!

Oh, and have plenty of things to look forward to, even if it's just a coffee with a friend or a night at home with a meal and a movie. That's a must!

1.Agree with all the advice to exercise. Feel fitter, stronger and more capable. Walk up stairs and hills without having to stop to catch your breath. Carry the shopping with ease.
2.Add more veg to your meals. Have a side salad, put tomatoes in your egg mayo sandwich, another portion of frozen veg with your dinner. Keeps bowels happy and has improved my skin.
3.Nice, well fitting underwear makes me feel pretty. If you are busty go to Bravissimo as they do great fittings and have a massive range. Buy the matching pants. Treat yourself to fancy socks.

I havent read all the posts, but i agree with those who say they got to an 8 and feel better. I certainly do. Its not PC to say so, but I would say most people look better that size. Also, you can have all the lovely clothes in the world, but if overweight everything looks a bit shit. Whereas a crappy/simple outfit looks awesome on a toned size 8 body - mostly. Its an uncomfortable truth but there we are. Sometimes the body IS the outfit.

Anyways, things that make me feel better -

1. dropping to an 8.
2. conditioning treatment for hair
3. swimming and weight training.
4. drink 2 huel drinks a day (costing me a fortune but i feel better).
5. buying a new funkier wardrobe.

The biggest difference to my life was starting yoga.

This is really interesting because I was the other way. When heavier, I would buy clothes, make up, shoes etc all the time and I think I would just always be thinking, subconsciously, 'ill look better if i have that outfit, or that bag'. The truth was I was bigger than I wanted to be, I didnt like my body. Now I do (kinda), Im slowly realising I dont need to buy heaps of clothes - almost everything looks good. Well much better anyway.

Thats interesting. We are all so different hey. Im a 8-10. More reliably 8 now, and 5'10 with a BMI of 23. Im going to lose another 5kg and see but I bet my house I lose it off my tits and hips (which I dont want), and not off my fat arms and legs (which I do). I wont look gaunt but I dont want to lose my curves. I have a chubby face naturally so thats the last to go. We will see! Im 52 so I may need the chub to pad the wrinkles out. :)

The size 8 thing is really interesting as some people look really good that svelte.

I have to say that I'm in my sixties now and have friends between 50 and 80 of all shapes and sizes. The friends who are size 8 can look terribly frail compared to the more robust folk, especially if they have been unwell. Each to their own though.

Is anybody else finding it really bloody depressing to see how many people on here equate being a size 8 to being happy and beautiful?

I agree. I thought those 'nothing tastes as good as skinny' years were over and that we'd evolved into healthier ways. Sadly not.

Yep.

I actually look fab in my clothes at a size 14. Size 8 would have me looking like an extra from Tenko.

Hobbies

Seeing friends

laughing, book to see a comedian

work on not letting things bother you

eating fruit and veg

regular dental and hairdresser appointments

lastly, my big one is learning to compartmentalise things. So for example I’m waiting to have an operation, the results of it could be not that great. However I’ve managed to put all that in a box in my brain and still enjoy all the rest of my nice life. Of course it is on my mind to a certain event but I haven’t let it take over my thinking.

I don’t know where all these fabulous looking size 8 women are, certainly not where I live!

Honestly? I lost the weight, stopped drinking alcohol and slapped a bit of Botox in my wrinkles and I look and feel fantastic.

I’m a 6-8 and I don’t even look particularly thin tbh. My BMI is 21… that means I could lose another 8kg and still be in the healthy range. Not sure why everyone is acting like it’s waif like. Most models are a size 2 maybe 4.

I’m a size 6 and don’t look good if that helps anyone to feel better 😂 I’m working on it!

What does make me feel good (and therefore look good) is spending time with my people, working out, delicious food, good music, good wine, laughter, dancing and wearing whatever the fuck I want.

My mum is 76 and she does look better at a size 12 than a size 8 I think tbh. Shes also v. frail - she breaks bones easily, I do think older women often look better with a bit of meat, i agree.

I only look better because I keep my tits - once I drop to lower though I reckon I look worse. For some, tits are the first to go, so I agree they look better a bit heavier.

Here, here, I agree.

Eat well and not to excess, choose your life partner EXTREMELY well, go for walks. Take vit D3.

Otherwise, don’t take medication except when absolutely necessary for clinical reasons. Read books. Avoid upsetting TV or films.

I’m always amazed that people pack themselves full of hormones/antidepressants then complain they aren’t feeling great. That seems logical to me.

how do you think people do it who can’t afford that or before it became normalised?