High Maintenance on a low budget, Anyone going to join me?

[starbear]

I'm fed up of being out of shape, scruffy Mummy. From this week I'm going to watch less Telly get more exercise in and start looking groomed. Any scruffy bugger want to join me. I plan to be a Diva by summer.
I'm sitting here in a Fleece, green 'Tu' Sainsbury's old t-shirt, men's Gap jeans and brown flat trainer type thing, eyebrows need doing and hair needs cutting. Time to change. Anyone want to join a support group?

alibaba, I have one of the Lynne Robinson DVDs, Body Control and Pilates Weekly Workout, all on one disc. I find it really good, especially as there are a few different workouts on the disc so less scope for getting bored!

Your hair and dress sound fab by the way. And the reason I'm getting into the exercise so much is that I really, really, need to! I've got a LOT of weight to lose, and have a medium term goal of losing 3 stone by the end of July for my DNiece's wedding. I'm half a stone of the way there so far I am finding that by putting the focus on looking after myself generally, rather than on dieting and exercise as such, I am wanting to eat well and exercise. I think it's a case of taking a bit of pride in myself and my appearance and then I feel like it's not a ridiculous idea that I should go to the pool/the gym/a yoga class, that I deserve to do these things and get healthier. That way it becomes a treat not a chore

Hi Nezzi and welcome. Dip in and out when ever it suits you. As said before, you don't have to read all the other posts, unless you what too. It's a bit like the Goodhousekeeping thread -Fly House work but for the body & grooming. Post a list of self care here and then tick them off. It could be that day or week.
So introductions done.
Emmm! I suffer with rotten nails and hard skin around the edges as I work outdoors and bite the hard skin. I don't look after my hands as well as I should.
Tonight, I filed my nails sitting in the bathroom while Ds was having his bath. He just chatted and played and seemed quite happy while I used this time for maintenance. I don't think you'll be able to do this with a baby or a toddler but it goes to show that it does get better.

Numberfour Not a lot of time to yourself then. Hope we can swap advice that can be of help. I think you need a bit of support from others. Drag everyone in. My sister is great for that and to tell the truth so is DH but he does have his hands full as well. Poor things his hands are worse as they crack and hurt.
P.S DH looked over my shoulder at this and laughed! It's so trivial. I've sent him away and said its girl stuff and he did want to marry a girl didn't he?! So off he has gone to make me a cup of tea.

No, not a lot of time to myself at all even though i have only one DS. BUT!! went for a little walk / jog tonight and it was great. I am very, very unfit so it was hard, but i took it easy so that i did not get disheartened.

there are other things I can do to maintain a bit of self respect like shaving my legs which i did last night (thanks to this thread0 for the first time since before Xmas )

as for dragging in others, starbear, DH and i are pretty much it! he is not close to his family and mine are all abroad.

But i will read this thread with interest and hopefully will find some inspiration.

Numberfour, Yep! running is good, it's the getting out there that's the hard part which you've done BIG TICK ON THE LIST.
I'm going to put the shower curtains in the wash and give my cuticles a once over.
Not sure what I'm doing but giving it a go anyway!
Oh! I've got the day off with DH tomorrow
So, Ds will go to nursery as usual.
We will go to the gym
then sort out the house
Dry cleaners
Maybe sort out one weekend outfit (Still not there yet!)
See ya later

Good morning all

numberfour love what you said about shaving your legs; I know exactly how you feel. Thank god for winter, lol! If it wasn't for taking DS to a swimming class once a week mine would be lucky to get shaved maybe once a month , pits too!
Alibaba your outfit sounded lovely, I hope your DH noticed your effort.
I agree with a lot of the posts re accessories, a little neck scarf, or a big one for that matter can make a big difference. As can jewllery and my new favourite discovery, a bit of cream blusher. I treated myself as the Mac counter recently & I love it.
DP said he will take me to the pilates class tonight (I don't drive at self for this) and I'll be able to have a few minutes to myself on the bus home. Maybe I'll take a nail file!?
Have a good day all, and keep up the good work.

Morning everyone

Nezzi I could see DH noticing, but he didn't say anything! He's hilarious really, tells me I'm beautiful when I look like a sack of shite but then doesn't say a word when I've made an effort. So I got a bit cross and he apologised profusely - I hope he'll do better next time!! Enjoy the pilates, and yes take a nail file! I'm finding the only way is to make maximum use of any available time.
Numberfour well done on the exercise
Jammy you are so right, and I'm in exactly the same position. I have four stone to lose - a couple of pounds are gone already.
Starbear - soak your hands in some warm water to soften your cuticles before you go at them, will help lots.

Right I have done Wiifit this morning, 45 mins of it! Starting to feel some difference I think. Only had a quick shower because DS wouldn't settle so no time for any pampering. Am just going to try and eat healthily today and be better on the handcream!!

Can I join while I still have some time? I'm 35wks pg with LO2 at the moment but a few weeks ago decided I had started on a slippery slope to slummy mummydom.

Exercise and weight are not really issues I'm worrying about at the mo, but I may come back to you on that in a few months!

However, I totally stopped wearing makeup after DS (19mths) and want to get into a bit of beauty routine which isn't too hard to keep up.

I've made a start and have:

• Thrown away all old make up;
• spent lots of money at Bobbi Brown on concealer, foundation and mascara. This is all the makeup I wear but enough to make me look and feel better.
• bought oil for belly (I have stretch marks).
• I'm thinking about what nice clothes might suit me once I'm out of horrid maternity wear.

The challenge:

• keep up with daily cleanse, tone, moisturise regime.
• wear concealer, foundation & mascara when I go to work/out (but not when just at home).
• face mask once a week.
• foot cream after every shower.

Things I'd like to tackle:

• horrid dry skin on legs & feet.
• scruffy finger/toe nails.
• hair in need of cut.

I've picked up some good tips so far reading this thread, so thanks for that guys! Hoping posting this will keep me on an even keel, at least until I enter the newborn phase when I hope a bit of letting things slide is forgiveable!

I'd like to join too please! Have only skimmed thread so far but looking forward reading all the tips.
I have long been needing to do something about myself and last week FINALLY managed to paint my toenails, which in turn gave me the confidence to contact my old hairdresser and book an appointment for a much needed overhaul. (I moved 2.5 years ago and have since had a succession of haircutting disasters).
Just hoping I can get myself thru door of salon!!

Well, so much for blardy pilates! I eventually got to the venue only to find it closed. Closing for half term (I assume that's what happened) wasn't metioned when the instructor e-mailed me last week.
All that rushing around for nothing! Oh well, choccy dessert to make up for it & I managed to file my nails. Got the varnish out to do my toes too.

Hi Jumbs and Fruitloaf And thanks Jumbs, when you mentioned face mask it reminded me that I bought a tube of a really expensive one last month (partly funded by some vouchers I had as a present) and it is still sitting in the bathroom cabinet. Fat lot of good it'll do me there!

Bad luck Nezzi, that sucks! I had my first yoga session today though, and it was good And I've just been for reflexology tonight so am feeling good (though my big toes still tingle after she had a go at sorting out my hormones).

Welcome, Jumbs and Fruitloaf. oh! Nezzi I do that, if I've made an effort to do some exercise and someone lets me down. I don't go for ages and then eat a lovely pudding Please put it on your list of things to do next week and tell us all about it.
Well not keen on going to the Gym today as I would rather be lazy. Pushed myself out the door and once I got into it I really worked hard.
cream all over. Going to do some night exercise with DH now

lol starbear, that's the best kind i haven't really managed to make good on my 'more sex please' new year's resolution yet very wakey baby seems intent on keeping himself an only child!

crap night last night (tedious job application followed by rubbish broken sleep) so tonight i am treating myself to an indulgent bath and a pedicure.

Thanks for the welcome.

Ohh Jammy, I was hoping to have reflexology to help bring on labour (I went to 40+11 with DS) but I've been totally rubbish in finding someone/where I can get it done.

I'm thinking now of having a pedicure instead, since I can't get to my toes anymore! If they can make the skin on my feet soft maybe I have some hope of maintaining it.

Had a good night last night, it was face mask night, 3rd week on the trot now of achieving that one and put foot cream on in the 10mins it was on for plus stretch mark cream. Afterwards I moisturised face and used eye gel I found in my bedside cabinet.

Nezzi let us know how the pilates goes. I'm hoping to do that whilst DS is at nursery and put LO2 in the creche at leisure centre as my tummy didn't recover from DS so will def need to work on my core after this bubs has arrived.

Is everyone else finding once you start to make the time and get into good habits it seems to get a bit easier?

Sorry, this is not related to this post but I've seen mention on here of the good housekeeping fly post. My house is a tip, I think I'd better find that post!

Kick up the bum needed please ladies!

Had an awful night with DS last night, he ended up in bed with me and was snuffling and snorting all night long. He was snoring more loudly than DH does! He was then sick on my head this morning and I've not had a chance to wash it out of my hair properly - eewwwww.

I haven't done my usual Wiifit this morning and I'm slobbing around the house in tracksuit bottoms and a very ancient jumper. I have remembered to put handcream on though!

I am hoping to get half an hour to myself later so that I can have a nice shower and sort myself out. Feeling like a very scummy mummy today

lol Ali (sorry) - your night sounds v similar to mine. a hot shower will see you right

Well, not only did I get to the gym today, I slathered body lotion all over after my shower, and moisturised and applied a little make up before picking DD up from the creche and going shopping. I didn't use proper foundation as I was still rather hot when I was putting it on and afraid of getting bad results, but I found that using a primer was great, gave me a nice matt finish instead of looking all shiny after my efforts and with a little cream coloured eyeshadow and some mascara I think I looked half decent to go out afterwards

Ali I can't kick you up the bum as when it happens to me I walk around like a Zombie until I get a nap. 20 mins shut eye,then I'm fine.
Went out for the day with kids and friend. Lots of walking but lots of bad food as well!
I strangely feel bloated now!
Going to do nails as I didn't do them the other day.
Must, must do nails & soak feet tonight. Cross fingers for me, to do sit-up before work in the morning.
Jammy you are so good
Jumbs yes, I have found the time to do little things but I've got such a lazy gene inside me!
Gone off house work though!

Thanks starbear
By the way this is what I used post-gym. It's been lurking in my make up bag and now I have found a real use for it!

Hi All,

I'm new to Mumsnet and was wondering if I can join in too as think I need all the help I can get, think am well in the relms of frumpsville

I've just had my highlights done after leaving them for 6 months (eeeek!) and have bought some lovely pink make up from Bobbi Brown. I'm fairly sorted clothes wise for work but have no idea what to wear at the weekend so just end up in hideous grey trakkie bottoms and baggy t-shirts. Do any of you lovely ladies have any ideas on what I could wear to look a bit more glam?

Am going to get up early tomorrow and do the Davina exercise DVD

Ahh that's better - have had a lovely shower, washed hair, shaved legs and pits. Sorted out cuticles on fingers and toes, slathered whole self in moisturiser and I've painted my fingernails! Only in clear but it's a start. Haven't managed any exercise though, and I ate a whole packet of chocolate brownies earlier. It was a small packet, and they were small brownies, but still v.v.v.bad.

Jammy you are doing so well - your makeup etc sounds lovely

Welcome cailin Well done on getting your hair sorted, such a major step to feeling better! In terms of clothes for weekends, I've started to wear dresses quite a lot as I find them really comfy and you don't have to worry about what to wear with what.

Morning All - and thanks for the welcome Starbear.
I still haven't managed to catch up with the whole of this thread - am guessing that won't happen til the weekend.
However - toenail varnish is still intact AND I coloured my hair yesterday. No progress yet with the post-preg tummy exercises, but I have asked DP to get the sitty up exerciser thingy out of the garage!!

Hi Ladies,

Ohh fruit loaf, I need to colour my hair. Maybe I could manage that tomorrow. Haven't had a cut since last August must organise one in the 5wks until due date.

Cailinalainn - I echo the dresses recommendation and when the weathers warmer skirts(I prefer knee length ones in funky prints) with t-shirts/vests and sandals. I bought some bright pink and red patent shoes yesterday, flats so reasonably practical. Its amazing how a funky pair of shoes makes you feel better. I'm going to team with dark denim and matching brightly colour tops.

Work colleague accused me of being footballers wife when I came back from work with a nail buffer thing and was sat at desk buffing nails

Do it Jumbs! It's just fantastic not to see those grey hairs pinging up along all over the place. Oh dear - - not that I'm suggesting you have any grey - am sure you're just wanting a colour boost before baby...
Anyway - last did mine five months ago - the day before DS was born - and today am feeling very special with my shiny, swingy, coloured(y)hair...