Preparing for 2025 glow up!

[snowlady4]

Hope this is a suitable place to post this..do move it if not.
I know we've not even had our indulgent christmas and new year yet.. but I'm so looking forward to a 2025 reset!
My main goal (as usual,) will be to lose a bit of weight.
But, beyond that, I really want to take control of making myself feel good.
Weight loss is part of it for me..
But I also just want to have better nutrition and develop some better habits for skincare and fashion etc
I'd also like to do some small things that will improve how I feel overall.. read more, make more time for hobbies, cut back on alcohol and processed crap, meditate/pray more, clear out the house a bit, be better financially...
Loads of things to focus on really.
For now, I'm not going to get worried about the weight loss.. that can wait until new year, but I am going to really increase my water and fruit/veg intake. I go through phases where I'm brilliant at this- and I really do notice it makes me feel better- I think it's all about developing habits and keeping them!
Anybody feel like joinging me on my quest to be feeling fab next year?

Happy Friday everyone (and Valentine's Day if you're celebrating!) I'm really pleased to have jumped on the scales this morning and realise I am over half way to my goal weight. I had been avoiding them thinking I probably hadn't made much progress, but that's 3kgs in 4 weeks which I'm so pleased with and it's given me a boost to keep doing what I'm doing (loads of protein, low carb, intermittent fasting).

I got my hair cut this week and it made such a difference, and am looking forward to an evening in with my kids and a sh*t film, maybe some popcorn and a big cosy blanket.

Hi everyone, how you getting on?

I'm really pleased, I've dropped 5% body fat and one unit of visceral fat. Woop. The scales aren't changing much but I'm on the last hole on my belt now. I'm not as bothered about my weight as I'm feeling and looking healthier.
Been to zumba this morning and one of the regulars commented that she can see definition coming in my arms 🤩

Anyone got any non-scale victories?

I dropped my boots, which I love, at the menders to be re heeled and at the same time gave him my belt to put a few extra holes in it - hurray. I never bothered putting on makeup or making an effort except for work or going out and now I am making an effort to look nice most days and feel so much better about myself - win win

Well I've had a pretty rubbish week - done my back in, but walking is helping. I've got a physio appointment towards the end of next week and although I've got a full range of movement I've been told not to go to the gym in case I injure myself further/injure myself elsewhere. My sleep has been affected and work has been tough too. I have hit the wine, but will get back on it after tomorrow when we have friends coming.

I've bought a medium size belt from Fatface, changed my work uniform from size 18 to size 14, dug out all my old clothes I put away 5 years ago cos I couldn't get into them ( found some nice jeans and coats!) Hit a new stone bracket 😀😀 last week! But this week I have a cold so just wanna eat biscuits all day long...

Half way to your weight loss goal @rubyroma is fab - and thanks for top hair treatment tip!

@VenusStarr That's so what I need - a bit of arm definition! I'm upping my dance and going to start doing some weights/strength training when I rejoin the gym in three weeks or so.

Extra belt holes @Ethiopianflower That's brilliant!

@Sunflowers098 Wow!!! Just wow!!!! 2 sizes down in work uniform and into old clothes! Congrats. Hoping you were able to resist some of the biscuit urge: you have done so well!

And update on me - maintaining weight loss is my goal. It's edged up by three pounds so I need to put a stop to that! But meanwhile I'm totally adoring getting into clothes that I haven't worn for years - including some I'd put in the attic with their price tags still on them!!! And I've bought a couple of new things which I am loving wearing. I think the more I wear the things I feel good in and let myself really relish that, the less likely I am to overeat... now to see if this works in practice.

Good luck everyone in this coming week - and keep posting all these lovely victories and top tips. I'm learning so much. We will all be glowing soon!!

How's everyone's week been? I completed my weight lifting programme and my strength has improved since January 💪 I did a class this morning which was supposed to be body blast, but the instructor said towards the end, who's ever done Grit Strength and a few of us said no, she then said well you just have! 😅🥵 it was hard but I enjoyed it.

I also entered a competition to work with a fitness and nutrition coach and I won! Got 4 months free. Had a 1-1 today and she's writing me a plan. Very excited to get started.

Had another comment yesterday that I'm looking well and have lost some weight. The scales haven't moved much but think the strength training is having an impact and I'm sleeping better 🙂

How's everyone doing? Hope you're still glowing up 🙂

I've got my meal plan and workouts from my coach. 1700 calories a day and the meals are all based on macros, so it's nice and simple and filling. Did my first gym full body workout on Monday, it was nice to follow a plan rather than float around to different machines.

Need to focus on my water intake moving forward.

I dyed my hair and tinted my eyelashes this week, amazing how small things make such a difference.

Hope you're all well.

Congrats @VenusStarr - What a great prize to win and what perfect timing. So impressed by all the training and it will definitely be making a difference to how you look - are you using a tape measure too, as well as the scales? It's exciting to see those figures go down ...

Hair colour SO does make a difference! I'm in that club too and love how it lifts everything

My goal this year is to have Power over food, eating consciously for pleasure and for health... I've spent a lifetime eating unconsciously so this feels quite exciting!

I'm continuing to enjoy wearing my new clothes - both bought and unearthed from the attic.

This week is lots of walking - getting those steps up, so that when I'm back I'm ready to go to the next stage and rejoin the gym.

@loveyouradvice love your goal about power over food - I've really struggled with this over the years and feel like I've finally got the knack (at the moment at least). I've been enjoying eating more healthily and upping protein, and have lost 5kgs now doing this which I'm so pleased with. I feel like I could up my exercise but I struggle around parenting...hoping for a lot more outdoor time now it's getting lighter in the evenings.

@VenusStarr congrats on your win - how great! I bet that's another great way to stay focused too, well done!

Small things I've achieved over the last week - cheap tresemme heat protector seems to have solved my frizz problem and I've cleaned out my messy kitchen "everything" cupboard. A girl at nursery had an LVL lash lift and it looked amazing so I've booked myself in for one next week - hoping it looks as good on me - I never really treat myself to things like this so it will be nice.

Thank you @loveyouradvice 😊 I'm doing measurements every 2 weeks, along with photos.
I'm really pleased, I'm in the next stone bracket now. So 9lbs off in all so far. I'm actually eating more than I usually would, it's so interesting how it works. Got my 3rd full body work out today💪 my coach has also upped my steps to 10,000 a day (I was doing 8000 anyway) and it's actually not that big a jump.

Power over food sounds great - how's the rest of this week been for you?

Thank you @rubyroma let us know how your lash lift goes, I'm tempted to have mine done. I've done them at home but it's quite faffy and not always done that good a job! 😅

Hope everyone else is doing ok x

Hi everyone 👋 hope things are going well. I'm still following my plan, it's making lots of sense and I'm eating more than ever.
I had my second check in today and I've lost an inch round my waist and an inch from my hips! Really chuffed. I'm much more organised with meal planning for work.

I bought some new gym gear this week too.

That's amazing @VenusStarr so glad it's going really well and you seem so positive too!

I hit my goal weight (1stone less than my start weight) and honestly I feel like I look/feel no better...

I've been getting organised at home which feels good, and I'm going away for a few days this weekend to reset a bit. I was hoping id feel a bit like i had some spark back by now but it's just not there.

@rubyroma You're doing great - 5kgs is seriously impressive! I agree re exercise and kids - my DD teases me no end if I'm doing my steps while we're watching a murder mystery! Looking forward to hearing how the eye lash lift goes - very exciting - I've never done one either! and having just read about tresemme, Im about to get some too - serious issues with frizz here!

@VenusStarr Wow, an inch off each - that is SO GREAT!!! I love that you are eating more and losing weight... bizarrely I seem to be doing the same. And how great to have new gym gear - does it give you a little buzz??

I'm 4lbs under my target weight - a sentence I never thought I would write!!!! So 2lbs off in last two weeks, with birthday and restaurant meals and generous eating feels good.

My focus is now on exercise - Wow, again, never thought I would prioritise exercise over food, but it really does feel as if the food is just on track and gently looking after itself.

I've an autoimmune disease and am recovering from Long Covid, so need to take it slowly... but very exciting, I went to my favourite dance class for the first time in 3 years and loved it. I used to go regularly....This time I only managed about 10% of it, with lots of just moving on the spot but they all knew why and were very supportive. I am SO looking forward to hopefully being able to do a whole class within 6 months.

I too have upped my steps @VenusStarr ... and am begining to walk a few more of them "briskly" which I gather makes a huge difference. I also walk some of them backwards, which always makes me laugh - a Michael Mosley tip.

@loveyouradvice thank you, I feel like I'm realising that a lot of the glow up needs to happen on the inside for me 😬 but exercising more does seem to help.

I got my lashes done yesterday and after a couple of hours of feeling like I looked stuck in a wind tunnel they have settled and look quite nice I think? Don't feel weird and I just feel like I look like I've got makeup on (I don't wear very much) without actually having to put it on. My little one did ask me how I got the spikes on my eyes but I'm choosing to look past that compliment haha.

Woohoo! 🥳 well done! @rubyroma that's amazing.
Are you doing things that bring you joy? Maybe try and focus on what will give you a boost right now?
Good about the eyelashes, I really want to get mine lifted and tinted.

@loveyouradvice thank you. Yeh, it does give a boost - I've had a few compliments on my leggings! Haha, they're m&s and really comfy but I feel confident in them.
That's great that you're going back to your class... one thing I keep seeing is about being consistent in showing up for yourself, so that's fab ❤️

I'm chuffed as I've checked on the gym scales and my visceral fat is now 5 units (from 7 before Christmas) and my body fat percentage is 31.9% from 37.4% before Christmas 😊

Have a good weekend all xx

Thanks @VenusStarr - I think I was just having a bit of a blip last week but feeling much better. Last night I spur of the moment set myself some goals to try to complete before my birthday in late Spring. Read 6 books because I bloody love reading and don't make enough time for it and complete couch 2 5k. I just got back from my first run and it was great! I didn't feel as self conscious as I thought and I did actually have fun, so hopefully I can keep that up! Aiming for Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday runs so let's see how that goes.

I also bought a skipping rope 😂 might have actually lost the plot here.

How's everyone else's weeks going?

Hi @rubyroma glad you're feeling better this week 🙂 fab you've been put for a run, well done!

I'm doing well, feeling good. Someone at work told me I was glowing on Wednesday and that I'm looking really well in myself. I do feel good. My full body gym sessions are going well. I did 12.5kg on my goblet squats today.
I'm on holiday on Sunday for 5 days, so concentrating on walking as it's a city break. Going to be mindful what I eat but will allow myself to try nice things.

Hope everyone is doing well x

Hi everyone, I've fallen off the wagon I'm afraid. I've got less than 6 weeks left of my intensive course and there just isn't time to exercise or prep healthy meals consistently. I'm going to have to revisit in 6 weeks (by which time I'll probably be even fatter 🙄) and then I'll really be able to commit. My dressing table is all set up and I've replaced all my make up with natural make up, which feels really nice and I love sitting at my dressing table doing my hair and make up. All just very basic, but makes me feel like a human again at least! The biggest part of a glow up for me was much needed weight loss though.

Lovely to see all the positivity on this thread! You're all doing so well! I'll be rejoining soon!

Me too after pulling a back muscle and struggling to even stand up! Today is when I start getting back into things though. It's been a tough few weeks with work being really busy.

Just checking in. How is everyone?

I went on holiday last week and did a load of walking and managed to maintain! Woop. Back on plan now. I actually bumped into one of the ladies from my weight lifting course on Wednesday evening and she said she can really tell I've lost weight and toned up. So that's nice.

Had the afternoon off and had a good gym session. Its definitely part of my routine now.

Hope you're feeling better now @NigelHarmansNewWife

That sounds like a good plan @gettinghealthy hope the course is going well.

@VenusStarryou're doing so well! Very inspiring - I can't wait for the day someone comments on my weight loss (not that there's been any yet. I've definitely put on the weigh I did lose in Jan). Course is bloody hard work, but getting there and not too long left to go now and then I can prioritise myself again. Can't wait to get back to the pool. I feel so fat and horrible now - sitting at my desk all day is doing me no favours at all. Trying to get out for at least a half hour walk most days but I hate this level of inactivity.

How long has it been since you started your weight loss/tone up for other people to notice?

Morning. My back injury sent everything out of the window and I'm back where I started. But I now know it's emotional support and strategies I need so I've taken steps to deal with that. I now know myself a lot better I feel.

@VenusStarr How great that people can see how you've toned up - very inspiring and I hope this is me in a few months time

Sadly, things put on pause as I've been ill for a few weeks - but gently emerging and looking forward to re-engaging after (hopefully) one week's convalescence. Meanwhile I'm enjoying the fact that I'm down one size in trousers from 4 months ago... wow! So now wearing a 10 with a company I buy from regularly when I was a 12... I'm a 12 with most and happy with that.

To update, I have taken steps to lose weight and get help for the emotional and stress related issues that were holding me back. I also went to the gym yesterday and am about to go for a walk.