I'm laying in bed feeling pretty positive. After my shaming weigh in at Slimming World (I didn't go last week as I knew that I hadn't stuck to it but instead of trying to put that right before last nights weigh in I stuffed my face with crisps and cake all week! The consequence being that I put on 3.5lbs!) I should be feeling absolutely terrible but I am so excited! I think I must be the type of person that works best with a deadline crashing towards me because I have about 32 days until my Mum gets married and I have to wear a dress and instead of panicking I have seen this as an opportunity to start a few 30 day challenges. Here they are..

1. Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD
I am going to start this one tonight. I have never been one for sticking to DVDs for more than three days but I think this is the right place and right time! The best place to buy it seems to be Amazon (Please don't hate me for casually ignoring their tax evading evilness while Looking for bargains that deliver the next day!)

2. 30 Plank Challenge

I am loving the idea of these 'start small and work your way up' style challenges. If you don't know what a plank is then imagine that you are about to do a sit up but instead of bending your arms you put your elbows and forearms on the floor, still with toes down and back, bum and legs off of the floor. Hang on I'd better find a diagram!

 

I started yesterday morning with 20 seconds and as soon as I have finished this I am going to do it again. It doesn't sound like a lot but believe me, someone with as little upper body and core strength as me can really feel it! Here is the challenge

3. 30 Day Squat Challenge

This is along the same lines as before but with squats. I have never really done squats but I found last night that they really are something that you can feel working straight away!! Even this morning I have woken up with satisfyingly aching outer thighs and upper butt cheeks!! Here is the challenge

I got the 30 Day Challenges here

4. I bought a ROWING MACHINE!!!!!

How cool is that?! It's only a light weight at home type one but it does the job! I have a pretty 'untoned' back and I am hoping this will help a little bit. When I'm rowing I can really feel it in my belly too. I try to pull my belly button into my back and hold my shoulder blades together, it's pretty tricky to try and do it all at once and sometimes I feel like a wally but hopefully it will work!! I got it here

5. Eating well!

With Slimming World I don't really have an excuse, it's so easy to follow and some of the recipes are delicious! Maybe I should start recording what I eat? I don't know, I'll keep you posted!!

I'm getting older. It sucks. At 32 I feel like now is definitely the time to start trying to turn back the clock. I'll be the first to admit that I haven't always looked after my body. I've over eaten, I've smoked, I've been partial to the odd JD on a night out. I rarely get my hair cut, I can go a couple of days without really putting on a face of make up and I can count on one hand how many times in the last year I have got dressed up and worn a pair of heels. The more I type the more unattractive I sound. It's pretty depressing, eh?! Don't get me wrong I am not a monster, I just forget to spend time on myself. If I'm not looking in a mirror then I'm not thinking about how I look. I kind of think this is a good thing but perhaps I should make sure that I have that I have five or ten minutes in front of a mirror in the morning! I'm on a bit of a self improvement mission so I have bought loads of products to help me along the way...

Bio Oil - As a mother I've managed to pick up some rather pale (now) but still annoying stretchmarks. I've heard that Bio Oil is the best thing on the market (in my price range anyway!) to treat them so I thought I would give it a go, especially at Amazon's prices!

Nail Oil/Nail strengthener/Glass Nail File - In the last year I have stopped biting my nails but they are so weak that just as they are looking good they catch on everything and tear off! Hopefully with a bit of TLC they will be looking good in no time!

Intensive Foot Cream - My feet aren't the worst in the world but I have to admit they are the last thing that I think to pamper

Eye cream - I have wrinkles around my eyes guys! This is stressful! I am on the hunt for the best age reversing, youth mimicking, miracle cream but in the mean time I have gone for Garnier Ultralift. Fingers crossed!

Night cream - I have been pretty good at remembering to moisturise in the morning but I have bought myself some Garnier Ultralift Night Cream. Hopefully I'll notice a difference in the texture of my skin, after all dewy skin is the key to looking young!  

Pearl Drops Beauty Sleep - I have used loads of teeth whiteners in the past but I've found a lot of them too harsh or too messy. This product looks like it is going to be fairly gentle and there are no mouth guards or strips, simply put a blob on your fingers, rub on your gums and you are good to go!

I'm going to use all of these as my new nightly routine and will keep you posted with feedback. With any luck before long I'll feel pampered and more comfortable in my skin!

What beauty products can't you live without and why? Any recommendations that you can send my way will be thoroughly appreciated!

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