The Beauty Society

There are several ways in which you can achieve weight control and get fitter! Here are The Beauty Society’s top 7 pointers to get you started in the right direction!

1. Pre-Diet Detox

There are several things you can do to help kick start your diet and these include;

Colonic Hydrotherapy: This can help to rid your body of extra waste and toxins, leaving you feeling refreshed and vitalised.

Selective Fasting (exclusion and abstinence methods): These methods are often used to determine food intolerances. By cutting out certain food types (e.g. wheat, starchy foods, vegetable oils, carbonated drinks and alcohol) for 2 weeks or more, positive health benefits can be derived.

2. Healthy Dieting

We’ve all heard that healthy eating is the first port of call when trying to shed excess weight, but what does this actually mean? Every other day it seems there’s something new to include or cut out completely! So what are the facts?

Firstly, variety is key. Being healthy is not about totally depriving yourself of the foods you enjoy, or aiming to be unrealistically thin! Most people now recognise the importance of ‘5 a day’ fruit and vegetables and drinking plenty of water, but including a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats is also essential.

Fats particularly have been given a bad reputation, but in truth they are just as important as the other parts of our diet. Saturated and trans-fats are the ones to avoid, these increase cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. Mono and poly-unsaturated fats, plus omega 3 and 6 found in nuts and oily fish, are essential for body and brain functioning. Vitamins and minerals are also needed for a balanced diet and usually these are found in the foods we consume, for example Vitamin D and calcium can be found in dairy products. However, certain people such as pregnant women, young children, and those with specific health conditions can benefit from additional vitamin supplements.

So the bottom line for a healthy diet is to include a balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grain carbohydrates, lean proteins, unsaturated fats and essential vitamins and minerals.

3. Medi - Spa Treatments

Sometimes, simply changing our eating habits is not enough of a kick start for weight loss. Endermologie, Accent and Mesotherapy are medi-spa techniques for sculpting, contouring, tightening and rejuvenating the body.

Cellulite is a specific combination of fat, waste, and water that forms a bumpy, rippled mass that gets trapped in the fibrous, connective tissue just below the skin's surface. Cellulite appears most commonly on the hips, thighs, and buttocks, but it can show up on the arms, abdomen, and upper back as well.

There are different types of cellulites. The first is hard or solid and can be harder to remove as it is attached directly to the muscles. Softer cellulites on the other hand are much more visible and may even sag from the body. It occurs in large muscle areas and is easier to remove.

Genetics and hereditary factors are contributory to cellulite development but other factors such as exercise and nutrition play an important role. A healthy lifestyle is known to reduce the level of cellulite, however, diet and exercise alone can not eliminate it completely.

Endermologie Keymodule is the first FDA approved and clinically proven method to reduce cellulite, tone up, improve circulation and water retention, combat muscle stiffness, back pain and IBS. The treatment is for body and face and can be used as a relaxation treatment as well as a target driven treatment. To combat cellulite a course of between 10-20 treatments is usually recommended to achieve the most desired results.

Accent Skin Tightening is the latest treatment offering a non-invasive, non-ablative, no-downtime, safe and comfortable solution for body contouring. Applications include; cellulite treatment, skin tightening, complete body contouring and post liposuction smoothing.

Body treatments are carried out one week apart and a minimum of six treatments are required. The effects with continued compliance can last for approximately eighteen months.

A thorough consultation is conducted prior to treatment and each client’s expectations are discussed. Detailed photography, body measurements, weight and a body mass index are carried out. Dietary and nutritional advice is given as part of a post treatment follow up to ensure that each patient commits to a healthy lifestyle and exercise regime.

Mesotherapy is the art of using skin prick delivery techniques to supply vitamin, nutrition and homeopathic medicine for facial/body rejuvenation, relief of under-eye circles and bags, reduction of fat and muscle building.

A series of micro injections are given that comprise of nutrients such as vitamins, amino acids, minerals, co-enzymes and nucleic acids to hydrate the skin, improve circulation and speed up metabolism. After the treatment, skin can be described as being rested, radiant and glowing. The nutrients that are injected are usually found in our bodies, so the treatment is replenishing their supply that may have depleted as a result of sun exposure, hormonal changes, poor diet and poor circulation.

4. Water

Water makes up around 60% of our bodies, and as such it is a hugely important part of our diet. The recommended daily intake is 8 glasses, to ensure that we are adequately hydrated. Often the feeling of thirst is mistaken for hunger pangs, so when on a diet or healthy eating regime drinking plenty of water can prevent snacking and over eating.

Fruit juices do count as one of our 5 a day, but it is important to remember that 1 glass can contain up to 10 teaspoons of sugar. A good alternative is to make a smoothie of your favourite fruits, because then you receive all the benefit without the added sugar! Another recommendation is to swap your caffeine intake for water because it is addictive and can over stimulate your body leading to feelings of stress.

5. Holistic Therapies

In recent times people have been turning to Holistic therapies in order to help them lose weight. It is important to realise that these are not magic solutions, and that a healthy diet and exercise are still key.

Acupuncture: An acupuncturist can make a traditional diagnosis to see whether there is any underlying problem hindering weight loss. Examples of conditions that could affect it are thyroid dysfunction, polycystic ovaries, sluggish metabolisms or diabetes.

Chinese medicine: This can provide methods to reduce cravings and increase will power. It also attempts to see what the body is missing and therefore aims to rebalance it. It is important to note that Chinese herbalists often advertise weight loss pills as a miracle cures, but these are often just diuretics and only make you lose water. As such we do not recommend this short term solution.

Hypnotherapy: This has become an increasingly popular method for triggering weight loss by addressing the psychological causes of weight gain. People often turn to food for comfort when they are anxious, stressed, bored or depressed, and hypnotherapy can help to create a new subconscious attitude towards food.

6. Exercise

Exercising is an essential part of being healthy and in good shape. It helps to tone and sculpt, as well as releasing endorphins which make you feel happy and positive. There are several ways to start a new exercise regime which include a personal trainer or just some simple exercises you can do at home.

Personal training: This form of exercise guarantees results due to the expertise and encouragement of the trainer. You can choose how many times a week you see your trainer, and fit it around busy work schedules.

Exercise Regime: This can be done at either the gym or in your own home depending on the equipment you have. Cardiovascular exercise is important for keeping your heart healthy. The aim is to get your heart working at its maximum ability. To find out the recommended beats per minute (bpm) during intense exercise, minus your age from 220 e.g. 220 – 22 = 198 beats per minute.

Cardiovascular exercise includes running, swimming and dancing and it is recommended that you undertake a cardiovascular activity for at least 30 minutes three to four times a week.

Strengthening and body conditioning exercises are also extremely important to maintain strong bones and flexibility, and avoid conditions such as osteoporosis later in life. This type of exercise can include weight lifting and even yoga, it is recommended that you do this up to three times a week for 30 minutes to an hour.

Exercise has to become a lifestyle choice rather than a constant chore. If you enjoy what you’re doing you will feel better about having to go, which in turn will help the regime to become a habit.

7. Supplements

BioCare Bio-Acidophilus

Biocare Bio-Acidophilus contains viable, beneficial intestinal bacteria that naturally exist together in the gastrointestinal tract. These organisms have been shown to colonise the human intestinal tract and help maintain the health of the digestive system.

Other benefits they confer include:

• Reduction in the multiplication of yeast organisms
• Reduced colonisation of ‘unfriendly’ bacteria
• They produce natural antibiotic substances on the intestinal wall 
• Reduced dietary cholesterol when taken in conjunction with a low fat diet 
• Reduced colonisation of opportunistic organisms

BioCare Psyllium Plus (Colon Care)

Psyllium husk is known to act an intestinal cleanser. It works by increasing bulk and helping with the evacuation of the bowel. It lubricates the intestines and stimulates normal muscular activity without causing cramps and griping.

Its ingredients confer the following advantages to your health:

• Psyllium seeds expand and decrease the density of faeces by absorbing water and carrying moisture to the bowel. 
• Cascara increases bowel motility and the secretion of bile, making it a useful liver and bowel tonic.
• Psyllium Plus helps to support the function of the digestive tract. 
• Psyllium husk increases peristalsis and cleanses the intestines. 
• Goldenseal is a beneficial tonic for the stomach also aids liver function. 
• Cascara has gentle laxative properties.