Month: July 2014

Dry Brush Your Cellulite Away

Cellulite, the lumpy and bumpy condition which causes so much misery to so many women is caused by the presence of fat cells beneath the surface of the skin. It usually appears after puberty and there are varying degrees of severity in the condition.

A simple case of mild cellulite will only show when pressure is applied to the affected area whilst a more severe case is marked out by the constant appearance of dimpled skin often likened to orange peel.

Dry Brush Your Cellulite

The good news is that there is a simple method of reducing cellulite and improving the appearance of your skin and it’s practically free! The practice of dry brushing was known to be popular in ancient Greece and in Japan and consists of using a soft bristled brush to massage and rub the skin.

This encourages the break up of fat cells and the flow of blood to the areas affected as well as “waking up” the lymphatic system…and a sluggish lymphatic system is part of the cause as far as cellulite is concerned. It sounds quite barbaric but once you get accustomed to the sensation it’s actually very pleasant.

Get The Right Brush!

Don’t just choose any old brush for your dry brushing regime. It’s important to use natural fibres and also to make sure that the brush is not too hard as this will cause pain and not to soft…as a soft brush won’t do the job properly!

Look for a natural fibred brush of a medium texture; jute, hemp, sisal and loofah are all popular materials for dry brushing.

How To Begin

Begin your routine after a shower or bath when you are relaxed. Make sure you’re dry and warm before starting. Locate your lymph ducts in your groin and collarbone area and gently massage them to get them opened up. Next begin to dry brush the soles of your feet in small circular strokes…you’re going to work all the way up your body.

It might feel ticklish at first but you will grow used to the sensation. Move up your feet and ankles in a firm upwards motion stroking the skin with the brush as you go…don’t be too gentle though!

Move fast and cover the legs, hips, stomach and breast areas. Now move to your hands…on your palms repeat the small circular motions and then swap to the firm upwards movement when you move to wrists and arms. Now it’s time to move to your neck; in a downward motion stroke the neck, chest, back and shoulder areas…work towards the heart.

Avoid using any exfoliation products in the shower or bath once you begin a dry brushing routine as it can irritate the skin…too much of a good thing can make you sensitive.

The dry brushing technique will not only help your cellulite but will also remove dead skin cells and make your body appear firmer and softer all over. Ensure that your brush is cleaned with soap and warm water once a week and wait for the improvements in your skin!

Treatments

If you have been suffering from cellulite and are finding it hard to remove there are some cellulite removal treatments available to you including TriActive which is a non-invasive treatment that can reduce the appearance of cellulite dramatically. For more information pop into one of our clinics and speak to one of our skin experts.

How to Measure Food Portions Correctly With Just Your Hand

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Binge Eating 

Portion control is recognised as a huge part of a healthy diet. We have lost track of how much of everything we’re meant to consume and it’s a common thing to see food portions that are verging on gargantuan. This is especially common in fast food restaurants as well as some ordinary eating establishments…the “all you can eat” style buffets which are growing more and more predominate are not helping the situation at all.

Today so much of the pleasure of eating is concealed by sheer amount…the higher the plate is piled, the more times the cup is refilled are too important to too many people and this habit of over-consuming is becoming the norm.

To re-educate and to reform healthy patterns of eating are an urgent need not only for your health but that of your children if you have them. Many people eat more than three times the amounts of protein, carbs and dairy in one meal and this is a recipe for long term health disaster.

Portion Out Your Food

Start talking about portion control and portion measurement though and many people begin to yawn, “Oh I don’t want to mess about with scales every time I want a sandwich!” they cry…but the fact is that they don’t need scales or a specially marked plate in order to get their portion sizes right…all that’s needed is a hand!

The following guide will help you to measure the right portions for your meals with the minimum of fuss and effort.

  • Carbs: To measure carbs in the correct fashion you use the size of your fist as a guideline. Close your fist…this is how much rice, beans, lentils or pasta you should eat in one sitting. If you want to measure slices as in bread or pitta then open your hand…that’s it! That’s the amount of bread you should consume in one meal.
  • Proteins: Look at your palm…this is how much meat or cheese you should be consuming at your meal. Not more…if the slices are thick then you should only have one. If they’re very thin like some hams for example then two is ok.
  • Milk or yogurt: Look at the distance from little finger to thumb…this is the depth of the glass or cup which you should consume of milk or yogurt; it’s about 8 fluid ounces.
  • Good fats: By good fats we mean olive oil, almond butter or avocado. For this measurement you look at your thumb…it’s about a tablespoon’s worth.
  • Nuts and seeds: Because nuts and seeds are excellent foods you can have a whole palm full of them. Similar to meat and cheese…this is about 3 ounces.
  • Vegetables: Again this is measured with a closed fist. If you’re eating salad or green vegetables then you can have more.

Using this simple measuring tool you can simplify the healthy eating process and quickly work out your portion sizes. Because our hands relate directly to our size, you should take this into consideration when preparing food for children and also for men and women. Men’s hands are larger and children’s hands are obviously smaller.

But Won’t i Feel Hungry?

Don’t worry that you will still feel hungry because a balanced diet teamed with plenty of water will ensure that you aren’t…your body and stomach may take a while to adjust but adjust it will…as will your waistline!

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Stop Excessive Sweating With These Top Summer Tips!

There’s nothing worse than heading out to an outdoor get-together in the summer months and finding that a combination of public transport or car travel have caused sweat patches on your outfit or even worse, sweaty feet! Those of us who wear makeup religiously can dread the hotter season as the heat can cause serious makeup mishaps…runny mascara anyone?

Continue reading “Stop Excessive Sweating With These Top Summer Tips!”

Stay Young With These Natural Age Defying Beauty Tips

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In today’s society youth is prized…it’s everywhere! Television presenters are youthful in appearance if not teenagers, pop stars, actors and even business people appear as youthful as possible and it follows that ordinary people will want to emulate this. And why not? Youth is synonymous with health and vitality…nobody wants to appear elderly!

A huge part of appearing to be younger than our years lies within the way we see ourselves. Your opinion of yourself will directly affect the way others see you. If you’re full of confidence after a new hairdo then that shows…people will respond more positively towards you and this in turn feeds your opinion of yourself and ensures that you feel and look good at the same time.

Maximising the youth inside you is a challenge but one which is tackled with verve can give real results. No matter what your age you can knock years off yourself by taking heed of these age defying beauty tips.

Exercise is the way forward

You don’t get something for nothing and without a doubt, exercise is the key to a younger looking you. Keeping active feeds your brain as well as your body…those endorphins slow the ageing process as your cells regenerate faster and more effectively.

You don’t need to suddenly take up aerobics if you’ve not indulged in physical activity for a few years…take it slowly! For those who aren’t the “joining” type then why not start having a daily walk? Walking is brilliant exercise and you can up your mileage as you adjust to the new regime. Find a nice route close to home, put on some sensible footwear and just go for it!

If you do enjoy group activities then you can still take it easy at first, a cycling group or a rambler’s society is great fun and good for your body as well as your soul.

Eat to live well

We really are what we eat so take a long look at your diet, find those areas where improvement is needed and make the changes! Staying hydrated is the first rule so make time to drink! Water is a huge part of what keeps our skin looking good so aim for 8 glasses per day and drink it at room temperature if possible…this is absorbed more thoroughly into our bodies than cold water.

Eat foods which are high in vitamins and antioxidants such as kale, blueberries, broccoli, carrots and beetroots….make one big salad daily and mix it up a little! Fit in as many of the dark coloured vegetables and salad items as possible to maximise the nutritional value.

Get your beauty sleep

It’s not called beauty sleep for nothing you know. Sleep is important and night-time is that time when cells regenerate and the body heals itself. Most people need 8 hours and if you’re getting less than that then you need to make some changes. Ensure that your bedroom is an attractive and calm environment….make sure it’s dark enough and that your mattress and pillows are in good condition. If you suffer from insomnia then now is the time to speak to your GP about it.

Stay sun-safe

We really cannot overestimate the importance of sun protection. The sun and its rays are the cause of so many avoidable signs of ageing that most people are shocked when they realise that they’re not taking adequate precautions. Wear a hat when the sun is bright, use a good quality sunscreen and keep those wrinkles at bay!

Don’t overindulge

Alcohol, smoking and unhealthy food will age you faster than anything. Now it’s not everyone who can live a completely clean life but if you do have the odd glass of wine then make sure it stays that way! Smoking and drinking are terrible for your looks and junk food will damage not only your figure but your metabolism too. Be sensible and take care of yourself…you’ll be glad you did.

The ageing process is not something we can avoid…it is inevitable but look at a group of over 50s and you can see instantly who takes care of themselves and who doesn’t. Be the best you can by taking steps to change your lifestyle now…it’s never too late![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

12 Weird And Wonderful Anti Acne Super Foods

Acne is a skin condition which can cause real misery for those who suffer from it. Although there are varying degrees of severity ranging from a few minor but regular breakouts to extremely sore and raised pustules which can affect the life of the sufferer in the extreme.

The good news is that for those who have not tried herbal or natural treatments, there are a number of weird and wonderful acne treatments which are both effective and affordable.

Continue reading “12 Weird And Wonderful Anti Acne Super Foods”

7 Fat Busting Foods You Should Eat To Loose Weight

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Eating to lose weight?

How much of a contradiction is that statement?

Not much at all if you eat the right sort of foods! When we talk about eating yourself slim we don’t mean chowing down on cake and biscuits…we mean choosing the right sorts of foods, the foods which will give your body what it needs in the correct form and ensure that you don’t suffer from cravings when your blood sugar dips.

Some of the foods are surprisingly tasty too! It’s not all about cabbages and lettuce…read on to learn the 7 fat busting foods which you need on the menu if you’re watching your weight!

 

  • Hummus: Hummus is a tasty treat which is made up of chick peas…now if you’re not fond of hummus then just go for the chick peas instead! Chick peas have been noted in the diets of people with smaller waistlines and they’re an excellent food which are packed full of vitamins and minerals. Because they are quite dense they will keep you feeling fuller for longer. If you’re not sure whereabouts in your meal plan to place chick peas, a simple idea is to include them in a large salad. Canned chick peas are simple to prepare and when mixed with a tonne of fresh salad they’re really tasty and filling too!

 

  • Prunes: Recent research from Liverpool University looked at people who are a handful of this dried fruit every day and found they lost weight a whole lot faster than those who did not. The reason is that prunes are packed with fibre which is excellent for digestion and will keep your body ticking over as it should do.

 

  • Peanuts and Peanut Butter: Peanuts are a real super food and both the butter and the nuts are full of peptide YY which is what makes you feel full after eating. Eat two tablespoons of peanut butter or a handful of nuts with your breakfast and watch your metabolism stabilise! You need to teach your body to run on a good breakfast and nuts are brilliant for this.

 

  • Oat Bran: Again this full-of-fibre cereal is a wonder food for helping digestion and it keeps you full all morning cutting the chances of snack attacks halfway through your day.

 

  • Avocado: Beautifully rich and very filling; pop half of an avocado in with your sandwich and you will get through the hours between meals with no bother. Avocado is very filling and the “good fats” are fabulous for your skin.

 

  • Chocolate: That’s right…chocolate! Choose the dark kind over the milk kind and the antioxidants in this sweet treat will assist your weight loss. Don’t overindulge though! A few squares per day are ample!

Losing weight through eating is like looking at a picture from a new angle…don’t think of a diet as “losing” anything…it’s all about change, not deprivation. Eat the right sorts of foods in sensible portions and you will find weight loss a sync.

If you still have a few stubborn pockets of fat maybe Coolsculpting can help ? Proven to reduce stubborn areas by up to 30%. Speak to us today and say goodbye to stubborn fat

 

 

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What are Stretch Marks And How Are They Caused?

Getting rid of stretch marks is an all consuming task for many women. They’re a common but unwanted skin condition brought about by the stretching of the skin. They can form on any area of the body apart from face and hands and they’re most often seen on stomachs, thighs, buttocks, breasts and hips. The over stretching of the skin over a short time period is what causes the interconnected fibres within the dermis to break…that’s what those little marks are. They’re tiny tears which allow the blood vessels to show through and upon first appearing the stretch marks are usually red or purple in colour. Gradually as the blood vessels shrink, the stretch marks become silvery in colour and are not as noticeable.

Continue reading “What are Stretch Marks And How Are They Caused?”