fresh no ads
Weapons of mass reduction | Philstar.com
^

Modern Living

Weapons of mass reduction

SAVOIR FAIRE - SAVOIR FAIRE By Mayenne Carmona -
On a recent trip to Paris, I went to my sister’s pharmacist and asked him for a pill to curb my appetite. He gave a hearty laugh and looked at me with great amusement. He claims that he looks forward to my quarterly visits as my vanity amuses him. During one visit, he recommended Exolise, a homeopathic appetite suppressant. I took it faithfully but did not find it powerful enough to curb my appetite so I asked him for something stronger. He was not convinced I needed to lose weight and did not think I should take anything stronger than Exolise, which is not a harmful or addictive pill.

With a big smile, he enthusiastically showed me the new products on the market for losing weight. With these methods, plus the new anti-fat, anti-cellulite and firming creams and gels on the market, women have enough weapons to fight the dreaded cellulite and fatty deposits that come with age.

There is a product called Kot. It comes in sachets and is supposed to be taken three to four times daily with protein meals. The concept behind the Kot method is to eat protein to get thin. We all need 1.2 grams of protein per kilo of body weight to fortify our muscle mass. These sachets are protein-filled, but we have to complement them with grilled fish, chicken or meats, and food rich in fiber like cereals, vegetables and fruits. Choose one from the recommended fruits: one apple, half a grapefruit, one orange, two mandarins, half a melon, two small peaches, or a bowl of strawberries or raspberries. Too much fruit can also be fattening as they are filled with the sugar fructose.

The pharmacist also recommended Oenobiol Acquadrainant pills, which eliminate the common problem of water retention among women. This pill has been tried and tested by a friend who lost three lbs. during her first week. Her legs even looked thinner as all the water got drained from her system.

Other products in our fight against fat and cellulite are the fat-burning and appetite-suppressing capsules Arkopharma; anti-cellulite and detoxifying pills Oenobiol Destockant; purifying Drenarola by Super Diet; anti-fat and anti-water retention Adip by Lierac; anti-aging, total-beauty capsules by Inversion Femme; Slimming Aid beverages by Redumax Express; cinnamon-flavored, calorie-burning capsules by Atmae; high-protein, low-carb bars by Dietline; and a draining anti-cellulite solution by Affinex.

Of course, together with a proper diet and pills, creams and gels are needed to combat our fight against cellulite and fat. I narrowed down my choices to nine and got their prices in euros so you can just convert to pesos and buy them when you are in Hong Kong: the Express slim chrono -slimming Methode by Jeanne Paubert (eight days and nights of application, 79 euros); slimming massage by Yves Rocher (27); Tonific anti-cellulite gel by Nuxe (27.50); Total body-lift cellulite control by Clarins (42); Total firmness slimming gel by Yves St. Laurent; Liposyne draining cream by Vichy (20); LiftDeclic contouring emulsion by Phytomer (39); Melatogenine intensive-firming body cream by Gatineau (49); and Lipo-reducing concentrate by Elancyl (23).

All these creams and gels are most effective with massages. There is a new place in central Paris where I go when I need to recharge my batteries. It’s the Naxes Center at 10 Rue de Moulins. A session here is a treat for all the senses, infused with the subtle aromas of essential oils, the soothing colors of the decor, the music, and the healthy beverages served in the lounge. All the skincare products are 100-percent natural. Each client is offered a personalized treatment or what is called "Massana," a combination of massage and beauty techniques from a variety of cultures administered by native masseuses and masseurs from the regions of origin: Ayurvedic massages from Asia, a Senegalese massage with Shea butter and fresh fruits, etc. The latter is one of my favorites as one comes out of it with baby-soft skin.

For physical fitness, I discovered low-impact exercises developed by Australian fitness expert Monica Linford. Her center is called Et Votre Corps Sourit (And Your Body is Smiling) at the new headquarters of Danone Foods. Not a conventional gym, it offers alternative programs focusing on posture, balance and flexibility. I attend the chi ball sessions, where you lie down on a mat holding a small, soft and scented ball and you follow a series of movements led by an instructor. The exercise puts emphasis on breath control and accessing the abdominal muscles. After an hour of this fluid choreography, the class ends with relaxation techniques. The long-term results include increased body awareness, greater flexibility, better general physical condition, and a boost in both physical and mental energy.

With all these weapons to fight fat and cellulite, a woman of any age has no excuse to look dumpy, frumpy and frightfully fat! If all these treatments do not fit your budget, just try zipping your mouth (eat light, in plain language) and exercise a lot. Those are still the best antidotes to fat and cellulite control.

vuukle comment

ANTI

CELLULITE

DANONE FOODS

ET VOTRE CORPS SOURIT

EXOLISE

FAT

HONG KONG

INVERSION FEMME

JEANNE PAUBERT

KOT

MONICA LINFORD

Are you sure you want to log out?
X
Login

Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

Get Updated:

Signup for the News Round now

FORGOT PASSWORD?
SIGN IN
or sign in with