Weight loss just got easier — and more relaxing

Most spas offer innovative treatment suggestions that can help ease the weight-loss process.

by Jeannie Marcelino — 

It happens every New Year. Many of us make a list of resolutions and at the top of that list is the vow to lose weight and be healthy. Although a good diet and exercise are helpful to shed the unwanted pounds, a little help from a medspa/weight-loss center might be just what everyone needs to reach the tipping point to fabulousness.

Most spas offer innovative treatment suggestions that can help ease the weight-loss process. Consider the following options:

• Slimming and trimming treatments — Losing a significant amount of weight causes stretched skin to sag. Further, stretch marks do not necessarily go away after weight loss. One solution to keep skin looking great and revitalized during the weight-loss process is to get a slimming body wrap. Yards of gauze soaked in a vitamin-enzyme and mineral-rich solution are tightly wrapped around the body, including the face. The wrapping method may take off a few inches in the usual problem areas like the thighs, upper arms and waist.

• A cellulite treatment with LED — This is a treatment with unbelievable results. A light-emitting diode (LED) penetrates the layer of condensed fat, and stimulates blood flow and oxygen. The result is the elimination of cellulite-causing toxins.

• Acupuncture — When used for weight loss, acupuncture can calm the body, making it easier to release endorphins, which help relieve stress, frustration and anxiety. If the body is free from stress, there will be fewer incidences of food cravings or emotional binge eating, which can result in weight gain. The release of endorphins also helps the organs regain healthful balance, thus improving metabolism.

• Lipotropic injections — The injections, made up of three amino acids known as fat burners, are important for a healthy liver, which is responsible for getting fat and toxins out of the body. The healthier the liver, the better it will work at flushing out the fat.

• Hypnosis — This is a successful and powerful tool in weight loss. Most of us know what we should be eating, but sticking to a reasonable diet or weight-loss program can be difficult. Using the power of hypnosis for weight loss, one can work at a subconscious level to eliminate unwanted habits and emotions associated with eating. We can replace unwanted patterns with productive behavior and learn important tools to achieve weight-loss goals.

• Laser skin tightening — Alma lasers, the first pain-free laser skin-tightening technique, is so relaxing that it has been compared to the feeling one gets when receiving a hot stone massage. It is a minimally invasive, non-surgical process that uses a laser (an infrared light source) to tighten the skin by heating the collagen under the surface, causing the skin to contract.

• Nutrition — Staying healthy in this day and age can be challenging, and nutrition advice can be confusing. It is important to make appropriate food and supplement choices, find easy ways to eat nutritionally, and utilize food combinations suitable for well-being.

• Dancing — Try a pole-dancing class to help build and sculpt a strong and sexy core. Unlike the conventional exercise regimen of weights and cardio, pole dancing is designed to complement women’s bodies because it puts emphasis on curves and improves coordination and stamina. If you are not ready for pole dancing, then perhaps Latin and Latin-fusion dances like the samba and rumba might help you lose the weight, as they also emphasize cardio and muscle toning.

• Uplifting facials — Exfoliation, rejuvenation and hydration are the keys to youthful-looking skin. Weight loss can cause stretched out skin to sag. One solution is to get uplifting facials that can improve skin’s elasticity and relax the mind, body and spirit.

• Facelift acupuncture — These sessions will firm up facial muscles and improve the sagginess that often occurs after weight loss.

• Photofacials — This is a popular treatment for eliminating a host of problems including: broken capillaries, veins, enlarged pores, dull complexions, uneven pigmentation, pigmented freckles and age spots, liver spots, red flushing skin, and rosacea and redness. Photofacials also help rejuvenate the skin.

• Stop smoking — It is better for your health and your wallet. Yet, quitting smoking is not easy. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help stop a smoking addiction, and homeopathy can help in detoxifying the body from nicotine and help stop cravings for cigarettes.

• Homeopathy — This healing modality can help rid the body of toxins that are released from the fat when large amounts are eliminated due to weight loss.

• Other treatments — Many other great treatments are available that can include an hCG diet, laser body-contouring treatments, appetite suppressants, B12 shots and colonics.

Jeannie Marcelino is with Suddenly Slimmer Day Spa — a medSpa that offers anti-aging, wellness and other services. 602-952-8446 or www.suddenlyslimmer.com.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 30, Number 1, Feb/Mar 2011.