[By Natalie Harper]
It is often baffling, especially for someone who’s constantly battling the bulge, to be mildly comforted by tabloid pictures of celebrities being caught off guard by the paparazzi looking like beach whales, only to spot them weeks later stepping out on the red carpet as if they haven’t touched a Krispy Kreme for ages. Besides good genes and a 24/7 congregation of stylists, designers, hair wizards, makeup maestros and possibly an unlimited supply of heavy duty Spanx, A-listers are getting and maintaining those red-carpet ready bodies with their own preferred tricks. Be it a special diet tip or a bespoke exercise program, we too can learn a thing or two from these game changing celebs, bringing out the va-va-vroom diva in you just in time for bikini season this summer.
Detox is just a sip away
Detox is just a sip awayAs most celebrities and models are always saying crazy (and mostly untrue) sh*t like, “You might not believe this but I don’t watch my diet and eat fries and pizza and just about anything I feel like,” pop diva Beyoncé infamously called herself “anatural fat person, just dying to get out”; literally working her famous booty off not only to remain on top of her game, but to keep those enviable curves in check too. Queen Bey was apparently inspired by Tom Hanks in Castaway when she decided to lose twenty pounds for her role in Dreamgirls to make it more believable. To achieve this, she decided to use the Master Cleanse, a diet first developed in the 1940s that involves drinking only lemonade made out of cayenne pepper, lemons, and maple syrup nine times a day without food. I don’t buy the zero solids consumed bit but a spot of detox is definitely a feasible move to get your body back into the groove. Swap your usual brew for a cleansing cuppa of detox tea for a reduction in bloating, increased energy levels and an overall feeling of well-being. For a sugar-free and low-calorie all-natural drink that amps up your metabolism for faster fat- burning while helping to flush out toxins, quench and cleanse at the same time with Waitrose Teapigs Clean N Green Detox Tea. A super combination of quality ‘whole leaf’ green tea, lemongrass, ginger, coconut and dandelion leaves that help to cleanse and calm your system, treat your body with the spring clean it so richly deserves. Many users reported effectiveness against water retention, making this the perfect beverage to help you slip into those form-fitting mermaid gowns which are perennial celeb faves on any red carpet day.
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Shake it up with meal replacement drinks
Shake it up with meal replacement drinksWith a statuesque height of close to 6 feet (without heels!), South African beauty and Oscar winner Charlize Theron is often a sight to behold on any red carpet sighting. The acting thespian revealed that despite having a seemingly perfect life, she often had ‘fat days’ like every other woman. ‘’Life is just as complicated for me as it is for any other woman out there and I wake up sometimes, can’t fit into my jeans and feel fat and ugly and have bad days.’’
While she uses a diet method of eating six small meals a day, also known as ‘grazing’, to ensure she never felt hungry with a healthy balance of nutritional foods, Charlize is one of a number of famous faces including Britney Spears and Alexa Chung who turn to meal replacement shakes when they feel like they need to shed a few pounds or drop a dress size.
“Whole food should always be your first choice, but when the situation does not allow, a meal replacement protein shake is healthier than filling up on so-called health bars, junk food or skipping a meal altogether.” Dishes Dr. Low Chai Ling, a fitness enthusiast and medical director of the SW1 Clinic, a one stop medical aesthetics hub with a comprehensive in-house weight management program, tailored to meet the specific needs of different individuals.
Meal replacement shakes are designed to give you a wide range of essential nutrients in a low calorie meal substitute that is rich in proteins and low in carbohydrates (typically 2:1 ratio) in pre-portioned and calorie-controlled servings to make it easy to stay in great shape while allowing you to perform your daily activities at your peak. Use them for the most troublesome meals for you. For instance, if you tend to skip breakfast or worse indulge in donuts or muffins, swap that out for a meal replacement shake. Or if you’re usually overrunning into your lunch hour and often surrender to fast foods for its convenience, opt for a meal replacement shake instead. Most people who are skeptical of a liquid diet will be pleasantly surprised by how fresh they actually feel while on it as undesirable toxins such as refine sugars and saturated fats are eliminated from their previously uncontrolled dietary habits, shaking off your weight but not your muscles.
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TABATA fanatic for body transformation
TABATA fanatic for body transformation Looking closer to 30 than 50, Australian supermodel and savvy entrepreneur Elle Macpherson holds the unprecedented record of five cover appearances for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue beginning in the 1980s, leading to the flattering nickname of “The Body” which continued to resonate in the industry. A health fanatic and self-confessed ‘adrenaline junkie’, Elle is always game to try out different fitness routines and perhaps you too, should give her all-time favorite TABATA a go.
TABATA is fitness nirvana for the time-pressed celebs, counting Elle Macpherson, Kyra Sedgewick, Kelly Brooks and even superman Henry Cavill as die-hard fans. Developed in Japan by Professor Izumi Tabata in 1996 to train up the country’s speed skating team, this phenomenal fitness routine that’s taking fitness elites by storm was scientifically proven to increase fitness and hence weight loss much more effectively than traditional cardiovascular and weight bearing exercises.
Touted as the 4-minute workout (yes, four little minutes), TABATA is taking HIIT aka High Intensity Interval Training to an all new level. It consists of 20 seconds intense exercise bursts followed by ten seconds of rest, repeated eight times in total. The high-intensity bit can be anything from swimming, cycling, rowing, walking or running to hard-core strength moves such as planks and push-ups. “All exercise will raise your resting metabolic rate (RMR), but the intense ‘supra-maximal’ high intensity training in Tabata will continue the calorie-burning effect for a full 12 hours after you’ve left the exercise class,” says a spokesperson from tabataofficial.com. Not for the novice nor faint hearted, the key is to go as hard as you humanly can and for safety reasons, preferably under strict professional supervision at all times.
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Say OM with Yogalosophy
Say OM with YogalosophyNever one to let her Greek genes be the Achilles’ tendon to weight control, Jennifer Aniston with the likes of Courtney Cox, Kate Beckinsale and Brooke Shields is a firm believer of “Yogalosophy”, a new fat-burning 28 days’ workout protocol pioneered by the svelte star’s longtime friend and personal yoga instructor, Mandy Ingber.
First practiced with the aim to whip herself into shape for the now infamous ‘stripper scene’ in rom-com, “We’re The Millers”, Jen is a ready convert of Yogalosophy, a modernized yoga workout which amps up traditional laid back poses with cardiovascular exercises, muscle toning moves, daily playlists and recipes. She currently does this 3 times a week and the 49-year old American sweetheart has never felt or looked better. Developed with a fitness philosophy consisting of five objectives: love your body, set short-term goals, make healthy choices, visualize your best and give and receive support, do not procrastinate and learn more about this celeb-worthy weight loss trick from Yogalosophy: 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover today!
Bringing out your best with body contouring
Bringing out your best with body contouringPreviously the “biggest” gal in the Kardashian-Jenner clan, Khloé Kardashian completely morphed her body into a killer silhouette after a highly publicized divorce from ex-husband Lamar Odom, with a weight loss makeover that was so dramatic it earned the reality TV star her own prime-time spin-off, “Revenge Body with Khloé Kardashian”. Besides working out hard and switching to a clean, balanced diet, Khloé is certainly someone who wouldn’t shy away from the doctor’s office to get her picture perfect or in modern terms, selfie ready.
Since its media splash in late 2010, Fat freezing has taken the body-contouring world by storm as one of the most popular and effective non-invasive modality for target fat loss. Also known as cryolipolysis, only one treatment with this largely painless FDA approved procedure is required to see 20-23% of fat reduction in the area(s) treated. Molly Sims, Kris Jenner and Gretchen Rossi have all been outspoken about their support for the process, and Khloé Kardashian too, has credited part of her revenge body to the magic of cryoliposis. “Some patients may not see success in round one, but find that “second time’s a charm” is largely true,” says Dr. Low Chai Ling. “When combined with an appropriate diet plan and regular exercise regime, the results are permanent and long lasting.”
Coolshape cryolipolysis which employs advanced German Zimmer technology is certainly ahead of other similar modalities seen in the current market, with an in-built massaging mechanism that replaces or adds on to manual means for better lymphatic drainage of broken down fat cells. Coupled with the possibility of treating multiple areas concurrently, treatment time and recovery period is shortened, with visible results seen earlier. Dream Body Tone which uses a vibro-massage core to stimulate optimal lymphatic drainage of surrounding tissues is recommended to speed up the clearance of broken down fat cells, harnessing the power of sonic waves at the same time to help infuse potent skin strengthening vitamins, amino acids and peptides to help improve overall skin tone and elasticity of treated area(s). Tag on Exilis Body Magic to further enhance your body sculpting efforts, a novel, FDA-approved treatment that engages a unique combination of ultrasound waves and radiofrequency (RF) to systematically heat up skin to various depths, resulting in fat reduction and skin tightening, circumferential reduction, cellulite smoothening and textural gains. With the combined help of this fat-busting trio in the Supermodel Bodyfit Program conceptualized by medical experts from the SW1 Clinic, you’re sure to reach your ideal body shape well ahead of the all-important summer seaside vacay.
Dr. Low Chai Ling who founded The Sloane Clinic in 2003 is currently the medical director @ the SW1 Clinic, her aspiration for a one-stop aesthetics destination that cater to both non-invasive cosmetics dermatology and cutting edge aesthetics surgery in Singapore, addressing all possible beauty woes without prejudice and limitations.
SW1’s philosophy is “Empowering the world one face at a time. Live Your Dreams.”