5 Easy Tips To Help You Reduce Your Cellulite Appearance

Cellulite forms and appears when you have too much body fat and insufficient muscle, and many try getting rid of it by spending thousands on liposuction or purchasing expensive over-the-counter creams. If you’re tired of hiding your cellulite behind long skirts and pants, check out our tips to help you reduce its appearance.

 1. Dry body brushing

Start your day with dry body washing. Lightly and gently sweep a dry body brush all over your skin before you step into the shower, starting from your ankles and slowly moving up. Always brush in the direction towards the center of your body as this gives your circulation a significant boost, eliminating toxins at the same time. Before you get out of the shower, blast your thighs with cold water to get blood flowing to that area.

2. Eat foods which tackle it

 Often, toxins are the cause of cellulite. These toxins not only decrease skin elasticity, but also lowers the rate of circulation in the body, causing cellulite to form. Therefore, eat as many bright-coloured fruits and vegetables as they contain the greatest amount of antioxidants, helping our bodies shed toxins. A perfect example of such foods is berries, so eat some strawberries or blackberries daily. Mangoes and bananas also aid in enhancing blood flow, preventing cellulite. Foods containing a lot of vitamin C play a significant role too as they increase levels of collagen in the skin, promoting elasticity. Such examples include broccoli, tomatoes, cabbage and spinach. Don’t forget about skin-strengthening foods such as chicken and avocados.

To add on, ‘diuretics’ foods also ward off cellulite. They help lessen the occurrence of bloating and fluid retention. Accumulated fluid can possibly stimulate cellulite so apart from drinking water, include foods like cucumber and onions in your meal. Avoid consuming processed fatty foods like cheese, sausages and cake as they contain additives, salt or a high amount of sugar which can cause too much toxin in the body.

 3. Exercise 

Apart from helping you to lose weight, exercising can get your blood flowing better. Cycling and jogging are deemed as effective as they target the thighs, bottoms and hips. You can also try squats to reduce the appearance of cellulite on your bottom and thighs. Other exercises you can do include lunges and kickboxing.

 4. Cellulite cups

This requires a specialised type of therapy which utilises a rubber suction cup to stimulate blood flow, creating more oxygen getting rid of toxins by getting the blood to flow. The pressure and suction from these cups loosen the muscles and will help to relieve pain too.

5. Avoid caffeine 

Studies have shown that caffeine can deteriorate your cellulite situation because of the adverse effects it has on blood flow. It also prevents you from getting sufficient oxygen and sufficient nutrients to the skin tissue. Limit your coffee taking by drinking only one cup a day.

At Slim Couture, we adopt Traditional Chinese Medicine practices to help you slim down. Our signature TCM slimming treatment will stimulate blood flow and trigger increased metabolism to remove body toxins, improve cellulite appearance and lose weight. Start your weight loss journey with us and achieve your desired body today.

4 Lifestyle Changes You Can Make To Help You Lose Weight

To lose weight within the shortest time, most people resort to intense short-term eating plans, also known as crash diets. These diets are inappropriate for those with a history of eating disorders because of their restrictive nature. Furthermore, your weight is likely to rebound after you’ve finished the program, making these diets unhealthy, ineffective and unsustainable in the long-run.

What you’re losing when following such eating plans, is water weight, not body fat. Drastic weight loss in such a short period lowers your insulin level, flushing out glycogen which is stored carbs which hold three times their weight in water. Reduced insulin leads to your kidney shedding excess sodium, therefore resulting in a drop of water retention.

Evidently, following such diets will cause detrimental and adverse effects. Instead, here are 4 ways you can make changes in your lifestyle that can help you to lose weight in a healthy manner.

1. Avoid consuming carbs and more lean proteins

Research has proven that you’ll definitely lose several kilograms just by simply following a low-carb diet. Apart from being effective, this also improves your health. Don’t forget to eat plenty of protein as they can further reduce your appetite while boosting your metabolism at the same time. At the same time, increase your intake of lean meats, egg and fish! Try to eliminate starchy carbs and sugars for the next few days and replace them with low carb vegetables.

2. Opt for whole foods and shun processed junk foods

Eat a simple diet on whole foods which allows you to lose weight quickly. As these meals tend to be filling, it’s easier to consume lesser calories without feeling hungry. Aim to consume mostly single-ingredient whole foods and avoid foods that are highly processed. Your health can stand to benefit from eating low carb vegetables and lean proteins.

3. Try high-intensity interval training and lift weights

Exercise is proven to be one of the best and most effective ways to burn fat and at the same time, improve your appearance. A prominent example of resistance training is weight lifting, which results in a sharp decline in weight. Furthermore, lifting weights can protect your metabolism and hormone levels. High-intensity interval training, HIIT, is another efficient method. Research has shown that 5 to 10 minutes of HIIT daily can lead to more significant health benefits and weight loss, which are five times more effective than regular exercises.

4. Increase your daily activity

How active you are throughout the day, excluding exercising, also plays a vital role in weight loss and obesity. For instance, there is a huge difference of 1,000 calories daily between a desk job and manual job, which also equates to 90 to 120 minutes of HIIT. From today, make simple lifestyle changes like taking the stairs, going for walks, standing more, or even cleaning the house.

At Slim Couture, we provide Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) slimming procedure for an effective weight loss program in Singapore which caters to your needs regardless of weight and gender. Embark on your weight loss journey with us today as we bring out your confidence!

3 Tips On How To Lose Fats & Gain Muscles At The Same Time

There is a misconception that in weight loss, it means you’re losing fat. But that might not be the case. Your body’s weight consists of your muscle, fat and water – so sometimes it’s not just the fat that’s going away. Fluid-loss often fluctuates but losing muscle, is a bad thing. With the loss of muscle, it has a negative impact on your strength and endurance. Your metabolism rate and insulin sensitivity will also be affected, which means that your body won’t be as efficient when it comes to burning fat!

The goal to successful weight loss is through losing fats, not muscles. To do this, one must have an appropriate exercise plan, a balanced diet and avoid a too large calorie deficit. And the good news is: You can build muscle and burn fat at the same time!

1, Eat more protein

Protein is the primary nutrition for creating new tissue. Studies have shown that eating plenty of protein helps increase muscle mass and strength. So when you’re going on diets or cutting down on your calories, be sure not to cut protein sources! Aim to include at least 25-30 grams of protein in every meal. Protein can come from many edibles like meat, eggs, fish and many more!

Besides, protein helps to maintain weight loss too. High protein diets help to boost metabolism and reduces calorie intake and cravings. So your body will be able to burn calories efficiently while feeling fuller for an extended period of time. This means less snacking!

2. Strength Training

To build your muscles, you have to train and strengthen them. Strength Training involves using resistance exercises to build strength and muscle mass, for example – Lifting weights. When you lift weights, it causes your muscle to tear and break down, and when they rebuild themselves, it’ll be stronger and bigger than before. If you’re a newbie in lifting weights, you will see the results very quickly! It is recommended to have at least two days of resistance training per week.

Subsequently, you can try combining your resistance training with High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). It involves short periods of intense exercise alternately with recovery periods. Remember, you have to be consistent with your training to see the results you want!

3. Get enough sleep

Sufficient sleep is crucial when it comes to increasing muscle mass. The lack of sleep decreases hormones such as testosterone and insulin that help your body recover or regenerate. Thus, leading to muscle loss. That’s the opposite we’re trying to achieve here!

When you are deprived of sleep, there are changes to hormones that help regulate your appetite. Ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite, is released and this causes an increase in food intake and promotes fat storage.

According to a study, it is proven that the lack of sleep will hinder energy levels, causing us to have mood swings. Our emotional state can directly affect our athletic performance; thus, it is best to get proper sleep before training or working out.

The lack of sleep does not only affect your muscle growth, but it also has a negative effect on fat loss.

Conclusion

Losing fat while gaining muscles is a process, so remember to be patient! Everybody’s body works differently, so don’t get discouraged if you see slow progress. To speed it up, you can consider trying out Slim Couture’s TCM slimming treatments. With our weight loss program, you can look forward to losing weight healthily and improve your circulatory system.

Why You Shouldn’t Embark on Your K-Pop Idols’ Extreme Diets

The moment the Hallyu wave crashed into the shores of Singapore, most of us couldn’t help but fall in love with the catchy beats and impressive outfits that K-pop has to offer. And once you’ve fully invested your time in K-pop, it’s hard to leave this genre. Soon, you find yourself discovering new girl and boy groups to stan, as you dance along to their latest hits in the secret confines of your room.

Then, you’re exposed to headlines and comments of idols with an “ant waist” or a “golden ratio” physique. Even a quick search online would enlighten you on their exact height, weight and measurements from their waist to their feet. As you get increasingly curious about how they maintain their weight, you might have come to find out about their extreme diets.

What are crash diets?

A crash diet is when you follow a restrictive meal plan like the IU diet, which merely consists of an apple, two sweet potatoes and a protein shake for breakfast, lunch and dinner – respectively. These three meals amount to around 700 calories, depending on the protein shake.

Even though the IU diet concerned most fans over South Korean singer IU’s eating habits, some have embarked on this challenge in an attempt to lose weight, fast. And although they’ve shed a significant amount of weight in a matter of a week, here’s why you shouldn’t undergo crash diets:

It reduces your metabolic rate

Since you’re drastically cutting down on your regular portion sizes, this translates to a lesser number of calories consumed daily. However, you’re likely to realise that you’ll feel tired quickly. This is because limiting your calorie intake burns muscles, which significantly impacts your metabolic rate.

It causes irritation, extreme hunger and fatigue

Often, the best weight loss program consists of a harmonious combination of carbohydrates, proteins and vegetables. Meanwhile, crash diets pale in comparison as it’s nutritionally unbalanced. The drop in blood sugar levels leads to feelings of lethargy and irritation. It also causes you to lose touch with the ability you once had to function normally due to lack of concentration. As your body craves for more food, you’re likely to feel hungry most of the time, especially since the minuscule amount of food you consume won’t suffice.

It has a yo-yo effect

After a few days, you might begin to see changes in your weight. And as you proceed to eat like you usually do, don’t be surprised by the sudden weight gain. Going through a crash diet deprives you of your daily food routine, so when you go on and off this diet, you’re causing your weight to fluctuate rapidly and irregularly. As extreme as these diets are, they’re also highly unsustainable in the long run.

Healthier alternatives to crash dieting

Having a fast solution to a long-term problem is very tempting. However, crash diets definitely aren’t designed to be a long-term fix for your daily diet, and it should never be done without consulting a dietician.

As the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race. As much as we want to attain our desired weight quickly, our physical health and mental wellbeing should never be compromised. Instead, start small by introducing more greens to your daily meals. And if you find that your current lifestyle is too sedentary, then spice it up by committing to a daily workout routine. Of course, change isn’t going to happen overnight. But over time, you’d start noticing results! Like fitting into a pair of jeans you once had to hold your breath for, or achieving a fitness milestone.

On the other hand, TCM slimming is also a great and all-natural way to lose weight without worrying about harming yourself. This treatment offers targeted slimming at areas where fats commonly accumulate, such as your lower stomach area, arms and thighs.

At Slim Couture, our in-house suction tools help stimulate the circulation of Qi, which brings about many benefits like increasing your metabolic rate! If you’d like to find out more about this treatment, contact us via +65 6534 0747!