Another way to keep your body in good shape

Another way to keep your body in good shape

Debbie A. Lubis, Contributor, Jakarta

As people's intake of fatty, sugar-laden and salted food
continues to rise, obesity has become a major threat, especially
for women.

Recent research conducted in America, which studied 115,000
women, shows that those who are obese will be twice as likely to
suffer heart attacks and angina. Being obese also causes women to
lack self-confidence.

Threats of disease and death have caused many women to fear
being overweight and try their best to keep their body fit and in
good shape. No wonder many flock to slimming and body care
centers that offer various packages to cater for such needs.

Madeline Beauty Center, Impressions Body Care Center, and
Marie France Bodyline are some in Jakarta that offer such
packages.

Among those who have benefited from these programs are
talented singer Kris Dayanti and noted TV star Dian Nitami who
have successfully reduced and maintained their slender figures
after giving birth.

"Thanks to Impressions, I am more self-confident, on the
screen and in my daily life. I got my figure through slimming
activities; not by liposuction, through the insertion of gold, or
injections of silicone, as charged by many parties," Kris, a
mother of two, said.

For Dian Nitami, joining a slimming program at Marie France
Bodyline for three months, helped her reduced her weight to 58
kilos from 77 kilos.

Impressions offers a weight loss program without chemical
medicines, injections, cold wraps, or sweaty thermals. There is
no strict diet or excessive sports. Clients lose weight by
discharging toxic substances and metabolic residue from the body
(detoxification), weight and inch loss programs and body
contouring to retighten flabby skin.

The clients usually take Supplement II that contains 11 types
of ingredients that naturally depress appetite and help the body
to dissolve fat and "Slender Herbs" that eliminate cellulite,
enhance blood circulation, and decrease liquid accumulation.

At Madeline Beauty Center there are no specially proscribed
foods or activities for clients who should eat "normal, healthy
diets".

"Visible results may be seen after four treatments at the
center when 2-3 kilograms are lost after the first week," says
the center's Dr. Robert Vanderelst.

Madeline's body slimming package is especially tailored for
overweight and post-maternal women whom plan to slim down. The
treatment starts with the measurements of weight, height, age and
a notes on habits before and after each treatment.

Then, women have a body wrap with marine active ingredients
which acts efficiently with long-lasting results on excess fat,
due to the combination of laminaria, fucus algae and sea water.
Laminaria algae is rich in minerals and regulates lipolysis of
fat cells while the alginic acid moisturizes and helps eliminate
toxins in the body.

The next step is to have entire body covered with algae gel
and slimming cream and a light massage that is followed by more
body wrapping for 30 minutes. After this, Infra Red therapy for
20 minutes will burn off the fat without damaging the skin.

The next step is to have a body scrub in luke-warm water using
moisturizing cream to further burn body fat.

"We recommend to take a package of 10 treatments on a weekly
basis. The cost for slimming package is Rp 6.5 million for 10
treatments with two treatments for free," said Vanderelest.

The center also offers diet pills to control appetite, which
should be taken once a day in the morning after breakfast.

"Slimming injections are also recommended to speed up the
slimming process with high ascorbic acid and argine that has the
properties for fat burning capabilities". Slimming injections
costs Rp 495,000 (about US$60) per shot and a bottle of diet pill
is Rp 300,000.

Besides loosing weight, it is also crucial for women to do the
firming treatments in a bid to rid the body of cellulite,
wrinkles, stretch marks and flabbiness.

Madeline Beauty Center's firming treatments reduce and prevent
swelling in legs, improve blood circulation, stimulate active
cellular exchange, and facilitate active ingredient penetration
(osmosis).

Meanwhile, at Marie France Bodyline, requires a client to have
a prior consultation before taking a slimming or body weight
program. During the consultation, a medical expert analyzes the
client's needs, lifestyle, and targets.

"The packages will target the client's needs -- whether they
need weight loss, firming, cellulite loss or even just improving
their overall wellbeing", says Tania Winata of Marie France
Bodyline.

Marie France provides doctors and nutritionists to ensure
clients achieve their ideal weight safely and effectively. Marie
France Fat Mobilization System and firming treatment use 100
percent natural methods, without pills, injections, strenuous
exercise or strict diets.

By wrapping certain parts of the body that have excessive fat
with an elastic bandage soaked in particular ingredients, clients
can burn accumulated fat and slenderize arms, tummy, thighs, and
lower legs for 30 minutes.

"The cost and length of treatment for each package depends on
the client's needs and objectives. So, they usually differ from
client to client," Tania said.