So January, month of resolutions, good intentions and metaphorical wagons, is finally over. If last week’s press is anything to go by, a ridiculous proportion of those who were on said wagon last month will have given up by now, with innumerable disciples having abandoned their new-found regimes and let their New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside in favour of an easy life involving sofas and Krispy Kremes.
I get it, I really do, I was one of them; I started the month with the best intentions (no booze, healthier eating, will definitely join a gym this year…) and yet four weeks later and here I find myself at home with a pizza and a SATC box set rather than at a Zumba class. If, like me, you need a helping hand to get back on the straight and narrow, I’ve pulled together a few ideas that just might help (NB: no promises…). Whether it’s a proper grown-up skincare routine or a healthier eating plan that you resolved to stick to this year, some of the below just might help give you a kick start in the right direction…
The Diet
I’m well aware of how tricky it can be to eat healthily; working three very busy jobs means a lot of desk-bound lunches, a lot of evening events running across town, and the prospect of 15 extra minutes in bed in the morning always trumps the thought of a healthy bowl of porridge. So it was that I recently trialled diet food delivery service Balance Box to try and kick start a healthier regime and inspire me to put more thought into planning some healthier food in advance.
The idea is to choose between two plans, the Market Menu is 1,200 calories a day, or for those with a slightly larger appetite the Super Market Menu stretches to 1,800. The week’s food (Monday-Thursday) is delivered on a Sunday night (actually in the middle of the night, so helpful if you have somewhere it can be left for you) and all you need to do is pop everything in the fridge and follow the heating instructions each day. Simple enough. They pride themselves on providing fresh, wholesome food, using the best ingredients. To be honest, it barely felt like dieting; with breakfasts including roasted peach muesli and prune bircher, delicious lunches like leek and mozzarella frittata and tasty dinners (their coconut and almond chicken curry was better than my local takeaway), as well as snacks including peanut bars and fresh fruit & nuts, you feel full all day. While they can take into account allergies, the one disadvantage is that as it’s a set menu it can’t be altered if there are particular things you are averse to; I hate mushrooms, I’m not allergic but they make me feel physically sick, so the mushroom risotto wasn’t ideal – that night I traded with my housemate and made myself chicken and salad. Having said that, my five days of healthy Balance Box eating made me feel cleaner, fresher, and slightly leaner. With prices starting at £16.99 a day, financially it may not be a long-term solution, but it’s a great way to kick start a healthy eating routine and I’ve even been inspired to make my own versions of some of the dishes since trying it.
www.balancebox.com
The Workout:
Something I always manage to put off, I hate, loathe and detest gyms. I used to have one in my building, I could see it from my living room window, and yet I think I set foot in it about four times in the 18 months I lived there. The idea of monotonously pounding a treadmill makes me want to puke, so the thought of something that might actually keep my mind stimulated as well as doing my body good is definitely appealing.
The latest import from across the pond is the fitness phenomenon that is Barry’s Bootcamp. Launched in Bloomsbury last week with a team of US celebrity trainers, its based around the simple idea of shocking the body with a 1000 calorie-burning workout in a 60 minute class. Sounds too good to be true… Founded in West Hollywood in 1998, Barry’s is beloved amongst the Hollywood elite (apparently Jessica Alba is a fan; if there’s even the slightest chance I may end up looking like her, I’m there…). Classes are led by motivational instructors and based on 30 minutes of interval cardiovascular routines followed by 30 minutes of strength training using free weights, bands and bars, set to a high-energy soundtrack performed in low, nightclub-style lighting. The cardio part helps burn fat and the strength training builds muscle, raises the metabolic rate and improves bone density. I’ve also been assured that the instructors work everyone at different levels and are more the encouraging, motivational sort rather than the shouty, military sort – always a bonus if, like me, you are a total gymophobe. Watch this space as I might even pluck up the courage to try it myself, after I buy myself some real trainers that is – I don’t think gold converse are meant for the gym…
Classes run from 6am to 10pm Monday-Friday and 8.45am-4pm Saturday-Sunday, £14-£20 per session, no membership or joining fees. For further information and to book call 020 7387 7001 or visit www.barrysbootcamp.com
The Treatments
Sometimes the best way to begin a health kick is with a little spa trip (words from a professional there…), and now is the perfect time to scrub away winter, drain out dodgy skin once and for all and start with a fresh canvas ready for a new routine as we head into spring.
Everyone's favourite Covent Garden spa The Sanctuary has created the revitalising Glacial Shell Detox Massage, the easy way to cleanse your body. This invigorating massage stimulates the lymphatic system and encourages the body’s own natural purification for an almost instantly flatter stomach, without having to do any hard work! Using chilled Glacial Shells in unison with hot Lava Shells, the combination of hot and cold pressure on the body aids the breakdown of fatty tissues, stimulates a sluggish
circulation and moves uncomfortable build-up in the digestive system, giving a natural colonic effect and banishing water retention and bloating. Ideal. £85 for a 55-minute treatment at Covent Garden Day Spa.
www.sanctuary.com
If it’s your face that needs a bit of help, French beauty brand Sisley’s new Essential D-Tox Facial might be the answer. Exclusive to the Sisley treatment room in Harrods’ Cosmetics Hall, this detoxifying yet cocooning ritual focuses on the five senses to offer maximum mind and body relaxation for a complete state of tranquillity while working to boost skin lacking energy and vitality.
Incorporating the new Botanical D-Tox, the 45 minute treatment began with a deep cleanse, followed by a gentle yet thorough exfoliation to eliminate impurities as well as a mask. There are few things more relaxing that a hot towel in the middle of a facial (my favourite part, that and the super cosy duvet I was cocooned in…) and combined with a lymphatic drainage massage it eased facial tension with the added benefit of promoting cellular regeneration. Your therapist will also assess your skin’s particular needs and select one of Sisley’s five exclusive Phyto-Complex Essential oils, which will be incorporated into the facial for a bespoke experience. I have long been a fan of Sisley’s facial skincare and, while pricey, it’s definitely a brand where you get what you pay for. My skin was left feeling purified and revitalised, my slightly angry-looking spots have relaxed somewhat and my face looked rejuvenated.
£50 booking fee, redeemable against the purchase of two Sisley skincare products made on the day of the treatment. For bookings please call 020 7730 1234. www.sisley-cosmetics.com
The Skincare
Treatments are all well and good, but if you’re not going to carry on a good skincare routine when you get home again then there’s almost no point in wasting your money. There are obviously a million and one products out there for different problems and different skin types, but for if like me you have the joy of combination skin with occasional breakouts then these three favourites of mine might help:
1.The Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask: Does what it says on the tin; self-heating, it opens up pores allowing the charcoal and kaolin clay to draw out impurities from deep within, leaving skin clean and purified in five minutes as well as rebalancing its oil levels. £10.50, available from Boots.
2.Biore Ultra Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Strips: Having suffered from blackheads since my teenage years these are a bathroom staple in my house. Not the most glamorous of beauty products, they essentially stick to your nose when wet and pull out all the gunk from your pores once dry. A little bit gross, and yet massively satisfying, I would be lost without them. £7.99, available from Boots & Superdrug.
3. Boots Botanics Radiant Youth Microdermabrasion Polish: I hate face scrubs that don’t really scrub; you know the sort, those with the rubbish little ‘beads’ in them that don’t really do anything. This gem from Boots is exactly the opposite. With a texture like wet sand, it’s a proper, deep, professional-feeling scrub that gets down and dirty and gets the job done. I love it, and what’s best is that it’s only £3.99! Amazing.
The Hair
So we've sorted the body and the face, let's not forget about your hair. If, like me, you're a fan of a colour change every few months, it's easy for hair to become dull, lacklustre and lifeless, especially when you add in the daily grind of pollutants from living in London and a build up of product.
The newly-launched Organic Head Detox Treatment from Daniel Galvin Jr aims to counteract all of the above, leave hair glossy, refreshed and stripped of all the nasties. After the diagnosis that my ends were looking a little green (never ideal...) a detox shampoo was applied followed by an intensive detoxing masque. Settled under the steamer for 20 minutes whilst it did its thing, I was indulged in old episodes of Absolutely Fabulous, a stack of glossy magazines and a lovely cup of tea, before my rinse (complete with indulgent head massage, of course). The treatment finished up with a big, bouncy blow dry after which I could see and feel the difference instantly; my hair undoubtedly felt lighter, looked shinier, and I was pleased to report no tinge of green in sight. The treatment is complemented by the new range of Organic Head shampoos and conditioners. Free of any parabens, SLS, mineral oils or animal ingredients, the range has been developed using Daniel’s extensive research and knowledge of the organic market. Rich in essential oils including organic Aloe Vera, Orange Oil, Argan Oil and Wheat proteins, Organic Head comprises a full range of every day shampoos and conditioners for blondes, brunettes and over-processed hair, together with a capsule styling range to complement the colour collection of care products.
www.danielgalvinjunior.com
Love Laurel x
