Prepare for Xmas with a Christmas Pre-Tox

Shedding the Christmas Pounds

Cut down on the calories

When I saw that GMTV were running a feature on a pre Christmas detox, I thought it was a fantastic idea. Every year I over-eat and over-drink during the festive season then wish I hadn't for the next six months. Before you know it its bikini time again and I'm upset that I still didn't shed those Christmas pounds! The thing is, I like to eat and drink and I don't want to have to count those glasses of wine or that extra potato (or Christmas cake helping) - after all, Christmas comes but once a year! - So what can I do instead? A Christmas pre-tox sounds great. Do something before all those Christmas parties begin so that then when it's all over, you won't be feeling so fat and hungover. Well, that's the theory anyway!

Watch Those Calories

Statistics show that the average person puts on about 6lbs over Christmas. Even if you lose just 3lbs before the festivities start it means in theory you should only put on half the weight that you would have done. Every little helps as they say... The best ways to do this I think is to make some very simple substitutes. Grill instead of fry, use Sweeteners rather than sugar (if you can't bear to cut it out at all), diet versions of drinks rather than the 'full fat' option (or water - even better!), make your portions a bit smaller than usual or eat extra vegetables and less meat and potatoes. All these things are tiny little steps that don't take much effort but you'll be surprised at what a difference they make. Also, try introducing ingredients that boost your metabolism - celery, green tea and ginger.

Water, Water, Water...

Drink plenty of water

Drink lots of water! We all know its good for us but so many of us just don't do it enough, and I must admit I'm one of the guilty ones! Ideally we should drink about 2 litres a day. Water flushes out those toxins which, if left to accumulate cause us aches, pains, tension, headaches as well as constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Start drinking water now to clear out your system before you start filling it again over Christmas. A cleansed body will be able to cope much better than one already full. If you can't get used to drinking so much water, try adding some lemons and limes for a fruity taste and extra health benefits.

Give Your Immune System a Boost

Your immune system will need a good boost before you start going to all those smoky, party atmospheres. It will also help keep illness at bay so you're in tip top shape for all those parties in the first place! The best five foods for boosting your immune system are beef, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, yoghurt and tea. Try to eat a few of these once a day to really do you some good. Sleeping well is also a great immune system booster; if you don't sleep enough you could reduce the effectiveness of your immune system by 50%!

Relax

Make sure to relax

Why not visit your favourite beauty salon to really help you relax? At Beauty of Bedford we have a treatment called the Oxy Contour which is fantastic for your Christmas Pre-tox. This treatment incorporates lymph drainage massage to cleanse the lymphatic system and bloodstream. The benefits of this treatment include faster removal of toxins from the body, softer and younger looking skin due to increased levels of hydration, increase in metabolism, increase in energy, reduction of cellulite and a reduction in water retention. Perfect for treating cellulite, weight loss and fluid retention. Ideally, as your lymphatic system works on a 28 day cycle, the recommended course would be 4 weekly treatments then 1 per month. However, as part of our Christmas Pre-tox plan one will certainly give you a fantastic boost.

Well I'm going to take some of my own advice this year. A pre-tox sounds so much better than a detox. Its like the Christmas binge is a reward for being so healthy in the first place, rather than the detox being the punishment!

— Maria