A healthy body starts from within; it´s what gives us that natural glow, bright eyes, fresh complexion, happy body, and mind. It doesn´t matter how many lotions and potions you’re using – if you´re not nourishing your body, getting enough sleep and exercising on a regular basis – no magical pot of cream will make that skin and body glow!
But what if you´re doing all of these things seemingly the right way; eating healthy, working out 3-4 times a week – and you´re still feeling bloated, fatigued and irritable? Every body is different, and as with your skincare; we are all uniquely built – so there has to be an individual approach to your body and health as well. But one thing which many of us women suffer with in common (and a not so sexy topic) – is water retention. This is an excessive build up of fluid in your body, and something which I´ve quite often struggled with (not so ideal come summer time, when one wants to look, and feel your best!). The most common cause of water retention is weak circulation in the legs veins, hot weather (your body tends to be less efficient at removing fluid from tissues in the summer months), standing for long periods of time, a congested lymphatic system, hormones associated with the menstrual cycle, too much salt in your diet, certain hormones and medicines, or crash diets…
One of the most common places to for water retention, is your legs and thigh area. But luckily, there are lots of things you can do to help shed the water, and feel confident when getting those pins out on show!
First things first – you need to look at your diet. Having a healthy, balanced diet which contains lots of vegetables, grains and other high-fiber foods will definitely help. Make sure you up your protein (which encourages your body to shed excess fluid), have lots of cabbage, cucumber and parsley (which are natural diuretics), and eat enough bananas for the potassium (this also helps eliminate the fluid retention). Then, cut back on dehydrating drinks such as coffee, tea and alcohol, make sure you drink enough water (ironically, fluid retention comes from a lack of water because you’re body doesn’t know when it will get more of it, so it retains everything it has!), and most importantly, cut out high sodium foods out of your diet – salt absorbs water and causes excess swelling.
Once your diet is sorted – make sure you get enough exercise on a daily basis – 20 minutes is a minimum (read my fitness blog post here.) Then, lastly – if you´re up for it, and have the time and budget to go that extra mile to look your best come summer time – there are lots of alternative body treatments out there, which can be a way of decreasing any excess bloating or swelling (or any other concerns you might have).
For the past 3 weeks, I´ve been testing out HYPOXI – a targeted method of body shaping alongside a specialised training concept, which combines alternating high and low pressure with exercise, to help target swelling in those areas which just won’t budge.. Now, I am not saying I need to loose weight, but I have struggled with fluctuating periods of water retention (due to various reasons I won´t be boring you with in this post) – so needless to say, I was very intrigued to try a round of sessions just before the summer season!
I had never heard of HYPOXI, until my friend and trainer recommended I pay a visit following my concerns. To be honest, I was completely unsure as to what to expect, and I´m also quite sceptical to anything which promotes weight loss. As you know, I am a firm believer in a healthy and wholesome diet, alongside regular exercise and rest. BUT, going back to dealing with issues which your body can´t always control or manage – I was intrigued to try it out – to see if it worked for me.
According to the science behind HYPOXI, the most important aspect of successfully reducing body fat, bloating and water retention – is optimal blood circulation to the concerned lower body areas. This makes perfect sense, as so many people suffer from poor circulation (no matter how healthy you might be).
So, how does it work?
They have HYPOXI studios all over the world; I went to the London based salon in Chiswick, run by the lovely Dorota. After an initial consultation, she created a personalised 2-week programme for me. HYPOXI have four different machines, all for varying concerns; my treatment plan included 1 x 20-minutes of on the Dermology, followed by 1 x 30-minutes on the S120 bike, 3 times a week for the duration of 2 weeks (6 sessions in total).
The Dermology session is achieved with vacuum, based on the principle of cupping – and compression, meaning treatment with positive pressure. This involves wearing a sort of space suit (a bit weird at first), and having a circulation boosting massage in this suit for 20 minutes – which in turn is supposed to work with the lymphatic system. The S120 vacuum treatment, includes negative and positive pressure while strapped onto the bicycle (now wearing a different type of space suit) while doing moderate exercise.
During this compression phase, blood and fluids are drained again, it stimulates your metabolism, water and swelling is reduced, and redundant fat is activated and transported via the blood circulation to be burned in the muscles. HYPOXI also claims to improve the appearance of cellulite and strengthens your body tissue. The effect? A firm and smoother complexion, reduced swelling, and a lighter body in general.
Firstly, the whole process is super easy, you have to wear loose fitted clothing, the exercise is really basic and simple, the vacuum pressure is relatively pleasurable, and the whole thing requires no down-time whatsoever (all very good things). However, there’s no denying, HYPOXI is dedication – both time wise, and financially. But, given I was pretty sceptical to the treatment concept at first, I have to admit I was pretty blown away when only after 2 sessions, my water retention had gone down dramatically. After 4 sessions, my skin felt much smoother and softer, and by the end of it, my body and appearance felt so light and energised. It is recommended you don’t exersize on the HYPOXI days, and you of course, eat healthy, lean and sensible during this period (you are given a more specific nutrition plan by HYPOXI that is reccomended to follow for maximum benefits).
As I spoke about in the beginning – every single body is unique. What works for me, might not work for you, and vice versa. It’s so important you find the right body treatment for you – be it something like HYPOXI, or more manual treatments such as Cellcosmet Body Detox Treatment or Elemis Targeted Toning Tightener. These are all great options if you want to tone, shed, and target stubborn areas of fat or water retention, which just won’t budge (no matter how much salad and water you consume!). Having more frequent and regular treatments are also a great option if you do struggle with a bumpy skin tone, and you want to feel your best (especially when you’re on your holibobs!).
But don’t forget that healthy starts from within, and before jumping on the latest craze and shedding lots of $$$ – the most important factor is having a healthy and varied diet, lots of water, a balanced lifestyle and enough regular exercise. Then, if you do decide to go that little extra; there are lots of great body treatments out there such as HYPOXI which can really help kickstart more long-term results – and can be excellent additions to achieve that happy and healthy body.
Pampelone Dress
Dune Sandals
Oysho Hat
Gucci Bag
Dior Sunglasses
I received my sessions on a complimentary basis from HYPOXI, however, my review and general opinion, is of course 100% my own.
SUMMER BEAUTY BOX GIVE-AWAY
To finish off this blog post, and in celebration of all things summer, I´m so excited to be giving away this huge box of goodies, with so many incredible beauty products for body & hair, holiday essentials, SPF, jewellery, bikini, beach bags, and my go-to summer recipe cook book… Perfect timing, right?
With brands such as La Roche-Posay, Lavera, Bamford, Skinceuticals, Maria Nila, Elemental Herbology, Toni & Guy, Oysho, Barbour, House of Fraser, Daisy London (to only mention a few), taking part – it´s an absolute cracker of a give-away!
TO ENTER: Simply leave a comment with your name, and in one (or two) sentences let me know what more you want to be reading about on the blog; if it´s beauty, fitness, fashion, travel… Whatever! I´m always looking at bettering the blog and making sure I´m writing about stuff which you truly love and find inspiring – so any ideas, or more specific requests would be so appreciated!
**ENTRY NOW CLOSED**
Congratulations to the the lucky winner Sophie Ogilvie. Huge thanks to everyone else who entered, all tips and recommendations have been taken on board!
Wow Anneli, what an amazing giveaway! I love your blog just the way it is, but I always enjoy reading about ‘clean’ beauty products and food (low/no sugar etc.) and would also love to see some cooking and make-up video tutorials. Linda x
Such a great competition, thank you! I love everything on your blog – fashion, beauty, travel – I would love to read a bit more on your success as a blogger, and some career top tips, as it seems you’ve nailed doing something you love, which is so great.
Hi Anneli, Love your blog! I’d love to see more renovations and interiors as I am also renovating my house at the mo! Love all your fashion posts!
Hi Anneli, I love your blog and was a committed follower of sustain the glow too. I would love more posts such as this one plus recipes and fitness tips in addition to your wonderful beauty and fashion tips xx
Love reading your posts – your attitude towards health is so refreshing. I really enjoy your weekly/monthly favourites as well as the beauty and recipe tips xx
Wow, what a lovely giveaway! I do love the range of topics you cover but I do particularly like reading about beauty tips/products. As I am about to have my second child, I need all the help I can get!
Incredible giveaway – what a ray of sunshine on this glorious day. Honestly, one of things I like best about your blog is the breadth of your content, it really is a true lifestyle blog and I enjoy the contemplative and honest guidance you give on all things health and life related. Keep up the beautiful photography too!
Hi Anneli, what an amazing give away!! You’re one of my favourite bloggers. You cover everything I love, fashion, beauty, fitness, home interior and travel. I always look forward to see what your next blog post will be. I love how you mix high end fashion with the high street, it would be great if you done a debit / credit section on your blog.
Hi… Your blog is fantastic and explodes with inspiration…. Renovating and decor would be great to see more of… X
That’s more than seielbns! That’s a great post!
Hi Anneli, Love your blog, in fact I love all your social media posts, especially snap chat which really compliments the blog and gives us a real-time insight into your lifestyle. I’d like to know more about how you go about planning/scheduling a blog. You seem so busy and travel a lot, so how do you fit it all in/keep on top of it/ manage it all? Some features and tips on how you pull your outfits together would be great to see too. Keep up the good work!
What a brilliant giveaway! I love reading your blog, I love all the healthy clean recipes and fitness articles. I’d love to see more high street fashion finds and interiors articles
Your blog has something for everyone, it’s diverse just like everyone of your readers which is why it’s appealing. I love the fact that your giveaway has a little something that we can all relate to and would want in our chest of drawers or cupboards at home!!
A review of products which can help us ladies get summer ready and rid us of/reduce the appearance of scars, bumps and ingrown hairs would be helpful!
Would also love to see a feature on bright coloured lipsticks/lip glosses and also bright coloured summer clothing.
I would love to read more posts on living a more minimalist and mindful lifestyle and how to choose items of clothing that stand the test of time in terms of quality and style. Thanks for all the posts so far…love the blog!
Hi Anneli, I would welcome a feature or two for (healthy) recipe ideas using your vitamix. I tend to use my vitamix for smoothies and juices but let’s face it, using it for just for those is not the best use of a £500 machine! ( so does my husband keep reminding me of…..) Kriszta
Hello, really enjoy the blog as it is! Really interested in your philosophy on health and wellbeing so more of this please
Hi Anneli. Amazing competition!
I would love to read more about skincare and perhaps makeup tutorials? I loved your wedding makeup post!
Thanks
Claire ❤️
Hi Anneli, I love the breadth of your blog but what initially got my interest an keeps me hooked is you style an take on fashion/trends. I love that you always mix high end an high street as it keeps you looks accessible to those of us who aspire to look high end but at high street prices!
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
Hi Anneli – Love the blog, especially the monthly favourites and travel posts (which I’d love to see more of!), but I think your strength lies in your breadth and variety which means your blog is always an interesting read!
Hi Anneli! I absolutely love your blog, mostly due to its versatility in the subjects covered from fashion to interiors to beauty regimes. It’s great that you cover both highstreet and higher end products making your blog connect with varying audiences.
I’d love to see more about your house renovations and also some more recipe ideas would be great!
Sam X
Great post and giveaway Anneli. I always enjoy your travel posts and anything related to fitness, I’d love to see more of your home renovations too.
LOVE your blog, have been a passionate follower since stumbling across it a couple of years back, I always love reading about your health/beauty/body tips of which I have followed and seeing massive results so would love to see more, amazing give away :-) x
Dear Anneli, what a lovely give-away! I would love to keep that summerfeeling alive with that box. I’ve been reading your blog for years now and enjoy your posts, advices and recommendations about fashion, fitness, beauty and travel ever since. I would love to read a food diary on your blog and i really enjoyed reading your interior posts lately.
so amazing , I try !!http://intelligently-fashionable.blogspot.com
Hi Anneli,
Jeg liker din blogg og sommer gaven! ☀️
I have been reading your blog for a number of years now and I especially enjoy the fashion posts. I like reading about new trends, key pieces and seeing the high street steals. I also enjoy reading about heathy living but some more health food recipes could be good Your blog has converted me me to matcha
Vicki xxx
Hi Anneli,
Your blog is one of the first ones I check every morning! Living in Australia means that I refer to your blog for inspiration on what to expect for next season, so more fashion and beauty related posts would be great. Also, I recently interviewed you for my blog too! http://astylishmoment.com/interview/a-stylish-moment-with-anneli-bush/. Would absolutley love to be in the running to win the Summer beauty Box Give-Away! xx
Anneli – love the blog. Would love to see more home posts – including a long awaited tour of your new house. Also enjoy travel blogging.
What a lovely post Anneli, and such gorgeous goodies to giveaway! I particularly love all your fashion posts but also thinks its great how you have a such a range of post. I love the mixture of what you post about as it keeps it exciting and your never know what your going to get… meaning I check your blog everyday! X
Hi Anneli, what a giveaway! I particularly love all fashion posts and would love to see more interiors. Thanks x
Excellent blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally overwhelmed .. Any tips? Bless you!
Author
WordPress is amazing, and all you really need :) Easy, user friendly with so many excellent options when it comes to design layout etc. Ax
Touchdown! That’s a really cool way of putting it!
Hi Anneli, what an amazing give away! I love your blog as I feel like it is targeted to more of an order age group (cough cough like me). For me, I’m all about the interiors and looking for decor inspiration. This is on a large scale (so tiles, sofas etc), as well as the smaller things to decorate. I’m constantly pinning your pinterest interior pics and would love to see more of this sort of thing on your blog!
Hi Anneli, what great goodies! Would love more beauty finds and maybe your make up essentials. Also love accessories posts and high street finds! Love your blog !
Hi Anneli! I love the chic and relaxed angle you take to write abut life. My favourite has to be your travel pieces – the photography is so clean, crisp and inspirational. Currently craving fresh sea food after going through your Marbella piece x
Hi Anneli
I love reading about your travel adventures, your favourite beauty items and also your interior design posts. They’re my go to posts!
I’d love to read more about your travel beauty must haves, how you keep your skin looking so healthy and also your travel packing tips!
I also wanted to say how amazingly helpful this post was, I suffer hugely with water retention and bloating, especially in my ankles and legs and I can’t wait to give your tips a try in time for my destination wedding in 2 months! I really hope they work for me too!
Thanks again,
Kate
Hi Anneli, what amazing goodies! I love to read fitness posts, maybe something more about your fitness wardrobe, and gym beauty tips!
Love your blog X