Slim Girl Diary

A coworker recently asked me what I was doing in the evening, and when I told him I was getting a massage, he was soo surprised! He looked at me and said, my goodnes you’re splashing out!

I smiled at him and tried to explain that I view treatments like that as part of a healthy lifestyle.  Did you know that massage is one of the best things you can do for stress, muscle tension and general wellbeing?

Getting to the spa isn’t really a luxury; I view it as part of a balanced lifestyle that includes working hard and then finding time to relax and recuperate. Isn’t it true? Here are three places you can go if you are on a budget in London:

Ironmonger Row Baths
For about 10 GBP and your own towel, you can get into this really cool 1930s bath.  You can make use of the plunge pools, steam rooms, hot rooms, marble slab rooms, get a scrub, or just chill out in one of the relaxation rooms.

London College of Beauty Therapy
This beauty school offers discount prices on popular beauty treatments like massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and waxing.

London College of Fashion
The London College of Fashion runs a monthly propmotion on a treatment (usually a massage or facial) that will be offered to its customers using top of the line products. Students are performing the beauty treatments, but are supervised at all times.

This is just proof that you don’t have to surrender your life savings to get a life saving relaxation treatment. I hope you’ll look at these places for your next time.

Elodie

Young women faint a lot. It’s not just from the days of corsets and bustiers! These days, it’s quite common for women my age (20s) to suffer from low blood sugar which causes them to faint very easily, among other things (but more on my health issues later guys!).

Anyways, one way that you can really help to regulate your blood sugar is to pay attention to the Glycemic Index (GI) of the food you’re eating. The glycemic index is basically a measure of how much the food you’re eating affects the content of sugar in your blood, or how fast the sugar is released into your body. Foods like candy and cake for example, have very high Glycemic Indices, and that means that when you eat them your blood sugar shoots up and, because what must go up must come down, it crashes and can make you feel pretty rubbish!

It’s a good idea therefore, to try and eat foods that have a low GI, so that your body’s sugar levels stay pretty constant and you get a very gradual and steady release of energy from your foods.  Here’s a great beginner’s list I found on GI from wikipedia.org. It includes the GI classification, the GI score, and some types of foods that fall into that category.

Hello readers!

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image: fineartamerica.com

One of my favourite ways to get exercise is by taking dance classes. I love dance classes because they aren’t a workout that is JUST an end unto itself… as Jerry Seinfeld once said (and this is a paraphrase),  “So… you’re getting in shape using the workout… so you can do the workout?!?!!?”

Besides dancers having bodies that are famous for their beauty, dancing is an art form that happens to use your body. You meet other people who are just as passionate about dance as you are and make friends, you can go to performances to be inspired to work harder, you learn to interpret music, you experience different cultures and you barely remember that you’re working out! It’s the best way to get in shape in my opinion.

I’ve taken it all– African, Hip Hop, Ballroom Dance (Salsa, Merengue, Cha-Cha, Paso Doble, Tango, Waltz, etc), Ballet and Contemporary. My absolute favourites are Contemporary Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary and of course Hip Hop!!!!

My favourite places to dance in London are The Place and The Pineapple. You can find any kind of dance you want between the two of these! From Egyptian to dance supporting exercises like Pilates and Yoga.

I absolutely love dancing! What is your favourite way to work out?

See you,
Elodie

Over dinner the other night, some friends and I somehow started talking about health (I know, I’m always talking about that!)

We had quite a mix of cultures around the table — French, American, German and Indian. We were talking about how much we were willing to spend on products that will enhance health and wellbeing.

My American and Indian Friends both said they don’t think they would spend extra money on health because they don’t think that it’s a neccesary expense. They were shocked when me and my German friend revealed how MUCH we value health products, enough to keep spending on them in a recession.

My German friend Anna swears by Herbalife products, and she says that there was even a recent study done in Germany by Herbalife that reveals that almost half of all Germans who took the poll currently spend over €500 each month on health and wellness. She sent me a link to the study (it’s in German).

I think Anna and I finally talked our friends round in the end! I sincerely believe that supplemental healthcare enhances your quality of life. After all, if you take care of your health NOW, it can save you time,  pain and especially money down the line, when you have prevented illnesses.

So I want to ask you– how much do YOU spend on your health?!

Elodie xxxx

Hi everyone,

I’m determined to get in shape! So I will probably give you all more updates of my progress. My goals are basically to tone up and lose a few pounds. Nothing too drastic, just a little maintenence!

I went and had a trial day at a local gym. I liked the class, it was spinning. So you bicycle for ages and ages to burn fat and calories. It was an all-women’s gym which I thought was a good idea. Who wants a bunch of men looking at your bum while you’re all sweaty and wearing trakkie bottoms?

I think trial days are great because you get to look around the facilities, meet people, and make up your own mind. But… should I get an actual gym membership? I don’t know if I’ll be motivated to go and work out as it’s getting so much colder in London. I mean, I’m all up for once in a while but I what if I want to try another gym? Or go to another class they don’t offer??? I think maybe I should find somewhere where I can take one-off classes and only pay when I actually go! It was a great thing to check out though, because I’ve never actually set foot inside a real gym before yesterday!

Elodie

[images: sharetheroad.co.uk & copenhagencyclechic.com]

I think it’s a shame that a city as modern as London doesn’t have better facilities for bicyclists. It would be amazing to cycle around London, like you can do in many other European capital cities, like Copenhagen and most recently, Paris.  In London, you have to don a neon vest and set out in packs dodging buses and cars during rush hour. AND, it’s an offence to cycle on the sidewalks. My friend got warned and fined because she didn’t know this law (she is French as well).

All isn’t lost however, because the London Cycling Campaign is campaigning for better infrastructure for cyclists in London. For example, they push for more bicycle facilities, bicycle lanes and parking space for cycles, more road space for bicycles, safer conditions for bicyclists, and special cycling routes for bicyclists. I think it’s a great idea and I support it wholeheartedly.

In Paris, there’s a program called the Vélib’, which basically means “freedom bike,” which has bikes all over the city you can hire for 30 mins for free and then pay for after that time. It’s a great way to get exercise; they just implemented the system in 2007, and it’s been a big success.  Dublin is following in their footsteps, and cities like Oslo, Copenhagen and Amsterdam already have the infrastructure in place.

I think we can make London a world-class cycling city. It has definite benefits, from health (which I am always interested in) to decreased pollution and a greener city, and it is actually a faster way to get around because of all the congested traffic in London.

Let’s make it happen! I really think this is a great idea that can make London a better, safer, greener, healthier place to live!

Elodie xx

Hi there guys,

There’s a new magazine out in London these days just for women called Stylist. It’s going to be a free weekly that’s targeted towards the working woman. I picked up a copy and was flipping through it on my way to work, and I found a section on face creams. Now, being French, I know that face creams are important, but I’ve never really taken the time to invest in a skin care regimen because I didn’t think I needed it.

But these creams look so luxurious, and stress, smoke and pollution are taking their toll! Maybe I should invest in finding a routine that works for me. There are lots of lines to choose from, but some creams that are supposedly amazing according to the magazine are the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, as well as the Chanel Précision Ultra Correction Line Repair. I’m not sure if these are for older women, or what the best idea is for women who have younger skin is, whether it’s not good to use creams like that if you don’t have the problems?

Hmmmm, I think I will try and learn about the tried and tested brands like Sisley, Dior, Lancôme, Clarins and Shiseido. These are all very well respected brands that have loyal followings… Please write to me with suggestions on what I should use, and I’ll update you on my progress so you know what I’m learning!

Elodie

It’s always nice when you can get more bang for your buck in London– it doesn’t happen very often!

One of my favourite department stores in London, called House of Fraser, is having a sale of up to 25% off selected brands. Some of my favorites are Armani, D&G, Versace, Elle MacPhereson, Swarovski, Ralph Lauren and KG shoes.

They are also holding an event for beauty products, where you get 10% off of beauty brands. I am looking forward to browsing around in these brands!: Marc Jacobs, Elemis, Prescriptives and MD Skincare.

On my salary, it’s hard to get all the things I want, but I do think you have to treat yourself every once in a while! It helps you to keep going and having a tiny bit of luxury in your day helps you to keep working and savour life. I really believe this!

Do you know of any other seasonal sales that are coming up? Please tell me about them! I would love to hear ways to make the most of your budget and to make the most of the offers this city has to give!

Hope to hear from you soon,
Elodie

[image: breathingspace.co.uk]

I live on a main road, and we get traffic going by all day and all night. I know that this probably contributes to breathing in lots and lots of pollution. I want to get an air purifier for my room, but I dont know anything about them!

I did some reading up on what are the best ones and I saw this website called breathingspace.co.uk. All the purifiers on there are very expensive! But I found this really cute one called the MiniMate for only £75.00.

It’s a personal air purifier, which means that you can wear it and it cleans the space of the air right around you. It can protect you against:

• Secondhand smoke
• The Common Cold
• Influenza (A+B, Swine Flu, Avian Flu, Mexican Flu)
• SARS
• Anthrax
• Small Pox
• Pet Dander
• Mould
• Perfume
• Chemicals
• Odours
• Dust Mites
• Allergens
• Bacteria

I think it’s really powerful and what a good idea! Especially if you live in a city, you need something like this to help you breathe clean fresh air.  I might go ahead and invest in it, even though it’s really expensive.
Elodie .

[image: bbc.co.uk]

I am sick with a cough. I tried antibiotics but they didn’t work. My doctor said you can’t take antibiotics too much. Like, if you finish a course of antibiotics, then you can’t take the same antibiotics again because your bacteria is too smart the second time around.

And THEN, I was doing some reading that said antibiotics aren’t always that good for you. I had no idea, and now I’m really worried. I want to stop coughing, and when you go to the doctor, you just want to feel better and you just go ahead and do what they say you should, but it’s not always the best thing. So, for those of you who want to know, here is information on why you should be careful when using antibiotics.

1. Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics if you overuse them.

2. Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics if you don’t finish the complete course that your doctor prescribes.

3. Sometimes people don’t need antibiotics but they get prescribed them anyways. Antibiotics are good for getting rid of bacteria but not for getting rid of viruses. So if you have the flu, that’s viral and  you  don’t need antibiotics.

4. Antibiotics can’t tell the difference between good bacteria and bad bacteria. Some bacterias are good for you, like the ones that help you to digest your food or defend you against outside infections. So, if you take antibiotics and kill those off, then you are more likely to get sick again!

5. Antibiotics are foriegn to your body and sometimes keep your body from healing itself. If you take antibiotics, then your immune system doesn’t need to improve, because you aren’t letting it.

So, sometimes the best way to get better really is to just drink lots of fluids and rest.  Sigh…

Elodie xoxoxo

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