Worried that the stresses of 2009 have taken their toll? From the economic crises to political problems, it’s been a year that’s placed a strain on our bodies, minds and wallets. But now’s the time to look forward to a new year, a new start and a new you. To help with this timely transformation just follow our tips to ensure you look your brightest and best come 2010.
Week one: Getting Started
This first week is all about beginning the transformation. Now is the time to make some big physical changes to make sure that you look your best for the new year.
1. Get that Hot Body
There’s no easy way of saying this but if you want a new body then you need to put the effort in. Lack will power? Let someone else be your conscience by hiring yourself a personal trainer who can whip you into shape. Most major gyms should offer the service (for a fee of course). Don’t worry if you can’t afford such extravagance, we spoke to the personal trainers for you. Pattarida “Mod” Sutarat, a personal trainer at True Fitness tells us that the key is to always warm up first, “Spend 10-15 minutes walking or jogging to get your muscles nice and warm.” You can check out her full 10-day work out online at www.bkmagazine.com/10dayworkout. Print it off and head down to the nearest park. In the meantime, and to get you started, we asked Andrew Mok, Club Manager of Body Torque gym (9/F, Thaniya Plaza, 52 Silom Rd., 02-231-2250) how we could get abs like Taylor Lautner’s and he came up with the quick and simple routine below:
Abs crunch (15-20 times) followed by reverse crunches.
a) Lie down on your back with your knees bent over a fitball (or pillow) and put your hands on the side of your face, fingers touching your temples and your cheeks, for support.
b) Curl your body, tightening the muscles of your abs to perform the crunch.
c) Lie in the same position but with your legs raised off the floor and your knees bent.
d) Pull your knees towards your chest to form a 90-degree angle. If you want to increase the intensity, complete the same exercise without bending your knees.
2. Wear a Hollywood Smile
While you’re giving your body the once over, why not also do something about those yellow fangs that scare small children and animals when you smile? There are a few options when it comes to teeth whitening, from the expensive but long-lasting BriteSmile (B16,000), which uses its exclusive blue light and takes about an hour to get rid of stains, to the more affordable alternative Zoom! (B10,000). While it might sound silly, it’s actually a patented Hollywood technique which involves having a sort of gel applied to your teeth. This is then zapped with a special light to break down stains and discoloration. The initial treatment takes around an hour along with the consultation, but that’s just the start. You’ll then need to wear a mouth guard every night for a week. You’ll also need to steer clear of anything that might stain your new gleaming dentures: no red wine, coffee and cigarettes for the same period. Still, you can expect your teeth to be up to eight shades lighter and the effects should last at least a year. Try Silom Dental Building (439/4-5 Naratiwatrajnakarin Rd, Silom, 02-636-9092/-5 www.silomdental.com. Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-5pm) which also offers a more basic laser treatment on special promotion for B6,990.
3. Go Booze Free
Even a couple of weeks abstinence can really help put a spring back into your body. The benefits:
- lose weight
- save money
- feel better when you wake up
- remember what you did last night
4. Deep Cleanse
And trust us we mean deep. Now is the time to give your inner workings a thorough clean-up courtesy of a planned detox program. One of the best around is available at Tria Integrative Wellness (998 Rimklongsamsen Rd., 02-660-2600. Open daily 7am-10pm). This medical spa’s holistic detox programme costs B26,300, and takes seven days to complete. As well as getting expert advice on adapting your diet towards raw foods and juices (see 6. Eat Right), the program also includes five sessions of colonic hydrotheraphy and one course of lymphatic drainage. You do also get a mud wrap and three massage sessions to help you get over the shock of having your insides rinsed out.
5. Quit the Ciggies
We can’t promise any easy cures but take that first step and give the National Quitline Center (www.thailandquitline.or.th. Mon-Fri 7:30am-8pm, B3 per minute) a call at 1600. The trained consultant on the other end of the line will ask for your smoking history before showing you the way to a nicotine-free life. Here’s what they told us:
- The first and most important step to becoming a non-smoker is to throw out all the smoking temptations: cigarettes, lighter and ashtray. Stay clear and clean!
- If you feel like a smoke, keep a piece of lime in your mouth for 3-5 minutes, the sourness will definitely help take the edge off any urge.
- The first 48 hours are the hardest. After this the nicotine will be completely out of your system. Expect to feel stressed and nervous but hang in there—if you can get over this critical stage, you’re over the worse.
- The good news is you should start feeling the benefits pretty quickly, in as little as seven days if you were on less than a pack a day—plus you’ll look better, too.
For further guidance and support log onto www.ashthailand.or.th (36/2 Patnipat Soi 10, Samsennai, 02-278-1828)
6. Eat Right
If you don’t fancy having a tube shoved up your bum, there are less invasive ways of giving yourself a detox. The most obvious of which is watching what you eat. If you need some inspiration on how to eat better then head along to the super hip Glow at the Metropolitan Hotel (2/F, 27 South Sathorn Rd., 02-625-3366. Open daily 6am-9pm ) which prides itself on serving an organic, macro-biotic and mostly vegetarian menu. You’ll find no added sugar here, only an emphasis on foods packed with living enzymes, vitamins and minerals. That means tasty dishes like the seven-grain vegetable burger (with tomato salsa, sprouts and glow slaw) and spirulina noodles, raw tuna and sea vegetable salad with Japanese style dressing. They also fix energising juices, like the Green Clean (with fennel, cucumber, spinach, celery, apple, spirulina, sunflower seeds and macadamia nuts).
Still not convinced? Then check out our recent story explaining the health benefits of eating your greens at bkmagazine.com/feature/veggie-hardsell.
Week Two: Get Organized
So we’ve worked on getting the body in shape in week one, now it’s time for the second phase of the makeover.
7. Healthy Mind
First stop: get that mind in order. Yoga is a great way to relieve the pressure and improve your posture. Only we really don’t want to get into an awkward asana (pose) and flaunt our derriere to a room full of strangers. That’s why we love the new website on Thai hermit yoga (www.rusiedotton.thai.net). It features 3D digitizations of 15 of the main postures used in this traditional form of yoga along with full descriptions so you can do them at home. Lousy internet connection? Then get the free DVD instead, from the Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (www.DTAM.moph.go.th).
8. Declutter your Wardrobe
The key to a clear mind? A tidy closet. So now is a good a time as any to tackle those overflowing drawers and bulging wardrobe. To start, chuck everything onto the bed and then sort it into three piles, stuff that you wear every week, every month or sometime back in 1992 when it was actually trendy. Then simply get rid of everything in the last pile. It might sound painful but trust us, you really don’t need that pink tutu anymore. One final thing, by “get rid,” we don’t mean bin. Make sure it goes to some use and donate to a charity. Try the Foundation for Rural Youth (59/118-120, Soi Ekachai, Ekachai Rd., 02-416-8073/-4. www.fry1985.org) who will pass your old clothes on to those in need.
9. New Makeup Kit
Did you know that even good makeup actually only lasts about a year? So throw away that congealed lipgloss and that matted mascara and aim for a new you. The best thing is this is the time of year when all the makeup brands bring out their limited edition Christmas collections.
Origins Best set (B3,200)
This value set includes the all-time bestselling Origins’ skin and body care products. Get them together and save almost 40% from the individual product prices.
Dior Cristal Boréal (B2,700)
Frost yourself up with this annual limited edition Dior jewellery piece. The Dior Cristal Boréal lipgloss comes in two shades, silver and pink, and is packaged in this oval shaped Swarovski crystal pendant.
Laura Mercier (B3,200)
Laura Mercier offers an all-in-one (cheek, lip and eye) palette which also includes a mini brush set.
10. New hair cut
Of course, you could leave this to the last week but just think, what if it went wrong. This way you have some time to fix any dying or trimming errors should they arise. To try and minimize the chances follow these simple tips from freelance makeup and hair stylist Ekkachai Kaemsermwong about which hair style will best match your face shape.
Oval: Congrats! Pretty much any style will suit you.
Round: This shape needs a lot of texture. Keep hair close to the face and steer clear of tight bangs. Shorter styles work best but don’t go for chin length cuts.
Square: Natural and curly styles work best. Waves around the face will definitely help give a softer look.
Diamond: Another shape that can wear any hairstyle just don’t have too much hair framing the face.
Heart and triangular: Can cope with both long and short styles. Remember: you need gentle, and wispy bangs. An off-center parting works well as do lots of layers. But avoid hair around the cheeks.
11. Wonder Serum
The latest magic potion to cause a buzz among those in-the-know is the Artistry series by Amway (call center 02-725-8000, www.amwayshopping.com). Their Time Defiance Intensive Repair Serum will set you back a cool B11,100 a jar. But as it promises a speedy cure to those unsightly wrinkles and claims to make you look 18 in 14 days, we reckon that’s still cheaper than a facelift.
12. MBT trainers
Little known in Thailand, MBTs (us.mbt.com) are a funky way of improving your posture. They differ from normal shoes by having a curved or rounded sole instead of the more typical flat base. The concept behind this alternative type of footwear is based on the principle of “natural instability.” In layman’s terms that means the curved shoe recreates the effect of walking barefoot on uneven ground (the name MBT actually stands for Masai Barefoot Technology after the famously statuesque Kenyan tribe). This in turn means that the body is forced to to try and retain its natural balance, so helping to exercise muscles more effectively. In fact, the people behind them claim that they “strengthen buttocks, stomach and back, keep posture upright and relieve stress on the joints.” Impressive stuff, but there are some downsides. For starters, we’re not even sure you can get them in Thailand, though you can order them through Amazon (www.amazon.com/b?node=722010011). But to be honest, even if they really work, they need to look a little prettier before we’ll be wearing a pair.
13. Face Peel
Like a hair cut, a face peel is best done ahead of time, after all it’s not called a face peel for nothing: your face comes off so it’s not a look you really want to sport in public. Darphin (Siam Paragon, M/F, 02-610-7751) offers the Age-Defying Dermabrasion (B3300) which they claim will polish skin to perfection, especially when used together with the Youthful Radiance Camellia Mask (B2800). Both will be available over the counter come Jan.
14. The Vibrator
BK knows you. We know that you just ignored that exercise routine we suggested in Week 1. Well now it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee as you only have a couple of weeks to lose the pounds. So, unless you plan on spending every waking hour in the gym, you need a quick fix. Here’s our little secret: the Power Plate. A vibrating platform from the US that recreates the effects of an hour-long workout but only takes only 20 minutes. A single session at Power Plate Studio (4/F, CentralWorld, 02-646-1960/1. www.powerplatethailand.com. Open daily 10am-9pm) will cost you B790 or opt for ten sessions (B6,900) and you’ll get a free personal trainer to shadow you.
Week Three: Plucking and preening
Now that the big stuff is covered, it’s time to focus on the fine details.
15. Eyebrow Plucking
Let’s start with what’s right above your eyes. No one wants bushy brows, so make sure they’re under control with a visit to Anastasia Beverly Hills who just opened a new branch at The Emporium (4/F, 02-664-7440/-2. www.anastasiath.com) this year. What sets them apart from the competition is their patented eyebrow taming treatment, so beloved by many an A-list Hollywood star. The procedure (B800) comprises hot wax and a pair of tweezers but unfortunately it doesn’t promise to be pain free. It should last for a couple of months though.
16. Wax lyrical
Now that you’ve tackled upstairs, make sure you look your best down there as well. After all, you never know where the end of season festivities might lead. Thankfully, there’s an alternative solution to keeping things trim without having to endure the excrutiating pain of a traditional wax. The Waxing Bar (OZONO, Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-204-2800. www.thewaxingbar.co.th. Open daily 10am-8pm) uses the same premium LYCON wax from Australia, that is so beloved by Hollywood celebs like Madonna and Victoria Beckham. Hot wax gets poured over your most precious private parts and then you decide on the look that’s going to see in 2010. Opt for the classic bikini (B1,500), the long time fave Brazilian (B1,800) or go the whole hog with the Hollywood (B1,800) which leaves nothing to the imagination. They’ll also wax any other part of your body. And for that added touch of class, you can even choose from a collection of scents from berry to chocolate or even gold! Wax fanatics should ask about their package offers.
17. Liposuction LITE
OK, so despite two weeks of reminders you still managed to avoid any kind of workout regime. In fact just the opposite, two weeks of Christmas parties have gone straight to the thighs, seriously threatening your chances of slipping into the little black number on New Year’s Eve. Never fear, there is a more radical option: just get it sucked out. Popular beauty clinic Romrawin Skin Body Rejunevation Clinic (2/F and 4/F, Central Chidlom, 1027 Ploenchit Rd., 02-655-7625. Open daily 10am-9pm. www.romrawin.com) offers something called VASER LipoSelection (from B120,000). A more focused alternative to liposuction, this treatment removes cellulite in specific areas without damaging neighboring tissue. The result is a leaner body and less recovery time.
18. Mask it
One simple way to get a fresh new look fast is through a face mask—an injection-free alternative to botox. There are a stack of options out there but the hottest innovation to hit town has to be the Nano gold mask at Apex (11 Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-662-6018/-9. Open daily 9am-9pm. Other branches at Siam Center, Central City Bangna, Central World, The Emporium, www.apexprofoundbeauty.com). It involves having real gold sheet layered onto your face (B1,000 for a single treatment or B10,000 for a course of 12 sessions). Apparently the shiny metal helps slow down the breakdown of collagen and elastin and also works as a facial detox. We suggest you watch the Bond film Goldfinger first.
19. Make up Class
If your attempts at applying your own makeup leave you looking more like Lady Gaga than Miss World then help is at hand. All the leading brands offer make up classes. Try these: MAC (winter trends makeup class, Dec 17-21, B3,500, Central Chitlom, 02-655-7292), Bobbi Brown (Bobbi Brown University’s rotating monthly ‘10 steps beauty’ makeup class at all 13 branches, B4,500, try ZEN, G/F, 02-613-1045) and Shu Uemura (every purchase over B2,500 gets one free makeup class, 02-610-7757). As a bonus, you also get lots of free samples as well a only having to pay cost price for any of the products used.
20. BELIEVE
Repeat after us: “I look fabulous!”
