of beach season (in the Northern Hemisphere anyway), Weleda, the beauty company that has always been organic - since 1921! - has launched three new products on the market that, when used together as recommended, work to aid the slimming process. To celebrate the imminent arrival
These Birch Tree based products are to be used in tandem with a healthy exercise regime. Celebrity personal fitness coach Julie Ferrez (clients include French First Lady Carla Bruni and French President Nicolas Sarkozy) recommends a super-effective and not-very-time-consuming training circuit that you can do at home with a balance ball on your floor.
Ferrez, recently dressed all in Victoria's Secrets Pink workout wear ("I only wear U.S. clothes," confessed this adorable and Top French fitness trainer) led a group of assembled journalists interested in getting back in shape before bikini beachwear season strikes again.
First exercise: Start by sitting on the balance ball. (Easy enough, eh?!) Then as you walk your legs forward, the ball will sit on your lower back to mid-back. Your legs are now supporting your lower body. From this position, do as many crunches as you can (watch to not lift your chin too high!). Do at least ten. If you can do 30 or more until your muscles fatigue, that's going to give you the best results the fastest. Do several reps of this.
Second exercise: Stand with the ball between your legs. Squat low enough so that your derriere brushes the ball. Stand up. Repeat. Be sure to keep your posture straight so that you don't put pressure on your lower back, but on your glutes and your thighs. If you do "fall" and land on the (soft) ball, no problem. The muscles that you exercise regaining your balance yield an effective workout, too.
Have fun! Do as many reps as you can. This workout can be done in about 15-20 minutes, either morning, midday or evening.
Now for the Birch Tree Slimming Trio from Weleda...
Ferrez stands by Weleda's claims that when used together and in the context of a healthy exercise and diet regime, these will help to eliminate toxins, firm skin and rid body of cellulite and what the French call "orange peel skin."
1. Birch Tree Juice - mix 3 Tablespoons of the juice in a 1.5 liter bottle of water and consume this every day. The Birch Tree Juice helps to eliminate toxins and aids with digestion and purification of the liver.
2. Birch Tree Exfoliating Cream: Use 1 - 2 times per week. This exfoliating cream - made with a base of organic sesame oil, coconut oil, beeswax, apricot kernel oil and more good and organic things - is to be used in the shower to smooth and stimulate the skin and also circulation.
3. Birch Tree Massage Oil: Here is where some self-pampering comes in. After you bathe, apply this oil with deep self-massage (unless, of course, you have a personal masseuse!) by working the oil into the skin. In problem areas (thighs, stomach, underarms) methodically knead the skin, above the muscle, so that the oil deeply penetrates and can aid in circulation and elimination of fat cells.
Ferrez and Weleda swear that with proper and continued use, you will see a reduction in cellulite over the span of weeks.
Check the Weleda Site for more info. And click on Julie Ferrez to watch her exercise video!
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