It’s summer and many of us have upcoming trips planned, and let’s be honest, a lot of us wouldn’t mind losing a few pounds before we go.
I for one would love to lose just a few pounds in my mid-section, which tends to be the primary place I gain weight.
I exercise and eat a healthy diet, but I’m still considering getting a body wrap before I take a weekend getaway to Miami.
I decided to do a little research, because it’s not something I know a lot about already.
Here’s what I found:
Be Prepared to Lie Still for a Long Time
If you have a hard time sitting still you may have a particularly hard time getting a body wrap. You’re generally wrapped up for about an hour and you can’t do much of anything but lie there. It’s great for us moms who love a visit to the salon or spa just so we can get a few minutes of quiet, but if that sounds unappealing to you, a body wrap probably isn’t for you.
Most professionals also recommend that you only eat a light meal before you head to your wrap.
The Idea Behind a Wrap
While every type of wrap may be a little different, the overall idea is this: your body has separate layers of fat under the skin and these fat cells are surrounded by fluid. Fluid can build up around the fat cells because of any number of reasons including an accumulation of toxins, poor diet or just aging. Many body wraps are meant to have particular ingredients that will pull out the extra fluid and toxins, which theoretically can help you lose a few inches.
How It Works
Again, while every wrap may be slightly different, usually what happens is you go to the spa and you first have an exfoliating scrub and the esthetician will probably ask you what you believe your problem areas are—for me that would be my entire midsection, but for you it may be thighs, arms or anywhere really.
You’re then wrapped up in wet bandage-like material very tightly. Once you’re wrapped you lay down and you’re covered in plastic and a blanket, which creates heat to help remove those toxins.
The Results
Many people who try body wraps say they do lose a few inches, but it’s important to remember it’s not a long-term weight loss solution. Instead, body wraps can be great to do before you head on vacation or to the beach because you’ll feel better about yourself, but it’s definitely not going to have long-term results on your weight. Some people consider body wraps as part of their regular beauty maintenance routine so they can maintain the loss of those few inches, but that might not really be attainable for busy moms who can’t always make it to the spa.
Have you ever tried a body wrap? If so, let us know your thoughts!