Not quite 28 anymore...but think I should be!
Blogging about attempts to look better as time goes on and probably some bits and pieces on life as a fairly new arrival in Toronto. Expect Botox, beauty products, food, fitness, reviews and ramblings!
Content is purely opinion but it might be informative.
I blogged about the Quantum scale previously. I loved the idea of a scale that just tells you how much weight you are losing rather than the actual number. For some reason, the numbers just don't suit me. A day can be ruined just by getting the "wrong" one. No matter how much I'm told that it's just a number, it doesn't stick. It always means more...and it's never good enough.
I've tended to lose weight/fat before by focusing more on clothes or measurements until I felt I was in good enough shape to cope with the number. I'm so out of shape at the moment that I don't even want to look at the tape measure numbers. I also need to lose a good bit so that it would take weeks before my clothes would feel looser. It's hard to keep motivated.
The Zero Scale seems like an even better prospect than the Quantum scale. It has the same idea-tells you how much your weight has changed. It has the added functions of supporting multiple users too and a guest function which will show the actual (evil) number too. This sounds far better to me-it's a scale you could continue to use for maintenance once goal was reached. It also just looks like it's a better product.
I have been super impressed by the customer service they offer. I emailed to ask about shipping to Canada and got an incredibly speedy response. The director went to the trouble of investigating it himself and getting back to me. The customs and shipping bring the price up a lot but I'm still seriously considering the purchase because it's a great idea and I now believe in the company too. Quantum scale, on the other hand, eventually answered my latest email after many ignored ones. They're geographically closer, but much further away from my idea of customer care.
Isn't the zero scale pretty? All nice and shiny?
Meanwhile, I've been back on the "diet" for the past week or so. I haven't been strict at all really. It's been more of an easing into it which seems to be working. I reckoned I could either be really strict and potentially give up, or start moderately and gradually remove things bit by bit. First steps were switching to salad with chicken for lunch and to raw almonds for snacks. Continuing in the gym. More about that later!
I've been the world's worst blogger. Should have updated forever ago.
So...the experience with Soprano and Bellair Beauty Bar has been a bit mixed. The girl currently at the Yorkville location is fantastic. I really like her and she seems to genuinely want me to have good results. The first few sessions weren't quite as fun.
The sessions haven't all been completely pain free. Sometimes it does hurt. Not terribly and not for long...but it definitely smarts at times when I'm getting my bikini line done. Underarms are fine.
Results have been mixed. After the 1st and 3rd sessions I thought I was doing well. I got lots of regrowth after the 2nd and again after the 4th; although it was finer after the 4th session. I had my 5th one 2 weeks ago now and I'm noticing some shedding now which I hope is a good sign.
I really don't know whether or not to recommend it. I've just had my second last session so it all really hangs on how successful it and the last one are. At the moment I'm far from hair free. In a moment of craziness I bought 2 more vouchers with the aim of getting my lower legs done when my tan fades. I shouldn't be allowed on group buy websites...
I went back for my second Soprano XL treatment at Bellair Beauty Bar in Yorkville around Easter. I left a meeting in work early to get there on time. I regretted that decision when they kept me waiting 20 mins beyond my appointment time! The girl I had was quite sweet though and asked me how the last session had worked. I was happy overall-apart from a line of hair on my bikini line. She said it was due to different phases of the hair growth cycle which I didn't quite believe. It would be quite strange for ALL the hairs in one straight strip to be at exactly the same point in their cycle I would imagine. I think it's more likely they were missed.
Anyway, she got to work and zapped away. It was painless again.
The hair was slow enough to grow back but there's definitely more regrowth than after the first treatment. I've had to shave my underarms a few times. The hair seems a little finer but I've lost those hairless patches I had after the first treatment.
Still a work in progress so we'll see how it all goes. I didn't really expect it to work after 2 sessions anyway! I'm just glad I'm paying the group buy voucher price....
I'm absolutely loving the summer weather in Toronto now! The winter seemed so so long. The downside I've found is that summer clothing and the Bodymedia monitor (Bodybugg/GoWear Fit) really do not go together. No matter how they try to market it on the website, it's obvious and bulky. It's bad enough under clothes (I became good at finding tops with just the right amount of room and fabric in the arms) but nearly impossible to hide under a t-shirt. Most just don't have sleeves almost to the elbow which is what you need!
It's a fun device to wear but I wonder about the actual calorie count it gives. I lost weight without it before so maybe it's time to take the summer off having something strapped around my arm. The Fitbit is a much nicer size but I'm not sure I want to invest in something else just yet.
It could be time to go back a step and stick with my heart rate monitor for the gym and my pedometer. I think making sure I do an adequate workout and trying to keep my steps up amount to the same thing as getting a good calorie total on the GoWear Fit anyway.
I recently posted about what a good idea I thought the Quantum Scale was. I hate looking at the number on the scale-it's not just a number for me. I also have quite a bit of weight to lose so it will be ages before my clothes start feeling different. It's hard to stick with a diet when there's no feedback and seeing the pounds go down would really help.
The problem? I've emailed and used the contact form to ask if they ever give trial models for blogs etc. I've tweeted them. I've looked at their Facebook page which is just full of spam. How can I pay $70 (after tax and shipping) for a product that is only sold online if the company completely refuses to interact online? The answer is that I can't. If anything went wrong, I would have nobody to contact. I can't even be sure that I would ever get the product. It's almost like they don't exist. I've ordered many things online and relied on good communication to trust the company. This company has not endeared me to them...
Hmmm. So the diet hasn't really been going that well. My social life has been rather too good lately which has challenged my willpower. Another issue has been the overwhelming idea of how much weight I have to lose. It's probably in the region of 30lbs and that has stopped me from stepping on the scale. I hate hate hate seeing the number in front of me if it's not the "acceptable" one. No matter how many times I'm told that it's just a number, the emotional attachment is far too strong. I tend to go by clothes or measurements usually, but this time I have too much to lose. Getting back into my clothes will take ages so it would be lovely to have something to show progress week to week. My object of desire right now is the Quantum scale. It never shows your actual weight-just the change from measurement to measurement. It sounds completely perfect! In my current financially challenged state, it's a no-go though. (It's also handy that I don't need any cosmetic treatments right now....)
Fingers crossed I can win one or something!
One thing I actually have ordered is a Gymboss interval timer which was a bit more affordable at $20. I think I need to raise intensity on workouts, at least some of the time. I restarted the Men's Health Spartacus workout recently which is a challenging one! I think the interval timer will help me not to cheat....
The wishlist item I need to do myself is proper meals. The Eat Clean cookbook is sitting on my shelf all unused. Time to get cracking!
I'll admit it-I was hugely skeptical. I've had IPL and laser done before which pinched during the procedure and only worked partially and very slowly. I was completely stunned when I went for my Soprano XL treatment (at Bellair Beauty Bar in Toronto) and felt hardly anything at all through most of it. I thought it couldn't possibly work. No pain, no gain. Right?
Wrong. It's been 2 weeks now and I actually notice a difference! I shaved once after the procedure but since then everything is looking patchy. Some bits are growing normally, others are slow, some aren't growing back. Some areas don't feel stubbly-as if the hair has fallen out. I hope it's for good! If this is how it looks after the first session I'm really excited to see how things will look after 6!
I'm not sure whether Groupon, Fabfind and all those other group buys are a good or bad thing. I've a stack of unused coupons now that were total steals...but I still have to get around to using them!
One of the things I decided to try was discounted laser hair removal. I had it done before on my upper but it didn't work fully. That time I started with IPL which made very little difference before moving onto a different laser. That worked better but still not completely. It wasn't very painful but it definitely did smart-especially just below the nose.
I had 5 vouchers for hair removal with Soprano XL at Bellair beauty bar in Toronto. I booked through their central booking number and managed to get a 6pm appointment on Monday. 5 vouchers got me Brazilian bikini, upper lip and underarms. I was fairly apprehensive! The Soprano XL claims to be virtually pain free but I assumed that it was just a marketing ploy. I was told to shave the night before or morning of the treatment. I arrived a little early and filled out my forms. I was a little annoyed that I had to talk about my bikini line in front of the whole waiting room but thankfully was taken in quickly.
The room was tiny. Black couch with a fresh paper sheet. No towels which made hitching up my skirt to display my bikini line feel very rough and ready. The girl doing the treatment was nice though. She smeared the area with gel and began. It didn't hurt! I was stunned. It felt a little warm and felt a pinch a couple of times while she was doing my underarms but that was it. The procedure was a bit different to the ones I've had before. She moved the handpiece really quickly and lots of times in a sweeping motion instead of just doing it a few mm at a time. The whole thing was over really quickly and I was still in shock at how painless it was by the time I left.
Will it work? I don't know! It almost seems too good to be true. I contacted my Twitter friend @DrRaviJain afterwards when I saw that he uses the same machine. He said it definitely works! If it does it will be the best investment ever. Imagine no more waxing?
I read about CND shellac nails almost a year ago. The idea of shiny nails that last 2 weeks and are dry when you leave the salon was obviously appealing! I forgot again until I was talking to a girl who gets it done often and raved about it. Turns out she gets it done in a salon close to me too. I eventually got around to trying it this week. It wasn't the best experience I've had there-the girl who started it didn't seem to be the expert and they changed midway through. I think it would be better if I managed to get it all done by the same person next time.
The process itself is a bit long but not awful. They file, buff and treat cuticles first. Then it's base coat followed by UV light, colour (2 coats with UV light to harden each time) and then top coat, also hardened by UV. My nails were completely dry when they finished. It doesn't harm the nails and mine have tolerated much much hand washing in work....and also a real test. Today I put together 4 flat pack chairs, a table and a bookcase. I then crushed the boxes and brought them and my old desk down to the carpark. No chips! Truly amazing.
There's a limited array of colours but enough to keep me going for a while....
Don't think the photo does it justice. It makes it look like it's messy when it's not. Keep in mind this is after 5 days, the gym, work and DIY!
A few things struck me as I tried to squeeze myself into my gym shorts tonight before a half-assed workout:
1. My shorts shouldn't be that tight. In fact, they should be loose since they're a size bigger than I was wearing this time last year
2. A half-assed workout is not going to half the size of my ass
3. I've been starting my diet tomorrow or Monday since July
4. I'm dreading summer and not being able to hide under a down-filled coat
5. Procrastinating on this is like procrastinating on living my life fully. I'm putting things off because I can't wear the clothes I want/feel too fat/don't feel fit/don't want people to see me like this.
My vows:
The diet starts now. 1500 calories or less per day.
Good, healthy food. I know I feel better when I eat it and crave less....so why do I keep putting junk in my body? I need to equate too much cake and chocolate with cellulite and crepey skin.
Consistent workouts of 1hr+ at least 5 days a week. I'm going to use my Valslides even more. I'll be mixing stuff from Red Carpet Ready with Val's bikini body workouts. I have 1, 2 and 3 and 4.0 is on the way!
I'm going to keep up to date with Leigh Peele and her Body By Eats forum for extra motivation
I'll track my calories in and out on the Bodymedia website with my GoWear Fit (Bodybugg/Bodymedia Activity Monitor). Who needs Jenny Craig's metabolic max? I'll make my own food and track my own activity.
My friend K was trying Botox for the first time and booked an appointment with Dr Torgerson. She asked me to come along with her to hold her hand which was quite fun! She had her glabellar lines treated but also got some Botox to her crow's feet. We're still awaiting the full results (it has been less than a week) but can already see some softening of the lines around her eyes.
While I was there I had to flutter my eyelashes at Dr T to show the effects of Latisse-he sold me my first bottle. He was highly impressed so I promised to send him a couple of nice pictures and trotted home to see if I could improve on the ones I posted here.
I think it's most obvious in the shots taken from above-you can also see that the right eye (to the left of the photo) is still catching up with some long, some short!
I recently finished this book and it's still in my head now. In it, Emma tells the story of her suicide attempt, depression, mania, love, loss and the psychiatrist who saved her life. Dr R died unexpectedly without ever telling any of his patients he was sick with lung cancer.
It's an extremely interesting read. She writes very well and this makes it quite difficult going at times. It's difficult not to continue reading compulsively, but it's often heartbreaking. There were times my heart ached for her and I almost felt like I was experiencing abandonment by a lover as she did! The sense of regret that she didn't know about Dr R's illness is a theme and there seems to be guilt that she didn't use some of the time more wisely and didn't get to really tell him just how much he did for her. Discovering that it's too late to tell a person what an important role they have played in your life is very hard. She struggles to get some kind of "closure". The chapters are rounded off with little notes from other patients of Dr R, all of whom declare an immense gratitude and many of whom believe that he saved their lives.
It's had criticism as being self-obsessed or narcissistic and she has also been accused of name-dropping. Considering it's a memoir, I think it is only to be expected that she writes about herself so I don't think that qualifies as self-obsessed. She also charts her problems and past failings in graphic detail which would be rather unusual for a narcissist. As for the accusations of name-dropping; yes, she does mention famous people she met and it's known that one of the characters in the book is Colin Farrell. I think it's relevant to the story though. Many of her thoughts and issues were ones that most people could relate to, but dating someone who is in the public eye definitely adds another dimension to it all. Being called fat and ugly by members of the public just because you're seeing someone they like can't be easy for anyone, and particularly if you have struggled with your emotions at times.
Ultimately, it's an homage to a wonderful therapist and a story of hope. Dr R had an unshakeable belief that she was redeemable and that she could learn better ways of living her life. She proved him right and survived it all to emerge a stronger person. That should give hope to anyone who is suffering and thinks that things will never get better.
I was fortunate enough to hear Emma read from the book at the Harbourfront Centre here in Toronto. She is tiny-very slim and petite and extremely pretty. She also speaks and reads very well. To top it all, she was incredibly gracious and sweet while signing copies after the reading-someone you'd like to be your friend. It helped me get over the jealousy that she is the same age as I am but so much more gifted...and younger looking! I really hope that the book does well-it's a story that should be told and she is talented and deserves continued success. It made me pensive, and then I picked up my phone and texted a few people to thank them for their help in the past. It reminded me of the importance of telling people how great they are right now. No regrets!
I've always tended to depend on mascara-I never felt my lashes were long enough and my eyes seemed to disappear into my face without it. It's been my "can't live without" make-up item for years. Thanks to Latisse, it's now become more of a fun thing to try. I've gone from needing multiple coats of the most volumising mascara possible to trying lots of different ones and actually enjoying the results. I like the L'Oreal double extend mascara with the lash serum-
so I was excited to see a Double Extend Eye Illuminator in Shopper's Drug Mart the other day. It claims to lengthen and illuminate and comes in 4 shades for different coloured eyes-one for blue, brown, green/hazel and one for all colours. I decided to try the green/hazel which has black mascara on one side and a shimmery gold highlighter on the other.
The mascara goes on easily enough. It's more of a defining one with a little bit of lengthening. It isn't particularly volumising but didn't clump. You really don't get much in the tube though. The glittery top coat goes on top. It's not particularly obvious but does give a little sheen in the right lighting. Don't think there was an appreciable difference in how illuminated my eyes were! It could be nice to use for nights out I think. The packet says that you can just put the shimmer on the tips for everyday use or from root to tip for "intense drama".
Here are my results. I did the left eye-it's the one with the better lashes. Right eye is still catching up!
You can see the shimmer best on the last one without the flash.
There's a good review here on the Musings of a Muse blot.
The official site is here and you can get a $2 coupon. Wish I'd looked before buying!
And for completion, this is the TV advert-which I saw for the first time as I was typing this up. Typical!
Another one of those articles saying that Botox improves quality of life. It's again based on the feedback idea-if you're not frowning your brain thinks you're happier. I kind of believe it actually. Before I got my frown/glabellar lines injected I found I was unconsciously frowning all the time and it seemed to prepetuate itself. Now I sometimes forget how to frown and just don't seem to find myself attempting the movement as much. If it was free I'm sure I'd be completely ecstatic!
It's a week now since I had my second ever Botox treatment. I was using up a Groupon that I bought for 20 units at DLK and also bought another 5 units. The initial treatment from Dr Torgerson was 25 units and I ended up getting another 10 a few weeks later because I felt like I was still frowning a bit.
This seems to have worked more completely. I felt that Diana at DLK injected a little more laterally and really tried to see how I frowned. I pretty much can't do it now which I hope means the lines will be even softer....and it was with fewer units than the last time!
So, this was just over a week ago-the day of the injection when initial treatment was wearing off:
This is a few days late being posted-my best time for messing around online is at the weekends. I did take the photos on the 16th though which I think is as close to 3 months from the date I started as I could do.
I'm still finding it easy to do-just a couple of minutes every night. I got 3 months out of the first bottle by not doing it quite by the instructions and using my own clean brushes. The next bottle should last much longer-hope to reduce down to every few days in a month or so.
It's hard to see huge differences day to day now. I think I'm too used to looking at myself! I like applying mascara now though-it's not just a chore to make my eyes look somewhat respectable. The lashes on the right eye are kind of recovering from their difficult phase and becoming a bit more manageable. The left eye is much better but they're not quite as unruly. A heated eyelash curler from Sephora has really helped for the straight segment!
I've had no side effects after the first few weeks-if you don't count a new obsession with looking at lashes and wanting every mascara. Or my lashes occasionally tipping my glasses!
Here are the new ones:
Without mascara:
With Clinique high impact curling
And as a reminder, the pre Latisse pics (which I'm sorry I didn't take with mascara too!):
And my eyes haven't changed colour. They're hazel though so look different depending on the day/time/surrounding colours!
I've also been putting any excess from the brush on my brows. It seems to have filled them out a little at the ends and the gap in the left brow has filled in. Now I just need to pluck them into a decent shape...
I got my first Botox treatment to my glabellar lines at the start of November (with a little extra a few weeks later). Prior to trying it I had bought a $99 Groupon for 20 units of Botox at DLK on Avenue. The voucher expires in April so I thought it should be used! I don't have full movement back in my forehead yet but it's definitely wearing off. I even felt like I was getting a tension headache during the week!
The clinic is lovely and on Avenue Rd in Toronto, just a little north of Whole Foods. Everyone was absolutely lovely. I filled out the usual medical questionnaire and a consent form. Diana was my nurse and brought me to the treatment room to wait for Dr Kellett. I wasn't waiting long. They were both really nice-very friendly and chatty with a knack for putting people at ease. We didn't discuss the Botox hugely because I'd already had it. I asked for 5 extra units (at $12/unit) just to make sure I was definitely treated. Diana suggested some above my brows to lift them. I had been vaguely toying with it recently...but decided to think about it a little more first. I asked her about my lips too. She thought they were a good shape and colour (thanks Diana!) and said that she uses Botox herself for lip lines...which is the same as a few others (not Dr Torgerson though). I think I might go for it next time!
The treatment was super quick and barely felt it. It's obvious that Diana has done this thousands of times. She gave great post-procedure instructions as well which I didn't get the last time. No more Googling! Need not have gotten up early to go to the gym...only have to avoid exercise and lying down for 3 hours.
I also asked if I could get some Latisse and they obliged. I liked it that I actually filled out a questionnaire about my eye health...it's another thing that wasn't covered before. Dr Kellett and I compared our results. We both really like it!
I think I'd be happy heading back there for other things-they have a lot on offer including peels, lasers, injectables and Dr Kellett's own line of products. I liked the atmosphere, it was squeaky clean and everybody was lovely (and very very good).
Here's my "pre" this time. Better camera (shudder). Discovered that the lines show up best without the flash:
And soon I'll update my Latisse experience-the 3 month version! I started it on November 16th so sometime in the next few days. Spoiler: the post will include the importance of an eyelash curler for crazy lashes!
The photos I took earlier were with Clinique High Impact curling mascara-a tubing mascara. I thought it would be a good idea to go post about how I remove it. I hated it the first time I used it because I couldn't get it off and had the same experience previously with L'Oreal Double Extend mascara. I tried my usual eye makeup remover and scrubbed and scrubbed to try to get it off. I was freaked out when I saw black clumps on the cotton pad thinking I was dragging out lashes but then realised it was the mascara itself! I did drag out a few lashes the first few times too though.
A bit of research showed that these mascara types should dissolve in water and wash off easily. They do come off with a bit of soaking (like putting a damp cloth over your eyes for a few seconds) and then trying to slide the mascara off. My new favourite way is actually to remove in the shower. I stick my face under the water and gently rub my lashes between my fingers. The pressure of the water and gently easing the mascara off works a treat with no panda eyes :-)
I'm really glad I've eventually figured this out because I like the effect of the curling mascara and tubing types in general. They really help to curl and lengthen-the Clinique one is the one I've used mostly and stays put all day long without losing its curl. I must give the L'Oreal one another try now that I've found the secret.
So it's about 2 months since I first started using Latisse. It's not a huge hassle to use-just a couple of minutes every night after washing my face and it has become part of my nightly routine. I'm definitely seeing results. I'm certainly not at the stage where I would say I don't need mascara, but I'm much prouder of my lashes when I have my make-up on and I'm also finding that I don't need as many coats-a touch does a lot more now.
My left eye looks good-lashes are uniform and have grown longer. My right eye is going through what I can only describe as an awkward teenager phase. Some lashes are long, some are short, some are pointing out, some are really curly. I think there's always been a disparity between the two eyes-the right sometimes seemed to have a gap-but the Latisse has emphasised this. It wasn't unexpected really. The information booklet warns that lashes may grow at different rates or in different directions. Hopefully this will even out as more lashes are caught at the right phase of growth-there are a few stumpy ones on that side.
Side effects? At the moment none. My eyes did feel a bit dry initially but that was probably emphasised by the change in weather and drop in humidity. My eyes weren't used to the dry Canadian air and the forced air heating! Haven't noticed any pigmentation on my lids or my irises.
I'm managing to squeeze more than a month out of the bottle too which makes it better value! I'm getting to the end though now so will be trotting back to Dr Torgerson's office soon for another fix (and maybe some filler)
Updated photos...
I've used the same mascara again (Clinique High Impact curling) for continuity. Camera is different though-eventually found a battery charger for my real one. My right/unruly eye is to the left as you look at it.
Here were my "pre" pictures:
According to this article, more and more people are turning to injectables instead of full cosmetic surgery. It's seen as a reaction to the recession-people spending less by touching up with fillers and botox instead of getting a facelift. It's funny that the demand for injectables etc has not only remained during a recession but actually rocketed. It seems to be a form of the "lipstick effect" where women were known to buy lipstick during economic downturns as a way of cheering themselves up and a small luxury. Botox and Restylane etc hardly count as the same price range of a tube of lipstick but it seems we have come to think of them as a normal expenditure; much like going to the hairdresser.
I can kind of see how it would be easy to get to really like having the procedures done. So far I've only had Botox in one area but it's amazing (and quite scary) how it's gotten me looking at myself with a more critical eye. The surgeon suggested filler in my tear troughs and I can see why. I'm bothered more by the fine lines around my lips now and would like to plump up my lips a little-especially the top lip which is thinner than the bottom one. That's not to even start on the liposuction I want!
Will I actually get those things? Probably not. It's certainly not economically viable at the moment. I'm also bothered by how quickly I've become (even more) dissatisfied with my appearance. Perhaps it's time to stop peering so closely....
I just saw an advert today for Jenny Craig's new Metabolic Max programme.
They see it as innovative and using a "powerful new tool" to strengthen monitoring of eating and activity. Is it true? Well, it's not exactly new. It's basically Jenny Craig (which isn't a bad idea really) with a BodyMedia activity monitor. This has had a few different names including BodyBugg and GoWear Fit, all made by BodyMedia. It's currently just called the BodyMedia activity monitor but it's the same thing. (In the UK it's sold as Ki Fit).
It's been around for a few years-every noticed the bands on the arms of all the Biggest Loser contestants? BodyBugg!
I've been using a GoWear Fit for a few weeks now and really like it. Basically you sign up to the Bodymedia website and key in your details (weight, gender etc) and then wear the band on your upper arm all day. It calculates activity, how intense it is, how many steps you walk, how many calories you burn and how well you sleep. They say this is due to the combination of an accelerometer, galvanometer and measurements of heat flux and skin temperature. The other big part of it is the calorie logging. Each day you're meant to log food eaten and it calculates calories and macronutrients. I eat too much sugar!
I've really enjoyed having it and it has encouraged me to move more. Interesting things were the realisation that I could burn as many calories on days when I walked a lot or went out dancing with friends as when I went to the gym. It's nice to know that general activity counts-doesn't always have to be gym. It also highlights the importance of cutting calorie intake-you can see how hard it is to burn extra versus just eating a little less.
This is mine from yesterday. Numbers on the left are targets and the ones on the right are what I achieved. Because it was a weekend my activity was good. I never seem to hit my sleep target though! I haven't logged my calorie intake for the past couple of weeks-holidays! I went to the gym in the morning so you can see the spike in the activity. Later in the afternoon I went for a walk and did some shopping so there's more activity and lots of steps.
Worth it?
It costs about $200 US for the armband and more again to subscribe to the website which is essential to use it. I got mine cheaper on ebay though and it came with 3 months free. After a while you can kind of estimate your burn anyway so you could possibly have it for a while and sell it on. I love mine though and find it does make me move more. I find the sleep function really handy.
Problems:
It is kind of obvious around your arm. Nobody has mentioned it, but it's tempting to just wear baggy sleeves all the time! Cost is also another issue. There's an initial outlay and website subscription. It comes with one armband but it's nice to have extra. They charge a ridiculous amount for shipping.
I love the sleep monitor. It's helped explain why I wake up feeling tired lots of the time. I don't actually spend as long asleep as I should or think I am!
Nice things:
The newer models have bluetooth and there are now apps for iPhone and Android (not that I have either) so that you can monitor activity during the day. Alternatively just get the display watch (extra)
Alternatives:
-Fitbit. It's cheaper but more of a pedometer. It does monitor sleep efficiency though. Advantage is that it's cheaper. Disadvantages mentioned by people on various blogs are possible inaccuracy and poor build quality. Some people love it though.
-Pedometer. A good one will accurately gauge steps taken during the day and encourage activity.
-Heart rate monitor. Only good for workouts but encourages you to work harder
-Calculate basal metabolic rate and then calorie needs using these calculators and use a free online site to calculate intake
I like my GoWear Fit though. It's a little reminder to keep going. I also like graphs and numbers so it's appealing! The Jenny Craig plan sounds like it would work by keeping activity up while providing clients with a reduced calorie diet (no pesky decisions to make about what to eat) and motivational counselling (huge!). It's bound to be expensive though-certainly way out of my budget-so I'll be sticking with my GoWear Fit and trying to make my own food...with less chocolate! My support systems will be through forums on Leigh Peele's site (love it!) and the Red Carpet Ready forum. Wish me luck!
I've written about my decision making process in choosing someone to inject me with Botox, the big day with Dr Torgerson and my decision to get a top-up. It's 6 weeks from the initial injection now and 2 weeks after the top-up so time for a summary!
Why did I get it?
I noticed glabellar/frown lines on my forehead about a year ago. It was as if they appeared overnight! I tried home microdermabrasion, facials, every type of cream but to no avail. They actually got worse. I felt like I was frowning in my sleep and would wake up in the morning with deep lines. They were giving me a grumpy look. They are one of the best areas to treat with Botox.
Where did I go and why?
I went to Dr Cory Torgerson in Yorkville, Toronto. I wanted a professional to administer it and in a proper medical setting. I was terrified of complications and while people in salons may do a nice job, I wanted to know I hadn't taken any chances. I spotted Dr Torgerson at the women's show and thought he looked nice. He was qualified and did all his own injections-he wasn't just a figurehead.
What was it like? Did it hurt?
I got a really warm welcome when I went into the office and was made to feel at home. My nerves almost completely vanished when I saw the place and met the office staff. I filled out a pretty lengthy medical questionnaire and had some coffee while I waited. Dr Torgerson was utterly charming and very sweet. He explained everything, including risks, and I signed a consent form. He did suggest one other thing-filler in my tear troughs...but that will have to wait until I win the lottery!
The injection was really really fine. He gave me a squeezy thing just in case but I didn't need it. He uses a 32G needle which is super tiny. Obviously, you will feel something when somebody puts a needle through your skin but it was just a scratch. He did 5 injections-one in the middle just above my nose and then two each side. The ones at the inner edge of the eyebrow feel strange but not painful. Just kind of crunchy! The actual injections only took a couple of minutes and I was ready to go straight after.
Any side effects?
My forehead felt a bit heavy the evening of the injection. Kind of like the beginnings of a headache but not painful. This could have been partly because of being more aware of it! One fun effect is looking at my forehead in the gym and seeing absence of sweating in the injected area-just proves that it works for hyperhydrosis!
How long to see results?
It was really 5 days before I saw definite reduction in movement. Before that it was a little less but 5 days was when I really thought there was a difference. There was gradual improvement up until around 2 weeks though.
Why the top-up?
I could still frown a bit. Not much but I was afraid the lines wouldn't soften enough. The areas he had injected directly weren't really moving much but more lateral (outer) corrugators were pushing me into a frown. Dr Torgerson couldn't have been nicer. He thought the result was good but gave me a little more anyway just to make sure. I only had 10 units that time and felt perfect afterwards.
How is it now?
Good! I still look I can frown. Kind of. It's not like my forehead is immobile, but it doesn't come together in the same way. The lines are much softer-one is barely visible-and I don't look as grumpy. I actually do think I'm happier now that I frown less!
Would I do it again?
Absolutely. It's pricey but I definitely want to keep it up if I can.
Any regrets?
Not doing it sooner! The lotions and potions were a complete waste of time and money. Could have saved myself a year of staring at my 11s!
PHOTOS:
Pre:
(frowning)
(frowning and lines)
5 days:
Post!
(lines barely visible)
(frowning-lateral muscles trying to move)
(frowning again-blurry but much less movement)
VIDEO:
And this was my attempt at a video to demonstrate how my forehead moves. Apologies for bad quality-it was on my phone camera....
Quick post updating on my Latisse experience. It's been 6 weeks now and I'm definitely noticing changes. I'm still bothered by the possibility of iris colour change. It doesn't seem like it's something overly likely with Latisse but I do still think it's a possibility. That said, I imagine it might be a difficult product to give up. I've always had short, sparse lashes (thanks, Mum) but they're growing now for the first time ever! Not all are the same length-there are some long, some around the normal length. My right lashes aren't as long as my left and some of the ones at the outer edge of my right eye are strangely curly.
I keep thinking I must be imagining it and it's really only properly obvious when I'm wearing mascara. My sister confirmed that they looked longer though and I've actually had the annoying "tipping my glasses" experience!
Updated photos:
I'm keeping a careful eye on my eye colour...especially things like that brown patch on my left eye (right of the picture) which has always been there. Mascara is Clinique high impact curling again.
Before:
It's slow! They say results tend to take off at 8 weeks so I'll update again.
