Harsh but efficient: the lemon detox
FITNESS & DIET EXPERT
This week I continue my search for the city’s best beach shape-up regimes. Here I try and test the Lemon Detox (www.lemondetox.com).
This is one of those diets that if you’re any kind of self respecting weight watcher, you’ll want to try once in your lifetime. Beyonce used it to drop a couple of stone quick for Dreamgirls; Ashton and Demi are (were) rumoured to be fans as is Mariah. So as someone with a sweet tooth and a couple of pounds to shift before summer gets into full gear, I was keen to try the residential Lemon Detox newly launched at the Dolphin Square Spa in Pimlico (www.dolphinsquare.co.uk/spa/).
The idea behind the residential detox – three days, two nights – is that there’s help on hand to guide and advise, along with spa treatments that help facilitate the detox (and provide a much welcomed distraction from the fact that you’re not eating). I was originally a bit sniffy about the slimming wrap – I thought these were the remit of 80s health farms but…wrong again. Comfort Zone’s slimming treatment is incredible. I didn’t enjoy the experience to be honest (the treatment goes on icy cold and then gets very warm, very quick – think Deep Heat gone wrong) but work it does – my skin looked, and felt, smooth for days, I kid you not. Other than that, all I had to do was sit in a thick white towelling robe, drink the Lemon Detox drink (specially formulated tree syrup with lemon juice and cayenne pepper; the idea is to spike metabolism and keep blood sugar maintained at the same time).
Verdict: Detoxing on a liquid-only diet isn’t for the faint hearted but it’s much easier if you’re doing it under supervision. Did I drop weight? Of course I did – just look at the maths. But a very surprising, unexpected extra was that I felt way more energetic too. Go figure.
(NB: Anyone who has any underlying health issues should always consult a doctor before undertaking any kind of detox.)
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