3 ways to do some serious body sculpting without surgery

At beautyheaven we’re all about feeling good about yourself, but we’re also open to a bit of body sculpting to enhance our best features. The fact is that many of us (myself included!) have areas we’d like to tighten and tone a little, in order to feel extra #fabulous come summertime.

Feel like you can relate? Keep scrolling for our top tips for non-invasive body sculpting, including the best body sculpt products, exercises and  foods to help you smooth and shape specific areas...

1. Adjust your diet

In order to achieve a more sculpted look overall, you will need to burn excess fat (in a safe and sustainable way) and also build lean muscle. To support this process, consider upping your protein intake, as this has been shown to help you strengthen your muscles and promote a more toned appearance. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend 15 to 20 per cent of your total energy intake should come from protein. Aim for two-and-a-half to three serves of high-protein foods per day, such as lean chicken breast, lean beef, cod, eggs and tofu.

It’s also worth being aware of gaseous foods that can cause bloating and swelling (particularly of the abdominal area), making you look less toned than you really are. Soft drink is one of the worst culprits, but beans, lentils and cabbage can also have a bloating effect.

Many women struggle with excess water retention and puffiness, particularly at that time of month. To combat this, it’s also a good idea to reduce your salt intake (as high salt intake has been shown to cause fluid retention) and load up on potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, spinach, citrus fruits and asparagus. These will help to balance and circulate body fluids, and encourage nutrients to move throughout your body after a meal.

2. Use body sculpting products

When used in conjunction with diet and exercise, body-sculpting products that utilise new active ingredients can also help to contour and shape different parts of your body. They can also be effective for addressing concerns such as stretchmarks or cellulite.

For tummy, hips, thighs and butt:
Using Lipid Suction Fat Burner Technology, Alpha Keri Body Slimfit Cellulite Reductor + Slimming Serum, has been shown* to fight and visibly reduce cellulite as well as support the fat-burning process. In fact, in the study conducted, 87% of women confirmed visible cellulite reduction after four weeks*. It also stimulates microcirculation and promotes fluid drainage.

For waist, tummy, hips and thighs: 
Alpha Keri Body Slimfit Heat-Activating Slimming + Firming Serum contains caffeine and carnitine, and is formulated to shape and reduce the appearance of fat on specific areas, such as the waist, tummy, hips and thighs. One study found that it firms and hydrates the skin with a 58%** improvement in skin elasticity in six weeks.  

For the bust:
More concerned about boosting your bust? Alpha Keri Body Slimfit Bust + Lift Cream is formulated to create an invisible tightening net on the skin to help visibly lift, firm and plump the bust. The cream also helps to moisturise the skin, smooth wrinkles and improve skin tone, for a more youthful-looking decolletage.

There are a couple of steps you can take to enhance any of these body-sculpting products. First, remember that consistency is key. To deliver best results, you will need to commit to at least eight weeks of continuous use, so if your goal is a firmer body come summer, you’ll need to factor this in!

Finally, for best results, it’s important to prep your skin before you apply them. Exfoliating with a body scrub such as Alpha Keri Anti-Cellulite Sugar Body Scrub will help remove dead skin cells and help the active ingredients to penetrate your skin.

3. Do body sculpting exercises

As well as being great for overall health, a combination aerobic and weight resistance training program will help you target main ‘problem areas’. High-intensity exercise is a must for burning body fat, while resistance exercises will help tone your muscles for a smoother, more supple appearance. To body sculpt specific areas (think your waist, stomach, thighs and butt), try the following exercises:

Boost your bust with:
Push ups, bench presses, weighted dips

Sculpt your waist and stomach with:
Planking, side-planking, lower leg lifts

Tone your thighs with:
Lunges, inner-thigh squeezes, squat jumps, cycling/spin, leg presses

Tighten your butt with:
Lunges, single-leg squats, toe-taps, clam digs

*Tested under dermatological skin specialist control – 30 women with symptoms of cellulite and excessive body fat at 28 days.

** Tested under dermatological skin specialist control – 30 women with considerable excessive body fat at 42 days. Laboratory measured skin elasticity and hydration testing – 5 women at 42 days. 2009 Centrum Kosmetykow Dr Koziej.

Would you consider trying body-sculpting products to complement a sensible diet and exercise regimen?