Fatgirlfit – Training for a Marathon

Posted on November 22, 2011 by admin

Hi, my name is Jane Dawes. I am a member of the Ocean Spa and I am currently training for the Barcelona marathon in March 2012.

The only unusual thing in this is that I am not by any means a marathon runner, nor am I particularly fit. I certainly do not have that marathon runner physique!

My natural tendency is to lie on the sofa and eat biscuits, and boy can I pack them away. I have always struggled with my weight, being at times super fat and at others really very thin. I’m not sure if it’s an age thing – I am in my mid-forties, I swear! – but in the last year or so my relationship with my body has changed; rather than focusing on having the gym buff body of a 20 year old, my priority is to have a body that is fit for purpose, that is healthy and able to take me where I need it to. This doesn’t sound nearly so exciting, but it is a mind-set change for me.

This change was also inspired greatly by the death of a young chap from Weymouth, James Wright. James was a Royal Marine who was killed in action on 5 August 2011 whilst serving in Afghanistan, he was just 22 when he died. James’s girlfriend Shelley and her family are good friends of ours and I wanted a way to show that we were thinking of them and of James. Not quite sure why a marathon came to mind but nonetheless it is done and I am running to raise some much needed funds for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

I am one of these people who needs a goal; without one I am all over the place, but set me a challenge, no matter how unrealistic, and I will do my utmost to achieve it. I won’t be the best, fastest or leanest, but I will get there, come hell or high water!

So two months ago I re-joined the gym. I was a member until two years and got pretty fit during my three years of membership, but since then I have eaten and drunk and lay on the sofa way too much, so started out a whole lot heavier and flabbier than ever. I have tried every diet known to woman (or man) but enquired at The Ocean Spa about the Thompson Weight Loss Programme.

Overseen by Mike Young, it has worked surprisingly well. The programme is a combination of nutritional advice and some of the most extreme training I have ever undertaken. Mike has been fantastic, pushing me to extremes I did not think were humanly possible. He has a new bit of kit called TRX, if you have not heard of it or tried it; check it out with one of the staff. I can assure you it’s the work of the devil, but does bring results (painfully!).

Mike Young

My real weakness is keeping the exercise regular. I enjoy life too much to count calories and cut out everything I enjoy, so exercise for me is the key. I have to stick to a regular routine; if I miss one session, it leads to another and before I know it I am back on the sofa laying down some more chub. You will see me regularly at the gym or in the pool, usually early in the morning. I am the fat one on the treadmill looking very sweaty!

I will be keeping a blog of my progress towards the marathon on a weekly basis on here. It will be another way of motivating me to keep going, best go now as there is a treadmill with my name on it…

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Your Olympic Update

Posted on November 18, 2011 by admin

 

 

We felt it was about time we gave you an update on Weymouth and Portland’s preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games!

A little fact for you; Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour were the first Olympic venues in the UK to be finished. This included a new permanent 250m slipway and brand new lifting and mooring facilities.

 

 

Dorset has now seen over 20 different organisations joining forces to help the Olympics and Paralympics run smoothly. This will involve preparations in the areas of transport, visitors, culture, health and safety, communications, security and volunteering.

The journey of the Olympic Flame has now been planned. The relay begins in the South West and a huge overnight celebration will take place in Weymouth on July 12th when the torch arrives.  It will then continue on it’s journey all the way to the London Olympic Park, arriving there on July 27th.

You can find out more about the relay route here or watch an animation!

Preparations are now under-way for the viewing tower on Weymouth Seafront. The tower is costing £3.5 million to build. An official groundbreaking ceremony will be held in January when work on the 7 metre deep hole will begin. There have been some complaints from local residents that the tower blocks views for anyone not inside, however the firm who designed the plans felt it would improve the area and boost Weymouth’s profile.

Here at The Ocean Spa we are very much looking forward to enjoying the Olympics and the boost to the British spirit that will undoubtedly come with it!

You can contact The Ocean Spa on 01305 824117.

 

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Are you looking after your skin? The importance of a good skincare routine.

Posted on November 2, 2011 by admin

Looking after your skin need not be a chore. Your skincare regime should be so quick and simple that you feel it is easier to do it than not to!

If your routine takes too long, is too complicated or too expensive, you’ll find yourself skipping it, shortening it or stopping all together.

There are no miracle products for skincare! No matter how amazing the packaging looks or how expensive the product is – everyone’s skin is different and yours will tell you what it needs from a product.

There are four building blocks upon which a skincare regime should be built;

  • Cleanse – use this to remove any makeup and clean your face. People with normal/oily skin will find that wash-off cleansers are more effective whereas those with dry skin may prefer wipe-off cleaners.
  • Moisturise – this is one of the first defensive layers your skin needs against the sun, wrinkles and ageing. Many moisturisers offer tightening, firming and radiance as well. Your ideal moisturiser will depend on your age and what your skin actually needs.
  • Exfoliate – This shouldn’t be done more than once a week otherwise you risk damaging the top layer of skin. Done properly, exfoliation will improve radiance and skin texture. This is a product that is really isn’t worth spending a lot of money on, it can even be as simple as making your own scrub at home with olive oil and salt.
  • Water – This is an essential for anyone who wants great looking skin. Drinking up to 2 litres of water a day purifies your skin.

Reading your Skin

Your skin may change from day to day but only slightly – your skin type wont be dry one day and then suddenly oily the next. Most of us have dry or combination skin, exaggerated by cold weather and the aging process.

Sometimes you may notice dark circles and puffiness around your eyes, or spots and blemishes on your skin. These can be symptoms of using the wrong skincare products or not drinking enough water. Getting to know your skin can help you recognise and deal with these problems better.

The Ocean Spa offers a range of skincare treatments which can be used to improve your skin texture, boost radiance and give you the feel-good factor!

During these treatments, the therapists will choose from a range of Elemis product depending on which ones are good for your skin type to ensure the best possible results.

To find out more about all of our treatments, visit our website or please give us a call on 01305 824117.

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Ionithermie Body Firming: What is it and how does it work?

Posted on October 27, 2011 by admin

Ioniethermie is a treatment that works on toning and firming problem areas. Often used on the bottom, Ionithermie is designed to give a boost as well as reducing unsightly ‘orange peel’ skin on the bottom and thighs.

It has also been claimed to tone the tummy, and other benefits include firming, inch-loss and detoxification. The treatments are individually tailored to the area that you feel needs improving.

Now established for over 25 years, Ionithermie claims to be the UK’s answer to reducing cellulite. It came about after years of intensive research and development into how to really help women with “the battle of the bulge”.

The procedure works by the application of micronized algae clay to the skin, followed by gentle stimuli of specific areas of the clay to target muscles in the legs and bum. You may feel an odd sensation, but it is not a painful procedure.

Many people claim to lose 3-5 inches during their first treatment which is then increased or maintained through further treatments. It is a great way of feeling the sensation of having had a workout without having to break a sweat!

The Ocean Spa’s Body Firming treatments focus on achieving 5 key outcomes:

- Minimise the appearance of cellulite
- Smooth and improve skin
- Slenderise and contour, achieving inch loss of 1 – 8 inches from the initial treatment
- Firm and tone abdominal muscles
- Detoxify the body while restoring minerals to increase energy and metabolic function

After holding a party for the launch of Ionithermie Body Firming Treatments in July they have become very popular at The Ocean Spa, resulting in many success stories.

Katie Dutton, a member of the Spa since February 2011, says – ‘I found the treatment to be very effective! I thought initially that it would be painful with little improvement but I was pleasantly surprised, and have booked myself on a further 3 treatments over the course of the month.’

If you’re suffering from cellulite or you want to improve the firmness or appearance of your skin, why not give Ionithermie a go!

Please give us a call on 01305 824117 for more information.

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Post Pink Party – a great time was had by all!

Posted on October 20, 2011 by admin

As some of you may have seen from our Facebook updates last week, The Ocean Spa hosted a Pink Party last Friday to raise money for Breast Cancer Care.

Well, let’s just say the Pink Party was a huge success! As you can see from the pictures, there were some great pink outfits, drinks and treats and everyone had an excellent time.

Guests were greeted and taken care of by the wonderful washboard waiter Nathan and two of our members who kindly volunteered their bodies for the occasion! So a big thank you to them – they looked great.

We had over fifty female attendees along with special guests including; Mirare Underwear and Chocoholics and music by Aaron Jung.

Lots of Rose wine was consumed throughout the night, with a great effort made by the bar staff who joined in with pink outfits.

Well done to Claudine Tesniere, winner of the best dressed, and Jade Bygrave, winner of the ‘pin the bra’ game. Congratulations to all our raffle winners as well.

The evening saw guests enjoying a mini pink manicure which was shortly followed by a taster Zumba session which had everyone on their feet!

We’d like to thank everyone for their support and feedback on the event. There were many comments from members saying they thoroughly enjoyed themselves and that they hope we make a Pink Party a regular thing!

All in all we raised over £500 for Breast Cancer Awareness with more donations coming in through the week from members.

P.S Don’t worry boys; we will have an all male event early next year!

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Pink Friday at The Ocean Spa

Posted on October 14, 2011 by admin

As fans of our Facebook page will be aware, today The Ocean Spa is marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a Pink Party!

Sarah, our Front of House Advisor, with the Pink Party poster

Pink Friday is off to a great start at the Spa, with members and staff wearing pink especially for the day.

Check out our gallery of the members and staff pink outfits here!

Those not wearing pink they are asked to make a donation to the charity, so everyone can join in and make a contribution.

Raffle tickets are currently on sale on reception and will be drawn tonight.

You may have heard the adverts on Wessex FM all week talking about our Pink Party – well tonight’s the night!

 

The Pink Party starts at 6.30pm.

Ladies will be greeted by our wash board waiters with a glass of pink fizz!

There will be prizes for the best dressed lady (or man)

A Raffle

Pink cupcakes for sale

Chocoholics

Games throughout the night.

A great example of a pink outfit!

Our Therapists will be on hand to help ladies ‘unleash their inner pink’ with nail painting and make up.

As a reminder of what the night is all about, we have information stands from Cancer Research with information on how to be breast aware.

Lingerie store Mirari, from Dorchester, will be here to show us their special range of mastectomy bras.

With a Zumba session to finish the evening it is going to be a fun packed night!

If you’d like to come along, please give us a call on 01305 824117 to enquire or book.

 

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Phytomer Facials – our Spa Therapist Layla is a big fan!

Posted on October 13, 2011 by admin

My name is Layla, I am a Spa Therapist at The Ocean Spa.

Recently I have undertaken training in Phytomer facial treatments and product knowledge. I really enjoyed the training and found it very motivational!

At The Ocean Spa we offer a wide range of products which cater for beauty and skin care so I was looking forward to learning about this new brand.

Our trainer Sam was brilliant at explaining everything we needed to know about the products, ingredients and treatments. She was really friendly and very knowledgeable and any questions I asked she always tried her best to explain in a way I could really understand.

It was good to have the one-to-one learning time; I feel very confident in Phytomer now.

It was really fun training in house because I was able to identify the products on the trollies we have in the treatment room and it made performing the treatments more realistic.

I especially enjoyed having the treatment done on myself!  The “Marine Breeze” facial  was recommended for my skin type and has really helped to improve the appearance of my blemishes and oily shine!

I love how the treatments incorporate a relaxing massage and self heating mud mask for the back that pops and bubbles away as you have your facial!

The aromas of the products were very inviting and not too overpowering which I also really loved.

I experienced the hydrating facial as part of the training which was perfect for my skin type – however there are different facials to suit each skin type.

At first I wasn’t sure how my skin would react to this treatment – as I am currently using the Elemis range – but it has really done it a lot of good using something different. Our skin gets used to the products we use and it needs variation from time to time.

 

The Phytomer range is very nourishing and there are some products which are quite rich. These are perfect for people that need deep hydration and ‘a drink for their skin’ But the good thing about Phytomer is that they have different ranges for different skin types even right down to their moisturisers and eye creams. Everything is catered towards the individual’s skin.

After my facial I was amazed at the results. My skin felt so silky smooth and really plump! It also looks a lot brighter around the eyes; where I would normally conceal dark circles I did not wear anything on my eyes for the rest of the day.

I would recommend anybody trying these French marine-based products because they have left my skin feeling wonderfully smooth and very radiant. I truly believe great results can be achieved, whatever your skin type, from using these products.

I use Elemis at the moment on my skin and I will be changing some of my personal products to Phytomer because I think they have a wide range to cater to specific skin types and concerns.

If you’d like to find out more about Phytomer, or any of our other treatments, please give us a ring on 01305 824117.

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Exercising During Pregnancy

Posted on October 3, 2011 by admin

Exercise may be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re carrying that extra weight around! However there are many benefits to exercising while pregnant.

By partaking in regular exercise, you can:

 

 

- Make it easier for you to get back in shape once the baby is born.


- Prepare yourself for the challenges of labour.


- Help you to cope better with the extra weight you gain whilst being pregnant.

 

 

 

The closer you get to the birth, the more careful you should be about exercising in order to not distress you or the baby. However there are some really simple and easy exercises that you can do -

- Swimming – the best and safest exercise! It’s lovely to get into the water and enjoy that weightless feeling, particularly towards the end of your pregnancy.

- Walking – simple and easy! Keeps your core muscles, heart and lungs working well and is the easiest exercise to slot into your daily routine.

- Running – do not start running if you haven’t run much before your pregnancy! If you’re accustomed to a swift jog then simply cut your time down to 15-30 minutes depending on how you feel.

- Yoga and Pilates – Great for improving pelvic floor muscles! Use Yoga and Pilates classes to stretch, improve posture, strengthen core muscles like your stomach and enable greater flexibility.

- Weight Training – don’t stop or start – i.e. do not suddenly take up weight training, but do continue if it is already part of your workout regime. Make sure to avoid the heavier weights and ensure you don’t overheat.

- Aerobics – stick to low-impact classes! Make sure not to get involved in workouts that are too vigorous. The low-impact classes should reassure you that every movement is safe.

- Dance – even if it’s in the privacy of your own home! Dancing is the cheapest option as it can be enjoyed almost anywhere. Don’t jump around or make too many sudden movements though!

If you’d like to find out more about exercising safely during your pregnancy, give The Ocean Spa a call on 01305 824117.

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Treat Your Man

Posted on September 29, 2011 by admin

With male grooming on the rise and spa treatments ever improving, there are plenty of men enjoying massages, fitness suites and more.

Here at The Ocean Spa we offer a range of treatments that may interest your man, or alternatively you might like to enjoy them together!

Deep Tissue Massages –one of the most popular treatments among men as massage can be very beneficial after football/rugby training or a hard day’s work. This treatment will leave him feeling physically and mentally soothed, back in control of his body and free from any aches, pains or tension.

Facials – some men might turn their nose up initially, but facials are becoming more popular with men due to the after-effects. As the majority of men do not go to the same lengths as women in terms of exfoliating, moisturising and looking after their skin, they are surprised at how effective facials are in improving the condition of their skin!

Steam Rooms and Saunas - these have a longstanding tradition in many cultures, particularly Turkish Baths and Native American Steam Lodges. A lot of men find heat therapies the most invigorating and enjoyable.

Hand and Foot treatments - for men with outdoor or hard wearing jobs, their hands and feet can often be left with blistered, dry skin. Hand and Foot treatments involve the nails being cleaned and trimmed, exfoliation and moisturisation of the skin and an enjoyable massage.

And finally…

Waxing - this is a treatment that many women wish their men would indulge in more often! Far from worrying that losing hair equals losing masculinity, many men enjoy the reaction from their partners! Popular body areas for male waxing include back, chest and legs.

If you’d like to find out more about what treatments are available at The Ocean Spa, please look on our website or give us a ring on 01305 824117

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The Bare Escentuals

Posted on September 14, 2011 by admin

Here at The Ocean Spa we offer a variety of makeup consultations and applications to suit your needs. For these we use the Bare Escentuals makeup range.

Bare Escentuals base their products on a ‘feeling’. In their own words -

“Love. Understanding. Community. That’s what Bare Escentuals represents. It’s a trusted source. It’s the belief that products can actually be good, makeup can be fun, business can be personal and companies can behave more like communities.”

The company aims to create products which inspire people. Although makeup can’t change the world, it can make a big change for individuals!

Bare Escentuals took an innovative step in the beauty world by creating make-up that can also be considered skincare. They wanted to improve the way women feel about themselves and their skin.

In the past the general perception was that makeup couldn’t be good for your skin. Bare Escentuals challenged this idea by creating products made from quality natural ingredients, which contain 100% pure micronised minerals and nothing extra that your skin doesn’t need.

The company love to communicate with their customers. Their range was born from a discussion about whether makeup could be good for you; this helped them learn more about the concept of wearing make-up and how it makes women feel.

The Ocean Spa offers makeup consultations and can also apply your makeup for a special occasion such as your wedding day.

In a 55 minute session a beauty consultant from The Ocean Spa will teach anyone, including brides to be, to apply their own makeup. Step-by-step instructions will be given as to how to make the most of your skin type, face-shape and complexion, as well as which makeup consistencies and colours will suit you best. As a bonus, after your makeup consultation we will offer you a free lip colour to take home!

To find out more about the Bare Escentuals product range, you can visit their website.

If you’d like to find out more about how The Ocean Spa uses Bare Escentuals, or to book a session with us, please give us a call on 01305 824117.

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