How does the prospect of applying a cream and losing three centimeters in four weeks sound? Do the creams that we see advertisements for in TV commercials and newspapers really work to help us lose inches off our frames without lifting a finger or changing our eating habits? Can the application of a cream alone work?
We asked experts and cosmetics companies this question and, surprise surprise, it turns out that there is no way round it: in order to lose weight, one must work out and eat healthy.
Easily losing 10 pounds without exerting any effort or going hungry would be a dream come true for people struggling with their weight. But for now, there appears to be no such quick fix. No matter who you ask, they’ll tell you that in order for one to lose weight you have to work out regularly, eat healthy and drink plenty of water. Endless diet programs such as Weight Watchers, hours on the treadmill and stairmaster at the gym… Then regaining back the few pounds lost -- maybe even more than that -- shortly thereafter. When one suffers such unsuccessful endeavors, commercials on TV advertising rapid weight loss are bound to catch the eye. The commercials seem like the perfect cure for those with stubborn fat deposits, particularly around their waists, hips and stomachs. The thought of losing inches simply by applying a cream for four weeks is very enticing. As exciting as the prospect seems, were these creams really as effective as they claimed? Were they in any way hazardous to one’s health? How were they to be used? Did they also require working out and dieting to be fully effective? Obviously many of us are hoping that experts would say “No!” to the last question, but both cosmetics companies and experts agree: only “working out and dieting” will allow these products to work.
L’Oreal -- the creator of Biotherm-Celluli Laser creams -- Turkey Product Chairman Cenk Akerson says that these products will only hold true to their promise if applied while one is on a specific diet and workout schedule. Akerson notes that the molecules in the creams have an effect on the cellulite and fat cells, causing the cells to be naturally flushed from the system.
Company officials claim Nivea My Silhouette works similarly. They indicate that slimming creams, when applied while on a healthy diet and work out schedule, may result in an up to three-centimeter decrease in problem areas on the body. Nivea’s slimming cream has a herbal formula, including white tea, which speeds up the turnover of fat while preventing an increase in subcutaneous fat cells.
Oriflame’s slimming creams come with special cellulite capsules. Ceyla Koray, Oriflame Turkey’s marketing director, says that these creams, when massaged on to the body for 14 nights will result in a loss of two centimeters. It is also noted that this mix, which contains green tea and pea extracts, assists circulation and decreases the body’s storage of fat.
It is very important that these creams -- which have been produced after a long series of research -- are massaged into the skin. Dr. Ayfer Aydın, a dermatologist at Memorial Hospital, notes that the way in which these creams are applied is just as effective as the content of the actual product. Massage assists lymphatic circulation, meaning it helps burn fat and blocks cellulite formation. Aydın also explains that applying these creams alone will not result in weight loss or the shedding of inches. She says that only working out and maintaining a healthy diet will help burn fat, although the special herbal mixture of this product will assist with the process.
“Used alone, these slimming creams will simply not work,” Aydın says. She explains that these creams should not be viewed as saviors. The secret lies in an overall balance of different factors; these creams only work to help expedite a process you must have started.