22 Sep Quarantine Snacking Packed on the Pounds? We’ve Got the No-Sweat Solution!
When it comes to fitness and working out, it seems like COVID has affected folks in one of two ways: either you took this time to really knuckle down and achieve your goals or you embraced the couch potato lifestyle. At RefinedMD in Los Gatos, we’ve seen both sides of the spectrum—and have solutions if you gave yourself permission to take a break from workouts. CoolSculpting and Emsculpt are a double whammy to contour and sculpt your body without having to lift a finger (or barbell). Even better, both of these non-invasive procedures are on special throughout September.
You’ve probably heard of CoolSculpting before, and now is the perfect time to try it. It’s the only way to permanently remove fat cells in a non-surgical manner. Discovered by researchers in the 70s who realized children who ate a lot of popsicles had less fat in their cheeks than their peers, CoolSculpting works by freezing away small amounts of unwanted, targeted fat. When fat is “frozen” at a precise temperature it dies and the body safely absorbs it and expels it in the weeks following the treatment.
The Efficacy of CoolSculpting
When patients hear that CoolSculpting freezes away fat, the same questions always pop up. Does it hurt? Does it really work? How much fat can be frozen? And when do results show? Let’s tackle this list. First, CoolSculpting does not hurt. Most patients work on their laptop, read a book, or scroll through their phones during their treatment. It can feel a little strange because in order to target the unwanted fat it needs to be isolated, so the area is “vacuumed” in order to be frozen. It might feel funny, but there’s no discomfort and no need to worry. In fact, not even the mildest topical numbing cream is required.
Yes, CoolSculpting really does work! It’s especially good at targeting small amounts of unwanted fat in order to sculpt the body. CoolSculpting isn’t a weight-loss procedure, though. It’s best for patients close to their goal weight who struggle with pockets of fat that won’t disappear regardless of diet and exercise. There’s no “maximum” amount of fat that can be frozen, but since it’s a sculpting treatment you can expect about two pounds of fat to be frozen away. However, keep an eye on inches rather than what the scale says with CoolSculpting. Before and after photos and measuring the targeted area before and a few weeks after the treatment is the best way to gauge progress.
You can expect full results to appear six months after your last treatment. Most patients require about 3 – 6 CoolSculpting sessions per target site. It takes time for the fat to “die” and for the body to expel it. However, most patients start seeing early results about one month after the first treatment. Again, photos and measurements can help you track your contouring.
What About Emsculpt?
Emsculpt can also help with fat burning, but it’s really renowned for helping you build muscle fast. Also a non-invasive procedure, Emsculpt works by forcing targeted muscles into 20,000 supramaximal contractions in just 30 minutes per site. This is the same as if you did 20,000 flawless crunches in half an hour—an impossible feat! Emsculpt operates under the notion that muscles don’t really “care” how they’re worked out, whether it’s from the gym or via Emsculpt.
If you were a gym rat prior to COVID, you probably noticed a softening of muscle tone way before you noticed any weight gain. It’s frustrating that it takes so much time and work to build muscle and yet so little time to lose it. There are certainly strengthening exercises you can do just with your body weight, but if you were used to hard sessions with fixed weight machines, kettlebells, or dumbbells, then you understandably were at a loss when the pandemic started. Buying these items yourself is costly and takes up a lot of space. Plus, almost all home gym equipment was either sold out or skyrocketed in price when the pandemic hit. If you’ve been left without any means of sustaining your muscle growth, Emsculpt can get you back on track.
You can target virtually any desirable muscle with Emsculpt including the glutes, abs, legs, and upper arms. Most patients benefit from a few sessions spaced a week or so apart followed up with maintenance sessions every six months. There’s no “work” on your part, but you can feel sore afterward so BCAA-infused water and a protein snack immediately after Emsculpt is a good idea.
Ready to learn more about Coolsculpting and Emsculpt? Connect with RefinedMD today for a complimentary consultation.