Slimming Salon Review – The Firm, Simbithi Office Park

Recently re-opened under new ownership, The Firm Slimming and Health Clinic, Ballito (at Simbithi Office Park) offers an upmarket facility for those preferring a private weight loss journey.

Melissa Geyser initially lost 30 kg in 4 months. She took a break to travel and returned to The Firm to drop the remainder of her weight to reach her goal. Melissa lost in total 48 kg and 360 cm in 10 months. In the time Melissa was away from The Firm she did not gain weight despite travelling and enjoying holiday eating.

Sarah Vernon is a diminutive package of fiery passion; her slight frame explodes with determination towards her single goal: Offer the Best Facility and Service a person could hope to expect! She and her husband recently bought the Ballito franchise option for the national slimming and health clinic brand; The Firm. Vernon is committed to making the Ballito Salon a superior facility in every aspect.

“We have paid particular attention to our salon layout,” Vernon says, “Private cubicles are larger than our franchise specs, each beautifully decorated and appointed for comfort.”

The Slimming and Health Clinic, opened at Simbithi Office Park, assures both privacy and personal comfort. The 21 year history of the national franchise assures results!

Treatment Protocol

The Firm EMS therapy The salon combines electro-muscle-stimulation therapy with a diet plan. Pads are positioned on key muscle groups. An electric charge through the pads cause muscles to contract and relax in a way similar to normal kinetic muscle movement. The EMS therapy, although ‘passive’ for the client who simply lays there, is intensely active on muscles, forcing a much deeper, more intense muscle contraction than normal exercise.

The EMS therapy was first used by Olympic athletes to compliment their usual workout regime and support sites of injury. The results are definitive muscle development which has a ‘toning’ effect on the frame. Lymph Drainage and cellulite reduction are also effects of the treatment.

Not many scientific test experiments have been made, but the few I did find indicated abdominal muscle strength could improve by 100% and significant abdominal fat % reduction occur using the EMS protocol. Tested against a cardio training program, the cardio showed very little effect on either.

Infra-red light over the treatment area is aimed to enhance such treatment results.

Clients can select between the more stringent ‘Blue Diet’ or the lifestyle orientated ‘Silver Diet.

Personal Program Review

In the interests of journalistic ethics, I opted to give the program 100% commitment, following the advised program to the letter, chronicling, as accurately as possible, results achieved.

The Firm, Ballito offers the client the option to set his/her own pace in the treatment. After placing the pads and setting levels at minimum, the therapist leaves the panel within easy reach, allowing the client to adjust levels to his/her own comfort level.

Week 1: Two 45 minute sessions of EMS treatment, no diet.

Outcome:

The treatment was in no way ‘relaxing!’ I would describe the 45 minute session akin to ‘torture’ therapy rather than ‘massage’ therapy. Although not ‘painful’, the contractions were as deep as I could bare. I sweated.

The following day, I felt ‘stiff’. My regular Pilates class was a noticeable challenge, my ‘core’ had certainly been pushed beyond it’s normal exercise limits.

The day following my second treatment I was physically exhausted! The type of weariness felt after a particularly long and arduous bout of exercise. Researchers have estimated a 60 minute session of EMS therapy equates to approximately 6 hours in the gym. My physical state at the end of my first week would support that finding!

2 Litres of water per day is mandatory on the program. I found visits to the toilet substantially increased.

Week 2: Two sessions of EMS treatment, Blue Diet

I again opted to push levels to the maximum I could bare.

I commenced the Blue Diet at Thursday dinner. The diet, drawn up by a Registered Dietitian, seems to start with a ‘Detox’ protocol on a Monday with severely restricted caloric intake (soup and strictly limited fruit juice only) and gradually increases caloric intake through the week. By the weekend, Sunday lunch includes Roast and Vegetables including rice! Each meal is strictly planned with a clearly defined list of Vegetables and Fruit allowed. Certain (high starch) vegetables are limited to no more than 3 times a week.

Outcome

The diet is very easy to follow! I found it a relief to have my meals pre-planned, with the stress of ‘What’s for dinner tonight?’ no longer an issue. All food groups are represented, including wholegrain bread (3 slices allowed per week) and baked potato which forms part of two of the weekly meals!

Emerging from the current ‘Banting’ frenzy where bread is akin to a resident evil and potato and rice labelled ‘toxic’ to a weight loss program I savored each delectable starch filled mouthful.

I LOVED the prescribed fruit allocations through the diet! Again, emerging from a frenzy of ‘Fruit is high in sugar and must be severely restricted to attain weight loss’ thinking, I bit into the sweet juiciness of nature’s goodness with relish!

My Friday was again characterized by physical exhaustion. I certainly felt like I had spent 12 hours in a gym.

Confession: My 100% commitment wavered. I popped THREE Lindt chocolate balls into my mouth on Tuesday evening. It was LINDT! How could anyone resist LINDT?

Week 3: No EMS treatment, Blue Diet.

In my little experiment to get a realistic review of The Firm program, I opted to follow the diet alone, forfeiting EMS treatments for the week for comparative purposes.

Week 4: Two sessions of EMS treatment, Relaxed Blue Diet

A brand new machine installed and I immediately felt the difference. Contractions were profoundly stronger and I simply could not push the dials further than a 50%’. Again, an excruciating session leaving me physically exhausted, sweating and with the satisfactory feeling of having achieved quite a ‘workout!’

Week 5 – 6:Two sessions of EMS treatment, Relaxed ‘Lifestyle Diet and many social occasions.

After 3 strict weeks on the ‘Blue Diet’, life crept in: media breakfast launches, client cocktail affairs , VIP lunch and ‘Girls Night Out’ so I maintained what I could of the program while actively enjoying the entertainment occasions life includes. I enjoyed a helping of dessert if required, several samples of a newly launched chocolate bar (Yes, I do so hate my job…) as needed.

Outcome

My weight continued to reduce, albeit at a slower rate. Despite two weeks of extreme entertainment, I did not gain any weight nor centimeters. I follow the general outlines of the lifestyle program, without upsetting myself if my good intentions veer off course. I can’t offer a scientifically validated conclusion, but I have to consider some kind of metabolic switch has occurred. On previous diets, the first morsel of ‘forbidden’ food eaten would glare immediately at me from the bathroom scale. The inevitable slower or more rapid rise to my previous weight would soon follow. The Firm protocol seems to have ‘switched’ a metabolic button which means despite a relaxed diet and a very busy social program, my weight is stable!

On previous diets, the first morsel of ‘forbidden’ food eaten would glare immediately at me from the bathroom scale. The inevitable slower or more rapid rise to my previous weight would soon follow. The Firm protocol seems to have ‘switched’ a metabolic button which means despite a relaxed diet and a very busy social program, my weight is stable!

Conclusion

The Firm offers a private, confidential facility where clients of any size, shape or gender can follow a proven weight loss program. Sarah Vernon and her staff go out of their way to partner with you on the journey.

The diet alone or the EMS therapy alone is not as effective as doing both together.

Drinking 2 litres of water per day has a significant effect. It is difficult to consume it all. I love water, it is my favorite drink, but I had to push myself to finish the daily 2 litre quota.

On average, expect to lose 1 kg per week. Some weeks you may lose 1.5 – 2 kg, other weeks you won’t lose any. Although scale weight loss happens, the centimeter loss has a more noticeable effect on your body shape. I now fit in to clothing I wore when I was many, many kilograms lighter on the scale than the scale reads now.

Many of the Firm’s clientele are somewhat obese and enjoy the anonymity of the program. A percentage of clients have just 5 – 6 kg to lose and others use the EMS Therapy to tone alone.

I have elected to continue the program for another six months to further enjoy the slimming and toning outcome I have experienced.