What is Hypoxi? | Kickstarting weight loss and getting back to exercise!

What is Hypoxi?  I'd vaguely heard of Hypoxi but not ever really understood what it was or how it can help with weight loss goals.  And as I found out at Dorota's Lifestyle Studio, it is much more than just a weight loss treatment - it helps with fat loss from our midsection, skin health and is also a cellulite treatment, plus it is good for our general fitness as it encourages regular gentle exercise.  

​Over the last six years here on my blog I have regularly shared my ups and downs and love hate relationship with exercise! Starting with The Body Coach I was able to lose the half a stone I hated, create a leaner body and build some muscle which gives me my desired slimmer, shapely physique as well as helping me feel stronger. I would really rather not work out though! So you will see when looking through my blog archives, various attempts at exercise classes, personal training, walking and more. But I have never been able to fully integrate a love of exercise into my routine. Nutrition I am better at, I am guided by the 80/20 rule and eat a balanced, healthy diet on most days, it helps keep me slim and allows time off for holidays and socialising. But like everyone, lockdowns interfered with my enthusiasm. Initially during the amazing weather of spring and summer 2020 I walked daily but wine also featured heavily - well who doesn't love sitting in the garden with a glass (bottle) of chilled rosé. It was also a very stressful time for me, as it was for everyone, and comfort eating crept in.

But the last 6 months I have been determined NOT to exercise! I know I need to! I know it does me good! I tried out a new Pilates studio in Marlow and I genuinely loved the sessions I did - but why didn't I keep it up? I have my gym set up in my log cabin but still avoid actually doing anything!  

Then Dorota's Lifestyle Studio in Chiswick got in touch and asked if I'd like to visit, see what they offer and try out some of their treatments including Hypoxi.  I was intrigued by Dorota's personal story too. And I do love a trip into London, Chiswick is an affluent area, with pretty tree lined avenues, Chiswick High Road is full of my favourite shops and restaurants - 'Megan's at the Flower Market', yes please!  It is also easy access from the M4, so off I went!

This is a gifted blog post.

Hypoxi at Dorota's Lifestyle Studio in Chiswick

Dorota's Lifestyle Studio, Chiswick

Dorota was a Prison Officer at Wormwood Scrubs, unhappy in her job and with her appearance, she hated exercise but knew she needed to make changes. A friend recommended Hypoxi, so she signed up, and over a period of a few months, lost weight, transformed her body and fell in love with the concept of vacuum training. Having always been keen to run her own business, she eventually left her job, invested in her own Hypoxi Studio and now supports other women to lose weight and be the best version of themselves.

Dorota's Lifestyle Studio began 7 years ago and rapidly expanded into bigger premises and added more treatments.  Dorota herself has maintained her weight loss and works hard to support others.  She is slim, bubbly and a positive advocate for Hypoxi training.  

Dorota's Lifestyle Studio on Chiswick High Road is bright, friendly and offers a range of lifestyle treatments to support health and wellbeing. As well as Hypoxi sessions I will be trying the Formostar Infrared Body Wrap and a brand new treatment to the UK market, Nano CellCare!

I am enjoying chatting to Dorota, she is passionate about helping others, easy to get on with, friendly, down to earth and knowledgeable. She is also very real and understands that many women do not want to do traditional exercise and sweat it out in a busy gym 4 x a week or pace the streets in running gear! She is also keen to promote a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle and understands that mindset plays a massive role in our ability to lose weight and feel healthier.

However, I am a bit wary of 'get fit quick' fads, weight loss systems or unrealistic treatments promising to transform our bodies. And Hypoxi does feel a bit bonkers. You put on a big all-in-one suit - a pressure suit (a bit like a wetsuit) and get connected to the Hypoxi device that creates vacuum and compressions while you lay on a bed for 20 minutes. Then you need to do 30 minutes of low impact exercise also linked up to a vacuum chamber.   Can it really work?  

Benefits of Hypoxi - more than just fat loss.

How does Hypoxi work?

The first part of a Hypoxi treatment, where you are wearing the pressure suit, feels quite relaxing, almost like a massage table. Air is sucked in and out and it feels like bubble wrap popping inside the suit.  The aim here is to increase blood circulation which in turn will help tighten skin and shift some stubborn fat deposits right where we hang onto it - our midsection.

Next you move to a cycling machine either upright or laying down - I am trying both! Wearing a heart rate monitor and a temperature monitor around the upper thigh, you are fitted into kind of skirt that creates a seal for the vacuum technology to work and helped onto the exercise machine. In front of me is a screen which monitors heart rate and temperature and Dorota reminds me which zone I should keep my heart rate in. The light exercise bit isn't too strenuous, just a gentle cycle on the flat! Make sure you drink plenty of water, Dorota keeps me topped up!

It is not possible (usually) to 'spot reduce' so with conventional diet and exercise you can't expect to lose fat from your tummy but not your legs or boobs for example. Fat comes off equally all over, a bit like a bath emptying. And yet we women continue to tell a personal trainer, oh I just need to lose fat from my bum / tummy / hips!

The Hypoxi method works by increasing the blood flow to our perceived problem area and helps to metabolise fat as well as reduce cellulite and it benefits overall skin health too.  Obviously there is some techy, sciency stuff to Hypoxi but I don't plan to go into that, I don't understand it! 

Dorota explains, we put on weight where circulation is poor - hips, tummy, thighs, bottom - our midsection. Hypoxi helps your body's natural fat burning with low impact, low intensity exercise and vacuum compression technology to increase the circulation where needed. Basically, Hypoxi supercharges what your body does naturally and independent studies show Hypoxi to be 3 x more effective than regular exercise. It is particularly good for skin health, improving skin tone and reducing cellulite due to its ability to target the extremities!

This is very relaxing! Using the Hypoxi HD Comfort Couch at Dorota's Lifestyle Studio

Combine Hypoxi with healthy nutrition

But healthy nutrition plays a part too. It is important on Hypoxi training days to follow a few guidelines:

Eat a small/light portion of carbohydrates 1-2 hours before the treatment. Your body will only burn fat if it has energy to do so, that energy comes from the carbohydrates.  I tend to have a chicken and avocado or tuna and cucumber sandwich.

For the first two hours after a treatment, only drink water or herbal teas then in the following four hours, only eat lean protein and low sugar vegetables. This is the 6-hour window when your body's natural system will continue burning fat. So no carbs, sugars or alcohol.  Examples include smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and spinach or salmon steaks with plenty of green salad.

For best results, it is also recommended that you stick to balanced healthy diet on non-treatment days.  

Getting the best results from Hypoxi

Dorota has advised me to visit the studio for my Hypoxi sessions 3 x per week for the next 4 weeks so it is quite a commitment. I wonder if I could get the same results exercising normally but without leaving home and eating well? However, let's be realistic, I'm not going to do that am I?! And 4 weeks is too short a time period to see any meaningful changes from my usual workouts. Hypoxi I am hoping, will give me a jolly good kickstart, a boot up the bum! What makes Hypoxi unique over normal exercise is that results can be seen in a shorter time period. 

At my initial consultation, Dorota did a body assessment, took body measurements and weighed me. She assessed my skin tone and we discussed my weight loss goals and any specific areas where I'd like to see some fat loss. After my 12 sessions of Hypoxi, we will repeat these measurements and see how they compare! Dorota explains it is possible to lose a dress size, although for me, being already quite small, I am not looking for big changes but a reduction in measurements would be really fabulous!

I will admit Hypoxi so far is very easy!  I don't feel like the exercise is too strenuous or sweaty, the time passes quickly while I chat to Dorota or catch up on my Instagram feed.  On my Hypoxi days, I am finding it easy to cut down on my calorie intake and I'm committed to drinking more water, less alcohol and keeping to healthy meal choices.  So far I have completed 4 x Hypoxi sessions, and although it is too early to see any significant results, I do feel like I am doing something and my tummy feels more comfortable and flatter the day after a Hypoxi session.

I will be back to share my Hypoxi results soon!

Love from
Michelle xx


Disclaimer: Dorota's Lifestyle Studio is gifting me a course of 12 x Hypoxi sessions, my review is a genuine and honest account of my experience.

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