iTan Recap - Week 9 / 10

What an intense 10-weeks I've gone through at my 'home away from home'...iTAN! As my journey with that experience comes to an end, I'm so happy that I got the chance to use all their wonderful products and services. I met some great people (shout out to the fab employees at the Encinitas location!!) and got toned & tanned, right before my birthday and the holidays.

iTAN

We had a fun little photo shoot at the iTAN in PB where we did some final video testimonials and our official after pics. Lucky for us, they sent us over to Diesel Salon to get us completely primped for our final photos. I got my hair & makeup done...and felt great!!

I would highly recommend anyone to iTAN...especially to the Hydration Station, the Sun Angel, the Mystic, the Lumiere Facial and the WhiterImage Teeth Whitening system. ALL incredible services and well worth the money in my opinion. I lost a few pounds while firming up (pics to prove...but seriously no one wants to see my bare post-baby belly pooch!), minimized fine lines on my face, got a brighter smile and a fantastic tan! Who could ask for more??

Here's my before pic:

very first pic - taken Sept. 14, 2011

During pics (there were more...but I haven't been able to get a hold of those yet):

gotta love my post baby pooch...and by 'post' I mean 2.5 yrs after giving birth, hahahaha!

An email ("Bronze Buzz") that iTAN sent out to all subscribed members...when you clicked on this image in the email...

...it brought you to a webpage with snippets of our after pics, so cool!

And here are the after pics:

I've also been informed that a "Bronze and Beautiful makeover book" is being created & will be distributed to all the iTAN locations for people to look though. That'll be interesting to see!! haha Thanks again iTAN!!!!!

iTan Recap - Week 7 / 8

Have you ever used Crest White Strips? And if you're like me...don't you HATE that you have to wear them for 30 minutes at a time, for 14 days...only to get white, but super sensitive teeth??

Been there. Done that. No thanks.

Now listen up people - for a bit more $ than those at-home kits (but less than treatments from the dentist), less time, little to NO tooth sensitivity and great results - you can get your butt over to an iTAN and check out their teeth whitening service, with a product called "Whiter Image".

*Currently available at iTAN Downtown, iTAN Encinitas, iTAN La Mesa, iTAN Mission Valley, iTAN Pacific Beach, iTAN SDSU and iTAN Winchester.

You get 3 box kits filled with all the goodies for your session. There's the teeth color guide, a cleaning wipe, a vitamin E lip protectant (the Q-tip), a 'bib' (in case you drool, haha) and the teeth tray.

Results will vary per person

It's recommended that you use all 3 kits during one, 45 minute long session, however if you're short on time and/or money - you can always split it up into three 15-min sessions (but do each following session as close together as you can - at least within a full week).

This is what the process is like during - you can check FB or your email while you lay there!

I drink my FAIR share of coffee & wine...so I knew it was time to test this out. However, I did my first session with hesitation. If you're a long time reader, you may remember my little mishap in the bathroom over a year ago...which resulted a costly "resin" front tooth repair (cheaper material than porcelain) - fun stuff.

I was scared that this would lighten all my teeth except the 'fake' areas that were repaired. But after some extensive guidance from the awesome iTAN Encinitas staff, I decided to do one session and was really pleased with the results. Both the 2 iTAN staff members & I think my teeth went from a color 5 to a 4:

not the BEST before & after pics...but you get the point...I definitely saw a difference!

Then I decided to do a 2nd session, which I think dropped me down to a color 3...yay! Best part is, you can't see the 'fake' area at all - phew! But they are definitely whiter, but not like, crazy INYOURFACE white like that one Friends episode, where Ross gets his teeth whitened before a date, hahahaha, hilarious.

ew...thank goodness I'm not in the 10+ range...yikes!

They also have a whitening 'to-go' pen, which I have & will use now that I've done 2 sessions. There's also a 'lip gloss plumper', which I don't have, but am definitely curious in!

Definitely give it a shot if you're looking to get a brighter smile...It'd be great to do before the holidays! OR, this would be a great Christmas gift for a friend or family member.

**UPDATE** - I did the 3rd session a few days later on Thursday and my teeth look great...I'd say they're a 2.5 on the color chart & I'm super pleased with that. You can't see the 'fake' part of my front teeth at all, yet they're all lighter, YAY! Soooo glad I tried this before my 10-week iTAN access is up! I love how many people comment on how white my teeth look...and I'm SOOO happy this product didn't cause any tooth sensitivity...big fan!

Note - I was freshly spray tanned for our final "after" pics that took place later this day

iTan Recap - Week 5 / 6

Well, I've decided to lump the last few iTAN blog entries into 2 weeks each, instead of one a week. There's not much really to report on that's vastly different or new. Combined with my full time job, part time side biz, full time mommy/wife duties, and just life in general - family, friends, holidays, events, etc....it's exhausting to say the least.

In all honesty it is a bit hard trying to fit in going to an iTAN salon pretty much every day, or at least 5-6 times a week. After a month of doing just that, I think it wore me out - sounds silly actually - being able to lie there in a bed/booth & just relax should be easy, haha! Don't get me wrong, it's FAB and I absolutely love having an all-access pass to use any & all services at my leisure - very grateful to iTAN for this experience!!

So the one new thing to report is that I finally tried the VersaSpa!! I hadn't been yet because the only 2 salons that have this service are a bit out of my way.

But after seeing that Adrienne Maloof had it IN her house (worth almost $40K to own!!) for 'spa day' on a recent episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills...I knew I needed to make the effort to test it out!

I had heard all sorts of wonderful things about it, like the color is more of a natural bronze, rather than an orangey tint - it's basically the same as the Mystic spray tan, but has an anti-aging formula as well. It's not warm like the Mystic HD, but it's suuuuper fast! Gotta love that. It doesn't have a door like the Mystic, so don't get confused when you get in and cannot locate one to close, haha! 

Because I was running a ton of errands, I wasn't thinking & should have done before/after pics...so I'll have to do that before the 10 weeks are up. ;-)

I love how my skin looks with a spray tan, my makeup even seems to go on better! It also does a great job covering those slight 'imperfections' like uneven skin tone, cellulite, stretch marks, and even lightly masking dark veins - like the small cluster of spider veins I have on my upper thigh. That'd be a good before/after pic too! So overall it really makes you feel more toned or slimmer...a visual trick that spray tan manufacturers are making BANK on! haha

Spray tanning really is the way to go...it's the safer alternative to roasting in a UV tanning booth many times a week to get the same color. It's completely UV-free, gives you great color within a few hours (or ask for the instant bronzer during the session to have an immediate glow after) and lasts about a week with proper care - especially if you use the VersaSpa Amplifier gel:

I definitely liked it - not sure the color was much different from what I get with a Mystic Tan - I do like how quick it is, though I also like the warmth of the Mystic more than the cold VersaSpa....however I did feel like I was dryer after the session with the Versa - even though it was cold - as odd as that sounds.

Try it out one day...You won't be disappointed!

iTan Recap - Week 4

4 weeks down, 6 to go...

Have I really been doing this a whole MONTH?! It's crazy to think that I first started this process on Sept. 17, and things are going great! This week I've decided to highlight the Beauty Angel - this stand up, skin rejuvenation booth is a quick (only 12 minutes!) & easy way to get firmer, younger looking skin & tone up those weak muscles.

 Beauty Angel Benefits:
• Rejuvenation Therapy (so good to use this AFTER a tanning session)
• Visibly reduces appearance of wrinkles and fine lines (yes please)
• Reduces pore size
• Makes the skin visibly tighter, firmer and smoother (I'll take that!)
• Reduces the damaging effects of environmental influences

 Platform Body Vibration Benefits: 
• Reduces the appearance of cellulite (is this a dream?!)
• Stimulates circulation
• Tightens connective tissue
• Relieves muscle tension (ahh, feels good for sore muscles!)

Just before starting your session, remove all clothing & jewelry & pin up your hair. It is also recommended to apply the Beauty Angle Effect spray all over your body....then slip on your little protective goggles & jump in!

The red lighting in the BA room didn't really agree with my iPhone 4 cam, haha

There are 4 different levels to choose from once you start the Beauty Angel:

Level 1 - is good for relaxation
Level 2 - is good for beginners
Level 3 - is good for increasing circulation
Level 4 - is good for reducing the appearance of cellulite  (**I do this one each time of course - GO AWAY DIMPLES!!**)

You can adjust the fan, music, music volume and of course the levels mentioned above. Then you just hang on to the 2 little ropes up top and enjoy the ride! The vibrating plate varies in speeds throughout the 12-minute session...so it's definitely good to hang on tight so it doesn't catch you off guard when it speeds up.

I've noticed that when the plate is vibrating at a slower pace, it's best to stand almost completely straight... (don't lock your knees though...you've seen bridesmaids/groomsmen pass out & fall over during a wedding ceremony right? yeahhhh...don't lock your knees!)...anyway...I tend to feel my upper leg muscles contracting when keeping my legs almost totally straight. Then when it speeds up faster, I bend my knees a tad bit more and I really feel it all over my thighs/butt/hips.

The whole time I just envision the excess fat melting, well...jiggling itself away in this nifty little booth! It's definitely helping my legs out, gotta feel good in my skinnies sooner than later!!  ;-)

Like that 'excited' face up top...yeah, good times in the Beauty Angel - teehee!!

iTan Recap - Week 3

Loving my glow right now...it's not a bronze 'spend-every-summer-day-at-the-beach' color, but it's definitely NOT a pale 'omg-middle-of-winter-casper' color either - it's a good in-between. I'm tanning in the Sun Angel (sometimes Level 5 if I'm short on time) about 2 times a week, bodywrapping 1 to 2 times a week, Beauty Angel-ing 3 times, R.L.T. 1 to 2 times, Hydrationing (yup, just made up that word) 1 time and finally, I did the Lumiere Facial 3 times this week.

I'm definitely getting into the groove of things at my 'home away from home' and have a pretty good routine down. When people know you by name at an establishment - that pretty much means you're a regular, haha...that'd be me. I'm noticing that I like to have my Sundays free to myself, and not be scheduled for an iTAN visit! So, devoting 6 days a week is pretty damn good if you ask me!

In my last post....I received a comment about product prices. So I did my research, got some help from one of the awesome ladies at the Del Mar location to get some numbers - see my video below for the full run down.

I have to say really quick that I'm somewhat disappointed with YouTube's editing options - they only give you THREE pics to choose from to by your main video thumbnail!! HOW does YouTube seems to just 'accidentally' pick the 3 most hideous frames to choose from?? ugh...So, excuse the odd looking faces I appear to be making in the shots below, sheesh!

Sign up to become an iCLUB Platinum Rewards member today & take advantage of these AWESOME perks!!

Lately I feel like I've become iTan's unofficial spokesperson/marketeer! Literally everywhere I go, everyone I talk to - I always seem to bring up at least one of iTan's amazing services. Right now, my go-to convo is about the Lumiere...love this thing. I've gotten used to the intense bright/warm like that completely engulfs your entire face for 20 minutes - and combined with the 'repairing' treatment that I finally received last Monday - my skin feels sooo amazing! It's super soft & rejuvenated after each session - what's really nice is that you can go every day if you wanted - as long as you leave at least 24 hours between sessions. So I'll continue to go about 2-3 times a week for the remainder of this 'challenge' (through the end of November).

Here's a recap of those FAB Lumiere Repairing products I've been using:


Upon receiving my Lumiere Facial products last Monday - we 'checked in' with an iTan employee to fill out some paperwork based on our personal experiences over the last 2 weeks, took a few progress pics (yikes), and even did a quick little video about our journey (double yikes). I'm still trying to get the hang of sounding like "me" in self-vids... it's hard to watch yourself - you are your own worst critic, right? Last week's vid was the final result of probably the 7th re-do - though I was more comfortable, my perfectionist side came out a bit more. Same thing happened with the vids in this post...but I was mega tired & had just done a bodywrap...so I blame those circumstances, HA!

Have a great week everyone!

iTan Recap - Week 2

2 down, 8 weeks to go:



I have to admit I'm a little sad that 2 whole weeks have gone by...rather quickly too. I literally have been to multiple iTan locations every. single. day. for the past 15 days (except today). Isn't that nuts??!! Yeah, I definitely think so. But you know what...it really gives me a good excuse to just RELAX - something I don't do often. If I am 'relaxing' at home, I'll probably have the TV on...along with the laptop and/or iPhone very near. So really...I'm not totally relaxed.

It's days like last Monday. God I despissssse Mondays. I used to work from home on Mondays...it was a "sometimes good, sometimes not so good" balance of work & mommyhood. However, that has since been robbed from me - so I'm back at work. It's really hard & I'm still adjusting.

Last Monday was brutal.

I was stressed & overwhelmed...just a general mix of things coming from different elements.

By the end of the day the stress in my head had moved down to my lower back & it was killing me. The first thing I thought of while leaving the office was laying down & closing my eyes. My calendar said "Beauty Angel", but my body & mind said otherwise. The thought of standing upright was not my idea of relaxing. So I did the Red Light Therapy Bed, followed by the Sun Angel. Perfect solution to a pretty 'blah' day.

Let me just say, that I am in LOVE with the Sun Angel. After 20 minutes of total peace, quiet & relaxation...the soothing music, the refreshing aqua mist...the cooling body/face fans...everything was JUST what I needed. I left feeling soooo rejuvenated & relaxed...a much better way of greeting my daughter at home after a long, icky day at work.

I was also finally able to try the Hydration Station...amazing - check out my vid above for more detail. PS... please iTan, paaahhhlease...get more Hydration Stations (oh, and Beauty Angels) at your other locations...specifically Encinitas.   K?   K, thanks!

To end the week, today I was going to do another FIT Bodywrap session, but after spending a majority of the day at the beach enjoying some beautiful 'summer like' San Diego weather, getting baked, sweaty & covered in sand by Kapri... doing the whole '70-minutes-130degree-body-bag' thing didn't sound desirable. So I skipped out...for the first time so far. I kinda feel guilty!! haha...ahh well.

Tomorrow is our first official 'check in' with iTan to go over our individual progress & thoughts on all the services/products. The only thing I'm really bummed about is STILL not having the Lumiere Facial 'repairing' packets :'-(  Hopefully I'll get them this week.

iTan Recap - Week 1

iTan just continues to impress me. I've come to the end of week 1 (of 10) and I'm feeling great!

Here's a quick recap vid...but, if you're interested in reading in more detail about a specific service/product (or my whole 1st week), click "read more" below. **NOTE - there's also a 'product overview' video under the "Tuesday" entry**


This is a rather lonnnng post, since this was my 1st week. I promise the future 'weekly' posts will not be this long! I just wanted to make sure that I captured as much detail as possible, for those that want real insight into each of the services that iTan offers. ;-)

Sat. 9/17/11 - Red Light Therapy / Sun Angel
I started with a 15-minute red-light therapy session, in the "Red light therapy" bed, which is similar to the Beauty Angel...except it's a standard 'lay down' type of bed (instead of standing) and there's no 'vibra-shape powered massage'. Prior to getting in this bed, I was told to spray myself down with the Beauty Angel "Effect" spray (to use immediately before a red-light sesh to help build collagen & reduce fine lines/wrinkles) - which felt okay, a bit sticky - I was told it may tingle a bit...but it never did. The red lights in this bed are BRIGHT, but there are no UVA/UVB rays, so you can't get tan or burnt from it. I was told that I should see 'results' from this after 3-4 sessions. YAY! And this is something that's safe to do every day if I could.

After that I went straight into the 20-min Sun Angel bed - I was SO excited to finally try it! You first have use a small hand-held sensor over your forehead...then on the lightest part of your body - which helps to detect your specific skin tone/type, thus automatically adjusting the UV light accordingly.

Sun Angel - handheld sensor

Then you apply your lotion...I used "Cypher" for all over body lotion, then the Cypher-Face...for my face/neck. The contoured bed was heaven and you can control the facial & body fans as well, which is always a huge plus for me. I wish I had remembered to try the facial mist/aromatherapy spray during the session...oh well, there's always next time (see Thursday's review below).

Sun Angel Bed

After showering, I tried the SlimLine "Celiminate" cream on my 'problem' areas: tummy, thighs, butt & that little area in-between your arm pit & your chest. About 30 seconds later...OMG wow...my skin got really, really red & hot. I was worried. So I looked at the back of the tub, and it said "Sensitive skin may experience slight, temporary redness and/or irritation"...okay, phew. It finally subsided about 20-30 min. later, but I'm curious if this is a good or a bad thing. I'll have to research & ask the iTan fam about this.

Slimline "Celiminate Cream" and "Slender Serum"

I also applied the Slimline Slender Serum oil on the rest of my body (which is supposed to temporarily help the elimination of excess fluids). In addition, I used the Beauty Angle "Focus" lotion on my face after washing, and the 'to go' tooth whitening pen, just before bed.

**NOTE - after trying the Celiminate cream for a few days...I've noticed that immediately applying after a shower is when my skin got really red/hot. Also when using a large amount. So IMO, it's best to use this in smaller amounts, any time of day, just NOT after the shower!**

Sun. 9/18/11 - Red Light Therapy / FIT Bodywrap / Lumiere Facial

Oh man, this was a LONG day at iTan. First I did the Red Light Therapy bed for 15 minutes, since the Lumiere wasn't immediately available. Then I got prepped for my 70-minute bodywrap. Luckily I've done this once before, so I knew what to expect going into it. I sprayed myself down with the FIT Booster product - which is supposed to 'amplify bodywrap results', like: Anti-Celulite, Stimulate breakdown of FAT, Inhibit accumulation of new FAT and Stimulate detoxification of the skin. Then I got as cozy as one can, in the clear, full-body plastic button-up 'gown', & laid down under the 130 degree (max) heated pads. I also remembered to take my body measurements & weighed myself right before/after. Sadly, there was no significant change, except for a tad off my waist - like maybe an inch. I think I should've drank way more water before I went in. Again, there's always next time.

FIT Bodywrap

However, the bodywrap room at the ENC salon needs a bit of 'work'. I highly recommend they invest in a fan with a remote & a fully operating TV/remote! When you're totally wrapped up in this thing for a whole hour, the last thing you want to do is get UP...adjust the fan...lay back down, then realize the increased fan speed is louder, thus the TV volume is way lower - but the TV remote doesn't work... So you have to get up again to turn up the TV volume. 

Immediately after I went for my 'facial' in the Lumiere. I didn't have the 'repairing' packet, as they're still on order...but hopefully will be able to try it out next time. I have a feeling that with continued use, the Lumiere will do wonders for my skin! The pic below isn't totally accurate...you actually have to pull the unit down over your face, until it's about an inch away from your nose. Since it's a 20 minute session, it'd be nice to have some relaxing spa music playing, as I got pretty antsy mid-way through. Since the intense, bright lights are almost against your skin, it also get's very warm... not enough to break a sweat, but warm enough to wish you had a fan blowing around the room.

This morning I did feel a bit 'firmer' - not sure if that had something to do with the Slimline cream &/or oil... but after confirming with an iTan associate today, the redness/heat from the cream is totally normal. Okay phew. So I used more tonight after showering...only I used a bit less this time & only on my tummy, thighs & butt. It got a little red/hot for a few minutes, but not nearly as bad or for as long, as yesterday...yay!

Mon. 9/19/11 - Level 5 / Beauty Angel

Today I finally got to test out the Beauty Angel at the Del Mar salon during my lunch break - I've been pretty anxious to use it! First I did a level 5 booth for 10 minutes (using lotions listed below under "Tuesday's" entry).

Level 5 Tanning Booth

After tanning, I jumped on over to the Beauty Angel. Same bright red lights like the Red Light Therapy bed, however this little gem is a standing booth, that vibrates like crazy, depending on 1 of the 4 settings you select. It made me a bit dizzy at first, luckily it has loops above for your hands to hang onto. It was only a 12 min. session, with adjustable fan speed & music selection, so it was tolerable. It seemed like the faster it vibrated, the more my lower back muscles got 'stimulated', in a way. The less it vibrated, the more I felt it in my upper thighs. I just tried to imagine the vibrate of the booth, jiggling all my excess fat off, hahaha!

Beauty Angel Booth

Tues. 9/20/11 - Level 5 / Beauty Angel

Same routine as yesterday - Lovvvving all the products I've been using daily:

• Morning:   Beauty Angel "Replenish" lotion (use between BA/red light sessions)
• During Tan:   Cypher (body), Cypher face (face) & Australian Gold Bronze Minerals "LEGS" (legs)
• Afternoon:   "After Glow" after-tan lotion (arms/calves/chest), Celiminate cream (tummy/thighs/lower back/butt)
• During shower:   Slimline Exfoliation Scrub - has an interesting scent, not terrible, but definitely would prefer a yummier smell ;-) (to use between tanning sessions, as to not scrub off my tan!)
• Before bed:   More Celiminate cream, Slender Serum oil (arms/calves/chest), Beauty Angel Focus face lotion, teeth whitening to-go pen (every other night)

Wed. 9/21/11 - FIT Bodywrap / Lumiere Facial

I actually remembered to turn fan on high in the beginning & turn the TV volume up really loud...didn't have to move once during the session, yay! Again no difference...even after drinking an entire bottle of water immediately before starting.

*NOTE* - do NOT chew gum during your 70-minute bodywrap, as it will morph into an almost sticky-liquidy consistency after about 50-60 minutes...and you'll have no where to spit it out, until your time is up!

For the facial, this time I was given a sample 3-step "repairing" packet - since my 'set' of them haven't been delivered to that salon yet. So it was nice to at least give this packet a try. Getting 2 facials a week (within my 10-week timeframe), should reduce pore size, even out skin tone/texture, lighten age spots/sun spots/dark circle AND help reduce the appearance of crows feet around my eyes. Ummm...that sounds like a miracle to me!

Step 1 is to wash your face with the 'Preparation' scrub. Step 2 is the 'Treatment lotion, to apply after washing, and just before starting the session. Step 3 is the 'Aftercare' lotion. I encountered the sweetest iTan associate, who let me use her own personal Lumiere Brightening Serum...to put on just before the facial session, on only the dark/discolored parts of my skin. The melasma (or "mask of pregnancy") that I got on my forehead & inner cheeks gets especially dark while tanning or being in the sun for long periods of time. So I put the 'brightening' lotion on those spots. Though I didn't notice an immediate difference, my skin felt wonderful after this Lumiere session! 

Thurs. 9/22/11 - Sun Angel / Aqua Massage

Today I had intended to use my lunch break to try out the Hydration Station for the first time, at the P.B. salon. However I didn't realize it was by appointment only...note to self. So I used the Sun Angel first, then tried out the Aqua Massage before heading back to work. I remembered to turn on the "aroma refreshing spray" - which smelled amazing! I couldn't quite distinguish what smell it was, but it was definitely light, clean & just lovely.

It was a little odd...not how I imagined. You get in fully clothed, lay face-down, then lower the top. Once it starts, the water starts spraying into the plastic, which is laying all around your back/legs/etc. So you can feel the water pressure through it. You can control the water pressure intensity, from 1-9...I stuck with 7, as anything lower just felt like a tickle. It traveled up from your feet to your neck, then back down, over & over for 20 minutes. If you have a spot that you want to concentrate on, you can press a button to 'pause' the water to stay in that spot for however long you like. So if you have 20 minutes to spare, and need a little relaxation & massage, without an actual masseuse or even undressing...then this one is for you!

Aqua Massage Booth

Fri. 9/23/11 - FIT Bodywrap / Mystic Tan

Today I had my 3rd bodywrap, followed by a nice warm Mystic HD. I'm definitely feeling more toned & 'light' in a way. Cannot wait to see what 10 full weeks of this sun/spray/spa routine will do for me!

Sat. 9/24/11 - Red Light Therapy / Lumiere Facial

I finished off my 1st full week of fabulous iTan services with the Red Light Therapy & my 3rd Lumiere facial treatment. My skin is feeling & looking amazing...it's sooo incredibly soft & the lines/wrinkles on my face appear to be less prominent. This time I got smart finally, and turned on the "Zen Garden" station on Pandora, put my phone under my head/neck and relaxed...that definitely made me less antsy this time around. Highly recommend doing this if you plan on purchasing a Lumiere package.

Bronze & Beautiful Makeover Challenge...winner!!

Can this really be true? Am I dreaming?? 
Did I really REALLY just WIN a 10-week makeover?!

Ummm....

YEP!!!  I sure freakin did!!! I LOVE  iTan!!  thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I practically fell over when I read the email from iTan, explaining that they recieved my entry & had been selected as a finalist in their "Bronze & Beautiful Makeover Challenge". Finalist meaning I, along with 9 others, will all have 10-weeks {beginning 9/15/11 through 11/27/11} of unlimited access to ALL of iTan's fabulous Sun / Spray / Spa services, along with a ridiculously lengthy list of products we'd get to use. There's no 'winner' at the end, so it's really just up to each of us to stick to the 10-weeks & utilize all these FREE services & products to our advantage. What they get in return, are our detailed reviews & use of our pics. Would you like to see exactly which services & products I'm talking about?? Yes, I know you would... check em out here ;-)  I am SO excited!

holy wow...look at all this STUFF...for FREE!

I thought this was just too damn good to be true. Then once I received the official rules & 'recommended regimen', I thought, "holy crap...I'm going to be a friggin slave to iTan....I'll have to go literally every single day for 10 weeks straight, just so I can keep up with the recommended use for each service". But guess what? I. Don't. Care! It's only 10-weeks of my life...and for the last month I've been yearning for the motivation to get my butt in gear & lose a little weight {about 15 lbs} & really tone up before fall/winter... which means I'll have to fit into my skinny jeans again. Oye vay. I really want to have drastic before & after photos, so my dedication towards this is critical!

I've created a full day-to-day calendar, which will begin on Sun. 9/18/11 & end on Sun. 11/27/11 - just 3 days shy of my 29th bday, yay!! It'll help me schedule when I have time, in-between my full-time day job, part-time biz orders, & night-time wife/mommy duties, to do each specific service...mainly at the Encinitas, Del Mar & P.B. locations. I'll be blogging week by week, as well as a few "Vlogs" {per iTan's request}, covering all my experiences with the services & products throughout this 'challenge'. And of course I'll post before, during & after photos, in addition to my measurements and any weight loss that I happily drop off! Wish me luck everyone!!

;-)

iTAN FIT Bodywrap Experience

Lucky me...I won another little giveaway the last week...this time from iTan! I got an email saying the first 5 people to write on their Facebook wall would receive a free body wrap. So I went to their site, commented...and sure enough, I was winner #3!!


So.....guess what I did this evening?? You guessed it, I got to try out the hour-long body wrap for myself. It. Was. Weirrrrrd. And ya know...I couldn't really find any good, detailed reviews on this thing prior to my appointment...besides this generic video on YouTube:



Here's MY review of iTan's "FIT Bodywrap": 


I got there & was pretty quickly briefed through the process by the attendant, I wish she slowed down a bit actually. Then I was slightly annoyed when she asked if I brought a bottle of water...um, no. I was told when I made the appt, that they would provide me with water. But no, they were out. Great. So since I didn't want to pass out from dehydration, I ran over to the Rite Aid for a bottle...phew!

Then I followed the attendant to a room in the back, where she laid a towel on the bed/table and another towel on the floor. Hummm. After she left, I had to 'dis-robe' and put on this "fit booster" spray stuff (making sure to pay special attention to those 'problem areas'). So after drenching myself with the spray and I got into this strange, full body, clear plastic button-up bodysuit type thing.  Then I laid down on the narrow bed/table and pulled this huge, thick, blue plastic 'blanket' over my whole body - like a sleeping bag with velcro along the edges. The cover has 4 sections: #1 covers the chest/arm area, #2 is for the tummy area, #3 is for your thighs/butt and #4 is for your calves/feet. Each of those sections has it's own temperature control... ranging from 107 to 140. #4 is recommended to maintain at 107, since the foot area has the least amount of fat...so I kept it at that. But up'd the other 3 areas to 140 within the first 5 or so minutes.

I put on "The Holiday", with Kate Winslet & Cameron Diaz...such a cute movie. Though when it started & I wanted to fast forward through the previews...remote didn't work...oh, a missing battery - that could be why! HA. So after about 40 minutes in, I looked at the time remaining...22 minutes, o. m. g. It is meggga hot!! I tried to just focus on the movie & forget about the heat. Then with 19 minutes still left, I felt sweat start to drip down my face. Lovely. Then with only 10 minutes left...I could not stop checking the clock. Minute by minute. That's when I really felt my heart rate increase and really had to breathe through it.

BEEEEEPP..."yessss, finally, all done!".

I flipped over the blanket thing, sat up and looked at the plastic suit, that was now practically shrink-wrapped on every inch of my body. wow. Then I stood up...let me just tell you, it's a damn good thing that chick laid a towel on the ground, hahaha. I wish I knew how many calories I actually sweated off?! And I should've weighed myself immediately before & after...ahh well, next time! After drying off I had to stand in front of the fan FORever since I was so hot. It was pretty interesting..not sure if I'd pay $100 per session for it! Maybe it just takes a few sessions, but I didn't lose any weight (or noticeable inches) immediately after...but I did read a review that said they noticed their body felt firmer/leaner the next day...so we'll see how I feel tomorrow. I know that any 'loss' is suuuuper temporary, but even if it helps my lil post-baby pooch for just tomorrow (wearing a new, form-fitting dress out downtown), then I'll be happy! haha