The quest for perfection

Apr 3 2008 by Laura Davis, Liverpool Daily Post

While many women might buy a new outfit and get their hair and nails done for the races, radio presenter Kim Hughes decided to go a step further. Laura Davis reports

FOUR weeks ago, radio presenter Kim Hughes set herself a challenge – to give herself a complete make-over for Ladies’ Day.

While most race-goers were choosing dresses and hats, Kim picked out a total new look and planned an intensive programme of beauty treatment and extreme dieting.

Nearly a month of facials, calorie counting and body wraps followed and now, with just a day to go, she is ready to unveil her finished appearance.

Kim, 35, who is one of the judges at Aintree’s Style 2008 contest, decided she needed to look at her very best if she was to assess other racegoers.

“I thought, ‘that will be fantastic’ and then I had a moment like in Home Alone where Macaulay Culkin puts his hands to his face and starts screaming when I realised I couldn’t remember the last time I shaved my legs.

“I’d spent the winter in woolly jumper, thick black tights and Ugg boots,” says Kim, who lives in Wilmslow with her husband, who as City Talk’s breakfast presenter wakes up at 3am each morning.

“I realised I really needed to do something about it.”

The first thing to tackle was the stone she had put on over the winter months, so she registered for the Cambridge Diet, a meal replacement programme under which she eats a low calorie shake for breakfast and lunch and soup for dinner.

She also had to drink at least eight glasses of water each day and cut any other food, alcohol and caffeine out altogether.

“I’m one of these people who always says they’re on a diet but never manage to stick to it but Cambridge Diet worked well.

“I’ve lost a stone which is great – I’ve got rid of that extra layer you put on over winter,” says Kim, who kept on the regime for three weeks in total, with a week off in the middle when she had the flu.

Although Kim managed to lose a stone while on the Cambridge Diet, it is quite an extreme eating plan and is not suitable for everyone.

Kim made the sensible decision to speak to her GP before starting the diet but, as it only provided 500 calories per day, her personal trainer said it would be too dangerous for her to workout at the same time.

Feeling more like her pre-Christmas self, Kim decided to begin a series of beauty treatments that would brighten her skin and make her feel enlivened.

She started with a Carita Pro Lift, described as an instant “non-surgical” face lift, which claims to smooth fine lines, lift slack muscles, oxygenate skin tissue and leave the complexion refreshed.

This was followed by a Universal Contour Wrap, a new inch-loss treatment that guarantees you'll lose up to six inches in just two hours.

This is less drastic than it sounds, as the inches are counted as a total lost from all areas of the body.

The 45-minute treatment includes being wrapped in bandages soaked in a mineral-rich clay solution, which exfoliates and tightens the skin. Both treatments were carried out at My Spa, on Brunswick Way, Liverpool.

“I’m just not brave enough for cosmetic surgery, so I went for the facial instead. I was very sceptical about it, but it really has made a difference.

“Afterwards, I looked like I had had a really good holiday – really refreshed – and my skin since has been really good,” says Kim, whose hectic lifestyle includes developing property.

“The wrap was the most undignified treatment I have ever had in my life. It involves paper knickers.

“But I lost eight inches – I would have to go to the gym for six months to lose that much.” The finishing touch to Kim’s new appearance was a spray tan, which she had done at her local beauty salon.

And the verdict?

“I’m like a new woman. I feel better about myself and am really looking forward to Ladies Day.

“What’s done me good is taking time out for myself.

“If you feel good then you look good and that’s the most important thing.”

KIM HUGHES is a judge at the Grand National Festival’s Style 2008 contest.

To enter, visit www.aintree.co.uk or register on the day. Kim presents Breakfast on City Talk 105.9 with Phil Easton, on weekdays from 6-9am.

lauradavis