Having had two children in the space of three years, the offer of a Shrinking Violet kit to help me shed a few of my excess inches was not something I was about to turn down.

Since having children, I have gained two dress sizes, and whilst running round after two little people is great fun, it can be difficult to find time to exercise. One thing that people do not tell you about baby weight, is that not only does it creep up on you, it also changes the shape of your body. Weight now clings to my hips and stomach, when it never did before. Despite wanting to lose weight, I simply never seem to get around to it.

The Shrinking Violet Home Edition kit is designed to help you lose inches in the privacy of your own home. It can be used on its own or as a top-up for their world renowned salon treatment. The kit includes tape measures and measuring cups, but its big selling points are the Shrinking Violet solution and the special Shrinky Suit.

To use the kit you just apply the solution to your problem areas and then don the Shrinky Suit for one hour. The suit helps to activate the solution as it creates heat. When you take the suit off, you should aim to leave the solution on for as long as possible to allow it to keep working.

I have to admit that I have always been slightly skeptical about these products that make all sorts of weight or inch loss claims. In most cases they seem to good to be true and must either not work or have some unpleasant side effects. I measured myself before the treatment more in hope than expectation.

The solution has a lovely scent and so I was more happy to leave it on after the suit was removed. The Shrinky Suit is not exactly a trend setter but I was incredibly surprised at how much heat it generated.

When I took the suit off, I re-measured and saw no changes. I thought this would be the end of the story, but by the following morning, sure enough, the inches started to disappear. I had lost three inches in total, and after my second treatment a few days later, I had lost a total of five inches, four from the waist and one from the hips.

This all happened just before I was due to go on holiday. For the first time in three years, I looked in the mirror and smiled. The items I bought to go over my swimsuit and hide me away, never came out of my suitcase. As someone who used to be a size 8, I have not embraced my new curves with any kind of enthusiasm. After just two Shrinking Violet treatments, I saw my shape change more dramatically than it had in a long time.

Overall, Shrinking Violet had two main affects: I lost inches, and I re-gained my confidence.

The Shrinking Violet Home Edition retails at £129 and is available from tibbyolivier.com

UK Beauty Online