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For years now, putting on a pair of pants with a low rise was like putting a tourniquet on a balloon; voila, instant muffin top, even on a thin body. Our blood flow was further constricted by the squeeze the “skinny jeans” put on our thighs.
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In the hours between getting up and going to bed, the belly can undergo waist altering machinations. The pants that zipped easily in the morning are putting painful strain on our tummies by midday.
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When Brittany Spears was at her taut and toned best, about 10 years ago, she shared her fitness routine with a journalist. It included 7000 crunches a week and she had the abs to show for it.
Not many who aren’t mega-watt-pop-stars have the time, resources or stamina for that kind of exercise regimen. We just want to fit comfortably into our clothes and avoid feeling bloated. Unless there’s a medical problem, this is fairly easily accomplished with our Top No-Bloat Tips for Waist Management and knowing what foods to eat and when.
Some of the healthiest foods are also ones that cause bloating, like beans, and some vegetables. Don’t exclude them from your diet, just know when to avoid them.
Foods that help reduce bloating. Peppermint tea, ginger, pineapple, parsley, and yogurt (make sure it contains probiotics).
Best foods to eat for a flat stomach. Almonds, apples, eggs, berries, leafy greens, yogurt, salmon, quinoa, soybeans.
Top belly-bloating foods. White flour (breads, cookies, pastries), bulky raw foods (like carrots, broccoli etc), alcohol, coffee, acidic fruit juices, wine, fried foods, gum, sugar alcohols,
NOTE: Even 7000 crunches a week won’t turn a fat tummy into a washboard. The muscles would get toned but the fat would remain. To achieve visible abs takes a combination of diet and exercise (or a medical procedure).
It crossed our minds last week as we put together our coverage of Fashion Week’s emerging trend (the menswear influence), that the designers being lauded most of the time seem to be men.
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If women didn’t buy and wear clothes a whole industry wouldn’t exist. Yet the male influencers heavily outnumber the females. Women of influence in fashion, like Donna Karen and Diane von Furstenberg, have far fewer younger counterparts than the reigning male tastemakers. Here are some that fashion insiders watch. They may not be the household names the men are, but they are respected by their peers for their ability to tap into what women want to wear.
Sophie Theallet
Sophie Theallet spent years designing for Jean-Paul Gaultier and Azzedine Alaïa before starting her own collection. She’s highly celebrated within the industry. Michelle Obama is a fan.
Tracy Reese
Tracy Reese has been designing since the early 80s and had her collection since 1998. She’s well known for her frothy prints, feminine dresses, and use of color. Her collections feature much that looks welcoming to women over 40.
Daryl K.
Daryl Kerrigan’s business (Daryl K) has had more ups and downs than the Riptide Rocket Ride in Orlando, but she hangs in there until she drops, then makes a comeback. She’s known for her urban, utility looks. Her jackets and coats are particularly noteworthy.
Fashion Week is not a costume drama that excludes the average woman. It’s an opportunity for us to appreciate what goes into the clothes we take for granted. Even the lowliest garment starts with a vision.
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Some wallets can withstand anything. The other side of the coin is a clothing allowance that’s so tight it screams. If you can’t go high, then get the look anyway. Just because mortgages and tuition don’t go on sale, doesn’t mean you can’t have your cake and eat it too.
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