Let’s not make this all about losing weight, but let’s be realistic and enjoy the fact that improved posture means weight loss for many reasons.
Your weight shouldn’t define you, so just take that as a side benefit. Your posture is the thing that really counts.
It can make you look and feel better as well as reducing the risk of serious health conditions. And the best part is that your posture is one of the easiest things to work on.
If you had a grandmother like mine, you had many lessons and comments concerning how you should be sitting up straight.
My grandmother spent the last few years of her life in a hospital bed because of her problems with her back. I have scoliosis and (obviously) a family history of back problems.
However, when I was a kid I thought that good posture was as senseless as anything else.
My grandmother had a valid point though. As women age, even the ones who never had back problems need to start worrying about things like osteoporosis. Exercise, a healthy diet, and some focus on posture can lead to better health in general.
So, what’s the best way to enhance your posture? The best way is to not focus on your posture at all, but to focus on your core.
That’s right, we aren’t going to be taping any yardsticks to your head, but you would be doing yourself a huge favor if you invested in a stability ball. It’s really the only tool you need to improve your posture.
As you sit on a stability ball with both of your feet on the ground, you have no choice but to stabilize your core.
This means you sit up straight and use your back muscles as well as your abdomen muscles to keep your core steady.
You will also be using your legs to keep the ball steady.
Make sure to keep your feet flat on the floor and don’t let any one part of you touch another part of you. For example, don’t put your elbows on your knees. And yes, the stability ball can be lots of fun to play with too.
Your core is where it all starts. When you hunch over, you restrict the blood flow to your vital organs as you put pressure on them.
If you happen to be overweight already, you are already making your heart work harder than it should without hunching over. When you hunch over, you just about double the effort your heart has to put forth. Use the stability ball in place of your desk chair or favorite lounge chair. You will breathe easier, feel better, and enjoy a whole new posture. As a result, your body language will attract more people to you.
If you like the fact that this very low impact method is so effective, try planking next. You’ll be amazed at the results!
“I found there was only one way to look thin: hang out with fat people.” ~Rodney Dangerfield
You’ve probably heard about the whole “Walmart fat girl costumes” debacle by now, right?
If not, let me give you the skinny (pun totally intended). Basically, for a short time on Monday, there was a section in the Halloween department on Walmart.com that was labeled “fat girl costumes.” It looked a lot like this.
Of course, everyone and their brother totally wigged out, calling for the head of the one who dared to type such a thing into Walmart’s categories section.
“It’s not clear where the original description was penned by the budding Shakespeares behind Walmart’s website copy or someone else,” wrote Jezabel’s Anna Merlan. “Walmart’s costume section, in other words, is truly the hottest of messes. Let’s start taking bets on how long it’ll be until the Fat Girl section disappears and we’re subjected to a totally sincere apology from a retail giant who really really cares (about taking your money, in return for a shitty costume).”
“Halloween, brought to you by Walmart — the best time of year to make fun of any woman over a size 6,” quipped HuffPo’s Nina Badahur. “If you want some actually clever costume ideas, check out our list here.“
While I definitely can’t tell you the name of a person who allowed that label to go public, I can tell you one thing: it is most likely NOT because someone hates all women, fat women–or any women. I’d like to think that it has nothing to do with any kind of ISM–sexism, fatism, you know–isms– but rather, I’d like to believe that the cause is much more simple: plain old SEO–search engine optimization.
How SEO Could Make Walmart Call You a “Fat Girl”
See, as an internet professional (aka geek), I know a thing or two about how search engines work. And when companies try to code in automatically generated search terms, they use algorithms that often pull from Google searches (and other search engines). And though it was obviously a mistake that it became an official category, isn’t it possible that the term “fat girl costumes” were searched so often when people ultimately ended up purchasing a plus-sized costume that it became a recognizable term for the search engines?
And, I don’t know, it’s possible that Walmart’s site is so sophisticated that it could use the top-searched matched term as a label for its categories. Or is it?
In any case, I’d like to believe that the Walmart web folks don’t hate our plus-sized sisters–rather, maybe they’re just SEO experts and/or crazy hackers who got carried away with their awesome technnology.
To be fair, WalMart later released a statement that reiterated that “this never should have been on our site. It is unacceptable, and we apologize. We are working to remove it as soon as possible and ensure this never happens again.”
What do you think? Should we be taking this whole “fat girl costumes” deal very seriously?
Bee Informed: This post provides a literal overview of the origins of the word cellulite and what it means, from a biological perspective.
Where did the term “cellulite” come from?
The term cellulite originated in European spas and salons and they explain it as deposits of tiny fat globules on the buttocks and thighs.
What is cellulite, exactly?
Cellulite is a buildup of lumpy, thick, irregular fat deposits with an orange peel appearance.
Where does cellulite commonly appear on the body?
The most common areas are around the buttocks, hips, and thighs, and is not necessarily a factor of body weight.
Does having cellulite mean that I’m overweight?
Not necessarily. You do not have to be overweight or obese to have cellulite. Nevertheless, it is possible to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Is this a term that is accepted by the medical community?
Cellulite is not a medical term. However, medical professionals agree that it is a buildup of common fatty tissue.
How is cellulite formed?
The skin is connected by strands of fibrous tissues to deeper tissue layers, which separates the fat cell compartments. The increase in the size of fat cells is accompanied by a waffled appearance of the skin that results in the bulging of the fat cell compartments.
How can I get rid of cellulite?
Speeding up your metabolism and detoxification in the body will help in gradual elimination of cellulite. A healthy metabolism is capable of eradicating cellulite forever. The proper functioning of the liver is also necessary for detoxification.
A Note from the Queen: Certain herbal supplements and other products on the market are designed to help you speed up your metabolism and detoxify your body–but you should ALWAYS check with your personal physician or healthcare provider before taking ANY supplements!
How does that work?
A bio-ceramic additive reflects your body’s own infrared rays, which help to break down cellulite cells and revitalize tissue. Increased heat and molecular stimulation enhances the effectiveness of exercise, increases blood flow, and accelerates metabolism to burn more calories.
Women who are concerned about cellulite can take certain steps to reduce the appearance or eliminate it altogether.
What factors contribute to the reduction of cellulite?
Eating a well balance diet that is low in fat will help to reduce and eliminate further progression.
Exercise is also an important factor; if the body is toned, it results in good circulation, thus another step in reducing cellulite. In addition, drinking plenty of water has many health benefits and will aid in fighting cellulite.
Genetics and hormones may also play a factor in whether you develop cellulite. While there is not much we can do about genetics and hormones, eating a healthy diet and exercise, along with the doctor-supervised consumption of herbal supplements, have proven to reduce and even avoid cellulite.
“I saw this beautiful girl the other day. She had an ass behind her that seemed to go on for days. In fact, I’m still going on about her.” ― Jarod Kintz, It Occurred to Me
Women, it’s time to stop hating your bountiful derrieres and your curvy thighs.
As it turns out, not only do these two features make you more attractive to a majority of men, thanks to their biologically programmed preferences, but they may also indicate that you’re smarter and in better health than your apple-shaped sisters.
Plus, scientists say, bottom-heavy women may also have extra protection against diabetes, heart disease and a host of other conditions associated with obesity.
Women with “larger than average” backsides were also found to be very resistant to chronic illnesses, University of Oxford researchers report.
Other key findings:
Women with big butts have lower cholesterol levels and are more likely to be able to metabolize sugar properly—that’s why they’re less likely to get diabetes.
In order to maintain a “big” butt, your body requires an excess of Omega 3 fats, which catalyze brain development.
Researchers found that children born to women with wide hips are statistically more intelligent than the children of slimmer-hipped women.
“I like big butts and I can not lie. You other brothers can’t deny that when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face,
you get sprung.” ~Sir Mix-a-Lot
But girls–this is not a license to embrace obesity! Take note.
My butt–the difference between a size 24 (before) and size 6/8 (now).
Still, researchers say, some fat can still be very unhealthy. For example, belly fat can be a serious danger to your health.
And being extremely overweight, regardless of shape, is still fraught with health risks–so it’s important to be healthy. But it’s also incredibly important to LOVE YOUR BODY, the way it is, right now, in this moment.
And ladies…I’m going to be really, painfully honest with you here. I have personally lost more than 100 pounds–and I still have a big, round butt. However, I don’t hear any complaints about it. 🙂
My grandmother had a valid point though. As women age, even the ones who never had back problems need to start worrying about things like osteoporosis. Exercise, a healthy diet, and some focus on posture can lead to better health in general.
This means you sit up straight and use your back muscles as well as your abdomen muscles to keep your core steady.
“I saw this beautiful girl the other day. She had an ass behind her that seemed to go on for days. In fact, I’m still going on about her.” ― 
