I started gaining unwanted weight at the age of 28. Why do I say “unwanted”? Is there such a thing as “wanted weight”? Well, for the longest time I was really thin. In fact, I even got into a weight gain program just to be 10lbs heavier. But gone are the days and metabolism slowing down as we age will always be a universal truth. While exercise remains to be the ideal way to cut down on the bulges, it’s a tough job to handle so I’m sharing with you some tricks to that optical illusion slim.
First things first. Always remember to accentuate your assets because it would draw the attention away from your problem areas.
For the ARMS
To “slenderize” your arms, use an arm shaper/minimizer underneath your quarter or long-sleeved tops. Tres Sleek makes them using nicely-textured and smooth fabrics but you’ll be amazed how your arms get compressed. If you are fond of wearing tees, transparent strips (a brand called Instant Arm Lift makes them) can help you get rid of flabby arms pretty well.
But if any of these don’t appeal to you, you can either wear 3/4 (or slightly shorter) sleeves as they cut off the arms at a slim point which make them look slimmer; or floaty, voluminous, and fluted sleeves.
For the WAIST/TUMMY
Don’t wear low-rise hipster pants because they reveal the budge. Instead, pair up your below-the-belly-button pants with banded tops or wear a belt right above your hips when wearing longer tops and dresses. Most full, flowing skirts add volume to the lower body which give the illusion of a smaller waist by making the hips look fuller. If you have extra bucks, get a body shaper because it can tuck the tummy and make the torso appear slimmer.
For the LEGS
Putting on a pair of dark-colored stockings will draw the attention away from your legs. Pair them with boots and a skirt/dress. If you’re on the short side and want to add a little height, there is nothing better than pairing wide-leg pants with a pair of heels. Just make sure you pick a pair of pants that doesn’t accentuate your waist.
If you’re into athletics, your calves might look a little out of shape. You can make your calves look slimmer by slipping on a pair of heels. You don’t have to wear super high heels to achieve this, any heel will pretty much do the job.
While a lot of people want to reduce their weight, there are some of us who are born ectomorphs and need to beef up to look good. The important thing to get robust thighs is to incorporate bodybuilding exercises like deadlifts, squats and lunges which focus on mass building. Leg curls are also an important exercise for building the back portion of the thighs. However proper care should be taken while doing deadlifts and squats. An instructor or an experienced partner who can spot the exercise posture is required in order to avoid injuries and over training.