For those of you who don’t know what a muffin top is, let me give you a quick definition. It is the bulge over your pants that look like a muffin top. This is a particular problem for those of us who have had children, but don’t be fooled - it can affect people of all ages. Unfortunately for women, muffin top usually refers to us, where men get the glorious title of “beer gut.” Also, for men, their ‘hangings over’ are sometimes firm, where ours are usually quite a bit softer. Don’t fret as this can be fixed – or at least majorly improved without months of dieting and a 24/7 workout schedule!
Why does muffin top happen? Well, on teens and very young women, it is often because their pants are too tight. If the muffin top goes 360 degrees around the body, it indicates an ill-fitting garment and generally, muffin top is focused on the sides and front. Muffin top happens for a variety of reasons. The most obvious is due to extra fat. Loose oblique and abdominal muscles are also a contributing factor. For older woman it is usually due to a combination of factors including ageing skin which is no longer as elastic, and if you have had children, then you are prone to muffin top a lot earlier in life from the loose skin factor. Even extremely fit ladies can suffer from muffin top after having kids due to the stretching of the skin.
So I guess the big question on everyone’s mind is…how do you fix muffin top?!? If you strengthen your abdominal and oblique muscles this will firm up the area and decrease your muffin top, if not eliminate it altogether. Unfortunately, this is not always an easy feat, and some of us are not made to be a size six with firm everything. Also, the loose skin factor is a major issue, even with firm muscles. So, when in need of some outside assistance – literally – you need to enlist the help of a body shaper. The most commonly known body shaper is the girdle. Modern marketing has renamed those types of products as Spanx. There are actually many types of body shapers available, made by many brands, but Sara Blakely is just the best at marketing her brand. Each brand will have its strengths and weaknesses, and you need to identify which part of your body is giving you the most grief, and how often you want to deal with it. For example, does your muffin top bother you everyday, or only in that little black dress when you want to go out? Are you a bridesmaid – or bride, and need to be pulled in just so? Once you know what you need the item for, then you can choose which product will best suit you.
So, what is available to you in the body shaper world and where do you get it? Any good lingerie store will have body shapers, as will fine dress stores. You can also find them in department stores, though the variety will be limited with less assistance from the staff. Lingerie stores will have the latest and greatest, but department stores will have less expensive products. Again, it comes down to what kind of garment you need.
For lower abdominal control, you will want a control panty. All shapewear lines will carry a product that will have a control panel in the lower abdominal area. Many department store brands will carry panties with a front control panel. These are best suited for women who wear their pants at their true waist. You can also get midwaist control 360 degrees around. Some products will be available in a panty and others with a biker short type leg. Make certain when you are trying these items on that you ensure they are giving you the control you want - you don’t want to just push your flesh out the top. If there is a panty bottom, ensure that it is not giving you a visible panty line, or worse yet, a whole new bulge. This is why there are so many boyleg styles. It will smoothly cover your bum, and help with any hip fat control.
For full abdominal control, or simply general muffin top, you will need a product that comes all the way up to your rib cage. These products can sit at the bottom of your rib cage, or end up right up beneath your bra. The high waisted control usually provides 360 degree control. Often these products also come in the biker boy style, though not exclusively. When trying on this type, double check that it does not just push up your back fat over the top. Put your clothes back on, or better yet, the special outfit you need the product for, and then examine the results. You should see a marked difference. As a side note, the boyleg types can flatten your bottom if you don’t really have a round one. Voila is one brand that will give you full abdominal control, with a buttock lift.
If the pull-on bottoms are not for you, don’t despair. You can also get tank tops that will accomplish the same things. Tank tops are great for smoothing out your bra line, your underarm and your belly. As with the bottoms, there are many different brands with different control tensions. Most tuck into your pants; however some, such as Yummie Tummie, can be worn on the outside of your pants as a layering piece.
Finally, for more full body coverage, control slips are also out there on the market. They work the same as the others; they are just in a slip style. They can be much more comfortable under a dress as it still allows you to wear stay-ups, stockings or pantyhose. Slips are easier to get on, so if you suffer from arthritis or other conditions which limit your dexterity, this may be the optimal option for you.
Thanks for reading, and check us out for more information at FeminineForm. Go Canucks!
For more great articles on health, hockey and happiness, visit us online at FarParker!
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