Does My Tummy Look Big in This?

Are you pregnant? No, that's just my expanding tummy.

Oh dear! Where did that trim figure of your younger days go? Probably hidden under layers of the good life - chocolate, good food, alcohol, working too hard, stress, age and anything else you can come up with.

Yes, exercise, strength training and less food will all decrease your tummy or size. In the meantime, here are some smart modern dressing tips for business women over 40 to minimise or flatten your tummy and look slimmer.

Go Diagonal or Uneven
While vertical lines are slimming, diagonal lines are your smartest dressing tip. Diagonals - either in the pattern or the design shape - go across your body at an angle so your tummy appears less noticeable. Skinny or medium-sized diagonal patterned fabrics are best. Softly merging diagonal colours give the effect without being obvious. Crossover tops, jackets and dresses are a very modern way to add slimming diagonal lines.

Ruching across the tummy, gathers at the side seams, lots of vertical pintucks or angled or uneven hems at the bottom of tops or jackets all break up the horizontal line across your tummy. All of these features give the impression that your tummy looks smaller than it is.

Wear Flat-front Pants and Skirts
This style of pants or skirt means that the eyes have nothing to stop and focus on. Flat-front pants with no pockets encourage people to look down the line of your body rather than across it. Add a centre back zip rather than a front or side zip and you have another smart dressing tip to disguise your tummy.

Look for a flat front skirt with a bit of stretch in it for comfort and no centre or front seams or pockets. Other people do not notice your tummy as much when you wear styles like this. If you like pleats, have them start from the hips not the waist.

Both these styles are more effective in darker colours or subtle pin stripes.

Leave Only a Small Space in Your Middle for People to Look At
Your tummy cannot look big if people cannot see all of it. Wear a cardigan with the buttons undone below your waist. This creates a small A shape that draws attention upward away from your tummy. Undo the top button or two if you like, to draw attention even further upward.

Wear a soft top or jacket that has no buttons or if it has buttons, undo them so only a small vertical section of your dress, blouse or cami shows down the middle of your body. Viola! Tummy shrunk. Add a belt under a cardigan or jacket and people will see only the belt or the whole outfit not your tummy. Belts are a sign of confidence and women usually assume that a woman wearing a belt has a small waist and a flat tummy, even if they cannot see the entire belt.

If all else fails, wear shapewear especially shapewear that go higher than your waist and cover your midriff. A slim midriff makes your bust look larger and your tummy look smaller.

Remember that most business women over 40 are too busy thinking about their own body faults to actually notice the size of your tummy. These hints are only to help you feel good about yourself.

How to Choose the Best Human Hair Extensions

Are you on the hunt for your next batch of hair extensions? Whether you want to apply your extenders yourself or have them professionally applied, there are plenty of options on the market. Some hair extension aficionados swear by human hair extensions. For the ultimate in luxurious extensions, consider natural ones.

Characteristics

• Fine, virgin hair is chosen for extensions. This will give you the best quality extenders possible.

• The cuticles of this type of hair extension are all aligned in the same way. This ensures that the extenders won't tangle. Natural hair and hair extenders with perfectly aligned cuticles is by far the best looking, healthiest type of hair.

• Human hair extenders are processed without acids and with natural, food grade ingredients.

• Human hair extenders are prepared in small batches, by hand.

• Unlike other types of hair extensions, human hair extensions aren't heated in high-heat ovens. This means that natural extensions aren't dried out like other types of extensions.

Benefits

• Every extender is soft, just like moisturized, natural hair. This is due to the cuticle alignment.

• Human hair extenders are virtually tangle-free. Tangles are the number one way to shorten the life of your extensions.

• This type of hair extender lasts longer than most other kinds of extensions. Your extensions will be in place for months.

• Human hair extenders don't shed thanks to secure sewing.

• Each hair extender is shiny because of the cuticle direction.

Application

• Strand-by-strand application is done in small sections. Heated sticks that are adhesive and glue help to adhere the extension to the hair.

• To apply hair extenders with the weaving method, a track is created around the head, as close to the scalp as possible. The extenders are sewn onto the tracks.

• Bonding is one of the most common applications for extensions. Glue for bonding is applied to the end of the extender as well as to the root of your own hair.

• Clip-in extensions have the clip-in portion already sewn into the end of the extension. This is the easiest method to apply yourself, since you can easily clip the extender in and remove it simply.

• The newest application method is tape-on bonding. A thin, flat strip of polyurethane works as double-sided tape. You simply remove the back of the strip and apply the extension to your hair. This is one of the easiest application methods to do yourself. This is also a safe method of application.

Excerpt From Lose the Baggage, Lose the Weight: A Piece of Me: You Can't Bury the Past

"PTSD is not something you want nor is it something you're aware of while it is happening. It sneaks up on you and can devour you if you don't get help."~ LPS

A Piece of Me: You Can't Bury the Past

Feelings and emotions we think are long-forgotten can come back at any time. It happened to me after a mentally deranged former student cornered me in my classroom. Following that incident, I found myself haunted by my past. My emotions were out of control. I felt alone, anxious, ashamed, guilty, hopeless, overwhelmed, ugly, and unworthy. When I felt threatened, I had heart palpitations. I dreamed of being chased or assaulted, with flashbacks of past abusers.

I cleaned obsessively, purging my closest and my dresser drawers. I got rid of anything that reminded me of teaching, which I had loved. I stopped smiling. I lacked joy. I was isolated from friends and from doing activities I normally enjoyed.

I felt disconnected from those closest to me. It was difficult to concentrate, to sleep, and to eat. I was a mess. At times, I walked for hours. I felt numb. I'd tremble uncontrollably. I would only go outside if someone accompanied me. I felt cold. I dropped weight without trying. I didn't recognize myself. I felt out of control.

My skin turned gray, my legs gave out often, and I would fall on my snow-colored carpet. When I fell close to the bed, I would grab the covers tightly and pull my body up to a standing position. The paralysis would only last for a minute. Then I'd return to my daily routine. Sadly, part of that routine was lying in a fetal position on my bed with covers over my head to muffle the sounds of my crying. My clothing hung like drapery. I found my reflection repulsive, and a taste like that of a dirty ashtray made it difficult for me to eat. Any loud sound startled me. My reactions were frightening. I'd lie hibernating in my bedroom with one sliver of light. I was afraid. I didn't know what was happening. I'd cry until there were no more tears. I'd see things. I was convinced that crows were haunting me. Evil surrounded me. I could feel it. I was scared, and I needed help. I prayed, and God put me in the hands of caring doctors.

"You are not crazy," they assured me. "You are suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). You have to open the box, so you can move on."

I tried to keep it closed, but it didn't help. So I surrendered everything to God and the memories rushed out like a roaring spring river. After I took back my senses, I realized I had forgotten that God was always with me. I began to understand that my emotions were normal reactions to extreme stress. My problems were the result of what happened to me, not because of anything I had done.

I learned from experiences that many weight issues and eating disorders issues are the result of situations or circumstances beyond our control. It is up to us to find solutions to our problems and not run from them. Denial is dangerous! Life is full of surprises. It doesn't always go according to plan. Bad things happen. Parents divorce. Good, hard-working employees lose their jobs. Life requires that we dig deep and remember our goals and dreams. There's where the original P.I.E.S. (physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual) philosophy formula can help. (A formula I created as a youth for survival.)

Original P.I.E.S. formula

Desire
+
Motivation
+
Commitment
+
Flexibility
+
Acceptance
= Change

For most of my life, I followed that formula. But for a time, I let emotions take over. This enabled others to control and have power over me. It also influenced how I saw and felt about myself. It created havoc with my self-image and self-esteem, something I would have never allowed before workplace harassment.

Determined to get my life back, I had a good, old- fashioned come-to-Jesus conversation followed up a prayer to God and request to the universe. It reminded me that pain must be managed, not stuffed in a box. This light-bulb moment prompted me to find the motivation to share what I learned about self-image, self-esteem, nutrition, fitness, eating disorders, and life.

Emotions can be managed. So can your eating habits. It's not going to be easy. However, it can be done. It must be done. Before we enter the world of eating disorders, try to determine whether or not you use food to cope or fuel.