Body Shapes

Review (with before and after pictures) of i-Lipo Laser Liposuction Treatment

March 20, 2013 By The Fashionable Housewife Leave a Comment

Everyone knows that diet and exercise is the best way to lose weight. However, that isn’t always enough and we all know there is almost always room for improvement!

The idea of getting full blown liposuction is kinda scary, so you might be a little excited to hear about i-Lipo. It’s a non invasive type of liposuction, takes about 30 minutes per session, NO downtime and it actually works!

Jessica Alba reportedly had a few i-Lipo sessions to get ready for attending the Golden Globes awards shows. She looked absolutely amazing! (And hasn’t she had two kids?!) I also saw the treatment reviewed on “Ricki Lake Show” and noticed substantial results on the woman they performed the procedure on during the show.

Okay, so you’re probably wondering, what exactly is i-Lipo and how do I get it?! Well, first off, it’s the first FDA approved, low level and non-invasive treatment to get rid of cellulite, fat, and lessen the appearance of stretch marks. It was created and launched in the UK, won a slimming award in Paris and is now used all over the USA, Canada and Australia.

(Click To Enlarge)

How does it work? Four small plastic paddles are placed on the treatment area and secured with velcro straps so they stay in place. The paddles emit low levels of laser energy, which essentially blasts the fat cells without harming your skin. It sends the signal to break down the stored triglycerides into free fatty acids and glycerol which then releases the fat to be eliminated from the body. This process of releasing the fatty acids is actually a natural response the body has when the body needs to used stored energy reserves. So the nice thing about the i-Lipo is that it’s not creating any unnatural reaction in the body nor does it damage or alter any surrounding structures such as skin, blood vessels and peripheral nerves.

The usual treatment areas are abdomen (mummy tummy!), thighs, love handles/muffin top and even upper arms. You can basically get i-Lipo any place that you want to slim down that the i-Lipo paddles can be placed on. I decided to get my abdomen / mid-section done (although I considered doing my thighs since no amount of exercise seems to make them any smaller!).

Here is a local ad for the i-Lipo Treatment…

i-lipo treatment ad for boston

I decided to be brave and make an appointment at Dr. Jafar Koupaie’s office (Boston Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Center)in Brookline, MA to receive the i-Lipo treatment from nurse practitioner Stacey Luddy.

I talked with Stacey for about 10 minutes before receiving the treatment and she was such a sweetheart! I asked her a bunch of questions I thought you ladies would want to know the answers to, before considering a treatment like this. Here is the scoop…

Q&A

How much does 1 treatment cost? Treatments range from $350-$650 each (BDCSC charges $500 per treatment) but you can get discount packages if you agree to doing the recommended 8 treatments.
How many treatments do I need to get full results? The recommended course of treatment is 8 sessions.
How many treatments before I notice ANY results? Generally patients can see results after just one treatment. (I did!)
How long does it take to receive 1 treatment? Each treatment takes about 30 minutes.
How far apart should each treatment be? There should be at least 4-5 days between each treatment to give your body time to get rid of the fat. Once a week is recommended.
Does it hurt? The most you will feel is a warming sensation.
Where does the fat go? It’s absorbed into the lymph system and flushed out. (Hence the recommended increase in water consumption post-treatment!)
Will it harm my skin? Your skin gets slightly red and warm (This disappeared before I even left the office.)
Are there any known negative side effects? Apparently people with extremely sensitive skin might notice more redness and it may last a couple hours before subsiding, but this extremely rare.*
Can I wear my HotPants after receiving the treatment? They recommended that I not wear them immediately after the procedure just to make sure my skin was not going to have a negative reaction to the treatment. My skin had absolutely no reaction to the procedure at all, so I wore my hotpants the next day.

* Please consult www.ilipo.com for more information.

Immediately after the i-Lipo Treatment, you’re supposed to exercise vigorously to assist in eliminating those freed fatty acids from your body. They recommend that you take a brisk walk or do 20 minutes of cardio. (I think doing one of Jillian Michaels – 30 Day Shred 20 minute workouts would be ideal.) I couldn’t find my Jillian DVD so I did 30 minutes on my Stair Stepper when I got home, the same day that I received the treatment.

Ready to see my before and after pictures?

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Body, Body Shapes, Cosmetic Surgery, Health & Fitness, Reviews, Skin Care, Weight Loss Tagged With: before and after pictures, Boston Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Center, Dr. Jafar Koupaie, i-Lipo, i-Lipo before and after, laser lipo, Liposuction, liposuction cost, review of i-Lipo, Stacey Luddy

Khloe Kardashian Flashes Her Spanx®

July 14, 2011 By Amanda Davis

Doesn’t it make you feel better than even celebrities need some “smoothing out”? Khloe Kardashian was caught flashing her Spanx on her way to sister Kim’s dress fitting at Vera Wang. See ladies, we’re all human!

Khloe’s slimming silhouette of choice: SPANX Hide & Sleek Slipsuit, an all-in-one smoothing bodysuit ideal for curve-hugging bridesmaid dresses with a sleeveless or short sleeved neckline. The SPANX Slimplicity Strapless Full Slip offers convertible and removable straps should the girls opt for a strapless style. SPANX Hide & Sleek Shapesuits ($84) and SPANX Slimplicity Strapless Full Slip ($72) are available at www.spanx.com.

About SPANX:

Ten years ago, Sara Blakely began her mission to make the world a better place, one butt at a time. A frustrated (yet fashionable) consumer-turned-entrepreneur, Sara reinvented shapewear with innovative designs and smart features and won the hearts of fashion-loving women, from Jessica Alba to Madonna. Obsessed with creating comfortable garments that minimize figure flaws, Sara has helped create more than 200 problem-solving products and recently entered the bra business with the ground-breaking Bra-llelujah!® In 2006 Sara brought her shapewear know-how to more women with the national launch of ASSETS®, a new collection of shapewear and legwear designed to help women achieve their own red carpet look for less. Continuing to raise the bar with innovative products women want, in 2009 Sara launched Haute Contour®, a lingerie-inspired collection known as the dessert of shapewear™. Today, after many years of demand, Spanx brings their industry expertise to the pool and the beach with swimwear and redefines the men’s underwear category with cotton and zoned performance undershirts and cotton comfort bottoms.

Filed Under: Affordable Fashion, Body Shapes, Fashion Advice Tagged With: body slimming, khloe kardashian, Spanx, Undergarments

The Best 2011 Swimwear for Fashionable Housewives

March 22, 2011 By Guest Blogger

Women are a lot like fingerprints – no two are the same. While one housewife may enjoy gardening, an occasional glass of wine and extravagant fashions, another may loath anything with stems, abhors alcohol and would rather play with leaves than pay full price for her clothing. Who is right? The beauty is that in the game of fashion, there are no wrongs, only wrongs for you. And with summer a few short months away, every fashionable housewife will need this summer staple – the swimsuit. Whether you’re into bikinis, tankinis, or one-pieces, there is a style for everyone. Read on to find the best swimsuit for your personality, body type and a few tips to guarantee you’ll be wearing the best fitting swimwear this season.

For the Housewife with a Large Bust

Freya Swimwear: To often women with large breasts must sacrifice support for style. Not anymore! Freya Swimwear is designed for women with D cups and larger and suits run up to a size 40G. The line consists of tankinis, bikinis and one-pieces so you’ll have plenty of options regardless of your coverage style. The best part is the tops run by bra size so you’re guaranteed a great, customized fit. (If you don’t know your size, check out my bra fitting calculator.)

For the Housewife with a Small Bust

Voda Swimwear: The grass always seems greener on the other side. Big busted women want to look smaller and small busted women want more cleavage. Thankfully both can have their cake and eat to it. For the petites, there’s the fabulous Envy collection by Voda Swimwear. These attractive bikinis have special padding that will push your girls up but won’t get heavy when wet. Suits run in small, medium and large and come in four fun colors.

For the Housewife with a Pool Boy

Karla Colletto: Three words. Oh. Em. Gee. This season’s selections are beyond hot, with trendy one-shoulder one pieces to red-hot bandeau bikini tops, this collection will make you want to go to the beach just to rock your new swimwear. The line consists of one-pieces, bikinis and swim skirts and runs in dress sizes so you’re sure to find your best fit.

For the Chic Housewife

Panache Swimwear: Like Freya Swimwear, Panache is for gals with D cups and up who wish to have the utmost support with bra-size bikini and tankini tops. The collection is diverse in its designs and you can either select a solid-color swimsuit or one with a chic print. Suits are supportive and will cover all the right areas.

For the Pregnant Housewife

Anita Swimwear: Anita Swimwear understands what pregnant women want and they design their swimwear accordingly. Comfort, support and a flattering silhouette that won’t constrict baby is the goal of each piece.

Swimwear Fit Tips

If you have any questions, feel free to call my expert bra fit hotline at 1-888-262-4887.

Happy swimwear shopping!

Written by: Linda “The Bra Lady” Becker | LindasOnline.com

Filed Under: Body Shapes, Swimwear Tagged With: bikini, Body Shape, Body Type, maternity swimwear, Plus Size Swimwear, Swimsuits, Swimwear, swimwear fit tips, tankini

HELP! Desperately Seeking a Nursing Bra

March 18, 2011 By Lucie Amberg

Since my husband and I are expecting our first bambino next month, my life is full of changes. Most of them are exciting, like creating a nursery for this little person we haven’t met yet. Some of them are funny, like when the fraud department at my credit card company called and asked if I was really the person spending so much money at Wal-Mart and Babies R Us. (My response? “Yes, I know. I miss Nordstrom, too.”) But some of the upcoming changes are a little scary, and for me, breastfeeding falls in that category.

I’m definitely planning to breastfeed, and I know it’s a natural process and women have been doing it for eons and blah, blah, blah. But it’s intimidating! For example, I only recently learned that newborns eat 8-10 times a day. Seriously? That’s more often than I check email.

This woman looks very happy. She has obviously found a good nursing bra.

If I could just get a handle on the wardrobe issues, though, I’d feel much more confident about the whole thing. Let’s face it: looking good while nursing is the El Dorado of motherhood. I could go on all day about the limited variety and questionable style of most nursing clothes, but I don’t have the luxury of worrying about that because I have yet to find a suitable nursing bra. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that looking good starts with a great-fitting bra.

Since I’m naturally “well-endowed”, I’ve been investing in well-made, supportive bras for as long as I can remember. Wacoal and Chantelle work best for me, and although they cost a pretty penny, I don’t mind spending more for such crucial wardrobe items. But now I’m fretting because my old stand-bys won’t work for nursing.

Further complicating the issue is that—of course—my bust has gotten even bigger during the pregnancy. Something I read said that this is a good sign biologically; it means your body is getting ready for the baby by making sure he can find his food source. Well, I don’t think that will be a problem. Helen Keller could find my bosoms these days.

And now that a supportive bra is even more important than ever, I’m frustrated with the options I’m finding. So I need HELP in a big way! Any D or DD women out there who’ve found nursing bras they love? I’ve heard that underwire styles can be problematic but can’t imagine going without it. Has anyone found a brand that works? BareNecessities.com has many options, but I’m not familiar with the brands and have no idea where to start. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Filed Under: Body Shapes, Fashion Advice, Kids Apparel, Lingerie & PJ's, Maternity Clothes, Moms On The Go, Nursing Tops Tagged With: Bras, Breastfeeding, Maternity, Nursing, nursing bras

Plus Size Models And Body Image For Women

January 14, 2011 By The Fashionable Housewife

Beauty Cannot Be Defined By the Number On Your Tape Measure!

Plus Size Models Can Lead the Way
To A New Body Image For Women

Model Katie H.

When I was a teenager and well into my twenties, my life was ruled completely by the number on the tape measure. I remember that I was always trying to reach that perfect magical number: 36-24-36. I worked out 5 times a week. I ate salad for lunch everyday. I cut carbs. I obsessively counted every calorie and lived on small tubs of fat-free yogurt for breakfast. Many times I went to bed so screaming hungry that it felt like my stomach was going to eat it’s way OUT of my body just so it could get to the fridge and find some food.

I truly do not know how I managed to will myself to sleep every night with such incredible hunger pains in my stomach. And, after all that, I never reached 36-24-36. At the height of working out and restricting calories, I reached a size 4, but my measurements still remained 38-29-40. I felt defeated. I felt fat. I felt forever ugly. Because in my mind, you could only reach beauty by fitting your body into that magical 26-24-36 number. As long as I had such a wide waist and big hips, I would always be second rate, a “beauty wannabe” but never truly pretty. And this thought drove me to more hours at the gym and weight loss products such as Hydroxycut. One night after calorie restriction, lots of HydroxyCut, and a hour on the treadmill, I fainted off on an Elliptical Trainer in a university gym. That was embarrassing when all those strangers crowded around me to help but it didn’t deter me one bit.

Crystal renn 300x285 Crystal Renn, Plus Sized Model Gets Thin

Model Krystal Renn

Looking back, I still can’t believe I was that thin and toned. At the time I felt huge, but looking back at pictures, I can’t believe I once looked that good. Because, at the time, it was the 1990′s and the height of the heroine-chic look and the Kate Moss pre-pubescent girl look. My dress size was a size 4 and I still felt terribly self-conscious.

Model Liis Windischmann

But, luckily, in about 2007, we started to see a noticeable use in magazines of images of plus-sized models. And they were being featured in mainstream fashion editorials. These fashion editorials had always been the domain of ultra-thin models. So, there was a small breakthrough.

Model Erin Tinsley

I remember in college and in my twenties, people would make comments like, “Oh, so and so, is pretty for a fat girl”. There was always that qualifier that so and so was fat. No one could just say, “So and So is so pretty”. It was as if they were surprised that someone who had curves could also be pretty. Because curves ultimately disqualified all women from being beautiful. Only waif-like girls could be beautiful.

Model Katie H.

I remember when the Sir Mix-A-Lot song “Baby Got Back” came out. And the video was hilarious. But, he made his point, loud and clear, without mincing words, that he wanted a girl with luscious curves. That was in 1993 and I would blast that song and dance around the room.

Model Katy Jensen

But, it still took a while for that message to really start taking hold in popular culture. Really, it took almost 15 years for magazines to show that a round behind was coveted. Because when I was younger, I was trying EVERYTHING to get rid of my rear end. But, now tad-dah, my rear end is suddenly “in” and now women are undergoing plastic surgery to get butt implants. No joke!! Luckily, we can thank J. Lo., Beyonce, and Shakira for helping change the beauty standard. These women weren’t going to accept comments like, “Yeah, she’s hot but she needs to loose about 20 pounds”. Heck no! They capitalized on their curvaceous bodies and allowed those very bodies to sky-rocket them to fame.

Krystal Renn Posing As Early 20th Century Artist Freida Kahlo

And, this is definitely a move in the right direction because beauty should not be so narrowly defined. And plus-sized models should no longer be categorized as “plus size” when they are featured in magazines. It should be that they are featured in Glamour or Vogue to the same extent that extra thin models are featured. We should be able to look through these magazines and see a reflection of all women, to some extent.

What I mean is, they should find models that represent all of the different demographics that women represent, and portray each of these women in the most beautiful light possible.

Because wouldn’t it be great if the next generation of girls had less inherent body-hatred as they grow up? Wouldn’t it be great if women were just considered beautiful because women are inherently beautiful, and they are beautiful in all different shapes, sizes, and colors, and at every age.

Model Tara Lynn

So, if any magazine editors happen to be reading this post, I am pleading with you to show women in magazines who represent average women as the beauty standard. And let me define the word “average”. What I mean is average height and average weight.

Model Barbara Brickner

I am in my thirties now and I have had two children. I lost my pregnancy weight after both of my children. But, after my second son was born, I have entered a yo-yo dieting cycle. Whereas I used to be able to lose weight and maintain my weight, I am no longer able to do that. I lose my pregnancy weight and then I gain it all back as soon as I go on a weight maintenance program. My son is only 2 years old and I have bounced between 155 pounds to 125 pounds and back THREE TIMES NOW. It is becoming extremely frustrating because each time I start my diet again, weight comes off more slowly and it seems like I am getting hungrier. And even though I am not skinny, I am still as interested in fashion and looking pretty as I ever was.

And it would be great if magazines showed women who are my size so I can get ideas about what looks good on my body type.

I am not stick thin and I want clothes that flatter me. The last thing I want to look like is a frump. So, please, please feature models of average weight or bigger, because my body will no longer allow me to be as thin as I was prior to having children.

And, I can’t speak for you other ladies, but as hard as I try, I can no longer look like this…

And I can’t look like this either…

You know, my body just won’t go there. But, aside from that, really, is this the look that we want to show to young girls? And do we really want more women dying from eating disorders every year? Does showing women this thin on the cat walks really help society?

Then there’s the issue of impressing men. Do men really want to have their wives and girlfriends and the mothers of their children to look like that?

The definitive answer is NO.

How can I say that, you ask? Well, Microsoft released a short article with the list of the top 10 searched women in the entire world for 2010. Who do you suppose was the most searched woman in the entire world for 2010?

Was it Heidi Klum? NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, Heidi, you didn’t even make it into the top 10 of 2010!!!!!

Was it any ONE of the Sports Illustrated models? WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who was it then…?!!!!

Drum roll please….

It was…..

kim-kardashian-bikini-2

That’s right, it was Miss Kim Kardashian.

Kim Kardashian was the most searched woman in the entire world for 2010.

And, I am going to have to go out on a limb here and say that she was searched because people find her extremely attractive. I doubt they were searching her because they find her body hideous.

Nope, it seems men were searching photos of her because they think she’s smokin’ hot. And women were likely searching her photos in secret because deep down they might just want to celebrate the fact that they have a body, like Kim’s, that is not rail-thin.

So, the bottom line is, magazine editors, if you are listening, please, please, feature more women in 2011 that represent women who are actually able to eat a french fry here and there.

What do the rest of you women think? Am I off base? What would you personally like to see more of in magazines for 2011? Who do you believe is under-represented in magazines?

Women, sound off! I want to hear your opinion!

Peace,

Sarah Polyakov

Filed Under: Body Shapes, Fashion Advice, Health & Fitness, Plus Size, Weight Loss Tagged With: 2011, body image, Kim Kardashian, magazines, models, Plus Size, plus size models, skinny, Weight Loss

Tips to Hide the Bulge from the Splurge

November 13, 2010 By Sara Cornell

With Thanksgiving around the corner and holiday parties soon to follow, it’s time to think of ways to eliminate or hide the dreadful gobble gut. If a quickie diet isn’t your thing, you can slim down in seconds with these easy-to-find wardrobe tricks.

1) Body Shapers and Undergarments are a Must

Smooth out lumps and bumps with a body shaper that sucks you in and tightens you up in all the right places. For top and bottom slimming try Kymaro’s New Body Shaper – with its patented, breathable design it instantly makes you look 10 lbs thinner and hides cellulite while still providing maximum comfort. Or try Spanx Hide & Sleek Capri Smooth for a bottom and leg shaper that trims all the way down to the calf.

Kymaro New Body Shaper Top / Bottom ($29.99; www.ubuyez.com)

Hide & Sleek Capri Smooth ($68; www.spanx.com)

2) Denim that Slims

5-Pocket Tummy Control Boot Cut Jeans ($34.99-$39.99; www.onestopplus.com)

There are a number of denim collections that have patented slimming technology as well as specific designs to elongate your look. Dark and slightly bootcut jeans without any fading or whisker marks are always the most flattering, giving you a longer, leaner look. Try Kymaro’s Curve Control Jeans or OneStopPlus’s 5-Pocket Tummy Control Boot Cuts – both are flattering styles and they have slimming technology to squeeze in those troubled areas.

Kymaro Curve Control Jeans $29.95 at Ubuyez.com

3) Wear Jewels that Flatters You

Jewelry can create a slim appearance if you know how to wear it. Shorter statement necklaces that don’t go beyond the cleavage will change the focal point to be above your chest , drawing attention away from your middle. Also, oversized bangles or watches will make your wrist and arms seem skinnier – generating an overall slender look.

Filed Under: Body Shapes, Fashion Advice, How To Wear..., Shapewear Tagged With: fashion, Shapewear, Weight Loss

Swimwear Advice From Expert Cyla Weiner

July 20, 2010 By Lucie Amberg

It’s not too late to get a fabulous swimsuit this summer. After all, there’s still plenty of beach-and-pool weather on the horizon, and with any luck, you can score a fabulous one at a post-4th price.

If your budget has any room for a splurge, though, a great bathing suit is the perfect place to use it. Think about it– have you ever turned down a fun invitation to an event because you didn’t have a cute swimsuit? Or have you gone and felt self-conscious the whole time because you weren’t happy with how you looked? Contrary to what we often tell ourselves, the problem isn’t necessarily with our bodies. Sure, extra time in the gym always makes you look and feel better, but the right swimsuit will make a huge difference– even if you haven’t been able to get to the treadmill lately. Finding a suit with proper support, the right fit, and clever design features will mean you’re always beach-ready. Choose a timeless style, and you can wear it for years.

Veteran fashion expert Cyla Weiner of Sylene of Washington, D.C. reached out to us with some useful tips for selecting a suit you’ll love to flaunt. Check them out along with some sassy selections from her boutique:

1. COLOR— Black is a universal color and is always in style and flattering. Navy has taken over where brown left off this year. Extremely popular for 2010 are solid colors with malachite being very strong. Other popular colors are purple, which will be strong for Fall fashion too. Always good are red, hot pink, and sea foam blue which compliment most complexions.

Circle Flounce Tank

2. STYLE— The one shoulder is popular for fashionistas but doesn’t work well for tan lines. The bandeau and tankini have also been popular this summer. This season’s mix and match two-piece suits work well as you can get bra sized tops and then any size bottom, ensuring a better fit.

Pearl Bandeau

3. DETAILS— Ruching and shirring in same tones are popular with many designers and that is an extremely flattering line for most body types.

Sonatina

4. THEMES— Solid colors, stripes, and paisley abound are prominent themes this year. There seems to be less hardware than in previous seasons.

Shoshonna Paisley String Halter

5. SUITS FOR LARGE BUSTED—Designers are listening to women’s’ cries for sexy and attractive suits that are specifically designed for D and DD cup women. Fantasie, Freya, Shoshanna, and Roidal have all designed strong suits in a variety of solid colors and prints for this body type this season.

Faro Underwire Swimsuit

About Cyla Weiner: Cyla Weiner is a bra, intimate apparel and swimwear fitting expert who grew up in the fashion industry. She opened Sylene of Washington (SW), a woman-owned lingerie and swimwear boutique, in the Washington-DC area 35 years ago. She and SW’s fitting experts specialize in helping women, brides to be, and teens who appreciate a combination of personal attention and superior, luxurious selections.