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Is BMI Really That Important?

April 1, 2009 By

What is BMI?

    BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 years. BMI can be used to indicate if you are overweight, obese, underweight or normal. A healthy BMI score is between 20 and 25. A score below 20 indicates that you may be underweight; a value above 25 indicates that you may be overweight.

    People whose BMI is within 18.5 to 24.9 possess the ideal amount of body weight, associated with living longest, the lowest incidence of serious illness, as well as being perceived as more physically attractive people than persons with BMI in higher or lower ranges. However, it may be a good idea to check your Waist Circumference and keep it within the recommended limits.

    Note: Since Body Fat Percentage calculations use total body weight and not estimates of lean muscle mass and fat, BMI can not determine between the overweight and the more muscular. Use our Body Fat Calculator and Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator in combination with our BMI Calculator for a more accurate view of your body fat. Click Here To Calculate Your BMI

For those of you using Metric, calculate your BMI by your weight in Kilograms / (Height in Meters x Height in Meters)


Crab this BMI widget here

My BMI is currently 20. If you are trying to lose weight, don’t worry so much about what the scale says. As long as your BMI for your height and current weight is below 25, you’re probably all set. If your BMI is over 25, you should consider starting an exercise regime or weight loss program like Sensa.

obesity-table

So is BMI really that important? The answer is yes!

If your BMI is 32, don’t worry, you probably won’t up and die tomorrow. You may however want to think about changing your lifestyle a bit before one of your organs gives out on you.

BMI is just one of many factors related to developing a chronic disease (such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes). Other factors that may be important to look at when assessing your risk for chronic disease include:

    * Diet
    * Physical Activity
    * Waist Circumference
    * Blood Pressure
    * Blood Sugar Level
    * Cholesterol Level
    * Family History of Disease

Remember, while a BMI calculator is a very helpful tool, it can’t replace your doctor. If you used the BMI calculator I linked to above and you realize you are in the obese category, I recommend immediately talking to your doctor and starting a diet and exercise program.

Is Being Plus-Size en Vogue? Not really.

helpThere is nothing wrong with being “Plus Size” other than the fact that it’s unhealthy. No, not everyone who is plus sized is unhealthy, but being overweight will lead to problems eventually, no matter which way you cut it. Stop making excuses and do something about it. It’s not about what you look like, it’s about taking care of yourself and taking good care of your body.

If you need help, there are many wonderful programs out there that are easy to stick with. I personally recommend the Sensa Weight Loss Program in conjunction with a healthy diet of good food. For exercise, I personally like the The Quick Fit System. Keep in mind that everyone is different and what works for one person, might not be right for another person.

Some other programs I’ve heard good things about is Weight Watchers and Winsor Pilates Fat Burning System. If you need help or have suggestions for other women trying to lose weight, please leave a comment!

Filed Under: Plus Size, Q & A, Weight Loss Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Q&A: Fashion Advice For Pear Shaped Bodies

March 24, 2009 By

Women frequently ask me for help determining their body shape, and so I wanted to share the advice that I gave to one very sweet woman I helped recently…

She asked:

Hi there,

I am 36 (5?4) and I have always been considered to have a cute curvy small frame…but at 35 I gained 10 lbs in the course of 1 year……my husband thinks I look more “womanly” at 137 v 127 and says that I am his lil’ “brick house”. My measurements are:

34 – D (bust)
28 – (waist)
39 – (hips)

I am trying to figure out what type of clothing would be appropriate..yet still sexy and my style. I am trying to camouflage my hippy and big thigh appearance…what do you suggest?

After carefully determining her body shape from her measurements, I gave her the following response…

    From your measurements it sounds like you have a lovely body! I would but you in the pear shaped category if you feel the need to hide your hips and thighs though.

    Stick to jeans and pants that fit comfortably through the waist and hips and go straight down from the widest part of your hips. You want a straight line all the way down to balance your proportions.

    Skirts and dresses should hit at or right above the knee. Look for a-lines and avoid anything that gets smaller towards your knees. Be careful with pencil skirts. If you feel comfortable and sexy wearing them, by all means go for it! You can look classy while still showing off your curves.

She replied with the following thoughts…

Thank you so much for getting back to me. I was thinking pear from looking at the other ladies post….I am guessing that is not a bad thing….. I have always been hippy even when I was 115…….hips and thighs have always been the largest things on my body. I like that my husband is enjoying the extra cushion, but I am just not used to it and have become very self-conscious about it. I am trying to plan for my spring/summer wardrobe and I think that I will take your advice and buy dresses (a-line, babydoll) and a-line skirts to give me a more slimming appearance until I can loose this extra weight.

I decided to help her out some more with some outfit ideas and replied with the following suggestions…

    Don’t feel self conscious about your weight!!! You are not as big as you think! I am 5’3″ and I weighed 139 in October. I felt a lot bigger than I looked because I still had good proportions like you do. If you hide it under baggy or poorly fitting clothes, you’ll look a lot bigger than you are. Same goes with clothes that are too tight or too small.

    Pear shaped is not a bad thing. There are many celebrities that are pear shaped like Kristen Davis, Tyra Banks, Rihanna, Shakira, Beyonce, and more.

    pear1
    Image Credit: www.style-fix.net

    One thing I recommend, from personal experience, is to avoid shorts… Skirts are so much more flattering to pear shaped bodies. Here are a few skirts you might consider for Spring:

    Pleated Skirt
    Full Belted Voile Skirt
    Circle-Print Pleated Skirt
    A-line Flare Skirt

    I would avoid babydoll or empire waist dresses. This won’t flatter your curves at all… You want to accentuate your small waist. That’s an asset! Look for wrap dresses or belted dresses.

    Also, if you’re looking to lose some weight, consider trying Sensa. I’ve been using the Sensa Weight Loss Program for 5 months and I’ve lost 19 pounds! I’m only 5 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight now. Sensa has helped me so much. Click here to read more about it.

To determine your body shape, just check out this page. If you need help, leave a comment and I’ll do my best to assist you in finding the style that best suits your body type!

Filed Under: Body Shapes, Outfit Ideas, Q & A Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Calling all Fashionista’s – “The Starter Wife” Premiers TONIGHT!

October 10, 2008 By

Calling all fashionistas of the world! Take note: celebrity stylists everywhere have discovered a new source of inspiration for their leading ladies – and it’s not on the Manolo Blahnik-treaded streets of Madison Avenue. It’s on La Brea, Pico, and Robertson Blvd. So if your inner fashionista goes by the nickname of “Carrie” or “Samantha”, the time has come for you to move over or move WEST. A fashion revolution is underway, and it’s happening on the sandal-treaded streets of sunny L.A.

There’s no need to worry. While “Carrie” may be stepping down from her pedestal, “Molly” is stepping up. Meet your new fashion icon, Molly Kagan. She’s single; she’s stressed; she’s the former wife of a Hollywood hotshot; and she always fashionable. She’s “The Starter Wife” and to fashionistas everywhere, she’s America’s new leading lady.

Premiering October 10 on USA Networks and featuring the Emmy award-winning actress Debra Messing (no stranger to Best Dressed lists) Molly Kagan is destined to become the newest member of the TV fashion icon generation. As a fashionable 40+ year old woman – a category often overlooked in television today – Molly Kagan shows women everywhere that 40 is the new 30.

Lead Stylist for “The Starter Wife”, Agata Maskiewics was unable to answer our interview questions and instead the agency provided us with the following interview which was actually from eye4style.

    Being a costume designer must be a fun job! How did you get your start?
    I started working in the film & TV industry after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising where I studied fashion design. I started as an intern on a feature film and worked my way up holding various positions in the costume department.

    How is styling a celebrity different from styling a character in film or television?
    While I don’t particularly style celebrities, I feel that the main difference is that when designing a character the job is to transform an actor into the character they are portraying. Often times the costumes can really help an actor make the transition into the character they are set to play. Also, sometimes the costumes are not meant to be flattering; depending on the character, the goal isn’t always to make them look beautiful. But when styling a celebrity, it’s all about having them look amazing.

    What role does fashion play in The Starter Wife?
    Fashion is almost like another character in The Starter Wife. So much of the personality of the actors comes through in the clothing they wear. Our goal is to have the audience as excited about the fashions as they are the characters. We want the people at home to feel as though they can hear the ruffle of Molly’s Zac Posen silk dress and smell the exquisite leather of her Manolos. We want them to daydream about getting into Molly’s closet and have the opportunity to dress from it everyday as she does. And yes, the closet is huge, since as a Hollywood woman, she never repeats an outfit!

And here are two of the great looks you will see on Debra Messing.

Top by Ralph Lauren; skirt custom made; belt Betsey Johnson; purse by Tory Burch; shoes by Jimmy Choo. Episode #5

Jacket by Phillip Lim; turtleneck by Michael Kors; jeans by 7 for all Mankind; boots by Christian Louboutin. Episode #1

I can’t wait to tune in, as I am a huge Debra Messing fan – and for fashion inspiration of course!

Filed Under: Celebrity Styles, Fashion Advice, Q & A Tagged With: , , ,

Exclusive Interview With Creator of LIVS

August 20, 2008 By

We managed to nab an exclusive interview with Diana FitzGerald, the super brilliant creator of LIVS boots.

Check it out:

1. Tell us something about your background. Where are you ‘from’? Where are you ‘going’?

    I was brought up in France by a British father and French mother. At 17, I started my fashion modeling career, which then later led to being a fashion stylist in my late twenties. My whole life I’ve been very involved with fashion and beauty. It was this background which brought me to design the LIVS boots. I have created footwear that women can enjoy for many years to come. This footwear is what I would love to continue to design over the coming years.

2. How did you start LIVS and where did you get the idea for the crochet boots?


    In 2004, I was itching to make my mark on the fashion front. Although I’d never been a shoe worshipper, like many women are, I came up with the idea of a boot that could work in all seasons. I have always been very keen on boots and had always wished there were some sort of boot which translated into summer as effortlessly as it did during the cooler seasons. For me, the whole wearing UGGs and having your feet sweat through a hot summer day didn’t appeal to me. I wanted comfort, and I knew I couldn’t be the only one. Around the same time my creative juices started flowing, famous designers started reviving crochet, a trend which had an old fashioned, vintage feel to it. These designers brought it back in a more modern and hip way. This revival definitely piqued my interest and I eventually found that crochet was the perfect solution to the ideal boot I had been trying to create for some months. From there, LIVS was born.

3. When did Uggs steal your design?

    It wasn’t until the summer of 2006 that I found out UGGs had put my design into production. My daughter Olivia’s best friend in Los Angeles called her one night sounding very agitated. She worked at a fashion boutique in Sherman Oaks, CA and had just popped into the shoe store next door like she usually did some nights after her shift. This night was different. When she walked in, she saw the exact replica of my shoe sitting on a small bench by the door. An UGGs sales rep was holding up the pair and cooing over the comfort of the new ‘hit’ shoe. She called my daughter with the grim news right away. Although the UGGs do not share the same values as the LIVS (they have sheepskin on the inside which keeps them rather warm to wear during the summer, and they are NOT washable, as the LIVS are) I found it quite shocking that such a big company could so cruelly stomp on the idea of a small business. In fact, what was even more amazing is that in 2004 I tried to sell my idea to UGGs thinking they could make it really big and they turned down even talking to me. They probably thought I wasn’t a big enough fish to fry. A year later, my shoes were making headlines by having the likes of Sienna Miller and Jennifer Lopez wearing them. It was my turn to laugh, until UGGs came and took my hard earned work away from me.

4. How are you going to regain control over your design?

    Well, eventually I got my U.S. patent on my design which I didn’t have in the beginning. It was pending for over two years. When it came it was such a relief because I knew I was going to be able to take action against all the LIVS impostors.

5. Is there anyway to force Uggs to stop selling their crochet boots?

    Yes, it is possible through the court system. However, it will take time and effort.
    When Oprah had her Christmas list special last November, she put the UGGs crochet boots as number 2 on her Christmas list. This was a disfavor to me as UGGs had done nothing but steal the design away from me. If there were a way to get through to her and let her know what the real deal is with these crochet boots, maybe she could warn her many viewers about what UGGs has done.

6. Is it possible to sue them over this?

    Yes, it is possible. I don’t think a publicly traded company should be let out of a doghouse for hurting a small business by shamelessly stealing their design.

7. Will you release other styles in the future?

    I have already released new styles and will go on doing so. I think it is important to keep the LIVS spirit alive.

8. What is your goal for LIVS?

    My goal is to show the world what LIVS is really made of. I want LIVS to thrive and succeed the way I know it was meant to. Additionally, I am working on a very special LIVS project which will hopefully bring LIVS to new heights. Stay tuned because we aren’t going away anytime soon!

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Filed Under: Featured, Q & A, Shoes Shoes Shoes!, Winter Fashion

Reader Email: Q&A

December 12, 2007 By

We recently got an email question from a reader, that we thought you would enjoy.


Eileen wrote:

Hi–Can you help? I’m looking for something fun for the holiday season. Everything looks so dark and drab, and I’m tired of red… I love these party skirts from J. Crew, but the prices are way too high.

You’re so good at finding the fun and reasonably priced alternative…can you help? (And while you’re at it, suggest a top/shoes?)

Thanks,
Eileen

Skirt #1

Skirt #2


The Fashionable Housewife wrote back:

Hi Eileen!

Here are a few suggestions:

Target: Metallic Tulle Skirt Library Gray – $39.99

Target: Pleated Skirt – Brown/ Dragon Dot – $19.99

Target: Solid Pleated Skirt – Zen Red – $19.99

Target: Pleated Print Skirt – Houndstooth – $19.99

Charlotte Russe: Polka Dot Skirt – $19.99

Delias: Hannah Skirt – $38.50

Delias: Olivia Skirt – $34.50

If you are set on getting a taffeta skirt, I would look on eBay >>

I saw some really pretty ones on there!!

If you are going to go for an a-line skirt, I would wear a fitted top. Not something blousey. Something like this (Victoria’s Secret Silk charmeuse bodysuit Sale $58) would look great with a big, bold skirt like the 2 you sent me from J Crew or even some of the ones I sent you above.

If you are looking for a skirt like that, you want the skirt to be the focus and wear something simple on top. If you wear something too fancy on top, your outfit may look over the top. I would go for a fitted solid color top, tucked in, with some pumps or stilettos in a bold color like red (depending on the color scheme of the rest of your outfit).

If I’m way off the mark with my skirt suggestions, please let me know and I’ll look for something different. And if you need more help with a top and shoes after you pick a skirt, let me know!



Eileen wrote back:

Wow–so fast and such great suggestions!

So here’s another question–I love skirts for parties and fancy occasions, but I’m always cold–how do you keep your legs warm while still looking dressed up? Colorful or patterned tights? I’m a little scared of them. Any suggestions on how to wear?


The Fashionable Housewife wrote back:

Hi again!

Tights and leggings are good. They don’t have to be colorful or patterned. And don’t be scared of them! You can have so much fun with tights. Black, dark gray, and navy blue tights are the easiest color to wear as well as being the most popular among celebrities. I recently made a post on tights. You can see it here >>

If you don’t want something that shows and you are wearing a skirt that is at or below knee length, you can wear cropped leggings or thermal undies underneath your skirt. I wore a thick pair of white shorts under my wedding dress!

Let me know if you have any more questions!


If you have a specific question, please feel free to email us and we will answer it as soon as we can!

(We do not post all emails – We will not post your email without asking.)

Read other Q&A posts >>

Filed Under: Q & A

Trend Alert: Asymmetrical Dresses

August 22, 2007 By

The Budget Fashionista says:

An asymmetrical dress is great way to showcase beautiful shoulders, especially now as we’re looking for fresh ways to dress for the still-warm weather. To get celebrity style without a celebrity bank account, start with this simple, feminine version from Banana Republic.[more...]

The Banana Republic dress she mentions in her post costs $148. In my opinion, that’s pretty pricey for a dress. I’ve never owned an asymmetrical dress. It’s not that I don’t like the style, it’s just that you don’t see asymmetrical clothing very often. Low end brands and stores like Wal Mart or Target don’t carry out of the ordinary styled dresses like that.

So we want your opinion. Are asymmetrical dresses hot enough to invest in, or is this a trend that can be passed up?

Filed Under: Dresses & Skirts, Q & A, Trend Alert

Did You Know?

March 26, 2007 By

This is the “Did You Know” post. Some of these you may already know about and some you may not or forgot about. I love getting helpful hints from friends and family because anything that will make the day easier, stress free or find that I have an extra few dollars in my purse is a GOOD DAY to me!

Get a Price Adjustment

Did you know that many stores like Old Navy, The Gap and Banana Republic (and many others) will credit you the difference if an item you purchased goes on sale (within a certain amount of time). Check the store you are shopping at for their policy. I recently got back $20.00 from Old Navy because a few things I bought went on sale a week after I bought them. I know $20.00 doesn’t sound like a lot of money but that will get two people into a movie or pay for a few train rides to and from work and also some stuff from the grocery store.

Bra Dilemma

Does the underwire in your bra always poke through after a few wearings? It could be the way you are storing them. Hanging bras on a hook in your closet prevents the underwire from getting twisted and pulled, as it would in a dresser drawer.

Plan Ahead

If you find a pair of black pants or a skirt that are the perfect fit, consider buying more than one pair. Black tends to fade after a while, but with two pairs of the same pants, the wear and tear takes longer – plus black matches with everything. Also, if you spill something on one pair, take it to the cleaners and your spare is available!

Makeup Smudges

Keep a small container of Q-tips or cotton swabs & a mini bottle of moisturizer near your makeup table or where ever you put your makeup on. When you are in rush and need to wipe away a smudge, they are close by and saves you time! Dip swab in bottle, wipe away mascara smudge and that’s it.

Travel Sizes

Stock up on travel size cosmetics and toiletries to keep at your desk at work or in the car, gym bag, etc. Saves you time and since its smaller and costs a lot less, you’ll probably use it up faster and if not, there’s no big bottle to waste.

Low-fat snacks

Watching your weight but craving chocolate and DO NOT want to give in? Take two low fat or fat free chocolate graham crackers and spoon fat free Cool Whip on one. Place the other chocolate graham cracker on top and wrap it in plastic food wrap and freeze overnight or for a few hours (3-4). Remove plastic wrap and you have a *mock ice cream sandwich* but without all the added calories. Here’s another: take one banana (not overly ripe) and slice in half lengthwise. Squirt a little line of fat free chocolate syrup in the middle, wrap in foil or plastic food wrap and freeze. Another: Summertime is sherbert time! (but here’s a low calorie idea to sub that: take a handful of grapes and freeze in a zip loc bag. Take them with you for a no-mess, no-fuss, cool and refreshing portable snack.

Got any helpful hints you want to share?
Post in comments below.

Filed Under: Fashion Advice, Home Life, Moms On The Go, Q & A, Recommended