muffintop-related stories
Banish your back fat
Ask Fitz!, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness
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Q. Hey there Fitzy, I'm in fairly good shape, but I'm sick of my back fat. It sucks! My stomach area is pretty flat, but I have this roll over my hips that I hate. Whatcha got for me? Mitch
A. Hi Mitch. I'm glad you wrote, and yes ... back fat does "suck." I've had it before, the dreaded "muffin top," and I didn't enjoy it one bit. So, how do you get rid of it? That's the million-dollar question today, right? Lucky for you ... you've come to the right place.
Fit Beauty - Muffin tops disappear with Yummie Tummie tanks

I hope you've never had a problem with a little extra belly hanging over your low-rise jeans -- a situation more commonly known as muffin top. But, between the low-rise jeans and the clingy t-shirts that are so stylish, most of us have, even those of us who are quite fit. But it doesn't have to be that way -- Yummie Tummie wants to end your tummy trouble.
Far from being a standard shirt, Yummie Tummie tanks (and tees) have a shaping panel around the midsection to smooth and control any bulges or jiggle your tummy might have, but the top and bottom of the piece are cotton, so you can layer it without looking like you're wearing shapewear. And, they're comfortable, which you might know isn't always the case with shapewear -- that's probably why Oprah made Yummie Tummie one of her top picks.
Yummie Tummie offers several styles of tanks (including a nursing tank, because new moms definitely deserve a little support in the tummy area!), as well as tees, all in a variety of colors, so you can get just what you need to wear under any shirt, dress, or sweater. Additionally, most styles are available in regular or long length, so you can get just the look you want.
Why control-top panties are bad for your back ... and your health
Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products
Spanx and other control-top panties are considered by many to be a godsend -- they pull in the paunch and instantly slim without have to do all that pesky dieting and exercising.
But according to some health experts in the UK, control-top panties aren't quite as miraculous as we'd like to believe. Here's why: Flabby midsections are often a sign of weak ab muscles--which are harmful to the back -- and unhealthy eating habits that could lead to diabetes, cancer and heart disease. So while slimming underpants will help you look good for that big event, they're just helping you ignore an uncomfortable and potentially deadly problem -- your weight.
Hmm. A good point. Still, I think donning a pair for that high school reunion isn't the end of the world. Your thoughts?
Fit Beauty: Size matters, at least as far as clothing is concerned
For quite a while now there have been a lot of giggles and jokes happening about one of pop culture's favorite new phrases, "the muffin top". As I'm sure all of you know, but in case any of you have someone managed to not yet hear the description, a "muffin top" occurs when one wears pants with a waist-size that is too small, making their stomach spill over their belt so that their mid-section resembles the top of a muffin. While I know a small group of people who find the muffin top attractive, as far as I know most don't and tend to snicker at the thought of it. The thing about it is, a muffin top doesn't necessarily have anything to do with how much extra weight you're carrying but it has everything to do with how your clothing fits. If you've chosen jeans or pants of an appropriate size, you shouldn't have too much trouble preventing your belly -- whether large or small -- from ballooning outward.
A sweet muffin top commercial (Video)
Here's a cute video that sums up the term 'muffin top' nicely, and since a previous post I did on the muffin top was one of the most popular posts on That's Fit, I thought you guys would get a kick out of it.
What do you think -- should the guy in the video tell her what a muffin top really is, or should he let her stay blissfully unaware and convinced that 'muffin top' is a compliment?
(Via Back in the Skinny Jeans)
Don't be a fashion victim: 5 sins everyone should avoid
When it comes to fashion, not every trend or style is for everyone. Part of being fashionable is knowing what looks good on you, being willing to wear the correct size and working what you've got with confidence. Having said that, there are some looks that really don't look good on anyone.
One fashion don't that I really can't stand is the "muffin top", which Martha Edwards recently talked about banishing forever. I think what bugs me so much about it is that most of the people I see rocking the muffin top do so needlessly. It's more about clothing size than weight, as even a tiny size 2 runs the risk of developing Dunlap Syndrome if they insist on squeezing into size 0 jeans and wearing a too-short t-shirt to finish off their ensemble.
Five other major don'ts include:
- Jean on Jean: Lovingly and hilariously referred to as the "Canadian Tuxedo" in my homeland, this fashion sin is especially terrible when the demin colors don't match.
- Sunglasses Indoors: It's unnecessary and makes you come across as either shady or pretentious. Or both.
- Sneakers with skirts: As the article points out, the only acceptable reason for this is if you're walking to work and are going to change when you get to the office. Otherwise, there are lots of more appropriate yet comfy options.
- Blatant Cleavage: There is a difference between sexy and sleazy and a time and place for everything (but in this case, never at work if at all possible). Every woman needs to figure out for herself how much boob is too much, although if your shirt is so low that you're running the risk of a nipple slip, you've probably gone too far.
- Panty Lines: Almost every woman has been guilty of this fashion sin. To avoid panty lines, wear clothes that fit (too-tight pants mean your undies will show through), try a thong or seamless underwear or, if you're comfortable with it, go commando.
Are there any fashion don'ts that you absolutely can't stand?
Banish the muffin top
So how do you get rid of the "muffin top-Dunlap Syndrome"? Well, you start by doing 500-crunches and running a few miles every day for a month, or you could take a more novel approach -- buy bigger pants and looser, longer tops. Also, take advantage of the fact that high-waisted jeans are coming back into style and put your ultra low-rise ones away ... for now.
How do you conceal your muffin top?
Lose those love handles!
Can women have love handles? Or are they called "muffin tops" instead? Whatever you call it, that extra layer of flab so many of us have around the midsection just might be one of the most annoying fitness challenges -- especially during this season of skimpy clothes and skin-baring swimsuits. Getting rid of those stubborn deposits of chub is best achieved with a combination of eating right and exercising fairly intensely in both cardio and strength training regimens. iVillage has put together a workout plan specifically for saying bye-bye to love handles, so give it a shot and let us know how it turns out!Trim that tummy: Foods to fight ab flab
-Eat lots of veggies, especially orange ones
-Get more Selenium in your diet (Selenium can be found in some Cheeses -- Hooray!)
-Up the protein in your diet
-Drink a glass of wine every day (Wicked!)
-Eat only good fats, like olive oil.
I guess a couple hundred crunches a day could also help, but drinking wine is a much more viable option for me. You too?
























