6 Ways to Burn Your Belly Fat Fast

One of the most common questions I get is how to lose belly fat. Belly fat is actually the most dangerous type of fat – besides aesthetics, large waist lines are indicators of –disease-disease-disease.
It takes more than just crunches! We start to gain weight in our midsection when our cortisol levels spike. Stress is one of the primary culprits for high levels of cortisol secretion. When this happens cortisol breaks downs lean muscle (the type of tissue that burns calories most efficiently) and also holds on to fat storage in the abdominal region. That stress can even get WORSE with bad dieting; studies show that the stress caused by dieting can increase cortisol levels, making no change in belly fat even with calorie restriction. So how do you shape up? Incorporate these 6 things below and you will be on your way to a flatter belly in no time flat!

1. Sleep
If you want to work late at night, think again. When your biorhythms are off, you end up eating more. When you’re tired you produce more ghrelin, which triggers cravings for sugar and other fat-building foods. Losing sleep can also alter your hormone production, affecting your cortisol levels that cause insulin sensitivity, prime reasons for belly fat! Getting about 7 hours of sleep a night is one of the best things you can do for your body shaping goals.

2. Short bursts of exercises
1000 crunches a night may get you strong abdominal muscles, but with a full layer of fat on top, you will not get the results you really want. Instead of all those crunches, do exercises that engage multiple muscle groups and work your cardiovascular system. Try planking, where you hold yourself in a push-up position, resting your forearms on the ground. Try 3 or 4 sets of holding for 30 seconds each. Getting up and moving throughout the day by going for walks will also help.

3. Sugar is your Enemy
Fighting belly fat is 80% healthy diet. Reduce calories by filling yourself up with protein, vegetables, whole grains, and replacing bad habit snacks with good ones. For example, if you have a sugar craving, replace your calorie laden latte with a Muscle Milk lite, one of my favorites, because it has zero sugar and a ton of protein that will satiate while also torching my sugar craving! Another great trick is a sprinkle of cinnamon in your morning coffee or oatmeal- the spice has been shown to help stabilize blood sugar. It also slows the rate at which food exits the stomach, which helps you feel fuller longer.

4. Vitamin C
When you’re under extreme stress, you secret more cortisol hormone. Vitamin C helps balance the cortisol spikes that happen to you under this stress. Besides being a good way to counteract a cold, Vitamin C is also essential for making carnitine, a compound used by the body to turn fat into fuel, making this vitamin your fat burning friend.
If you’re going through an emotional crisis, stress from work, or a bad eating splurge, increase your vitamin C – it’ll help counteract the negative side effects. Try bell peppers, kale or kiwi fruits. These have even more Vitamin C than the famous Orange!

5. Eat Fat

Yup, you heard me! It takes fat to burn fat. Like I said above, it’s sugar that gets you fat, not fat. Good fats include foods rich in Omega 3′s, like salmon, avocados & walnuts. These foods are full of nutrients that help keep you satiated throughout the day.

6. Slowing down your breath
This is a very simple method that you can use even when you’re in the midst of doing something else. Whenever you notice you’re feeling tense and uptight check and see how you’re breathing. Most people under stress either alternate holding their breath with short breaths, or take rapid shallow breaths. After you become aware of your own breathing, consciously relax your belly and slow down the breathing. This works best if you focus on slowing down the exhalation rather than your inhalation. With each exhalation you can say to yourself “slow down”. That is all there is to it- Simple but surprisingly effective!!!

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How to Dress for every Ocassion

How to Dress for every Ocassion

The invitation arrives, stating your relative's wedding will be "black-tie only." Mentally, you check off the dresses in your closet. Are any of them appropriate? What does "black tie" even mean anymore?

In fashion, the rules are often meant to be broken—which just makes the perfect outfit even harder to find. To relieve the stress of getting dressed, three style experts are offering their guidelines for those "what am I going to wear?" occasions.


Holiday Dinner Party
Joe Zee, creative director of Elle magazine, says you can never go wrong with a little black dress. "You don't want to be caught in a situation where you don't know if you're dressy enough," he says. "A simple black dress is always sophisticated enough but not overdressy." Pair it with a red shoe, and Zee says you've got a fail-safe holiday outfit.

If jeans are more your thing, Adam Glassman, creative director of O, The Oprah Magazine, suggests pairing a great pair of denim with a modern take on the holiday sweater. "The anti-Christmas sweater," Glassman says. Nix the bells and Santa for beautifully embellished, sequined and beaded sweaters and cardigans.

New Year's Eve Cocktail Party
"New Year's Eve is a time to break rules," says Mary Alice Stephenson, celebrity stylist and contributor to Harper's Bazaar. "It's a time to play with makeup, give yourself a great red lip, have fun with a big, bold eye. If you can't have fun with fashion on New Year's Eve, when can you?"

If you're usually uncomfortable baring your legs in a short dress, one of this season's biggest style statements might be your best friend. "A pair of tights can change everything," Stephenson says. "You can really learn to love your legs in a great pair of stockings or tights."

Backyard Barbecue
A casual summer affair should evoke an easy, breezy "I just threw this on" vibe. So why is it so hard to pull off? Instead of spending the afternoon worrying if you're showing too much skin, Stephenson says a maxi dress is the perfect, easy summer dress. "There are so many great easy summer dresses to throw on," she says.

As for your footwear, Zee has a sleeker alternative to the flip-flop. "This is the time to pull out a ballet flat," he says.

Interview
Sometimes, it's just better to stick to the classics. Zee says a conservative black suit still makes a great first impression. "Go for something more classic, more simple," he says. "You don't want the person interviewing you to be staring at your outfit the entire time. You want to look polished."

Once you've got the job, add your new suit to the "one time only" section in the back of your closet. To give a classic suit jacket or blazer an update, Stephenson says to add a great skinny belt to cinch in your waste. If you don't have one, velvet ribbon will work just as well. "It costs nothing, and bows are really big this season. And it shows off your waist," she says.

First Date
Your first instinct may be to get completely dolled up, but Zee says to stay away from the 6-inch stilettos. "I think guys like girls who are a little bit more down-to-earth," he says. "You don't want to spend your first date thinking: 'Oh god, my feet hurt. I can't walk anywhere.'"

Black-Tie Wedding
"Black tie" used to mean floor-length gown. Now, the line is much grayer. "I think it's okay to wear cocktail-length to a black-tie wedding," Zee says. "It's about being body-appropriate. If you're shorter, a long dress is just drowning."

For grand affairs that still require a long evening dress, Stephenson suggests altering the dress after you've worn it. "Don't be afraid to get it chopped off at the knee and wear it another way," she says. "If you're going to buy a dress, you want to wear it more than once."

What Suits You Best - How to Dress Right for Any Occasion

What Suits You Best - How to Dress Right for Any Occasion

In life, the best path to take is your own – the path that fits you. The same goes for how you present yourself to others. Whether you’re dressing for an interview, work lunch, or local fundraiser, wear what suits you, not what you saw that actress wear down the red carpet (unless it flatters you, too!)

Fashion, once understood, is actually freedom. The chicest women know their bodies, and this gives them priceless confidence in themselves. Be YOU. I promise, you will both look and feel better.

But how? Use fashion to accentuate the positive – to draw attention to your strong points.

-- Say you have a wider hip or thigh. Fret not, but wear something that’s either A-line or cut looser there. Think about showing off a bit of skin on the shoulder to compensate.

-- If you’re bigger on the bottom, most likely you’re smaller on the top. Accentuate above the waist, and keep it simple and not too tight on the down-low.

-- Or, if you are narrow in the hip and leg, you probably carry your extra bits in the stomach or bust, so go for a slim-fit skirt or skinny jeans paired with a looser shirt.

-- Full-chested readers, take note: Shirts are often flattering because they can show that sexy shape. Ones with a bit of stretch are actually really great. Or try a shirtdress! Don't be afraid of stretchy fabrics just because you have a bust. These may seem like a no-no, but can call all the right attention to the smallness of the waist. Those of you wearing something really loose and flowing in an attempt to camouflage, well that makes anyone look larger everywhere, and who needs that?

Once you’ve refined your wardrobe to contain those pieces that flatter you, there are a few additional investments worth making:

• Go to the dressmaker! Mine is my own secret weapon. This investment ensures that your clothes fit you properly, essentially turning your wardrobe into something closer to couture. The dressmaker can also help you revive items that don’t fit as they used to (by taking them in or letting them out) or that have worn out.
• Get support! Wear the correct bra (that fits you!) and make sure there are no panty lines.
• Accessorize! Always add good quality shoes, choosing a pair that is gentle on your feet and does not cut your leg length -- unless you’re 6 feet tall and all leg. The right handbag is important, too. Trust me, there is nothing worse than attending a formal event with your hippy weekend bag that looks great with your blue jeans, but here ruins everything you worked hard to pull together because you thought to yourself, "Who cares? I'll just slide it under the table."
• Grooming! And it goes without saying, make sure you have clean hair and nails.

Now, go out and have some fun! Smile because your inner beauty really is what's most attractive and nothing we wear will ever compete with that.

How to Get the Right Size When Shopping for Clothes Online

Shopping for shoes and clothes online can be a gamble. Sizes vary widely across different stores and brands, and sometimes, sending back the wrong size can be a major hassle. I’m really bad at shipping back stuff that doesn’t fit me – I usually forget about it and eventually donate clothes it to my relatives. 

Even if you don’t adore shopping online, you can’t deny the amazing deals available. Since online stores are able to pull from a large central inventory, they often have better clearance sales and a larger selection compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores. And in addition to being affordable, it’s super convenient. Grabbing a new pair of shoes online saves a trip to the store where you might not even find what you’re looking for.

Getting the Right Size

So what’s a shopper to do when it comes to deciphering sizes and making sure that everything fits? A handful of tips will lead you in the right direction and help you nab the right size every time:

1. Measure Yourself
The first thing you need to do is measure yourself. A size 4 in one brand may feel like a size 6 in another, so it’s important to go by your measurements rather than your actual dress size.
Measure your bust, waist, and hips. You can do this by measuring around your chest for bust, around your belly button for waist, and around your hip bones for your hip measurements. Write down your numbers and keep them handy when you’re ready to start buying clothes online.

2. Read Up on Sizing Information
Nearly every online clothing retailer has a section of their website devoted to sizing information, which can be a lifesaver when you’re spending money on items you can’t try on. Don’t ignore it – explore it!
Before you start adding clothes to your virtual shopping cart, make sure you’re clear on the store’s sizing policies. Even though you’re a 6 in one brand, it doesn’t mean you’re automatically a 6 in every brand. Some manufacturers simply fit larger or smaller, so don’t rely on the dress size until you’ve read though the information on the website and determined which size would fit your measurements best.

3. Know the Difference
When it comes to women’s clothes, some stores sell “misses” sizing, while others focus on “juniors.” It’s important to know the difference between the two because it’ll have a huge bearing on the way a garment fits your body.
“Misses” is the traditional sizing for women’s clothing, and uses even numbers to denote fit, such as 2, 4, 6, and 8. Misses clothes generally have more room in the bust and hips, so they’re great for hourglass figures. Juniors clothing, on the other hand, is denoted by odd numbers and has less room cut for the hips and bust. It’s better for smaller frames, trendier tastes, and boyish shapes. Always check the type of sizing before you buy.
4. Write It Down
One way that I shop online with confidence is with a sizing file on my computer. When I have success with a certain brand, I enter the brand and the size I wear into a simple Word document on my desktop. I keep a running list so that when I’m shopping online again, I can quickly bring up my file and know which size is the right one for me. Since sizes vary so widely across the board as far as fit goes, it helps to know f you’re a 4 in one brand and a 6 in another. The same concept works well for shoes, which you can often snag online for cheap.

5. Order More Than One
Never buy from an online clothing store that doesn’t have a generous return policy. A good store offers to pay for returns, but others will require that you pony up for the return label. Regardless, steer clear of stores that don’t allow returns.
To avoid sizing snafus, order two of the same garment in different sizes from a website with a return policy you can live with. Then, send back the one that doesn’t fit. Just make sure the store offers refunds for returns, not store credit, so you get actual money back once you’ve returned the item.

Final Word

You can save a ton of cash by surfing the web and buying clothes online, but only if you know how to grab the right size every time. Since sizing, brands, and fit can vary, always check into a store’s return policy before you ever place an order. That way, you’ll look good, and your budget will too.
Do you have any other tips for snagging the right size while shopping online?