Is it okay to wear yoga pants outside of the gym? I’ve definitely let my yoga pants make their way into my everyday wardrobe. Jeans are just not as comfortable as plus size yoga pants for me, comfort is everything.  Of course I still wear them to my yoga classes but I can keep them on when I hit the street to run errands.  They dry quickly, are extremely comfortable, and don’t stick to my body.
 

Yoga pants are made to keep you supported and completely covered to allow your body to move in different positions.  A great reason I wear them outside of the gym.  When I go to the supermarket, I don’t have to worry about body parts being exposed when I reach for the bottom shelf.
 

As a plus size woman, my body tends to sweat a lot more when I’m moving around.  My plus size yoga pants are made with fabrics that allow my legs, thighs, and butt to breathe; keeping me cool, and odorless eliminating embarrassing sweat marks. 

The best thing about yoga pants is the different styles, cuts, fabrics and colors they come in.  Most of the time it goes unnoticed that I am even wearing yoga pants. Especially when I wear my plus size yoga pants with my gladiator sandals.  Yoga pants are a great piece to have, once you start wearing them out you’ll find yourself wanting to wear them every day. 

When trying to lose weight it is very important to eat healthy.  I’ve always had the misconception that healthy food has a bad taste.  What I didn’t know was that many of the foods I eat regularly are actually fat burning foods. 

Four of my favorite fat burning foods are:

1. Oatmeal is a great source of fiber, low in fat, and full of good carbohydrates.  Original oatmeal doesn’t have the added sugars that a cinnamon or sugar brand have.  Since I don’t like my oatmeal plain, I sweeten it with fresh fruit, coconut oil, and protein powder.  It gives me extra energy when I eat in the morning before I run.  Another great thing about eating oatmeal is how smooth it makes my bowels move helping to flush out harmful toxins. 

2. Yams and sweet potatoes are an all-natural source of nutrients, antioxidants, carbohydrates and vitamins.  Yams and sweet potatoes are low in glycemic index. Basically the glycemic index in food measures how fast your food is digested.  Food with a low glycemic index like yams and sweet potatoes help digest food slowly.  When your body digests food slowly it causes for a steady release of blood glucose (sugar).  With less sugar in your system your body is able to conserve more energy, controlling your hunger, therefore burning off stored fat.  

3. Brown rice is simply white rice that has not had bran covering removed.  The bran is whole grain which is what is full of fiber, magnesium, and zinc. Bran is also full of manganese which keeps your bones strong and healthy, helping your body synthesize fatty acids and cholesterol. Manganese also helps produce sex hormones and keep your reproductive system healthy.

4. Green fibrous vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, asparagus, and lettuce have a very low calorie count. Fibrous carbs are your number one choice for fat burning carbohydrates. It’s impossible to eat too much green vegetables. So, don’t be afraid to eat them all the time and even as your midnight snack.

Although exercise is very important with these healthy snacks you can skip a night at the gym.  Grab a bowl of oatmeal and enjoy a night on the couch watching your favorite movie in your comfy plus size leggings .

Thanksgiving is coming up and we all know what that means: food food food!  From turkey to pumpkin pie it is definitely one of my favorite holidays.  But it is also a dangerous holiday.  It is usually the time of year that I forget about my diet, until I make my new year’s resolutions, which is always the same; exercise exercise exercise. 

Studies have shown that the average person only gains three-quarters of a pound during the six week holiday. Those three- quarters of a pound feels more like ten.  Especially when I feel like I have to wear my plus size leggings and loose tops everywhere. 

So lets all remember to:

1. keep track of our calorie intake

2. stay within our recommended portion sizes

3. easy on the carbs

4. stop eating ten minutes before you feel full

5. follow your regular workout schedule

If you are a plus size woman looking to lose weight, aerobics is perfect for you.  Aerobics is an exercise that makes the body produce energy.  Aerobics also makes the body use more oxygen which allows the body to break down fat and glucose, known as aerobics metabolism. 

During an aerobics exercise know that your breathing and heart rate will increase because your respiratory muscles will be contracting a lot faster.  It is likely for a body with an excess amount of fat to have a harder time breathing because the heart muscles are usually weaker.  Aerobics is designed to strengthen the heart muscle and allows air coming in and out of your lungs to flow easily.   

The higher the intensity of an aerobic workout, the more fat a person will burn.  With the right plus size sports bra for support, you can enjoy a more intense workout.  The more intense the workout the better the results because the muscles will be contracting at a higher rate.  During aerobics your body will break down glucose, giving your body energy and burning unwanted fat.

Overall aerobics is a great way to strengthen the most important muscle in your body, the heart.  It also is a great workout because it exercises and expands the lungs.  Aerobics is a perfect way to improve your respiratory and circulatory system, as well as to lose weight. 

There are two very different opinions about wearing capri pants in the fashion world.  Some think that is fashionable and others dont.  It all depends on a person’s body type.  Plus size capri pants can be unflattering on certain body shapes. 

Petite women wearing capri pants can make them appear shorter.  Avoid capri pants with cuffs; they give your legs a stumpy look and usually want their legs to appear long and slender. 

Plus size capri pants can make a woman’s ankles and hips appear larger than they really are.  The best way to wear plus size capri pants is to find a fit that has a flattering hemline near the slimmest part of your leg.  If the hemline comes near the wider parts, it will make your legs seem wider. 

Another thing to consider when picking out a pair of plus size capri pants is the color and print.  Dark and soft colors make you appear smaller.  Light and bright colors make you appear larger.  Small prints look best on smaller figures, large prints look best on tall and larger figures. 

Plus size capri pants with tapered legs look best on any figure because it elongates the body, creating a slender shape.  The worst pair of capri pants to wear is the straight or flared look.  Although this style is comfortable it creates a squared look from your waist to your hem, making your body appear larger and shorter.    

So if you are on the con side of wearing plus size capri pants make sure you pick out a pair that is flattering to your body.