Shapewear

Lime water, concocted simply by squeezing the juice of one or two limes into a glass of water, is like getting a healthy lifestyle in a glass.  If that claim seems a little over-the-top, maybe it is. But, when you check out the health benefits of lime water, we think you’ll agree with it.   5 Health Benefits of Lime Water Let’s get all the numbers out of the way. The juice of a single lime squeezed into a glass of water delivers the following: 11 calories 51 mg of potassium <1 gm if fibre 20% of the recommended daily value (RDV) of vitamin C 1% of the RDA of magnesium So what does that line up get you? Check it out: Increases How Much Water You Drink You know how good plain water is for you. In addition to the hydration, it is also a source of minerals and nutrients, including iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and potassium.But, it, um, tastes like water. So, squeeze that lime into it and get even more nutrients with a shot of flavour that keeps you hydrated. Reduces Your Intake of Weight-Inducing Food and Drinks - From sugary sodas and fruit juices, to processed foods and fast foods, there’s a reason why many of us wage the battle of the bulge. But a glass of lime water before meals, or instead of a soda, can drastically lower your intake of sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats that lead to weight gain. Makes Your Skin Healthier - Vitamin C is a bit of a superstar. In addition to it's well-known benefits for your immune system, it also helps your body produce collagen, which strengthens your skin and improves its appearance. And that, in turn, helps reduce the appearance of your cellulite. Helps You Lose Weight - Yes, it helps you avoid foods and drinks that can contribute to weight gain. But citric acid, including Hydroxycitric acid, is also linked to suppressing the appetite and slowing the production of fat-producing enzymes. Decreases Inflammation - Vitamin C comes to the rescue again. Along with the flavonoids in limes, the combination helps reduce inflammation throughout your body to promote brain health, heart health and battle against strokes and arthritis. Despite all the ways that lime water can help your overall health, it works in concert with other healthy lifestyle initiatives. It will take a while for you to see results. But, if you want to see instant results in the form of more flattering shape, and even more benefits for your skin and cellulite reduction, slip on Mass & Slim anti-cellulite shapewear, including anti-cellulite shorts and anti-cellulite leggings. For another tasty change to your diet for better health, check out our post “If You Do Nothing Else - Have a Good Breakfast”.

You’ve come a long way since you went for your first jog around the block. There’s a marked improvement in your fitness and the distances you run. Even more, you probably know a lot more about footwear, breathing techniques and running form than you ever thought possible. But, whether or not you wear compression shorts for running, you may not be entirely aware of the benefits of compression garments to improve performance. 4 Ways Compressionwear Helps to Improve Your Running Compared to standard running shorts, a pair of compression shorts can improve your athletic performance while running and in most other sporting activities too. Reduces Lactic Acid Build UpSmall amounts of lactic acid are a good source of energy as your exercise. But too much can cause a burning sensation in your muscles and reduce the length of time that you can run. Compression garments are designed to exert controlled pressure in a way that improves the removal of lactic acid from your muscles. Better Blood CirculationWhile it removes lactic acid, compression clothing also promotes increased circulation of oxygenated blood. Less Muscle FatigueThis happens in a number of ways. First, compression gear supports your muscles in place, reducing the vibration and displacement from the impact of each stride. Increased blood circulation and decreased lactic acid also means your muscles get more oxygen to reduce muscle fatigue and soft tissue stress. Finally, with lactic acid and other waste flushed away, you have less chance of suffering muscle cramps.   Improves Recovery TimeWhen You wear compression garments to run, your muscles will recover faster. Better blood circulation also reduces muscle swelling and repair time. Similarly to how compression wear helps runners, Mass & Slim Shapewear Shorts and Mass & Slim Shapewear Leggings help anyone who wears them get through their day with more energy and  less fatigue. Find out more about compression garments in our article “3 Reasons Why You Should Wear Compression Shapewear Every Day”. 

Those who wear shapewear, including compression wear, love it because it's comfortable, stylish, compliments their shape, and actually works to improve the appearance of cellulite while it's being worn. But if there’s anything they don’t like about it is when it comes out of the wash a little less in “shape” than when it went in. There can be two reasons for your shapewear getting out of shape in the wash. First, you chose a bargain brand and you got what you paid for. Second, you didn’t wash it properly. 4 Tips to Wash Shapewear  One way to keep shapewear lasting longer is to hand wash it in cold water and hang to air dry. But, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t pop your high quality shapewear into the washing machine like the rest of your laundry. You just need to use the following special care tips. Use the Gentle Cycle - While they’re tough enough to wear all day, you need to wash and dry shapewear like you do other delicate garments. Don’t add fabric softener, chlorine bleach or harsh detergents to the wash. In Cold or Warm Water - Hot water can damage the specialized fabrics in shapewear. Place Them in a Mesh Bag - Also known as a wash bag or lingerie bag, they help protect the garments from getting bashed around too much while washing, and also from buttons, zippers and hooks on other clothing. Air Dry - Like you would if you washed by hand, don’t put your shapewear in the dryer. Similar to the heat in hot water, hot air can damage the elastic fabrics. For more shapewear tips, check out our article “4 Tips to Choose the Best Shapewear for a Bodycon Dress”. 

Are you a little stressed about what’s going on in the world right now? Have you been struggling with your weight more than usual recently? Do you want to just go on a vacation far, far away? If it helps at all, you’re definitely not alone. To say these are “trying times” is an understatement - and that’s if you’ve managed to stay employed, don’t have kids in school and managed to stay healthy - and we’re all affected to some extent. If you’re unsure of what’s happening and what you should do next, try this: start eating a healthier breakfast.   3 Reasons to Eat a Healthier Breakfast Eating a better breakfast isn’t going to solve everyone’s problems. The world will still be topsy-turvy. You’ll still battle your weight and your cellulite, and the kids will still be doing everything they can to make you crazy. But here’s what a healthier breakfast will do for you, quickly and easily. Gives You a Place to Start - Something’s got to give. You just don’t know where to begin. But by improving your breakfast, even if all you do is reduce some of the sugar, you’ve taken a step. It's the first meal of the day, and it's an easy place to make that first step to a better you. So why not?  It Will Help With Your Health and Weight - Even if you do nothing else, a healthy breakfast can help you lose weight, give you more energy and fill you up with nutrient dense foods. But that’s just the start. If you manage to turn breakfast into a healthy meal, at least on most mornings, you’ll be more motivated and better able to do so for your other meals too. And then other parts of your life. It Puts the Focus on You - You might not be able to self-indulge like you used to, but now at least you’re taking a positive step forward in at least one part of your life. Hear that? You’re taking a positive step forward in your life. For just a minute there, it's almost as if everything really was about you! Want to know about another quick and easy way to do something nice for yourself? Put on a pair of Mass & Slim Anti-Cellulite Shorts. You’ll instantly notice the slimming effect it has on your tummy, hips and thighs. And it hides under your favourite dress or slacks. Even better, when you wear your shapewear regularly, the massaging effect of its unique, comfortable fabric helps tone your skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite. To find out how shapewear can help you rock even the clingiest outfit, check out our post “4 Tips to Choose the Best Shapewear for a Bodycon Dress”. 

The problem with tight clothing, like bodycon dresses and skinny jeans, is that they are not made for all body types. But, regardless of body type, you want to squeeze into something close-fitting, something fashionable, at least once in a while. The result? When you do squeeze into tight clothing, what you see in the mirror isn’t always what you had in mind. Having been designed for rail-thin runway models, tight clothing doesn‘t always flatter other body types. Instead of giving proportional shape, it let’s muffin tops bulge and curves appear out of nowhere. Not to mention the discomfort and physical issues, like poor circulation, that tight clothing can cause.   3 Benefits of Compression Wear While compression shapewear, like Active Slim Compression Leggings, fits tightly, it is designed to fit tightly on every body type. That means it helps create proportional shape for everyone. And that’s just the start of the benefits you can enjoy. All-Day Every-Day Comfort   Designed with a breathable fabric, and to contour to your body, compression wear is remarkably comfortable. Whether you’re going for a workout, shopping, just relaxing around the house, you can start and end your day in compression wear. Improves Circulation The all-over sculpting effect of compression wear has it's health benefits too. In addition to toning your thighs, hips and tummy, it promotes blood circulation throughout those areas too. That helps to bring healthy oxygen and nutrients to your skin, while removing toxins, both of which improves your skin tone and the appearance of cellulite. Reduces Fatigue By providing even compression to the areas it covers, compression wear supports your muscles and tissue so you don’t get tired as quickly. If you’re on your feet all day, compression wear is like getting a shot of energy.   To find out about more benefits of compression wear, check out our article “Can You Sleep In Compression Wear?”

First, we hope you and everyone near and dear to you have stayed safe and healthy throughout the uncertainties of the COVID pandemic.  If so, you are very fortunate and have a lot to be grateful for. But, that doesn’t mean the gradual reopening of workplaces, shopping centres, restaurants, and more, won’t come with some added anxiety. After all, we’ve been more or less in lockdown for about six months. A time when, because we weren’t going outside the house as often, we may have put our physical health on the backburner, just at least a little.  Face the World With Confidence  For many, readjusting to going back to work regularly, or even just occasionally, might be as big a transition, or more, than when you first started working from home. If you let your healthy eating habits go, or you couldn’t keep up your exercise routine because gyms were closed, you may have noticed a few extra pounds.  Combined with the more pronounced appearance of cellulite that can result from added weight, the transition back to life outside the home can be helped with a little shot of confidence. And here are a few tips to give it just that. Embrace Body Positivity - You should do this anyway, whether you need to get back into shape or not. Having a positive body image is not only key to accepting yourself as you are, but to also get a different perspective on things like your cellulite. Cellulite doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy, or that there is anything wrong with you. So, if you’re worried about cellulite, it's because you’re worried about what other people think. The more you appreciate who you are and everything you have, the less you’ll worry about cellulite. Dress Slimmer - Yes, darker clothing, including that little black dress, helps to make you look slimmer. But so does a belt or tie around your waist in almost any dress, a v-neck sweater and a crisp sport jacket, among other fashion choices. Wear Shapewear - We can talk all day about being more positive and wearing the right clothing, but you might still just want to look instantly slimmer. Shapewear can make it happen. Compression shapewear, like Secret Slim Compression Shorts, instantly adds flattering shape, hides comfortably under your favourite jeans, skirts and dresses and has an anti-cellulite firming effect on your hips, buttocks and thighs while you wear them. If you enjoyed this post, you can learn more about about positivity by checking out our article “A Review of #BodyPositivity on Social Media”.

Women who wear leggings will tell you they are the most comfortable clothing they own. They are at once stylish, versatile and comfortable. But no one wants to wear the same thing every day. What’s more, if you’re wearing a dress skirt or pants, leggings just may not work for you.  But, when it comes to compression shapewear, like Active Slim Compression Leggings, there are many more reasons to consider wearing them every day, beyond their comfort and style.  But, is that enough for them to be OK to wear every day, and even under dresses, skirts and jeans? The answer is “yes!” - with a little explanation. You may have the same concerns about wearing compression leggings with some outfits as you do with wearing regular leggings. But compression shapewear is available in other configurations, like compression shorts, that turns compression shapewear into everyday wear  Why Wear Compression Shapewear Every Day Active Slim Compression Leggings and Shorts both help to comfortably support, shape and tone your stomach, hips, buttocks and thighs. And that helps you in many ways.  It Improves Your Confidence - When you know everything’s in place; that there are no panty lines; that you’ll feel more energetic; and that you simply look your best, you get a shot of confidence that can change your entire day. Whether it's in the office or at social gatherings, when your inner voice says you look great, it changes how you perceive yourself and what you are capable of accomplishing.    It Can Be the First Step in a Larger Transformation - If you’ve tried to lose weight, improve your fitness or have healthier eating habits, without any success, it's not because you can’t do it. They are all bigger transformations than we think. And your expectations for immediate results are high. When you don’t see them, it's difficult to carry on.But, with the instant flattering shape you get from compression wear, and its other benefits for firming your hips and thighs and reducing the appearance of cellulite, you’re off to a great start. And that makes it easier to take the next step in your transformation. You Get More of the Compression Wear Benefits - In addition to the benefits we’ve already mentioned, compression wear can help you relieve the symptoms of a number of conditions, including lymphedema (leg swelling), restless leg syndrome, venous insufficiency and even help you get back in shape faster after pregnancy.  The benefits you get from compression shapewear are related to how long you wear them. Yes, you can expect some benefit if you only wear them for a short time a few days a week. But, the benefits are more pronounced the more you wear them. And wearing every day will have the most visible benefits. To find out more about how compression wear can help you every day, check out our post “Benefits To Wearing Compression Leggings While Working From Home“.

There’s nothing worse than feeling frustrated when you can’t find anything to wear or you don’t feel confident with your outfit choices especially if what you really want to wear, is that stunning bodycon dress you have parked and ready to go in the closet. Bodycon dresses, those that cling to every curve, are just about the ultimate party dress.  After five months of the COVID quarantine and settling for outdoor get-togethers, you’re ready for some real socializing (safely physical distanced, of course!) on the patio of your favourite restaurant or nightspot, with your favourite bodycon dress perhaps? Bodycon dresses, those that cling to every curve, are just about the ultimate party dress. Worn well, they are sexy, give off an air of confidence and are always in fashion. But many women avoid bodycon dresses because they don’t feel they have the right body size or proportions to carry off the look. If you’ve never gotten up enough courage to show up in a bodycon, even though you’d love to, figure-enhancing shapewear can give you the spark of confidence you need. As the name implies, shapewear, like the Mass & Slim Waist Shaper, improves your shape as soon as you put it on. How to Choose the Best Shapewear for All Body Types (Source) You don’t have to be slim to be the hit of the party in a bodycon dress. Well-proportioned curves can be just as appealing. And shapewear adds attractive shape and balance to every body type. From the moment you put it on, shapewear instantly adds flattering shape to every body type. You just need to know which shapewear is best for your body. 1. The Hourglass Figure If you’re curvy all over, it can be a real plus. Except, as we said, if you let things go a little too far. Suddenly ‘curvaceous’ can turn into, well, ‘meh’. If you need shape and support through your entire torso, waist hips and thighs, try a combination of the Sankom Posture-Correcting Shapewear Bra and Posture Correcting Shapewear Shorts. In addition to support for your bust, the bra contours the transition from your upper body into your waist. The high-waisted shapewear shorts take over from there to keep everything in great shape; from your waist, through your buttocks and into your upper thighs. 2. The Straight Figure Everyone always tells you how slim you are. That’s great, but sometimes you wish you weren’t. If you would like to add a little more variety to your dimensions, we recommend the Mass & Slim Waist Shaper.  It adds definition from below your bust to your hips, making both that much more noticeable. 3. The Apple Figure Also known as the inverted triangle body shape, you’re well proportioned, but wider at the shoulders than you are at the hips. This is yet another body type that will benefit from the waist-shaping benefits of the Mass & Slim Waist Shaper. 4. Pear Figure It's sort of the opposite of the apple-shaped body where your hips are distinctly wider than your upper body. The answer is to bring in your lower proportions with Secret-Slim Compression Shorts, which will firm up your hips and thighs. More Benefits to Shapewear Helping you look great in your bodycon dress isn’t the only benefit of wearing shapewear. Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite - Shapewear exerts a gentle massaging effect on the areas of the body it covers while you wear it. That stimulates circulation and can help minimize the appearance of your cellulite. All-Day Comfort -  Made with innovative fabrics, shapewear is remarkably comfortable to wear all day, considering everything it can do for your shape, cellulite, and your mood! So get that bodycon fired up, you’re going out in style now! If you enjoyed this article, check out the results of this “30-Day Clinical Shapewear Study”. Shop TheBlackPurple Compression Shapewear 

You’ve got leggings. Probably lots of them. And they’re your favourite for working or relaxing at home, quick shopping trips or even wearing under a skirt or dress. But you’ve been hearing a lot about the benefits of compression leggings recently and wondering if you should switch. Except you’re probably wondering  what are compression leggings good for anyway. 5 Benefits of Compression Leggings First, while they offer more support, they are just as comfortable as regular leggings for all the uses we mentioned above. So you can still wear them all day in lots of different situations. But compression leggings offer many more benefits. Gets Rid of Sweat - Wearing compression clothing all day is possible, unless it's really hot or you’re really active. Sweat can make the most comfortable clothing intolerable. One of the reasons that athletes wear compression garments is because they wick away sweat to reduce chafing and other discomforts of sweating. Reduces Swelling - Edema, or swelling, particularly in the legs, can be an occasional problem for some people, or a chronic condition for others.  One of the effects of compression leggings is to help reduce the amount of fluids that build up in your legs to minimize edema and it's symptoms.  Increases Circulation - Compression wear, like Active Slim Compression Leggings, that’s made with biometric fibre delivers a light massaging effect as you wear them. This brings more oxygen and nutrients to your legs and skin. Helps You Be More Active - Increased blood flow helps reduce muscle soreness, remove impurities and lactic acid, and lower your perceived exertion. In other words, your legs won’t feel sore or tired as quickly when you wear compression tights, so you can be more active throughout the day. Improves the Appearance of Cellulite - The extra nutrients and oxygen that increased blood circulation brings helps tone the muscles supported by the leggings, strengthen your skin and make it more elastic. It all combines to improve the appearance of cellulite in the areas covered by the leggings. To find out more about how better circulation from compression leggings can help you, check out our article “The Benefits of Improved Circulation from Compression Garments”.

If you regularly go to work outside the house, one of the few bonuses of the COVID-19 quarantine is that you get a break from your office and the routine of getting there and back every day. At least it's a bonus until you realize there’s a kitchen full of food and drinks just steps away, and you’re not even getting the exercise of walking to the car every morning! Fortunately, if you’re starting to feel sluggish and restless,  there are many ways to stay fit at home, at your own pace and without any fancy equipment.  Work Out in Shapewear One of the best ways to get more from a workout, or any activity you do at home throughout the day, is to wear shapewear while you do it. Anti-cellulite shapewear, like compression leggings, boost your workout results in many ways. Compression wear supports your legs and muscles to help improve your workout performance, which can increase calorie burning  Bio-ceramic fibers help reduce muscle soreness and speed up recovery after your workout 3D knitted honeycomb fabric delivers a massaging effect as you move. That promotes more circulation, makes your skin more elastic and reduces the appearance of cellulite Maybe best of all, compression leggings give you an instant slimming effect, and they are comfortable enough to wear all day.  Make it a Habit Once you have the right workout gear, getting into the habit of working out is the next step to success. While many tout the benefits of working out in the morning, you can choose a time that works best for you. Whatever time you pick, the important thing is to turn your workout into a habit. To help make that happen, make a commitment to yourself to do your workout for at least a week, if not two. Use Bodyweight Stretches & Exercises Whether you’re working out for weight loss, or to maintain your muscle tone, you don’t need to use added weights, bands or any other equipment. There are many yoga moves that can both stretch and strengthen your muscles.One of the best parts of bodyweight exercises is that you can do them just about anywhere, including outside. Don’t Let Excuses Get in Your Way The easiest thing to do with any exercise routine is to find a reason not to do it. From “I don’t like to exercise”, and “I can’t do push-ups”, to “I don’t have the time to workout”, excuses are plentiful. So let’s just shoot those three down right now. Almost every day, there are new exercises available designed to not feel like you are exercising. Many of the moves are so simple, you might wonder if they are doing any good. And even 5 minutes a day of exercising at your desk can make a difference to your health and well-being. Anything you do is better than finding an excuse to do nothing at all. If you found this post helpful, check out our recent article “5 Health Benefits of Good Posture”.

Ever since the coronavirus emerged late last year, there’s been no shortage of advice on how to “boost your immune system”. Eager to cash in on reader interest, it seems like every online media outlet had one or more articles about how to optimize the health of your immune system to help safeguard yourself against the virus. Interestingly, the advice also reads like a “how-to” for boosting your overall health. And, taken just a step further, it’s all great advice for minimizing the appearance of your cellulite too. Immune-System-Boosting Advice to Help Reduce Cellulite This is just a cross-section of the advice for boosting your immune system that will also help your cellulite look it's best. Lower Your Stress - The reason stress is bad for your immune system is because it produces a hormone, cortisol, which increases inflammation in your body. It's part of the reason you just want to flop on the couch after a rough day. That inflammation and lethargy it produces also means you’re probably going to eat something fast, and not be too active. Both of which will do nothing to help your cellulite. Eat Lots Of Fruits & Vegetables - Chock full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, fruits and veggies are powerful weapons in the fight against a weak immune system. And the more of them you eat, the less processed and fast food you’ll eat, which will make it easier to improve the appearance of your cellulite. Get Enough Sleep - When your body gets the rest and recovery time it needs from a good night’s sleep, it's in better shape to support your immune system. Good sleep also helps maintain the health of your skin, reduce symptoms of depression, increase your energy levels, and make you feel healthier. All of which can make your cellulite less obvious too. While living a healthier lifestyle sets the stage for cellulite reduction, you can get instant shape-flattering results from anti-cellulite shapewear, like Mass & Slim Shapewear Leggings. The micro-massage your skin as you wear them for even more cellulite-reducing benefits. To find out more ways to improve the way your cellulite looks, check out our post “3 Customized Ways to Reduce Cellulite According to Your Body”.

Media imagery and commentary is probably far more responsible for how we feel about ourselves than we think. From social media posts by rail-thin celebrities living fabulous lives to news headlines about someone “flaunting a bikini bod”, you can’t log on or pick up a magazine without being confronted by unrealistic words and pictures. When you get specific about cellulite news, things go from unrealistic to blatantly untrue. When we first started busting cellulite headlines four years ago, it was easy. Just about every headline was false, sensationalist or otherwise misleading. Fortunately, some things have changed. But, unfortunately, some things haven’t. The Good, Bad & Ugly of Cellulite Headlines We took a look at some recent headlines for news stories related to cellulite. Some were very encouraging, some were not, and some were potentially dangerous.  The Good What is the #normalizenormalbodies movement, and why do we need it? If there is one thing that’s prevalent today that was nowhere to be found four years ago, it's the changing attitudes towards cellulite on social media. We told you about body positivity and Demi Lovato getting #celluLIT. The good news today is that the wave of more realistic body images keeps rolling across social media, this time with yet another trending hashtag. The Bad This Small Massaging Device Is Like a Vacuum for Cellulite - Whether it’s anti-cellulite creams, brushes or other devices, there’s a multi-billion industry around selling products to help you get rid of, or “vacuum”, your cellulite. You can’t get rid of cellulite. It's perfectly natural and is not a sign of anything wrong with you. But this article says that, if you buy this massager, “with daily and regular use, you might even see your cellulite totally disappear!” The Ugly 4 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Cellulite Before Summer - Where do we begin? The offensive imagery? The “say goodbye to those pesky bumps” subheadline? The fact that medical websites recommend that you consult your doctor before taking one of the recommended solutions, gotu kola? Yes, we could start with any of those. But here’s what's really dangerous about headlines like this. They create unrealistic expectations that could cause readers to adopt unhealthy habits, including their diet. You can’t get rid of cellulite. Trying to do so in three months can be unhealthy. Want to find out about reducing cellulite the right way? Check out our article “The 3 Most Important Things You Can Do to Reduce Cellulite”.

From sitting at computer terminals all day long at work to Netflix binging all night long at home, it's like there’s a war going on against good posture. But doing what you can to improve your posture, even while sitting at your desk or lying on the couch, delivers lots of benefits beyond just looking better. Although that’s not a bad one! How Good Posture Improves Your Health Good posture really comes down to keeping your body properly aligned. Starting with your spine, when you keep everything balanced and aligned, you can improve your health in so many ways. Less Joint Pain - If you notice more aches and pains when you sit or stand for extended periods, it isn’t necessarily a sign of age. If you hunch over at your desk, or stand with more weight on one leg, you’re putting added stress on your neck, hips and knees. A sign of that is the pain you feel when you get up or change positions. Fewer Tension Headaches - The added stress on your neck and shoulders can cause or exacerbate tension headaches. Sitting or standing with your head and spine properly aligned reduces the tension and the headaches. More Energy - The added stress on your joints and muscles due to poor posture also saps your energy. When they are properly aligned, they have less work to do, and you have more energy to do things to improve your posture. Better Lung Function - When you are slouched, your body is curved forward, which compresses your lungs and reduces their capacity. Sitting and standing straighter gives your lungs the space they need to handle more air, which increases the amount of oxygen that gets delivered throughout your body. Better Circulation & Digestion - Your lungs aren't the only thing that gets bunched up when you slouch. All of your abdominal organs and your digestive system get crowded too. That reduces blood circulation and makes it more difficult for your digestive system to do its job.  It's not always easy for you to practice good posture in the midst of a busy day. Posture-correcting shapewear shorts use a patented design to help restore balance to your body and improve your posture. And they’re comfortable enough to wear all day and night. Want to learn more about the advantages of better circulation? Check out our post “The Benefits of Improved Circulation from Compression Garments”.

Don’t let the name fool you. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) isn’t about your legs being restless or moving involuntarily. In fact, if you have RLS, you feel the need to move your legs to relieve the real symptoms of the condition. What is Restless Leg Syndrome? RLS is a nervous system disorder also known as Willis-Ekbom disease. The term “syndrome” is applied to medical conditions that have a range of symptoms that are not necessarily related to each other. Symptoms - Common symptoms of RLS range from mild to unbearable and include itching, crawling skin, discomfort and other uncomfortable sensations in the legs that trigger a strong urge to move the legs to relieve the symptoms. When it Happens - RLS is often called a sleep disorder because symptoms commonly occur at night or when sufferers are at rest. Symptoms can make it difficult to fall asleep and/or stay asleep. Who Suffers Most - RLS affects about 10% of the population. It can happen to anyone at almost any time of life, but is more common in women, often during pregnancy.    How to Manage Restless Leg Syndrome There is no cure for RLS, but many ways to treat RLS symptoms. Talk to Your Doctor - RLS often results from other conditions, like an iron deficiency, which your doctor may be able to identify. Try Moderate Exercise - RLS symptoms are less prevalent during the day, when you are more active. Many sufferers reduce RLS symptoms with regular exercise and leg massages to help overactive muscles relax. Compression Garments - Compression shapewear, including Mass & Slim’s Secret Slim Compression Shorts, helps in relieving RLS symptoms by gently massaging your legs as you wear them. The massaging action promotes blood flow and higher skin temperatures, both of which can help your legs relax. To learn more about restless leg syndrome and how to treat it, check out our article “Restless Legs? Here’s How to Stop It”.

“If only I could lose a couple of inches”. It's not like you’re asking for much. You’ve tried everything, but your body seems to want to stay just how it is. Still, you wouldn’t mind just once putting on your cocktail dress, or a pair of shorts, without thinking “if only I could lose a couple of inches!”    Why It's Difficult to Burn Fat & Reduce Inches  There are some unfortunate truths about everyone’s weight loss efforts. You might have tried it all, fad diets, aerobic exercises and strength training, and still couldn’t get the tape measure to budge.  Just being a woman is the first fact that’s working against you. Women generally store more fat than men, and they tend to store a higher percentage of that fat in the gluteal femoral region (in simpler terms, the buttocks and upper thighs) than men. The second issue around reducing your body weight is that your body likes to keep things the way they are. It's called homeostasis and it means your body actually works against your efforts at losing fat. How Compression Shapewear Helps in Losing Inches In addition to instantly improving your figure due to their shaping effect, compression shapewear, like Mass & Slim’s Active Slim Compression Leggings, is infused with thousands of tiny ceramic beads that help to promote fat loss. The ceramic beads produce a gentle massaging effect, targeted to your buttocks and thighs, as you move throughout the day. The beads absorb the heat produced by the massaging effect on your body and returns it in the form of infrared radiation. The resulting increase in your skin temperature improves your blood and lymphatic circulation, which helps your body eliminate fat cells.  Perhaps best of all, the fat-burning effect has been proven in clinical trials conducted by an independent consumer products test lab. In a 28-day study carried out on 25 women over the age of 25, who wore Mass & Slim shapewear for at least eight hours a day, the average reduction in hip circumference was 3.5 cm and the average reduction in thigh circumference was 2.8 cm. The Results Get Even Better. In addition to reducing inches around their hips and thighs, 73% of the study’s participants reported a noticeable improvement in the appearance of cellulite on their skin in the target areas. If you want to learn about even more benefits of compression shapewear, check out our article “4 Reasons Why You Should Wear Compression Leggings”.

You might be hearing a lot about the toll the COVID-19 crisis is taking on the physical, emotional and mental health of our front-line healthcare workers. But enough can’t be said. We all face challenges due to COVID. But imagine being asked to do 12-hour shifts or longer, at the very place where anyone with symptoms will go.  And you say “yes!”. Without hesitation.  And you walk into the face of fear, uncertainty and danger. Day after day. With no end in sight.  And that’s just the start of your ordeal. Healthcare Workers Face Higher Rates of Anxiety & Depression During COVID Crisis As difficult as it is for many of us to imagine doing what doctors, nurses and every front-line healthcare worker is being asked to do during the crisis, the physical toll is just the beginning. Imagine you put in long hours in a stressful environment. Then you must witness first-hand the toll of the virus on those who take the hit. What happens after everything you do, after all the years of education and training, after a lifetime of experience, it isn’t enough to save someone? Can you imagine? What You Can Do the Help Front-Line Healthcare Workers You can help reduce the burden that all front-line healthcare workers must carry during the crisis. Here’s how. STAY HOME - The best way to take the strain off those who are in the trenches battling the virus is to not become one of their patients. And the best way to do that is to stay home. The more we do that one, simple thing, the fewer of us will be infected and need medical attention. Stay home, quarantine yourself if you’ve been travelling and practice social distancing when you do go out for absolute necessities, like food.Just in case you need more encouragement to stay home, get it from the frontliners themselves in this video. Stay Healthy - It’s tough to stay active while you’re locked in your house or apartment. Make a point of regularly getting out into an open space, maintaining appropriate distances from others, for some fresh air and exercise. Donate - If you have anything that could help please give. Check with local hospitals, healthcare facilities and emergency shelter. Here’s a list of just some of what you can give. Masks  Hand soap  Hand sanitizer  Sanitizing wipes  Clothing Laundry soap Menstrual products Food Money It all helps and it is all greatly appreciated. What Healthcare Workers Can Do to Help Themselves Yes. After all you do to take care of others, you need to take care of yourself. First, always properly wear any personal protective equipment that goes with the job. Getting your rest is key. And if you manage to do that, and find some time to yourself, try to find a diversion to take your mind off your work. Don’t be afraid to find someone to help you if you’re finding it all too much to bear. Taking care of your physical fitness that best you can will help you physically and mentally. Being active and on your feet for an entire shift is very stressful on your body, especially on you legs and feet.  Here’s a quick list of things you can do yourself at the end of a shift to help relieve your legs and feet. Stretch Your Legs & Feet - Not just at the end of your shift, but, if you can, every hour while you’re working. Apply Ice - Medical professionals know better than most how icing stiff and sore legs can reduce swelling and inflammation. Give it a Massage - Massaging your leg muscles helps in two ways. It opens up the muscles to help get rid of lactic acid and it improves blood flow to bring in more oxygen and nutrients. Elevate Your Feet - Taking the load off is the best rest you can give your legs and feet. It also helps to reduce swelling. Wear Compression Wear - This is another one you can do during your shift to reduce the strain on your legs and feet. Compression leggings help support your legs and improve circulation while you work. There aren't words to express how much we appreciate front-line healthcare workers during this unprecedented emergency.  We hope you all are able to take care of yourselves and, through your efforts, we find a way back to normalcy sooner than later. Curious to find out more about Topic? Check out our last blog post on How Shapewear Offers Nurses Compression Support

First, we hope all our customers, suppliers and other partners are getting through this crisis as safely and healthily as possible. With all the isolation and uncertainty, we thought we’d take this opportunity to reach out, let you know how we’re doing, and hopefully hear back from you in the comments. We’re Open for Business Considering the challenges faced by many businesses, we are very lucky. As an online, ecommerce business, our operations have not been affected as much as many other companies.  In remaining open during the crisis, our first priority is to protect the health and safety of our employees and their families.  We have kept a close watch on the guidelines and regulations put in place by local, national and international governments and healthcare authorities, and we put all the best practices in place. We’re Ready to Help You Keep Looking Great! While we all have far more important priorities right now than how we look, we think it’s important to maintain as much normalcy in our lives as possible to help us get through this thing, as long as we can do so safely.  If putting on one of our anti-cellulite shapewear garments helps you look and feel better, then we feel that’s really helpful. You might not have washed your hair for a couple days, but you can still look fabulous! We are well-stocked and continue to ship all our products, including Mass & Slim Anti-Cellulite Shapewear, Premium Compression Shapewear, and Sankom Posture-Correcting Shapewear.  Free Shipping Too! (But it May Take a Little Longer to Get There) As always, you get free standard shipping to the U.S. and Canada on every purchase. But, while we ship your orders as fast as we can, the USPS is experiencing slight delays and you may receive your package a few days late.  If you have any delays in receiving your orders, please let us know by email at info@theblackpurple.com.  You can also visit the official USPS website for Coronavirus updates on their service delivery. Until next time, please stay safe & healthy. Again, if you’d like to, please let us know how you’re doing in the comments.

There will be no other time in her life when a woman will experience the same emotional and physical roller coaster of giving birth. At once, it's an indescribably amazing sense of excitement, joy and love to actually hold and meet the person you conceived and carried for nine months. But you can also have some concerns about the days to come and parenting. And you may be relieved to be free of the physical burden, but still worried about if you’ll ever lose the “baby weight” and get back to normal. 4 Ways Compression Leggings Helps New Moms Get Back into Shape Fortunately, there is one thing that can help you get back into your pre-pregnancy shape, both emotionally and physically. Compression wear, including Active Slim Compression Leggings, helps you look and feel better in a number of ways. Supports Stressed Muscles - From your abdomen to your legs, your body has just endured incredible stress. Your abdominal and pelvic muscles and skin have been extended way beyond their normal range of motion; to the point where they won’t “bounce back” like normal. By tightening your belly, hips and waist, compression wear stabilizes your muscles and skin, and reduces the discomfort that can accompany your recovery. Improves Posture - By helping support your lower back and hips, compression wear also helps you maintain better posture, which can further reduce muscle and joint stress. Helps You Look & Feel Better - In addition to adding flattering shape the moment you slip them on, and keeping everything “in place”, compression garments also help reduce the swelling that can occur after you deliver your baby. You won’t be afraid to look in the mirror and you’ll feel better about yourself. Speeds Up Your Recovery - The combination of support for your body, reduced swelling and an improved look adds up to faster recovery times after the baby is born. If you want to find out more about the benefits of compression leggings, check out our post “4 Reasons Why You Should Wear Compression Leggings”.

You hear it touted as a benefit of everything from acupuncture and massage therapy to strength training and jogging. Improved circulation, including blood and lymph flow, can deliver lots of benefits too.  But what if you don’t want someone to stick tiny needles in you; or you don’t have the time for regular massages, or the idea of working out is out of the question, and don’t even mention jogging? Fortunately, there is one easy, comfortable way to improve your blood and lymph flow. Compression garments, including Secret Slim Compression Shorts, use a bi-ceramic fiber and unique 3D honeycomb fabric structure to exert a gentle massaging effect on targeted areas of your body as you wear them.  Comfortable enough to be worn for eight hours or more, compression shorts are like getting an all-day massage. Benefits of Improved Blood Flow It's no secret that your heart pumps blood through your lungs to carry oxygen all over your body. But how does the increased blood flow from compression shorts help you? Can Reduce Cellulite - Oxygen itself is important for your skin. The more it has, the stronger it gets, which makes your cellulite less noticeable. More Skin Elasticity - In addition to the variety of nutrients brought to the skin by your blood, it also stimulates the production of the hormone collagen, which gives your skin more wrinkle-reducing elasticity Benefits of Improved Lymph Flow  Not as well-known as blood circulation, lymph flow works in much the same way. But instead of bringing healthy nutrients to your skin, lymph fluid removes toxins, lactic acid and other waste materials, while also fighting infections. Better lymph flow paves the way for the nutrients brought to the skin in your blood to do their work in making your skin look better, instead of having to deal with all the nasty stuff that’s removed by your lymph system. To learn more about the benefits of compression wear, check out our article “4 Reasons Why You Should Wear Compression Leggings”.

If you’ve never had them before, leg swelling can make you think you're putting on weight because your pants, stockings and socks seem to be fitting tighter than usual. If you’ve had swollen legs for a long time, you may avoid some activities, even walking, because of discomfort, or you might not like to wear anything that shows your legs. In any case, you have edema, or fluid buildup, in your legs. Swollen legs can have a variety of causes, including damaged lymph nodes (lymphedema), some medications, eating too many salty foods, pregnancy, damaged veins in your legs, or kidney damage.    How to Reduce and Prevent Swollen Legs You should always talk to your doctor if you notice your legs swelling. They may recommend one or more of the following things that you can do to help prevent leg swelling and/or reduce its symptoms Activity - Keeping active, especially with the muscles in the area of your body affected by the edema, can help move the excess fluids. Elevate Your Legs - You can put gravity to work by elevating your legs above the level of your heart to help drain the fluid. Wear Compression Leggings - Compression wear, like Active Slim Compression Leggings, helps reduce swollen legs in many ways. They help to improve circulation and remove the existing fluid buildup while helping to prevent more fluids from entering the affected areas. Reduce Your Salt Consumption - When you eat too much salt, your body produces more fluids to counteract its effect. While some sources of salt in your diet are obvious, like if you can’t imagine dinner without a salt shaker in front of you, others are not. Most of us don’t realize how much salt we get from things like processed foods (check the nutrition label on your next can of soup), and even ice cream.   If you’d like to find out more about lymphedema, check out our article “The Benefits of Compression Leggings for Lymphedema”.