Shapewear

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?”

The truth will prevail. Except, in relation to our own body image, the truth is difficult to find. Steeped in a diet culture that promotes the myth of the perfect body, our body image is based on media-driven standards, not anything that is based in truth. But when you happen to come across the truth, it leaps out at you like a ray of sunshine through storm clouds. It makes so much sense. And it's beautiful.  “Cellulite is Not the Problem - Diet Culture Is” We recently stumbled across an article on the Scary Mommy Blog that was just such a revelation. Needless to say, the title “Cellulite is Not the problem - Diet culture Is” caught our attention. The article’s author, Lindsay Wolf, relates her own body image journey, from preteen to Mom of two and beyond. In the very first paragraph, Wolf tells us about the moment the sun broke through the clouds and lit up the truth for her. Without going into all the details, Wolf gets into the origins of the term “cellulite”. It was first used by French doctors to describe human cell tissue that was inflamed or infected. In other words, in its original form, “cellulite” had absolutely nothing to do with the harmless dimpling of the skin that we call cellulite today, but was somehow twisted into that definition over time. Where “Cellulite” Began in North America In her research, Wolf discovered what may be considered the moment that “cellulite” became a thing in North America. Seizing on the popularity of European articles about what was now considered an affliction, the editor’s of Vogue magazine made it the subject of a 1968 cover headline: “Cellulite: The New Word for Fat You Couldn’t Lose Before.” There is perhaps no other single headline or article that has caused so many people so much anxiety, depression and self-loathing. For no reason other than to sell a magazine. As Wolf goes on to reframe cellulite for what it really is, a natural aspect of our bodies, she highlights research done by Megan Jayne Crabbe, a British body-positivity author and social media influencer.  According to Crabbe: “Some scientists actually classify cellulite as a secondary sex characteristic, which means it’s a physical characteristic that develops during puberty along with other hormonal changes, that isn’t directly linked to reproduction. So essentially that makes it as natural as breasts or body hair or vocal changes, in terms of cis-gender women’s puberty.” What Does It All Mean For Your Cellulite First, on the heels of the body positivity movement and the efforts of people like Wolf and Crabbe to normalize it, you can be more comfortable with your cellulite. Happier in your own skin. And, just like you may want to occasionally style your hair, or get your makeup done to help your own beauty shine through, there’s nothing wrong with taking steps to improve the appearance of your cellulite.  From eating a balanced diet and getting more active, to wearing compression shapewear, like Secret Slim Compression Shorts, you’ll look your best and feel your best too. To learn more about the benefits of compression shapewear, check out our post “Just What Are Compression Leggings Good For?”.

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“.

No matter how much extra weight you carry, losing it can seem like the key to everything you want in life. You tell yourself that, if you can only lose some weight, and keep it off, you’ll look better; feel better; be more confident; healthier; fit; full of energy; make your cellulite look better; get that promotion; wear all the outfits you shy away from; start getting out more; and be happier. Despite all that, here’s the first reason why you can’t seem to lose weight. With all those amazing potential benefits on the line, why would you only give yourself 30, 60 or 90 days, or however long your fad diet promises to deliver the desired results, to reach your target weight? 4 Reasons Why You Can’t Lose Weight You’re Oversimplifying Weight Loss - Straight up, it's highly unlikely that any pill, diet, detox or exercise program will, by itself, trigger healthy, sustained weight loss. Your body is a powerful, complex organism. Its single focus is to keep you alive. If you interfere with its energy source (food) or workload (exercise) without doing so properly, your body will actually fight your efforts. It will slow your metabolism as you reduce calorie intake, and make you feel tired, not energized, if you exercise excessively. Successful, sustained weight loss, and all the benefits that come with it, is a life-long dedication to living a healthier lifestyle and losing weight at a healthy pace with a balanced diet, increased activity and healthy habits.  Your Life Revolves Around the Numbers on the Weigh Scale - When you step on the scale today, the numbers tell you you’re overweight. If you try to lose weight tomorrow and the number doesn’t change, you feel like a failure. If someone told you that you were overweight and a failure, would you stand for it? So why do you let the weight scale make you feel that way?Things aren't going to change overnight. Take one step at a time. Instead of going out and getting an expensive gym membership on day one. Just try an activity you can do, like take a walk. Or make a meal you like from scratch. Or start reducing sugar in your diet. But, whatever you do, don’t take any backtalk from the weight scale. You Don’t Get Support - Again, living life at a healthier weight isn’t easy and takes an ongoing commitment. You need the support of family, friends and partners. It's not about them making any changes or helping you. It's about them not unknowingly making it more difficult for you by asking why you’re not having another helping or eating dessert. You Don’t See the Good in Every Effort You Make - What if you can’t tear yourself away from the scale, and you find you only lost five pounds this month, and you were hoping to lose 10? Failure, right? Wrong. You lost five pounds!!! That’s amazing! You’ll give it a good effort next month! There’s nothing wrong with celebrating even the easy wins. If you took a short walk tonight, but can’t remember ever walking further than from the car to the mall, that’s fabulous! And if slipping on a pair of anti-cellulite leggings makes you instantly look and feel better, it could be the trigger you need to start making changes or stay on track. If you liked this post, check out our recent article “Why Compression Shapewear is Ideal for Reducing Inches”.

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”.

The COVID-19 crisis has affected us as individuals and as a society in many different ways. One outcome may be the renewed focus on taking care of ourselves in the midst of the worst health crisis of our lifetime. And to help you improve your health and fitness, we’ve assembled our top 3 websites offering free virtual fitness classes, online workouts and training programs.   Do Yoga With Me If there’s still a veil of mystique around yoga for you, it's time to drop it. And get into a downward dog. Do Yoga With Me is the web’s leading provider of free streaming yoga videos. Their YouTube channel offers videos for practitioners of all levels, including absolute beginners, kids and for those who want to explore specialized areas like Japa meditation.  You can try a single short class, or get into an ongoing program over days or weeks. Fitness By Sarah Taylor Just in case you’re still using your body type or size as an excuse to not stay active, there are award-winning, body-positive, virtual group fitness classes offered by fitness instructor and plus-size model, Sarah Taylor. Here you’ll find live-streamed classes of full-body workouts and strength training, using little or no equipment.  And you can try it all out with a free trial virtual class. Planet Fitness The popular real-world gym and fitness studio, with locations across the U.S. and Canada, Planet Fitness launched their “Home Work-In” series in response to not being able to welcome people in person during COVID.  Each live class is 20 minutes or less, doesn’t require any equipment and is streamed on their Facebook page daily at 7:00 pm. Come Prepared While these are all free classes that mean you don’t need to buy expensive memberships or equipment, you should approach them as a serious way for you to get fit, and stay fit.  That means coming prepared with the right mindset, open to all the challenges and rewards of yoga. And if you dress properly, including  Active Slim Compression Leggings, which will support you as you workout, you’ll get more from every fitness program you choose. To learn more about the advantages of compression wear, check out our article “Benefits To Wearing Compression Leggings While Working From Home.”

Wondering if you can wear compression garments to bed? We break down the safety, benefits, and comfort tips so you can decide what’s right for you.

There are many benefits of using compression leggings for venous insufficiency and other venous diseases, including varicose veins.   Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) happens when the vein walls and valves in your legs do not work well enough to return blood to your heart. To get blood from your legs to your heart, muscle contraction in your legs squeeze the veins and push the blood up. The valves in your veins let the blood flow upward, but prevent it from running back down. Weak vein walls and valves interrupt this normal upward flow of blood. CVI can be caused by venous leg ulcers, blood clots and even for unknown reasons. The pooling of blood can cause swelling in the legs, tightness and/or pain in the legs, especially when walking, and varicose veins.  3 Ways Compression Leggings Help CVI Compression leggings can help relieve many of the symptoms of CVI and varicose veins. One of the great advantages of compression wear as a treatment for venous symptoms is that they can be worn comfortably all day. Better Blood Circulation - The gentle pressure that compression stockings apply along the entire length of your leg can help support leg muscles and veins. The added support helps the vein walls and valves do their job and reduces the workload they face to move blood back to the heart. Less Swelling - Compression also makes it more difficult for blood to pool in your legs, which, in turn, makes it easier for your circulatory system to pump it out of your legs. Improves Lymph Flow & Removes Lactic Acid - Compression wear promotes the flow of lymph fluid through your legs to remove many impurities in your blood, and helps remove lactic acid from your leg muscles. Both of these can help to reduce symptoms of pain and discomfort.  If you found this post helpful, check out our article “How Compression Garments Help Manage Restless Legs Syndrome”.

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”.

If nothing else, considering some of the work-from-home outfits we’ve been seeing on social media, the COVID-19 quarantine may be resetting the boundaries of “business casual”. For the very first time, our “work wardrobe” might include pyjamas.  And we might dress for a video conference call with a business casual top, over lounge pants. But no matter what work clothes you regularly wear in your home office, there’s another item that deserves a spot in your working-from-home dress code.  3 Benefits of Wearing Compression Leggings Working remotely has many benefits. But it can also change your daily working habits. You may be seated for longer periods of time without needing to leave your workstation for a meeting or chat with coworkers. You may not get as much exercise considering your commute takes you 15 seconds. And you may be tempted to snack a little more because, well, your office might be the kitchen table. Compression leggings are a great way to counteract many of the less healthy parts of working from home. Not to mention that they are super comfortable to wear all day and they look great under whatever top you choose for your video calls. Improve Your Circulation - It's one of the reasons all those articles tell you to not sit for too long. Poor circulation can cause pain and muscle cramps. But compression leggings help to support your legs and promote better blood and lymph circulation. Helps Reduce Swelling - If your legs feel “tight” and tired after a long day, it could be mild swelling that might get more severe. By keeping everything in place, and your circulation pumping, compression leggings can reduce the swelling in your legs. Improves the Appearance of Your Skin and Cellulite - Tiny ceramic beads in Active Slim Compression Leggings help massage your legs while you wear them. This gives even more of a boost to your circulation. That can bring more healthy nutrients to your skin and remove more toxins. The result is healthier, smoother looking skin. If you liked this article, check out our recent titled “A Review of #BodyPositivity on Social Media”.

TheBlackPurple was created with one goal in mind: to help women feel confident. We are committed to providing high-quality shapewear for women through all walks of life, helping them feel balanced and supported, on their own terms. Every product we create is meticulously inspected and tested at all levels of production to bring you the best results that will leave you feeling great, no matter where you go. Why Choose TheBlackPurple? There is isn’t a booming industry quite like the health industry.  With countless diet plans, supplements, and workout regimens, we sought to make a positive impact.  Creating a solution that was non-invasive and cost-effective, we spent resources on careful laboratory testing to ensure that our shapewear would finally achieve the results women were looking for.  That’s how our Lanaform shapewear product line was born. High-quality compression shapewear with next-level comfort, empowering women with the support they need to get through the day. Our 30-day Clinical Shapewear Study We stand by our compression shapewear. Which is why we put them to the test to ensure that they garner the results our customers are looking for.   Enlisting the thorough research of Farcoderm, an independent laboratory testing facility within Europe, we put our Mass & Slim Shapewear line to the test.  In a 30-day clinical trial carried out by a third-party among 30 participants aged between 18 and 55 years old, users saw the following results when wearing our shapewear: Users who used our Mass & Slim Shapewear Shorts saw: Up to 3.2cm reduction in hip circumference Up to 2.3cm reduction around thighs Users who used our Mass & Slim Waist Shaper saw: Up to 4.5cm reduction in waist circumference Up to 3.5cm reduction in hip circumference Users who used our Mass & Slim Shapewear Leggings saw: Up to 3.2cm reduction in hip circumference Up to 2.3cm reduction around thighs The innovation behind our compression shapewear was designed to give women complete confidence while working behind the scenes to provide slimming, toning, and re-shaping effects so they can run through their days like a breeze.  At TheBlackPurple, we’re committed to providing affordable shapewear to all women who want to feel amazing and love the skin they’re in. Read the entire Clinical Shapewear Study on our Mass & Slim Shapewear Line here.

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”.

We’ve told you before about the body positive movement and body positivity, which seek to change the stereotypes and stigma around negative body images and encourage people to accept themselves, and their bodies, for who they are. Social media has turned into a bit of a battleground for body positivity. On one side, they are platforms to promote healthier attitudes around body sizes, shapes, abilities and conditions. But, at the same time, the ability to remain virtually anonymous in social media allows detractors and haters to body shame people without consequence. A Review of Body Positivity on 3 Social Media Platforms While the discussion takes place on all popular social media, (yes, including LinkedIn!), we’ve reviewed hashtags and trends on the following platforms because they are the leading image-based social media. Instagram - It’s the social platform where the first wave of body positive images were promoted. Ashley Graham used Instagram to famously post untouched images of herself, particularly her cellulite. Demi Lovato not only revealed her cellulite, but she got #celluLIT about it too!  But maybe being early to the game has made the body positive movement too popular on Instagram, and not necessarily in a good way. A recent search for the hashtag #bodypostive showed it was being used by more coaches and fitness enthusiasts who were looking to promote their posts with the popular hashtag, versus people celebrating their normal bodies. YouTube - As always, YouTube has something for everyone. We found a playlist of body-positive songs, a mini-documentary on body positivity, and a debate trying to answer the question “can body-positive & fitness enthusiasts find a middle ground?”. TikTok - The relative newcomer in the social media crowd, TikTok may be the best place to see and hear regular people, the kind of people that the body positive movement tries to encourage. Yes, TikTok’s demographic is a little younger than most, but our search for #bodypositivity brought results from males and females in their teens and their 40s and 50s, and more ethnic diversity than we notice on any of the other social media we looked at. Being body positive and unashamed of your cellulite doesn't mean you have to stop wanting to improve its appearance. Compression shapewear, like Active Slim Compression Leggings, are clinically-proven to help reduce the appearance of cellulite and reduce inches in targeted areas of your body. To learn more about compression shapewear, check out our post “The Difference Between Compression Leggings And Regular Leggings”.

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