my happy blog

There is a misconception floating around the internet, within the walls of chatty homes, and gliding down the sidewalks alongside the misinformation highway — that misconception? You have to gain weight in order to build muscle.

Many people mistakenly believe that muscle weighs more than fat; this is simply untrue. This fallacy is destroyed by simple logic — ten pounds equals ten pounds, whether it is fat, muscle, gold, or water. To be fair, though — five cubic inches of muscle would weigh more than five cubic inches of fat; however, this does not mean that muscle weighs more than fat.

Some women, and men as well, are afraid of working out and building muscle because they think that they have to gain weight in order to do so. However, such fears are not founded on sound facts. They believe that if they head to the gym, lift weights, or even take part in anything more than a light cardiovascular activity, that they will inevitably increase their weight and “bulk up”.

Muscle building does not have to be all about “bulking up”; it can be all about strengthening your body and redefining the way that you look. Let’s say, for instance, that you are a male, five foot, nine inches tall and weigh one-hundred and seventy-five pounds. You’re happy with your weight, but you’re not happy with the way that your body looks. By focusing on adding definition to your build, rather than adding obscene amounts of muscle, you can maintain your same weight while completely redefining your shape.

The same can be said for women — if you’re five foot, four inches tall and weigh one-hundred and twenty-five pounds, your current weight may be acceptable to you, but you’re afraid to work out because you hear that ‘muscle weighs more than fat’. The same principal applies here — you can maintain your one-hundred and twenty-five pounds, build muscle, lower your body fat percentage, and still maintain your current weight, albeit with definition and strength rather than with the less-than-toned look that you may currently be sporting.

Bottom line — you do not need to worry about gaining weight when you work to burn fat and build muscle. By building muscle, you will be burning fat, as well as adding definition — and by exercising a little bit of control over your workout routine, you can maintain your current weight and proudly show it off on the new and improved you.

Build Muscle Up answers common muscle-building questions and shows individuals how to build muscles quickly. Learn about muscle weight gain and read reviews on the top muscle-building systems on our website.

Are you and your spouse worried about what’s happening with your savings, your pension, your children’s college funds, or just staying employed? The Dow Jones is under 10,000 and European banks sound as shaky as the US banks. Do you find yourself fearful of your futures together? Do you find yourselves disagreeing with your partner about how to weather this financial meltdown? Do you find yourselves arguing because one of you makes more money and feels like they have more control over how money is spent? When money gets tight as a result of reduced income or increased mortgage payments and is combined with financial fears of the future, those old money arguments (my money vs. your money) may be causing you problems again. It is time for the two of you to have discussions again about money.

In his book Love & Money, Jeff Opdyke says: “It’s not really about the money. It’s about creating another level of intimacy in your relationship and bestowing trust on each other.” He further recommends joint accounts for couples which explicitly demonstrates the trust you have with your spouse.

When we keep secrets from our spouse about how much we make, how we spend money, or even how much money we have, this indicates a measure of distrust in the other person. When times are tough like now, you need to trust and have faith in your legal and romantic partner. All your money and all your debts are consider joint by the state. If you are not considering them joint, you are losing out. You lose resources that your partner brings to solving financial problems. You lose a feeling of honesty about yourself. And you lose some ability to manage your family finances in the best way possible.

If the two of you are not quite ready to combine your accounts, at least try to agree on and be committed to the following:

1. Agree to live within your means, so that expenses do not exceed your income.

2. Agree to open, honest communication about money.

3. Promise not to blame one another, judge each other, or keep secrets about money.

4. Be prepared to listen to your partner and understand their perspective.

You both need to be fully aware of the family gross and net income, to know where household (and individual) money goes each month and to know how much debt you have and the interest costs you are paying.

If you are unable to have a frank and open discussion about your money with your spouse, you may benefit from seeing a marriage counselor. The National Registry of Marriage Friendly Therapists (www.marriagefriendlytherapist.com) is a good resource for finding a therapist who is invested in helping you save your marriage. If you are unable to curb your spending, you might consider Debtors Anonymous, an organization for people trying to reduce debt and regain solvency. If you need a housing counselor or help with your mortgage, go to the web site of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (www.hud.gov) and click on the Hope for Homeowners link.

It’s important to realize you are not alone. Many couples and families are struggling. Don’t let your marriage be a casualty of the worst financial disaster most of us have ever seen. You and your spouse are in this together. Get the help you need to keep your marriage stable and safe.

If you decide that you might need marriage counseling, check out my website, http://www.PamLipe.com My specialty is marriage and relationship counseling. For 20 years, I have been helping couples find the love and support they want in their marriages. My therapy practice serves the metropolitan area of Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN.

Summer is here and full-figured gals are ready for all those fun-filled warm weather events! You’ve put together a hot, sexy plus size wardrobe full of clingy tanks and tees, plunging halter top dresses, and sheer, chiffon blouses.

Now, you’re going to need the right plus size bra to perfect the look of those eye-catching outfits.

Here are five essential sexy plus size bras that every full figure woman needs for summer:

Plus Size Sports Bra

Active plus gals who are amply blessed on top need to wear a good plus size sports bra! No matter what physical activity you’re participating in, you can find just the right style sports bra that will give you the comfort and support that you need.

You can find plus sports bras with support ranging from high impact support with padded, shaped, underwire cups to an over-the-head, lightweight, microfiber crop top for those less endowed plus ladies!

Plus size sports bras are available in styles that feature zipper front closures, soft cup stretch, racer back, seamless shelf, and even molded sport nursing bras for you plus size expectant mothers!

Plus Size Strapless Bra

No full figure woman’s summer wardrobe would be complete without a sexy, plus size strapless bra. Today’s plus strapless bras are comfortable, supportive, seamless, and constructed to stay in place.

Strapless bras usually feature wider sides then normal bras, underwire support and a triple-hook back closure. Strapless bras should generally be worn a bit tighter than a normal bra, in order to stay in place.

You can find plus size strapless bras in styles ranging from push-up, hidden wire bustier, and lace seamless convertible. For those truly daring, sexy plus dresses or tops, you’ll want to try the multi-use, self-adhesive, strapless, backless bra.

Plus Size T-shirt Bra

Plus size t-shirt bras should be a the top of every full figured lady’s list this summer. With their smooth and seamless shaping, t-shirt bras are just the thing to wear underneath those clingy little cotton shirts.

Designed with hidden underwire, their smooth, sleek bra practically vanishes beneath even the sheerest fabrics. T-shirt bras usually have contoured, molded cups that are lined and lightly padded to prevent show-through.

Plus size t-shirt bras are available in a broad range of styles, from pushup, plunge, underwire, wire-free, microfiber stretch and Chantilly lace.

Plus Size Racerback Bra

Plus size gals won’t have to worry about visible bra straps under sleeveless shirts and tanks when wearing a plus size racerback bra.

The racerback bra was named after those racing-type bathing suits that competitive swimmers wear. The straps on a racerback bra meet in a V type shape on the back, between the shoulder blades.

Also known as a t-back bra, plus size racerback bras are designed with front closure, adjustable straps and underwire support.

Plus Size Minimizer Bra

Plus size minimizer bras are just the thing for large-size ladies who want to streamline their shape just a bit, to look great in those clingy little summer tees.

Minimizer bras are designed to distribute the breast away from the front of the body, to give the appearance of a smaller bust. By doing so, the the well-endowed plus lady can now easily wear button-front blouses without fear of gapping.

A minimizer bra works by designing a cup that distributes the breast flesh more towards the underarm and the center front. A minimizer only shifts the mass in areas other than directly into reduce the bust by one cup size.

Plus size minimizer bras can be purchased with or without underwire, with sexy sheer, stretch lace embellishment and deep plunge silhouette.

With these five plus size sexy bras in her wardrobe, the full figure woman will be ready for any warm-weather event.

But, before purchasing any plus size bra, please be sure to take a bra fit test!

Choosing the right plus bra size is just as important as selecting the right sexy plus size bra style for any summer wardrobe!

How long has it been since you’ve checked your bra size? Learn how to measure yourself for a bra using the bra fit measurement guide at: Sexy Plus Size Lingerie Shopping Guide

What’s best this summer? A popular style is the strapless dress. Strapless can flatter any body type, as long it is in the right fabric and the right fit. For example, if you are looking to support a fuller bust, or you feel that your figure needs to be slimmed down, stay away from clingy fabrics, like jersey dresses. Choose a fabric, like heavy cotton with built in boning to create a sexy, streamlined look.

If you fall into the dreaded half-size category, always choose a dress that is one size larger to avoid any hang over in the armpit area; if you fear that it will not fit correctly everywhere else, take it to a tailor and have it taken in only in the areas that need it. One of the hottest new looks for the strapless dress is to wear a paper-thin t-shirt, in a solid color, underneath it; if you choose to go with bare shoulders and are worried about being a little chilly in the evening, purchase a cropped jacket or a wrap knit in silk for a luxurious feel all night long.

Shift dresses are another hot look this season that compliment any figure. They are cool and comfortable no matter what you are doing, and the swing they give is flirty and fun. You can pair these dresses with wedges, flip flops or ballet flats and still have a great look; jelly shoes are back in again too and these are such a quick and fun slip-on. The beauty of the shift dress is that it takes you back to the less stressful, younger years in your life when you were busy chasing butterflies and running through sprinklers instead of chasing cabs and running through the subway.

Keeping with the newest Latin American inspired trends, Mexican blanket tube dresses are popping up on the runways, accented with bright floral patterns. Remember, bright patterns accent whatever area they cover, so, if you are self-conscious about a specific area of your body, choose a solid and wear the floral on the area you feel is the most sexy. These tube dresses will turn you into a sexy senorita within minutes of slipping them on. Similar to the strapless dress, they show off bare shoulders, but typically have a less structured look; these dresses make it easy to dance the night away with a special partner. Complete this look with a pair of wedge espadrilles and a chunky beaded necklace in turquoise.

All this talk about dresses! What about the proper underpinnings for these amazing summer pieces? Every girl that has ever worn a strapless dress knows that the one downfall, no matter how well it fits, is that you find yourself tugging at it to keep it in place. So, follow a few, simple rules, and you’ll be able to wear your summer dress all day and night without another thought. To avoid a “shelf” look, choose a strapless bra that water under wire or lightly molded cups. No matter how big or small ladies, you need to lift and separate! The exception to this rule is if you are wearing a dress that is made of a heavier fabric, such as cotton or linen. Choose a bustier instead of a strapless bra simply because, the heavier the fabric, the more it will weigh your beauty down; a strapless bra will not provide the all day and night support that you will need and it will make your breasts appear saggy. Let’s face it, no one enjoys that look!

One last note about the strapless bra; when shopping for one, it is recommended that you purchase a bra that is one size smaller in the band than you typically wear. This variation will provide additional support and lift when you need it the most; remember you’re going for function over sex kitten, when it comes to pulling off the summer dress look!

Elli Rose is a fashion industry insider who writes about the latest trends in clothing, makeup and accessories. Love to be noticed? Find gorgeous fashions and helpful advice at Amore Fashion.

Can you feel when your horse’s hind legs are on the ground? This is an important skill to develop because you want to time your leg aids so that you give them when your horse’s hind leg is on the ground…specifically just as it’s getting ready to push off. That’s the only time you can influence a hind leg.

I feel where the hind feet are by business my horse’s hips. When a particular hind foot is on the ground, my horse’s hip is higher. It feels like my corresponding collection is being pushed forward.

Here are some tips to help you learn to feel when a hind leg is on the ground:

1. As you walk, close your eyes. Focus, let’s say, on your inside seatbone. Some people describe the feeling as their seatbone being “higher”. Others describe it as feeling like it’s being “pushed forward”. Each time you feel your seatbone being pushed forward or higher, say the words. “Now, Now, Now”. That way you can get into the timing of when that hind leg is on the ground.

2. Ask a friend to call out “Now” each time a certain hind foot is on the ground. Coordinate what your friend says with the feeling under your seat.

3. If you’re working alone, sneak a peek at your horse’s shadow or a mirror if you have one. Check that you’re feeling the right thing by calling out the footfall and then looking at the shadow or mirror to see if you’re right.

4. Watch other horses and riders and notice where both the horse’s hip and the rider’s hip are when a particular hind leg is on the ground.

5. Teach yourself how to feel when the inside hind leg is on the ground in the canter by watching your horse’s mane. It flips up during the second beat of the canter when the inside hind leg is on the ground. Say “Now” each time you see it flip up. Then you can coordinate what you’re seeing and the word “Now” with what you’re feeling under your seat.

Are you sick and tired of complicated and confusing training techniques? Are you frustrated by negative emotions like fear and lack of confidence? Would you like to be trained by a Three Time Olympic Coach? Learn how by going to: http://janesavoie.com/

The fear of being turned down at shoes very first sight, only because of the formal outfits one sports, though unwillingly, at the date table, may soon get a sweet farewell.

The newly designed bi-functional dress will ensure that the tight schedule will not take any toll of one’s sweet evenings. Interestingly, it is a brainchild of famous networking site; DatingDirect.com

Much to the amazement, they have named it: “Work to Flirt dress.” As the name suggests, it is set to bring an end to the post-work hazardous run towards home to wear the sexy outfits suitable for dating.

Rather, some simple steps like : revealing the hidden buttons or tying extra strings to it will give it a much sensuous and different look.

This fashion innovation has provided enough relief to the working women, who are reluctant to go perfumes a date in formals. They are right too because a suitable and exciting dress can do wonders on the date tables.

A survey conducted by DatingDirect.com cites that more than 33% singles admitted to avoid their dates because they did not find their official apparel suitable for the dates.

A prospective dater, when it comes evening, can change her work dress into a fashionable and sexy apparel. She needs to do only things like opening up a reversible belt which will give a short split skirt.

Adding to it, this dress may provide some glimpses of the back of the wearer too. Wonderfully, it is claimed to be one of the best versions of two-in-one’s of any kind.

Also you can see a lot of fashion apparel here too.

To read more of my blogs, please click on ExploringFashion.