Pregnant Women Take on Extreme Sports
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An Australian woman recently gained online attention after blogging about continuing to surf four days a week into her ninth month of pregnancy.
On Shesurfs.com, Kristi Olivares wrote that she had "been surfing for around four years and while I am definitely no expert, I have the confidence and ability to surf safely and competently in many types of conditions."
She workout Video adjusted her technique to accommodate a changing center of gravity and would often have friends carry her board for her, the new mom shared in the post. On the occasions that Olivares was thrown from her board, she said that she always made sure to tuck into a fetal position to protect her belly.
The report is the latest account of women taking on high-impact workouts and extreme sports while pregnant. Here are seven more.
1 - An entire industry is catering to moms who want to "look hot" while pregnant, encouraging maternity athletic gear and pregnancy workout DVDs. READ: New Moms Rushing to Shed Post-Baby Weight: Is It Healthy?
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PHOTO: Maternity workout gear is now a fashion category.
2 - Controversy workout Video erupted last fall when a California woman admitted to regularly weightlifting 75 pounds throughout her pregnancy. READ: Calif. Woman Pumps Iron while Pregnant
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PHOTO: Would you lift weights while pregnant?
3 - Women should check with their doctors before approaching any form of physical activity while pregnant. But some studies assert that moderate exercise can have a positive impact on the child's health. READ: Exercise During Pregnancy Can Boost Your Baby's Brain
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PHOTO: What type of physical activity is appropriate while pregnant depends on the individual.
4 - In the past, some women who have trained as athletes have had difficulty conceiving, due to workouts Video for women the intense stress put on their bodies. READ: Female Athletes Are Too Fit to Get Pregnant
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PHOTO: A New York City ballerina has continued dancing into the latest stages of her pregnancy, Dec. 22, 2013.
5 - For Trish Staine, the problem wasn't getting pregnant while training for a marathon. In fact, she simply didn't realize that she was. READ: Woman Training for Marathon Has Surprise Baby
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PHOTO: Is running while pregnant safe? Some say yes.
6 - While inversions are discouraged, many pregnant women are proponents of maintaining a yoga practice. WATCH: Ease Growing Pains With Prenatal Yoga
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PHOTO: According to the Mayo Clinic, prenatal yoga can improve sleep and reduce stress.
7 - If you are interested in pursuing a regular workout or sports activity while pregnant, consult with your physician before hopping on a pair of cross-country skis or signing up for a class at the gym. WATCH: Is CrossFit Safe for Pregnant Women?
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PHOTO: High altitude and risk of falling are two reasons doctors sometimes discourage downhill skiing while pregnant.
Ten Fashion Tricks for Hiding Flabby Arms
Bingo wings refer to underarm fat the wobbly, flabby parts of the upper arm which afflict ladies of a certain age.Whilst there are bingo wing exercises that health experts recommend, when it comes to getting rid of their bingo wings, most women have to live with them.
When to Banish Bingo Wings
If there was ever a time when bingo wings need to be banished (or at least hidden!) it has to be the party season when dressing-up are the order of the day. Sometimes though, finding a stylish party dress or a wedding outfit that flatters the figure by not showing off too much flabby underarm can be like looking for the Holy Grail.
Women and Underarm Fat
We cant all have Michelle Obamas famously toned arms, shown off so well in her sleeveless dresses. So as your skin gets older and your arms become flabbier, a well-chosen sleeve should be your new best friend.
Women who want to dress stylishly in their 50s and 60s often struggle more than most to find dresses and tops which hide those tell-tale arms. This view is supported by the 60-something stylish actress Helen Mirren, who, in an interview with the Daily Mail, lamented on the plight of bingo wings and the lack of decent dresses to disguise them. She complained that I dont want to wear a frumpy jacket with sleeves.
Actually, there is no need to refuse to wear a sleeveless dress to that party or special occasion, provided you look for the right cut. Sleeveless dresses that are cutaway at the armholes make arms look sleeker and more slender. A greater shoulder expanse is exposed, making arms look longer and therefore, giving the impression of less underarm fat.
How to Hide Bingo Wings
Whilst the following suggestions won't actually get rid of bingo wings, these 10 fashion tricks will serve to minimize the look of flabby upper arms:
Three-quarter-length sleeves will flatter your figure more than short or long ones. They have the effect of making the body look slimmer, including the arms. Why? Well, three-quarter sleeves finish at the slimmest part of the arm and also serve to show off the firmest part the wrist area.
Avoid sleeveless tops and dresses which draw attention to the upper arms, although those cut-away at the armholes to reveal more shoulder will work.
Avoid cap/short sleeves which finish right at the flabbiest part of the upper arm. This is worse than wearing a sleeveless dress, as the sleeves hit the heaviest part of the arm, which immediately draws attention to it.
Long-sleeve dresses will cover a multitude of sins but for extra flatter-factor go for a sleeve in a sheer fabric like lace and chiffon. This gives just enough coverage to disguise underarm fat but still gives the illusion of bare arms.
Avoid sleeves that are too tight and clingy they will only accentuate your upper arms. Avoid horizontal stripes on sleeves and avoid puff-sleeves like the plague even if they are fashionable!
Choose dresses and tops with fluted sleeves or floating cuffs to balance out bingo wings.
Add a delicate chiffon or silk wrap to a strapless or strappy party dress, which will give just enough coverage but still give that illusion of bareness.
Wear statement jewelry on the wrist area to deflect attention away from the upper arm. A stylish cuff or some pretty bangles will do the job.
Bolero jackets and shrugs give enough coverage and because they finish half-way down the arm still show an expanse of flesh ( the thinnest part). Alternatively try a pretty pashmina shawl, which can be worn in so many ways.
Off-the shoulder tops or asymmetric tops are more slimming as they show off a greater expanse of skin around the shoulder area, thereby deflecting attention from arms, and serving to elongate them.
if you want to cheat, use fake tan to make arms look firmer and more toned. You can also add highlighter shadow to make them look slimmer. The trick is to shade the flabbiest part of the underarm, which gives them more definition.
Getting rid of underarm fat isn't easy. However, if all else fails, remember the next time you wear that sleeveless dress or top, stand straight and pull your shoulders back. This is an instant way to make bingo wings look more toned!
Source:
Holding, Stephanie. Helen Mirren says its a struggle to find dresses to hide those tell tale arms, Daily Mail, October 4th, 2010.
About the author
Gill Hart
Gill Hart is a fashion and image professional who specializes in women's fashion over 50.
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