(Reuters)
We know, we know: A healthy diet and a dedicated fitness routine are the keys to the hot body kingdom (sigh), but there are times when we’re all a little less diligent than we should be.
Whether we’re too busy to count calories and hit the gym, or we’re just enjoying indulging for a change, we’ve definitely all slacked when it comes to keeping our bodies in tip-top shape.
Luckily, there are lots of ways to — for lack of a better word — fake a hot body using a few clever tips, tricks and hacks.
#1. Invest in Shapewear
By now you’re probably tired of hearing about Spanx and the other gazillion types of stretchy devices that promise to shave off pounds, but here’s the thing: They really work. At its core, the right piece of shapewear works as a means to help distribute bulges while smoothing you out and holding you in.
To look thinner, it pays to choose a seamless pair of slenderizing briefs, boy shorts, camis or full-body pieces that have reinforced panels to suck in your stomach, slim your thighs, boost your derriere, and define your waist when wearing bodycon dresses, clingy skirts, tight pants or evening gowns.
#2. Buy a New Bra
Did you know that over 80 percent of women wear bras that are the wrong size? It’s true, and it can make your look larger due to the appearance of sagging breasts. When there’s proper space between your waist and chest, you appear leaner. The solution? Head to your nearest lingerie store to get measured by a pro, or learn to measure your own bra size at home.
#3. Skip the Weightlifting
Only have a few days to slim down before a big event? Weightlifting can cause your body to swell thanks to a temporary buildup of lactic acid, so skip the iron-pumping and stick to lengthening exercises like Pilates and yoga.
#4. Consider a Digestive Enzyme
Digestive enzymes help the chemical breakdown of food into smaller, absorbable components, which can target bloating, gas and other digestive scourges.
#5. Become BFFs with Your Tailor
A tailor is arguably your most important asset when it comes to dressing thinner. A good tailor can alter anything you own to custom-fit your body, because, let’s face it, we weren’t all built like Gisele Bundchen. And if we haven’t made it clear enough already, the right fit is everything. From shortening sleeves, nipping waists, hiking up hems, and even changing the fit of a winter coat, a tailor can work wonders on your wardrobe.
That said, even a tailor can’t make certain pieces flattering, so stay far away from things humorously associated with tourists if a hot body is what you’re after: capri pants, pleated khakis, long baggy shorts or shapeless calf-length skirts.
#6. Get a New Haircut
Here’s the thing — when your face looks thinner, so does your whole stature. Not to mention, your face is the first thing people see, so the right haircut can do wonders when it comes to slimming. For example, no matter how thin you are, if you have a round baby face, you’ll want to stay far away from cuts that are fuller around your face. Check out our sister site Daily Makeover for 10 haircuts that can make you look 10 pounds thinner.
#7. Use Your Tongue
This is one of best tricks out there for looking leaner in photos — and the weirdest. It might feel strange, but by pressing your tongue on the roof of your mouth while smiling is an effective way to help avoid the dreaded double chin, as it elongates your neck and your jawline. We’ve tried it, and it works! It also works for Heidi Klum and Renee Zellweger, who are fans of this trick.
#8. Practice Your Posture
You’ve heard it so many times that it’s become a cliché, but good posture really makes a difference. Not only will it elongate you and give you an aura of strength and confidence, but constantly collapsing forward or hunching compresses your lungs, reducing their capacity by 30 percent or more. Your organs can’t function properly, and neither can your muscles, joints or connective tissue.
#9. Sleep in a Cold Room
Who knew sleeping in a cool bedroom may to increase your percentages of brown fat — a type of fat that acts more like muscle, helping to burn other fat and increasing metabolic rate — according to a 2014 study conducted by tithe National Institutes of Health. Read all about it here!
#10. Choose Heels With a Low-Cut Vamp
Here’s small trick that can change the way you shoe shop: Footwear that features a low-cut vamp instantly elongates and slenderizes your leg when you’re wearing skirts, shorts, dresses and even cropped pants.
What’s a vamp? It’s the portion of a shoe that cuts across your foot at the front. So, a low vamp cuts across the base of the toes, while high vamp can come up the foot and possibly up to the ankle. If you’re able to find a pair that matches your skin tone, all the better to give the illusion of slim legs. Speaking of shoes, a heel — think two and a half inches and above — lifts the body and makes clothes fall better, which gives a slimmer appearance. Look for pumps with slightly pointed toes and thin heels, as opposed to square-toes, super-chunky styles or thick ankle straps, all of which can give the appearance of a shorter, stockier leg.
Even better, choose a heel close to your skin tone, which will make your legs looks longer and leaner.
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