5 Dating Rules For Plus Size Women

 

 

Dating can be hard if you're overweight and single, here's how to simplify it.

 

A few years ago, I couldn't get a real date to save my life. I blamed nearly all of that on my size and used weight as a shield to deflect getting rejected. When you're overweight, you come up with all kinds of reasons why dating sucks like, "Guys are such jerks! They won't even LOOK at you if you're not a size 2!" or my favorite, "Whatever, I just want a guy to value ME for ME, not for how I look."
But let's be real here, if you're overweight and single, it can feel like there's no hope in the world for finding a person that madly, truly, deeply loves YOU. Yes, even ALL of you. Dating while being overweight isn't a death sentence to singledom at all. Here are 5 rules for curvy women who want pure dating mastery! And for added intrigue I've personally used all of these rules in my dating life, which led me to an AWESOME man.

Curvy Dating Rule #1: Size only matters if you make it matter.

There is nothing more unattractive than leading with your unhappiness. The mind is a marvelous tool when it comes to reality -- if you think your weight is a real factor to your lack of dates, guess what -- you're right! Not because a man told you so, not because COSMO said so -- it comes down to one raw, crippling belief that is holding you back: you're just too fat for love.

There are many people in the world that think large women are unattractive and there are many men that think skinny women are unattractive. Don't assume your body image hang ups are how others see you. If body acceptance is a real struggle for you, it's important to work through it before you begin dating seriously. You'll just end up bringing your insecurities into the relationship and that's no good for anyone involved. Everyone has insecurities but knowing how to mange and work through your own is a major factor in dating success.

Curvy Dating Rule #2: Never lie about who you are & what you look like.

The internet is amazing - I fell in love the moment I typed in "www" for the first time back in the late '90s. But with the internet's awesome-ness, the internet's cloak of deception has also emerged. Any person who wants to dip into online dating must follow my golden rule: never lie about your appearance! If you're dating honestly, you need to be open & clear about who you are because that is the solid foundation of any relationship. If you're lying about how you look, what's going to happen if/when you finally get to meet face-to-face? You'll feel unnecessary anxiety and maybe even rejection -- but not because of how you look necessarily, but because you damaged their trust. Yes, it's scary to be that open, but putting the real you out there can mean only ONE thing: people will also positively respond to the real you and that'll give you a huge boost of confidence!

Curvy Dating Rule #3: You teach others how you want to be treated.

Similar to rule 1, this one needs to go a little deeper into what your boundaries and expectations are in dating. Sometimes overweight women are also push-overs: they think that if they are overly nice and accommodating  people will love them more. What ends up happening is you start to feel taken advantage of and that you're just settling, and people won't respect you.

Setting boundaries and being seen as controlling are NOT the same thing. Setting boundaries is grounded in acting with confidence and grace, the other, out of fear of being taken advantage of. But at the end of the day, if you're dating someone who isn't respecting, considerate, or honoring you, it's sending the message that it's okay to settle for less than the best. You deserve way more than that, so let people show you how well they can treat you!

Curvy Dating Rule #4: Always dress in your most-fabulous!

I used to wear over-sized sweatshirts to parties in junior high because I thought they would hide my tummy better. And when I look back at those photos all I can see is an uncomfortable, poorly-dressed girl. Dressing for your body speaks volumes for how much you care about yourself and what you want the world to know about it. With the rise in tons of plus-size fashion bloggers, brands and clothing lines, there really isn't anything off-limits to women size 12+.

Whether it's grabbing coffee, running to the gym, out with the girls, off to work, or your first date with a new squeeze, outfits and style are an import piece of feeling great about your body. Fashion is also an opportunity for people to see just how much you care about your self worth. And trust me, people LOVE seeing a well-put- together plus-sized girl.

Curvy Dating Rule #5: Learn how to attract & keep men that honor all of you

Dating is 90% mental; 10% physical. There is a craft to the art of attraction and it starts with your sexiest organ: the mind. Attracting the right kind of partner is about understanding and valuing yourself, and trusting that whomever you date will also hold their own self worth in high regard. You can tell when you're not being respected, and the good men out there know the difference between a woman of self worth and a woman of self pity.

Don't allow yourself to hold back from being the light in someone else's life. Love isn't just for thin people. Love isn't something that is denied to those who don't fit the mold. Love first and foremost, comes from a deep sense of unconditional self love. These five rules are just some of the life-changing ways love can enter into your curvy life, so go out there, practice them and even better, write some love rules for yourself.
 

How to Embrace Your Flaws

Flaws are one part subjective, one part socially influenced and one part the things others have said. They may pertain to your appearance, your personality, your strength or other aspects of the self. And they can feel far worse than they actually are, especially if you've blown their significance well out of proportion. While it can be hard to embrace flaws that you've grown to hate, it is possible to do so. The journey to self acceptance is one many people face at certain stages in life and the sooner you learn to embrace those alleged flaws, the sooner you can stop letting them hold you back.

Reflect. Why do you think of these aspects of yourself as flaws? There are usually three main reasons for finding flaws in yourself, sourced in your own sense of self, social ideals and external commentary. The first, self, refers to your own sense of limitations or of not meeting standards you'd like to meet. Second, you will most likely have internalized society's current ideals of beauty, intelligence (or cleverness) and industriousness, and if you feel you don't meet those ideals, a flaw is easily born. Third, you may have internalized external criticisms from family, friends, coworkers, teachers, people on the street, whoever. In this case, the flaws are often born of another person's distorted image of desirable traits (ironically, their criticism is often a reflection of what falls short within themselves, projecting their perceived flaws onto you.) In reality, all three reasons for flaw-finding are fairly much intertwined and play off one another.

Did you simply decide one day when daydreaming or watching yourself in the mirror that some aspect of yourself was not as pretty, ideal or pleasant as you'd like it to be? Did you decide that by watching your siblings, parents or the neighbors that you weren't as fast, smart or thoughtful as someone else? This isn't to say that all comparison is bad, as sometimes we learn much from observing and adopting behaviors we'd rather pursue. But it's problematic the moment we label ourselves as somehow "not right" by comparison.

Did you soak up the images of supermodels from magazines and movies, only to realize that you or your lifestyle could never match up? Media images and messages from TV, print and online sources are very influential in developing the human sense of self and one's place in the world, and not all of it has a healthy perspective of what makes for a balanced human being.

Many people have defining points in life where someone said something rather critical that sticks in the memory evermore. Recalling all those times you were called hook nose or lanky legs at school, or when a family member accused you of being lazy or slow, can cause the taunt to live on forever, defining a part of you in its own small yet significantly unhelpful way.

Challenging the flaws

Challenge your idea of flaws. Use your knowledge from the previous exercise in determining the source of your flaws to start challenging them. Once you're clear on how that idea of a flaw came to be, you can question its utility to you:

• If your own ideas about perfection have been the source of the flaws: Be more gentle on yourself. Seek to be more aware of the things you've being gifted with rather than focused on what's missing or imperfect. Life is precious and human beings are always more contented when focusing on the good they can do. Finding self balance is more important than focusing constantly on the negatives.
• If social ideas of perfection cause you to find flaws: Ideals in appearance, personality and behavior are often associated with particular periods in time. Nowadays, flaws seem even more deeply embedded by the technology that enables models, actors and celebrities to appear flaw-less in magazines and movies, thanks to airbrushing, makeup and other tricks of the trade. Ironically, many celebrities and icons of fashion and beauty can tell you they have flaws, and do their best to cover them up! And it's not only bodily appearance, but lifestyles that are presented as "perfect" too. Realize that the perfection presented through social images is often unrealistic and unobtainable, even for those supposedly representing these ideals. Life is messy, imperfect and ever changing.
• If other people's comments are the source of the flaw: Question the motives of those people. In some cases, it may just be that they weren't very nice, while in other cases, they might have been thoughtless, letting off steam or plain ignorant. Don't allow the unkindness or lack of sense of others to turn into a personal flaw.

Turn the mountain back into a molehill. Where possible, reduce the impact of things other people say, as these lingering messages are a form of control from the past. Perhaps your teacher Mrs X said you had a lopsided smile in school photos. Later a child in your school year said your teeth were funny looking. Then one birthday, your Uncle Y said your smile was dopey (he always had foot-in-mouth syndrome). You stopped smiling, all because the things these people said loomed large in your mind. Now, you have the hindsight to realize that these comments were not related, were blown out of proportion in your mind and failed to account for the times Mrs P said what a brilliant smile you had and when the dentist congratulated you on having such well cared for teeth. Your smile was never a flaw; rather, it became such when when you overlaid the throwaway comments of people from here and there over the years.
Talk to your friends about your flaws. They'll probably have a lot to say. Often you're your own harshest critic, and the flaws you see in yourself aren't as bad as you think. Your friends will give you an honest and reasonable view of your flaws from the outer world's point of view. Do likewise for your friends who are worried about their flaws. Be kind and thoughtful!

Embracing the flaws

Remember that naming something gives it form, or even power. Avoid calling your flaws "flaws." Call them quirks, pet habits or "my thing". Being quirky sounds a lot more accepting then going on about being flawed. Taking the word "flaw" out of the whole equation makes any flaw much easier to embrace.

• Often what you think of as "flaws" are actually quirks. Quirks are like lovable flaws. Quirks make you who you are, so you've got to love them! If you didn't have them you'd be empty, boring and totally hated. Your quirks are the reason people fall in love with you, befriend you, relate to you, so embrace them.
• In turn, avoid finding "flaws" in others. When you feel tempted to do so, ask yourself why you think someone else has a flaw and rename it as "their thing", or whatever works for you

Give your flaws a workout. If you're a terrible dancer, go dancing. You might be teased, but chances are you won't be and most likely, someone's a lot more worried about their dancing than you are! If you live life afraid of your flaws, you'll miss out on parts of life that help shape who you are. Don't be afraid of what people will say; instead, let yourself explore beyond those flaws, doing whatever you want and seeking either enjoyment or fulfillment in all you do.

Plan ahead. Have witty or amusing comebacks ready for people who might say unkind or thoughtless things when you reveal (or revel in) your flaw instead of hiding it. This empowers you ahead of time and lets you keep the momentum going. Pretty soon, people stop viewing a supposed flaw as such when it's downplayed.
De-emphasize flaws. When it comes to flaws in appearance, take a leaf from the books of those so-called perfect supermodels. They know they have "flaws" too but they work on minimizing the impact and emphasizing their good features. Makeup, style of clothing, the way you walk, your attitude and your willingness to participate are all important ways to minimize flaws.

Think of the popular people in your life who don't match current standards of appearance––likely they'll have de-emphasized the flaws, made the most of their good points and are bubbly, friendly, outgoing and caring people who draw others to them.

Notice positive reactions to your flaws. Once you put your flaws out into your public life, you'll probably notice that a lot of people have positive reactions to them. By hiding your flaws, you can suppress chances to make to friends, try new things, and learn to love your flaws. Befriend some people who have the same flaws as you and talk about the flaw––not as a flaw, but as something you share in common.

Often speaking up about a so-called flaw gives other people the opportunity to connect with you and to own up to having the same fears, worries and thoughts as you. By creating the space in which people feel safe to discuss their flaws and show them, you can become part of a chain reaction of liberating other people from hiding their flaws!

Realize that flaws are part of perfection. If you were flawless, you wouldn't be perfect. Your flaws are part of who you are––part of your perfection. Some professional artists put purposeful flaws in their art. Your flaws make you human, so don't be ashamed of them.

Find the good part of every flaw. Go back to the list you started, and next to each flaw, write two good things about that flaw. You must do this for every single one. It can be hard, but it's extremely important to see that every flaw has its pros. If you're only seeing the cons, it's hard to learn to love the flaw. If you're having trouble, ask a friend to help you.

HOW TO LOOK SEXY

Big is beautiful, if you know how to pull it off. Even the thinnest women need a bit of work before they feel ready to face the world in the mornings. Just because you're "thick" doesn't mean you're automatically disqualified from beauty. Here are some steps to help you look your best.


1. Exercise: All women agree on this one: a little bit of a workout works wonders not only on your figure, but your overall health. Don't focus only on losing weight. Instead, after consulting your doctor, start a workout focusing on cardiovascular health and toning your muscles. A woman weighing 190 with 36% body fat looks different than a woman of the same weight with 22% body fat.

2. Have good hygiene: Being overweight is completely acceptable. Smelling atrocious or being grimy is not. Pamper yourself with this: get a manicure, get a flattering new hairstyle, but be your natural self, not your clothing.

3. Find flattering styles: Depending on your facial structure and the distribution of your weight, this all varies, for both clothing and hair. With a hairstyle, consult a trained stylist. In clothing, look for a proper fit: your clothing should generally be feminine and a looser fit. That is not to say "baggy", however if you have a tiny waist, accentuate that with a cinched waist instead of wearing a shirt that is not only tight at the waist, but also tight across the stomach.

4. Shift the focus away from your weight and to your personality: Add individual style to your clothing and self. A beautiful pair of earrings, or a pretty pair of shoes, they all say something about you. Go for beautiful.

5. Refrain from showing too much skin: This is distasteful on anyone. Wear long or elbow-sleeved shirts or wear light jackets, and knee-length skirts. Most everyone has nice fore-arms and calves, and paired with a flattering cut shirt, this is a lovely way to show off your beauty.

6. Smile: If you think you are beautiful, so will everyone else. Show off those pearly whites!

7. Push your stomach in a little: This is a a very clever technique because if you push your tummy in a little, your back will be automatically straight so you won't have to worry about how to always keep your back straight. At the same time never over do it because then it will show and look horrible.

8. Keep your back straight: You really gain respect and beauty when doing this.

9. Try using a little makeup but look natural in the process: Lastly, don't think about your weight. It might put you down. Think of how beautiful you are and it will shine through.

Embrace Valentine's Day

10 Ways Plus Size Single Ladies Can Embrace Valentine’s Day

When you’re single, Valentine’s Day—with its flowers, chocolates and all-around coupliness—can feel like a cruel joke the world is playing to rub in the fact that you don’t have someone special. It can certainly be doldrums producing—but why let it be? This is one day where you have to take the bull by the horns, and then wrestle it into a teddy bear. After the jump, 10 ways plus size single women can make Valentine’s Day into a celebration of awesomeness rather than a tear-inducing stressfest.
 
1. Buy a few boxes of chocolates you used to give out in school, the cheesier the better. I am partial to Charlie Brown and Snoopy ones. Now, hand them out to everyone you know. Why did we stop this after elementary school? It was really fun, no?

2. Book yourself a massage or spa treatment. Hey, treat yourself to something indulgent.

3. Gather your single friends for an activity you love to do. Last year, I went bowling with about 10 other single folks and it was way too much fun.

4. Watch a marathon of movies you find truly romantic—not just cheesy rom coms—to remind yourself that love is actually a great thing.

5. Cook yourself an epic, many-course meal full of all your favorite foods.

6. Cuddle up with a good book and finish it in one day.

7. Buy a bouquet of flowers for a friend you feel like could use a little love—someone you know is probably a little down on V-Day. Cheering them up will make you feel amazing.

8. Take a nice, long bubble bath while listening to a great album. And what the heck, put on some lingerie after to remind yourself of what a sexy women you are.

9. Go take a salsa lesson. Or go to a yoga or meditation class.

10. Make a date with a friend to go out to your favorite restaurant or invite other single women to a "Ladies nigh out". Instead of being annoyed by all the lovey dovey couples around you, notice how adorable they are and remind yourself that someone amazing is waiting for you down the road.

Plus Size Fashion Weekend

The First Plus Size Fashion Weekend




London Fashion Week and the London Fashion Weekend are pretty fabulous and lots of fun - but mostly if you're skinny. Considering that an estimated 60.8% of UK adults are overweight, that leaves the majority of the nation's women out of the high fashion celebrations. Yes, there are shoes, bags and accessories that everyone can enjoy, but the clothing is clearly made and marketed with tiny women in mind. That's about to change because Fashion boutique Trapped in a Skinny World and plus size magazine Evolve have announced the launch of the UK’s first plus sized fashion weekend, which will run parallel with London Fashion Week in February.

The event, London Plus Size Fashion Weekend, will take place from February 15-16, and will feature a plus size catwalk show, styling master class, plus size swap shop, and a discussion panel aimed at enhancing, educating, empowering and supporting the UK plus size industry, which will include Velvet D'Armour, the first plus size model to walk in a Jean Paul Gautier show.

During the event, plus-size designers, retailers and consumers will come together at Shoreditch Town Hall for a jam-packed schedule that includes:

• Styling Master Class
• Swap Shop hosted by French plus-size fashion blogger Gaelle-Vanessa Prudencio
• Plus-size Models 101 class with Milk Management
• Plus-size panel discussion moderated by plus-size fashion blogger Lauren Ding
• Fashion show with Simply Be, Carolyn Drapiere, Syreeta Badu, Pauline et Julie, Curvissa, Live Unlimited and others
• Marketplace for plus-size fashion

Sponsored by plus size clothing line Simply Be, and featuring models from Milk Management, the catwalk show will highlight fashion for women who wear dress size 14 and above from collections from across Europe and America, including London designer Syreeta Badu’s line for sizes 18-26.

If you want more information about the event visit: http://www.lpsfw.com/
fallow the event on twitter @LondonPSFW  or facebook: British Plus Size Fashion Weekend

How to feel Beautiful

How to feel beautiful even if you are overweight

Looking beautiful starts from within. Nothing can make you look more beautiful than your own thoughts and self-esteem. Actress and comedian Mo'Nique says, "Beauty comes in everything. It's what your eyes perceive to be beautiful." Wearing makeup can be just as beautiful as not wearing makeup. Whatever makes you feel good and beautiful inside will come through on the outside.

Step 1

Don't lose your self-esteem and realize you are beautiful right now. Healthy self-esteem means you're confident in your positive qualities overall, but recognize your flaws. When you understand your own worth, you invite the respect of others. Actress Brooke Elliott says, "You don't have to be a size 0 to be beautiful, to know your worth, to know how gorgeous you are and to act accordingly."

Step 2

Wear clothes that fit you well. Bobbie Thomas, NBC's "Today" show style editor and author of the Buzz column for In Touch Weekly, says, "It’s not about size—it’s about shape. Balance and proportion are the keys to flattering your figure, whether you’re a size 2 or a 22." Squeezing into small clothes will draw attention to the fatter areas, and wearing clothes that are too big will make you look bigger--not smaller. Many plus-size stores offer stylish clothing in larger sizes.

Step 3

Pamper yourself. Get your hair done, a manicure and pedicure, facials or a massage. Learn to pamper yourself at home if salons are too expensive. Invite friends over for a spa party and pamper each other. According to the New York Times, some spas offer basic treatments such as a Swedish massage or more exotic services such as reflexology--a foot massage that uses pressure points to relieve tension. Pampering yourself may make you feel better and as a result, look more beautiful.