khila

Curves can be attained in different ways, some of which are more beneficial to health than others. Many Americans have become quite round by eating too many calories and not exercising regularly. Excess weight increases the risk of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, pregnancy complications, and depression. This roundness may not be the kind of curves you are talking about, however!

Perhaps you are talking about having a more womanly figure, maybe more ample breasts, hips, and/or butt, similar to J. Lo's. Healthy ways to gain curves improve your physical condition, by working your muscles and eating healthfully. J. Lo has a personal trainer who helps shape her body, and she works out for hours a day, but keeping her body this way is part of her business and professional image. For the rest of us, it's important to be realistic about the way your body is currently shaped, the shapes that are predominant in your family, and the way you want to look.

If you wear baggy clothing, it will take away whatever curves you could have. If you watch any of the makeover shows, you can see that larger or oversized clothes for women in the "before" photos usually hide the waist and therefore women change from curvaceous to boxy, just because of the larger, shapeless top or jacket. Fitted clothing in certain fabrics, jackets or tops that end at certain parts of the body, and pants or skirts of particular styles may make you appear curvier. Some women make an appointment with the personal shopper at their nearby department stores, who can help them select clothes to emphasize a curvy/curvier shape. Clothes can be worn to enhance your own unique look, so that you can be curvier, if not curvy.

Before taking steps to gain weight, evaluate your current weight status. One way to do this is by using your height and weight to determine your Body Mass Index (BMI). A BMI value of less than 18.5 is categorized as underweight, 18.5 - 24.9 is ideal, and a BMI of 25 or more is overweight. Moving up a dress size would amount to approximately 12 - 15 pounds in weight gain, or 2 BMI points. This gain would be beneficial for someone who is underweight, but would increase the health risks if one's BMI is approaching the overweight category.

Let's get toned

Whether your weight evaluation has reinforced satisfaction with your weight or motivated you to make changes, increasing physical activity will help you towards your goal of gaining curves. By working specific muscle groups, you'll build up areas that need a boost, which is preferable to the gain of fat that is spread throughout the body.

Complement workout efforts with healthy eating

Whether you are working to maintain a weight you are happy with, or trying to lose/gain weight, a nutritionally balanced eating plan is important and achievable. If you truly need to gain weight, as indicated by a BMI lower than 18.5, increase calorie intake. The extra calories need to come from foods that provide lots of vitamins, minerals, and fiber — not highly processed junk foods. Have an extra snack, perhaps an apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter, in the afternoon. Increase portion sizes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and heart healthy fats, in the proportions outlined by the Classic Alice! response, Wants to eat healthy.

If you are someone with a BMI that is approaching the overweight category, your health would benefit from weight maintenance and even a small amount of weight loss. Cut down calories by trading in junk or processed food for whole foods and decreasing portion sizes. An added benefit of weight loss around your middle is that the curves above and below that point will be accentuated.

Perhaps your goal to develop curves that are healthy is a work in progress.

Alice

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