Yay, spring is right around the corner! OMG, spring is right around the corner! If you seem to have grown a muffin top overnight, despite your best efforts not to, here may be why.

Slouchy clothes, comfort foods, and binging on Netflix are all cozy perks of winter. But they often lead to a less desirable cold weather addition. A little extra around the middle. Even if you haven’t changed your diet or exercise plan (much, anyway) through winter, you may still notice a little muffin top when trying on your springtime shorts and skirts. What’s the deal? You may be making some lifestyle moves that put on sneaky belly fat.

Oh, and if you are a female who does not contemplate her tummy prior to donning a bathing suit for the first time each year…you can skip this article. Also, we all want to be you.

6 Ways to Grow a Muffin Top Fast

1 Not eating enough. Sounds counter-intuitive, but going too long between meals can cause low blood sugar. And we all know what a case of low blood sugar can do midafternoon. Candy bars and chips, anyone? Eat a healthy snack that includes some protein between 3 and 4 pm to stave off starve-snacking.

2 Imbalanced hormones. Too much sugar in the diet can cause hormones to go out of balance. Out of whack hormones cause us to retain fat around the middle. Crazily enough, belly fat can also cause hormonal disruption. The bottom line: Less sugar means less belly fat and better hormone balance, stopping the vicious cycle.

3 Doing the wrong type of exercise. Whittling the waist may have you crunching like crazy. But experts say the best way to lose fat is through cardio. So, cardio first, crunches second.

4 Avoiding bread. Bread has become the villain of the #fitspo world. Give this carb a break and have a slice of whole grain. Consuming whole grains in moderation can actually help to decrease belly fat. So there.

5 Letting stress get the best. Stressing not only makes us feel terrible, but may help to pack on inches around the middle. Stress causes our body to secrete and maintain excess cortisol, the hormone produced when we are in a flight-or-fight situation. This is the perfect storm for creating abdominal fat. Do yourself a favor, for both body and mind, and take up meditation or some other form of stress management.

6 You are too serious. Laughing feels good, right? It has been shown that laughter also helps to improve tummy tone. Not only are you working ab muscles when having a good chuckle (it’s called a “belly laugh”, afterall), it decreases stress hormones and increases feel-good endorphins. Flip on “The Office” reruns and shed that muffin top.

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You shed the winter pounds, started shaving your legs again, and hit the gym twice as often to prepare that bikini body. Wondering how to get rid of cellulite and stretch marks, like, fast?

What is your cutoff date? You know, that time of the year where you stop eating so much junk and ramp up the workout routine in order to get a bikini body by summer?

Usually somewhere around late February to early March we begin our beach body regimen. We may be able to exercise and diet our way to a flatter tummy and toned arms. But there are certain things that aren’t as easy to fix, particularly the dreaded cellulite and stretch marks. Most women spend at least a little time fretting over these skin situations, even though almost all women have at least one of the two. While we may need to get okay with the idea of dimply skin and marks sticking around, the good news is we can lessen their appearance.

Many women experience stretch marks on their stomach or thighs post pregnancy, others may discover them around their breasts after puberty. Stretch marks usually fade a bit over time, but most often do not disappear completely.

Then there is the ubiquitous cellulite. Did you know that approximately 90 percent of women ( and 10 percent of men) have cellulite? Hail damage, cottage cheese skin, orange peel…whatever you want to call it, cellulite is really just fatty deposits and fluid retained in the skin’s connective tissues. Women are more susceptible to dimply skin, possibly because our connective tissue is less elastic than men’s or maybe we can blame this, too, on hormones. Being overweight can contribute to cellulite, but thin women get it too.

While we may not be able to banish cellulite or stretch marks entirely, there are steps we can take to lessen their appearance, making the whole bathing suit dilemma a lot more comfy. Bikini body here you come!

How to Get Rid of Cellulite and Stretch Marks (Or at Least Look That Way)

Amping up circulation and ridding the body of excess fluid helps to banish cellulite. Dry brushing is a great way to do this. Make it a part of your regular morning routine for best results.

Certain ingredients are also helpful in easing the appearance of dimples. Caffeine has a tightening effect on skin, reduces puffiness, and increases blood flow. It’s also chock full o’ antioxidants to protect against premature aging and skin cancer. Try Qet Botanicals Matcha Green Tea Body Polish.

Another circulation booster is chili pepper. The capsaicin in the peppers increases blood flow which helps to smooth the skin. Bottega Organica Body Contour Formula -Peppermint and Chili Pepper is designed for these trouble spots.

Tone skin and diminish discoloration with Tata Harper Forifying Body Lotion. Rose extracts help to hydrate and renew the skin, leaving it soft and lightly scented. Perfect for summer.

Now for those stretch marks. Ingredients that support the skin are best for warding off stretch marks before they begin. Antioxidant and skin-supportive plant oils, like olive and apricot, are ideal. And Bottega Organica Stretch Mark Prevention Oil – Pure contains both.

Soapwalla Shea Butter, Tangerine & Clay Soap Bar is said to “erase” stretch marks, blemishes, and scars. The clay exfoliates and absorbs toxins, which definitely improves skin’s appearance. Shea butter is a super moisturizer and hydrated skin always looks better.

A richly hydrating dream cream for stressed skin is Zoe Organics Belly Butter. Apply this moisturizer to stimulate skin, relieve dryness, and improve elasticity. Rosehip oil is also a natural anti-ager.

When in doubt, cover it up. No, not with your towel. A self tanner gives instant confidence and makes imperfections disappear. Pick a healthy self tanner and use the day prior to going out in the sun.

Now get that bikini body to the beach, pronto!

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