My friend posted this article a few days ago...I told him I found this particular study amusing as it seems every few years or so researchers seem to study this "topic" -- what exactly are they studying :). Yet another reason to embrace the curves...
http://elitedaily.com/news/world/big-butt-healthy-butt-study-says-women-big-butts-healthier/
Scientists from the University of Oxford have discovered that women with larger than average butts are not only increasingly intelligent but also very resistant to chronic illnesses.
According to ABC News, the results found that women with bigger backsides tend to have lower levels of cholesterol and are more likely to produce hormones to metabolize sugar. Therefore, women with big butts are less likely to have diabetes or heart problems.
And having a big butt requires an excess of Omega 3 fats, which have been proven to catalyze brain development. The researchers also found that the children born to women with wider hips are intellectually superior to the children of slimmer, less curvy mothers.
Eyeonthenut reports that the team analyzed data from 16,000 women.
From ABC News:
“Professor Konstantinos Manolopoulos, who leads the team at the University of Oxford, says that women with more fat on the buttocks have lower levels of cholesterol and glucose.”
Having a big butt also favors leptin levels in the female body, which is a hormone responsible for regulating the weight, and the dinopectina, a hormone with anti-inflammatory, vascular-protective and anti-diabetic attributes. The adipose tissue of the buttocks traps harmful fatty particles and prevents cardiovascular disease.
Eyeonthenut also cites similar studies conducted by universities in California and Pittsburgh not too long ago that discovered that women with bigger butts, wide hips and smaller waists may even live longer as well.
*This study did not include fake butts.
We already know girls with big butts are smarter and healthier, but they also have some things only they will understand.
I realized I
haven't been "wearing my curves". For months, I have
been wearing a-line skirts and dresses, flowy tops, and jackets. I haven't worn things are more form fitting.
A week ago I was chatting with my sister and she asked about my first
weight watchers meeting. I told her I am overwhelmed knowing that I have to do
this again (lose 20 pounds). I
started to tear up...
She said "You have a beautiful hourglass shape. You don't need to lose any
weight. Plenty of women want your shape..."
Her words have been reverberating in my head.
I think almost everyone has a weight that they feel the best in. I do. I feel I look
really great about 134-137. Most clothes fit the way I want. I like what I see in the mirror - clothed and unclothed. But, 139-142 is
also really flattering. Alot of the clothes fit the way I want and I like much of what I see in the mirror - naked and fully dressed. 145-147 can be pretty good too. Not as great as the other weights but pretty darn good.But at the weight I am now - I do not feel my best. I don't like the additional weight.
I gave away my "fat" clothes...so I can only really fit a few things that have flared cuts. I picked up some really cute retro skirts from some thrift stores in the late spring but I purposely picked a-line cuts that I knew I could wear once I've lost the weight. Somewhere in the process of trying to wear clothes that fit and flatter w/ limited wallet impact AND losing this darn weight, I think I've forgotten to embrace the curves I do have.
The more I thought about it - the more I realized I had quite a bit to think about/talk about. So, this week I am going to explore being shapely...being curvy...being me...
I want to start capturing my weekly workouts in better detail...So here goes...
This week:
Went to UHF - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I had planned to workout Wednesday and Friday too. But, we got a surprise invite to see a special screening of 12 Years a Slave on Wednesday and I was so exhausted by the time I got home. It's really good - very powerful - go see it!
I also wanted to try out this Zumba Friday pm class but my good friend had an art gallery opening and I didn't want to miss it. By the time, I would have finished the class, got back home, and washed up and changed - I would have missed it all.
After, the UHF classes, I walked the treadmill for an hour at 24 Hours. I bumped into one of my friends from high school I see super rarely twice this week at the gym! It's been nice to have someone to talk to on the treadmill.
Next week I'll start to bump my intensity up and the incline a little sooner. I realized as I was talking to him that I've been a bit too conservative with my speed.
Tuesday's workout:
I did level II. I could only remember part of this workout (and Monday's and Thursdays for that matter). My coach posted it a few days ago in case we wanted to repeat at home. It was a totally challenging!
Saturday's Workout:
Saturday was killer! We warmed up by jogging a few laps, shuffling facing in and out, running with high knees and then butt kicks, and running a few laps. Then we did some 3 sets of "hindu" pushups and planks. Then we went into the "workout". We did two sets alternating 1) burpies and jumping a heavy rope, 2) low, low squats (on a tire) and lunges with weights, 3) shoulder lifts and squats with shoulder press, 4) crunches on a bosu ball and sandbag slams, and 5) bearcrawl to pushups and kettlebell swing to burpies.
After class, I stopped and got some yogurt and some nuts and some applesauce and some water. Then walked/hiked at George Owens Nature park. It was beautiful with the leaves changing colors. It was also cold but once I got moving I was fine. I can see myself walking there as it gets colder as long as snow/ice isn't on the ground and I stay bundled up.
Next week I wanna start bumping my exercise to 6 days a week and a few two a days.
