A Curvy Stylistas Biggest Fashion Accessory: Health

Style and beauty is always an option in a Curvy Stylistas life.  What Monif C. designer clothes will I wear today?  What Brahmin handbag will bring out the colors in my outfit and tie in my Jimmy Choo shoes?  But choosing health as a fashion accessory is unheard of.  It seems misguided minds forget that health above all is what would drive a curvy Stylistas lifestyle.  Without health she would fail to leap forward and sample a designer sale, or drive cross country to obtain a new perfume that is only available in Macy's New York.  Health is her biggest fashion accessory.

For those that feel that health + style do not equal a curvy Stylista you are mistaken.  Here are the facts that Curvy Stylistas know and conquer every day:

Facts

• Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in women.

• Metabolic Syndrome is a series of risk factors that can cause heart disease, heart attacks and in some cases lead to death.  These factors are not limited to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance.

• Unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activities contribute to weight gain and an increase in risk factors for other diseases.

Choosing Health as a Fashion Accessory

• Have you ever head the part in the Fergilicious song "just working on my fitness" start there.  Incorporate cardio and strength building activities into your life.  Start working on your fitness.  30-60 minutes for a minimum of 3 days per week will eliminate weight gain, and varying factors that cause heart disease and metabolic syndrome.

• Carbs and Fats are good for you.  But it starts with understanding which ones are the best for your body and eliminating those that are not.  Good Carbs are high in fiber, have a low glycemic index, and are high in nutrients.  Basically choose whole wheat pasta, whole wheat breads and use portion control.  Good Fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated like avocado, olive oil, and salmon.  Bad fats are Saturated and Trans fat such as coconut oil, and some packaged foods.

• Sometimes the thought of a workout may seem daunting.  But with Plus Size Cardio and Strength Training fitness it has never been more fun or more individualized to a real curvy woman's needs.

The fact is Curvy Stylistas never choose unhealthy lifestyles.  We choose healthy ones because we would never be able to enjoy the luxuries of fashion and style without the energy to run to the store for a new pair of shoes and stand in them all day!  Health is our biggest fashion accessory it fuels our passion for fashion.

Bonnielee Cuevas is one of the Beauty Editors and Fitness Contributor for Skorch Magazine.  She is a renowned Author, Business & Lifestyle Coach, and Mompreneur.  She is the Founder of Fitness Fashionistas a company combining Fitness and Style that motivates positive body images in women.  She is also the Founder of Success in Heels a company restoring a Womanpreneurs passion for Success and combining Business and Style to help them achieve their Entrepreneurial Dreams.  Bonnielee Cuevas's main mission in life is to rejuvenate women's lives.

Confessions Of A Cupcake Addict

It's beautiful vanilla, frosted covered, cream filled body called to me and invited me in. I slowly walked towards what seemed like the most heavenly place to be and then I woke up! It seems like the most perfect dream ever but this had become my reoccurring nightmare. I was detoxifying and I was waking up in sweats. This felt like the hardest thing I had ever gone through.

Do you remember in the movie Twilight (hopefully you watched it and if you haven't seriously it's almost as good as a cupcake) when Edward Cullen tells Bella Swan "You are like my own personal brand of heroine" ? Well cupcakes were my own brand of heroine. I had specially formulated the perfect one. Always vanilla, moist, cream filled, frosted top, shavings of coconut or white chocolate. It was to perfect for words.

I beat my addiction by attending my cupcake-aholics anonymous meetings on a weekly basis. I confessed that I may have liked cupcakes at that time better than making love to my hottie husband (uh-oh did I just confess another secret). Ok that parts not true. I beat it with curvy girl savvy skills (and by the way I think making love to my husband rocks) and became a proud recovering cupcake addict. I beat it fair and square.

It was not an easy process and I needed some really awesome support. But the top things that worked for me were:

• I took one last bite and never looked back.

• I bought a bottle of house cleaner and anytime someone brought cupcakes to my home for me to eat I sprayed them down and dumped them in the garbage. I did think about digging one out once but realized that was borderline crazy.

• I learned some really healthy recipes and substituted my cupcakes for organic carrot muffins mixed with some flax seed. I swear it's better than it sounds and really yummy.

• I confronted my addiction by realizing I ate them out of emotion and they consoled me but sadly they were not good for the waistline.

• I was reminded by my husband and son every day that a healthier me can live a longer fuller life and that they love me enough to want to see me healthy.

So cupcake addicts around the world Unite and fight the fat with healthy alternatives. Find a support and accountability system that keeps you accountable for when you fall off the wagon. Last but not least remember that women come in all shapes and sizes and that health should be your top priority.

Bonnielee Cuevas is a renowned Author, Lifestyle Expert and Motivational Speaker. She is the founder of Fitness Fashionistas based out of Florida and with national workshops and events. Fitness Fashionistas combines Fitness, Wellness, Style and Fashion to motivate positive body images. She has been featured in October 2009's Special Collectors Issue of Oxygen Magazine "Off the Couch" and continues to be featured in local and national media outlets.

Hot Body In The City

Every spring curvy glam goddesses hit the gym in order to drop the pounds before the summer months hit. They jump in with great fervor hoping they can fit into mini swimsuits and micro outfits. Disappointed they spend the gorgeous hot days wrapped in cover ups and miss out on the glow the sun rays are ready to bless them with. These women hibernate instead of strutting there stuff like confident Divas walking the cat walk. Well this unnecessary cycle needs to STOP!

Hot Bodies come in a gorgeous rainbow of colors, with dazzling varied textured locks and best of all diversified knock out curvy shapes. In order for you Glam Goddesses to hit the night life with fashionable threads and parade your true hot body in the city a commitment has to be made to health above all else. Ditch the illusions of perfection and embrace the face that stares back at you and everything that goes along with it. Nutrition is first and playful variations to your typical palate temptations are possible so you can indulge, maintain the curves and live on a healthier note

Starting your day with a colorful plate of fruit, egg whites, toast and turkey bacon and iced water with raspberries or sliced oranges gives back to your heart and keeps your skin fresh. What Diva doesn't want that perfect skin? We all do. Snacking through out the day by incorporating yogurt with granola or apple slices with a bit of peanut butter prevents overeating. A solid protein packed salad lunch with spinach, nuts, strawberry slices or mandarin oranges with baked chicken sets you up for a light dinner such as salmon coated lightly with sugar free apple jelly and vivid arrays of veggies.

When your nutrition's right supplement it with workouts that help you drop pounds, tone that body, but still embraces and keeps your curvy shape in tact. Spring forward with rocking dance workouts like Zumba Fitness or at home Pussy Cat Dolls DVD routines that will unleash your inner sexiness and keep you glistening with sweat. As the weather warms up hit the beach for a morning walk. Put your gorgeous locks in a pony tail, grab your hottest shades, dab the lip gloss on and rock your cutest curvy girl workout outfit. Why shouldn't goddesses like you look good while working out and getting sun kissed by the sun and enraptured in the sound of the waves.

So curvy goddesses worldwide embrace what your momma gave you, what God blessed you with and jump into the summer with your hot body in the city. Every fit chica deserves to live a better life because she loves herself enough to give herself the best.

Bonnielee Cuevas is a renowned Author, Lifestyle Expert and Motivational Speaker. She is the founder of Fitness Fashionistas based out of Florida and with national workshops and events. Fitness Fashionistas combines Fitness, Wellness, Style and Fashion to motivate positive body images. She has been featured in October 2009's Special Collectors Issue of Oxygen Magazine "Off the Couch" and continues to be featured in local and national media outlets.