Big lashes have made such a splash in the fashion world and they may be turning into a woman’s best friend. Products that claim to boost growth and thickness of lashes are becoming a must have for all fashionistas.

Unfortunately, these must-have products seem to be turning into a big nightmare for both manufacturers and sellers of certain lash conditioners that contain a compound called compound Isopropyl Cloprostenate.

This compound has been shown to have adverse side effects like irritation, inflammation, discoloration. Pregnant women are also being advised to avoid this ingredient. The FDA is urging sellers to discontinue selling any product

that contains isopropyl cloprostenate of “Misbranding” and it’s harmful sideffects.

Two of the most popular brands are Revitalash, RapidLash and NeuLash.

If you’re carrying these products, please check the document below for more details.

If you’re either a seller or consumer looking for a more natural line of lash growers and conditioners, check out MD LASH FACTOR, a patented formulation guaranteed to show results within months of use without the adverse side effects. Personally, I am both a user and a believer. Mention Smallworld Beauty Blog, and receive a special discount.

I hope that all manufacturers of the affected brands will come to a better solution and relaunch with a better and safer formulation, but until then, alternative lines that contain FDA regulated ingredients be the the best option overall.

Good luck to all skin care professionals who are dealing with this inconvenience.

ATTENTION:   COSMETIC RETAIL DISTRIBUTORS

SUBJECT: FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration Warns Eyelash/Eyebrow Conditioner Distributors

DATE: April 22, 2011

Dear  Cosmetic Store Owner/Manager,
This is to inform you that on April 18, 2011, FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration have officially filed Warning Letter for Eyelash/Eyebrow Conditioner brand holders for “Inspection, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigation”.
This letter is in reference to these firms’ involvement in the manufacturing, distribution, and promotion of  Eyelash/Eyebrow Conditioner:
“under section 601(a) of the Act (21 U.S.C. § 361(a)), a cosmetic is adulterated if it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to users under the conditions of use prescribed in the labeling thereof, or, under such conditions of use as are customary or usual.  “RapidLash” and “NeuLash” are adulterated cosmetics under section 601(a) because they bear or contain a deleterious substance that may render them injurious to users under the conditions of use prescribed in their labeling.  Specifically, “RapidLash” and “NeuLash” contain isopropyl cloprostenate which, under the conditions of use prescribed in the labeling, may cause the following injuries: ocular irritation, hyperemia, iris color change, macular edema, ocular inflammation, and interference with intraocular pressure reduction therapy.  In addition, as mentioned above, prostaglandin analogs for ophthalmic use are currently classified as Pregnancy Class C; women of childbearing age are considered at risk for injury.  ”
It is a violation of section 301(a) of the Act (21 U.S.C. § 331(a)) to introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce any cosmetic that is adulterated or misbranded.
As presently formulated, labeled and promoted these products violate provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.  The listed brands of products are reported to be UNAPPROVED NEW DRUG AND MISBRANDED DRUG.

Please note,  there are other brands of lash conditioner that contains  the compound Isopropyl Cloprostenate .   If you currently distribute or use lash or brow conditioner,  we urge you to  carefully review your brand’s ingredient list to avoid possible regulatory and consumer issues.

For more information, please visit this public report at:
http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm251951.htm?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4db10c8089a4ed56%2C0

Self love is so important but we’re all human and there’s always going to be a part of our personality or appearance that if given an opportunity, we would jump to fix it!

Some wish for beautiful glowing skin so they treat themselves to an intense facial or even laser, others want a better body so a better eating plan and exercise or even lipo can help them achieve their goal.

Personally, I’ve always had a complex with my most prominent feature on my face, my ethnic Middle Eastern NOSE!

As a child, I always HATED it… why god, why!!! I always looked people head on so they didn’t see the profile of my long nose

As I got older, I noticed that people actually found my nose some what attractive, even my own brothers! And my brothers are always up front with me. If I needed to lose weight or fix my hair, they would always be the first to call me out on it.

I’ve been going back and forth the last few years about my pinocchio nose, and even visited a few plastic surgeons to discuss the procedure. Every time I sat in the consultation room, I had little panic attacks and questions ran through my head “Do I really hate my nose? Will I look like a different person?”

So, after the last panic attack at the doc’s office, I decided that I was going to give up on this idea of a rhinoplasty and embrace what my mama gave me!

To fully embrace my nose, I decided to get my nose pierced with a cute little stud!!! No more running away from it!

So here’s how the day went…

I was in Chicago a few weeks ago for business and was having dinner with my beautiful California Girl Andreana. It was our last night and after an amazing meal, we started discussing piercings. We both pulled out our phones and started searching for tattoo and piercing shops and reading the reviews. After searching and calling around, we decided on INSIGHT STUDIOS.

We paid our bill, hailed a cab and arrived at the location. The place looked gorgeous!!! The interior was bright white and looked super clean. A cute young guy started walking towards us and introduced himself as BOB.

According to the reviews, BOB was the man! Everyone loved him and raved about how great of a painless piercer her was.

Bob had us fill some paperwork and waived us to follow him in the back room where all his scary piercing gadgets were.

OK… now, I was freaking out a little bit inside. I told Andreana that I had to go first, because if I watched her, I might run out the door!  So, I laid on his cute little chair and closed my eyes while Andreana held my hand and rubbed my arms me to calm down my heart rate. OMG.. I’m such a wuss!

“Bob, please don’t narrate this procedure. I’m closing my eyes, and I just want you to do your thing please ” Ha ha ha… NOT! Oh boy…

”

1…2…. 3…. and there it was … a cute little stud on my cute big nose!

Tears ran down from my right eye on to my cheek. Bob quickly grabbed the cutip and swirled it around to catch the tears and fixed my smeared makeup. Turned out, Bob went to cosmetology school too! Awesome! I would have never guessed that!

Now it was Andreana’s turn! She was so calm and took it like a champ! Her nose ring looked so beautiful on her face. She said mine looked cute too, but I had to get used to it for myself.

Bob walked us to the front and gave us some organic cleanser and spray to maintain our piercings and prevent infection.

Bob was sooo sweet that he gave us both a discount for coming together and even made a call to a good friend that owned a popular bar near by and told him that we were coming by and to take care of us.

We love  you Bob!

I looked at Andreana and said, “next trip, we’re getting tattoos!”

Since the piercing, I only had one day of soreness but it wasn’t bad at all. I didn’t even experience redness or irritation. The only bad thing was that I kept forgetting I had a nose stud and almost yanked it out a few times… ouch..well, not really, it wasn’t even that bad when I yanked it.

If you’re ever in the Chicago area, and in need of a piercing or two, I highly suggest Insight Studio for tattooing and piercings. Tell them Ghada of Smallworld Beauty Referred you!

INSIGHT STUDIOS

1062 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60642
773.342.444

YAY!!! I LOVE MY NOSE!

Disclaimer: anything I feel or say today may or may not change as the days go by. I’m only human A nice human

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: GHADA ABUHAKMEH, SMALLWORLD BEAUTY

Written by Ana Valentine on December 21, 2010

Ghada Abuhakmeh, just like every other girl went through the awkward teenage years, but it was in those years that she discovered her love for the beauty industry. Passionate about living a healthy full life, she has made it her mission to not only enhance her own lifestyle but also to share her tips with the thousands of women who read her blog.

What attracted you to the beauty industry?

As a young girl, I remember being so fascinated with the artistic way my mom applied her make up. She never let my father catch her looking less than beautiful. Her skin was always flawlessly glowing, hair perfectly smooth and never frizzy, and her wardrobe was always colorful and elegant. I knew my mom was naturally gorgeous, but make up somehow enhanced her features even more. I couldn’t wait to grow up and be like her!

As I grew into my teens, I began to experience the change of hormones. My body started to transform in a way that no mother can prepare her daughter for. Besides being traumatized by a menstrual cycle, I began to suffer from teenage acne and even hair growth in places that I never knew could grow anything!

So to answer your question, I became interested in the beauty industry when I was forced to. I had to visit a dermatologist for my skin, the spa for my hairy legs, and the hair dresser to help smooth my frizzy, course hair. Ever since then, I’ve been addicted to the latest in beauty products and technology and helping other women feel beautiful.

Why is it so important to you to make natural products?

When creating a product, I always look for the best ingredients even if it’s not all-natural. Of course, I will always opt for ingredients found in nature before infusing my product with something synthetic, unless there is no substitute and after I have done extensive research on both its safety and efficacy. With natural ingredients, there is less chance for toxicity and harmful chemicals to penetrate your skin. The earth is abundant with ingredients that have been shown to effectively nourish, repair and hydrate any skin, so why not use them first?

What inspired the new Love Your Lips LIP BALM?

A few months ago, I started noticing my lips were chapped due to the change of seasons. I felt the taste, smell and feel of medicated balm was not what my lips deserved. After some trial and error, I finally found a combination of natural ingredients that not only left my lips soft, supple and shiny, but also felt like it was naturally restoring my lip’s moisture. I couldn’t wait to share this with my mom and friends, so soon after, I decided to share the formula with all my Smallworld Beautycustomers. Smallworld Beauty Lip Balms are made with nature’s super softeners Macadamia and Jojoba oil, healing and nourishing Coconut Oil, and a little bit of Castor Oil to give your set of lips that touch of healthy and lustrous shine.

You seem to practice what you preach; have there ever been times where you find this hard to do?

I am human and just like everyone else, I get distracted, fail, and even indulge in things that I know I shouldn’t but that’s what makes everyday life interesting and not tedious! I am so far from the perfect person or body, but I make the best of every moment I have. Just like most women, I get depressed, irritable and even get down on myself. I have just accepted that these emotions are natural and that I just have to push through them until I reach another great moment that makes everything so worth it. I have chosen to live my life with very little restriction. I believe in moderation and being open minded to everything in life. I never want to look back on my life and regret anything.

Since starting small world beauty, what has been the most rewarding experience?

The most rewarding experience that Smallworld Beauty has given to me is the feeling of true health, mental and physical strength, and unconditional self-love. I have learned that I can achieve anything I put my mind to, from losing weight, to being an entrepreneur and working for myself. Smallworld Beauty has also become my tool to inspire others to take charge of their mind, body and life and truly open up to enjoying it. Smallworld Beauty was created for the purpose of showcasing beauty in diversity, and in the whole world. We all deserve to love our lives.

For more information and products, visit Smallworld Beauty and www.iloveproteinbars.com.

Follow @GhadaSmallworld on Twitter and visit on Facebook.

Ana Valentine is a student at the University of Oklahoma, where she is studying Journalism with a focus in content management. Along with school and campus involvement she is actively pursuing a career in Journalism with dreams of working for a magazine.

Click here to read the visit Chic Galleria Magazine’s online site.

Thank you Chic Galleria for the opportunity and support! And Thank you Ana for the great article. Xoxo, Ghada

It’s travel time again for me!

Last week, I spent a few days in New York City, and in the next few months I will be flying to Chicago, Las Vegas, California and just added to my itenerary…. Nebraska!! While visiting each of these cities, I’ll try my best to seek out unique attractions and dining experiences to share with you.

First stop: New York City

Last week, I attended the International Esthetics Conference at the Jacob Javits Center where businesses showcased the lastest in skin care technology. The Esthetics Show attracted thousands of skin care professionals and business owners looking to gain new knowledge on skin care services and innovative technology to boost business and sales.

After three days of walking the show aisles and collecting information, I narrowed down my favorite findings to share with you!

PURE INVENTIONS: White Tea & Blueberry

Beautify your skin from the inside with Pure Invention’s tea extracts. This little bottle fits perfectly into my purse and provides 60 servings of anti-oxidants (White Tea, Blueberry & Elderberry Extract).

If you missed my post on the recent weight loss and health benefits linked to White tea then click here to read more.

A recent study published in the journal of Nutrition and Metabolism revealed exciting results regarding white tea and weight loss. White tea showed to “inhibit adipogenesis and stimulate lipolysis-activity”, meaning that it stops the development of fat cells leading to a decrease in fat storage.

LING’S Moisture Plenish (Cell repare)

This hydrating serum was formulated by the 50 year old Asian Beauty Queen and celebrity facialist LING Chan. From Hong Kong to New York, LING has transformed many faces and lives. Not only does she continue to produce amazing products, but also donates to charities worldwide. I love LING! Read more on her inspiring story by clicking here.

Oh! A drop of this Hyaluronic infused serum is the perfect moisture boost before applying your moisturizer. Love it!!!

BODI PURE: BODY POLISH

This next product is manufactured and sold by a lovable husband and wife team. Yin Yoo and his wife have created a great line of body line products targeted to spas and nail salons. My favorite product of theirs is the “Body Polish”, a blend of hydrating baking soda particles that exfoliate my skin while infusing a moisture to my skin. I always feel baby smooth and soft after every bath. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

MEG 21 BRIGHT & FIRM Eye Treatment

This silky soothing eye treatment was unexpectedly discovered through diabetes research at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. MEG 21 contains a patented ingredient called Supplamine that targets the harmful effects caused by Glycation (when sugar binds with proteins and leads to inflammation, wrinkles, sagging and more).

This little cute jar lasts me around two months and helps give my eye area an energizing boost, reducing puffiness and dark circles while adding moisture.

CIRCADIA’s PHERADORE

I’ve read and watched so many educational programs on the role of pheromones and attracting the opposite sex. Pheromones are also responsible for feeling calm and cool, something I’m all about. This next product was created by skin expert Dr. Pugliese of Circadia. PherAdore is a yling-ylang scented roll on scent that contains four genetically engineered pheramones that should be applied twice a day on areas like the upper lip, around your nose, neck or even the wrists. The gentle scent can easily be combined with your favorite fragrance.

Whether this product truly works, I still love the ying-ylang smell. Roll it on, and instantly feel attractive

Like I mentioned earlier, I have a few stops in the next few months and I’ll do my best to seek out new findings for you. If you stumble upon any interesting products, please feel free to leave a comment and share with the rest of us skin junkies.

xoxo

.

This post was inspired by my Mommy!

All my life, my Mommy has been walking around the house with natural goop on her face, body and hair. Sometimes it’s chunks of dripping avocado mix on her face, olive oil on her body and even some fatty mayo on her hair.

At least once a day, I get a call from my mom about her latest food recipe and/ or beauty regimen that she saw some where or made up herself.

I would love to post a picture of her right now, but she threatened to sue me! So.. just imagine a beautiful glowing, olive skin toned complexion.

Here’s the latest one she called me with that felt amazing on my skin!!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of red grapes with seeds
• 3 tablespoons of oatmeal
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt

Directions:

• Put all ingredients in a blender
• Mix until pasty
• apply your mask all over the face
• Leave on for 15 min
• Rinse with warm water

This anti-oxidant rich mask will regenerate, hydrate and soothe skin. Plus, the oatmeal will gently exfoliate dead skin cells and leave your skin supple and glowing!

And who doesn’t like that!

Thanks Mommy!

If you have other fun and nutritious skin care recipes, please do share. Healthy looking skin is always in demand

So many people are anti social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, but not I.

Since joining the Facebook and Twitter bandwagon, I have met some of the greatest individuals not just locally, but internationally as well.

I have been able to meet people with similar interests, goals and hobbies. Not only have these new friends taught me new things, but they have also inspired and motivated me to keep doing what I love.

When I’m on Facebook, I feel like I have a bottomless shopping cart and  can pick and choose my favorite people to put in it, keeping the bad apples out. What a great way to deal with a hard day through funny, positive individuals that you have allowed into your life. If only life outside Facebook was that cute!

One of my favorite Facebook friends is the gorgeous Mrs Sarah Burnett!

I don’t remember exactly who added who and when we met, but I know it has been a while and that we are constantly on each other’s walls!

Sarah and I shared a common interest of health, fitness and nutrition.  We talked recipes, weight loss and even bodybuilding. After months of chit chatting it up, I received an email from Sarah saying “I’m competing!”

Sarah toyed around with the idea before but never made it seem like she was serious, so when she said that, I was so excited for her! YAY Sarah!

I couldn’t wait to see her transformation. Of course, like any strong, determined woman, Sarah reached her goal and looked gorgeous at her first body building competition!

After her rigorous training and competition was over, I asked Sarah if she would do an interview for the site to help advise and motivate other women who are considering competing or just getting in to shape.

Check out our interview!

Me: OMG! I LOVE YOU SARAH!… OK.. Let’s get serious.. When did you start incorporating health and fitness into your lifestyle?

Sarah:I started running road races in 2002 (5k’s 10k’s and 1/2 marathons) to help get my pregnancy weight off and to reach new goals in my life.  Began kickboxing 2 years ago which is a fantastic workout and great sport.  But I still was lacking that muscle definition I was after…I was lean but not muscular so after hurting my knee (and not being able to run anyway) I decided to start weight training and eating clean.

Me: How do you feel now compared to pre-healthy lifestyle?

Sarah: I feel so fantastic now, I have so much more energy and its amazing how great eating clean can make you feel, I noticed a huge difference after 1 week!

Me: What attracted you to body building?

Sarah: I admire bodybuilders. It takes true dedication, perseverance, sacrifice and commitment….too many things to mention! I needed a new goal and decided to do a figure competition to prove to myself I could get in contest shape and get up in front of all those people..

Me: How did you get started in prepping for your bodybuilding transformation?

Sarah: Motivation, nutrition, exercise! I actually got started through facebook…I made a few bodybuilder friends who encouraged me to keep going with the weight training and sent me their diet and training plans to help me out and get me ready for my first competition!

Me: Do you feel that you achieved the goals that you set for yourself?

Sarah: My goal was to do compete in my first figure competition on Nov 7th 2009, and I did it!

Me: Would you do it again?

Sarah: Yes I will do it again!

Me: What advice would you give women who are considering competing?

Sarah: My advice would be to go for it! It takes a tremendous amount of hardwork and sacrifice but the feeling you get is the best reward!

Me: Who’s your mentor/idol?

Sarah: I don’t know if I have a specific mentor or idol…there are so many amazing athletes, its hard to choose!

Me: You’re awesome! OK.. Let’s talk dirty!

What’s your favorite cheat meal?

Sarah: My favorite cheat meal is nachos…with extra cheese, lots of salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and what ever else you want to pile on it! Also date squares….I will eat the entire tray if you let me…

Me: Why is smallworld beauty your mostest favorite site in the world!

Sarah: smallworld beauty gives others motivation to set goals and gives tons of information on how to achieve these goals! There are tons of tips and information about good clean eating and best of all the recipes are quick and easy and of course delicious!  I am always inspired by others success stories which is why I visited the site in the first place. Ghada inspired me to continue with my goal of competing by her encouraging words of wisdom and support throughout! Thank you Ghada love you!

End.

How can I ever hate on Facebook after meeting a great friend chick like Sarah!

If you’re on Facebook, look us up and join our healthy train!

To find Sarah, search: Sarah Burnett

To find me, search: Ghada Abuhakmeh

Even though our body has its own detox machine that fights and eliminates toxins from our body, an overload of toxicity can lead to harmful consequences like health problems or even weight gain.

Toxicity in the body can be caused by unhealthy eating (fried foods, processed), pollution, stress and anxiety, lack of sleep, and drinking excess alcohol and caffeine.

I know that its not realistic to avoid most of these toxic factors, but there are ways to help your body detoxify and eliminate them from your system.

Most web sites suggest extreme detox regimens that involve water fasting and eating raw foods for days. Yes, fruits, vegetables and water are more than beneficial for your body but I think that a person should consider detoxifying the body as an every day routine.

Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. They’re low in fat and water packed! Fruits and veggies are also rich sources of enzymes that are essential for proper digestion and elimination.

Adding water to your day will also help flush out toxins from your system and boost immunity.

Personally, I prefer not to go on quick fix diets or extreme detox fasts because its temporary. I prefer to incorporate things into a lifestyle.

Here are a few helpful tips on how to help detoxify your body naturally:

• Drink plenty of water. 8 glasses or more a day depending on your activity
• Add fruits and veggies to every meal and snack (example: spinach omelette for breakfast, grilled vegetable sandwich for lunch, steamed broccoli and fish for dinner, sweet red pepper and cucumber slices for snacks etc)
• Exercise and promote blood and oxygen flow
• Anti-stress through meditation, yoga, reading or even hanging out with loved ones
• Juice it up! Get yourself a blender and throw in some fruits and veggies and make yourself a delicious detoxifying shake.
• Supplement. There are many amazing herbs like Milk Thistle, tumeric, fennel and licorice root that can also help with your daily detox.

Since I started adding the above tips to my life a few years back, I can attest that I have noticed an improvement in my overall skin texture, smoothness and glow. My metabolism feels revved and able to take on a serving of fries without feeling lethargic and bloated. Best of all, I’ve noticed a significant reduction in my cellulite.

It’s really amazing how my body has responded after I began to treat it with tender, love and care.

If you’re looking for a Greens Powder rich in fruits, veggies, enzymes and probiotics to add to your day, then I suggest trying

detox greens.

Click here for details and nutrition facts

Click here to Buy Now!

Did you know that 7 out of 10 women in the US from the ages of 18-45 are on the pill?

Reasons for being on the pill can be to prevent pregnancy or even treat mild acne and hormone issues. Regardless of the reason, research shows that being on this pill may hinder a woman’s ability to build and maintain muscle mass.

The department of Health and Kinesiology at the University of Texas A&M conducted a study on the effects of birth control on muscle mass.

The study involved 2 groups of women ages 18 to 31. The first group was on contraceptives and the other was not. Both groups were assigned to 10 weeks of controlled resistance training and fed 30 % more protein than the recommended daily allowance (RDA).

You’ll be shocked to what the results revealed!

The group of women that were contraceptive-free, gained 60% more muscle mass than the group of women on them. Ouch! The professors at the University were just as shocked to the difference in muscle mass between the two groups. Their explanation was that the contraceptives blocked anabolic hormones that play a key role in muscle development.

So if you’re a professional female athlete looking to achieve the highest level of muscle gain and performance, you might want to reconsider popping contraceptives.

If you’re reading this, I may have boarded and already in the air headed to my final destination, Hello Kitty world AKA Hong Kong! I am flying non-stop from Newark airport to Hong Kong and the duration of the flight is 16+ hours.

Even though 16 hours in the air might sound crazy to some people, it’s actually relaxing for me. I consider this 16 hours of “Ghada time” when I breathe, relax and collect my thoughts on life.

My bag is always filled with goodies that keep me occupied throughout the flight

I always bring my dorky neck pillow to avoid stressing my neck if I feel like napping or laying back to catch the in-flight movies.

I always seem to go crazy with buying fitness magazines at the airport. I enjoy reading Fitness, Oxygen, Men’s and women’s health, and Clean Eating to get more cooking ideas.

In-flight meals are not appetizing to me so I usually pack my own snacks. I usually pack protein bars, mixed nuts, and veggies to munch on during the flight. Since this is a long flight, I will purchase a few salads to take on board. Hot meals are great but they stink! I’ve learned my lesson after taking baked salmon and broccoli on a flight once and had to endure hours of people snickering at me. Sorry again

My little sansa clip is always traveling with me and filled with the my favorite songs. I love it all from rock to soul.

Flying is fun but it can definitely cause me to get dehydrated from the inside and out. You can spot me at the airport because I’m the girl with 6 bottles of water. I also make sure I heavily apply moisturizer on my face and body. I love my MEG 21, an amazing cream that was discovered through diabetes research.

I tend to always book an aisle seat because I can’t sit still and I’m always going to the bathroom. During this flight, I will be walking back and forth to the bathroom and even sneaking in some exercises and stretches. I’ll be doing arm stretches, calf raises and maybe some arm circles.. lol… I’m serious!

One of my favorite in-flight experiences is making friends. Sparking a conversation with a new person always puts a smile on my face and makes the time go by faster. I even don’t mind sitting next to little kids. I find them amusing and quite relaxing because they’re so innocent and pure. Even their cries don’t irritate me.

I can’t wait to arrive on the other side of the world and indulge in a new culture! I look forward to posting many pictures of my experience and sharing my stories.

Wish me the best! xoxo

A few months ago, I walked past my boss to get to my desk and she smiled and said “Look at Skinny Minny!”

Wow, was she referring to me? Really? Oh yeah, I guess I am thinner now. Strangers who never witnessed my weight loss transformation would never guess that I had issues with my self-image, but I do. And according to body-image experts, this feeling is quite normal. Apparently, there’s an actual name for this condition and it’s called “Phantom Fat”.

Most overweight individuals who experience a dramatic drop in weight may appear physically thinner, but mentally they are still that old fat version of themselves. Weight loss may also lead to more disappointment because even though the person maybe sizes smaller, they may have stretch marks, cellulite and sagging skin.

According to experts, it can take the mind up to four years to adjust to the new body. Not only do individuals need to work on their physical appearance but even more on their self-image. Being insecure and unsatisfied with one’s body image may prevent someone from being confident, involved in everyday activities or even attending social functions.

If you’re dealing with similar feelings of disappointment, frustration and depression about your new body, then I just want you to know that I understand.

I too have those moments when I pinch my cellulite and outline my stretch marks with my fingers and get sad. But that feeling is short, because I’ve learned to mentally switch it off.

Here are a few tips to snap out of it!

BE NICE TO YOURSELF. Turn off the mean girl switch and turn on the nice one. You would never talk like that to anyone and make them feel that bad, so be nice!

TALK TO YOUR INNER DEMONS. Talking to myself is a great way of reducing the intensity of what I’m feeling. I even like to poke fun at myself to make light of everything. I like to squeeze my cellulite butt in the mirror and say “You’re so hot, yes you are!” Soon after, I realize that it’s really not that bad and I am blessed for everything I have.

EMBRACE YOUR UNIQUENESS. Media and society has put unrealistic expectations on women to be flawless and model-like. Limit your mindless TV and drop those celebrity news magazines. Comparing yourself to Victoria Secret models will only create a vicious circle of self-hate.

Everyone is unique in their body makeup so embrace and “accept” your curves or flat chest and make the best of it. Feed your body right and sculpt it through exercise and you will reach a happy place.

I want you to look at yourself in the mirror and only comment on what you like. Why not throw in “hey, you’re beautiful!” Keep saying that and truly believe it.

If you’re self-image still continues to be negative, then please seek the help of family, friends or even counseling.

Feel free to email me too.

xoxo