If the pants don't fit. . .there may be a good reason!

I HATE trying on clothes. Even when I am feeling at my healthiest and most fit the idea of putting something on and having it not fit is just a total bummer. It is no surprise to me that different clothing brands have different sizes (I can't wear a pair of Levis to save my life) but just how off is your waist size?

Esquire Magazine journalist Abram Sauer went around to several different stores, trying on dress slacks and measuring the waist with a tailor's measuring tape. Each pant was supposed to be a 36" waist. What he found was down right dangerous: Old Navy brand dress pants were 5 inches larger!!! That isn't just appealing to your vanity, it's infringing on your heart and even your brain.



Excess body fat around your abdomen is like wearing a toxic blanket around your internal organs. If you haven't measured your belly lately, really measured with a measuring tape, you are deluding yourself! Numbers are just numbers at the end of the day as far as clothes are concerned. They aren't numbers when it comes to the belly flab.

According to Marticia Heaner, M.A.,"A waist size of >40 inches (>102cm) for men, and a waist size of >35 inches (>88 cm) for women is considered high-risk. A high number may indicate that you have excess fat in your abdominal area. If your BMI is 25 or higher, this can increase your risk of certain diseases such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia (uncontrolled cholesterol), high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease."


This article written by Heaner for MSN health also offers valuable tips on how to accurately measure your middle.



Anyone have a crazy pants story they want to share? Write 'em below!