Is "Black" Really Slimming?....an article I wrote in Jan 2010

I was paid 3.00 upfront for this article, I wrote this because so many people want to convince me that I should like black, but I really don't like black so much. I personally think you should where colours that you like best.



http://voices.yahoo.com/is-black-really-slimming-5298401.html?cat=5



Is "Black" Really Slimming?
Are You Serious?


Ok, today I am going to talk about the color black. As is clothing styles or colors people choose to wear.



Many people assume that if they wear black it will make them appear slim or at least slimmer.
Well this may or may not be true depending on the angle someone is looking at you, or the obstacle illusion that you are going for.



If you are wearing all black and also planning to go out dancing in a dimly lit dance hall or even to a skating ring where they dim the lights, or use spot lights or colorful dancing lights, (like our local skating ring does) then wearing black, could possibly be an excellent way to conceal a few extra pounds, or a few unflattering areas of our bodies.



But as a general rule wearing all black to hide or conceal a small weight problem, is not very effect, it is more effect on a person within ten to twenty pounds of their desired weight perhaps. But if you are more than twenty pounds overweight, as I currently am, wearing black is not going to help you feel better or look better. Unless you really happen to like wearing black, and would wear it whether or not you were trying to conceal extra pounds.



I have been reading and or hearing people talk about wearing black for so many years, I've lost count.
But truthfully I really don't like wearing black, as it mostly makes my skin look washed out, and makes me feel depressed. Which can at times in my past lead me to overeat, which has done absolutely nothing to help me lose any weight.



Now don't get me wrong, I do like some types of clothing that is black, but generally it is not subdued and intended to make me feel less fat. At least not in my opinion it isn't.



If I have to wear black I like to have large pink roses on the material or tiny pink flowers, something bright so the black sort of highlights whatever pattern I am wearing. I don't like wearing black as the main focus of what I am wearing. It is a depressing color to me.



Since I have a natural tendency towards depression, wearing all black is just not healthy for me at all. I don't need extra help to feel bad.



That being said what colors should people wear? And what colors should someone wear who is a little heavy set or a lot heavy, or just plain fat, as I currently am.



First no one should ever wear any color that they do not like, unless they have absolutely no choice in the matter. Due to the fact wearing a color you do not like, can cause you to just not feel well. There is actually scientific evidence to support this.



Some colors tend to make us feel bright and cheerful, other colors tend to make us feel depressed or burdened. And some colors make us feel more like eating Next time you go out to eat, look around and take not of the predominate colors in most establishments that serve foods. What is the primary color you see?



There is a reason for this actually, that being there have been studies done to see what helps a product or service sell better.



Certain colors are helpful in the marketing of different product. Black clothing is marketed primarily to people who have or think they have a weight problem. Or even to people who are entertaining a certain style such as "gothic".



Wearing black clothing by someone who is overweight can and often will advertise that someone is overly concerned with their weight. I wonder how many people realize that or think about what they are advertising subconsciously by the colors you choose to wear. Now this only applies if someone is able to actively pick and choose and purchase the clothing that they wear.



When we wear bright happy colors we feel lighter, more cheerful. Provided we are also dressed neatly and clean. Torn, worn and or stained clothing doesn't look appealing on anyone.



Some bright happy colors to consider are light yellow or bright yellow, reds, pinks, even some shades of orange, light blues, medium shades of blue. Maybe even polka a dots. Navy blues with a printed design. For example navy blue, with pink flowers, or even yellow flowers.



When you choose a color to wear, if it makes you feel happy or energized you are more likely to feel better, and feel like getting out and doing something. When you are fat and know it, you need to find all the encouragement you can to get out and do something about losing weight.



If wearing a bright yellow shirt, makes you feel energized and happy, even just a little bit, then it is better to wear that shirt, and go out for a walk. Than to wear a dark black shirt that makes you feel depressed, or washed out before you even get started.



If wearing a cheerful, spring or summer color helps you to feel like getting up and moving around, then that is the color that you need to wear. This is especially if you need to be going walking to lose weight, or if you need to walk to help a circulation problem, or to prevent any type of health related problem.



When we were black we are in many ways revealing we are depressed or mourning. Also we are revealing we are "submitting" to something, or we are demanding that attention be paid to us, as a ruler or leader. (That we want others to be submissive to us.)




Black as a whole is not a cheerful color. It is a color that shows finality, this can be good only when bad things end, or when the check book balances and all our bills are inline and paid on time.



Black is a very controlling type of color. It's not a color that I would personally pick to start a new walking program or weight loss plan. Because of the way this particular makes me feel, and due to the way this color looks on me when I wear it.



I wrote this article because I am absolutely sick of all the articles, I've read about wearing black to hide physical flaws, or to mask a weight problem.



If someone is fat it is better to go pick a color that they really like, not one that is assumed to be the color of choice for people who are fat.



Because some of us don't like wear black, some of us like to wear bright pink, bright lemon yellow, or candy apple red, or even snow white.



When we are trapping ourselves into the mindset that we must wear a certain color that we may not even like, in order to be in style then we are in my opinion doing nothing to correct the underlining problem. The underlying problem being that someone needs to lose weight.



It is better in my opinion for the person who desires or needs to lose weight, to wear bright orange or bright pink or even bright yellow, and be out walking around a track counting laps, loosing inches and pounds. Than to be wearing black, sitting in a dimly lit area hiding the fat, and munching on chips, compiling the fat problem that caused someone to desire to accept the mentality that black is slimming.



Black is NOT slimming. But pink may be if you happen to be wearing that color as you walk many laps around a track, or hike up the nearest hiking trail. Bright lemon yellow with red flowers may also be slimming IF that happens to be the color that you like and feel energized in, that encourages you to go out in the back yard and jump rope.



Now if you happen to feel energized wearing black then it could be slimming for you.



But seriously think about this, would you rather wear black and an illusion making yourself feel secure in maybe "looking" a little slimmer to someone who agrees with you that "black is slimming". Or would you rather face the fact you are fat, and need to lose weight, put on a color you like and get busy doing something about it, and do it in the daylight walking around a track, or your chosen exercise. So that when you do decide to wear black it is not to conceal a weight problem, but truly because you like to wear black, not so that you can delude yourself or someone else into believe that you have lost weight or inches.



You will feel better and you will be able to look into your own mirror and KNOW that you have lost pounds and inches, and you wore exactly the colors that made you feel good.



Buying into the idea that a particular color is truly slimming is false, it is also self defeating. Weight loss is achieved through time and discipline. You have to exercise and you have to eat smaller portions. In other words the few calories you burn the less likely you are to lose pounds, the more calories you burn, the more likely you are to lose weight.



When you are physically fit and healthy, any color that you wear will look nicer on you. But when you are fat or obese no color is going to truly change or conceal the fact you need to get busy and find a way to lose excess weight.



So next times you reach for a black outfit, think about this, why exactly are you reaching for this black outfit? Is it because you like the color black, or is it because you are trying to believe into the lie that "black is slimming"? If it is the latter then I suggest you put that black outfit right back into your closet and pick out the outfit that you really like, that is the color you like. Even if it is not the color that everyone expects you to wear due to your size.



This is truly my opinion, and I'm sticking with it, I'd rather wear pink, or peach or even white than to wear something that is black and makes me feel sick, or depressed. Black is not in my opinion a good color for me, even if I am not sick it makes me look pale. I am sure that this may not be true for everyone, and some people may actually like black. But as for me I'd rather wear pink.



I even wear pink shoes to go walking. Can I put a smiley face here?



Sources:

http://www.keelynet.com/biology/coloraff.htm

http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/nsfall99/FinalArticles/Final1.HowColorAffectsMoo.html

http://www.jstor.org/pss/4188328

http://healthmad.com/mental-health/do-colors-really-affect-your-mood

http://www.indiadiets.com/Alternative%20Healing/colour_therapy.htm

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_black_a_slimming_color_and_white_a_less_flattering_color

http://askville.amazon.com/slimming-wear-black-agree/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=10503370

http://www.plussizeclothingapparel.com/

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/colors1.html

http://healing.about.com/od/colortherapy/a/coloryourlife.htm

http://hubpages.com/hub/Effect-of-Color-on-Mood

http://www.technologystudent.com/despro2/colmood1.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_5563604_energy-mood-naturally-color-therapy.html