I think if it doesn't show and the jeans are still comfy, there's nothing wrong with a little muffin top. I am the opposite of your body type - I have a big bottom and a small, high waist so any low or even mid rise jeans tend to muffin a bit, especially over the corse of the day. I can live with it, as long as it's not too obvious.

Una, I haven't noticed my clients ridding their MT - but that not a bad thing. Some have more MT than others. And in different places. We absolutely disguise it, but again, some clients are fussier about disguising it than others. Yes it's okay to disguise MT! Yes its okay to have MT! Sometimes its very hard to disguise it completely.

So interesting! I find that higher rise = squished midsection = muffin top. For me, low rise (at least in the front, I still prefer a higher rise on the backside) has been a muffin top eliminator. Too high of a rise, and I find that it's easy to look "mom-jeanish" with a curvy tum...the higher rise showcases muffin top, in my experience, rather than constrains it.

Jonesy, I may have to give those jeans a try - here's to no butts!

But (no pun intended), do they bag out? The last pair of Levi's I bought bagged out pretty badly (although I had them in my pre-YLF-put-my-jeans-in-the-dryer days).

I just got a pair of my nephew's jeans meant to be hand-me-downs for my sons but fit me just fine (if they weren't so long they'd fit my 10 yr old!!!) and yup like Jonesy said less muffin top with this higher rise and they fit closer to my mostly non-existent bum. I'm going to stalk the men's 501 Button Fly again- it's been years since I wore men's pants. Even with a taut tummy I have alot of loose flesh there from pregnancies so no amount of exercise is going to completely get rid of it and it's gonna roll--it's just a case of holding it back to acceptable levels.

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I was just thinking about this today because even at my thinnest, my *shape* gives me very little space between rib and hip. And my ribs are broad, so my waist is broad though not very squishy. I think I'd be an IT if it wasn't for a round behind with narrow hips. Whatever that makes me ... Anyway, I really was just thinking today that I'm done worrying about muffin top because I know my weight and girth are healthy even if my waistline is broader than I'd like (and unable to change my bone structure!). I'm guessing many perceived self-body-issues are bone structure/shape.

I'm wearing jeans and a banded sweater ... highlights my hips and hides my waist ... in one of my favorite colors and I feel fab.

Late to the party here...

Una, if you hate even knowing that MT is happening, even if no one knows but you, man jeans or high rise. IMO, concealment is absolutely cool. Like Maya said, naked there is no spoo-... er, I mean there is no muffin top.

If it's any consolation, I get it too when I wear low rise jeans. I'm not short waisted and I don't have a flat bummy. However, since I am not rail thin/rock hard and 24 (like back in the old days, boo hoo) the fact is, I'm just not a kid any more and my body has changed. If my low rise jeans are to stay up, I have mini MT or a slight bulge at the love handle area usually from cinching a belt down, otherwise they stretch out and fall off. You are not alone!

Una, I get muffin top with some of my jeans and, like you, sometimes I feel like it's the only way to get them to stay on my body. When it happens, I wear a shirt that conceals it, and I'm fine with that.

On a more serious note, it really bothers me when anyone here is basically telling anyone else to diet/cut out the fat/cut out the carbs/change their eating/change their lifestyle. I know that the comments were kind of made in a humorous way, but reading those comments really rubbed me the wrong way and actually made me feel uncomfortable. I don't think anyone should feel like they have to justify their body type/eating habits/workout habits on this forum. Sure, we have threads that are meant for weight loss support and healthy habits support, but those are specifically designated for those discussions. Maybe I'm ultrasensitive, but I felt like I had to say something.

Thanks, Steph.

Angie, I'm feeling very relieved to know that the existence of MT is sometimes inevitable and not a fashion faux-pas as long as it's not showing.

Many thanks to all you fellow MT-sufferers for coming out to commiserate! You're the best.

Anytime, Una!

There is something else which I'd like to mention while we're on the topic. I think muffin top MAKES US THINK WE ARE FATTER THAN WE ACTUALLY ARE. (Sorry for shouting). As I've said before, I was an anorexic teenager. I think the muffin top was part of the reason I developed such a warped perception of how I looked; despite being thin and athletic, there was a still a bit of spillover at the top of my jeans as they worked themselves ankle-ward during the day (which always seems to happen to those of us with teeny tushies). I was convinced that even a tiny bit of flesh poking out the top of my pants must be evidence that I was still fat, and thus needed to eat even less and exercise even more! Well, clearly that can't be true, because after starving myself down to 85 lbs, the damn bit of flesh WAS STILL THERE, taunting me over the waistband of my jeans!

Steph, I also get uncomfortable when people say "if you want to lose the muffin top, eat less and exercise more," and this is why. I DID do that, and all it did was turn me into a walking skeleton. I wonder how many other girls/women would take that message to heart and starve their bodies into frailty because "if you can pinch an inch, it's a cinch you're a fattie?" Those with tiny, taut waists may not understand this (just as I never really "get" why those same women go on and on about their saddlebags and nice round bums).

Elizabeth, shout away! That's exactly right - that "lump of pudge" just makes me feel: bad... and I hate that feeling, because a) I know I am not overweight, and b) there has never been anything I can do about it, even when I was emaciated in law school.

This is a great discussion and so therapeutic.

AG, I loved Maya's reply: "Muffin top doesn't exist on naked bodies. It is created by clothes. Likewise, clothes can make it go away too. As others have said, if you can't see it, it isn't there.". Any jeans I have that fit with no bulge are so bagged out by the end of the day that I can slip them up and down without undoing the button. But I' m sure I have different fit issues than you.

And thanks Steph for pointing out that some posters made comments that could potentially be construed as unkind that also have nothing to do with the original FIT question AG was asking.

In general I agree with Maya, but given that you have made a couple of comments in the past about jeans slipping down your hips, I think Jonesy is right on that maybe you should check out some men's fit jeans. Seams like you are struggling to find the right fit for your body type.

Muffin top checking in... lol
Short waisted, curvy girl and no way around getting muffin top, especially with low rise jeans. I don't see me getting rid of it so I just chose to hide it.

Una, you could totally rock men's jeans, I'm guessing! Personally, I love the skateboard aesthetic, and pairing some cool dude jeans with sophisticated pieces (say, a structured jacket and some booties or platform sandals) seems like it would fit well with your style.

Angie, no I haven't shown a pic of my men's Levi's on YLF yet, though I probably will at some point. I guess I don't tend to take pics of my casual wear as often. I did finally pick up some white jeans, so maybe I'll do a jeans WIW post soon :).

Sarah, I know people have talked about Levi's bagging out terribly, but I haven't noticed that happening with these. I do dry my jeans in the dryer for usually about 10-15 minutes, then hang to dry for the rest, because I hate the cardboard-stiff thing that can happen if you solely air dry them. I also only wear my jeans 1-2x before laundering, so maybe I avoid the bagginess that way? The Levi's salesman told me that men's jeans with a bit of stretch are the way to go for women (allows for a bit of curves). I did try on another pair of the super skinnies without stretch, and they flattened out my (almost) non-existent rear end.

One more thing, since we have shifted somewhat into a discussion of women's bodies (and if anyone is still reading at this point!): I really dislike the term muffin top and refuse to use it :). I can't stand any terms that refer to my body as either food, or animal-like. I also am annoyed that the term was invented in response to a new fit of jeans (low rise) that actually doesn't work on many women's bodies; once the term got invented, it became a *thing* for women to focus on and dislike about themselves and feel pressured to alter. Sort of like "cankles"--it's like all of these terms create a problem with women's bodies when the problem actually doesn't exist (i.e., women's ankles vary in size and width just like every other part--nothing problematic about that!) or resides with the design of the garment. Another example of the latter thing is "back fat." Yes, most women have flesh, muscle, fat on our backs, just like the rest of our bodies. This in and of itself is not problematic! Strapping a tight strap across it (a poorly-designed bra), then wearing a snug-fitting shirt, causes lumps, but this is not inherently about women's bodies being flawed in any way!

Okay, rant over :). ETA: After coming back to this thread and re-reading my comments, I want to say that I certainly am not criticizing anyone else's use of the term "muffin top"--I get that it's a commonly used term and I definitely don't want to pile on and make anyone feel criticized. I apologize if anyone felt that way reading my rant.

Some wise woman I know (maybe from here?) said "We ALL fight the muffin..." Maya nailed it. It's CREATED by clothes and therefore perfectly acceptable to HIDE with clothes. All's fair in the muffin wars!

For the record I get it too, and I'm at an ideal weight and pretty fit. I have a little tummy bulge from babies and carry my hip weight up higher (figure 8 I think I've heard it called.) So I get muffin from all my jeans since I wear low and mid rise right now. I can change the rise or change the shirts, but my body's staying the same. Tshirts are no longer my friends with these rises, but I love woven so that's OK.

When the rises change (and they will) then I'll probably add more T's to my wardrobe since the "muffin" will disappear for that trend.

(Never dealt with muffin when I was a kid, but never had low rise jeans when I was 18 either. We only had 70's style jeans that sat at the actual waist, (or higher! LOL) No muffin but we had other fit issues like bagging out jeans! (Remember that, before spandex? LOL)

If we can't see it, it's not there!

Whoa, what a thread!

Now that I have stopped being in awe of Thimbelina's wisdom, I feel that the MT is a reality that is exacerbated by certain types of clothing and perimenopause.

I have the same problem, Una, and have found higher rise jeans help. Another factor to consider is that as we age, AT ANY WEIGHT, our skin gets looser. I know this is one of the things that contributes to my MT .

Jonesy, you have convinced me to go back to my skater-punk ways! I love your suggestions for amping them up. Where would you suggest I look for the right men's jeans and what style? There are lots of Levis at thrift stores, but mostly the 90s-styles like "Loose Fit" that look more like baggies or hip-hop style.

I agree with you on the term "MT". I hate the term "cougar" too. And I definitely am feeling like the only reason I'm now facing MT is that low-rise jeans did not exist. I actually used to wear my jeans low on my hips, but again, they were truly boy's jeans back then, as women's jeans were all high-rise.

Did anyone see this HILARIOUS bit Colbert did on how cosmetics companies invent problem areas for women so they can sell them a fix for it? It's about "Go Sleeveless", Dove's new product to help women feel less ashamed of their armpits:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....49059.html

Kim, exactly. I think we're around the same age.

My MT observations: I don't have a ton of MT standing up but when I sit down it's on and I am self conscious! So any jean I purchase needs to meet the sit down test. I admittedly still have lots of pairs of jeans that do not pass this sit down test; I've only come to realize this lately. High or mid-rise jeans are the best solution for me and I am currently in the process of converting my jeans wardrobe to these.

For anyone that's interested, here are my top favorite mid to high rise jeans (9.5" rise). Super comfy, nice wash and no MT!

http://www.7forallmankind.com/...../3594.html

I sized up on these and do not regret it. There is a tiny bit of slippage as the day moves on but I usually wear these with un-tucked looser tops so I don't mind. I am impressed with the way the fabric recovers. These are currently my #1 favorite out of my 30-odd pairs of jeans!

CL, thank you! Why have I never seen these 7s before!? I tried the COH Elsons and a different style of 7s, but the rise was too low on the 7s and the COHs technically fit fine, but the cut made me look so weirdly hip-less that I just returned them.

It looks like I'm going to try these along with Jonesy's dude duds suggestion...

I saw those same 7s on sale for less (make sure you get that wash Dark Minnet) on eBay. Check there before buying from 7fam.

rosee, you are right about refined carbs causing muffin top. MY own muffin top was a menopot which I was able to get rid of two years ago with exercise and continuous South Beach lifestyle eating. I really do understand the Glycemic Index at this point!

elisabeth, I realize not everyone has a long, lean body shape and I had no intention of offending anyone by my post. Even a lean gal has some tummy roll - it's normal human anatomy. Thank goodness those super lowrise jeans are becoming extinct-they are flatter NOBODY.

I do know that muffin top can appear on ANY body simply by wearing too-tight clothes, which I see often on campus.

No problem, Barbara. I didn't mean for my reply to sound catty, either. I just wanted to put in my two cents, having been very slender yet also having a muffin for my entire life!

I, for one, will be very sad if the super low rise jeans go away. Being short-waisted, most jeans that others eschew are the perfect rise for me.

I was going to suggest yummie tummie tops. You can find them on sale from time to time.

By the way, MT has nothing to do with weight. I've always had a lil one even at my smallest. I've never been overweight and I still have one.

With that said, I'm gonna go buy me a Magnolia cupcake! Gotta feed the MT

Also, I find that some things help such as : Wider waisbands, curved waistbands and the rise of the jean/pants, most definitely!

No matter how high the rise, if jeans fit me well I *will* have MT. That's one of the reasons that I don't like knit tops- they cling to it. Even when I was at my thinnest point- I had a bag of loose skin in that area. Nothing short of surgery would cure that issue, so I just try to work with it.