Five Ways To Dodge The "Tumaba Ka" Comments This Season of Eating

A pet peeve of ours is how our Filipino elders greet us with a comment about weight. This is especially true when we meet up with relatives we haven't seen for quite some time. The conversation usually starts with a remark on our appearance like, "Hija, tumaba ka yata?" or worse, "Ang taba mo na pala!"

Cue cringe. It's not something we want to hear from anyone as a first impression, at any time of the year really, except if you’re actually trying to gain weight. While we wish it isn’t the first thing they notice about us, there are ways to keep those unflattering comments from being said in the first place! No outrageous diets here. As always, we turn to beauty to help us smile and say with confidence, "Tita, di po ako tumaba. Water weight lang yan!"

Get rid of the bloat, stat

Soaking in epsom salt is said to be good for the body and help lessen the appearance of bloat. At the very least, it can treat you to some much needed relaxation during the busiest time of the year!

For best results, go on a low carb, high protein diet and scrap the junk (sugar and soda at least) from your meals at least two weeks before the big event. Upping your water intake is surprisingly an effective way to get rid of bloat as well, as staying well-hydrated signals your body that there’s no need to retain extra water.

Take note that the diet option is only a short term plan; this process can get you started in losing weight but only healthy eating habits and regular exercise can help you maintain it in the long run!

Try: Zenutrients Epsom Salt Scrub (~P138.00), both available at www.zenutrients.com.ph)

Massage it all away

Aside from feeling like the ultimate pampering treat, a full body massage offers the physical benefits of improving blood circulation and digestion. It relieves sore muscles as well as anxiety, so you can enjoy a rejuvenating beauty sleep the night before. You can also try dry brushing to get your blood flowing and your skin glowing, while a facial massage can get rid of puffiness at the very least.

Try: Zenutrients Comforting Massage Oil (P358), Oryspa Energising Oil and Holiday Oil (P265/125ml at www.oryspa.com), The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalizing Sleeping Cream (P1,695 at The Body Shop stores)

Load up on skincare

If you aren’t using any yet, switch to products that can give your skin a radiant glow, and also reduce puffiness and inflammation on your face! A week before the festivities kick into full gear, customize the 10-step Korean skin care routine to suit your skin condition or at least start using a sheet mask daily. Both will go a long way in making your skin look soft, smooth and dewy! If you’re pressed for time and need next-day results, you can try these overnight fixes instead.

Try: Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil (P3950/30ml), Laneige Moisture Water Bank Skincare (P2,750 for Holiday Moisture and Basic Set), Avon Anew Clinical Infinite Lift Targeted Contouring Serum (P1,499), Laneige White Plus Renew Eye Cream (P2,050), Leaders Stepsolution Mela-Tox (P148), Innisfree Capsule Recipe Pack (P90 via Althea Korea)   

Bring your makeup A-game

Creating a slimmer face is so easy with makeup! Just make your eyes look bigger and contour your facial features for added definition and a more V-shaped jawline. L'Oreal made a useful video for our reference:

Making the eyes bigger is usually helpful with some mascara on curled lashes and nude eyeliner on the bottom waterline. For evening events, dazzle them with smoky eyes that look so dressy and dramatic, they’ll be too impressed to notice anything else! 

Pro tip: false lashes go a long, long (get it?) way in making your face look smaller. They extend your eyes so it looks like the area is more narrow than it is!

Contouring is usually applied on the sides of the nose and on the cheekbones. Don’t worry – it CAN look completely natural if you apply it correctly! The key is to blend just enough to create a subtle yet effective shadow without ending up brushing it all off from your face. So, keep practicing!

Try: Pink Sugar Eye Candy Eyeshadow Palette (P699), Avon Ideal White Essence Foundation (P349), Happy Skin x Glam Squad Contour & Color (P1,399), Bohktoh One Lashes (P160 via BeautyMNL.com), Bohktoh Eyelash Adhesive Glue (P550 via BeautyMNL.com), L’Oreal False Lash Superstar Mascara (P500), Estee Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick (P1,500)

Dress to the nines

Choosing the perfect outfit definitely helps in getting a slimmer appearance. Start with shapewear underneath to flatten flabby areas on your belly. Don’t dress too loose or too tight: you want your outfit to still allow you to join the holiday eating marathon because life is way too short to miss out on that!

Try: Avon High Waist Boyleg Shaper (P1,100) and deep-colored slim, stretchy pants

As long as we’re healthy and happy, gaining some weight is okay. Just flash those who ask with a smile, and show them how it’s done by paying them a real compliment! Enjoy yourself and remember that getting criticized for how you look says more about the commenter than you.

Have you guys got more tips on how to deal with "tumaba ka!" comments? Do you just let it slide or do you fight back?