Muffin Top (n): Apocalypse

In 2006, I was pleased to learn that “soul patch,” “drama queen,” and “unibrow” had been added to the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Fun, right? Sign of the times?

No, my friends. This is a sign of the times: “Muffin Top” has officially been added to the Collins English Dictionary.

For those of you not currently embroiled in the whole compare-your-body-parts-to-food phenomenon, congratulations. I envy you. You do not yet know that a Muffin Top is a phrase used to describe the excess fat that bulges over too-tight waistbands. The phrase came into use as of late, when low-rise jeans became popular and anybody -- unless you have zero body fat (oh, did I mention “Size Zero” was added to the dictionary, too?) -- found some pudge…or even just skin…mushrooming over.

What’s next? Are the etymologists going to add “Man boobs” next? “Bra fat”?

Sorry if I’m being, um, a drama queen (look it up) but this just depresses the crap out of me.

I'm going to go eat a muffin.

Comments

PS Thanks to Back in Skinny Jeans for tipping me off!

I,too use this phrase to explain that disgusting bulge that ALWAYS generously flows over the waistline of my jeans.
I think any one who has ever been pregnant knows this wonderful(HA!)phenomenon!! now, how to make it go away forever...........................

what on earth do you have to be depressed about? unless your picture in the about me section is a fake you are super skinny. you look great

Leslie
You're so funny...On the dictionary thing. Our language has become so slack. I suppose these additions are a sign of times. sigh****

I'm eating a muffin with you, Leslie :)

"you are super skinny"

Is there any point in women saying this to each other anymore? I was in the office of my school the other day telling the secretary about a recent trip to Santa Cruz. She said she'd love to go to the beach, but wanted to lose 20 lbs first. Our VERY thin office clerk poked her head out of her office and said, "Me too! I want to lose 10 lbs. before summer." The sentiment was echoed by several perfectly fit teachers. To quote Charlie Brown, GOOD GRIEF. These women are lucky enough to live in California, they own cars, and they can afford a tank of gasoline to get to the beach. And yet they won't go because of extra weight, real or imagined. Women depriving themselves of doing something fun because they don't feel like they're thin enough -- now that was depressing. =P

Hey Leslie, LOVE your blog! Thanks for the nice comments about mine, too. Yours in muffin-hood, Laurie Y.

I used the words muffin top this weekend and my boyfriend asked what the hell a fricken muffin top is? Isn't it just the top of a muffin? LOL...gotta love him!

I think Leslie meant she was depressed that women feel the need to compare themselves to food items, and that society willingly obliges. Notice that muffin top refers mainly to women. Plently of men have Dunlap's disease (your belly dun lapped over your belt) but that hasn't made into Webster's yet.
I don't think its necessary to comment on any woman's body type. Instead of "super skinny" can't anyone just say "you look great" and leave it at that? Does it always have to be attributed to something else?
Love your blog, Leslie, btw. You're an insightful writer and you do look great!

Honestly, if women (myself included) would accept their size and stop squeezing themselves into clothes that no longer fit, we wouldn't have this problem. That's why I like the show What Not To Wear, where they encourage people to dress their bodies, whatever size they are. The acceptance part is very difficult. I keep clothes I wore 10 years ago, for many reasons (secretly I believe one day I'll fit in the size 8 jeans or they'll be back in style again, for sure).
As far as using the food terms to describe bodies, it's almost as if to make it seem cutesie, but it's kind of grown-up name-calling. I understand we use language to effectively communicate with each other in the clearest and most direct way about a subject, but enough already with the food and body obsession. We get it. We just need more self acceptance and courage and determination to make changes, if we choose to.
When I get home, I'm donating all my old clothes and make room for my new threads. Goodwill, here I come!

Jesus Christ People I complimented her -not ate her head off. she is more slimmer than regular slim in my view - look at her photo - therefore my perhaps excessive use of the word "super" skinny. let me rephrase; you are beautiful/ you are nice & slim / you look great etc etc. sorry ladies I believe slim looks nice. to boston vixen I did say exactly that look at the last three word of my post or did you not read all the way through before freaking out? her physical beauty is partly attributed to her slimness only becuase it all counts in my opinion; for example its also connected to her smooth skin etc etc its all part of the package. I wonder if people would have lost it if i came on here and said you have gorgeous skin you look great. would they have felt the same anger on behalf of the less smoother skinned people.sorry if that bothers people its just my opinion, if others think you dont have to be slim thats cool too. we are all entitled to our opinions . also i love the dunlap disease thats a good one

leslie
I aoplogise for talking about you so directly I only wanted to explain to the other posters what i meant. anyway I enjoy your blog. I find it interesting that i often disagree with the other women but variety is the spice of life. anyway keep up the good work.

Cassie,

I wasn't outraged by your comment -- I just don't think it's effective for women to tell each other, "You're skinny."

My point in telling about the women at my work was, it really doesn't matter what you look like or what anyone else tells you, the way you feel about yourself is the way you feel. I probably weigh more than the office manager, and I felt great going to the beach. If I had told her, "Don't worry about 10 lbs, you're already skinny," that wouldn't have changed her perception of herself.

I hear women go through this all the time. "I'm fat." "No, you're skinny!" "No, I'm fat. Look at my thighs/arms/tummy/fill-in-the-blank." What's the point of going through that conversation?

I agree, Nikki. Seems like we all have this same conversation at least once or twice a week with other women. The perception of yourself changes daily. We have good hair days and bloated days, and we feel good when others compliment us on the lighter things, like our clothes or the new pair of shoes. I don't want to hear comments on my body, good or bad. I'm just tired of dealing with it.

Nikki
I actually agreed with everything you said.

Heyyyyyyyyyy, ladies! I was out of town for a day, away from a computer, and am just now checking back in. No wonder my ears were burning (I thought it had to do with the multiple pomegranate martinis I downed last night, but perhaps not ;-) For those of you who read my post to mean I was depressed by the significance of the incorporation of "Muffin Top" into the dictionary, you got it. But if my rant was read differently by different people, I think it's OK b/c it opened up a discussion on how we all feel about labeling, name-calling, commenting on women's figures (good or bad), and more. Regardless, thanks to everyone who gave me props on the blog - it is wonderful to know that you're enjoying it and please, always feel free to send over your input. I'll post something new soon.
With love,
Leslie

I thought a muffin top was just that a muffin top they have them at panera bread! LMAO