Comments on: How Stars Stay Skinny

By: Chubby Mommy

Chubby Mommy — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:01:32 +0000

I know what you mean about those videos, Anne. I’ve seen them, too, along with the “Before” and “After” shots of models (who truly don’t look like all that without the makeup and hair).

My brain reminds me not to look to them as, well, ‘models’ of what I should strive to be. But there’s that word — model — and it was chosen for a reason. Our brains can’t convince us not to try to resemble an image that’s held up to our eyes hundreds of times each day as the epitome of perfection.

By: Anne

Anne — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:39:43 +0000

The good news is that they are teaching seventh grade girls (at least at my daughter’s single-gender public school) about how the photos of models are altered so that most of the pictures you see in magazines aren’t real.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that even though I know this, why do I look at the pictures with envy? Do I really believe that the seventh graders aren’t doing the same?

About The Firm video. I used to go to The Firm long, long ago. They made a lot of those videos here in my city. I know one of the people who is in the background group in one of the later videos. Her husband, who was a judge, kept the kids while she went to California to be filmed. She gave me a great recipe for some really fattening stuff that she claims to make and eat all the time.

And she’s absolutely gorgeous in everything she puts on. She’s smart, too. If it weren’t for that recipe, I’d just hate her. Think I’ll go pig out now.

By: silvermine

silvermine — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:10:33 +0000

Of course they do. If they didn’t look that way, people wouldn’t buy it and they wouldn’t have a job.

It’s not healthy. Women are supposed to be soft and not angular. I’m sure those women in those videos couldn’t get pregnant because their body thinks they don’t get enough food.

Now, granted, right now I’m working on losing 30ish pounds. Okay, maybe 20-25ish. So i’ll be down to 135. I’m 5′3″. BWI-wise, I think that’s still on the edge of fat. But that’s how my body should be. It shouldn’t be all bony and pokey.

That’s not healthy. It’s healthy to have a little cushion of fat to see you through illnesses and disease.

By: Mad William Flint

Mad William Flint — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 22:40:42 +0000

Take the ridiculous standard of weight.

Divide it in to these claims of our nation/culture’s obesity problem.

and…uhm… do something else mathy.

I call shenanigans on the body image industry and the news outlets that support it.

I’m 5′11″ and clock in at a clean 225. I’m supposedly between 40 and 60 pounds overweight.

BULLSHIT.

It’s a damned lie.

Seek to feel good. throw the damned scale away.

By: Flap

Flap — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:53:34 +0000

Weight Watchers and moderate exercise (walking and weights) works for me!