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| Wednesday, August 12, 2009 |
| Keeping Up With Celebrity Diets |
Everyday another celebrity comes out touting their new workout or diet. It’s ALWAYS the hottest and the best. They always look great and go on to endorse a video, fitness center, diet or trainer. Whoever they endorse usually gets a big boost in sales and it always seems like ‘their’ diet and fitness regimen gives them immediate results. Unfortunately, what we see is not always the whole story.
There’s so much focus on celebrity weights and diets. Even the nightly news had a recent story on Madonna’s arms. We’re bombarded with information on who is doing what to stay in shape. Marie Osmond does Weight Watchers, Valerie Bertinelli does Jenny Craig, Madonna trains with Tracy Anderson, Kelly Ripa does Physique 57 workouts. Is this obsession with celebrity fitness healthy for us “regular” people?
Being very involved in fitness and nutrition, I do listen to the various stories about celebrity weight loss plans and workouts. It’s interesting to me to see what everyone is doing because I’m in the field. However, I don’t think it’s healthy for us to focus too much on what celebrities are doing. I realize the information is everywhere, but it can be very upsetting when you start comparing yourself to a celebrity. Remember that most celebrities need to look a certain way to get work and get paid. They also usually have a team of people helping them get the body they have. They may have multiple personal trainers, yoga instructors, dietitians and chefs. In the real world most of us have a gym membership and the internet to count on. Making educated and informed decisions is sometimes difficult when we just see a picture of how someone looks after going on a certain diet. Turning to a dietitian, doctor or reputable diet website will help.
At some point, I think it becomes irresponsible of these celebrities to report things like losing all their baby weight in 6 weeks. That is unrealistic and can be unhealthy. Many people will copy that behavior hoping for the same results and not realizing that the celebrity probably has a nanny helping take care of the baby, a chef cooking her meals and a personal trainer working with her for hours each day. Just because a celebrity endorses something does not mean that it is the plan for you. You may not see any results with the same plan as say, Sarah Jessica Parker. If you watch closely, some of the celebs that tout a certain program often gain back all their weight and sometimes more. Remember Oprah and the Optifast fiasco?!
Be aware that the media will bombard us with images of slim and toned celebrities of all ages. This is what sells magazines and gets people to watch TV shows. However, when it comes down to it, what usually works in real life is a gradual weight loss with a solid plan that includes a healthy diet and the right amount of exercise. I’ve seen that work a thousand times. It sure beats choosing from The Atkins Diet, The Zone Diet, The Hamptons Diet, The Cookie Diet, The South Beach diet and so on. And it definitely beats fasting, cleansing, taking diet pills and all the other gimmicks celebrities try to lose or maintain weight loss. Over the long term, some of these diets and pills can have unhealthy side effects.
I think we need to ignore a lot of this hype surrounding celebrity weight and weight loss. It is so distorted. Take Jessica Simpson for example. She dieted her way down to a reported size two a few years back and was still called big and overweight. Yes, I said a size 2!!! This kind of talk is upsetting for real women who know what their healthy weight is, but start to feel bad about themselves because Hollywood thinks they are fat. If you and your doctor or dietitian agree that you are at a good weight where your health is not in jeopardy, then just work at maintaining it and feeling good about yourself.
I fear that the teens and preteens will suffer the most from this obsession with celebrity weight loss. They are at a very fragile time where they can be easily influenced. They need strong, healthy role models that eat right and exercise and are happy and healthy. I myself have a 2 year old daughter. I am hoping that this fascination with celebrity bodies will pass, but with shows like The Biggest Loser and Celebrity Fit Club getting big ratings, I don’t think that will happen. Instead I will make sure that she knows that her worth is not based on her weight. I will help her understand that being healthy and fit is more important than being the skinniest. Most of all I hope that I can teach her acceptance of herself and that if she is the best she can be, then that is more than enough for me.
Hopefully you can block out the distractions of celebrity diet and fitness plans and focus on what will help you reach your and maintain your goals. I know you can do it. Start by turning off the TV and taking a walk.
- Jennifer
Labels: Celebrity Diets, Diet Review, Fad-Diet, Jennifer, Weight Loss
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posted by My Sensei @ Wednesday, August 12, 2009   |
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| 2 Comments: |
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I am so with you. Quite honestly, I pay no attention to celebrity diets & such unless I see one actually doing something exercise wise that makes sense. They all are on some kind of crazed diet with food & yes, the media forces a look for these women. BUT, to hype it & make it out for something it is not is ridiculous... but I guess it gets them attention & it is cut throat in that world.
Very sad!
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VERY well written! I just wanted to scream out, "HEAR HEAR!!!" It is SO unrealistic to compare ourselves to celebrities. Honestly, it's their JOB to look that good. They are PAID to work out like crazy. And even so, their bodies are blow-touched. We, however, as regular people, have better things to do than spend hours a day trying to keep up an appearance up to society's standards.
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I am so with you. Quite honestly, I pay no attention to celebrity diets & such unless I see one actually doing something exercise wise that makes sense. They all are on some kind of crazed diet with food & yes, the media forces a look for these women. BUT, to hype it & make it out for something it is not is ridiculous... but I guess it gets them attention & it is cut throat in that world.
Very sad!