Back in skinny jeans

Grammy's thoughts

Unfortunately, I didn't get to watch much of the Grammy's last night because Matt and I went down to visit his folks. (They live 1.5 hours from us) Mom had shoulder surgery so we went to be with her. We did watch some Grammy tidbits with her and Dad while eating sausage pizza with extra sauce and cheese.

What I love are the post event pictures. On the superficial side, it is kind of fun to see the outfits the celebs wear to these kinds of events. My favorite looks by far were from Gwen Stefani (she has that pregnancy radiance), Christina Aguillera, and Beyonce. On a side note, I wonder what Teri Hatcher was thinking when she put on her see-through dress. This is a beautiful woman who doesn't need to get attention by wearing something outrageous. I hope she doesn't feel that she has to get desperate for us to notice her.

Here's some links to Grammy pictures:
Yahoo Entertainment
Hollywood Rag
Popsugar
The official Grammy site where you can also see the list of winners and nominees.

Here's some quotes from the famous people at the Grammys.

Be on Oprah if you think your butt is too big

Occasionally, I like to go to Oprah.com to see what show topics they are currently looking for guests. These caught my eye because they look like they're doing a show about women who think they're butt is too big. Maybe it's not the deepest of topics, but it is a subject that all women can relate to. <hint>

"Does my Butt Look Big" - They want stories of your efforts to find the best fitting pair of pants or skirt. If chosen, they will hook you up with a stylist to help you make your butt look smaller. This is a perfect topic for Back in skinny Jeans readers.

Other Oprah show casting related to big butts includes:

• CHICAGOLAND ONLY:Looking For the Perfect Pants?
• Always Asking Your Husband If Your Butt Looks Big?
• CHICAGO MEN: Wife Asking "Does My Butt Look Big"?

For fun, I sent in a story and related it to Back in Skinny Jeans. Let's see what happens

Vanity fair cover: Naked starlet mannequins

Many people will disagree with me on this, but I simply hate this month's cover of Vanity Fair magazine (out on stands now). Famous fashionister Tom Ford is a guest editor/director at VF for the month, and the pub made a big PR deal about how they got all these A-list stars to pose naked for the Tom Ford issue.

As you know, I'm a big time celeb gossip whore, and admittedly the reason I buy any of the gossip rags is so I can look at the pictures. I love looking at pictures of celebs in their everyday life, and when they are doing their PR thing. However, this cover bugs me for a few reasons:

• I hate any picture where the women are naked and the men have clothes. In my eyes, this just emphasizes that women are objects to be gawked at. Why not throw into this pic a naked male star like maybe Hugh, Orlando, or Eric.
• Tom Ford is biting naked Keira Kneightly like she's a side of beef. Creepy. Again, the whole she's naked and he's clothed creates the impression that women are slabs of meat.
• Keira and Scarlett look like pale mannequins. I get that they are trying to do an arty thing, like the Robert Palmer "Addicted to Love" video, but again, it sends a message that women are mannequins, and their beauty is not unique.
• Rachel McAdams was supposed to be in the pic but she baled because she didn't want to be naked on a cover page. Good for her! Again, in her place, they should have put a naked guy for the female readers.

If this issue is supposed to be about fashion, why not put some of Tom's creations on the starlets. Maybe I'm clueless, but what does naked starlets=Tom Ford design mean???

Source

Dove: Campaign for real beauty

One of the surprise commercials for me during the Superbowl was from Dove to promote their "Dove Self Esteem Fund." It is tied into their "Campaign for real beauty" program, and focuses on helping young girls build up their self esteem so they don't focus on making their looks the basis of who they are and they're worthiness. IT helps young girls feel good about their unique beauty. Dove has partnered with the Girls Scouts of America to run this program. I think this is ABSOLUTELY fantastic. There is even a donation fund, so if you are interested in donating go here.

One of my pet peeves of the beauty industry is that the advertising is designed to make us women feel "Not enough" without their product. Even if we are in a place where we feel good about ourselves, watch enough of these commericials and ads, and even the most secure of women start to feel like there is something that could be better, enhanced or augmented. Dove, part of Unilever corporation, is the first huge conglomerate, I've seen, to push for real beauty, inside beauty, unique beauty. Only 5% of the population looks like the supermodels used in beauty and fashion, so doesn't it make more sense to promote a realistic view of beauty instead of something most of us can never attain, thus contributing to eating disorders, self esteem issues, emotional issues, and even suicide issues.

I wrote Dove telling them that as a consumer I personally loved the commercial on the Self Esteem fund for girls. The whole Campaign for real beauty launched in March 2005. Please go visit the website, it is phenomenal! There are forums where you can talk about different body image issues. There are articles, and there are tips on how to feel good about your own individual allure. It's the first time in forever where I have seen advertising for a beauty product where I wanted to buy it not because I felt it would make my body look better so I could keep up with the Janes, but because it made my soul feel beautiful just because I am uniquely me. Kudos to Dove!!!! Can we see more of the beauty companies take this approach to advertising.

Superbowl winnings and shoes

So, the unhealthiest eating day of the year has come and gone, and yes, I did indulge in all kinds of fattening, processed, salt laden delights. I made sure to wear my biggest pair of jeans made in stretchy material. I did, however, pass on the alcohol. I figured that if I'm going to indulge, I'd rather spend my calories gobbling rather than imbibing. I'm totally not into football, but I enjoy the Superbowl because it is a large social event filled with food, spirits and entertaining commercials.

Matt and I went down to his parents house in beautiful Monterrey. His sister Julie came along with us for the drive for she lives in the city which is another 40 minutes away from us. The whole day was a blast. I really love Matt's dad and step mom. In fact, Matt's whole family is a real jovial, and amusing bunch. They are also very tight, but they have been nothing but wonderful and kind to me. I feel very fortunate to know these people.

I made some Queso dip with my own chili recipe. Everyone loved my dip. In fact, the bowl was scraped until every last drop was gone. Matt's dad also did a pool, but instead of all us pitching money in, Matt's dad put all the money in. He did this because it was only the family, and the rewards were substantial. In fact, Matt won 2 of the quarters, and later today, we're going shopping so he can buy me a pair of shoes with some of his winnings. I am so damn lucky! You just gotta adore a man who'll buy his woman a pair of shoes with his Superbowl winnings ;-)

The Fat Tax: A Controversial Tool in War Against Obesity

The Fat Tax: A Controversial Tool in War Against Obesity
By Alan Mozes
Health Day Reporter

You have to check out this article because it talks about legislators trying to create a tax on fattening foods and sugary sodas as a way to help win the war on obesity.

So, the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear "Fat Tax" is how fracking ridiculous. In the article, one of the cons against a fat tax is that the money collected from all these fat taxes doesn't go straight into any weight loss or health education programs, but goes into shrinking existing deficits that have nothing to do with our health. Yes, I agree that obesity is an issue in our country, but if the politicians have to meddle, then instead of going after the consumers, go after the food manufacturers. Well that wouldn't happen because the large corporations and their feisty lobbyists would throw down the money gauntlet, and squash any attempt to make them pay. Can you just imagine companies like Frito-Lay, and Pepsi having to pay more taxes because they are making us fat.

How about warning labels? The cigarette makers have to put warning labels on their boxes, so why not make the manufacturers of processed food put warning labels on their packaging. WARNING: Consumption of this food may lead to obesity, heart disease, depression, hypertension, a host of other health related issues, and even death. Remember the Twinkie killer? The Twinkies made me do it.

Putting a tax on things that make people fat is not the way to solve the obesity problem.  The only one who benefits from a fat tax are the fat politicians and their obese budgets. Nice try. No way Jose. The hardest thing about waging the war on obesity is that humans have to eat in order to stay alive. With drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, we humans do not need that in order to physically live, so it's easier to monitor, eliminate, or even control.

Heidi Klum says 112 lbs is too fat

Supermodel Heidi Klum is not only the host of reality show Project Runway, but she is a judge on the reality show Germany's Next Supermodel which is shown in Germany where Heidi is from. Now, Ms. Klum is in big trouble with her audience because she is showing her Simon Cowell side. Apparently, on the latest episode Heidi told one of the supermodel wannabe contestants that she was too fat to be a top model. Heidi added that "Top designers need only girls with dream figures."

Mind you, this model only weighs 112 pounds. At 4ft tall, I'd say 112 is on the meaty side, but I'm assuming this wannabe model is at least 5'9" which would make her a stick insect at 112lbs. The viewers of the show are now slamming Heidi for encouraging young women with hopes of a modeling career that they need to starve themselves because 112 pounds is too fat. BTW, here are Heidi's (supposed) stats:

Height: 5'9 1/2" (177 cm)
Weight: 119 lbs (54 kg)
Measurements: 35-24-34 (US); 88-61-86 (EU)
Dress Size: 6-8 (US); 36-38 (EU)
Shoe Size: 10 (US); 42 (EU)
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Light Brown

Now, I didn't watch the show, and all this news is coming from the press. Heidi has yet to make any public statement about her comments. I don't know Heidi personally but I would hope to assume that this is simply a blunder in word choice. Or, maybe she really can be nasty like Simon Cowell. I think the modeling world is less forgiving than the music world in terms of ones looks. Mind you her thoughts may be true, but she got busted big time for saying them out loud in front of a TV audience.

Shows like Tyra Bank's, America's Top Model and Germany's Next Supermodel really just irritate the hell out of me, and I honestly believe that they contribute to making young women and girls just feel like they will never be enough. Look at all the girls who get picked to be on the show, and then as they eliminate a contestant each week, even these exceptionally attractive women are rejected and told that they are not "enough". How thin and beautiful must one be in order to be enough?

Photo

Cereal for dinner

It's dinner time, and I'm eating Banana nut crunch cereal from Trader Joes with fresh cut bananas and rice milk. I started cutting out dairy a while back. Mind you, I cannot entirely cut out dairy products because I LOVE cheese. I love pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese in burritos, and lasagna. I've been okay without milk, ice cream, and sour cream. Rice milk is not so bad. I heard that soy milk inhibits your thyroid activity which results in slowing down your metabolism which in turn makes you fat faster, so I stopped consuming soy products. Occasionally I will have tofu.

Anyway, as I was eating my cereal I just felt like writing. There's nothing particularly exciting mulling around my head. I just wanted to tap on the keyboard...Well, I guess one thing that did pop into my head and that is "quiet time." You know time where you don't talk, think, or act. You just sit and be. I don't include meditating in the quiet time category because although you are not talking, or acting, you are contemplating which is thinking. My brain runs all the time, and even when I want it to shut off, it won't. I've had to train myself to not think. Sounds weird, but I'm sure some of you are the same way.

Matt is coming home tonight from a business trip, so I have to go pick him up soon. It is interesting that I am now the one doing all the picking up at the airport. There was a time when I was traveling 60% of the time for my job, and I was always waiting for someone to get me. Matt says he could just take his car to the airport and put it in long term parking, so as to not put me out. I don't mind. In fact, I know how much nicer it is to have someone you love like a significant other, parent, sibling, or friend take you and  pick you up from the airport. Going by cab or shuttle is just so lonely. I've met some really nice drivers in my travels, but it never compares to seeing the loving face of a cherished one when you get off the plane ;-)

Singer Avril Lavigne wants to catwalk

See it's my belief that EVERY woman has dreamed about being a model. We picture ourselves strutting down a runway in Milan or rolling around the beaches in Aruba wearing nothing but a fish net and some clam shells. Avril Lavigne, the singer best known for her grungy style, and anger fueled, anti-establishment songs, wants to be a model too. She's even signed up with the big-time Ford modeling agency. They are the same people that represent the supermodels with names like Petra, Yasmin, and Shantal. These women are the ones who model to the rest of us what we WISH we could look like in our skinny jeans.

Here's one picture of Avril doing her model thing. This young lady cleans up really good. I almost don't recognize her mostly because she's softer and showing off more of her feminine side. No more harsh black eye liner and wife beater tanks. Hooray! For more pics, and an article about Avril's move into modeling check out The Bosh here.

photo Bang Media

Trapped in fat and thin

Bulimia is challenging to detect in women because it is easy to hide. When you're anorexic, everyone know because you are stick thin, and even baggy clothes cannot hide that fact. But, Bulimia is easy to hide. In fact, most bulimics are slightly thin to about 15 pounds overweight, attractive, and overall do-goodies who are successful in career and life. At least, to the outside world. Many of these women are Ms. Perfectionists, so part of the whole package is to create a picture or close to perfect picture example of a flourishing life. Most times family members and friends are surprised to hear the news because "Jane" always seemed like a good girl who had it all together. Remember when Princess Diana announced she suffered from bulimia. My mom was surprised. I wasn't. When you do it yourself, especially as you get seasoned, you get real good at spotting the others who do it too.

The thing about eating disorders is that you are a prisoner in a jail you created. Family, the media, the opposite sex, social pressures also contribute to the creation of the jail, but really the warden is yourself. Logically, you know that you can get out at any time with help, but when you're in it, it does not feel that way at all. In fact, as the issue worsens, you feel more trapped, and more alone. It feels as if there is a power much stronger than you that is in charge. The beast is powerful, and when you try to escape, and try to make your life better, healthier, it won't let you. It is incredibly hard to conceptualize that you have created this jail. But, to heal from it, the first thing you have to come to know is that you can be free from it. The stronger your belief, the closer to reality it comes.

The tormenting part of healing from bulimia for me was the realization that I am afraid of getting fat, and at the same time, afraid of getting thin. The first part makes sense, but the second part doesn't. How can you be afraid of being thin when all you've wanted your whole life was to be back in your skinny jeans?