Back in skinny jeans

Interview: The Vegan lifestyle with Inga Ambrosia

Did you ever want to know more about the vegan lifestyle and what vegans eat? I did, so today we have the honor of chatting with Vegan and fellow blogger, Inga Ambrosia of Miami Vegan Blog.

BISJ: Thank you again Inga for taking the time to educate us all on the Vegan lifestyle. So to start out, what's the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian?

Inga: A vegetarian is someone who has adopted a meat-free diet.  There are different kinds of vegetarians including:  Ovo: eats eggs. Lacto: drinks milk and eats cheese. Facto: eats fish. These terms can be combined to describe vegetarians that eat two or more of these items. A strict vegetarian may not eat any of these products but may still wear animal clothing.

A vegan is a person that never eats meat, eggs, fish or dairy. They also don't wear any animal products like wool, silk or leather. Vegans also don't support companies that perform animal testing, such as beauty companies or pharmaceutical brands. Some vegans eat honey and sugar, but strict vegans don't. Vegan people are usually activists of some kind and are very concerned about the environment. Adaptt.org is an activist organization that provides a wealth of information about veganism.

BISJ: How long have you been vegan, and how did you come to adopt this way of eating?

Interview: Leslie Goldman, iVillage blogger "The Weighting Game" and author of "Locker Room Diaries"

I have a special treat for all of you today. We get to chat with Leslie Goldman who blogs at iVillage for "The Weighting Game" which many of you may know, and she is the author of the book "Locker Room Diaries", a peek into the dynamics of what women really say and think about their bodies when they get naked even after a good workout with the treadmill and weights. Yes! Fascinating indeed.

BISJ: Leslie, we are very excited to spend a few minutes with you to talk about body image. First, I love the idea behind your book "Locker Room Diaries" because I have to say that it took me a long time to stop judging and comparing my body to the other ladies in the locker room with me. Can you tell us what inspired you to talk about the locker room scenario specifically?

Leslie: Well, first, let me say that I think BISJ is fabulous and I am so happy to be interviewed by you! Ok, so basically the premise of Locker Room Diaries is that I spent about five years observing and talking with women of all shapes and sizes about their body image. Why is it, I wanted to know, that almost no one seems satisfied with her physique? I chose the locker room because, yes, it can be a nice retreat, a place to toss aside our worries of the day. But it is also where our flaws become most apparent beneath those awful fluorescent lights-- and where most of us can’t help but wonder how we “measure up.” Who hasn’t tried to sneak a peek to see how we stack up next to the woman at the locker next to us – Does she have cellulite? What does her stomach really look like under that t-shirt?

When we are naked, we are at our most vulnerable — physically and emotionally. There are no Miracle bras to lift our breasts to magnificent heights, no control-top panty hose to smooth away the dimples, no high heels to coax our calf muscles out of hiding. And without the armor of clothing, insecurities emerge, with nothing to hide us except a measly little towel. As someone who works out a lot and spends a lot of time in the locker room, I started hearing these comments from women – horrible comments that, if our partner or spouse uttered them, it would be considered emotional abuse…but if we say them to ourselves, it’s somehow acceptable. Things like, “If I could just cut off this part of my leg, then I’d be perfect” or “The scale says 120…I’m so fat! Why can it just say 116?” I realized how what goes on in the women’s locker room can be viewed as a distillation of our of body-obsessed society’s impact on women.

BISJ: Oh yeah! I remember the days when a step on the scale would trigger f-bombs (in my head) followed by depressive sulking. It’s amazing how much a number on a scale can impact our entire day. So, let's delve into the self beating up topic a bit more...

Calvin Klein underwear ad has pervy feel.

Natalia Vodianova is the latest supermodel posing for Calvin Klein underwear which is fine, but I'm trying to figure out why they choose some kiddie p*rn type look & feel to sell undies. There are more pictures of Natalia at her special CKU site. Natalia is 25 years old in real life, but in this ad campaign she looks like some 16 year old high school sophomore posing for some pervy old sugar daddy. "I'll buy you some expensive underwear if you pose for me sweetheart." Ugh!

The video that goes along with this promotion, "Natalia's Room" is equally creepy in that you get that voyeur feeling of peeking in on Natalia rolling around in bed in her undies like she's getting ready to do the nasty. Major icky!

I'm very bummed about this campaign because I really like how Calvin Klein makes underwear. I have a collected a whole drawer full myself over the years. What do you do when you like the product but not the advertising?

A podcast with the ladies of FitSugar

PopSugar is one of my all-time favorite celebrity blogs, and one of their sister blogs is FitSugar, a blog all about fitness, health, and wellness. What I love most about FitSugar is the holistic and upbeat feeling you get when you visit. FitSugar is a fun place to hang out.

I have the extreme pleasure of interviewing Susi, Jenny, and Denise, the ladies who make FitSugar a fabulous voice for vibrant living.

In this podcast, you will learn more about the backgrounds of Susi, Jenny, and Denise, and what their mission is with FitSugar. I also ask them about their opinions on the too-skinny model issue that is so prevalent in the fashion scene, and they share what their readers think about the model issue as well. Lastly, you will learn a little secret about FitSugar that even I was surprised to hear. Enjoy!

Play podcast: Interview with FitSugar (19:47min)

Curves inside. Interview with Curves member Alison

You know what's coming in a few weeks. Oh yes! It's New Year's Resolution time, and on the top of almost everyone's list is "Lose weight." Part of getting rid of that muffin top is joining a gym, and Curves is one of those places that promises that you can "change your life" in just 30 minutes a day.

I've always been curious about Curves.I've never been a member or taken a peek, but my friend Alison of Ali Thinks is a Curves member, and she has graciously spent some time with us to share an insider's view of the Curves experience.

BISJ: So Alison, thank you for taking the time to chat with us about your experience at Curves. We think the idea of Curves is interesting so we'd like to know more about what it's like from one of its members. First question, how long have you been a Curves member?

Alison: Since late May of 2006. I had heard about Curves about a year or so before, and thought it was the kind of gym I would like to try. At the time, I was living in France, and there were no franchises anywhere near me. I joined shortly after moving back to the States.

BISJ: Why did you choose to sign up with Curves versus another type of gym like a Nautilus or Gold's Gym?

Alison: I liked the "women only" concept. When I visited my local Curves, I saw women of all ages and sizes. It seemed less intimidating. There was also the idea that you only do an exercise for about 30 seconds before switching. I had never joined a gym, and wasn't sure I had the physical stamina (or patience) to do X number of reps. And I knew that the workout was very guided, and I felt I needed that.

BISJ: Can you quickly tell us what a typical workout day is like for you at Curves?

Wanna be a model? Mentor advice from a former catwalker

Mama over at Mamavision is one of our favorite bloggers. She is a former model herself, and in her modeling hey day lived in Paris, Milan, and New York. Awhile back, we showed you a video of her talking about her experiences and what her 6 y.o. daughter had to say about "America's Next Top Model" show. Insightful kid.

In this clip, Mamavision comments on the post I did "Walking skeleton at Guy Larouche fashion show" and what model wannabes and their mothers need to know about the modeling world before they jump in. It's very good mentoring type advice. Mamavision isn't deswaying anyone from going into modeling, she just wants people to be educated and informed about the realities. It's not all glamor and it can have some serious impact on your self esteem. It's a good clip.

Dropping pounds the Web 2.0 way with Allen of CenterNetworks

Everyone, I would like you to meet Allen of CenterNetworks, a site that covers news, reviews, insights and interviews from the Web 2.0 and Social Networking industries. Now, what does all this geeky tech stuff have to do with beauty or body image issues? Well, Allen has created a Fat-Off where he is reviewing, in the 30 days in October, web-based applications designed to help people lose weight. I invited him here today so that he can share with us how technology can help you get trim and healthy.

BISJ: Hi Allen! Thanks again for letting us stop by to chat with you about your Fat-off. Before we begin, I do have to share with you that you are officially the first male to be interviewed on Back in Skinny Jeans. It’s a dubious honor. I promise that it will be a pleasant experience as we are all cool-io here.

Allen: That’s cool. I appreciate the interest in the Fat-Off and am excited to be the first male interviewee on Back in Skinny Jeans! This place seems really comfy and I can’t wait to fit into my skinny jeans.

BISJ:So let’s jump in. First, we give you a round of applause for taking action and sharing your experience with others. What was the inspiration behind your Fat-Off, and what do you hope to accomplish in these 30 days?

Allen: I started it because I am fat, super fat actually. This spring I was in Venice. That city is such a romantic place, and I wished I had someone to take a gondola ride with me. I realized that if I don’t make changes to my health, I may never have anyone to share the good (and bad) times with. I want to meet someone special and go on a gondola ride with her.

Also, because of the extra weight, I hate not fitting behind a booth in a diner. I hate flying first class because I can’t fit in economy. In fact, one of my goals is to fly to London economy next year. I hate walking around Paris with everyone staring at me because I am fat. I want to buy clothing in a regular store. As a personal goal, I want to tryout for the Amazing Race next year.

So, when I came back home from Europe, I started to review new web sites that were created to help people lose weight. And the light went off! Why not marry the two things I need to do: review web sites and lose weight. My hope is to spread the word about the Fat-Off because I am sure there are others in the same situation as I am and perhaps we can build a great Fat-Off social community.

BISJ: Now, you are using 5 different web-based applications in your Fat-Off: Traineo, Skinnyr, Gimme20, RunFatBoy, and then you added iTrainharder on day 11. Why did you pick these 5 apps?

Interview: New Moon Publishing giving girls 8-14 a voice in magazines

  I would like to introduce all of you to Catharine Conover, Assistant Managing Editor & Communications Coordinator with New Moon Publishing. New Moon magazine is their award winning, flagship publication where girls 8-14 voice their opinions and dreams. Today, we are going to learn more about New Moon and how they are helping young girls be heard.

BISJ: Hi Catherine! Thank you for joining us at Back in skinny jeans today. First, let's start out with the mission of New Moon Publishing. Can you describe some of the goals that New Moon Publishing is trying to achieve?

Catherine: Our main goal is to provide space for girls to share their voices and opinions with each other and with the world. New Moon is a community just for girls, where they can be themselves and know that they'll be heard and taken seriously. Back in 1992, when Nancy Gruver founded New Moon magazine, there wasn't anything like that available for her twin daughters. So together, they created a magazine by and for girls. Since there were plenty of magazines out there that covered fashion, boys, and makeup, they wanted New Moon to be a place for girls to discuss other topics.

BISJ:  Cool! So, New Moon's effort began with a magazine, and has expanded into other services and products. Can you tell us more about those tools?

Catherine: We have a book club for girls, and we offer New Moon Adventures--trips where girls and parents go dog sledding or swim with the dolphins and then write about their experiences. Our online store carries girl-positive t-shirts, sweatshirts, books, and other fun stuff for girls and women. The proceeds from the store help us keep New Moon magazine advertising-free, so girls aren't bombarded with adult messages that tell them how they should look or act.

BISJ:  The editors of your magazines are actually girls ages 8-14. So,it's like girls talking to girls? How do adults and parents get involved with the content if at all?

Part II Interview with Lara Kulpa: Plus-size model and woman extraordinarire

BISJ: Let's turn to TV and the movies now. You have made it to the semi-final auditions of some reality TV shows like The Biggest Loser, and Monique's Fat Chance. I've personally tried out for some reality shows myself, and once made it to a pre-semi final. The experience for me felt a bit exploitive, but again, that is what reality TV is about. Overall, how was your experience trying out for these shows, and did you ever feel like the casting managers/producers were exploitive of the "fat" issues?

Lara: All of my experiences with reality shows has been nothing short of wonderful. I was one of twelve women for season two of TBL, and as you know, they could only choose six. The following year, I really wasn't sure I was going to resubmit myself, and they called me! They told me that there was a new producer who'd seen my photos and tapes and wanted to meet me, so I re-interviewed all over again. 

It's funny you mention exploitation - for the first one, there was a guy and a girl, and the guy kept telling me that I'm beautiful, and he didn't think I was "big enough". I've always been told that I don't look my weight. I told him that I weighed more than some of the other women on the first season when they started, and he still shook his head in disbelief. So, to prove my point, I dropped trou' and lifted my shirt up to the bottom of my bra! I jiggled my belly right there and said, "Do NOT tell me that I'm not big enough!" He fell out of his chair laughing, and the poor girl - she just couldn't believe what I'd done! She told me that I had a personality for reality TV for sure, and that they were both going to recommend me. Apparently they did!

For the Mo'Nique show, it was a little different. Tina and I both hopped a train at 3 am in order to get in line early for the auditions to open at11 am. We got to talking in line with all the women there with us for quite some time. I met some of the girls from CurvyChick and Venus Divas and even a couple of girls from the REAL Mag contest right there in line, and it was fantastic!

When we went in, we met with the producer and had about 60 seconds of one-on-one time with him. Literally! He then called out numbers of people who stayed, and mine was one of them! Tina actually wound up meeting up with Mo'Nique in the lobby when she went down, and Mo' sent her back up, so she got through to the 2nd round as well. 

BISJ: That must have been a thrill for Tina to get sent back by Mo’Nique herself?

Lara: Absolutely! Mo'Nique spoke to all of us, and it really was an emotional moment. She talked about how hard she's worked to break through the fat barrier herself, and that she's doing this show to help us break through a little easier. She cried when she talked about how much it meant to her that we were all there to support the show. Soon, a room full of 300 women cried along with Mo’Nique. It was a beautiful thing!

For our safety, after interviewing, we had to be escorted by security directly into a taxi. There was a huge crowd of women who wanted to audition, but didn't make it in, and they were pounding on the windows of the hotel, throwing bottles, you name it. Tina and I walked out and comments were made about "white girls" and "they not fat" and all sorts of things. It really bothered me that these women had lost all respect for what the show is really about, simply because they showed up too late to get in the door. To think - all that was going on as we were upstairs bonding with Mo'Nique herself.

BISJ: So, you didn’t make the first season of FAT Chance, but like de ja vu, the show contacted you for the second season, and this is where the drama begins.

Interview with Lara Kulpa: Plus-size model and woman extraordinarire

I would like all of you to meet Lara Kulpa of the blog Lady de la Luna. Lara is a shining example of a woman whose life is in PLAY. She is an aspiring plus-size model, has appearances in two upcoming movies, has come this close to being on two well-known reality shows, and is an internet business owner. We think Lara is cool because she is going after her dreams with confidence, focus, and joy.

BISJ: You have such a fascinating background Lara. We'll jump straight into the issue of models and weight. Recently, there has been a slew of talk and debate about fashion models being too skinny. Now, you are in the world of plus-size modeling where I'm assuming different kinds of debates occur. 

Can you share with us some of the prominent issues in plus-size modeling, and your experience with those issues? As well, can you just quickly tell us what the modeling agents are looking for in a plus-size model today?

Lara: Thank you for the invite, Stephanie! It's an honor to be able to discuss these things with you, and share with your readers.

You're right when you say that different debates occur in the world of plus size modeling. "How plus is too plus?" is a big one. The opportunities change dramatically with each dress size. For example: Two very well known "plus size" clothing store chains only sell a size 12 and up. It's the "industry standard" that once you hit 12, you're considered "plus". 

However, with both of these chains, the models,, used in pictures around the store and in the windows, are only a size 10. Their "mannequins" are always wearing shirts that have been pin-tucked, so even the mannequins are smaller than the clothes they sell. In all reality, a true plus size model can't even get a shoot for a plus size clothing store. 

BISJ: Interesting. So, even in the “plus size” clothing stores where they are “targeting” a larger-size demographic, there is still this push to sell smaller.

Lara: Yes. There's debate on this, as usual. If you ask the talent agents who represent those stores, they'll tell you that the industry standard has dropped to 8 being the cutoff. My answer to that then is, "Well then why doesn't the store carry sizes 10 and up?" To which of course, there is no valid response.

In another example, there is a clothing line targeted to women sized 20’s up to 30’s. They’re style is very "gothic" and "punk". However, I, currently at a size 20, am too small to model for them. So in reality, I'm "in limbo" when it comes to fashion modeling. So for now, I've chosen other kind of modeling work. For example, I was a Redken hair model at the New York State Hair Expo for two years in a row.

BISJ: So, what are the modeling agents looking for in plus size models?