hilarious

It is funny, but does that mean I'm an imaginary woman because I don't gain weight?

Why has it suddenly become cool to glamorous being an unhealthy weight? I'm a little confused.

Nichole Eggert was so freaking gorgeous! I remember being so envious of her beauty when I was a teenager! It just killed me to see her having thrown it away.

She doesn't look healthy to me. She has to be carrying an extra 40 pounds past her natural body weight. I know she's had a child, and that's most of the reason for her stomach, but her arms are the real culprit of unhealthiness to me. Her BMI must be flirting with the obese range.

I also completely disagree that "real women gain weight." It's such an excuse, and also an attack on many women who work to avoid weight gain. There are so many women I see in my neighborhood that are 40 and still have gorgeous figures - it's definitely what I want to be when I reach that age!

These former actresses and models who exploited their slimness in their youth and made the rest of us women feel neurotic about our own weight now know how the rest of us felt as they scampered around in their skivies. I don't feel sorry for them now when they feel ashamed about the body criticism they receive -- they helped set the unreasonable standard of female beauty.

Oops, *glamorize*

In the struggle to promote healthy body image and self-acceptance in all women, it is the height of counter-productivity to use terms like "real women" which imply that anyone who doesn't fit the type is not a woman. I am a woman who is no less real for my slim build and lack of curves. I don't diet and I exercise rarely, but am still at the low end of a healthy body weight and have often faced odd looks and comments from people who think I'm "too thin". I am exactly as thin as my body naturally wants to be. This does not make me fake or unhealthy. I am exttremely tired of heavier women, in an attempt to like their own bodies (which there is nothing wrong with), putting down women with my body type. Women without curves also should be allowed to like our bodies without criticism. So, perhaps if I can't beat 'em I'll join 'em and say that real women don't belittle other women's bodies, regardless of size.

Saying real women gain weight doesn't imply that real women don't also lose weight, stay the same weight, etc. You all are projecting.

Personally, I like her message. Why is a woman obligated to stay the same weight her entire life, and to try to remain as attractive in her 40s as she was in her 20s? Expecting a mom to look like a Baywatch babe--now that's unrealistic and unfair. There's more to a woman than her physical attractiveness. For some people, it's a priority to keep in physical shape (for health or for cosmetic reasons). But other people have different priorities, and it's not our place to judge them. We should support other women in how they choose to live their lives, not judge them for it. Yeah, she's a little fat. So? Is that so bad? What's it to you if she's unhealthy?

Funny! Good for her. I agree with stumbler02. We all gain weight, and lose it. At least she has a sense of humor and is planning on getting back in shape. We should be supportive of that.

Ok that is hilarious!

And why is it ok the glamorize girls who are obviously underweight? People have been doing that for years and no one has a problem with it. People who are size 8 and over are sick of others who put down not having a flat stomach. (I'm a size 4 and I've been told I need to lose weight, I wanted to smack that person). And its time to recognize that being a size 8 is not unhealthy and with so many people around telling you it is. Its frustrating. I'm not sticking up for unhealthy people, if your a 16 or above then I do think there is something seriously wrong with that but its still your body and you still have to live with it and people criticizing you constantly has to suck. Maybe once in a while people want to see bodies like theirs to know that they are not alone. Just a thought.

"She's a little fat. So? Is that so bad?" Actually, yes. It's unhealthy, and the country's weight problem is currently overtaking almost all other preventable behaviors as a cause of health problems and even death. Her weight may not affect me personally, but it's not okay to spread the message that an unhealthy weight is somehow an acceptable way to be. Just like it's not okay to spread the message that an unhealthily low weight is the ideal.

When I see overweight people on the street it's not like I'm going to go up to them and be like "hey, you know you're killing yourself with that cheeseburger, right?" but if you put yourself out there on the internet, I will feel free to judge. I would expect the same if it were my video.

Am I the only one that thinks she's not that fat? She's overweight, sure... but she's certainly not someone I'd call FAT.

Sundaygreen, I agree with you. She's not fat.

And, so what if she is carrying a little more weight? Weight is not the best indication of health. The inventor of BMI has even said that he did not intend for it to be used that way.

I totally agree sundaygreen. Obviously she's not skinny anymore and is probably in the "overweight" bmi range, but I wouldn't say she's obese or fat. I wish that there could actually be some acceptance of women as having a wide range of body types and sizes. Some women will always be thin no matter what they do, some will never be thin. It's just so frustrating, as simplyfab said, that anyone over size 4 is thought of as "overweight" (plus size models start at a size 8 and plus clothing doesn't start till what 14?). If women don't have a "perfect" body then they're fat or less of a woman or something. It also drives me crazy that there is no where near this kind of objectification for men! In Hollywood 99% of the women are thin, toned, etc. and harshly criticized if they get out of shape. But men range much more, some are in shape and some definitely not, but rarely get criticized unless they get really really huge. Like in that new movie "Couple's Retreat" the wives are all really hot and skinny and the guys are either average or kind of pudgy. Men are clearly seen as not coming in just one size so why do we try to push women to have one body type or size? It's maddening!

I am sorry, but it really shows how fat has become the norm in America when there's even a question about this. She's not just fat, but obese - considering her natural body weight. This girl was barely a size 4.

One more thing, there is also a difference as others have said between being a little overweight and being obese. One is not so bad and the other is, and being underweight (if that's not just your natural body type) is unhealthy too. Clearly there is a weight/health problem in this country and I don't think we should glamorize being unhealthy, but being shown only pictures of very thin women (which aren't always even totally real!)and told that this is the only beauty ideal isn't healthy either because very few people can attain that in a healthy way. You don't have to be a size 2 to be healthy.

I'm a little surprised at how negative some of these comments are. I actually thought Nicole looked pretty great even if she is carrying around some extra pounds. And she clearly isn't "obese" as one commenter was suggesting - sure, she could be in better shape and that would make her healthier, but it's also unhealthy to be so focused on staying thin, which I think was the entire point of the video. Can't we all just take a deep breath and ease up on the judgement a little?

I know everyone is entitled to their opinions to OBESE, really? Then what would someone like Kristie Allie be? I'm not trying to attack, I'm simply trying to understand your point of view. From these comments you've made and previous ones, it seems as if women only come in two categories "toned and inshape" or "obese"

Kristie Allie would be morbidly obese. Look at the Bmi chart. Obesity is scientifically defined at a point that is sooner than I am guessing many believe it is.

Also? There are other diagnostic standards even stricter than Bmi. They are used for diabetes screening.

As always, tlsgirl, spacekatgirl, and I are on the same page. However, I will throw out there that I think the too-small bikini makes Nicole look a lot more overweight than she actually is.

obese? are you kidding me? the shots of her running, she's certainly wobbly but she has muscle tone and a good shape! put her in a shapely dress that emphasises her arms and slimmer upper body, and no one would be saying a thing!

and who says her size 4 weight during baywatch was even her natural body weight? this is hollywood we're talking about.

I can see this woman losing maybe 10kg and then being at a healthy weight (normal baby weight to lose), but calling her obese is excessive.

"it's not okay to spread the message that an unhealthy weight is somehow an acceptable way to be."

I can't believe someone actually said this. What a sad, sick society we live in, if we have to shame fat people into becoming thin, before we can deem them "acceptable" or "okay." I think Nicole Eggert is perfectly acceptable and OK, no matter how much weight she's gained since her Baywatch days.

I just think it's a basic act of human dignity to accept all people, regardless of their personal choices. I have never been above a size 2 in my life. If I gained 100 pounds, I'd lose it as soon as possible. But I would never, ever at any point, stop accepting myself or loving myself. Weight has nothing to do with character, "acceptability," or how other people ought to treat you. Our society has to move past this shaming and criticism of fat people, and instead look at it as an issue of personal health. The way you all are talking about it, it's clear that you yourselves are incredibly afraid of "fat," and have to put down or shun fat women in order to distance yourselves from them.

I will also agree with that, Chloebella. It exasterbates a region with loose skin she has from having a child.

The comments sound a bit mean. Nicole still looks really beautiful to me and I think she's really brave doing this. Okay so she is overweight, which isn't healthy. It happens, she knows it and is going to do something about it.

Give her a break.

Stumbler02 said everything that needs to be said. I don't understand the motivation behind shaming fat people. Is it to feel better about yourself and demonstrate how amazing you are and better than them you are? Because that's what it looks like to me and that's unattractive.

Love it! Great video.

I think that spacekatgal and others are being a little harsh. I thought that she looked good at first. Certainly curvier than she used to, but good. When she came into clearer view, it seemed that she could stand to lose some weight, but it seems like she recognizes that too. All she's trying to say is that weight gain happens in life, and you have to deal with it, but she's not going to be ashamed of herself for gaining weight.
And I think it's ridiculous to say that she was at her natural weight when she was on Baywatch. Sure, she's petite, but she probably had to live by a very strict diet and exercise regimen in order to look that way for the show, and that's not what healthy living is really about either.

She is NOT carrying an extra 40lbs, some of these comments are insane!

And I think you are hiding behind this "health" excuse.

She is not close to obese, I am glad I watched it, I thought I was gonna be looking at a big woman!

She is not toned at all, her swimsuit it too small, and her running makes everything jiggle, making things look even worse.

She can stand to work out and lose 15lbs and mostly just as a side effect of toning up.

She's 5 foot 1, which is tiny. At that height, she'll be technically obese at 155. She looks between 140 and 150 to me - but it's hard for me to judge because I'm six foot two, and I don't have firsthand experience with weight when you are shorter.

She is certainly flirting with obesity.

You can be a little overweight and still be relatively healthy. I agree that obesity is a serious issue for anyone, but she's not obese. I would seriously doubt, to be honest, that the figure that she maintained in her Baywatch days was her "natural body weight". Maybe she could lose a little bit of weight if she WANTS to, but she's not dangerously overweight by any means and there are SO many more important things to concentrate on than weight. I realise that I'm in recovery from an eating disorder and am a little biased, but I still read FitSugar because I'm interested in good nutrition and general health, but at least 50% of the posts and comments seem to be about people's weight. I'd love to read more stories about the benefits of different foods and practices like meditation, acupuncture, etc - ways to maintain a healthy mind AND body, without being too hung up over precise weight ranges.

a) I didn't find the video funny.
b) Nicole could stand to lose a few pounds soley for optimal health reasons, not for any aesthetic reasons.
c) I also don't like the "real women..." comments, in almost any case, not just this one.
d) I'm very jealous of spacekat's height

The strange thing about this is that Eggert herself assisted in constructing the very "shallow" attitude that she is ostensibly finding fault with here, by being in Baywatch in the first place. Who is she to criticize?

I agree,Spark. Of course, alot of us do dumb things in our 20's. We thought er got it, but we didn't. Story of life!

If she is 5'1, me being within that height range, I can tell you she is probably no more than 140, (my aunt is 5'1 and weighs 138, and in a tiny bikini, on camera, her body is identical to the girl in the clip, if not slightly bigger since my aunt has a bigger chest) ...

now, 140 - 40 = 100, a bmi of 18.9, thats the edge of healthy weight teetering on underweight...then take into consideration this woman has had a kid and is over 30 yrs of age (where metabolism naturally slows down and one's natural weight rises)

To expect her to be 100lbs is not realistic or healthy IMO.

Does she need to shed some pounds, yes, does she need to tone up, for sure...but it is not nearly as bad as some of us are painting it.

The comments about her being obese aren't just completely off-base, they're actually pretty scary and reflective of really distorted perceptions of what constitutes a healthy weight. Seriously, someone ought to monitor these comments more carefully - it would be awful and incredibly damaging if someone with body image issues read the nonsense that some people have posted.

who the fu*k cares

I find it very interesting that some of the more insensitive (and, IMHO, obnoxious) comments being made here are being made by self-professed "thin" people. I guess being fortunate enough to conform to the societal standard of the physical ideal -- and without any effort as we all now know -- makes some people feel as though they have the right to come down on others who don't conform to that standard like a ton of bricks. And, please, spare me the whole "people think I'm anorexic" and "people tell me to gain weight" song and dance that you're using as an excuse to lambast someone who -- like it or not -- actually more closely resembles the MAJORITY of American women than someone who is a size 2 (or 4, for that matter). Is it unhealthy to be overweight? Yes. No one is arguing about that. But, it's also true that real women do gain weight. Especially women over the age of 30 or 35. And, especially women who have had children. Sure, some women are (REALLY) fortunate not to hit metabolic hurdles and they can maintain their youthful figures well into their 50s. Excellent. But, most women can't. That's what "real women gain weight" means. You have to flip it upside down ... It does not mean that the lucky minority who remain thin are not real women. What it means is, contrary to the messages we as women are bombarded with every day, you are still a real woman if you gain weight. No matter what number your scale screams at you in the morning, you are still sexy, worthwhile, valuable and ... real.

I agree with post #36 and will take it a step further: some of the comments here are downright sick. So, you're thin. Good for you. Be happy you don't have to struggle with your weight the way most women do and leave the negativity at the door. Seriously -- check yourself. Instead of hopping on the soapbox, why not applaud her for (1) acknowledging she's gained weight, and (2) trying to do something about it, as mentioned in the article. Jeez ... chillax

Fitsugar posted a book a while back called "The End of Overeating." It posts a lot of science that shows that thin women don't have higher metabolism. They eat better and exercise more. They have defense mechanisms from getting fat.

I don't speak from inexperience here. At my heaviest I was 268 pounds, and I now weigh 150. I even had my story of weight loss run in a national magazine. I do understand how easy it is to get fat in America.

But, I also know how miserable it makes you feel. How much it sucks your energy away. How much people treat you like you're invisible. And I will NEVER be an apologist for promoting an uncomfortable spoonful of reality if it makes people get off their butt and do something about it.

I am for empowerment, not excuses.

I am with sundaygreen. Honestly this women is 40!!! Your metabolism can change sooo much. Even drugs you are on can really mess you metabolism. Look at me, I was fit and toned 6 months ago then I went on a new BC pill (and I kept my great workout plan and eating plan) and I GAINED 30 pounds!!! It happens!!! And I am NOT starving myself to get those pounds off! Sorry! I am working hard at the gym, keeping OFF the horomones, and continuing to eat right.

Geez people can be so critical! I hope that i look like that when I am 40 after having babies!

Wow. Looks like some people agree with her and others are pretty upset with her. Well I think that like all other models, actresses and other entertainers that had to spend their energy staying thin, it's only natural that they would want a chance to let themselves go and actually be happy. Yep, I'm saying that most of them are not happy in the business. Why do you think so many people are depressed and having breakdowns? Sure they are the envy of most of us normal Janes, but at what cost? While we ate ice cream and hung out with our friends or slept in on Saturday mornings, they had to do interviews, steer clear of bad foods, miss out on being one of the girls and get ridiculed about one thing or another. You can say they didn't have to do all those things, but when it comes to the business you have to do what it takes or they find someone younger and cuter to replace you. Your career can be over any minute and if you don't have any special skills what do you have to fall back on? Being an entertainer is not what it seems at all. It's a lot of hard work just like any 9-5 job, but even worse because you have people watching your every move. One thing I've found out about girls who make it their top goal to stay thin and looking good is that they are able to do things that most of us can't or wouldn't do. Their will power is really strong because of that "someone better than me could come along at any moment" mindset. So please, let the woman enjoy living her life the way most of us do for once. Most women (especially in America) do have weights that fluctuate. I don't support obesity though, always exercise and throw some fruits and veggies into your diet.

Um, being overweight is not acceptable **for your health.** It's just a fact. It's about as acceptable as being a smoker. I think you're reading too much into what I wrote.

some of you have no grasp of reality! i can't believe some of these comments - i'm appalled by your ignorance and lack of sensibility. nicole eggert IS NOT OBESE. if she toned her body and shed 10lbs of fat, she would look amazing. she's 37, her metabolism has caught up with her, and when she gets back on the fitness wagon she will ENHANCE her beauty even more.

she is nowhere near 40lbs overweight. she would be deemed unhealthy if she lost that much, and probably loose muscle in the process, which isn't healthy to do at all.

some are born with the genetic predisposition to maintain an anorexic looking body type their entire lives, but for the majority of people, we have to work hard at staying healthy through fitness and diet.

some of you are missing the point here: nicole eggert wants to improve her body using the right methods.

so lay off!

don't put someone down for working out hard and eating right so that they can look good like the rest of you skinnies. would you make fun of a child learning to read, or learning how to ride a bike? No, because they are trying their best at achieving something great. chew on that for a while.

*** for the record, i am 25 years old, 5'4'' and 123lbs.

Anonymous above - would you judge someone for smoking, or using harmful illegal drugs? Because it's pretty much the same thing. I'm so freaking sick of people sticking up for a PREVENTABLE heath risk. It's disgusting.

So here is a test I did.

Told my bf who this women was and made him watch it and asked HIM if she was fat or obese. His reaction? She looks damn good for 40! He thinks she looks like a normal women and doesn't think she is obese AT ALL!

"So, you're thin. Good for you. Be happy you don't have to struggle with your weight the way most women do and leave the negativity at the door."

This is the point a lot of people miss. Thin people KNOW that it takes effort to be thin. I was naturally very skinny as a kid and teen, but at 26, I have to work to stay thin. I'm in a profession where I sometimes sit for 60 hours a week at a desk, and I know how hard it is to get out of bed at 4:30 am to get to gym. I also know how hard it is to order a healthy meal at business lunches when my all-male co-workers are eating double cheeseburgers and fries with dessert. But I also know I don't want to end up like some of my co-workers who got sucked into our workaholic profession and haven't exercised in 20 years and barely have the stamina to walk to the end of the block. So please, spare me the "losing weigh takes effort and you thin people just don't understand" speech, because those of us who make healthy lifestyle choices are already well aware that it takes work. As one of my Bikram yoga instructors says: "Beer and fries are easy. THIS is hard." And for the record, I personally don't care if people choose to have unhealthy lifestyles. But I get really frustrated when they feel the need to defend their choices by blatantly criticizing thin women and implying that if you don't have a giant roll of belly fat, you're not a "real woman."

I love you Chloe Bella! Well said!!!

It takes a lot of work to stay skinny past 25. But, it's certainly not insurmountable.

I totally agree. And, Lovely, I have to say. I think your boyfriend has a lower opinion of the beauty a 40 year old woman can achieve than I do. Look at Kylie Minouge - she is beyond gorgeous. I will have much higher standards for myself when I am 40!

spacekatgal thats great for you! I hope you look like your goal when your 40 on the other hand I really don't think I have the type of body that will allow me to look like Kylie when I am 40. I will continue to eat healthy and excersice but honestly I am not "stick thin" now and I am certain getting older and having childern will not help me get skinnier!

I thought the video was pretty funny. I also did not think Nicole looked obese or seriously overweight in the video...definitely not overweight enough to impact her health. When I was 140 lbs (I'm 5'3"), I still looked chunky but all my numbers were great and I had started running, so I was in shape. I decided 140 was too heavy for me personally and decided to lose more weight because I wanted to LOOK better and be lighter. I'm sure Nicole's natural weight is not 140, but it probably isn't where it was when she was on Baywatch, either. I applaud her for wanting to lose a few pounds, but I don't think we need to be encouraging people to be unnaturally thin for some unnattainable ideal. That being said, I also don't think it's a good message to send that it's inevitable that women gain weight. No one has to gain weight; just make better decisions as you age and you can still be hot at 40.

People always feel the need to justify their own discrimination and hang ups.