FitSugar

Have You Ever Hung Up a Photo as Motivation?

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

I haven't yet cracked a copy of Andre Agassi's new tell-all, Open, but I have been reading reviews and can't help but be fascinated by the revelations about the tennis star, his equally talented wife, and his ex, Brooke Shields. I especially love this tidbit:

In preparation for her wedding to Agassi, Shields embarks on an exercise regimen and hangs an inspiration photo on the refrigerator door. The photo is of the woman who Shields thinks has perfect legs. The woman is Agassi’s future second wife, Steffi Graf.

Growing up, my mom often put a photo of her younger self on the fridge when she was trying to lose weight. Have you ever done anything like this?

Surgery to Get Your Feet Stiletto-Slim?

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:00:48 -0800

According to Christian Louboutin, Barbie has cankles - but she's not the only one who needs a makeover to fit her stilettos. Apparently, donning perfectly crafted sky-high heels means women need perfectly re-crafted feet to match. In fact, even while most cosmetic procedures are on the decline - thanks to the recession - podiatrists report that the demand for cosmetic foot surgery is on the rise.

The fashion industry is already credited with making women feel inadequate when it comes to their figures, but I was surprised to learn that even a pair of strappy, heeled sandals can wreak havoc on female body image, causing some women to develop body dysmorphic disorder about their feet. Michelle Tzonov, a massage therapist from San Diego, always enjoyed an active lifestyle - an avid runner, hiker, dancer, and snowshoer - who decided her fully functionally, but bunion-covered, feet were in need of a makeover. Multiple surgeries to beautify her feet with intensive cosmetic surgery and a bunionectomy have since left her feet mutilated and saddled her with excruciating pain, likely to be lasting results of her botched surgeries.

To see how three inch heels affect your body, read more.

On their own heels are bad enough - even at three-inches high, they can increase the weight on the forefront of the foot by 110 percent, displacing bones and tissue, according to a recent study by the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. But, surgery to get the foot stiletto-ready can cause severe complications that will eventually radiate throughout the whole body. While I'm certainly not an advocate of any kind of cosmetic surgery, just think of it this way - face work will never jeopardize your ability to walk, but feet support the whole body - mess with them and you're likely to jeopardize any kind of movement, especially the ability to strut your stuff in a pretty pair of Louboutins.

Glee's Amber Riley Weighs In on the Hollywood Skinny

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:30:24 -0700

If you watch Glee, then you probably know Amber Riley as Mercedes - the gal that brought the house down on last week's episode singing Jill Scott's "Hate on Me." Like the feisty character she portrays, Amber told Life and Style magazine that as a full-figured actress, it's important to be happy with yourself. She says,

“You’re not your dress size, you’re not your shoe size, you’re not your pants size. If I’m going to wear a name tag, it’s going to say ‘Amber Riley,’ not ‘Fat Girl’!”

The self-admitted shoeaholic, Amber likes formfitting clothes rather than "plus-size clothes that look like tents." She has a shape and she wants to show it. This young actress rocks a size 16, looks up to Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson, and is brimming with confidence. In Hollywood, a land where it is rare for women to be satisfied with their looks, body, and weight, I find her positive body image refreshing. How about you?

If you're a big fan of the show, be sure to enter Buzz's Glee giveaway for a chance to hang out with one of the cast members!

Reality Check: Lipo Won't Make You Look Like Jennifer Aniston

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:30:30 -0700

It's not uncommon for women to be unhappy with a part of their appearance - a wide nose, a saggy belly, or lumpy tush. Some women learn to embrace their imperfections, while others opt for plastic surgery.

In her new memoir, Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin, the actress, 48, shows a photo of her botched liposuction. She decided to post the picture "because I wanted women to know when you get liposuction, trying to be Jennifer Aniston, this is what it really looks like."

Kathy got her first nose job at 26 and has spent years trying to change her appearance. She said, "I was on a television show and thought that I could be thinner and better and happier." But says she never felt that urge before, when she was a bank teller; her insecurities about how she looks stem from the pressures of being on TV. Although she felt it would make her happy, she wasn't the only one thinking she should get work done. Agents and casting directors advised Kathy to go under the knife too. The comedian isn't sure when it will end because, she admits, "I am always going to want to be Jennifer Aniston."

Are You Concerned About Cankles?

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:00:46 -0700

"Cankles" is a slang term combining "calf" and "ankle," suggesting that there's not much definition between the two areas. Some people's legs just look that way; there's not much you can do about it except just accept it and move on! But apparently, cankles are becoming a new body obsession.

Sometimes, thicker ankles can be caused by health problems, such as diabetes or hypertension. But usually, says Dr. Kathya Zinszer, they are just a "God-given" fact of life. She's had patients request liposuction on their ankles, but she doesn't recommend it. Rather, Zinszer says people shouldn't worry about the size of their ankles, but about how to keep them strong to prevent injury. What do you think of all this fuss about cankles?

Weigh In: I'm Self-Conscious Around My Skinny Friend

FitSugar — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 03:30:00 -0700

This FitSugar reader sure could use your advice.

Dear Fit,
My husband recently started a new job and invited one of his co-workers over. I instantly hit it off with his wife because we're both teachers, both love yoga, and are vegetarian. We've been getting together a lot lately but slowly I'm becoming more and more self-conscious around her. She's much thinner than I am, extremely toned, and super healthy. Whenever we go out to dinner, she always orders a salad for her meal, and I feel like a cow if I order something that's less than healthy, like a veggie burger and fries or dessert.

Her husband owns a boat and invited us on it this weekend, but I lied and said we were busy, because I'm embarrassed to be seen in a bathing suit next to her. I'm working on losing weight and becoming more loving of my flaws, but how can I get over my insecurities and not let it affect our friendship?
- Self-Conscious Carol

If you have any experience with this, or any suggestions, please share in the comments section below.

Does This Cellulite-Busting Machine Really Work?

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:00:58 -0700

It's estimated that 80 to 85 percent of women are blessed with cellulite, including many of you FitSugar readers. That puckery skin on our legs, booty, belly, and arms is the reason many of us exercise and diet.

Unfortunately, lunges and healthy living don't always get rid of it, and for those who are really self-conscious, there's a new treatment known as SmoothShapes. Used by dermatologists, this device claims to smooth out lumpy skin and have "lasting cellulite reduction results." Is that a vague way of saying "forever"? The device has even been approved by the FDA "for the temporary reduction of the appearance of cellulite." Learn more from a CBS News video on how it works when you read more.

I find it interesting that the doc is so hard to pin down on a price. I also like how he likens the procedure to dental cleaning, meaning you need sessions every six months. What do you think of SmoothShapes? Would you be interested in trying it out?

Jennifer Love Hewitt Sheds Pounds and Gains Some Wisdom

FitSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:30:15 -0700

No stranger to unwanted media attention on her body size, Jennifer Love Hewitt has spoken out in the past on the media's constant scrutiny of women's bodies. Photos of her with a fuller-figure in a bathing suit created quite a stir last year and the frenzy over her weight gain followed by her shedding 18 pounds made her feel "a little embarrassed. It made me a little sad. It hurt my feelings."

She told Us Weekly:

It gets silly. We're all supposed to look how we're supposed to look. We're made to be different people. Not everybody can be super tall and super skinny. You have to look inside yourself and find your own confidence. It wavers from day to day, but that's human nature.

Although her choice of footwear for a game of tennis may not be the best, her words about body image and self-confidence are wise and true.

Stephanie Pratt Says The Hills Made Her Bulimic

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:10:25 -0700

In a recent issue of Us Weekly, Stephanie Pratt opened up for the first time about her struggle with bulimia. Stephanie cites working alongside her super-skinny costars on The Hills as the cause of her eating disorder, which began after joining the cast in 2007. After watching a scene she shot with Lauren Conrad, the 5'7" star said, "I was horrified. I remember saying, 'I can't believe how huge I look walking over to Lauren.'" Then the awful cycle of binging and purging began. When filming in Hawaii with female cast members clad in only bikinis, Stephanie wore a bathing suit and a cover-up. When she asked costar Audrina Patridge what looked better, "shirt on or off," and Audrina responded "On," Pratt really felt the pressures to be thin. Stephanie said she never felt pressure directly from the producers, but she said, "It's embarrassing working with skinny girls."

Do you empathize with Stephanie? Have you ever felt pressure from your peers or co-workers to be "skinny"?

Source

Do Celebrity Weight Battles Cause More Harm Than Good?

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Weight issues don't make someone famous, but they frequently become center stage once celebrity status is official. Sure, the general public is overly concerned by struggles with the scale. But the celebrities who publicize their weight battles could be damaging the way the overweight public handles their own body issues.

The New York Times takes issue with celebrity weight battles in a piece that explores the various ways celebs deal with their public struggles. The Times interviewed overweight women who feel offended and unmotivated when Kirstie Alley makes statements like "I was so much more disgusting than I thought!" and when Oprah admits that she's embarrassed about hitting 200 pounds again.

Self-esteem takes a beating when "before" pictures resemble what these women currently see in the mirror, and this affects the way the public perceives people who are overweight. Still, as one weight stigma expert says, "Celebrities can show us how complex this problem is. Even if you have all the resources at your fingertips, it doesn’t make you immune. So it’s important to see that it’s a battle for everyone."