Newsflash: Mariah Carey's lost some weight. Again. This comes after she gained some weight. Again.
In an OK magazine article titled, "Mariah: How I Got Thin," we learn that Mariah has last almost 30 pounds in the last seven months. Her secret? No, no, it's not her forkful diet again. This time, Mariah's lost the weight by reportedly "eating a plain diet of soup and fish, following a strict workout plan and--most importantly--by not stressing about how her body looks."
Does that sentence even make sense? The article is full of contradictions like this--if you're not stressing about how your body looks, then why are you eating what she reports is her own words as a "bleak diet" and stating, "'I still feel like I have a ways to go, but it is what it is. . . . It does feel good when you get into a nice size three and you're like, "It feels big in here." We should all embrace who are are physically.'" Mixed messages much? And, what's a size three, anyway?
Her trainer, Patricia, says that Mariah's workouts depend on her daily intake: "'If she's serious about the food, then she doesn't have to work out that much.'" Besides sounding like an entry to exercise bulimia, isn't this statement just flat out wrong? Shouldn't a personal trainer be promoting exercise across the board?
Mariah says of Patricia: "'I love her. But sometimes, she can be very strict. If I want a little snack, I know if Patricia's in the kitchen, she's going to give me something really bleak to eat, so I don't even bother going downstairs. I just send somebody else to get something for me and sneak it up!'" Sneaking food when deprived--another pathway to an eating disorder.
"'I like flavor in my life. I don't just want chicken stock and zucchini and carrots and call it a day. Patricia will also give me fish and chicken." Well, thank goodness for that. My concern, as you can see, is that the "every woman" who reads this type of article doesn't even stop to realize how flat-out wrong it is--how the messages contained within promote (clearly) yo-yo dieting and (with a little more subtlety) eating disordered thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. And then there's Dr. Jackowski. . .
In the article, "body image expert," Dr. Edward Jackowski, comments on one of Mariah's shots: "'Her upper body and stomach look good in this photo. She can carry more weight because she's got the wide shoulders and boobs to support it.'" Um, why is a doctor using the word, "boobs"? (Plus, what's a body image expert? Wasn't that akin to my new title? ; ))
Dr. Jackowski, who earned his Doctorate in Behavioral Management from the International University for Graduate Studies, is well-known for classifying us into four body types (it's not just apples and pears, anymore, ladies). Think you're a professional? A wife? A mother? A functional member of society? Uh-uh. You're a spoon. Or an hourglass, a ruler, or cone. Now, carry on, as your intended shape. Me? Looks like I require a trip to the ice cream shoppe. ; )
17 comments:
Well, anything about Mariah makes me want to throw up anyway, but this article just tops it. There's nothing healthy about it!
wow that really is messed up. I really hate how she referst o zucchini, carrots and other vegetables as "bleak." To me that's simply not true! Granted I don't want them all the time and occasionally want something else but I would never call them bleak! I wonder how the vegans feel about this? Not only is she promoting horrible images and thought process but she is also promoting the idea that healthy food = bleak and boring.
Yet another reason not to read OK magazine or listen to Mariah Carey.
If I hold up my arms the right way, I may be a fork. But a salad fork, as am very short.
The better to eat with...
a
Letter to the Editor Dr. S? I think you should do it.
This article just makes me depressed on so many levels. Aside from the whole diet/body image nonsense (I'll let your other readers vent on that), but seriously, look at the state of media today. The major news channels... the magazines...even the NY times has its moments! The bar just keeps getting lower - is this a reflection of declining integrity and intelligence in the media... or that media feel they have to cater their news to an increasingly more stupid public? Some combination? I've become so jaded.
*facepalm*
I'm always stunned at the complete lack of self-awareness that people who are supposed to be constantly aware can demonstrate.
Did that make sense?
Di
http://fatchic.dianarajchel.com
As a college stupid aiming for a degree in exercise science... these types of trainers disgust me.
"If she's serious about food..." - what is this supposed to mean? What happened to having a healthy, consistent diet and regular exercise? What a nice way to teach someone to starve themselves so they don't have to exercise. You're right, that's training for an eating disorder.
I feel that I should read the article myself before commenting further... but I don't think I'd be able to finish it.
April, if you're a fork, then you're cleared to go on the forkful diet. Just eat until you're full, and no more.
Oh, ick. And I just read that Janet Jackson is going to write a book about her weight issues and how she's lost weight over all her ups and downs. Great.
Her veggies are probably bleak because she's not allowed to have butter, spices, or cheese on them. So yeah, plain veggies all the time> Yech! Spiced and herbed and flavored veggies? I'll eat them any time.
This is just sad. Myriah's diet/exercise plan is definitely ED-promoting.
Sadder to, is that are probably tons of people in North America who wish they could afford to hire a traininer to treat them them the way Myriah gets treated.
Let's just say that the entertainment industry is NOT the place to go for healthy role models. Physically OR mentally!
Alyssa is right. It's not just Mariah. Probably the majority of female celebs participate in some sort of deprivational or compensatory eating and exercise behaviors. I can't stand it when they mostly all claim that they simply "watch their portions" or simplify their efforts to sound healthy.
While I hate the message Mariah and her trainer are sending to readers, at least she's honest about how she attained her figure.
I can't think of a reason why she wouldn't be allowed to have spices on her veggies. Butter or cheese, though, there's no need to mess up healthy veggies with that stuff.
I never really felt sorry for rich celebs before, but constant scrutiny of my weight in magazines would surely make me quite nuts.
Dear Doctor,
They absolutely did try to usurp your title.
But, apparently the presumed definitions vary widely.
It's comparable to using the phrase, "journalist" to define both Gwen Ifill, and the quirky girls who host the "Reality Chat" (a hybrid of my least favorite types of television programming. Especially when I just want to check the listings) show on the TV Guide Channel.
In case there's any confusion, you're Ms. Ifill in this comparison.
With respect....
Mariah Carey has always had issues with food, I think. She used to be pretty slim, but I think she worked out a lot then. I think it's sad when people think of veggies and fruit as "bleak" or "tasteless" or whatever. I may be in the minority, but I actually LIKE veggies. I think a lot of Hollywood celebs are borderline ED cases...constantly obsessing about calories and working out so that they can fit into an ideal that is pretty difficult to attain.
That being said, I do think Mariah should wear different clothes though. Most of the stuff she wears is not really that age appropriate and usually makes her look HEAVIER than she really is.
"her upper body and stomach look good in this photo" says the Dr.
I hate it when anybody uses the word "stomach" to refer to an abdomen. The stomach is on the inside, your abdomen, torso, waist, belly, is on the outside.
Do I need a doctor to tell me what looks good?
i say good on you mariah if she wants to lose the weight thats her choice. anyway theres no excuse to be fat and eat right is it really that hard?? half the ppk in this world are obese they should all go on this diet
Post a Comment