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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by shadows721 on July 26, 2004, at 0:48:06
I was recently in a victoria's secret store. I actually felt fat looking at those pictures of the models and the maniquins. How do the models stay so thin? Do they just drink liquids? I could do that and still not loose thanks to these psych meds.
Posted by sb417 on July 26, 2004, at 1:04:32
In reply to HOW DO THOSE MODELS GET SO THIN?, posted by shadows721 on July 26, 2004, at 0:48:06
I wouldn't envy them if I were you. I'm sure that there are some models who are naturally long, lean and lanky and who eat healthfully and exercise. Unfortunately, there are probably just as many who got thin and stay that way by smoking, taking illicit drugs like cocaine, and engaging in unhealthy behaviors like starving, binging, purging, etc. I've seen some of these women in person, and I don't find them attractive at all. Healthy women are attractive.
Posted by partlycloudy on July 26, 2004, at 7:26:02
In reply to Re: HOW DO THOSE MODELS GET SO THIN? » shadows721, posted by sb417 on July 26, 2004, at 1:04:32
Posted by Racer on July 26, 2004, at 8:48:10
In reply to Re: HOW DO THOSE MODELS GET SO THIN? » shadows721, posted by sb417 on July 26, 2004, at 1:04:32
Seconding that: having seen both print and runway models in person, you don't want to use them as any kind of a basis for comparison. Aside from the basic fact that 'normal' women will never look like that, a lot of the models just are NOT attractive close up: lots of the sort of unhealthy, yellowish skin as well as other signs of ill health. Airbrushing and make up can do amazing things.
Also, remember that cameras do funny things to apparent weight: while Xena, Warrior Princess was still on the air, I saw Lucy Lawless at a convention for TV execs. On TV, she looked lovely -- voluptous, womanly, just *gorgeous*, right? In person, she looked just barely this side of scrawny. (But still absolutely beautiful. Let's not forget that part of it! She is a very beautiful woman -- just quite thin.) In my younger days, I was a photographic model, and can tell you that looking "thin enough" on film required a lot of work -- not only in starving myself relentlessly, to the point of physical weakness, but also on the photographer's part. Lighting, camera angle, even the processes used in development all affected the outcome -- whether I looked slender or fat.
And let me tell you -- some photographers could be downright cruel! Even the one I worked for most, who "loved me", would often scold me about how disappointed she was in me for getting "so fat." It's damned hard to admit to an eating disorder, so I don't know how prevalent they really were among other models, but they sure seem common.
'Sides, you're prettier than they are, so they should be trying to meet your standard, rather than the other way around!
Posted by Wildflower on July 26, 2004, at 11:40:58
In reply to HOW DO THOSE MODELS GET SO THIN?, posted by shadows721 on July 26, 2004, at 0:48:06
Even though I know the destructive ways that models abuse their bodies (anorexia, bulimia, starvation, drugs, alcohol,etc.), I still wish I looked like one. It's very frustrating to shop knowing that clothes will rarely fit me. It doesn't help that they have posters of the svelt models hanging near the dressing room. :-(
Posted by tabitha on July 26, 2004, at 13:24:41
In reply to Re: HOW DO THOSE MODELS GET SO THIN? » shadows721, posted by Wildflower on July 26, 2004, at 11:40:58
There's a condition called androgen insensitivity syndrome. What happens is a person is born with XY chromosome, but their body is immune to the effects of male hormones. So they end up with female external genital development (usually), female puberty, yet they're sterile and have no periods. They also end up
- unusually tall and long-legged
- lean, yet large-breasted
- usually thick scalp hair yet little or no body hair
- unusually clear skin (no acne)
- slightly larger teeth than a normal woman
- often unusually beautiful, and end up in professions that value female beauty.There's speculation that some percentage of supermodels have this condition.
Just food for thought..
Posted by shadows721 on July 26, 2004, at 16:52:59
In reply to HOW DO THOSE MODELS GET SO THIN?, posted by shadows721 on July 26, 2004, at 0:48:06
Oh, I have seen on Cosmo covers where the waist was the same size as the head of the model. I thought now that's not really possible. What I am looking at is the clothing catalog too. I think these women can't be on birth control pills or antidepressants. But, I know they must starve, but it doesn't appear to shorten their life span - look at Christy Brinkley. There's another model in her 50's with the space between her front teeth. I can't think of her name. Of course, there are others.
They have to be doing something to get that thin. Normally, women are more fat than muscle. It seems like these women would drop dead from lack of food and just smoking and taking meds to curb the appetite.
I am down, because I am watching everything that I am eating on these darn antidepressants and I can't win. I've gained now 7 pounds. They must slow the metabolism, because I eat less now than I did before the meds. I hate this! I feel like the weight is going to keep climbing. I don't feel comfortable with extra weight either. All my clothes fit skin tight. I can't afford to buy new pants.
I guess. I look at these pretty skeltons and think, "Darn, why can't I just loose 5 lbs?"
Posted by Racer on July 27, 2004, at 9:37:48
In reply to Re: HOW DO THOSE MODELS GET SO THIN?, posted by shadows721 on July 26, 2004, at 16:52:59
Aha! *Now* I see why you were asking...
The anti-depressants not only slow the metabolism, some of them do a fair number of other things that cause weight gain -- remember, your gut uses more serotonin than your brain does, so ...
Here's the only advice I can give you on this one: go talk to your doctor about this. More and more articles are coming out for drs about how much of an issue weight gain is for patients, and some include suggestions for mitigating it. There are a few meds that can help, including some that are pretty benign. (Because some drs are still pretty well indoctrinated that anti-depressants -- and birth control pills -- just make women feel so good we go out and eat a cheesecake every afternoon when we finish our bon-bons, I'd still suggest keeping a food diary for a week or so to show what you really do eat...)
Best luck. That's so distressing, and believe me I know!
Posted by starlight on July 27, 2004, at 16:57:44
In reply to Re: HOW DO THOSE MODELS GET SO THIN? ? shadows721, posted by Racer on July 27, 2004, at 9:37:48
There are other options for meds that don't cause weight gain. You should check psycho babble.
starlight
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