Weight Watchers - Anyone else see Entertainment Tonight last night?

They were interviewing Renee Zellweger (she was in Jerry Maquire, Nurse Betty). She played a role where she had to gain weight for the part. ET made it sound like she really had packed on the weight & plumped up. I come to find out that she was up to a "whopping" 120 pounds at a height of 5'5" tall - her normal weight is only 100 pounds!! How screwed up is that!!

No wonder most women have such a distorted view of what they should really weigh. And, to top it off, her co-star Hugh Grant said they he still thought she was sexy at her somewhat "plumper" weight. Gimme a break - Sheesh....

Katie

No actually her normal weight is 105 and she "plumped" up to 125. She did look a lot heavier than normal but I also said, "Geez that means I'm still a blimp!" DH said she is too thin at 105 and was starting to look good at 125. ;)

I didn't see that but I saw Dateline last night. Courtney Thorne Smith was on there talking about how she had decided to not be pencil thin and she was about 5'7" and weighed about 125. She said she had been on a starvation diet to wear all the designer clothes and that she had no energy at all.

My mom actually called me to complain about Renee's interview. Renee looked fine with the extra weight on her. The Ironic thing is, is that Renee is just being as obsessed as the character she is playing in the movie. If she did not want to gain weight then why did she pursue the part (yes, probably due to popularity of the book and the money, but the only thing I have heard her say about the movie is how fat she got). Doesn't make sense to me, but I digress.

I wish stars would not throw out their weights like that. It gives many people a unrealistic objective weight and make people who are normal think they are fat.


Take Care Y'All

Ali

Oh, my stars, Ali, have you by any chance noticed that you are incredibly close to goal? And have lost an amazing amount of weight? Bet you're wearing smaller sweaters now! You go, girl!

Bumby: Thanks!! Yes, I am so close to goal and I am really happy about it! I am just bitter about that Renee interview though, I weigh 158.6lbs and my size 10s are getting big on me. I will always weigh a lot, but I have decided not to concentrate on the numbers of the scale (I want to be a lean size 8). I just think overall there needs to be new attitudes on weight and health and Ms. Zellweger is putting that back years by stating how fat she was at 120-125 (heck I am only 1 inch taller than her).

Take Care!

Ali

You know, it's possible that she's lying about her weight, too. I wonder how many people in show business share what they *really* weigh.

--Lauren

Lauren: I have thought of that possibility too of her lying about her weight. I am sure many actresses do. Again, it all has to do with the notion that all women are suppose to be under 120 (which is ridiculous) regardless of height.

Take Care, and I love your pic:)

Ali

Hi,

What's funny about all of this Hollywood-fueled attitude that too thin is sexy is that every male I know prefers a little more weight on women. For example, my sons complain a lot about how skinny many of the actresses and models are. They ask me why women do that to themselves and tell me that it doesn't make sense. If they're trying to attract men and men prefer a little more weight, why do they think they'll get more men if they weigh less? I tell them that many people just do what they've been told is right, in this case to weigh less, and they don't really think about it. People want to fit in and in our weird culture, we think that to fit in means weighing what is really, for most people, an amount that is generally unhealthy. Even if the weight itself isn't unhealthy, the amount of food most people would have to restrict themselves to in order to maintain that weight is.

If we look at women who have been considered sexy, many of them would be considered fat by today's standards. Like Marilyn Monroe and Mae West.

Lin

You can't really say that "all" men like women who are heavier. Men are individuals. Some like twigs, some like some meat and some like "hefty" women. Just like all women don't like skinny types some like hefty types and some like those in between.

However Renee's "normal" weight of 105 is well under W/W standards. The important thing is to remember it's how these women feel about themselves and not what we think (while we are entitled to our opinion though). ;)

I didn't see the interview, but cringe everytime I see a star--especially some of the teen ones, because I have an 11 year old daughter. I work in a hospital in the Psychiatry department and have had alot of intakes with eating disorders. It is amazing how this has ballooned since I was in high school in the late 70's. I thought I was fat at 135 lbs and 5 '8!! Little did I know that most of the girls in my California High School were anorexic! What I would give to be that size now--but working on it. The scariest thing about eating disorders is that these kids are starting in early grade school--I believe it should be addressed as much as smoking, drugs and alcohol is. Many parents don't know what to look for and by the time it they realize it--the kids are pretty far into. Don't fool ourselves this is becoming familiar in boys as well as girls.
My daughter came home yesterday saying the gym teacher was going to weigh the whole class in front of everyone--I was on the phone first thing this morning--explaining to her how kids are very sensitive of this issue and should have their privacy. I belive that I convinced her--at least I hope so. Kids can be so cruel to each other.

Marcia
HW: 256/CW: 246; Ideal weight--when I am comfortable with it!

I WILL take Renee Z. at 105, 125 or 175! she is a hottie!

I think it was in People magazine that I saw the same story about Renee Z. (?) I was curious to hear how much she gained, but when I found that her gain put her at a level that is generally considered to be "slim" I about died! I'm afraid one of these days, one of these size 0 starlets is going to die as a result of her anorexic quest to be skinny. The really sad part of all this is the girls/women who want to be a size 0 just like their favorite tv star. These tv stars, as gaunt as they might be, can pull off that low weight (for the most part) because of either their proportionate distribution of what little body fat they have or because of some "selective" surgical enhancements. If I got down to that low a weight, I'd be so gaunt through my face, neck, and chest that it would be utterly hideous.

Kelly-Lin didn't say "all" men, she said all the men she knows feel that way.

What I think is funny is that she had to "get so big" for the role when the point of Bridget's weight obsession in the book is that she thinks she is so fat and goes on all these diets only to get down to a weight that she thinks is low enough to have people tell her she looked better at her regular weight. Meaning her regular weight is a good weight for her.

I wonder in way thin hollywood if Renee is being made fun of right now for being "fat." so sad.

You all are so correct. You know who I think looks incredible? Kate Winslet!
She's great! I heard somewhere that she's up to a size 16 now, but you know
how rumours go! She looks wonderful...she used to have eating disorders, but
now she says she's comfy with her weight and is so tired of people talking about it.
It must really be awful to get turned down for roles though, because people say
you're fat!!!


Trish:

Hey, this is the first time I've found someone from Peoria here! Hello!

I too admire Kate Winslet, but recently she has come out in the British Press, saying that she will have to take off some weight (post baby weight?) otherwise she will not work. I guess she was saying that the film industry dictates and she has to follow if she wants to work.

I think it's a shame.

While we're on the subject of Hollywood and unrealistic body types, has anyone seen Robert Redford's catalog, "Sundance"? He starts with a bit of a rant about the way the latest election went, then includes extremely expensive household goods and clothing.

Here's the fun part -- guess what constitutes an XL in Robert Redford's world? Size 12. Sometimes a 14.

A size 8 is a medium.

I feel like writing this company and asking them what planet they live on, but I already know the answer -- planet Hollywood. Nimrods.

Should you care to check them out, they're online at http://www.sundancecatalog.com.

--Lauren

Aren't clothing companies crazy like that?

I am so glad for places like www.gap.com Never knew the Gap had
jeans and pants in 18 and 20, and tops in XXL....only online though, go figure!

And www.landsend.com carries larger sizes too.

I've seen interviews with the girl who plays Meadow Soprano and they said that in the second season of taping the show, she was getting obsessed about her weight and she was getting too thin and the producers told her she'd better knock it off (the show's producers said she was way too thin and they were not going to endorse that kind of thing). She was getting anorexic. Well, she went back to normal eating and she looks FABULOUS. Kate Winslet is also one beautiful, shapely woman who is not too thin.

Sometimes you see some people who look good at the beginning of a TV series (like Helen Hunt in Mad About You) and then they get thinner and thinner as the show goes on (I think Courtney Cox and Jennifer Anison did this on Friends although they were both thin to begin with, I think they've gotten thinner over the years) you know someone is telling them something or they're just all caught up in image. On the other hand, Julia Louie Dryfuss never let the whole image thing get to her during her years on Seinfeld. We need to CELEBRATE the women who stay beautiful and healthy looking, not so thin they could slide under the door. Write to them and tell them TOO THIN or BRAVO FOR YOU FOR LOOKING HEALTHY AND NOT REED LIKE, YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL. We need to reenforce women who look "normal" and healthy, not promote anorexia!

I don't know if anyone has seen it, but I just bought People Magazine cause the cover story was talking about how healthy bodies are back in style again in Hollywood, and the article showcases Kate Winslet, Charleze Theron,
Catherine Zeta-Jones Douglas, Portia DeRosse ( I think I spelt that right) and others. I had actually read in an article, I think it was in Allure
that Catherine had gained up to about 180 lbs during her pregnancy while she was filming
Traffic. I thought she was still very beutiful, and in the article (in Allure) she goes on to state that
she really had to work to get the baby-fat off. But, during all the publicitiy over Traffic,
all I have heard is people say " you almost do not
recognize a pregnant Catherine, as she had gained so much weight" Come on. You would always recognize this women! But, anyways, the people article talkes about how some of these girls feel
so "comfortable and healthy as a size 8" I think this is refreshing after hearing so much hype
over how Sarah Jessica Parker is supposed to be a size 0, as well as Calista and others.
I mean, Portia DeRosse even states that she had lost so much weight after joining Ally McBeal that she
even thought she was starting to look nasty. ( I had heard early she had lost so much weight
that the stylists that worked on Ally McBeal had to actually pad her so the clothes and stuff would
fit her and she would look decent for the show! Personally, i think when ya get to the point
that your shouldar bone sticks out so far it could be used as a weapon to poke someones eye
out, then it is time to gain some weight cause you have gone too far!

I don't know if anyone has seen it, but I just bought People Magazine cause the cover story was talking about how healthy bodies are back in style again in Hollywood, and the article showcases Kate Winslet, Charleze Theron,
Catherine Zeta-Jones Douglas, Portia DeRosse ( I think I spelt that right) and others. I had actually read in an article, I think it was in Allure
that Catherine had gained up to about 180 lbs during her pregnancy while she was filming
Traffic. I thought she was still very beutiful, and in the article (in Allure) she goes on to state that
she really had to work to get the baby-fat off. But, during all the publicitiy over Traffic,
all I have heard is people say " you almost do not
recognize a pregnant Catherine, as she had gained so much weight" Come on. You would always recognize this women! But, anyways, the people article talkes about how some of these girls feel
so "comfortable and healthy as a size 8" I think this is refreshing after hearing so much hype
over how Sarah Jessica Parker is supposed to be a size 0, as well as Calista and others.
I mean, Portia DeRosse even states that she had lost so much weight after joining Ally McBeal that she
even thought she was starting to look nasty. ( I had heard early she had lost so much weight
that the stylists that worked on Ally McBeal had to actually pad her so the clothes and stuff would
fit her and she would look decent for the show! Personally, i think when ya get to the point
that your shouldar bone sticks out so far it could be used as a weapon to poke someones eye
out, then it is time to gain some weight cause you have gone too far!

the recent issue of US magazine had a story about how in Hollywood, you either have to be size 0 or size 24 - no in between's. Camryn Manheim is cool because she is obviously large, but average is not acceptable to them.

Jessica Simpson (pop singer) is a size 2 and compared herself to Marilyn Monroe (!!!) and said she's been told to lose because her arms and abs are too fat.

Then there's the ever famous Elizabeth Hurley quote while looking at the dress Marilyn wore to sing "Happy Birthday Mr. President"... "If I were that fat, I'd kill myself".

OY.

bear in mind, this is the same lady who didn't know there was a strike on when she filmed an advert and was heckled at her US film premier! A UK TV presenter said at the time "Even my granny knew there was a strike on"

I actually bought that People magazine, and the article is interesting. I guess it is progress to see the "big" size 4's-8's are fighting back (lol). It's still too bad that in the eyes of the media, I as a size 10 am a plus sized girl. :(

I don't know how much Renee Z. weighed last night at the Oscars, but I think she looked wonderful in her gown.

Frankly, I'm sick of the whole Hollywood weight thing. I've stopped watching Ali McBeal because I'm tired of seeing the show full of nothing but anorexic women. If you only watched TV, you'd think that the world is full of skinny people. That's not the case. I always have arguments with my husband on this issue because he's always criticizing Hollywood actresses for looking too fat (Kate Winslet, for example). He tells me that he holds regular folks like you and me to a different standard, but I get sick of listening to him, so I tell him to shut his mouth...that I'm on Weight Watchers trying to lose weight and that it doesn't help me one bit to hear him going off about how fat a woman on TV looks when I'm nowhere near her weight.

Don't know if any of you caught todays Rosie show, but the girl that plays Meadow Saprano was on there and she discussed her eating disorder and said anorexia was an issue with her and she wanted to be public about it for the benefit of others.
She looked great and is obviously dealing with it well at this point. Wish her continued success. She is only 19.

Anita