Celebrities Losing Their Babyweight in Record Time. Do We Care?

Just recently we heard how celebrity mums swore by a miracle cream to banish your mummy tummy. And this week one of my clients brought a newspaper article to my attention, with the question, “Is this kind of weight loss realistic? Or even possible?” (A 40 year-old female newsreader loses 2 stone of babyweight… fast). Despite feeling perfectly “intelligent and reasonably well informed about diet / exercise / health” my client had still felt an “immediate and emotional reaction to these pictures and stories even, though I know it’s not the real world”.

She said that the story “half annoyed me but half of me was thinking “Wow, maybe I could look like that” – it especially struck a nerve with me as she is my age, and I am sure I would look like her “before” photos if I was unfortunate enough to be photographed skipping half naked “…

Do you feel the same?

I mean we all know really that these people live *extra*ordinary lives. That they have access to professional help out of reach for most of us, both in terms of fitness & nutrition help as well as childcare & day to day chores. We also know that their body image is (or they believe it to be) their livelihood; so should we criticize another woman for making a living? Do her actions influence our own behaviours or body image, or do we just ignore what we don’t relate to? Is it her fault, or is it the media (& the public) obsession that’s the problem?

In answer to the question ‘is it possible?’ then my response is that, well yes it’s possible… if you eat little enough, & exercise hard enough, then you WILL experience dramatic & speedy fat loss. Extreme & rapid weight loss is always *possible* but that doesn’t mean it’s sensible, healthy or sustainable. In fact it’s none of the above!

The lady in question in the article (a newsreader by profession incidentally, not a fitness professional) has a fitness & weight loss DVD out now. Just in time for Christmas

Cynical? Would you buy it? Do you admire her dedication & hard work? Do you care about ‘celebrity mums’ & their bodies? Does it depress or anger you… or do you find the pictures aspirational & inspirational? So many questions, to which I don’t know the answers… I’d love to hear your thoughts.