Muscled out!

I thought I should share these images with you – as they have amazed me. These are a few piccies of body builders. While I have no real problem with the sport, it doesn’t exactly keep me up at night, but surely what these people do to their bodies is almost as bad as those weighing in a 200+kgs from too many Maccy Ds?

These professionals look comical – almost like caricatures. I wonder how much these sportsmen and women earn? What happens when they want to give up – do they have to train at a slower pace before their bodies wither to jelly? Someone tell me what happens when body builders don’t do it anymore!

Where does he buy his clothes?

Look at the traps on that!

A smaller package...

No contest for Pammy

Packing more than Arnie in his glory days

JUST.PLAIN.SCARY

Not alot left to the imagination...

The oldest bodybuilder?

Dove’s new ad campaign for the ‘real man’

So now it’s the boys turn. Unilever has extended its Dove range into the male grooming market called Dove Men + Care.

Along with it, it has launched its new advert – similar to the approach used for the women’s campaign. The brand was built upon the Campaign for Real Beauty concept. Across the media – we saw ‘real women’, who didn’t have absurdly wobbly and bobbly bits but weren’t stick thin statues either.

Unilever’s marketing director for home and personal care in the UK, Matt Close has said that 75 per cent of men find it difficult to identify with then men they see in adverts, and feel stereotyped and misrepresented; only three per cent strongly agree that they are realistically portrayed.

The target market for the new Dove line are guys who are comfortable with who they are, and where they’re at in their lives and don’t relate to the heavy emphasis on power, celebrity.

Colin Hession, managing director of Colin Hession Consulting, told Marketing Week: “At last it seems Unilever is having a proper go at building on the unique position it has created in the male grooming category with Axe {Lynx in the UK}. If it works, Axe users will no longer have to graduate to the opposition, Nivea Men, L’Oréal Men Expert or Gillette when they grow up.”

The advert, which was shown to a hundred million viewers in the US during the Superbowl at the weekend, is coming to the UK and will star real men. It pokes fun at the midlife male condition. The ad’s to the tune of The Lone Ranger theme with the message: “You’ve reached a stage where you feel at ease. You’ve come this far and it wasn’t a breeze. You can take on anything of course you can! Because you’re a MAN!”

It’s not a great ad by Ogilvy. I agree with Claire Beale, when she says the brief is far too obvious, especially for a UK audience. But, it’s getting a message out there isn’t it? It’s saying that you don’t have to be a buffed-up Spartan to look good and feel great in this world. Surely, taking the light approach make it a pleasant intermission?

It must be noted – men just don’t care about the way that they are portrayed in the media as much as women. Just because they don’t relate to it doesn’t equate that they are disturbed by it. In actual fact, they don’t consider it to be as important as other factors. Unilever’s own research has found that only one per cent of men think that their physique is their most attractive asset – personality and humour are considered to be more important.

Body image issues? You have an abnormal brain.

People who have an obsession about one or more bodily features, normally in the face, are likely to have a condition called body dysmorphic disorder.

It’s a mental illness which can lead to patients seeking plastic surgery procedures, and it is thought that between 1-2% of the population can suffer from it.

Dr Jamie Feusner, a psychiatrist at the University of California in Los Angeles said that sufferers often don’t seek treatment for their problems they just continue to think that they are ugly, and some can turn to multiple cosmetic surgeries.

His recent study has shown that people who suffer from this disorder have an abnormal brain function. This has been shown when it comes to looking at pictures of their own faces.

The study, published in the Archives of General Pyschiatry, shows that patients with BDD underutilise parts of the brain when seeing the face’s overall shape and size.

Jocelyn Wildenstein - The original catwoman

He said: “If you just see the pieces of your face, and not seeing how they fit into the whole, then it’s going to look distorted. That’s how we interpret the findings.”

Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to look at the brains of participants as they viewed photographs of their own faces.

The sample size was small, with only 17 patients with BDD and 16 healthy people participated.

Sabine Wilhelm, director of the BDD Clinic and Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital wasn’t involved in the study, but has said: “What we need to do in cognitive behavioral therapy treatment development is to really enhance efforts at teaching patients how to see the big picture.”

She said that people often turn to surgery to remove what the sufferer perceives as flaws i.e spots, scars, birthmarks etc. But, she says plastic surgery rarely solves the problem. She reports that 81% of BDD sufferers are dissatisfied with the results of cosmetic surgery.

This is really sad – but how many people in the ‘celeb’ world seem to have this problem? You all remember my story on Heidi from the Hills?  check this site out: http://allwomenstalk.com/20-celebrities-with-bad-plastic-surgery/

Source: CNN

Montag’s montage of plastic surgery

Did anyone say Superficial?

With reality stars as ever-present role models for the younger generations, it’s not surprised that talentless TV personality Heidi Pratt (yes, too true) née Montag has hit the headlines of late.

She plays a central role – often scurrying around and sulking after her now-husband Spencer Pratt or bickering with one-time best friend Lauren Conrad.

The 23-year-old reality TV personality revealed she had spent a  nearly £20,000 in November on a head-to-toe body makeover, which included a brow lift, a second nose job, liposuction and breast augmentation, taking her from a C to an F cup.

Some critics insist she has a surgery addiction, even her co-stars have spoken out. Heidi’s co-star Audrina Patridge said: “Ten procedures in one day is a little too much.’”

Dr Frank Ryan, her plastic surgeon, has come forward to AccessHollywood.com. He said: “Clearly there are body image issues, self-worth issues. I’m sort of disturbed that no one referred her for those kinds of counselling before they put her under the knife.” 

People cover

Dr Ryan carried out Heidi’s boob and nose job (breast augmentation and rhinoplasty) in 2007.  In reference to her recent 10-surgery marathon, he said: “I really call it 30 surgeries because if we’re going to count Botox injections, we should count every single injection, and both breasts, not just individually, you know, so it’s two surgeries.”

Heidi Pratt has defended her decision, as she has had to keep up in the competitive industry she’s in – showbiz. Last month, Heidi released an album which was personally financed, according to reports –  Superficial sold less than 700 copies in its first week.

The TV personality has said: “If I were addicted, I would have had 10 plastic surgeries; I mean 10 times. I really had two different surgeries. I had one three years ago, then one where I had several procedures done at once weeks ago.”

Back in the day

She also said: “I plan to keep using surgery to make me as perfect as I can be.” So, you may not be addicted to surgery, but you definitely have a body-image issue. Hopefully someone around her is trying to talk sense to the girl, although rumour has it – she’s already planning another boob job, up to an H cup. Jeez!

Blondes are more agressive, so kill the jokes!

Blonde go-getter

It seems that the jokes may no longer be on blondes. Research has shown that fair-headed women are more aggressive and confident than brunettes or redheads.

It is thought to be believed that blondes attract more attention than their counterparts, and are generally thought of by men as more attractive, so blondies are more used to getting their own way.

Researchers claim that the more ‘special’ people feel, generally judged by physical strength for men and looks for women, the more likely it is that they get angry in order to reach social goals.

Experts have even gone so far as to say that those who dye their hair blonde can take on natural blondes’ attributes. Some have attributed Dolly Parton’s career longevitiy down to this factor.

The American country singer has said: “I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb…and I also know that I’m not blonde.”

The study examined links between confidence and aggression in 156 female undergraduates in America.

Aaron Sell, of the University of California, who led the research, said: “We expected blondes to feel more entitled than other young women – this is southern California, the natural habitat of the privileged blonde.

“What we did not expect to find was how much more warlike they are than their peers on campus.”

Sell suspects that blonde women exist in a ‘bubble’ and because they have been treated better than others for so long that they aren’t perceptive to the preferential treatment.

‘They may not even realise they are treated like a princess,’ he said. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Do we all just need a bottle of this?

The research also found that although blondes are more aggressive, they are less likely than brunettes or redheads to get into an actual fight themselves; this is thought to be possibly to ensure their looks.

Evolutionary psychologist Catherine Salmon, of the University of Redlands, California, said: ‘Blondes are more confident in their abilities, although the results do not necessarily support their confidence.

‘Maybe responding to their own stereotypes, brunettes tend to work harder and expect less special treatment.

‘Women who go blonde quickly get used to the privileges of blondeness – usually male attentiveness.’

Source: Daily Mail

Moobs are a growing problem

Self-esteem issues affect men too

Body image issues don’t just affect women. Men suffer from low self-esteem too as body image has a direct bearing on one’s self-esteem.

It seems that man boob’s, ‘moobs’ or the real term – gynecomastia – is really playing havoc with men and their perception of themselves.

A UK government study, Know Your Limits, showed that 19 per cent of men surveyed in the North East are worried that drinking too much alcohol would lead to them development man boobs, but perhaps surprisingly 18 per cent are worried that they will get a beer belly.

Now – this is only a small difference, and still equates to one in five men – but, is it not perhaps significant that these results are not the same? It is an indication that men are more worried about man boobs because they carry such stigmas, whereas a beer belly has often been the proud accomplishment for many.

Gynecomastia can create a huge amount of upset for many, by igniting feelings of embarrassment, humiliation and shame – all of which, are common. In recent times, men have turned to excision of the breast tissue and liposuction to rid them of their problem.

Jack Nicholson shows of his moobs

So how do men grow their boobs? The enlargement of the breast tissues in men is something that occurs during puberty, and can subside in days or months but for some men it can be a lifelong problem. This problem can be avoided by many with unsurprisingly – a healthy diet and lifestyle, which involves balanced meals and an active daily routine.

Maximising on the post-Christmas/ New Year’s resolution drive, a website has been launched offering a natural solution to the removal of man boobs – aptly entitled www.removingmanboobs.com. The technique would incorporate up to 20 minutes a day of a ‘minor exercise schedule’ and this will all happen within 30 days. Do I smell a scam  a waste of money?

V magazine says no to size zero this month

Size isn't everything

The January issue of V Magazine is out, and guess what’s not on the front cover. Yep – you guessed it – size zero.

This month is the New York-based magazine’s “Size Issue” which shouts to the world “every body is beautiful.” Are they!? 

The quirky fashion mag was out on Thursday and it’s entirely devoted to changing the world’s view that in fashion only size zero need apply.

V editor, Stephen Gan told the New York Post: “Big, little, pint-size – every body is beautiful. And this issue is out to prove it.”

Yes – we may have heard it all before, but I commend V for its stance here. Wasn’t that what Love was trying to achieve with Beth Ditto on their front cover? But it’s still refreshing and give us normal folk, ones without size zero frames standing at 5”11, a hope that actually being a size 10-12 isn’t hideous and undesirable after all.

Their efforts are openly supported by photographers and designers who are also featured in this issue, like Karl Lagerfeld, Bruce Weber and Terry Richardson.

NYMag.com’s The Cut  doubts the magazine’s dedication to changing the modelling industry’s perception of what defines beauty. It claims that that V’s Size Issue is just “a trend,” arguing that they won’t be incorporating the concept into editorials moving forward.

Conformists more likely to suffer from eating disorders

Say yaye to no conformity!

Young women who are conformists are more likely to have a negative body image and show signs of eating disorders according to a new study.

Researchers from Syracuse University and University of New South Wales in the US have said that being a conformist is a risk factor for such disorders.

The study involved 300 American college students and the average age was 19. They were asked to complete a series of questionnaires in order to assess their social connectedness, conformity, body image concerns and dietary restraint.

The research found that young women who are socially networked are less likely to be conformists and less likely to develop a negative body image or eating disorder symptoms.

The study carried out by Lenny R. Vartanian and Meghan M. Hopkinson said: “In a general sense, conformity can be seen as an attempt to gain security in a social network.”

“People are highly motivated to feel that they belong and having strong social connections is associated with better psychological health, whereas rejection and isolation are associated with poor psychological health.”

The study was carried out on what’s known to be a high-risk group for developing body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. The researchers warn that this study is not representative of young women.

This study is confusing as it doesn’t seem to present any new factors that haven’t already been presented. Does it? It also makes these statements but at the end says that it’s not necessarily representative of anyone but these college students. Hmmm – I’m a massive sceptic.

When it address young women who are ‘socially networked’ what does this mean? I would assume that this is a girl who has a good group of friends, and therefore comes across as being a conformist? (pic above is me and my pals on a night out – thankfully all different!) Am I wrong? But girls who are socially networked, according to the study, are less likely to develop eating disorders.

What are your thoughts?

FYI – a conformist according to a psychology site (click here) says it’s a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behaviour in order to fit in.

Source: Times of India

If you’re suffering from an eating disorder and need to talk to someone about it, contact beat – a UK charity

Beauty gives small relief for cancer patients

A pink ribbon for breast cancer - dramadiva

Cancer patients in Wales are being offered a range of free beauty treatments as part of a deal between a hospital and a college.

 People having treatment at North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre in Denbighshire can have up to two evening sessions with training beauty therapists.

The treatments at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru’s Rhos-on-Sea campus include make-up lessons, facials and pedicures.

This initiative is planned to last six months. The salon will host six patients on alternate Tuesday evenings.

The beauty therapy students at the college recently visited the cancer centre at Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan, to promote the pampering evenings.

The treatments they provided in the centre’s reception area included massages and file and polishes.

Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, director of health well-being, Maggie Griffiths said the aim was to “break down boundaries between beauty therapy and care”.

“We’re expecting there to be more demand that we can meet,” she added.

The cancer centre’s leader, chemotherapy nurse Pat Pilkington said: “Having cancer treatment can affect a person’s whole body image and many patients suffer from low self-esteem during treatment.

“Pampering has been proven to help a person’s psychological well-being and encourage the feel-good factor of patients with cancer”.

Source: BBC

Super weight loss but at what cost?

Hannah Waterman's weight loss DVD

New Year often brings with it resolutions and according to studies around half of the population’s resolution is to lose weight.

Hannah Waterman – who!? I hear you ask – is an actress, best known for her role as Laura in Eastenders, is a fantastic example of successful weight loss. Having lost over two and a half stone, the actress clearly shows what hard work and dedication can do. But at what cost?

Hannah Waterman and Ricky Groves (another Eastenders actor) have announced that they are parting ways. Why? Because she has found a new man.

Ricky Groves aka Gary, said: “All I said was, ‘is there someone else?’ I knew from her body language, the way she stiffened, that I didn’t need to hear the answer.

“Then she looked up at me for a couple of seconds, straight in my eyes and said, ‘yes, I have. I’m so, so sorry.”

He also added: “Hannah’s get slim crusade changed her mentally and destroyed our marriage.”

Now that’s powerful stuff. It all sounds a bit as if it’s been taken from a script from the BBC1 soap – but, I feel pretty sorry for Ricky Groves, if what he says is true.

Hannah Waterman went from a size 16 to a six in a matter of months after a gruelling schedule of interval training and miniscule calorie-counting diet.  This was bound to have an effect on her personality. Now the actress, daughter of Minder’s Dennis Waterman, is ecstatic about her weightloss and well, not too ecstatic about her marriage and it is therefore come to an end.

So Ricky Groves is blaming the weight loss and her new found confidence. This is a shame and it has cast a shadow over her success, which has undoubtedly given hope to a lot of overweight slimmers who need inspiration like Hannah.

 I wonder how many people out their ditch their partners after they get a radical make-over? I’m not talking about a new hair cut, but a transformation like Hannah Waterman – she looks and comes across in interviews like a completely new and revamped woman!