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 The recent outrage and debate over supermodel Kate Moss’s comments in a Women’s Wear Daily interview regarding her statement “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” made me curious about the origin of that phrase. I found that “Nothing tastes as good as thin feels” is a phrase that originated from Weight Watchers, but has also been linked to pro anorexia (yes there are such places!) websites. It seems that the messenger is as critical as the message in this circumstance, since Kate Moss is extremely thin, the thought that she lives by this motto is disturbing, but if we heard someone like Valerie Burtinelli use this phrase would the reaction be different?
Personally I do not like the motto cited above. I feel “skinny” or “thin” should not be the focus. I do think “health” and “vitality” are a much more powerful aim. A reminder like, “Nothing tastes as good as being healthy and full of energy feels” can be helpful when looking at a table full of Christmas cupcakes.
Key phrases, mottos or mantras can boost our resolve to achieve our goals, but the goal should always be in alignment with health not extreme thinness. Affirmations with aligned actions can create powerful transformations in our lives.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes on motivation and health that you can turn into affirmations of your own:
“The body is a sacred garment. It’s your first and last garment; it is what you enter life in and what you depart life with, and it should be treated with honor.”
Martha Graham
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
Robert Collier
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 ...and questioning medical authority for health sakes!
Have you ever heard of the word orthorexia? This word was new to me and I did a little research to uncover its origin. It turns out that this recent term was coined by a Denver doctor named Steven Bratman and is used to describe people obsessed with health food.
Orthorexic patients, according to Dr. Bratman, are fixated on “righteous eating” (the word stems from the Greek word ortho, meaning straight and correct). This doctor asserts that those displaying orthoexia may avoid certain foods, such as those containing fats, preservatives, animal products, or other ingredients considered by the subject to be unhealthy; if the dietary restrictions are too severe or improperly managed, malnutrition can result.
Bratman has also asserted that "emaciation is common among followers of certain health food diets, such as raw foodism, and this can at times reach the extremes seen in anorexia nervosa." In addition, he claims that "anorexic orthorexia" can be as dangerous as anorexia. However, he states, "the underlying motivation is quite different. While an anorexic wants to lose weight, an orthorexic wants to feel pure, healthy and natural.
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 We are all individual and unique, similar to snowflakes, no two alike. The variety of bodies and individual characteristics is what makes life rich and full. We all can also strive to be the best version of ourselves in terms of our health and fitness. When striving for our ideal it is good to have knowledge of body types so we can focus on how to make our unique body and frame the best it can be and to surrender to and accept the traits we have inherited through genetics.
I spoke with a woman at the gym recently who was concerned that she was not building muscle in her legs; she was upset that they still looked “too skinny”. I more frequently hear the complaint, “my legs are looking too muscular” or “no matter what I do my hips won’t budge”. The fact is genetics play a major role in each of these situations.
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 Happy Fall!
There is a saying I recently heard about environmentalism that can be applied to health and fitness. It goes something like this, “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago, and the second best time to plant a tree is today.” It is not yet January of 2010 when many of us will set new fitness resolutions. It is fall of 2009 and with only three months left of 2009, now is an ideal time to set and achieve a 12 –week health & fitness goal. Imagine not having any health or fitness resolution to write down on January 1st, 2010. Imagine that you achieve real goals over the next three months that propel you into 2010 with momentum to set new fitness goals. By creating a strategic goal and committing to it you will be free of the New Year's resolution to get in shape.
Set a SMART goal and start today:
Specific: What is your health & fitness goal? Example: Lose 15 lbs and exercise 4 times per week
Measurable: Track weight weekly. Keep exercise journal.
Attainable: I am able to workout, eat healthy and stretch daily.
Realistic: Good odds of achieving your goal. 15 lbs. is a realistic amount of weight to lose.
Timely: 12-weeks to accomplish my goal. Be sure you take a moment to think about your 12 Week Goal
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The Phenomenom of Vanity Sizing |
 Recently, one of my clients emailed me concerned that she had gained weight while on vacation out of the country. She noted this while shopping for clothes outside of the United States. She was confused because her weight was the same, but she had to buy larger sizes. Many of us have experienced this phenomenon while traveling; a size small in the US may be the equivalent to a size medium in Canada.
Shopping for clothes these days can feel like a game, “What size will I fit today?” A size 8 at the GAP could be a size 6 at Anne Taylor, and YIPPEE! You’re a size 4 at Target. If you find yourself bewildered and can’t figure out what size you really are, you are not alone. How can we know what size we are when there is no Standardized Size in the US? In the 1940’s US standard clothing sizes were set, but as Americans we have “outgrown” those standard sizes. The clothing companies have kept us happy with the number on the tag over the past seventy years by “vanity sizing”. “Vanity sizing” has literally manipulated a size 12 into a size 6. As we continue to “super size” our meals and our waistlines expand we can somehow keep wearing the same size pants. Savvy clothing manufacturers understand that women prefer buying smaller sizes and don’t want move into “plus sizes”. We have seen the creation of a size 0 and even a size 00! This is due to the fact that thin women who in the past may have worn size 2, 4 or even 6 have been “downsized” to the 0. What’s next the -1?
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Ashley Marriott has been a professional in the field of fitness for more than 14 years. She is the creator of Burn ‘N Firm, a popular DVD full body cardio dance workout series. She is dedicated to using her experience and energy to educate and encourage people to reach their fitness goals. Her dedication to empower others through fitness led her to write the book, Dump Your Trainer.
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