Thin Epidemic - Skinny Hollywood Celebrities & Unhealthy Weight Loss

Who do you admire for their physique? Does it inspire you to work out and eat healthy when you see Grammy winners and bar stars gracing the pages of In Style, People or Cosmopolitan, with their pencil thin frames? In the fitness industry it's common knowledge to know how to train and eat for a toned and healthy body, however when looking at the body's of the 'stars' it's clear they are lost in a downward spiral as they push themselves to a new point of being thin each year. I am not sure that the stars know just how much harm they are doing to themselves and to all that watch with admiration.

Whether you are famous or not it's nearly impossible and unhealthy to stay lean all year around. See Oxygen Magazine - June 2005. Restricting calories will affect more then just ones metabolism. Strict diets will also lead to depression and drain any sort of enjoyment out of life.

Life is about striving for balance, which is often easier said then done. Sure we may have the odd set back here and there (too many drinks with dinner, a few missed workouts, or a pizza binge) but over all we should strive to lead a life that we'd wish upon our children.

Lets all do our part in setting an example for our family and friends. Eating a balanced diet (variety in color, and in the most natural state as possible), and enjoying regular workouts may inspire those around you. We often don't realize or think that people are watching, but they are. When you choose to not have a drink with dinner or bring your own lunch to work, you are taking charge of your life. This takes a lot of strength. Don't believe me? For the next 30 days, I challenge you to prepare your foods for when you know you will be eating away from home. Having a pre-packed meal means that you know what's in your food, you safe time from not having to wait to order, and you save money. Besides these rewards, you will be setting an example to others. Granted you are eating meals containing lean proteins, slow burning carbs, and healthy fats you will also be re-shaping your body. It's true that how we eat accounts for about 80% of how we look and feel.

Our diets are something we all have control of, all the time. There is truly no excuse for not being able to eat healthy. My close friend Ocean Bloom has prepared for a National Level competition while not even having access to a kitchen. Using a microwave and blender, out of her bathroom, Ocean got creative and didn't let anything stand in her way.
I encourage you to embrace times of challenge. It's when you are faced with obstacles that you become stronger then you were before.

Many people do have the natural ability to be thin, longer and leaner then others (ectomorph), however I believe that those walking the red carpet are competing with their peers to see who can be the sexiest, or shall I say the thinnest. Seems that those who spend time with Paris Hilton or Nicole Richie appear to "waif out." Paris is naturally thing; meeting her in LA in the summer of 2004 you can easily see that it's her body type to have longer muscles. What about the rest of us? I personally have chosen weight training and eating often to improve my physique.

More then just the physical, but physcologically I feel better about myself. The images of overly thin women don't discuss me but it saddens me to know that they are most likely very unhappy people, struggling to make it through each day on minimal calories, and caffeine. That alone is another conversation. Ask yourself what you believe is ideal for you, and stand strong with your beliefs. I am standing right there with you.

-By Fawnia Mondey