People are always looking for shortcuts, the easy way to do something, everything! Take a look at this magazine below- "Big Arms Fast" right. Do you really think that you can get big arms fast? No, of course not, but headlines like this sell magazines.
And this one "Drop Two Sizes" I bet this sells like hotcakes!
Now the next one I like "Look Great Naked". This seems like a reasonable thing to want, I think everyone wants to look great naked, or at least feel good about themselves when they are naked, but few do. And the funny thing is, most people get so excited seeing naked people that they really don't care what you look like.....LOL!
But the other story "Eat, Drink & Still Shrink" doesn't seem realistic to me.
I am pointing all of this out because I want people to be realistic, don't fall for this marketing hype! None of it is true, its all designed to sell magazines, to make money.
You cannot grow big arms FAST; you cannot drop two sizes FAST, you cannot eat, drink and still SHRINK! The problem is so many people, especially women, look at these magazines and the models and they do the exercises they recommend, or follow the diets and most people get no where.
The exercises are not actually what the model does, in fact, the model makes her living as a model, she HAS to look great all the time. I know a woman who has been a model in magazines and she told me the magazine told her what exercises to model and what to do, they never asked her what her training or workout was.
The foods typically are not nutritionally well balanced, they are designed to make you think you are eating right and they taste good. Not many people can survive on 900 to 1000 calories a day, a few celery sticks and a smoothie do not make a great body. Or the other swing is the foods they recommend are super high in fats and starches, just not much so you starve in between meals. Most of the foods I see in these are not nutritionally sound.
The exercises are not actually what the model does, in fact, the model makes her living as a model, she HAS to look great all the time. I know a woman who has been a model in magazines and she told me the magazine told her what exercises to model and what to do, they never asked her what her training or workout was.
The foods typically are not nutritionally well balanced, they are designed to make you think you are eating right and they taste good. Not many people can survive on 900 to 1000 calories a day, a few celery sticks and a smoothie do not make a great body. Or the other swing is the foods they recommend are super high in fats and starches, just not much so you starve in between meals. Most of the foods I see in these are not nutritionally sound.
You can; however, look great naked! Its all about how you feel about yourself. If you feel good, you look good!
Go ahead and read the magazines if you enjoy them, I read them when I get a pedicure, but don't take them seriously, if you do, you are only setting yourself up to fail. "Beach ready in 3 weeks" may work for someone who is already training, but for a newbie? Its not real life, give yourself a chance to succeed, hire a trainer, hire a nutritionist, read about weight training, ask a friend how they did it, but don't believe the magazines.
And my blog "Ready in 5 Weeks"? It's about me - about how I train and diet and work all the time, year round, not just for a few weeks to get ready for something. Its about staying motivated, being realistic and surrounding yourself with positive people and experiences.
I do have a keen ability to drop to extremely low bodyfat levels, lower than most people can get, but doing what I do doesn't mean you can also drop that low, and you shouldn't even want to. But you can learn from my experiences and my knowledge, its a lot better than a magazine, it's interactive, and it's free!
And I am a fun gal...
Go ahead and read the magazines if you enjoy them, I read them when I get a pedicure, but don't take them seriously, if you do, you are only setting yourself up to fail. "Beach ready in 3 weeks" may work for someone who is already training, but for a newbie? Its not real life, give yourself a chance to succeed, hire a trainer, hire a nutritionist, read about weight training, ask a friend how they did it, but don't believe the magazines.
And my blog "Ready in 5 Weeks"? It's about me - about how I train and diet and work all the time, year round, not just for a few weeks to get ready for something. Its about staying motivated, being realistic and surrounding yourself with positive people and experiences.
I do have a keen ability to drop to extremely low bodyfat levels, lower than most people can get, but doing what I do doesn't mean you can also drop that low, and you shouldn't even want to. But you can learn from my experiences and my knowledge, its a lot better than a magazine, it's interactive, and it's free!
And I am a fun gal...
Great post.
ReplyDeleteWant to know what really pisses me off the most? Look at ANY women's magazine at any time of the year, and I'll guarantee you there will be something on the front page about losing weight. ALWAYS. Not that some women don't need to lose weight or that it's healthy to be overweight, but this message implies that just because you're a woman, you need lose weight because God forbid we like ourselves the way we are. At least that's the way I read it. Grrr.....
How about some messages about getting fitter and stronger but not necessarily thinner? I read another blog "Strong is the New Skinny," whose message is similar to yours, and I love it. Even bought one of their t-shirts. I wear it all the time, and women always get comments on it. Hopefully it gets them thinking.
Hey Phil- Ticks me off too! Why does everyone want women to be skinny and helpless? There is nothing more unattractive than an anorexic female in my book...and pencil thin arms hold no beauty for me.
DeleteYes I have seen the motto "Song is the new skinnY", i like it but I think I like "Buff is Best" better! ha ha ha
I want one of those shirts Phil! Where do I get one?
ReplyDeleteAnd Kristy... We do learn from your experiences and your knowledge. Thank you for the insight and guidance and for truly keeping it real. You've taught me that it's a life long decision and for the most part it is how I need to change the way I think. It's never quick & easy or everyone would look like you right!!
Unfortunately goal setting and determination doesn't sell magazines...
Kendra,
DeleteHere is the link to the SINS blog: http://www.strongisnewskinny.blogspot.com/
They've got tops and bottoms for sale!
Phil
Kenda, you are welcome, and although it is a life long commitment, it can be taken one day at a time. Remember not to beat yourself up if you don;t live up to your expectations once in a while....
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