mamaVISION

Sarah Palin: Too Pretty For Politics

While listening to The Sean Hannity radio show while driving home last night, I heard an interesting discussion on Sarah Palin's resignation.

A male caller from Brooklyn weighed in with his wisdom;

"She's too good looking for politics, she will never be taken seriously."

Hannity responded;

"Do you really believe that?"

Brooklyn boy;

"Yeah, to make it as Senator, or to the Presidential level, you have to look like Hillary Clinton or Madeline Albright."

Here Jezebel puts in their two cents on the good, bad, ugly on Palin.

I'd like to hear your take on this...your honest take. Here's mine;

I'm with Brooklyn boy. Hate to say it, but this is the way the world works. An attractive woman needs to work twice as hard to prove she is intelligent. Once she proves it, she is always proving it, she is never off the hook.

I've worked in a male dominated business my entire career. I hid my modeling past for this very reason- who the hell is going to take me seriously in high tech with that background?

The Rules:
1) Always downplay your looks. Wear pantsuits, stand tall and intimidate them with self confidence.

2) No girlie stuff - nix the heavy makeup, long nails and pumps. Pull your hair back, and hold the perfume.

3) Flirting is a bad move, there's no place for it. None.

4) Be tough, direct and non apologetic.

5) And most importantly - cry and you're dead.

I cried once in my entire career. I tried like hell to hold it in, but the issue being discussed impacted my children (I missed part of their Halloween due to business travel) only to come back to my a-hole boss ranking on me about why I didn't stay on site.

Good news is those four tears were followed by the first and only time I dropped an f-bomb in business. The tears dried up, I freaked on the guy, and had him literally begging me to settle down and asking me what I needed (he was scared as hell I was going to quit because I was his top sales person).

In the end I got him....but I still regret crying.

Bottomline: good looks can play to your advantage in business situations, but when you get to the Executive Level, you find yourself standing in a hole that you never stop digging out of.

I have a feeling I may get hammered on this one, so pound away,
mV

Considering Implants? Whoa girl.... read this and weep.

Never, ever have I considered implants.

Even after they were offered FREE! from my enduring Paris agent, the King Haddad.

First thought;

"No frickin' way."  (damn smart for a 16 year old kid I might say)

Next thought;

"Make me a sports model, they never have big boobs." (quick con job)

Just like the The King was convinced. He laid off of me from that day on....only to go on to pester and ultimately convince other teenage girls to go for his sickly offer.

I realize at 36B, I am not the norm, as I regularly read and see, day in and day out, women of every shape and size whining about wanting fuller-scarier-freakier-in-your-face fakes.

So, I continue to bring to the forefront stories about desperately driven women who thought these alien boobs were the answer to their dreams but ended up with a complete and total, physical and mental disaster on their hands.

I bring you Christa D'Souza.....

Wonderfully beautiful, elegant Christa D'Souza, who was once obsessed with making her glorious, tight, firm sexy breasts huge as hell, and ended up mutating her body. A body that continually rejected the man made creations;

Not one time

Not two times.

We're talking three times.

And then moved on to breast cancer.

She proceeded with this beauty massacre mission against her partners advice, against her mothers approval, and basically against all common sense

In her own words;

"It doesn't matter how many times you've done it, how safe you feel in your fabulous surgeon's hands, and how 'normal' breast implants are in certain social spheres, it's a very violent, brutal experience having someone slice into your nipples, shove those strange hand-warmer-like things inside you and then sew them up again with a needle and thread."

This wisdom gained only after she endured years of pain and suffering only to end up back at ground zero.

"The answer I have come up with is to have those wretched implants out, make do with the little breast tissue I have, accept that I am going to have quite considerable scarring . . . and be virtually flat-chested.

Having gone through all the trouble and expense of implants to make myself look younger, the irony is I'll have the same-shaped bosom I had when I was 12. And I can't wait."

I'll end by saying what most of you are thinking after seeing D'Souza's image;

The only part of her that seems to have aged is her face. Her skin, and what we can see of her breasts look smooth as silk, yet her face is strained and hollow.

That is a face of turmoil.

A face and psyche of needless self induced turmoil.

Does she resemble the face in the mirror?

If the answer is yes, I highly recommend you take the time to read Sweet Machine's synopsis of this story. Then print it out, fold it up in your wallet, and make a commitment to reading it DAILY until YOU figure out the REAL reason those fake boobs are so damn important.

mV

XO

Dying to fit in; do you know what your tween is not eating?

I recently was interviewed for this ParentsCanada feature story on eating disorders.

For those of you who don't know my real name is Heather, in the article I share some of my worst struggles with an ED during the hell-ish modeling days in Paris.

I don't miss the baby food
Or the 3 hour workouts,
Or feeling like shit about myself
Or analyzing every-single-imperfection on my entire face and body even though there were none.

Thank god that I came out the other side alive, healthy, happy, and only semi-neurotic. The anxiety freak is still in me, but tamed....I've grown to like her.

Do I think I will ever go back there?

No way in hell.

There is literally no way in hell.

Never ever did I visualize I would live to see that day that my every waking hour wasn't spent crisis-ing about what I put in my mouth, what I weighed, or how I was being judged. It took six years of heavy duty  deprogramming to erase the brainwashing my psychotic modeling agents thrust upon me as a mere child, the ones who rigged the scale, told me to not eat, prodded me to be sexier, to get a boob job, to build up my shoulders, and to continually pound my body into the sand for the love of fashion.

But I beat them, and I beat my evil ED.

And you can too, with dedication, commitment, and a positive attitude.

Pick yourself up each time you fall down, and sooner or later you will find you are standing tall with a free spirit and soul that is just waiting for what life has to offer.

.mV

On top of everything else, was Michael Jackson anorexic?

I don't know where I have been, but nearly every single bit of news since Michael Jackson's death is shocking me...drug addict, bankrupt, anorexic?

The thought of any one individual going through such turmoil is so sad and disturbing isn't it?

He was probably the saddest case of body dimorphic disorder (BDD) since Jocelyn Wildenstein and he has always been super thin....but I guess it never even dawned on me he could have an eating disorder.

Weird.

If Jackson did indeed have anorexia, it makes this story all the more horrible. Thinking of him alone suffering with such a disease, on top of all the other things the guy had working against him.

My children have been asking all sorts of questions about Jackson;

"I thought Michael Jackson was black?"

"Why is he so skinny?'

"Why was he doing drugs?"

"Why do his kids have towels on their face?"

"That's the same person?" while looking at Jackson as a boy and now.

And possibly the hardest one to respond to "She's pretty."

What is a parent to say?

The truth.

Just like every other question your children come up with - I believe you just have to be real;

"Michael was a major, major child star, performing when he was a very young boy - younger than you guys are now. His dad wasn't kind, and I've heard he made Michael take medicine that only girls should have, that made his voice stay high pitched. Michael couldn't go anywhere without being followed, questioned, photographed, and judged. He took pain killers after an accident, and got addicted to them because they made him forget about his problems and lack of self esteem. Thats why he kept changing what he looked like - first he thought his nose wasn't thin enough, then his skin wasn't white enough, so be basically spent his entire life trying to be someone else."

I obviously left out two major points;

The child molestation accusations and possible anorexia...both inappropriate topics for their age 6 and 9.

The whole situation has just left me thinking about what an odd culture we are; we idolize people to the point that we kill them. Michael Jackson never had a chance, but he did have a choice didn't he?

And so do we.

I don't know about you, but I am keeping the Jackson coverage to a minimum in my home. If this freaks us out, can you imagine how bizarre all of this seems to a child?

-mV

 

Calvin Klein: Still sleazy after all these years

Thanks to tipster Amy for sending me this lovely story about CK. This is a great example of how we all wear certain designer clothes, but we don't really think about their advertising do we?

Here I mean the bad side of their advertising.

Have you ever boycotted a certain brand because their ads were demeaning, gross, or semi-pornish like this little diddy which was deemed over the top...even in NYC;

Let's see...that's 1, 2, 3 guys on what appears to be a teenish-girl.

Nothing new for the designer who has dedicated his career to pushing the envelope starting with Brooke Shields at 15.

I felt odd viewing this one, because from my perspective, EVERY designer has been posing children like this, for decades actually, and no one really cares.

Below we have a "Secret Obsession" ad that can't mean anything other than - I am into an affair with a kid.

Now this next one is a video, what was literally banned. Banned because it features kids, in a creepy-old-wood-paneled basement answering the questions of some panting pervert (watch the whole thing).

I gotta be honest guys, it kind of scared me that this didn't freak me out.

But it gave me a flashback.

This is exactly what it was like to be a model, especially in Paris (minus the paneling). You are a piece of meat, with some gross guy telling you how to move, stand up, sit down, nice ass, show me your tits, give me your self-respect, hand over your modesty, don't be such a prude.

Ahh, the good old days.
mV

PS I had to end with this dude. Where did they rescue him from - the Circus? They could have at least let him take a shower.

Bacardi responds to "Get An Ugly Girlfriend" offensive campaign

The blogosphere is on fire over Bacardi's "Get An Ugly Girlfriend" Campaign. Barcardi pulled down the web site promoting the campaign and here is the company response:

"Thank you for taking the time to post your story on Bacardi Breezer.

The campaign you are referring to ran in 2008 for two months in Israel. Even though Bacardi Breezer is not sold or distributed in the United States, we immediately notified the appropriate Bacardi affiliate and had this website shut down.

Bacardi proudly celebrates diversity and we do not endorse the views of this site. We sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by this site and thank you for bringing it to our attention."

- Sean-Patrick Hillman of bacardi.com, June 21, 2009 via Sweet Machine.

Ok Mr. Sean nice blanket response, a few questions for you;

1) You are the Bacardi publicist. Where is the Corporate Big Dog that should be responding to this?

2) Your twitter response to this "crisis" was unnecessary....as a publicist we would think you would know to shut your yapper.

3) McCann Digital Israel obviously didn't get any slap on the hand about the Ugly Girlfriend campaign seeing that they submitted it to The Cannes Lions Festival (THE annual event for top advertising creative), even twittering about it on Saturday June 12 to gloat about the catalog. 

4) AXE is also a client of McCann Digital Israel, in fact they just won a Bronze in the Platinum category at Cannes for their work, didn't that give Bacardi a clue they were a real class act?

5) I see Bacardi's female CMO Stella David just got canned after 15 years with the company...I wonder what she thought of this campaign?

Start digging man, this could get uglier.

mV

UPDATE 6/22 4pmCST: Sean Hillmann pulled down the tweet shown above. I wonder why? Maybe because Rachel at FWordblog and I stalked him

I've asked McCann Israel for more info on their award submission for The Ugly Girlfriend Campaign, let's see what they come back with.

Bacardi "Get An Ugly Girlfriend" Campaign

Want to look hotter? Find a fat, ugly friend to stand next to, and bring on the Bacardi Breezers!

Jezebel found this doozie of a campaign created by some lumps from McCann Digital in Israel.

The site suggests that like Bacardi Breezers, ugly friends come in several different varieties, and women should go ahead and use them to appear more attractive in social situations.

The copy reads as follows;

"Lucy's rubbing thighs, magically combined with a sticking out jaw and drooping breasts will turn any trip to the mall into an unforgettable experience. Shop like never before with your own freckled pile of cellulite."

On to Sally who gives you the attractive edge because shes "97 kilograms of femininity, strength and double chins. No tire can disguise the lumpy rolls decorating that body. Look your best without every visiting the gym!"

Since when does a marketing campaign targeted to women use fat hatred and our body image wars to sell products? Seems an odd strategy to me, I mean, what kind of woman would think this crap is funny?

-mV

Vogue editor launches new war on size-zero fashion

The editor of Vogue has accused some of the world’s leading catwalk designers of pushing ever thinner models into fashion magazines despite widespread public concern over “size-zero” models and rising teenage anorexia.

Alexandra Shulman, one of the most important figures in the multi-billion-pound fashion industry, has taken on all the largest fashion houses in a strongly worded letter sent to scores of designers in Europe and America. In a letter not intended for publication but seen by The Times, Shulman accuses designers of making magazines hire models with “jutting bones and no breasts or hips” by supplying them with “minuscule” garments for their photoshoots. Vogue is now frequently “retouching” photographs to make models look larger, she said.

Her intervention was hailed last night as a turning point in the debate over model size that has raged after the deaths of three models from complications relating to malnutrition, and the decision of leading fashion shows to ban size-zero models.

“We have now reached the point where many of the sample sizes don’t comfortably fit even the established star models,” Shulman writes, in a letter sent to Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano and fellow designers at Prada, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Balen- ciaga and other top fashion houses.The supermodel Erin O’Connor described the stand by the editor of Britain’s most prominent fashion magazine as “a huge breakthrough”.

Battle of the Bods

Reality TV's Battle of the Bods doesn't need an introduction. The logo looks like it took all of 10 minutes for the designer to slap together, and the show itself is one of the most degrading I have seen.

But hey - women sign up for this crap.

Here is a classy clip where the female contestants shake their money maker, while the guys watch, rate, and salivate.

(Trust me, its worth sitting through the annoying video ad that can't be skipped before the show comes on)

I'm telling you one thing - as a parent, there is no way I'd have this type of programming pumped into my household. If you think these shows don't impact the self esteem and body image of your daughters, let alone your son's attitudes towards the women in his life, you are fooling yourself.

Nivea Firming Cream: The miracle in a bottle

MAJOR, MAJOR news on the thinspiration front ladies!

Nivea has come out with this breakthrough firming cream that will get you back in your skinny jeans!

"Discover your favorite jeans, and how they still get his attention," is the tagline with the print ad featuring a woman admiring herself in the mirror while her boyfriend eyes her up in the mirror.

Translation: This firming cream will make your skinny jeans fit.

Really? So firming our skin, will make our legs thinner.

 Wow- so you are guaranteed to win back the attention of your boyfriend who called you a lard ass last week and completely blew you off - what more could you ask for!

PLUS - this product is backed by Denise Richards! She is one classy lady... she doesn't have time to promote a bogus product (not to brag or anything but after using this product I actually look EXACTLY her in my skinny jeans).

TIP: Although the product doesn't recommend it, I went ahead and  slathered this stuff everywhere. Face, arms, stomach, neck - I am talking a full body rub down (note: hives, itching, irritation, agitation, frustration, and constipation are normal side effects, rare but serious side effects include inability to swallow, breathing problems, temporary blindness, night sweats, and panic attacks, but generally subside within 6-9 months).

Don't let the silly side effects scare you, because at this very moment, I am wearing my Sasson jeans from 6th grade. YeeeHaa! Nothing can stop me now!

The miracle we have hoped and prayed for has arrived ladies,and I can only thank the good lord above for Nivea, Denise Richards, and Tyra Banks who will be featuring the Nivia Challenge Winner on her show (you didn't hear this from me, but you just might know the person!!!)

I can finally, finally live again because now, finally now -

I am good enough.
I am pretty enough,
and dog-gone it, people like me!

-mV

Purex Ad: Thinner is better.

Marianne at The Rotund clued me into the latest totally irritating commercial promoting the "thin is in" message.

Purex is running a new ad called "The Thinner Load", starting with the tagline "As things get better, they get thinner."

Since when? How does this relate to laundry detergent, washing clothes, or anything remotely relevant to this product?

Check this out; I grabbed a few screenshots to demonstrate the concept here, see the entire commercial here.

First, we see an old-fashioned wide assed gown..

Evolving to more reasonable female garb...

On to 90s career wear....

And finally, the perfect little skinny skirt reflective of today.

Well, aren't we lucky. Lucky to live in a day and age that we have ad agency guru's sitting around dreaming up this irrelevant crap, being paid a shit-load to do it, and as a result impacting the psyche of the entire female population.

Thinner is not better.
It never has been.
It never will be.

Being YOU is better.
It always has been.
It always will be.

We know this. We hear this. We believe this....but we are so damn gullible, its hard for advertisers to resist pressing our buttons.

So, can we really blame them?

-mV

Who is MeMe Roth?

A. Kate Harding's Arch-Enemy
B. Nut-job with nice hair
C. Anti-Obesity Advocate
D. All of the above

If you answered D, you are correct!

Roth is the President of National Action Against Obesity  (NAAO), a group dedicated to;

-Reversing the obesity crisis by eliminating disease and obesity-accelerators from the food supply.

-Barring junk food from child care centers, preschools, and schools.

-Eradicating Secondhand Obesity™ (obesity handed down from one generation to the next, as well as from citizen to citizen).

-Encouraging exercise across all ages.

NAAO believes success relies upon wholly re-imagining what the U.S. population considers “normal” food consumption and “normal” exercise. They believe that when the majority is overweight, America cannot be normal.

So far, so good in my opinion....but from here she goes off the deep end.

-She is a woman who admits to "not eating until she has exercised."(so be it if she doesn't get to the gym until 4 o'clock in the afternoon).

-She is a mother of two girls who is surely screwing with their precious little heads, which will undoubtedly result in a life time of deprogramming.

-She describes obesity as "abuse of our children and ourselves." This seems to be over the top language to attract attention to her cause. Can't blame her...America loves this crap...say something outrageous and you are sure to be booked on O'Reilly the next day.

-She is a total poser which only serves to reduce her credibility.

Here's my take on the topic after much research and a mother of two happy, healthy children;

-Obesity is part hereditary, some of us are born with the tendency to weigh on the heavy side - I don't believe this is a choice nor is it a sin. Roth comes from an obese family, as does her husband - but based on her lifestyle is she really "living life" with the obsessive exercise and calorie restriction it takes her to remain thin?

-Obesity can be an eating disorder, psychological in nature, and not a deliberate act on the part of the overweight individual. To call it "abuse" is just plain ignorant and cruel.

  -Obesity is  a result of capitalism and marketing. The almighty dollar rules, so we are fed products pumped with every chemical known to man in an effort to make us salivate for more. More education is the key here.

BUT - at the end of the day, we all make choices. There is no one shoving junk food down our throats. As adults and parents we have a responsibility to:

-Educate ourselves on which foods are healthy, natural and good for our physical and mental well being.

-Teach our children about the basic food pyramid, make regular home cooked meals in order to practice what we preach, while also allowing treats to be a normal, regular part of our daily diet.

-Live a balanced life, joining our children in activities and sports,  encouraging mental and physical well being.

Bottom line,  MeMe is all about MeMe. Her message is irresponsible and self serving. She needs to come to the solid midwestern community I live in, to see a whole different world of responsible parents, nutrition based school programs, and active healthy kids that don't need to be protected from the big, bad food industry as Ms. Roth would lead us to believe.

Where do you stand on the issue?

-mV

UPDATE 6/5/09
More on MeMe thanks to Rachael

This eye opening post thanks to Sweet Machine "It's Hard To Be MeMe"

Got B.O? Slather on some aluminum!

After reading the Anti-Cancer diet, I took a walk down the deodorant aisle at Walmart to find one that does not contain aluminum. How many did I find?

None.

Actually, the store brands don't just contain aluminum, it is the one and only ingredient listed on the package. To be exact, they read either aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium.

Aluminum is a toxic metal.

A toxic metal we roll, rub and spray on our freshly shaved armpits every single day.

Our female shaving routine literally primes our armpits for absorption of this toxin, the area of our bodies that just so happen to house the lymph nodes for our breasts.

Breast cancer is only one of the risks, add on to that proven risks for Alzheimer and brain disorders.

• In 1993, the World Health Organization said, "There is a suspected link between Alzheimer's disease and the toxicity of aluminum."
• The Agency for Toxic Substances and & Disease Registry reports that "Exposure to high levels of aluminum may result in respiratory and neurological problems."

Why is this product on the shelf? Because it's America, and no one gives a damn. Collect the dollars, and keep your mouth shut.

If you are like me, you are going to RUN out to buy an alternative, but you will have to hunt for it. Here is what appears to be our options;

• Deodorant stones: never heard of these until I sat down to write this post. Has anyone used  these?
• Natural deodorants: I found Burt's Bee's has an herbal based option and this crystal version appears popular. Again, does anyone have advice to lend on here?

For those who want more info on this topic, check out this post. I've read enough. Enough to know I'm not trusting anyone with my health anymore.

Knowledge is power.
-mV

Next up: Let's Count The Carcinogens In Our Makeup!

Would ya get pissed off already!?

I've noticed that the eating disordered types tend to not get pissed off. At least not in front of anyone of value in their lives.

Perfection is the reoccurring theme.

Gotta please everyone or the world will come to an end.

Unworthiness tends to be the reason stated for such a lack of confidence....but what happens to anger?

This post is about how to get angry.

And then use that anger to your advantage. Use it to get motivated. Use it to get off your butt and stand up for yourself.

These thoughts are brought to you by Green Day, my all time favorite band, the one that makes me act like a groupie, screaming my heart out.  Their sound is hard, rough, punk-ish - and really, really pissed off.

The guys that reamed out Walmart for banning their latest CD because it was a bit to REAL for them. The ones that are coming to Chicago in July and my husband got sixteenth row tickets because I told him to spare no expense so he went to a broker and got them for a small fortune but worth every penny.

I can't get enough of it, and the odd thing is the music relaxes me.

I blare their loud as hell tunes in my car or on my iPod while I work, and my brain goes into some sort of trance as I visualize all the wrong doing in my life both real and imaginary. I mean, when a song starts with the line "I'm not f-ing around," you know these punks are speaking our language!

They make me float way to la-la land so I can lambaste all the boneheads in my life that are full of crap yet they have the power. All the suits from the past that were so totally out of line and ignorant, yet I had to play their game, while I devised a scheme to stick it to em. Sort of.

So what is your deal?

Who are you pissed off at?

When do you let yourself blow?

And most of all - do you allow yourself to think, even for a moment, that perhaps you are not the one that is wrong? Maybe you have a good head on your shoulders and the role models in your life suck?

Think about it.
Then find your way to let off steam.
You'll be one hell of a lot better for it.

And maybe, just maybe, you will start to realize you have one hell of a lot to offer, and you will stop wasting your life trying to please all the losers in this world.

-mV

XO

PS Catch Green Day TONIGHT on the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien 10:30CST/11:30EST - UPDATE HERES THE VIDEO...kinda super mellow version of them, guess they had to tone it down for the mass audience.

Nike Ads: Big Butt & Thunder Thighs

Beautiful.

You gotta read the copy. All of it. Go here to view full screen.

Thanks LM for sending :)

What's wrong with this picture?

Could it be that the patient didn't have time to change out of freaky tights and pumps before her medical procedure?

How about the cell-at-the-side? Is it on speaker for a conference call? Is she worried she will miss some action on twitter? WTF big time.

Moving on. Let's check out an actual face lift.

It's called a "face lift" what did we think it would look like?

Pretty, pretty.
-mV

See more of Lauren Greenfield's images here.
Click on "search image database" for more grizly pics.

How much do you spend on beautification?

Take a wild guess how much money we, that's women, spend per year on beauty products?

160 BILLION dollars annually

That would be billion with a capital 'B.' 

Think about that for a sec...$160,000,000,000 to cover, correct, paste, stretch, and mold our horribly defective frames into acceptable shape.

Lauren Greenfield, the producer of THIN documented the habits of 6 New York women to find some spending $1700 per month to maintain their imaginary beautified selves. Some admitted to sending more than rent (crap, that is more than my mortgage).

You know what struck me when I saw these images?

They all look tense. 

Tense and self conscience. 

Self conscience and unhappy.

Let's check out some of the beauty junkies the documentary followed (see full slide show here);

26 year-old, Ginger spends $650 a month on her physical appearance. At Manhattan’s store Sephora, Ginger shops alone for cosmetics because her friends know she will spend hours.

mV: I've always thought Sephora is a bit psycho. Not sure how you would spend hours there, but that is besides the point. Next time you are there pop in and look at the all the teeny, tiny potions in the back that will set you back about $100 each.

 

New York City actress Cameron (25) spends $620 a month on her personal grooming. Cameron reveals that her hair is the key to her personality, ‘I spend so much time with my hair-stylists, they’re like my family’.

mV: Really? They are like family? Will they be at your funeral?Do you call them when you are down in dumps or do they just listen when they are taking the money out of your wallet?

New York City hedge-fund exec Suzanne (36) spends $1720 a month on personal grooming.  At ‘Skin & Spa’ cosmetic surgery center, Suzanne receives Botox from Dr. Howard Sobel, a treatment that she receives 3 times a year.

mV: Beyond my comprehension. And sad as hell.

Confession time...I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours! Here goes;

Hair

Every 8 weeks, highlight and cut. Kills me every time I write out the check for $115. That is insane, but I do it because i like the texture and life it gives my hair.

Facial Stuff

Wash, toner, lotion....all generic Neutrogena from Wally's (that's what the kids call Walmart). $25 bucks max, lasts a about 3 months.

Nails

Hands and feet I do myself. At least until my mom sees my feet in sandals and gets me a gift certificate for the salon.

Makeup

Maybe $100 or less per year. I love Rimmel brand, affordable and great quality.

That's a whopping $1,000 a YEAR. That's what, about $90 or so a month (even that sounds like alot actually).

Am I total tight wad or are these women above completely out of their minds?

-mV

Weigh in....at the bus stop?

Now you don't have to stop your obsessive scale checking when you leave the house...just hop on the giant, public scale at the bus stop!

Brought to you by the geniuses at  Fitness First, dedicated to fitness by humiliation.

-mV

Skinny Boy: Male Eating Disorders

I am finally ready to post about male eating disorders; thanks to my husband finding the book Skinny Boy by Gary Grahl at the library a few weeks back.

Gary Grahl is from Wisconsin...kind of freaky since the last book I read Purge, was also written by a Wisconsinite. Plus he attended UW Milwaukee - just as I did. That combined with the many references to the Milwaukee Brewers, and Grahl's one time idol Jim Gantner, made me feel like he was my neighbor going through this tragic hell.

Man, does Grahl have a story to tell.

You'd think I have read it all, heard it all, seen it all - but this one threw me for a loop.

It seems guys are burdened with the ole' perfection gene that us girls are, but in this case the body image focus was on sports, extreme (and I mean extreme) exercise,  literally working the human body so far beyond its capabilities...that Grahl is damn lucky to be alive.

I thought I was exercise obsessed back in the day, but I've got nothing on this guy;

- Grahl describes the pure panic he felt during inpatient when unable to exercise...but he still found a way to burn calories by flexing calf muscles and abs continually while seated.

-The bathroom was a regular exercise retreat, where he managed to burn the maximum number of calories within 3 minutes by frantically jumping, pushing, and lifting at a pace that defies all logic.

-Near the end Grahl is literally fighting this disease so hard, that he lost complete and total control of all bodily functions, and describes in grotesque detail what that experience was like. This section of the book took my breath away. I debated even reading it, and when I did, I wish I hadn't, but its probably good I did.

Because that is how ugly this disease is.

Throughout the book Grahl has an inner dialog with this "IT", a style I liked because it made me drop down inside this guys head and really get what he was feeling. IT was basically his perfectionist stalker...demeaning him at every turn, and convincing him that he was worthless (sound familiar anyone?)

Thank god he came out the other side, alive and well....only to go on to get married, have children, and help others suffering as he did. Grahl was so courageous to publish his personal story, and I am convinced his words are helping many others.

Another great read,

mV

Why we are so demented?

Maybe it's because we can't even walk through Target without being bombarded with ridiculous fat fear and skinny love as seen on this hilarious garden plaque....

What kind of person places this in her garden for all to see?
What kind of friend purchases this for her ole' pals so they can yuck it up together?
Why do we perpetuate this total and complete nonsense?
Why do we cover up pain with humor?
Why in the hell is this acceptable??

Plus, it's not like some Granny is widdling these things out for the local craft fair...this is Target for god's sake, the manufacturer of this product had to be damn sure they would sell a couple million of these in order to afford mass production. Think about that- our society has become this accustomed to making fun of FAT. This accustomed to female competition on body size, that it has become a complete and  total joke.

And finally, how exactly am I to explain this statement to my 9 year old daughter without telling the damn truth?

"What does this mean mama?"

"Well honey, you must accept that our society is totally obsessed with being thin, so much so, that we pray about being a different person."

"What does that mean for me?"

"You are a loser if you are not thin, understood?"

"Can we buy a scale mama?"

Pathetic,
mV

Be paranoid. Be very, very paranoid.

NY Times reported today the findings of a 15-year study of young girls in Denmark, which immediately sent me into a tizzy.

The average age of breast development has fallen by a full year compared to girls studied in the early 1990s, as reported in the this months Pediatric Journal.

The culprit? Chemicals.

Chemicals that "mimic estrogen"
Chemicals that are known to cause cancer.
Chemicals that screw up the endocrine system of human beings.

Kinda like the chemicals that were used to make that plastic water bottle you are sucking out of right now. And the lunch you nuked in the microwave today. The one that is it is found in the lining of nearly every soft drink and canned food product. Oh, and that makeup slathered on your face, don't even get me started.

Hmmm...could this be why breast cancer has gone through the roof? And the reason why girls are 9 feet tall these days?

"The concern is that early puberty is linked with higher breast cancer risk in adulthood," the study revealed.

Well, la-dee-fricken-da....what an amazing finding! Are we insane? Who the hell approves this stuff?

Shouldn't the warning bells go off when you are packing Coca-Cola into bottles made with "estrogen-like-cancer-causing" materials?

Nope.
Use 'em.
Get 'em out
Pump out production
Keep this wheel-a-turning.

Chemical paranoia has been one of my hobbies for a while now, having kids does that to you. We manage to afford non-nuclear milk, eggs, and sometimes meat. Strawberries are organic only, and our lawn is a dandelion field.

Hopefully this got you thinking about how you can preserve your well being in this oh-so- lovely-world we live in.
-mV

Big Bad World

I have struggled, struggled, struggled with the "trigger" topic. Over and over I have been asked and at times point blank told:

-Stop posting triggering photos!

-Post a warning on triggering topics!

-You must be more sensitive to those with EDs...

-You have to understand everyone is not strong.

Here's my question to you girls - where exactly does personal responsibility come in?

Here's my deal; I know that I am not being real if I post trigger warnings, or avoid pro-ana topics with thinspiration images...to instead write nice-little-fairy-tales sprinkled with gumdrops and rainbows, to create a safe haven for you.

If you can not handle the posts or images, it is your responsibility not to read this blog.  

Recovery is not easy.
It gets easier, yes.
but it is not easy.

Hopefully one day you will personally choose you are ready to recover. The day will come you will have to take that first step out into the big, bad world - and run smack into the most triggering-earth-shattering-thinspiration billboard on the planet.

**

Then what? Curl up in the corner? Or walk past it, head held high because you finally know who you are?

This is reality.
I'm a realist.
You must go elsewhere to be coddled.

Because girls, if you take this away from me, well... this blog is no longer a blog. It's just another pat on the back, that eventually pushes you into the water to see if you can swim.

You can swim.
I know you can swim.
So, I keep pushing.

My hope is that one of those pushes will be the spark you need to get on with your life.
-mV

XO

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**Dove Videos in full can be seen here:

Onslaught

Under Pressure

Healthy At Any Size

You don't know Kate Harding? Wake up!

She is THE queen of fat acceptance. And in case you don't know what "fat acceptance means," here is my basic definition;

-To be healthy at any size
-To be comfortable in your own skin whether size 6 or 16
-To be blind to an individuals body shape and instead focus on their face and expression (wow! what a world that would be!!)

Harding lays it out way better than I on her blog "Shapely Prose", and that's why she has been officially deemed the Queen of the Fat-O-Sphere (maybe she can work on Oprah's attitude).

Harding is living it, and she sure as hell is not quiet about it; in today's Chicago Tribune she rants on wild as ever;

"MY GOD! COULD IT BE???" responding to a BBC article suggested that obesity is largely genetic. "Hang on - I need to call my fat sisters, fat brothers, fat aunts and fat cousins and ask if they have ever heard of such a thing!

Harding questions some of the science behind the "obesity is unhealthy" argument, and states "even if you buy the health arguments, what are fat people supposed to do?

So, as a skinny chick with fat friends, I hope you will browse around on Hardings site....I think many of you struggling with anorexia will find similar struggles on the other side. And the rest of us will learn a thing or two about compassion and understanding.

Two other things to check out;

The B.S in BMI - check out this slideshow, you will likely see yourself in it.

 New Harding book with a title that says it all;
Lessons From The Fat-o-sphere: Quit Dieting and Declare A Truce With Your Body

mV

Hey...let's jazz up Next Top Model with a real live anorexic girl!

Jade has been fighting her eating disorder, anorexia, since age 8.

Jade is now 21. She has been in and out of treatment, and just six months ago she was hospitalized for her condition.

Let's put her on TV and completely exploit this ill young woman!

Jade has been "chosen" to be a modeling contestant ratings booster for Britain's Next Top Model.

Jade certainly does fit right in with fashion models of today, interesting how her modeling picture here looks as if it could appear in a magazine! She's a real pro!

Jade apparently does not have parents, since I don't see them jumping up and down to stop this circus.

Poor Jade is being set up. More pain, and heart ship will undoubtedly come her way....but damn it's gonna be great entertainment.

-mV

Kick Ass Book Alert! : PURGE, rehab diaries

I read this book in two days.

It arrived in my mailbox on Friday, I started reading it Saturday, and last night I stayed up way the heck too late to finish it.

Generally, it takes me a few months to finish a book, partly because I usually have two or three going at the same time, and I am a slow reader. But this one would not leave me be.

PURGE, rehab diaries by Nicole Johns is not for the weary.

This is a raw, brutally-honest, grotesquely detailed novel. The pages resonate pent up anger, unsettled circumstance, and disgustingly-gross-but-real purging episodes described in painful detail.

Damn, it's good - because it is so real.

John's takes the reader through her experience as a size 9, EDNOS patient,  living for a summer in an Eating Disorder Center in Milwaukee (my home town, which made this reading more intriguing, because literally drive past the places she refers to throughout the book on a daily basis).

One of the coolest parts is the book design, adorned with a great cover art and interesting fonts throughout. Inside, copies of Nicole's actual treatment papers are scattered about; names and addresses blacked out in bold black lines, handwritten journal entries detail each and every evil calorie, and even an official definition of "Normal Eating," which drove home the pathetic level we sink to with an eating disorder.

But the most important thing about PURGE, is it addresses, head on, the problem EDNOS patients face. EDNOS stands for Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Huh? Ed who?

For the record;

EDNOS sufferers are not underweight, in fact, they are more often overweight.

EDNOS sufferers look normal, all the while lurking below the surface is a young vital heart struggling to keep ticking.

EDNOS sufferers are blown off the vast majority of the population, until of course they faint, whack their head, suffer a concussion, and need to be hospitalized.

EDNOS sufferers can have blood pressure readings near zero, completely out of whack electrolyte levels, and most commonly live with a raw, burning, sometimes-ruptured esophagus.

Needless to say, John's represents the "typical" EDNOS sufferer weighing 137 pounds, all the while popping diet pill cocktails, starving, purging, and binging until she is hospitalized for fainting which leads to the real diagnosis: a concussion, electrolyte imbalances, and three different kids of heart-rhythm irregularities.

She writes PURGE to "inform the public, counteract myths surrounding eating disorders and treatment, and provide eating disordered individuals with hope."

I think you'll agree, she accomplishes all three,

-mV

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Why not post your own story? Tell us what you experienced in an eating disorder treatment center, and help others along the way.

Miss Universe Australia: kicked out of pageant for being too skinny

Ya think???!!!

 

This woman is 5'11 weighing in at 108pounds. C'mon-

A) How did she make it this far without being flagged an anorexic?

B) This is not an attractive figure by any means, so don't fool yourself.

C) This is a sick, sick world my friends. Keep your head on straight by avoiding this crap at all costs

Do NOT buy into the media/fashion worlds ideals, unless you want to end up very ill, unhappy, and dead.

Be Strong,

-mV

Cheerleading Coach Fired Over Nude Pics - why is this news?

This story ticked me off the moment I saw it this morning on the Today Show. Here is the gist;

Cheerleading Coach poses nude for Playboy.
Cheerleading Coach gets fired.
Cheerleading Coach wonders why she got fired.

Media spins the story to one of revenge from a student who did not make the cheerleading squad.

Are you kidding me people? Where have our morals gone?

#1 Should she lose her job? UNDOUBTEDLY YES

#2 Is she a total bimbo queen? DITTO

 #3 Can she be a role model and a bimbo queen? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

#4 Is posing nude for Playboy a desperate act? YEP.

#5 If this woman worked at my daughters school, how would I react?
HONESTLY, I HAVE NO IDEA. THIS GETS ME SO FIRED UP, I DON"T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

So, what does Carlie Beck have to say for herself?  Hear her video response on the Playboy site, its located right above this HUGE BANNER promoting her FULL NUDE pictorial, it looks like a porn site for gods sake.

Oh, and don't miss her "bio" and view her cheesy T&A pics on this classy ATV web site. She's listed as 105pds "dry weight." How lovely, her mama must be proud.

Tell me why women want to do this?

For the life of me, I really, really do not understand the motivation.
-mV

What happened to the blushing brides?

Your wedding day. The day that you are full of excitement, bounding with energy, and beaming with confidence!

Hmmm...does this model look like she is ready to party?

Or is she ready to start balling? Or maybe ready to keel over?

The designer of these gowns is Amsale, brought to us straight from Ethiopia. Yes, Ethiopia, the country that suffered the 1985 famine that wiped out over 1 million people due to starvation. Wouldn't you think this woman would know better?

Here's her mission statement from her site;

Are you blind? This is not confidence in the eyes of your models. It's death warmed over. It's the quite obvious look of suffering and forced starvation. I would think this misery should be quite familiar to you if you bothered to care.
       
Are these bridesmaids or zombies? Both appear gaunt and tired, and the waif on the right is leaning to the side like she could drop any minute.

"In Ethiopia there were no fashion designers. I never knew that designing beautiful clothes was a profession to which one could aspire," says Amsale.

Could it be that the people of Ethiopia have more important things to worry about than materialism? Perhaps they are most concerned with feeding their children than wrapping themselves in some overpriced garb created by a pompous designer who has forgotten her roots.

Amsale, you should be ashamed of yourself for parading these sickly girls out on stage to satisfy your ego trip.

Wake up and get real,
mV

 

 

You would be so pretty if....

I'm reading "You would be so pretty if..." by Dana Chadwick in preparation for a BlogHer session I may be leading.

The title made me think back to when I have heard these words from someone, so it made me curious as to what hurtful comments all of you have buried over the years.

"You'd be so pretty if you just wore a little more makeup."

This one was basically saying I was a "plain Jane" and I should jazz it up a bit. I basically let it roll off, but it did kind of bug me anyway because it was just such an necessary thing to say.

"You'd be so pretty with a little more color."

Ok, I know I am a major whitey - but that is by choice. This is perhaps the one good thing I learned from the modeling days - stay out of the sun. This was to of course protect my skin from wrinkles but also because any sort of tan line was a no-no.

So, it's your turn. Tell me when you heard someone utter these words and how you felt.

-mV

Monday Music Therapy

Lay it on me...what's playing on your I-Pod today?

For me it is an old-ey- but goody:

Band: Public Enemy

Song: He Got Game

Favorite lyrics:

Now if you take heed to the words of wisdom
that are written on the walls of life
then universally, we will stand and divided we will fall
because love conquers all, you understand what I'm sayin?

This is a call to all you sleepin souls
Wake up and take control of your own cipher
And be on the lookout for the spirit snipers
tryin to steal your light, y'knowhutI'msayin?

Look within-side yourself, for peace
Give thanks, live life and release
You dig me? You got me?

Veggie loving teens...parents beware to this ED warning sign.

Is Vegetarianism a teen eating disorder?

Time Magazine recently studied this topic, which brought back many memories of my early-teen-disordered-eating habits.

I was about 15 or so, when I decided to cut the meat out of my diet. I remember it clearly because I love meat, but no one would know it. 

No hamburger, no tacos, no chili, c'mon! And don't even get me going on steak, and pork tenderloin.

My entire decision revolved around one thing and one thing only;

MEAT = FAT

I know now, of course, this is not true.

But it sure is easy to convince yourself of it when Hollywood is all-vegan-all-the-time, and you've got PETA exploiting it with skinny mini actresses showing off their bods to send the clear message "Veggies-R-Us"

The Time study showed;
-20% of the vegetarians turned out to be binge eaters, compared with only 5% of those who had always eaten meat.

-25% of current vegetarians and 20% of former vegetarians in the same age group said they had engaged in extreme weight-control measures such as taking diet pills or laxatives and forcing themselves to vomit.

Only 1 in 10 teens who had never been vegetarian reported similar behavior. View complete report.

My experience showed:

-It's easy as hell to hide your eating disorder behind vegetarianism. In fact, people applaud you for it.

-Cutting out meat was a first step to the slippery slope of disordered eating, which then lead to convincing myself chicken and fish should go too.

-When you don't eat any meat...there's not much too eat at family affairs. You've created the perfect excuse at Aunt Betty's house, when she serves an all-meat-buffet, with a side of bacon laced potatoes. Suddenly, sitting there eating 4 lettuce leaves doesn't seem so odd so you fly under the radar.

I do hope this study raises awareness with parents that vegetarian-ism can be yet another warning sign of an eating disorder creeping its way into your child's brain.

-mV

Discovery Health Series: Pregnant ED sufferers

Are you pregnant and struggling with your eating disorder?

Discovery Health is producing a documentary focused about expectant women whose pregnancies are exacerbated by a difficult circumstance in their lives. They are seeking an ED sufferer who is currently between 5-8 months pregnant to share their personal story. Payment for participation is $1500.

I can't help but be protective when I receive these types of solicitations....so please think before you respond. Think about how your involvement may impact you, and be sure this will be a positive move for your condition, and your growing baby.

If you are interested in more information, email me at mamavision@gmail.com

-mV

Levi's Brand Launches Sick Skinny Campaign

Levi's used to be the bomb, but in recent years their brand has tanked due to competition from other small, boutique brands. I personally still love their jeans and their fit...but after seeing their recent ads I will hesitate to purchase in the future.

On Facebook this morning, I was served this disturbing ad of a young woman modeling Levi's that would fit about 1% of the entire population (no girls, this is NOT attractive).

What kind of marketing strategy is this?

This only further alienates their consumers, such as myself, who look to Levi's as a real American brand. Further, a look at their web site homepage shows some dude in skin tight, spandex like, Yellow jeans.

Ahh...I don't think so.
-mV

Random Cool Stuff

So many posts, so little time! Here is a bunch of interesting info that has come my way that I need to share in Cliff's Notes fashion!

Pro Anorexia Documentary
Watch for "The Truth about Online Anorexia" airing in the UK April 9th 21:00 on ITV. After it airs, it can be viewed online here by those of us residing in other countries. I am sure this will spark much conversation.

Cerulean Butterfly
Pro Ana support site or high school drama queen landing place? More to come on this...if you have info to share bring it on. The stories of admin abuse going on here is completely unacceptable.

Side note: This picture from the homepage of their site really, really creepy and it should probably be a warning to wannabe members that some evil-ness lurks inside.

Looking Glass Foundation
Canadian Eating Disorder center produced these awesome ED commericals with DDB. They will leave you breathless:

Risk your vision for creepy eyelashes?

I stumbled upon an ad for "Novalash" this weekend so I went to check this product out online.

Novalash will give you the "lashes nature should have given you," and its the only FORMALDEHYDE free lash extender (yep, that's embalming fluid).

Plus, this product is completely safe because it can only administered by professional who has completed a rigorous, mind blowing, 8 hour training session. Whew, now that's dedication.

We warned though, some minor complications can occur...such as LOSS OF VISION, or damage to your eyelids, but don't let that stop you, you must be like the the nut job Hollywood stars. Sacrifice anything for vanity girls.

I am going for the candied "Pink Lemonade" style, how about you?
-mV

Monday Music Therapy

What are you listening to?

If  music is not an essential part of your day- make it one. It lifts you, guides you, and builds your confidence that YES your life can be different.

My Monday Music Therapy

Band: Green Day

Song: American Idiot

Why: Because it is so true. Sometimes I am just totally appalled by the people of this country. The priorities. The vanity. The lack of compassion. And mostly the complete and total ignorance to what matters.

This song just gets me pumped, especially when I am ticked off, its like flipping the bird to society.

So what is your Monday Music Therapy?
-mV

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Submitted by others!:

Lottie is listening to Alright by Red Carpet

Lia is listening to Tchaikovsky's violin concerto

Kay is listening to Snow by Amie Miriello

Knob of a father needs a kick in the pants.

Ok, this disturbing tale has been brewing for a while, here's the deal.....

I found out recently that a father I know regularly berates his daughter by calling her "fat, stupid, and ugly."

This guy outright says his daughter, and all women for that matter, should be a size 2. As his daughter walks across the room, he asks her "doesn't that noise bug you when your legs rub together?"

If you are like me, you are hyperventilating at this point, so here are the questions;

• Is talking to his daughter crossing the line?

• Should I ring this dude's neck, kick him in the nuts or both?

mV

Gotcha! Cellulite and all shows through for Kim Kardashian

This story cracks me up. I think because I have never heard of this happening before.

Complex magazine accidently printed the pre-photoshopped version of cover girl Kim Kardashian, showing to the world she is a real woman.

 

They pulled the reality photo as soon as they could, but the internet already got a hold of it.

So here's my question - when you look at magazines,do you still view them as if the images you see are real and compare yourself to them? Or do you somehow believe those are real bodies, real faces, and you will never measure up?

I hope not, this should all be soaking in by now.

-mV

Ready for recovery? Now what?

I got to thinking, why isn't there a site that features reviews of eating disorder treatment centers?

• When you are ready for recovery, don't you want to find the best possible fit for you?


• Are you looking for a Christian program or do you prefer non-faith based?


• Does the center include family in the treatment program or is it individual based?


• What is the best inpatient/outpatient program that fits your personal needs?


• How much freedom are you granted at the center?

I believe that reading experiences of other ED sufferers, and their personal experiences at a particular  treatment center would be beneficial, perhaps even make the thought of recovery less intimidating.

So, let's build it.

It's going to take a while, but this will be a phenomenal resource for you, families and friends of sufferers.

I will add centers as quickly as possible, please email me at mamavision@gmail.com if you have a center you would like to review immediately and I will put it at the top of the list.

View The ED Treatment Center Review Site in process

Here is a draft of the Community Guidelines, please send your suggestions;

1) Please do not state the names of specific nurses, doctors, and/or staff members when writing your posts, instead refer to these individuals in a generic sense, such as "My nurse was wonderful at The Sunshine Treatment Center"

2) Respect this forum. I trust you to be responsible and professional when writing your posts, particularly when posting negative comments - do not use vulgar language to express your point of view.

3) Comments are not moderated. I have always respected Freedom of Speech, and this forum will be no different. If you find a particular post to be inappropriate, please email me at mamaVISION@gmail.com.

Here is a draft of how you will be asked to rate the treatment centers, please send your suggestions;

1) Date of Treatment

2) Condition Treated: Anorexia, Bulimia, EDNOS, etc.

3) Type of treatment - Inpatient, Outpatient or both.

3) Why was this facility chosen?

4) Describe your first day of treatment.

5) What was a typical day like at the center?

6) What part of the program do you believe was most beneficial?

7) What part of the program was least beneficial?

8) General comments

Thank you for your input! I will gather feedback and keep plugging along at building this.

mV

Is this really necessary?: Crawford In Cream

Why does this bug me?
- Maybe because shes a mom...hello? your kids will grow up and see this.

- Maybe its because I thought she was a class act and she sure as hell doesn't have to pose for this semi-porn stuff.

-Maybe its because its just embarrassing to me. Isn't true sexy-ness being modest and coy?

-Maybe its because Jen Aniston just did a similar stunt, so this seems to be becoming a trend for the 40 somethings.

-Maybe because it appears desperate.

Cindy, you still got it, you are in top shape and extraordinarily beautiful. No need to prove it since this is very apparent with your clothes ON.

-mV

Thanks for the tip on this from Stephanie at BISJ.

Photos to appear in Allure, run out and get your copy now!!

BlogHer 2009 - Please vote for us!

The BlogHer Conference is in Chicago this summer, and I need your support to win a speaking engagement on a topic that I know matters to all of us!

The topic:
Blogs & Body Image: What are we teaching our kids?

Vote here:
http://www.blogher.com/blogs-body-image-what-are-we-teaching-our-kids

Panelists:
Roni from Roni's Weigh, Stephanie from Back In Skinny Jeans, and Melissa from Tales of a disordered eater.

Please vote that you would attend this session (we need to be chosen to speak, and she with the most votes wins!)

The event is sold out, however if more tickets are released I will post about it, so please let me know if you are interested in attending.

Thank you!!
-mV

No insurance? No cash? No dice.

"This disease takes our best and brightest."

Words spoken from a glassy-eyed father, arms folded in defeat, as he tells of his once genius-level violin playing daughter who can now barely hold down a part-time job. 

"Where will she go?"

Inquires a small business owner, and mother of a 17 year old anorexic daughter, as she fights back tears to explains that her daughters insurance coverage will soon expire.

"I am here for my daughter."

Echos a voice in the back, where a proud mother and her elegant, college-aged daughter are seated united for their cause.

These and many others spoke at the NEDA STAR Program Legislative Hearing in Madison, WI on March 17th. I was honored to attend and take part in this changing day for eating disorder sufferers. 

The Worldwide Charter for Action on Eating Disorders big. Really big. 

Here's why:

This legislation will require insurance coverage for eating disorder sufferers. No more bogus assessments, no more worrying about random discharge from inpatient, and finally there will be official recognition for this mental disease.

Here's what you can do:

1) Sign the charter....this takes 6.2 seconds, please do it now!

This is a global, worldwide initiative with major supporters and lobbyists on our side.

2) Rally.

Find your government official in your US State or Country of Residence, and participate in the STAR event in your area. If you missed the event in your area, find out who is in charge and call them to find out how you can get involved.

3) Stalk.

Legislators literally say they have a "rule of ten," meaning if 10 people call or email on a certain issue they will take notice. T-E-N, that's insane how low it is! Please, please, please call and email your legislator. Post back here to let us know who you did your part!

US State Representatives

Other Countries: Please send me links to your government representatives for me to post.

4) Talk

Start talking to people you know and educate them on why this matters. Ask them to sign the charter or make a call.

From the bottom of my heart,

Thank you!

mamaV

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PS In the meantime, here is some information to help you deal with insurance problems in the US:

How to navigate insurance issues

Other Countries: Please send me links to post.

Megan McCain sticks it to 'em (kinda)

I am sure you have been following the latest "your fat, no I'm not saga" involving Megan McCain and Laura Ingraham...but if not here's the gist;

In a purely political discussion, of which both women are respected thought leaders, Ingraham chose to make a wise crack about McCain being "plus sized."

WTF big time.

McCain shot back with intelligent, well thought out remarks on the View yesterday;

"What do young women think when I speak my mind about politics and I want to have a political discussion about the ideological future of the Republican Party and the answer is, 'She's fat, she shouldn't have an opinion'?"

Discussion continued on her blog today;

All I can do is try to be a positive role model for women of my generation and, I hope, help show that no matter what industry you are in, what size you are has nothing to do with your worth.

Ok, good, good. McCain had me going until this excuse for herself sputtered out of her mouth;

"I have been teased about my weight and body figure since I was in middle school, and I decided a very long time ago to embrace what God gave me and live my life positively, attempting to set an example for other girls who may suffer from body image issues. I have nothing to hide: I am a size 8 and fluctuated up to a size 10 during the campaign. It’s ridiculous even to have this conversation because I am not overweight in the least and have a natural body weight."

Sorry babe, but you are talking out of both sides of your mouth. Are you embracing what God gave you or trying to convince the world that you are comfortable with it?

Why did she feel the need to reveal her actual dress size for cripes sake? Doesn't this in itself show her insecurity and her need to prove she is good enough?

I'm not trying to hammer McCain too much, she's under one hell of a lot of pressure here and I am not sure I would articulate my points any better, but the whole thing is just totally and completely infuriating.

So here we sit.

Women sparring women.

I've always said it, we are our worst enemy girls.

Until we find peace within ourselves,

we are basically screwed.

-mV

Lady in Red Living Life

Talk about being yourself.....

Then again, I had a feeling that juice bottle was filled with hooch which may have helped the cause. :)

I took this picture while in Madison, WI today, attending a NEDA STAR event. More about this on the way.

-mV

Makeup required.

These two executive FREAKS from the Bank of England held a "Dress for Success" day in order issue the following memo to their female employees;

“Look professional, not fashionable; be careful with perfume; always wear a heel of some sort — maximum 2 inches; always wear some sort of makeup — even if it’s just lipstick.” Shoes and skirt must be the same color. No-no’s include ankle chains — “professional, but not the one you want to be associated with;” white high heels; overstuffed handbags; an overload of rings, and double-pierced ears.

In the midst of the largest financial crisis since the Depression, you're telling me THIS is what these dudes are spending their time on? When questioned by WWD, they stuttered around with weak excuses blaming the messaging on some consultants.

We have officially entered The Twilight Zone.
mV

Rihanna: Maybe she deserved it.

A beaten, bruised image of 19 year old pop star Rihanna is everywhere; magazine covers, tabloids, and even on Oprah.

Police reports state: Rihanna questioned her boyfriend, Chris Brown, about text messages (from a woman). He proceeded to punch her bloody, put her in a headlock, and now....they are writing a book and will sing a duo together.

How romantic.

Oprah is focused on the Rihanna abuse situation today, as am I, because this presents the opportunity to speak about this topic...one that is all too common in the history of those with eating disorders.

As it turns out, both Rihanna and Brown come from abusive homes. They are both still just kids themselves.

"When you grew up in an environment where there is abuse, it's more acceptable to you," Winfrey said. "If you go back with a man who hits you it's because you don't think you're worthy of being with a man who won't."

Unworthiness. How often have I heard that word from the eating disordered, when the direct opposite is true?

The abuser is the one who is unworthily.
The abuser is unworthy of your love and affection.
The abuser is the one with the problem.
The abuser is the one that needs to punished.

At the core of it all; lack of self esteem. No one deserves this. I state this because several teens on Oprah were expressing this point of view stating "Rihanna started it."

Let's get this perfectly straight;

1. No level of physical abuse is ok. None. Not a slap, a push or being held against your will.

2. No level of verbal abuse is acceptable. If you have some one telling you that you are not good enough by shouting obscenities in your face....step back and look at them. Look at what a pathetic person they are for needing to degrade and control another person. Especially a person they "love."

3. No woman, or man, deserves this treatment. Period. There is no action that causes another person to be violent, its a con game.

4. If it happens once, it will happen again. This is a fact and you are kidding yourself if you believe in the abuser for one more moment.

From the world I come from, the image of Rihanna is shocking, and I mean totally, and completely shocking. I have never, ever even had a man, or woman for that matter, even try to lay a hand on me. Ever. Not my parents, a boyfriend, my husband, or any friend or family member. Nor have I ever witnessed such violence.This type of violent treatment is so totally out of my realm of reality it just stuns me.

I want it to start stunning YOU.

You need to be stunned by any and all verbal and/or physical abuse in your life.

And you need to turn away from it to get your life back.

Either that, or you stay in this cycle of abuse and watch a small part of you fade away with each and every punch, slap, and cuss word.

You are not alone- reach out for help.

-mV
XOXOXO

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RESOURCES:

If you need help or know someone who does, call the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 866-331-9474 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE

Love is not abuse

Love is respect

Teen Dating Bill Of Rights

7 Warning Signs of Teen Abuse

Call for help: 1-866-331-9474 or 1-866-331-8453 TTY.

Got Wrinkles? Find a pig.

Botox? Pleeassse....that is so yesterday.

Pig is where it's at.

Pig tendons actually, currently used with the in crowd in NY, those willing to sacrifice health in the name of personal vanity.

It's called "Evolence," how chic. 

"In the 1980s, we got ourselves shot full of bovine (cow) collagen (which required an allergy test several  weeks beforehand, never desirable when one is seeking an instant pick-me-up).

In the ’90s, we began freezing our faces with a derivative of the botulism toxin. 

In 2003 came Restylane, a breakthrough hyaluronic acid (or H.A., as it’s known in the trade) derived from bacteria.

Nowadays many New York doctors also offer Radiesse, a filler made of synthetic liquid bone, and Sculptra, which was invented to treat the hollow cheeks of H.I.V. patients. " - NY Observer, Meredith Bryan.

Cow Collagen. Botulism Toxin. Bacteria. Liquid Bone....on to pig tendons! Down with wrinkles! 

                                                                                                      

Just gimme a shot of whatever you got - if I get nodules in my lips that have to be surgically removed - so be it! Who cares if my religion says I can't eat pig....they didn't say can't inject it in my face!

Shhh...best of all - this stuff can easily be hidden from the hubby since it leaves no bruising, bumps or redness! You'll be dancing the night away within the hour and he will be loving you like his twenty year old girlfriend.

How lovely,

-mV

P.S. Just in case you are still curious...take a look at these beauties. Whoa.

 

Time to cut Ed loose!

During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I attended a presentation at Marquette University by Jenni Schaefer, the author of "Life without Ed."

As I walked to the presentation room, I caught a glimpse of the cool window art created by Marquette students, and I was impressed!

Schaefer presented to a group of about 200 people, a mixed crowd of students, parents, and press.

I would describe her style as soothing. 

As she spoke, her soft, genuine expression, lit up the room, even as she held up a yellow, dance tutu that she wore at age 4...the age in which Ed  came along.

Ed, in this case, is not an abbreviation for Eating Disorders. "Ed" is what Schaefer named her disorder. She admitted that when her therapist first brought up this idea, it seemed a bit nutty, but she gave it a try. Opening herself up to the concept of treating her eating disorder as a relationship rather than an illness or condition, started her on the road to recovery after decades of struggling.

"Ed and I lived together for more than twenty years. He was abusive, controlling, and never hesitated to tell me what he thought, how I was doing it wrong, and what I should be doing instead. . . Ed is not a high school sweetheart. Ed is not some creep that I started dating in college. . . Ed's name comes from the initials E.D. —as in eating disorder. Ed is my eating disorder. —from the introduction of Life Without Ed.

If Schaefer is anything, she is a shining example of hope for full and total recovery. Here are the four main points I noted from her presentation;

Ed was a tool she used to recover and made her realize;
1) I am not an illness. The concept as Ed as a relationship created separation in her mind.
2) Ed gave her something to fight for- fight Ed not herself!
3) Responsibility was now on her shoulders, excuses were no longer possible.
4) Gave the hope she desparately needed to recover.

Perhaps this is a concept you have never considered for yourself as you go through recovery or consider recovery?

Read more here;
Life Without Ed
Jenni Schaefer Site
Jenni Schafer Blog

Kelly Clarkson Photoshopped and likin' it

New album cover for Kelly Clarkson.

Photoshopped to hell.

Artist likes it.

Why?

“We decided the cover of the album and just in case you haven’t seen it I’ll post it! It’s very colorful and they have definitely Photoshopped the crap out of me - but I don’t care, haha!

“Whoever she is, she looks great, ha! I’ve had so much fun with this album; I really hope y’all dig it woohooooooooooo!!!!” - Clarkson's blog

How can you not care?

I wonder what Dove thinks? See Walmart/Dove soundcheck sponsorship

Here's where I am going with this;

Imagine you are going to be featured on the cover of a local magazine. The cover comes out and its not you, its some perfectly-smooth-no-bumps-no-lumps-version of you. Wouldn't you feel weird cruising around town having people see you in real life and think ing"Wow, she doesn't look like that cover? She sure as hell is not as pretty."

Allowing this fake-ery (if that is even a word) is just asking for it. Asking for criticism. Inviting public analysis,. And generally just, well, an unwise move.

I lived this crap and it sucks. As a model, you have these amazing pictures produced  of  yourself. It made me feel like an impostor. The model version becomes your evil twin.  The one everyone thinks you are...but are then disappointed when they see the real you. So; the evil twin had to go.

 

My Evil Twin. Dead as a door nail.

I killed her years ago.

I killed her by going everywhere and anywhere with no makeup. 

I finished her off by letting my body go back to its normal, healthy size.

I wiped her off the face of the earth by letting every single ugly flaw show to the world; zits , cellulite and all.

I said goodbye to the fake me, and I said hello to the real me. The one with perfect imperfections that are mine for life and I wouldn't give them up for anything.

Beauty will always go downhill, so you gotta just enjoy the ride.

-mV

The Bachelor: Totally Pathetic

I'm sorry but any woman who lines up for a cattle call for a chance to marry "some dude" is nuts. I mean really girls, where has our self esteem gone?

 

Yahoo's Top Entertainment Story Today, why would you want to subject yourself to this?

 

This latest fiasco on The Bachelor is the kicker - the guy proposes to one, then changes his mind and asks the other - and she accepts? The 50's are over man, and why are we headed back?

I truly think this is pathetic. If one of my friends, or god forbid my daughter someday, wanted to go on this program I would be seriously worried about their mental health.

A. You don't line up for a husband under any circumstances.

B. You don't beg a guy to choose you. 

C. You sure as hell don't go on national TV, stand in a room of other contenders, and start balling if you don't get "a rose."

This all goes back to one simple thing - self esteem.

If these girls had any respect for themselves, they would not even dream of getting married this way (and none of you better either!)

I blame the rest on their parents, yes they are grown women, but for cripes sake can't we even raise a child with the confidence to stand on their own, know what they are worth, and not settle for less? The parents of these fine, smart women even participate in the selection process for goodness sake!

NOT normal. Rant over.

Am I off my rocker?

mV