Oprah Is On Another Diet...Shocking

Let me begin by saying I am not anti-vegan. I think vegans are awesome and vegan cooking can be delicious. It is an eating disorder trigger for me to be vegan/vegetarian, but I know it is healthy and great for some people.

However, I am anti-Oprah and here's why.

Oprah has decided she needs another "inner-makeover" which focuses on losing weight. Yes, you heard it here. Oprah is going on another diet. She admits she has been "filling the void of anxiety with food" for years and is ready to make a change. The fact that she wants to get over her binge eating may sound familiar. This is because after every diet she ever goes on, she starts another one that she hopes will end her binges. Wake up, Oprah! Your insane dieting is actually contributing to your binges.

The catalyst to end her binging-ways includes a plan to "eliminate caffeine, sugar, alcohol, gluten and animal products from ((my)) diet for up to 21 days." I cannot think of a better way for a person with serious food issues to induce a major binge. Just reading about her extremely restrictive plan makes me want to eat a whole cake. She is going to blog about her 21-day diet (she calls it a cleanse, but whatever) on this website.

The blog begins with a short promotional paragraph about what her blog will entail. It reads, "Read along as Oprah talks candidly about her 21-day cleanse and what it's like to give up all the foods she loves!" No, thank you. I already know what it's like to give up all the food I love. It blows big time.

Her blog entries make it sound like this is the easiest thing in the world. On Tuesday, she writes, "I had three meals and two snacks today. They were so satisfying that so far I'm doing great...I stopped by my favorite restaurant to meet a business associate, but I was so full and satisfied after Tal's meal, I only ordered sparkling water. (That's a first!) ((those are Oprah's parentheses, not mine)) The smell of garlicky, simmering fillets and steak Dianne were wafting all around me, and I had absolutely no problem resisting." Come on. I think we can all recognize this period as the "diet honeymoon period". During this period you can't stop praising your new diet and think it will really work this time.

Boo, Oprah. Boo.

Did Tyra Force Whitney to Gain Weight?

Yes, those pictures are of Whitney Thompson, the plus-size winner of America's Next Top Model. Whitney, age 20, used to live in Jacksonville Florida and began her modeling career doing local fashion shows and magazine covers. She was 15 when she began her modeling career and noticeably thinner. Rumors on the internet are flying about Whitney being a size 4 when ANTM approached her about signing up for the show. Allegedly, the execs at ANTM told Whitney that size 4 was too big for "regular" modeling, but if she gained some weight they would let her be the "plus size" model.

Who knows if this is true, but she does look a lot skinnier on the covers than she does on the show. Then again, my 15 year old body looked very different from my 20 year old body. I don't know if I believe the rumors. I've invented my own story that I think sounds better.

Whitney once dieted heavily to grace the covers of Jacksonville, but she is no longer a slave to the scale. Now she embraces her body and not dieting. Since she stopped dieting for good a couple years ago, she has gained weight. However, she is using the new curves she has to her advantage by becoming a plus size model.

Fatima Thinks Whitney Sends The Wrong Message

Fatima Siad, America's Next Top Model's skinniest contestant, says that Whitney Thompson's victory sends the wrong message to women...but not for the reasons you might think.

"To be quite honest, Whitney doesn't look like a plus-sized model to me. I feel like she doesn't look like a plus-size model, and therefore it's sending the wrong message because there are women who are actually full-figured and they see her and say, 'Wow, if she's a plus-size model than what am I?'" Siad told Reality TV World.

On the show, Whitney said she wears a size 8 or 10. My first reaction was that she was definitely not a size 8. When public figures, or anyone for that matter, lie about their weight they send the message that a bigger size is something to be ashamed of. Maybe more expensive brands size differently, but when I could fit my 5'8" body into size 8 Banana Republic pants I was super skinny! Whitney is 5'10" and she looks to be more of a 12. Some people might say, who cares what her size is? Well...I care. I care about Whitney sending the message that you should lie about your size because the smaller, the better.

After a little bit of online research, I found the following plus size model factoids:

• Plus size models must be between 5'9" and 6'0"
• Plus Size models must be between size 12 and size 16
• The shorter the model, the smaller the required size (i.e. 5'9" should wear a 12, not a 16)

Whitney Thompson: Winner of America's Next Top Model

America's Next Top Model Wishes

Imagine all the press that would swirl around Whitney winning. There would probably be all kinds of headlines such as "Is The Skinny Tide Turning?". Anytime a plus size anyone gets a dollop of attention the press deems it proof that things are changing. What headline would you write if Whitney won?

Update: Whitney won and will have her face on a billboard in Times Square!

Cartoon by Natalie Dee

Whitney Is In Top 3 of ANTM!

I'm so pumped that Whitney made it to the top 3! She is the only plus size model on the show, a size 10 compared to the other two girls who are a 0 and a 2. I think Tyra wants a plus size girl to win because she's gotten a lot of flak in the past from not letting a curvy model claim the prize. She talks a big game about size acceptance, but can she deliver? I hope so.

I noticed Whitney took Tyra's advice from last time, which was to not flaunt her boobs and ass. Tyra said modeling is not about overt sexuality (it isn't?) for bigger girls. She said plus size models need to tuck in their bums and curve in their chests to look less... overt. This episode, the judges said they wish Whitney showed off her body more in her recent photo shoot. They seemed puzzled that she wasn't drawing attention to her curves. Tyra didn't say anything, but the camera flashed to her and she looked secretly embarrassed.

Why is society so uncomfortable seeing provocative, sexy pictures of chubby women? If you flip through the pages of a fashion magazine you see tons of ads with skinny models posing in extremely sexually suggestive ways. This is not the case for plus size models. Usually, they are posed to look friendly and harmless.

Is Tyra Fat or Not?

I was watching this old Tyra video favorite of mine and noticed that she doesn't look anything like the picture from the tabloid. Do you think she is wearing pantyhose or spanx or something? It's true the tabloid could have photoshopped the images to make them appear more sensational, but the difference is HUGE. Literally. I wonder if her photo retoucher and Mariah Carey's are best friends?

Whitney of America's Next Top Model

Everyone knows that my favorite contestant on America's Next Top Model is Whitney. I love Whitney for one reason and one reason only, she is the fattest girl in the house. Tyra seems to like her as well and it would be amazing if Whitney actually won. I'm not going to lie, Whitney is one annoying model, but aren't they all? I like seeing a catty, drama queen with a little chub on that show. I always felt like the other token plus-sized models were too nice.

Some women feel they have to be super smart, nice, or funny to make up for the fact that they are fat. Screw that! Do what you want and say what you feel, no matter what your size is.

The Office Threesome

Kelly Kapoor, brilliantly portrayed by the lovely and luscious Mindy Kaling, has 2 guys to juggle at The Office. Who do you think Kelly should be with, Ryan or Darryl? I love how she's completely psycho with Ryan, but I also like how Darryl doesn't take any crap from her. This season will be so exciting!

What Kind of Game Are You Playing?

I wonder how close Mindy Kaling is to her character Kelly Kapoor? Kaling must have had friends who were like Kelly because she does such a good job with her character. Bring the crazy, Kelly.

Love in the Cubicle

I wish Kelly (played by Non-Dieter of Note Mindy Kaling) and Ryan, from The Office, would get back together. I think Darryl is trying to tame her and I like that she is full on crazy with Ryan. Is she just trying to make Ryan jealous? Who would she choose if it came down to it? I love that a normal sized, not dieting woman is on such a popular show.

Mindy Kaling

I just googled Mindy Kaling + dieting and didn't find anything about her commenting on her diet. Awesome.

The Food Network Upset About Nigella Lawson's Weight Gain

According to New York Post, head honchos from The Food Network have been less than complacent about Nigella's alleged weight gain. “Her director is now doing back flips to not show her below the waist, and deflects viewer vision by focusing on her cleavage/tongue/eyes more than ever,” claims an unidentified insider.

“In my experience, the weight thing is an almost totally female problem. I never feel bad about my weight around men, only women. Women act like it is somehow a moral failing to have hips," Lawson confides in an interview for TimesOnline.

Lawson goes on to say, “Everyone is so critical. All must be sacrificed to the great god of skinny. You must say no to everything. Life has to be pretty fabulous, surely, if you can afford to turn down occasions of pleasure?”

“I think it is a fear of flesh, maybe of vulnerability and softness," theorizes Lawson. I think she is on to something. I wonder if the reason we have become afraid of being soft and vulnerable is because women fought for so long to be taken seriously. Now that we are in a greater position of power, we feel that we must keep up a hard, controlled exterior to maintain our spot. Our bodies have to reflect an image of discipline and determination in order to be taken seriously. What do you think?

Jenna-licious

I'm still reeling from last night's episode of Girlicious. My favorite Girlicious contestant, Jenna, got booted off the show. Last night, Jenna decided to make the best snack I've ever seen: Chex cereal, powdered sugar, melted chocolate, and peanut butter. She made this huge bowl of it and all the other girls were dying. They kept making snippy comments about how she wasn't on a diet.

Jenna was one of two plus sized contestants on the show this season. The other one was voted off a while back. Jenna had a great voice, but was laaaaazy. She moved on the stage like a turtle, and I loved her for it. She was the opposite of all those hyper, skinny, adderall taking, crazies bopping around.

Fast forward to 0:54 to see Jenna in action!

Love the Dramz

I will miss Jenna...Remember when she showed up for rehearsal in a wheelchair and almost bit the dust when it bumped into the stage? Classic.

Eat Me

Love...it. America's Next Top Model is one of the best shows on TV. Last night, the girls had to wear clothes made out of...wait for it...meat! They wore shrugs, skirts, bikinis, and halter tops made from thin cuts of beef. Tyra thought one of the best photographs was of their token plus sized model, Whitney. Go Whitney!

Last episode, heads rolled because a stylist tried to "cover up" the voluptuous vixen during a lingerie photo shoot. This time around, Tyra made sure Whitney was showing plenty of skin. I can't wait to see what will happen next week.

Is Dieting Contagious?

AfterBefore

Last summer, The New York Times reported on a study published which stated, "...that people were most likely to become obese when a friend became obese. That increased a person’s chances of becoming obese by 57 percent."

Well, I've noticed the opposite to be true as well. As you may recall the popular Fox dramedy, Ally McBeal, received a lot of press about its quickly thinning stars. At the time, Portia deRossi, Courtney Thorne-Smith, and Calista Flockhart denied reports of eating disorders. Since then they have all come clean. All three women admit to suffering from bulimia and/or anorexia.

In addition, Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry lost a drastic amount of weight while filming the sitcom, Friends. Courtney Cox seemed to become noticeably slimmer as well. Later Perry admitted his drug addiction was the main cause of his extreme weight loss.

Grey's Anatomy has become the newest TV show to draw attention to its disappearing cast. Ellen Pompeo, Sara Ramirez, Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight seem to have lost a lot of weight since the series first began in 2004.

Is it possible that dieting and disordered eating are contagious as well?

I think I can, I think I can...

The hardest thing about not dieting is when a friend loses a ton of weight on a diet and looks great! Seeing my friend's weight loss has increased the temptation to start dieting again. I won't do it because I really want to follow through with my experiment and follow through with all of you. I truly believe that diets make people who are already in a normal weight range more fat.

Here's why...Every time I go on a diet the first few days/weeks are great! I see a loss and immediately feel like my life is running much more smoothly than it ever has before. Then the deprivation starts to set in and all I can think about is whatever I am restricting myself from eating. Sometimes fruit, sometimes bread, sometimes ice cream, and any other number of forbidden items. I end up super stressed and if something negative happens, I run to the prohibited food for comfort.

I have to admit, today was the first day (since I started a week ago) that I felt a noticeable difference. My thoughts were not consumed by food and I was noticeably happier. It is incredibly relaxing and freeing to not be consumed with calories, POINTS, or fat grams. Even though I was tempted to count calories and lose weight like my friend, I'm glad I didn't. I posted this pic of Sara Ramirez, of Grey's Anatomy, because I think she's beautiful and bountiful.

Plus Sized Beauty Made to Cover Up!

I am totally addicted to America's Next Top Model, with host Tyra Banks. There is something about a makeover that I can't resist. The best episode in each cycle is always the third. Why? Makeover time! It's so funny to watch the models freak out about their appearance. Don't they realize they are choosing a career that will constantly force them to change the way they look? I guess they missed that memo.

Anyway, there's a hot model on the show named Whitney. She is a plus sized model, but that's not the only reason I like her. She's really hot, too. In past cycles, the token plus sized models weren't much to look at. However, this is not the case with Whitney. I'm bummed they dyed her hair blonde, but love her extensions.

There was major dramz on the show last night. The photo shoot the models participated in featured Elle McPherson and her sexxxy line of lingerie. All the models looked great and practically naked. However, there was one girl who was noticeably covered up...Whitney!! After the photo shoot, Tyra was pissed that the stylist covered up the curvaceous cutie and apologized to her. The photo above was taken during the photo shoot. She's wearing a full skirt and blouse while everyone else wore thongs!!! I hope Tyra fires the stylist responsible for this...