Raising the bar on bouncing back after baby
Heidi Klum just five weeks after having her fourth child--for real.
As a mom to two small kids with limited time for my own fitness regime, very little gets my goat (and by that I mean pisses me off) more than gossipy reports on how fast today’s celeb mommies drop baby weight. Sure, a small part of it is jealousy. I’ll fess up right now to wishing I had a nutritionist, trainer, and live-in nanny to get me back on track. But the part that I find more troubling is the implication that new moms’ post-partum body transformations need to happen immediately and thoroughly, lest they risk becoming totally unworthy and forgettable.
The poster girl for this phenomenon is no doubt supermodel Heidi Klum, who (over the past decade) kicked things up a notch by walking the Victoria’s Secret runway eight weeks after giving birth to her third child and five weeks after giving birth to her fourth child. However, girlfriend is a total slacker compared to models Miranda Kerr (a.k.a. Mrs. Orlando Bloom), who returned to the runway barely two months after giving birth to her son Flynn, and Vogue regular Anna Freemantle, who strutted her stuff just nine days after delivering her second child. Continue reading
Nicole Richie denies pregnancy rumors, calls out irresponsible reporters
The photo of Nicole Richie that sparked untrue "baby bump" rumors.
The mother of two, daughter of Lionel (“Hello?”), ex-reality star, Paris Hilton frenemy, and arguable former hot mess released a statement regarding all the recent reports focused on her supposed “baby bump“:
“Contrary to recent speculation, I am not pregnant. This irresponsible reporting continues to feed an atmosphere of self-doubt and insecurity. To publicly point out a change in anyone’s body is mean-spirited and cruel. People’s bodies change and change again. This is not newsworthy and is a waste of valuable media space that should be used for more important issues.”
Thanks, Nicole.
Watch the video below to be further blown away by the new and improved Ms. Richie. See, she’s so beyond The Simple Life.
– Michelle вик услуги
Rolling Stone magazine considers Justin Bieber an abortion expert
This is the face of America's (and Canada's?) top abortion expert.
Okay, not really. But that didn’t stop Rolling Stone contributing editor, Vanessa Grigoriadis, from asking the tween heartthrob his thoughts on the issue.
“I really don’t believe in abortion,” Bieber said. “It’s like killing a baby?”
Perhaps phrasing that as an interrogative sentence doesn’t bode well for his credibility on the matter.
When asked about cases of rape, (really Rolling Stone? You couldn’t back off the edginess for one second and ask about Selena Gomez or something?) Justin said, “Um. Well, I think that’s really sad, but everything happens for a reason. I guess I haven’t been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to judge that.”
I’ll admit, my first instinct was to take a baseball bat to all nearby breakable objects in the name of childhood-stardom-induced ignorance. Continue reading
Women-only baby showers: Empowering or stereotypical?
Charlotte on her way to a baby shower in Sex and the City
Photoshop that baby!: Gisele in London Fog
New Victoria's Sec--erm--London Fog ad.
According to a press release [PDF] issued yesterday, Gisele is the new face, or rather, body, of London Fog.
Yes, these photos are very provocative and a bit ridiculous, considering the product she is modeling (I know I go out in the cold and rain like that all the time!).
But something else about the campaign struck me as discussion-worthy: Gisele is pregnant, but you would never guess by looking at these ultra-Photoshopped ads. Does London Fog think that pregnancy is unattractive and something to hide?
Lady with Babe
One of my best friends, Alison, is expecting her first child this March. Auntie Alyza sure has a nice ring to it, no? Alison is one of the few women in my life who rarely critiques her body — something many women have trouble with in general.
Because many of her loved ones live out of state, Alison uses MySpace to keep her long-distance friends updated on the hows and whats of her pregnancy. We visually track her pregnancy with pictures she posts every week. It’s been a delight! What I love about these pictures are her poses. Alison does funny plies, uber-sarcastic “sexy model” expressions, funny 80′s midriff shots, and every once in a while, she takes a simple shot of her glowing, smiling self. Alison’s baby boy will be lucky to grow up in a body-positive household! It’s refreshing knowing a pregnant woman is having fun with her body, since most of us feel burdened by the extra pounds.
Here’s what Alison says:
“People have joked that I’ve been gaining some weight. They make sure to tell me that they are joking, but I never take it seriously because I know that I am gaining the right amount of weight per my pre-pregnancy size. I eat so I’m full and know that I am nourishing another growing life.
“Earlier last year, I interviewed for a nanny job with this lady who was due to have twins. She was a ridiculous exerciser. Despite being pregnant with twins, she said she had only gained around 25 pounds. That’s the bare minimum that a woman like me should be gaining with ONE child. It kills me that some women are more concerned about their weight and image during pregnancy than creating another life.”
Alison is a great role model for all of us, not just the pregnant ones! This is why I love Alison — she’s a great role model What’s your take?
– A.J.