size-related stories
What Your Body Is Telling You: This Week on AOL Health
Diet & Weight Loss, Alternative & Green Health
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Designer Says Nobody Wants to See Real Women Model
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Photo: Francois Guillot, AFP/Getty Images
Not everyone is ready to accept curves as fashionable, though. German designer Karl Lagerfeld has spoken out about this, telling news magazine Focus, "No one wants to see curvy women. You've got fat mothers with their bags of chips sitting in front of the television and saying that thin models are ugly."
This was in response to a decision made by Brigitte, a top German magazine -- they announced they'd no longer use unrealistically-skinny models in their pages, and instead, would hire "real women."
Lagerfeld says that fashion is all about "dreams and illusion," so using regular women instead of professional models is "absurd." But Brigitte's readers don't think so -- the magazine's decision was made at the behest of their devoted, fashion-forward following.
Brigitte isn't the only mag to feature the full-figured -- Glamour did it not long ago, with seriously-successful results! But clearly not everyone is on board. London's recent Fashion Week was rife with ultra-thin models, and criticism that the shows promote anorexia.
So Lagerfeld is not the first person in fashion to defend the shape of his models, but he is also no stranger to controversial comments. Just check out what he said about Heidi Klum and Seal!
At That's Fit, we applaud images of healthy women in all contexts, including on the catwalk. Check out the gallery below to see some of our favorite healthy (and sexy!) stars.
Curvy Female Celebs
When this hot Latina singer burst onto the music scene in the 1990s, tongues wagged at the sight of her now-famous derriere, but J. Lo has always been comfortable in her curves. She makes workouts a regular part of her routine, and even finished a triathlon in 2008, but she'll never apologize for loving food.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
This Welsh actress' weight has edged up and down throughout her career, but she's always leaned toward the voluptuous side of the scale. Zeta-Jones claims to hate Hollywood's weight obsession as much as she detests dieting, but she's managed to stay in shape through two pregnancies thanks to regular trips to the gym, and golf outings with hubby Michael Douglas.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Hollywood triple threat, actress/producer/director Salma Hayek wears her hourglass figure with pride. Size 0 is definitely not for her. Diet and exercise put her in a bad mood, and she claims, "I'd rather be a little heavier but nice." A lot of fans don't seem to mind, including pop star Prince, who wrote a song urging Hayek's daughter Valentina to "tell your mama she should give me a call."
Robert Benson, Getty Images
Can you say, Bootylicious? When she coined the term, Beyoncé was likely checking out her own voluptuous shape in the mirror. The pop diva says she stays fit by running and doing regular gym workouts, but she admits to indulging in the occasional French fries and Krispy Kreme donuts.
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
Kate Winslet has long revolted against the movie industry's skinny mold, vowing never to become a "stick insect" like some of her co-stars. She's so proud of her curves that in 2007 she launched -- and won -- a lawsuit against a magazine that dared to claim she was -- (gasp!) on a diet.
Jason Merritt, Getty Images
In 2002, America Ferrera proved that "Real Women Have Curves" in her breakout movie role. Far sexier in real life than her geeky character on "Ugly Betty," Ferrera wears her size 10-12 jeans with pride.
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images
Reality TV staple Kim Kardashian has gotten a lot of flak for having a little cellulite, but she says she's proud of her body. Recently, Kardashian has vowed to eat healthier and tone up, but she wouldn't change a thing about her curvy physique.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Scarlett Johansson admits a love for Snickers bars, and once joked that her idea of aerobics was "going out for a slice." Though she says she'll never be stick-thin, why should she care, when Esquire magazine voted her "The Sexiest Woman Alive?"
AFP, Getty Images
When Kelly Clarkson captured the first American Idol title and launched one of the biggest careers in pop music, her weight was big news to everyone -- except her. Clarkson says she eats what she wants, works out regularly and is just fine with her shape.
Jemal Countess, Getty Images
Tyra Banks has put on a few pounds since she graced the cover of that famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue back in 1997. But when the tabloids ran an unflattering photo of her in a bathing suit with the tagline, "Americas Next Top Waddle," Banks fought back, saying she'd rather be a good role model for girls than an emaciated supermodel.
John Shearer, Getty Images
Diet Snacks With Less Than 175 Calories
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
- Banana
- Sweet potato
- Low-fat string cheese, two ounces
- Animal crackers (not the frosted, sprinkled kind)
- Whole wheat pretzels -- one and one-half ounce
- Half of a whole wheat bagel with jam or low-fat cream cheese
- Handful of baby carrots -- dip in one-fourth cup salsa mixed with one-forth cup low-fat sour cream
Try making these your go-to snacks for a week and see what happens to your size. Does it shrink? If so, come tell us about it on a Wednesday this month. That's when we feature our weekly ATIO weigh-in. We're shooting for a combined weight loss of 250 pounds by the end of January, and you can help us reach our goal. In the meantime, though, head over to ATIO headquarters and read some more about low-cal snacks. Check out our featured gallery too.
Check Out Oprah's Favorite New Clothing Line - Beyond Yoga
If you've checked out the January issue of O Magazine, you've seen Oprah in a purple athletic outfit that flatters her shape, even though she's nowhere near the shape she desires. The clothes she's wearing are from Beyond Yoga, a line that has gained quite a few celebrity fans ... of all sizes.
Beyond Yoga is designed by Jodi Guber, who I had a chance to chat with recently -- you can read more about that at StyleList. What really struck me about Guber is her dedication to creating comfortable but stylish clothing that work on women from size XS (like Gossip Girl's Blake Lively) to XL, like Oprah.Guber has been a devotee of yoga, as well as an instructor, for many years, and has also been in the public eye since she was a child due to well-known parents. However, she was overweight, which made her uncomfortable at the time but led to her determination to make sure even those of us who don't fit in a Small can look (and feel) great.
Size Matters - Order the Small, Stay Small
Fat - Fighting It With Every Bite, Every Rep
The Good, The Fat and The Hungry, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
I am a fraud. Not just any old fraud -- I am a fraud of the worst kind. The worst kind in my book is one who lies to herself and believes it. I do that.In spite of the fact that I am battling my weight with every bite and every rep, I am not as sympathetic to those around me who are fighting the same fight. I have, on occasion, looked at fat people unfavorably as if I know nothing about being fat. What a hypocrite. For whatever reason, I feel a need to distance myself because I am closer to them than they could ever know. Any time I see fat, I see me. And it hurts. It hurts so much from the many, many rejections I suffered, simply because I was fat. When I see someone who is overweight, what may appear as my rejection of them is really self rejection and fear of ever going back. I may regret someday that I have written these words but not today. My hope in being so transparent is that my truthfulness will set me free from my own delusion and fear.
Author validates big boned girls
Cellulite, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
Meg Cabot writes books for the teen set -- her one claim to fame is The Princess Diaries series -- and she writes for us grown up people too. The good thing about the message she authors for adults is this: She makes it OK to be big boned.Size 12 is Not Fat and Size 14 is Not Fat Either are two of Cabot's books. Big Boned is another. All are mysteries, written with easy-to-follow and witty storylines -- size 12 character Heather Wells, an ex-pop star turned assistant dormitory director, finds herself tangled in various student murder mysteries and gives equal time to her detective work and her body image. Wells dwells on her size at times, cracks jokes about her plumpish figure, and shares her struggles with diet and exercise -- she is no stranger to indulgence and finds her commitment to fitness marginal, at best. Wells is real, human. That's what I like about her. She knows she's got room for improvement when it comes to healthy living. She also knows happiness doesn't always come in a size two package.
Looking for a good book, plus some validation for the fact that it's OK to be a size 12, or 14? If so, Cabot may be just the author for you.
The Good, The Fat and The Hungry - Getting sized up
The Good, The Fat and The Hungry, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
Welcome to the Good, the Fat and the Hungry. I'm Karla and I have been -- or am -- all those things. Here, I will share with you my lifelong struggle with my weight and I hope you'll follow along on with my determined attempt to lose nearly 40 pounds. I promise to tell you every win and setback along the way every Tuesday and Friday.I always thought the S in clothing labels stood for Skinny. The more weight I gained, the more that same S came to mean So-what-if-she-can-wear-that. Now, it stands for Someday.
The M in clothing meant Mediocre -- for the chick who couldn't decide if she wanted to be small or large, so she settled for mediocrity, in between. But that same M in labels now stands for MY size! Oh, how I have enjoyed the downward spiral of my clothing sizes. It has certainly improved the shopping journey. Three years ago, I was a size XXXXXL. That's right, count em, FIVE X's large. Now, I am a medium and there ain't nothing mediocre about ME!
When I began my weight loss journey, I didn't really have a specific size in mind. I just knew my doctors recommended I strive for 160 pounds, based on my height and the size of my frame. I am still a little more than 20 pounds away from that goal, and I'm not sure what size I'll be when I reach it. But it doesn't really matter. I'm focused on the goal itself. The health benefits are not lost on me -- but even they are not my motivating force. I simply look and feel great, and I want to stay this way.
Jeans and tees a perfect fit for all bodies
You don't have to be a size 2 to look hot. Regardless of body shape, jeans and tees that fit snuggly -- just not tightly -- can flatter anyone, says Makeover Momma, who cautions that these items should be in perfect condition for just the right fashion statement -- ratty or sloppy is just not in vogue, says this wise Momma.Want to rock the jean and tee style, like Calista Flockhart to the right? Momma says do these two things: Find jeans that fit your body flawlessly -- they should hit mid-stomach, not too snug over the hips and thighs, with the right amount of stretch or flare -- and no matter your size, track down a crisp, higher-end tee that hits at the hip. You don't want it skin tight, though, and not too short either. Forgo the logos too. You want a clean, no frills appeal.
Need to dress things up? Ditch the athletic shoes and ball cap and pair with feminine and casual heels and accessories like colorful earrings and a clutch.
Think small: Play the portion game
I love the portion size game -- you know, like what's equal to one-fourth cup? Answer: A golf ball. What's one ounce of cheese look like? Answer: Two dominoes or four dice. How about one medium-sized bagel? Answer: A hockey puck. I don't know about you, but these references definitely help me measure serving sizes. Check out this table for more on sizing up your sizes.
Ah sizes. We're eating more calories than ever in this country and our portion sizes, especially those eaten away from home, are making us fat and unhealthy. One fix: Don't lose sight of how much you should be eating -- this video should help.
Thanks to EatingWell.com for the powerful portion advice.
O'Connell apologizes for "huge" mistake
Actor Jerry O'Connell has been talking a lot lately about his pregnant-with-twin-girls wife Rebecca Romijn. We told you he was on the run for her cravings in this post, and now we hear he's been commenting about her size with Conan O'Brien on late-night TV. "Huge," he called her.O'Connell has issued a big fat apology to his Ugly Betty-starring wife: "I meant to say that there are specific areas of my wife that are larger than normal and growing every day. All other portions of my wife are quite petite. I apologize to her and will be coming home with flowers."
Good boy.
No measuring cups? Your hands will suffice
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
It's not always possible to measure our food into precise little containers prior to eating to ensure we're getting a properly-sized portion. That's what we have hands for. And thumbs. And palms. Yep, everything you need to know about how much you need to eat is in your hands, says Makeover Momma, who writes for the new-mom set but has tips that can transfer to all of us. Check these out.- A protein serving should be size of your fist. Makeover Momma suggests you focus on proteins like lean chicken or fish, an egg white omelet, or a serving of quinoa.
- Grains or carbohydrates should fill one cupped palm. Think one slice of bread, a cup of brown rice, or a moderately-sized whole grain bagel.
- Two tablespoons of anything is equivalent to the size of both of your thumbs. Use this guide for the peanut butter you spread on that whole-wheat bagel, fresh tomato sauce you pour over pasta, or the dressing you choose for your salads.
Long ring finger ups risk of arthritis
Check out your fingers. Is your ring finger longer than your index finger? Mine is. Uh Oh. That means I have nearly double the chance of developing osteoarthritis, according to a recent study.
Size differences between ring fingers and index fingers have already been linked to sexual and physical ability and performance in university exams, but researchers have now discovered that arthritis might also be connected to the size of fingers.
Type 3 Finger Pattern is what it's called when people have the common male trait of a shorter index finger, and it's now been linked to arthritis of the hips and knees. More common in women than men, the mechanism that accounts for this finding -- and one linking this finger pattern with early onset menopause -- is unknown.
Sounds like I could be headed for future health issues. How about you?Get Smart star loses boyfriend, 28 pounds
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Rumor has it Get Smart actress Anne Hathaway has lost 28 pounds since splitting last month with her boyfriend, Italian businessman Raffaello Follieri, alleged to have been involved in wire fraud and money laundering. The ex-boyfriend is in jail awaiting trial. Hathaway is apparently wasting away.Says one unnamed source: "She's slipped down from a [US] size 8 to size 4 and is hardly sleeping. She knows finishing with him was the best thing for her in the long run but she misses him and is worried sick about what will happen to him."
See that photo to the right? That's Hathaway not too many days ago on July 10. How does she look to you? Compare to the gallery of photos below, featuring the actress prior to her break-up and reported weight loss. I'll share my opinion after the break.
'Tis the season for muffin tops
This female writer from NYU knows what's it like: "I'm definitely not a tiny girl by any means, and I completely understand the battle with body image," she says. "I get a little unhappy anytime I have to purchase something in a large instead of a medium, but if the medium makes me look like a sausage trying to escape its skin, is it really worth wearing? Is it really going to look like you're a size medium to anyone but yourself? Of course not! I may groan when I have to reach for a size larger in that cute little dress or jeans but if it lays just right and fits as intended, so be it."
NYU girl draws from comments made by Stacy London of What Not to Wear when she makes these points: (1) The only person who sees the size of your clothing is you. (2) What matters is the look and if you can pull it off. (3) If you must go up a size to look like you can breathe (or to actually be able to breathe), then bite the bullet and do it.
I get it -- I'm all about feeling good in my clothes. And as for breathing: It's a must have for me. How about you?
