We watch them on TV, one gorgeous celebrity after another, walking down the red carpet looking perfect. Tight bodies. Wearing form fitting dresses without a drop of the cellulite that plagues the rest of us. Perfection in motion. One perfect body after another.

And we envy them! “Why can’t I look like that?” “How do they stay so slender?”

The March issue of Glamour magazine had an article that shed some light on the secrets of red carpet bodies. Jessica Baumgardner, who ate in a way that most would consider normal, went on what she called a Hollywood diet blitz to see what many celebrities go through to get their slender bodies. She documents her 4-week experience, eating and exercising the way celebs do, in Could You Stick with a Star’s Body Plan? Jessica said she hadn’t exercised in years and was one of the few women in Los Angeles that still ate bread.

Best of all, she felt fine with how she looked!

Still, she agreed to try a version of the crash diet that’s common in celeb circles. Her experience made me wonder how anyone could stay sane living with the kind of regimen she endured for 4 weeks, which is what celebrities often use to slim down before special appearances. The trouble is, when you’re constantly hounded by paparazzi, leaving your house can be a special appearance every day.

Jessica learned why celebs get cranky and do dumb things at times. Or get snippy and short tempered. They’re hungry!

The plan began with a visit to a dietician for an eating plan that was low calorie but nutritious. Up till then, Jessica felt confident about following the plan. But the diet was limited. And expensive for the average person. Organic foods. Lots of veggies, lean protein and nothing that’s processed, which eliminates a majority of things an average person eats.

Jessica worked out 6 days a week. Her carefully prescribed diet was a far cry from her usual eating regimen. Her mood went sour from it. Meals weren’t satisfying. I read this and found myself wondering, is all of this worth having the red carpet bodies we see on TV?

I say, no way! Maintaining a strict diet that eliminates most of the foods you love takes the pleasure out of life!

Of course I watch what I eat when I can and don’t overdo it. I don’t want to gain a lot of weight. But drastically limiting what foods you can eat wouldn’t cut it with me. Eating is fun. Going to a restaurant with your own bag of food or ordering special things that seem boring and tasteless will make it seem not worth going. I know I could be thinner if I was very strict in my diet. But I’m not up for that sacrifice.

Nor would I make exercise a daily job that feels more like work. I have a weight training regimen with a personal trainer and run 3-5 days a week in Central Park. I enjoy it all. Okay, sometimes I don’t enjoy the running when it’s cold. But I do feel good about the accomplishment—pride—satisfaction of conquering something that was tough. But if I truly don’t feel like not going, I don’t.

Most of the time, my diet and doing exercise feels good, not like deprivation or torture.

Self-love is good motivation to get out and work out. And to try your best to avoid foods that will pack on the pounds. I want to maintain the joy in feeling control over my food intake, and also in some of the goodies I allow. I also want to maintain the joy of lifting weights and running. So I’ve accepted that I may never have one of those fabulous Hollywood bodies. Jessica got into much better shape. But, it’s better to balance eating, not curtail all eating pleasures.

Balance. That should be your operative word when deciding how far to take dieting and exercise.

Love yourself enough to keep the joy in all your activities! If you have to go somewhere and want to look in shape, get some Spanx. I confess that I wear them at times. They hold you in and have all different styles to choose from. Yet they’re very comfy. Not like girdles of the old days.

You can look good without being perfect. Clothes that fit well and undergarments like Spanx can accomplish that. So forgive yourself for eating that doughnut or second helping at Mom’s. Have some fries with your sandwich. Just don’t do it regularly. I try to be more prudent during the week and always have treats on the weekend. But, I’d have one during the week too if I was offered something that called my name. ?

Let the celebs be the ones to feel cranky and hungry. Feel sorry for them living with pressure to go to extremes to look good. Eat healthy, treat yourself, and find exercise that you enjoy. That’s what I call living!

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