Girdle Stories from Long Ago

Girdles have been around for a long time and they are here to stay; albeit in a very different form called 'shapeware'.

Here's a very entertaining video of a girdle fashion show from the 1940's in Britian. In one scene we see a mother of nine children. Yep, nine children. I doubt she has time to put on girdles. They are foster babies and she spends her days changing diapers, washing them, and putting them on the laundry line outside. And you thought you had it rough!

Ugly Betty talks about Appearances

Beautiful America Ferrera, who stars in the very popular new sitcom "Ugly Betty" (produced by Salma Hayek) was interviewed a few years ago and had this to say about appearances;

So, definitely, just growing up in America, whether you're skinny or not there's just way too much attention placed on the way we look. It overshadows more important things in life like loving yourself, loving who your are and finding yourself on the inside. Not just what kind of clothes you like to wear and who's your favorite designer. My generation, you ask a kid, they'll definitely know who made the shoes they're wearing and what shirt they like. But they can't answer, who's your favorite artist? Or what's you're favorite book? They can say (they) love this magazine or this...singer. Or "I wish I looked like this person." But they know so little about themselves.

Trans Fat is a Hazardous Chemical

New York City is joining Chicago in proposing a ban on trans fat in foods served at restaurants. Trans fat is the worst type of fat and causes serious health problems as the body is not able to digest it properly.

NYC's mayor has even gotten Robert de Niro into the debate. De Niro owns several restaurants in New York but they are all trans fats free.
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Photo by Tuppus

A Vegetarian Body Builder

I'd assume only a small minority of bodybuilders are vegetarians, but according to Robert Cheeke, there is no reason to eat meat if you want big muscles.

Cheeke has competed in body building competitions around the world. He weighs only 176 pounds, works out six days a week and relies on a protein-rich diet of nuts, grains and green vegetables.

He has a vegan bodybuilding site which goes into the benefits of a plant-based diet. Though he grew up on a farm, he stopped eating meat while at University after seeing an animal rights protest and learning about factory farming.

Breakfast is the Most Important Meal?

Everybody has heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Whatever you do, don't skip breakfast. Nobody questions this. I't almost a religious dogma in the realm of nutrition and dietary rules.

A few days ago there was an interesting article in the Los Angeles Times about this. There are a few scientists now questioning the basis of this 'fact'.

"They're not challenging the practice of sending children off to school with some oat bran or eggs in their belly. They acknowledge the many studies reporting that children who eat breakfast get more of the nutrients they need and pay more attention in class.

They do say, however, that the case for breakfast's benefits is far from airtight — especially for adults, many of whom, if anything, could stand skipping a meal.

"For adults, I think the evidence is mixed," says Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University who hasn't eaten breakfast in years because she is just not hungry in the morning.

"I am well aware that everyone says breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but I am not convinced," Nestle wrote in her book, "What to Eat." (She later received many e-mails from readers telling her that they were relieved to hear it.) "What you eat — and how much — matters more to your health than when you eat."

A few scientists go further than this. They say it may be more healthful for adults to skip breakfast, as long as they eat carefully the rest of the day.

"No clear evidence shows that the skipping of breakfast or lunch (or both) is unhealthy, and animal data suggest quite the opposite," wrote Mattson, possibly the ultimate anti-breakfast iconoclast, last year in the medical journal the Lancet. Advice to eat smaller and more frequent meals, he wrote, "is given despite the lack of clear scientific evidence to justify it."

Mattson admits that he hasn't proven his case yet. His studies are still preliminary.

But already, his findings have attracted a cadre of followers who started to skip breakfast once they heard of his results. Meanwhile, a diet plan that involves breakfast skipping — the Warrior Diet — is attracting followers in the U.S. and worldwide. "

Read the full article about the merits of breakfast here. The photo above is by Ahmed Rabea.

Sexy Halloween Costumes in Plus Sizes

There's a really good selection of plus sized Halloween costumes available online these days. If you're planning on attending a Halloween party and want to shell out about $40 or $50 for an outfit, you'll have no end of outfits to choose from. Here's just four samples from the 'sexy adult' costumes' category I found in the plus size section at Annies Costumes.

The black one on the top left is a Warrior Princess costume. For under $40, it includes the teddy, kilt and guantlets. It's only available in dress sizes 16-18.

The "Sexy Robe" costume on the left is available in dress sizes up to 22. It includes a black double knit robe with an attached hood and red lining and costs about $44.

Ruby, The Beauty Pirate costume is a corset top with attached sleeves, a skirt, hip wrap and head tie. It's available in sizes 18 to 24. It's $38.

Lastly we have the sexy prep school delinquent. This costume sells for $56 and includes the jacket, shirt, a pleated skirt and a neck tie. It's available in XXLarge and 3X sizes.

What is it about Chocolate?

As the days get shorter and colder, I reach more often for the chocolate. Especially the dark and heavily caffeinated kind. It's been one of those days.
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'Self explaining addiction' photo by Procsilas