Women's Extremes For Easy Weight Loss

Survey Shows Lengths They'd Go To -- Even, Say, Going Through Life With Extra Toe!

(CBS)  A new survey reveals that nearly one-in-four women would gladly spend a week behind bars to reach their ideal weight. Not only that, but 85 percent would stroll through life with an extra toe if it meant keeping off the pounds, 23 percent would shave their heads, and nearly half would rather lose 20 pounds than live to be 100.

The survey, done for Fitness magazine, was dubbed "Diet Confessions."

Nearly three-quarters of them 1,000 women who responded have dieted or are dieting now and, most typically, they want to lose 30 pounds or more.

Another bottom line: fifty-one percent said they'd prefer Keira Knightley's body over Queen Latifah's although, in the end, 76 percent would rather be known as a "friendly, chubby girl" than a "skinny witch."

Fitness Editor in Chief Denise Brodey says, "The survey results illuminate the long, complicated relationship women have with their bodies. Yes, it can be funny to hear about the lengths women will go to lose a few pounds, but on a more serious note, it's unsettling to see just how deep-seated our unhappiness with our bodies is. Rather than beat ourselves up over so-called 'imperfections,' we should celebrate our bodies and all they are capable of doing."

On The Early Show Wednesday, Brodey told Maggie Rodriguez the survey "points out that people really do have all of these secret feelings about "I'm too fat, I'm too overweight, everybody's looking at me, I don't look good.' "

Brodey added, "It's all sort of the outside look, how I look outside, and we should be focusing more inward. In 2008, that's my resolution. That's what we talk about all the time at Fitness is, 'Don't think about the outside. Think of this as a long-term goal.' "

The women saying they'd rather lose 20 pounds than live to be 100, she told Rodriguez, points to "the idea that, 'I want to look good right now. Is there a magic pill? What can I do?' Instead of thinking long-term. A lot of what w see at Fitness is, women getting older, age 40 and up, 45 and up, do think about the long-term health benefits of staying at a proper weight and exercising. But when you're younger, you think, 'Heck, who cares about 100? Right now, I want to look good, this minute.' "

"Basically," Brodey observed, "I think anybody who looks at a lot of dieters will tell you the younger you are, the more you want it now. "I want a bikini body, I want to fit into my skinny jeans.' And, as you age, you think there's a lot more going on here. 'I don't want any aches or pains. I want to feel more energetic,' (though) you want to look good in your skinny jeans, as well."

Brodey concluded, "I think the survey, in general, points out that women just want to confess. They want to somehow feel that they're not alone, and if we can keep talking about all of these worries that we have ... the more they will think, 'Hey, I'm not alone. I can do this. I don't need a magic pill.' "

© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Add a Comment See all 11 Comments

by mitywhity January 2, 2008 8:52 AM PST

A six-toed skinny woman? No sir! A bunch of Queen Latifah sized women is a nightmare too. Light or heavy, the only real turn-off is being out of shape. There is nothing appealing about a woman who can only lay there, if you know what I mean. Ugggghh.

Reply to this comment

by drivelphobe January 2, 2008 9:44 AM PST

Well, who would want to live to 100 anyway? That''s just a stupid question. Fat women are truly disgusting, but there are enough males around who will take up with them that they will remain in high quantity. The healthy, vigorous, well-toned, delicious females with proper body weight, will always be highly sought after and will attract the men who can best provide. Most well-to-do men have the gorgeous females. That''s the way it should be.

The fatties are whining, lazy, sloths and in my humble opinion are lucky to get laid.

Reply to this comment

by hober_mallow January 2, 2008 11:24 AM PST

IMHO, from what I know from TV and the Internet, Queen Latifah would be more fun to hang around with than, say, Victoria Beckham.

However, if you''re looking for eye candy, you need look no further than any Victoria''s Secret catalog.

Reply to this comment

by stephwagle January 2, 2008 12:24 PM PST

Hi Folks: What a great discussion on today''s show! My diet confession: I still have 10 pounds of baby weight to lose, and my baby is 15 months! EEEk. While I''m here, thought I''d post a link to our website, Fitnessmagazine.com. feel free to post your diet confessions on our message boards at Team Fitness.

Reply to this comment

by teeus January 2, 2008 12:34 PM PST

drivelphobe

Bet youve got the market cornered on the "NO FAT CHICKS" bumper stickers.

Classy.

Reply to this comment

by neenga January 2, 2008 1:34 PM PST

"The fatties are whining, lazy, sloths and in my humble opinion are lucky to get laid."

Drivelphobe, I curse thee with an illness that makes thee just so: whining, lazy, and slothful -- not to mention unlayable!

Reply to this comment

by beckajw January 2, 2008 1:50 PM PST

drivelphobe Fat men are way more disgusting than fat women.

But in reality, fat isn''t disgusting. Laziness is disgusting.

What we consider fat today is actually a healthy weight. Obese is still not healthy, but many people in those healthy weight ranges are very unhealthy.

I commend anyone trying to get healthier, but trying to be too skinny is disgusting too. It is disgusting to try to conform to society. America is about being free and being yourself.

Reply to this comment

by dan9111 January 2, 2008 2:50 PM PST

You would think with all the babbling by feminists that women would put a higher premium on getting themselves financially-fit, and not expressing pure vanity. But no, it turns out most campus feminists today want only one thing -- female privilege. They do not speak out against bras or cosmetics companies anymore. These are typical privilegettes who want welfare and child-custody at the same time.

Oddly, they are the first ones to ridicule men who seek high-earning fat chicks. The feminist gravy train only works as follows: increased vanity and increased destruction to the family. And then they blame men for this! Pretty sick. They invariably abuse their children too. The women''s studies programs seriously need all the funding yanked. Seeing all the harm done to children, it is clearly state-sanctioned religion.

Reply to this comment

by mrassekh January 2, 2008 6:29 PM PST

The most blatant example of someone going to an extreme to lose weight is the fact that Alli exists. To resort to a product which induces anal leakage coupled with uncontrollable explosive bowel movements would seem to be VERY extreme.

Also, "The fatties are whining, lazy, sloths and in my humble opinion are lucky to get laid."

Drivelphobe, I curse thee with an illness that makes thee just so: whining, lazy, and slothful -- not to mention unlayable! -- posted by neenga at 01:34 PM : Jan 02, 2008

Good shot, neenga! However, from what I''ve read of drivelphobe''s drivel, trust me. He already is unlayable.

Reply to this comment

by lonestartnow January 2, 2008 9:17 PM PST

"The extremes" about sums it all up. Health and wellness shouldn''t be about extremes. I''m co-founder of the LoneStart Wellness Initiative, and we tell all our program participants that''s it''s not about thinness, it''s about health. It''s about making positive choices, and finding ways to become more physically active in our everyday lifestyles. Sure, there''s an element of "vain" at work, but to put it bluntly, we should all be more concerned about the element of "health." There are no magic pills, but in the LoneStart program we say "we all already have everything we need. We just need to know out how to use it."

Reply to this comment

by mom2joey January 3, 2008 10:32 AM PST

In the end, the "block" diet is the only thing that works to lose weight. Get your a** up and run around it!

Reply to this comment

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[mitywhity]

A six-toed skinny woman? No sir! A bunch of Queen Latifah sized women is a nightmare too. Light or heavy, the only real turn-off is being out of shape. There is nothing appealing about a woman who can only lay there, if you know what I mean. Ugggghh.

[drivelphobe]

Well, who would want to live to 100 anyway? That''s just a stupid question. Fat women are truly disgusting, but there are enough males around who will take up with them that they will remain in high quantity. The healthy, vigorous, well-toned, delicious females with proper body weight, will always be highly sought after and will attract the men who can best provide. Most well-to-do men have the gorgeous females. That''s the way it should be.

The fatties are whining, lazy, sloths and in my humble opinion are lucky to get laid.

[hober_mallow]

IMHO, from what I know from TV and the Internet, Queen Latifah would be more fun to hang around with than, say, Victoria Beckham.

However, if you''re looking for eye candy, you need look no further than any Victoria''s Secret catalog.

[stephwagle]

Hi Folks: What a great discussion on today''s show! My diet confession: I still have 10 pounds of baby weight to lose, and my baby is 15 months! EEEk. While I''m here, thought I''d post a link to our website, Fitnessmagazine.com. feel free to post your diet confessions on our message boards at Team Fitness.

[teeus]

drivelphobe

Bet youve got the market cornered on the "NO FAT CHICKS" bumper stickers.

Classy.

[neenga]

"The fatties are whining, lazy, sloths and in my humble opinion are lucky to get laid."

Drivelphobe, I curse thee with an illness that makes thee just so: whining, lazy, and slothful -- not to mention unlayable!

[beckajw]

drivelphobe Fat men are way more disgusting than fat women.

But in reality, fat isn''t disgusting. Laziness is disgusting.

What we consider fat today is actually a healthy weight. Obese is still not healthy, but many people in those healthy weight ranges are very unhealthy.

I commend anyone trying to get healthier, but trying to be too skinny is disgusting too. It is disgusting to try to conform to society. America is about being free and being yourself.

[dan9111]

You would think with all the babbling by feminists that women would put a higher premium on getting themselves financially-fit, and not expressing pure vanity. But no, it turns out most campus feminists today want only one thing -- female privilege. They do not speak out against bras or cosmetics companies anymore. These are typical privilegettes who want welfare and child-custody at the same time.

Oddly, they are the first ones to ridicule men who seek high-earning fat chicks. The feminist gravy train only works as follows: increased vanity and increased destruction to the family. And then they blame men for this! Pretty sick. They invariably abuse their children too. The women''s studies programs seriously need all the funding yanked. Seeing all the harm done to children, it is clearly state-sanctioned religion.

[mrassekh]

The most blatant example of someone going to an extreme to lose weight is the fact that Alli exists. To resort to a product which induces anal leakage coupled with uncontrollable explosive bowel movements would seem to be VERY extreme.

Also, "The fatties are whining, lazy, sloths and in my humble opinion are lucky to get laid."

Drivelphobe, I curse thee with an illness that makes thee just so: whining, lazy, and slothful -- not to mention unlayable! -- posted by neenga at 01:34 PM : Jan 02, 2008

Good shot, neenga! However, from what I''ve read of drivelphobe''s drivel, trust me. He already is unlayable.

[lonestartnow]

"The extremes" about sums it all up. Health and wellness shouldn''t be about extremes. I''m co-founder of the LoneStart Wellness Initiative, and we tell all our program participants that''s it''s not about thinness, it''s about health. It''s about making positive choices, and finding ways to become more physically active in our everyday lifestyles. Sure, there''s an element of "vain" at work, but to put it bluntly, we should all be more concerned about the element of "health." There are no magic pills, but in the LoneStart program we say "we all already have everything we need. We just need to know out how to use it."

[mom2joey]

In the end, the "block" diet is the only thing that works to lose weight. Get your a** up and run around it!