LilSugar

Did You Cut Diet Out of Conversation With Your Children?

LilSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:00:46 -0700

Mom might feel fat, but her kiddos shouldn't have to hear it. More and more parents are cutting "I'm chubby" exclamations from their conversation diet as mothers become concerned with the ill effects the statements have on their offspring, particularly impressionable daughters. Some families have even cut the word "fat" from their vocabularies despite a world that is now seemingly obsessed with childhood obesity, trans fat and exercise.

Twenty-three years ago, a front page Wall Street Journal article shook-up beliefs about when girls become body conscience. The reporter interviewed 100 fourth-grade girls and discovered that 80 percent were dieting. The writer recently revisited several of his interview subjects and found that most felt today's grade-school aged girls face greater weight pressure than previous generations.
Do you think body image issues have gotten better or worse?

Vanessa Williams Gives Beauty Tips to Her Daughters

LilSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:00:03 -0700

Last week our girl Bella interviewed Ugly Betty beauty, Vanessa Williams. They had a chance to chat about how the singer and actress maintains the good looks Mother Nature gave her and what beauty tips she doles out to her older daughters. When asked how she encourages a good self-image in her youngest child, the mother of four - Melanie, Jillian, Devin and Sasha - said:

The youngest one is eating right. She’s an athlete, she dances, she swims, she does basketball, softball. So my big push is eating the proper food that will fuel her body. You know, it’s a struggle because kids love gummy bears and fruit roll ups and yogurt with sugar in it - the quick snack foods. Trying to force them to eat vegetables and be conscious of eating living food like a piece of fruit as opposed to going for a bag of chips. I’m currently trying to focus her on making sure that she fuels her body with delicious, healthy food. And also staying active which she has no problem doing.

Has Becoming a Mom Changed Your View of Plastic Surgery?

babysugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:00:03 -0700

Before I had children, I swore I would never, ever go under the knife. But as the saying goes, "You should never say never." Putting forth a fake image is something I didn't believe in... until I had children.

I don't want a picture perfect bikini body, but what I do want back is my perky bust and a toner tummy sans stretch marks. I wouldn't dash down to the beach and flaunt it like Heidi Montag, I just want to feel attractive to my husband, which is hard when I tuck my tummy into my pants or adjust my pancakes in a supportive bra. I don't know if I'd actually be willing to have any procedures done but I certainly won't frown upon the mommies (like Kate Gosselin who looked amazing in a bikini after eight kids!) who do.
INFDaily.com

Tell Mommy: What's the Real Physical Price of Motherhood?

babysugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:00:00 -0700

A recent Dr. 90210 episode featured a go-go dancing 36-year-old mother of six trying to get her pre-baby body back through surgery. When Dr. Rey removed a large section of the woman's skin he referred to it as the "price of motherhood," which nearly stopped my heart.

While 59 percent of lilsugar readers say their appearance has changed for the worse since they gave birth, I hardly think of extra skin or marks as the price of motherhood. Sure, they may be a factor, but putting such an emphasis on a woman's post baby body is both unfair and unhealthy in my mind.

To me, the rewards of motherhood (like teaching a human being how to grow and be part of the world and a family) blow any physical price (like lack of sleep or a larger body size) out of the water. What do you think is the real physical price of motherhood?

Has Your Appearance Changed Since Having Kids?

LilSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:30:42 -0700

As if raising eight kids isn't enough for Jon Gosselin, in last night's episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8, the 31-year-old had a hair transplant. The good-natured guy attributed his hair loss to the stresses of being married and having kids, while Kate reminisced about the tendrils he had when they met.

The couple talked candidly about the toll that parenting has taken on their looks. From Kate's complimentary tummy tuck to Jon's new 'do, they took advantage of the cosmetic opportunities they've been offered. Has parenthood physically affected you or your spouse?
Source

Too Much Emphasis on the Appearance of Postpartum Moms?

LilSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:00:58 -0700

It used to be that new mamas debuted their babies after delivery, not their hot postpartum bods.

But, keeping up with Hollywood's trend of mums bouncing back right after babe, Halle Berry unveiled the fruits of her gym labors at Silver Rose Gala and Auction in LA on Sunday.

While there's no denying the actress looks amazing after having daughter, Nahla six weeks ago, our friends at Celebrity Baby Scoop have a shot of her looking just as stunning, but less svelte while shopping yesterday.

Do you think the hoopla of Halle's postpartum perfection sets a ridiculous bar for other child bearing women?

Source

Plastic Surgery Book: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:00:36 -0700

If mommy's going in for a lil nip and tuck, there's no reason to hide it.

Or so believes, Michael Salzhauer, M.D. who wrote the new children's book on plastic surgery, My Beautiful Mommy! ($20) published by Big Tent Books.

The text is intended to help kids cope with their altered mama -whether she's two sizes smaller, invested in ballooned breasts or a different nose - in a nonthreatening way.

The story and coordinating illustrations walk wee ones through surgery and recovery.

Would You Be Self Conscious If Mama Was Bigger Than Pops?

LilSugar — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 06:00:56 -0700

The highly anticipated pictures of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's adorable twin babes were released this week. And while Jenny has always been adored for her bootilicious block, her hubbie looked seriously slim outfitted in the photographs.

It spurred a discussion with another Sugar staffer and got me thinking about a couple other celeb mamas who are secure in being a bit bigger or taller than their better halves. In heels, Katie Holmes towers above Tom Cruise and his ex, Nicole Kidman has a pinch of height over Keith Urban.

Despite the physical differences, the trio of stunning women seem confident in their relationships.

Did size matter in your marriage?
Source and Source and Source

What Do You Think of the "Mommy Makeover"?

BellaSugar — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:11:39 -0700

Have you heard of the "mommy makeover"? The procedure, the New York Times reports, is marketed toward new mothers. It usually involves a breast lift (implants optional), a tummy tuck, and liposuction. Plastic surgeons are encouraging women to get post-pregnancy surgery to "repair" the so-called damage inflicted on their bodies through pregnancy and childbirth. The surgery costs $10,000 to $30,000.

Of course, nobody's going to deny that pregnancy does change women's bodies, and this can have a profound effect on self-image. Some women feel depressed because they don't look the way they did before baby; others say that pop culture puts more pressure on moms to look youthful and taut than ever before, causing them to need the surgery. “I don’t think it was an issue for my mother; your husband loved you no matter what,” said Sharlotte Birkland, who had the triple procedure done earlier this year.

I understand the desire to look a certain way, but I take issue with surgeons who pathologize the normal body changes that come with motherhood. Plus, what's with calling mothers "mommy" all the time? (Am I the only one a little weirded out by that?) Let me know what you think.

Source

Honest to Peet: Amanda Peet in SELF Magazine

babysugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:00:43 -0800

Not one to shy away from controversy or the honest truth, it's no surprise that mommy Amanda Peet is the cover girl on the December issue of SELF. The sexy mum shows off her postpartum bod and dishes on her role in the vaccinations debate, her typical date night and how she stays in shape. As the star in the flick 2012, she's a busy mom who somehow seems to keep her priorities in line all while maintaining a beaming smile on her face. Here's highlights:

The affectionate mom on how her outlook has changed since having her daughter, Frances, in February 2007:

Generally, I've become much more corny since I've had my baby girl. I think it's important for her to know that you can fail and then recover and that failure is important. It's part of the thing. You cannot escape it. There's no way you can control everything that much. It was also really important to David and I that she have a sense of silliness. We resolved to have a silly child and she is pretty silly!

On body image and having a daughter:

I do feel like it's important for her to have me be as healthy as I can be. So, you know, I don't want her to have horrible eating habits. I don't want her to never exercise. But obviously I'd much rather have her play a sport than have a gym membership before she's 20. I mean there are kids in LA who go to the gym and they have a trainer. I'm like, Play a sport!

View 5 Photos ›

To see how she spends her date nights and her stance on vaccines, read more.

On date nights:

I’m obsessed with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. If she knew how much she was in my household late at night or in the wee hours of the morning, she might be disturbed. David [her husband] and I both have a crush on her.

The child-vaccination controversy spurred her to become an activist:

I got involved because it scared me when I learned how many parents were withholding vaccines from their children. [Peet is the spokeswoman for the Measles Initiative as well as the organization Every Child by Two.] It made me frightened of the possibility that some of these diseases are coming back. This is about the future of our children’s health. It’s about what happens when you become complacent and you’re not vigilant as a community.

To see how the beautiful mom stays in shape, check out what our girl FitSugar has on the subject and see more photos, quotes on Self.com.

Photos courtesy of Mark Abrahams