Picture this: you are standing in front of a full-length mirror in your underwear. What do you see? I’ll bet every person reading this sees something negative about their body. I’ll even go as far to say that the negative thing most people see is either “too fat” or “too skinny.” Well, what if you were paid to be “too fat” or “too skinny?” Every actor, at one point or another, is offered a role in which they either have to lose or gain weight. Charlize Theron gained 30 pounds eating Krispy Kreme doughnuts to portray serial killer Aileen Wournos, in 2003’s “Monster.” The 5-foot 10-inch, 135-pound actress had to undergo a tremendous transformation, and her reward was an Oscar. So how did Theron get back to being her stunning, salacious self in only six weeks? It’s not even close to a “diet secret.”
When you’re an Oscar-nominated actress, you have the money to hire a personal trainer and an on-call cook to look nothing short of phenomenal should you have the chance to actually receive the Oscar. Sure, there are fad diets like Atkins, South Beach, or the Zone, that can help you shed pounds quickly, but it helps to have the green, if you know what I mean.
Renee Zellweger also gained 30 pounds for “Bridget Jones’ Diary,” gorging on pizza, Guinness, peanut butter and ice cream for months, but had to “drop it like it’s hot” for her role as Roxy Hart in Chicago. She lost the weight in a very short period of time by cutting carbohydrates, boosting her protein intake, and heading to the gym every day. Now, the once petite actress packed on the pounds again for “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” due in theaters on Nov. 19. Celebrities are “yoyo dieting” just like everyone else in the world, but they are getting paid to do it with a shiny, gold man named Oscar waved in front of their noses. Christian Bale lost over 60 pounds to play the leading role in “The Machinist” by living only on coffee, cigarettes and an apple a day.
It was Bale’s choice to stop eating, and some critics say it will help him win an Oscar. Hollywood actors will gain and lose weight for their craft. It is their job to portray a character to their audience, and if gaining or losing weight is the way to be believable, they’ll do it in a heart beat. Sure, it’s amazing how celebrities can drop all the weight faster than you can say “carbs are the devil,” but while they are shedding the pounds, are they also shedding years from their lives?
A healthy way to lose weight, according to the Weight-control Information Network online, is to “follow a sensible eating plan and engage in regular physical activity” losing only up to two pounds a week. Christian Bale’s approach to his weight loss was more than dangerous. He’s a grown man who can make his own decisions, but haven’t these people ever heard of makeup? Why not wear baggy clothes to give the illusion of a man who is skin and bones rather than become one? It’s getting to the point where celebrities are putting their lives in danger.
Yo-yo dieting is something that many people are going through right now. If you go to your doctor, they’re probably more than willing to put you on a safe and healthy plan to shed those few extra pounds, or gain that extra muscle you need to feel better about yourself. Celebrities make the money that allows them to gain and lose weight easily. They also have the goal of winning an Oscar in mind. The money they earn, and the Oscar they win will not, however, give them the most precious gift of all – Life. We only have one life, and we only have one body. It’s up to you to keep it healthy, and fad diets are not the answer.