Re:Losing Weight - 2008/01/16 23:03A few further points I'd like to make:
Dress size means NOTHING. It has to do with proportions, your height, and muscle mass. There are some very beautiful and well-proportioned women who are a size 12.
Remember that diet plans and such do not work for everyone the same way. Something might work for you and that's great, but don't assume it will work for someone else just as well. It's really easy for those who have naturally high metabolism to just go around saying "it's easy, just stop eating junk food". There are just too many factors for you to tell others what they should be doing, unless you happen to be a professional nuitritionist.
Finally, this is a topic that is very relevant to theatre and should be discussed, but please be careful that what you are saying does not unintentionally hurt the feelings of others on this board. Many people struggle greatly with their weight, and it can be a source of great pain and embarrassment for them. Implying that losing weight is easy, or bragging about your weight/measurments/size sends the wrong message about how we value each other._____________ Kris MTA Admin
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margyjohnson
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/01/17 10:55As a person who was naturally obese since babyhood, losing weight was not easy and it was not a matter of metabolism, but rather of retraining my metabolism over a long period of time.
It was not fast or easy and took a year and a half of patience, discipline and hard work. But I do believe that if anybody is willing to stick to something long enough and work hard enough & follow a healthy lifestyle plan they can and will eventually achieve success. It does take retraining your habits and changing your lifestyle, which is never easy. Most people give up if they don't have instant results.
Fad diets don't work, other than in the short term & they can cause a lot of serious health problems, especially if a person is constantly repeating new & different fad diets.
What I was trying to say is that there is no such thing as a quick fix but that I truly believe any person who is willing to make a healthy and permanent lifestyle change and stick with it forever (not just until they hit their goal) that they will experience permanent, life-changing results.
This is not just about looks but is also about health. More children & teens are being diagnosed with Type II diabetes than ever in history. I was dangerously close to that myself. One in 3 kids is obese now, according to some statistics. There are so many life-threatening health problems associated to the obesity epidemic in this country that most people don't take seriously enough. The younger you start trying to live healthy, the better your chances of making it stick throughout life. And it's very important to try.
This is not about looks (that is a bonus) but it's really important for health. It's all very well to talk about self-esteem & that you need to value yourself the way you are but that isn't going to make you feel physically better, stronger, happier & healthier. I used to be a constantly fatigued couch potato with no interest in life.
Now I can't sit still and am happy & energetic. I wish that I could help other people to see how much better it feels to be healthy than unhealthy and that it's worth the time, effort & sacrifice put in to get there & stay there.
Plus people who say looks don't matter are wrong. In this world everybody is judged daily by their looks, like it or not. It doesn't mean it's right but it's a fact of life. We cannot make other people not care about our looks. It makes a difference in getting jobs, getting dates, getting married & so many things. It's been that way for centuries & is unlikely to change in our lifetime.Favorite Shows: Once on this Island, Wicked, Hairspray, Legally Blonde Dream Roles: Ado Annie/Oklahoma, Galinda/Wicked, Elle Woods/Legally Blonde Favorite Role: Ti Moune in Once On this Island Jr In Production: Best of Broadway Revue, Elle Woods/Legally Blonde
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brucecriesxout
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/01/17 11:35Flece wrote: All this said about self-esteem and necessity, if you want to get healthier, I'd be willing to have another fitness buddy. I had another one on here, but he was a guy and not nearly as into it as I was.
I've lost about 25 pounds in the past year by watching portions and eating (mostly) real food. Having somone to report to and keep things reasonable helps as much, if not more, than journaling.
Little things like learning to love water and being able to cook whole, nutritious, quick foods makes a world of difference. You'll just feel better.
Would you be willing to share some of those quick nutritious recipes?? Haha I'd love to learn.Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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brucecriesxout
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/01/17 11:40palewithyellowhair wrote: yeah,I don't like feel bad but it's like the little things like understuding for Carmen,her dance for there she goes includes shoulder lifts and other cute things....my teacher says "I'll have to come up with something different for you..."
When I did The King and I, the costume mistress was sizing me and said "He's Lun Tha's understudy?" and she called me fat.Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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I have a fantastic idea. We should throw a virtual sleepover party with Spice Girls music, chick flicks and cookie dough! That's the mood I'm in. Who's with me!
I AM I AM!Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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Christine_wannabe
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/01/18 00:56That is so mean to straight out say "Your fat". Like i said before i recently lost 20 lbs. (hoping to lose a couple more) and before i did, i felt like people were always hinting about my weight. Even though i lost 20 lbs i still feel unconfident at times, but alot of people are unhappy about their weight, for example at my rehearsals for Oklahoma! today we were doing lifts for Farmer and the cowman and a lot of the girls (including me) felt insecure, like this girl who is almost 6 ft.(so she is obviously going to be heavier) said she felt bad because she could feel the guy who picked her up muscles shaking. I am 5 ft 2 in and 140 and not considered overweight, yet i feel like i need to lose weight and then their are the girls who are underweight and feel they need to gain weight. Unfortunately we do live in a world where are looks are judged every day and many people feel insecure about weight and what they see in the mirror (and unfortuanately some turn to eating disorders). You should lose weight safely and in a health way.Favorite Shows: POTO, Wicked, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, BATB, Music Man and more!
Currently in: R&H's Cinderella as a Stepsister!
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JIJane
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/01/18 09:38Looks and size matter greatly in the performing arts business. Period. That is just how it is. Yes, it's unfair and possibly unhealthy. Yes, some people may slip through and get cast despite not being the "ideal" size required. But generally - it matters. And will often go before talent, skill, etc.
Ok a story...
When I was 17 I worked as a model in the UK. I was 5ft11 and a size 4-6. I was told I need to lose weight ALL the time. I gave up after a few months, as I just got fed up. I then trained in musical theatre and started working as an actress. After years of some successes but mainly rejections I went to see the most famous singing teacher in the UK (who taught Elaine Paige, prepared Johnny Depp and others for Sweeney Todd movie, etc and sadly recently passed away). I am now 27. After I sung my initial song or two he very blatantly told me that I needed to lose weight if I wanted to get cast. I am a size 6-8 and as said before - 5ft11, so tall. I probably weigh about 135 pounds. I asked him why I needed to lose weight. He said: "So your beauty will come out more and you can really wow people with your presence. You have such a pretty face but your body lets you down. You could be so stunning if you only you were slimmer." I told him that I eat healthily, work out at the gym three times a week, do three hour of dance training a week on top of that, so generally look "fit" and am in good shape and not flabby. None of that seemed to make any impact on his thoughts. I asked him how he thought I should lose weight. He said - eat less. I told him I had gone through that as a model and knew all about that and definitely ate only about 2/3 of the required minimum calories for females (2000) per day already anyway. His answer: "Oh good, if you were a model that means you will know exactly what to do then to lose the required weight (apparently about 12 pounds in his mind).
I went to about 4 lessons in total. Each time I was worked very hard but told my singing was of Broadway standard and "as good as the original I saw on Broadway". And each time I was also told that it didn't matter how good I was, I needed to lose weight.
The result? I did not lose weight. Because I can't. I would be ill if I did and also incapable of dancing and performing to my full potential. So I don't have a choice but to stay the size I am and apparently lose out on work....or make myself sick to get work. I chose the former. But many people also choose the latter....sadly.
Good luck to everyone...
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cardrey
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/01/18 16:47What a great topic! It is one that is important to me, and you can tell by the number of quick responses that it is important to many people.
I'm so torn on this. I began Weight Watchers this past July and it is working...for me. I can't guarantee that it's right for everyone. I've lost 34 pounds.
As someone who started out at least 100 pounds overweight, my first impulse is to congratulate those of you who are already thinking about losing weight before things get out of control, as it did for me. I wish I had addressed the issue long ago.
However, another part of me wants to agree with many other posts here. There is no correct weight except where your body is healthy and happy. Please be very careful when listening to other people's ideas of the right weight for you. There are too many people whose lives are totally wrecked by anorexia and bulemia.
I went through a time where all I thought about was dieting and exercising and it ruled my life. It was not a happy time, and my confidence in myself was rock bottom. If I didn't lose weight, I was not a worthy person (in my mind).
As artists and performers, I believe that many of us have a bit of an intense "all-or-nothing" mentality. I am one of those. I go all out on everything and find it hard to be moderate. This leaves me so ripe for overindulgence in eating (thus being 100+ pounds overweight), or the other extreme, anorexia or bulemia (I flirted with bulemia in college and it really hurt my voice).
Also, the fact that many actors find their self-worth in whether they are accepted or rejected at an audition or performance makes us ripe for looking for self-confidence in all the wrong places. That can lead to eating disorders also. You need to find a source within yourself (spirituality, religion, etc.) to be grounded in so that rejections at auditions or performances don't devastate you.
The best advice I can offer to someone young who is looking to lose weight is to check with your physician first to have an objective voice telling you whether you really do need to lose the weight. He or she can reccomend an eating program and/or a nutritionist. Please see a health professional before listening to friends, directors, teachers, parents, or anyone about this.
If you made it all the way to the end of this lengthy post, I thank you, and hope it helped some
Cathy
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Christine_wannabe
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/01/18 19:03I could never have bulemia! Throwing up really does ruin your voice, a couple months ago i had the flu and my throat couldn't take it, it was painful. Eating disorders really do ruin lives and dreams. I am glad i lost weight the healthy way. Is being skinny really worth not being able to sing and do what you love?Favorite Shows: POTO, Wicked, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, BATB, Music Man and more!
Currently in: R&H's Cinderella as a Stepsister!
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stlgurl702
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/01/18 20:12Christine_wannabe wrote: I could never have bulemia! Throwing up really does ruin your voice, a couple months ago i had the flu and my throat couldn't take it, it was painful. Eating disorders really do ruin lives and dreams. I am glad i lost weight the healthy way. Is being skinny really worth not being able to sing and do what you love?
Its an illness, Its not like people are like "Oh I think I want to be skinny, so I think I'll throw up for the next few years!" Its not like that all. Its an addiction, like heroin or cocaine.
Post edited by: stlgurl702, at: 2008/01/18 20:13Auditioning For- Bye Bye Birdie (Hoping for Kim for Ursula)
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Christine_wannabe
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/01/19 01:58Sorry, i guest it is just hard for me to imagine how someone would do that. But that is true that it is an illness, anorexia too. Look at Karen Carpenter she had a BEAUTIFUL voice and she died from anorexia. so sad. God bless anyone going though it or knows someone going though it.Favorite Shows: POTO, Wicked, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, BATB, Music Man and more!
Currently in: R&H's Cinderella as a Stepsister!
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brimarie91
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/02/03 23:59you know what? i know that looks are important in theatre. but if your body is naturally one way, and even when you are extremely healthy your body is a certain size/appearance, then why would you try and change? theatre does base certain things on looks, because you have a limited amount of time to develop a character. so looking like the character can be needed for the character's development.
but who's to say that every character you ever audition for must be paper-thin? there are a lot of roles that call for more average, and natural looking bodies dont you think? wouldnt be awful to lose a lot of weight, only to then not be able to play a character you really want to play, because you dont fit the image anymore?
i dont know... im just thinking about it in a different way.&* hi! call me bri =]
current role: Narrator in Joseph...Dreamcoat
soon to audition for: Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding, Picnic, HSM (cringe) Hello Dolly!
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itshairspray
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/02/04 11:16I would love to loose some weight. I am naturally big boned and larger but I am QUITE a bit overweight but my 5'9 height hides quite a bit of it. However, I hope that I can find the time in my busy schedule to work out. Because I know that theatre often pressures for good looks. I know that I'm pretty but my weight can sometimes be a problem, especially when it comes to intense dancing. However, I wouldn't go to extremes to loose the weight.Currently: Penelope Sycamore in You Can't Take It With You Past: Henrietta (Honk Jr.)
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mslexy403
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/02/04 14:31I agree with what everyone is saying about health and not numbers. I know a lot of girls who get number obsessed. Some of my friends who are skinny as anything get freaked out about their weight because of soley the number. I agree with what Kris said earlier. "Ignorance is bliss." I'm pretty comfortable about how I look. I'd like to lose a few pounds, but who wouldn't? I haven't stepped on a scale in about a year because i'm too afraid the number will freak me out and make me go on some crash diet or overwhelm me with constant thinking on how to lose weight. I know that I can go work out if i'm feeling not so great one day, but as for the number. I have no idea. I kind of like it that way too. But this is just me.."If life seems jolly rotten, there's something you've forgotten. And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing"
Currently: Nothing! So sad..
Favorite Roles: Cosette in Les Miserables
Dream Roles: Lady of the Lake (Spamalot), Val (A Chorus Line), Millie Dillmount (Thoroughly Modern Mille)
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Addicted2Driftwood
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Re:Losing Weight - 2008/02/04 14:59One thing that has worked for me as far as finding time to work out is evenings. We have a treadmill, and my family goes to bed early, so at about eight or nine i get on the treadmill and watch TV, instead of sitting on the couch. If i'm behind on homework, i just read instead of watching TV. If you walk for a long amount of time, you don't have to go that fast for it to make a difference! This is WAY harder when i'm in a show, but i'm usually not. Try to find a time that works for you!
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