Lovin’ Your VS Body
Hey guys! How’s your Friday going?? Hope your day goes by quickly so the weekend celebration can begin 🙂
This morning, I was so stoked that I had a raw breakfast cookie waiting for me.
-1/3 C oats (ground into flour)
-1/2 scoop vanilla Sun Warrior
-mesquite and cinnamon
-1/2 banana
-1 T almond butter
-fresh almond milk
Somehow, knowing breakfast is ready motivated me to crawl out of bed, especially on a dreary day like today.
I met with my Lifestyle Challenge group at the gym and we went over incorporating nutrient-dense foods into their diet, since they’re already working on eliminating processed foods. Even though out meeting is extremely early, I LOVE talking with them about nutrition and fitness. Definitely gets me going for the day 🙂
After my group, I did biceps, triceps and abs with Jeni and Ashley, trained a client and then came home.
Snack attack.
Millet bread (Food For Life brand, in your healthy grocer’s freezer) with homemade coconut butter, maca and cinnamon
Since my next appointment isn’t until 1, I figured it would be a good idea to ice the ol’ knee and catch up on Grey’s and Private Practice on the DVD.
This commercial is cracking me up lately.
As ya’ll know, I’m a huge VS fan and rock the PINK collection like nobody’s biznazz but this commercial is a little ridiculous.
I tweeted:
To the average Jane (like me!) I’m pretty sure many of us are going to scoff and subconsciously associate the fact that if we looked like that, we’d love our body too. SO, SO not the case! Our bodies are beautiful for what they can DO — little imperfections make us unique and should be embraced. Of course, these supermodel girls are gorg and I have no prob with VS (and will continue to spend copious amounts of money there), but they could have gone in a really unique and awesome direction with this commercial. And they failed.
Just my 2 pesos. I’m not even going to go into my tirade on how the media warps women’s body image….. Looking at it now, at least I can get a chuckle out of it, but I could definitely see younger college-aged post-weight loss Gina being slightly affected by the commercial, even on a subconscious level.
Do ya’ll agree? Disagree??
Well I’m off to make a hefty smoothie and order more Sun Warrior because once again, I’m almost out.
Have a lovely day,
G
Today’s Workout Jam: “Kings and Queens” 30 Seconds to Mars (perfect for a killerrrr weights sesh or a slow, cardio hill workout)
114 Comments
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the sad thing is that those girls probably don’t love their bodies.
This is a very astute comment.
I agree that they could have definitely gone in a much more interesting direction – but it is something to think that some of these girls have just as many (if not more) problems with their bodies simply because of the industry they are in (http://ohsococo.blogspot.com/2010/02/uncensored-point-of-view.html)
Haha so agree – but like Michelle said above, those girls probably pick out everything they dislike about their body. 🙁
exactly. sad! :/
I agree with Michelle!
It’s sad really… CURVY IS BEAUTIFUL… why don’t people get it!?!?
i know, huh?
the thing is EVERY WOMAN IS BEAUTIFUL. why not have a mix of shapes and sizes when talking about loving your body.. to show that the bra will work for every type of woman?
That is exactly what I thought that should’ve done. I saw a bunch of women with similar bodies and didn’t see any variety. The average woman is not supermodel thin, and that sends the wrong message. If they’d had different ages and sizes wearing that line, I think it’d reach more people. But, I’m not surprised because as a plus size woman, I cannot even go into a VS and even HOPE to find anything that will fit me. I have to stick to Lane Bryant instead.
That commercial always makes me laugh because one of the models with an exotic accent says “body” more like “boody”, or booty with an accent. I always laugh and think, “well you model thongs for a living – you better love your booty!” haha.
On a more serious note, I love the message of self love, but I am fearful younger girls will feel like they have to look like a supermodel before they can love their bodies. So not true!
Do you use hemp protein, and how does it compare to rice protein?
hemp is a great source of protein, but the taste and texture is a little to “woodsy” for me
I just had a coconut butter on millet bread with Crofter’s for lunch, and it rocked my face off. Thank you so much for introducing me to the glory of millet!!
That commercial is a little silly. VS promotes “curves” in their models, but it doesn’t change the fact that those women are blessed with incredible genetics and aren’t exactly representative of the average American woman. Alessandra looks perfectly normal next to those other girls, but look at her next to Brooklyn Decker, who was just on the cover of SI:
http://www.skinnyvscurvy.com/skinny-versus-curvy-battle/alessandra-ambrosio-brooklyn-decker-crystal-renn-bikinis.html
Scary, right?
WHOA!!!!!
Decker looks much healthier.
This commercial actually evoked a pretty surprising thought from me. I didn’t think, “Yeah, I love your body too” like I probably would have a year ago. I thought, “Geez, girls – you need to eat!!” haha. I don’t even think they look healthy and strong. I was so happy to see that I’m no longer comparing myself to others, especially those who probably have bodies that I could never obtain.
I agree, they could have done something very cool (kind of like the Dove campaign). Too bad.
First things first–I love that you just said “my 2 pesos.” You should coin (or, uh, peso) that, because I fully intend on stealing it.
And I hadn’t seen that commercial (thanks, DVR) but the whole “My body is sexy line” cracked me. Ooh, really? You model lingerie and your body is sexy? Coincidence. Sad thing is–a lot of us blogger “Plain Janes” probably love our bodies a whole lot more than a supermodel bc we treat them with nut butters, grains and good-for-you non-champagne and coke pleasures 🙂
amen, girl.
hahah and yes, you may borrow my phrase 😉
I’m lovin’ your St. Patrick’s Day plate!! 🙂
Every time I see that commercial it irritates me. I don’t even think VS is trying to send the right message. It comes across as “Oh, you don’t love your body? Well, I love mine!” Instead, I’d love to see REAL women, at HEALTHY weights, saying the same thing.
exactly. a mix of various shapes and sizes would be lovely, and would probably cause more women to relate and go out and buy bras!
I totally agree. I went to the VS website the other day and thought I had clicked on a donation page for staving children in Africa. I was actually really sickening. I think Dove does a good job with their ads and REAL women.
This commercial is kind of sad. I just think about all of the girls and women watching it and hating themselves and their bodies. The truth is maybe 1% of the female population has the genes to look like that, but when the commercials air to millions of women, it seems like this should be the goal for women.
Exactly! It’s so sad to feel as if you have to fit into a culture that thinks 1,200 calorie “diets” are pushing it (as in, 1,200 would be eating too many calories) – spring break season at colleges have turned into diet fests and it’s no wonder why.
Where is the Dove Campaign for Beauty at a time like this? And do men even really like women to look like this??
Just my two cents:)
It is so ironic that you post this commercial today bc just last night my boyfriend and I saw it on tv and he commented on how those girls looked disgusting! I thought I was hearing things when he said that (me: “come again?”) but he said that they remind him of concentration camp starvation victims (brutal, I know) and that he would NEVER want a woman like that. I mean, I’m thin but nothing like that and would never want to be! I love that I have some “woman-li-ness” to my body, and at 130lbs adn 5’7″ think I am perfectly normal without looking like those girls 🙂
Btw I love the positivity you always promote Gina, you are a wonderful inspiration to girls/women everywhere 😀
my husband said the same kind of thing- women are supposed to have a little “softness” to them. no one wants to cuddle up to a rock 🙂
xoxo
LOL! My DBF says the same thing.
Agreed!! Even though I am thin, I hold extra weight around my middle and have a big pooch. I will never have anything close to a flat belly. I knew my hubby was the man for me when he said that it was sexy and he LIKED it and that women need some softness and something to grab onto 🙂
I too, am disappointed with this ad.
That’s presh:) The Pilot is awesome!!
i mean, if i looked the way they do i’m sure i’d be pretty darn happy with my body too…but then again, no one knows what those girls put themselves through internally either. i really hope i don’t ever see it on TV b/c, as angela just said, people who watch it are likely going to be upset by the fact that they don’t look like that.
This commercial definitely provoked my “WTF?” face while I was watching it.
I agree with previous comments about incorporating all different types of bodies in the commercial — would have sold me on it a little bit more.
When I see stuff like and I start the “I’ll never look like that” talk, I have to stop and remind myself, “yep, you’ll never look like that. But they’ll NEVER look like YOU. And that’s THEIR loss.”
Embrace the individuality!
*girl power rant over*
AMEN girl!
I have a love hate relationship with VS. I love the catalog when it comes in the mail, and then hate my abs after I look at it, haha! I agree that an ad with more shapely women would have been more affective.
I think the same thing when I watch those commercials. Of course you love your body, you look like that!! But I look like me, and I look awesome in lingerie, too! Ironically, I always see this commercial when I am at the gym in the morning, so I do feel very sexy. Good thing, right? Not to rush you, but when are you putting up new Pumping Iron routines? I am excited for it! Also, you really like the usn warrior protein? I am considering trying some.
hey astrid,
the new workout will be up after caitlin finishes her triathlon.
and i love the sun warrior! it’s my fave 🙂
that commercial is crazy.. those women look nothing like most people in this world. I hope people don’t watch that commercial and hope they can someday look like one of those supermodels, it’s just not NORMAL or realistic! They should have put every day girls in the VS clothes and did the commerical that way…it would have been wayyy better in my opinion.
i LOVE 30 seconds to Mars – the Mister and I are seeing them in concert next month! 😉
Aaaah – I definitely feel you. I struggle with body image for SURE (I weigh quite a bit for my height (as a runner and a yogi) and that always brings me down even though I’m size 2-4) and I certainly don’t need a bunch of six foot glamazons telling me they love their body…VS definitely missed the boat on this one.
The first time I saw it- I thought the same thing… ‘of course they love their bodies, they’re supermodels!’ Then a split second later I realized I would never want my body to look like that. Of course I have my insecurities like all girls, but I strive to have a strong healthy active body. These vs models look like they could snap in two, they are all skin and bones!
I don’t think the intention of the VS campaign is to get women to love their bodies. It’s about selling bras and panties — you’ll look great if you wear VS lingerie. I smirked when I saw the ad. The thing about companies using “real” people is that they’re not real at all. They’re always done up and the lighting is just so. I’m not offended by the commercial. I know they have products to sell but the commercial is just fromage.
I think it would mean so much more if VS did a Dove Real Women campaign (I think that’s what they called it?) and featured more body shapes because that would drive up their sales. Right now it just says “I love my model stick thin body, if you don’t have the same figure maybe that’s why you don’t love your body). Thing is I don’t love most of those girls’ bodies, they look pretty sickly and I doubt they would be capable of great physical feats like marathons, triathlons, or intense weight lifting!
Well said! Even while I was watching the commercial I felt a little self-conscious. I don’t even want to image what a younger (much more insecure) Shayna would have felt after watching it. Love you comments on it though! There are so many imperfection about my body that I love (scars, moles, etc.). I love your confidence and self-love you exemplify through your blog 🙂
Oh gosh, that commercial is just nonsense. I agree with you! And you just reminded me that I STILL need to order my Sun warrior protein. Ahh, when are they going to get it in Whole Foods already!?! Have a good one.
Cheers,
LC
I hadn’t seen that commercial before but it is pretty ridiculous!
While I agree that the latest VS campaign is ridiculous to the point of hilarity, I think saying the models in the commercial don’t actually love their bodies sounds bitter – How do you know whether they love their bodies?
I agree with all the readers above, I’m not sure I’d even want to look like that! I’m pretty happy where I am now 🙂
Totally agree with you about VS. I haven’t seen the commercial, but I pass by their store window every day. I thought to myself this morning, yeah, who wouldn’t love their body if it looked like that!!!
Yeah, it really is too bad that VS didn’t take the opportunity to spread a better image of “body love!” But I guess that’s the image they’re selling– an almost unattainable kind of sexy.
I love the idea of the lifestyle change group you’re working with.
I said the same thing the first time I saw that commercial. Why of course you love your body! The underlying message: And so could you if you looked like me.
i remember when i first saw that commercial; made me sad.
hey girl!
i hopped over from Skinny Menny’s blog when i saw something about VS… i knew in a blogging community full of girls, it would be a good post 🙂
for what it’s worth, i think the times some girls’ bodies look “best” is commonly the time they think they are never good enough because they’re sooo focused on appearance. it’s only when you include other joyful things in your life you can be at peace with yourself!
keep promoting that good message, girl!
– rebekah
What I always think is interesting is that sexy, scantily-clad women are used to market products to both men and women. Both women’s and men’s magazines have pictures of…WOMEN. Why doesn’t some advertising guru start using sexy men to market products to women?
Of course, with VS it’s a little different…the whole brand is about marketing to both genders, really.
I think most are missing the point of the add… women in lingerie has always been the center of the VS line… “body” is the new line by VS… if it was called “skin” they’d be saying “I love my skin.” I fully agree the gals are not average, but the fact they named the line “body” and ran that campaign is somewhat clever.
Wow. I haven’t seen the commercial, and I’m glad. Seriously, they wonder why eating disorders are such a problem in our society?!
I agree, if I had seen this ad a few years ago (pre-marriage, and post-undergrad), I may have felt a bit inadequate. But honestly, I can just hear my husband saying “those girls need to gain some weight,” if he were to see that commercial,and he would be serious. he’s European, so he likes a bit of curve, which makes it easier to be kind to myself.
I had the SAME thought when I saw the commercial! Of course they love their bodies!!!! I love my body too, even though it’s not as trim =D I’m confident in my body, but I thought if a self-conscious woman was watching that commercial she could be led down an ugly path of ‘I’m not good enough’ (been there, done that!).
I haven’t seen this commercial yet, but the concept does seem a little ridiculous…I could definitely see something like this negatively affecting MANY women in america, not sure if this is the right angle for VS to take. (I still will spend lots of money there too, though…)
i haven’t seen the commercial yet. i think the idea of promoting loving your body is a good one but vs models? seriously? i think they should being the dove ones back where they represented so many different body types: skinny, curvy, old, young.
Ugh- I have to say i HATE that commercial! They tell you to love your body, and then the only bodies they show are the VS Angels?? Ugh.. and I can’t even buy bras at VS… they don’t offer cup sizes beyond D, or sometimes DD. What about the millions of women out there who wear sizes beyond? I’m not even referring to mean plus size women, either… I wear a 34F, and I think most women are wearing the incorrect bra size, maybe partly because VS bra sizes are so restricting. Ok… that’s my rant! I’m sure you look super cute in your PINK stuff, Gina!! For the longest time I wore a 38 C, because VS told me that was my size, but I went to a REAL lingerie store a few years ago to be properly measures and it was life changing!! The 34F’s are AMAZING! Anyways, happy weekend, bloggies!
oops… i didn’t mean to say “mean plus size women”. I forgot to erase “mean” when I wrote “referring to!” OOPS!
I totally agree!! Thank you for posting that!!!
Hah, the only thing I thought when I saw this commercial was, OMG, I have those underwear! haha, two pairs. And they’re selling them still for full price?? They’ve been out like a year.
So funny – “of course you love your body, you’re a frekin’ supermodel!” I think that all the time when celebs are like, “but really, I just accepted myself” and I’m like, “yeah, that must have been really tough …”
Being a curvy girl it makes me sad, not because these girls are skinny but some little girl who isn’t skinny is going to think that this is how ALL girls should look, and that’s not what I want my niece or sister to think. I hate when they make it seem like being skinny is the best thing in the world and your life is much better than someone like me. I workout and keep healthy. I have more confidence now than I did when I was smaller. I think that should play more Dove commercials I Love them?
That was the first time I saw that commercial. They really did fail with that message. Every single women who watches that, for the most part, are going to feel self-conscious and compare themselves to them. I do believe we should all learn to love our flaws and see our bodies for what they do for us but when that is shoved in your face it makes it that much harder! Good things we have strong women like you out there, to kindove snap us back into place. I loved this post & you. You are fabulous as always. have a good weekend Gina,xoxoo
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I love this commercial (as a former VS associate) and I like the message. I agree though, they could have taken this commercial in an inspirational direction, but it’s VS–what do you expect? haha.
i also worked as a CSL for victoria’s secret, for 3 years. and man, i miss that discount 😉
I too am in love with your shamrock plate! Hands down, you have the best dish collection . . . I have plenty of Irish pint glasses, but it is sacreligious to fill them with anything but Guinness. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Maureen/Mo