I want to look like the cover of a Shape / Self / WH magazine... ridiculous, I know!

So, I've been losing steadily and am down to 111 - 113 lbs @ 5'3". I know I look pretty darn good. Problem is, I don't know when to stop, and in the back of my twisted mind, I still think that theres a chance I can look like a magazine girl someday.

I realize, to look like 'cover of magazine' girl, one must:

(a) have a home air-brushing tan machine.

(b) have mad photoshop skills after the fact to erase dimpling / puckering / lines etc.

(c) work out near constantly and eat very very strict diets. Well - this is what I think I have to do.

Assuming I'll never have (a) or (b) - what else can I do that would be more achievable to get 'close' to that point of toned / fit / trimness?

 

you are adorable and your hubby is smokin'!

 

p.s. i love your fmp's in the pic on your 25th bday :)

 

as far as looking like the mag. cover girl: just keep doing what you're doing. in a little more time, you'll probably drop a smidge more weight and notice some toning. i'm 5'1 and 100 lbs and pretty durn happy with my body for the first time in years :)

I think you gave yourself the answer by eliminating (a) and (b)

SUCKS... I know, bah!!  but you can do it... modify (c) a little bit...
(c) work out near constantly consistantly and eat very very strict diets healthy and eat at maintenence once you get there. Well - this is what I think I have to do.

I wanna get there too... too bad there's no such thing as 'photoshopping' yourself while getting ready/before leaving the house, huh?  I guess that would be called 'make-up'?

*sigh*

aw well.. back to reality for me treadmill, gotta get it in NOW before I change my mind.

G-luck

Seriously.

moodymomma - The consistancy thing is what destroys me every time. I need, need, need to find a way to get into a routine and/or find a way to fall madly in love with the gym. Me thinks I'm actually going to join a gym sooner than later. Going away camping for a week next week so perhaps when I get back. I've found a way to fall in love with healthy recipes / etc - exercise is the next obstacle but now as delicious, somehow...

yogi - you're awesome. Tks for the compliments. You're right - my hubby *is* wicked hot. ;) I'm going to post a pics ones from a wedding we were just at pretty soon - just have to find that damn digi cam.

 

Original Post by hettyanne:

I want to look like the cover of a Shape / Self / WH magazine...

The real question is...

Why?

Is it because Madison Avenue has worked very hard to make us all feel like **** about ourselves?

[edit] That asterisked word up there was auto-magically taken out of my post.  The intended words were "really horribly terribly bad" about ourselves.

Is it because they've spent billions of dollars in getting us to spend trillions of dollars to make us feel like we need to look like those people on {enter magazine title of choice, men's or women's}?

I say, let it go.  Ignore the constant bombardment of slick magazine ads, billboards, tv commercials, packaging pictures, signs in busses, trains, and taxi cabs, little television screens in elevators, and radio spots telling us that we aren't one of the beautiful people, and the only hope we have is to buy this hair gel, shampoo, underarm deodorant, makeup, fingernail polish, eye-shadow, and body spray, because this product will work where all the others obviously failed.  And, if we don't, we risk losing our partner, or, worse yet, never getting a partner, because they'll obviously want to go to that other person who did buy this product.

Oops, went on a rant sorry, time to go.  Now where did I leave my Tan-In-A-Can?

Cheers and don't fret.  You're lovely.  We all are.  Well, except that one lady I saw who obviously didn't use fruzion-de-joie hair gel.  She wasn't.

Original Post by mardix:

Original Post by hettyanne:

I want to look like the cover of a Shape / Self / WH magazine...

The real question is...

Why?

Is it because Madison Avenue has worked very hard to make us all feel like **** about ourselves?

Is it because they've spent billions of dollars in getting us to spend trillions of dollars to make us feel like we need to look like those people on {enter magazine title of choice, men's or women's}?

I say, let it go.  Ignore the constant bombardment of slick magazine ads, billboards, tv commercials, packaging pictures, signs in busses, trains, and taxi cabs, little television screens in elevators, and radio spots telling us that we aren't one of the beautiful people, and the only hope we have is to buy this hair gel, shampoo, underarm deodorant, makeup, fingernail polish, eye-shadow, and body spray, because this product will work where all the others obviously failed.  And, if we don't, we risk losing our partner, or, worse yet, never getting a partner, because they'll obviously want to go to that other person who did buy this product.

Oops, went on a rant sorry, time to go.  Now where did I leave my Tan-In-A-Can?

Cheers and don't fret.  You're lovely.

 well at least this is a more healthy/realistic goal then wanting to look like a coat rack runway model...

Actually - I've changed my mind. I want to look like carmen! :)

I know you know you look great, but that doesn't really matter to the person who's self-image is warped (like my own).

Have you seen the Dove beauty film? It's a little over a minute and it's simply incredibly cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PWdW4BruF4

Great to hear you know the Photoshop retouch secrets (I'm a professional Photoshop artist and retouch ALL the time!) Sort of odd to do that for clients and then have to look at myself in the mirror and wonder, "HEY! Where's the 'Remove-the-Eye-Bags' brush?! I have to go to the grocery!"

If you REALLY desire a supermodel body, I would think you'd need specialized, focused training. Have you considered a personal trainer? It might cost you $$$, but if you're truly committed, you can truly do it.

And, it's NOT like you'd be starting with a 280 lb. body and declaring, "Make me Hot, baby!!" I think a quality trainer might look at you and say, "Yessss....YESSSSSSS!!! Now, THIS is most definitely possible!"

All the best.

=DnD

Original Post by hettyanne:

Actually - I've changed my mind. I want to look like carmen! :)

 LOL

aw thanks, that makes me feel awesome!

eat clean, lift heavy weights.

Original Post by hettyanne:

Actually - I've changed my mind. I want to look like carmen! :)

Haha, that's because she looks like she belongs on the cover of Fitness or Shape! lol, seriously, you BOTH look great! I'm right about the same height 5'3" and currently 116 (looking to get to about 110). I know exactly how you feel, but just try to focus on being a active and healthy as you can. It is really hard not to want to look like that. However, it's their job to look that great! At least we'll never have to deal with the same kind of pressure to look like that all the time and can afford to indulge every now and then :o)

From your pics it seems like you're already there.  Maybe a fake tan and some glitter would help - and posing in front of a fantastic beach :)  But ... those models only ever look good in one pose: chin up, HUGE smile, eyes wide, hand on hip ... as soon as they bend their knee or tilt their head it's like "oh! she's got a tiny bit of double chin! Her thighs have a little bit of chub when they're not flexed!"

I do feel like it's like being on a treadmill - once your physical fitness is at the "correct" point then you have to pluck your eyebrows, then wax your legs, then buy a cute outfit, wash and iron the cute outfit, buy matching shoes, polish your toenails, get highlights, trim your cuticles, exfoliate your elbows ... and by this time your eyebrows have grown back in.

hettyanne: I don't have any advice about looking like a cover model.  I just wanted to say that, right now, you look the way I want to look come January.  I too am 5'3 and my goal weight is 110 or less.  I started at 140 about 6 weeks ago and have been plateauing at 135 for about 3 weeks now.  I think I need to up my exercise.  But anyway, thanks for the inspiration.  You look great.

Hey HettyAnne!

I am with you here... I'd love to have those oh-so-gorgeous abs, and some killer legs. I am 5ft4" at a steady 140 average (low is 138; high is 144). I haven't been able to get to my pre-gym weight yet (dieting brought me from about 160 average to 135). How on earth will I ever (if possibly) get to 110?!?!

I can't even imagine what I'd look like at 125... wow... I wonder sometimes if I'd look good or if I'd get rid of the excess fat I have??? I'd love to get down to a size 2 or 1 (I'm a 4/5 now)...

ugh, so much work left, it's a good thing we're still young enough to get it and enjoy it!

I agree with what everyone has said. You look great! I'd say you're at a good weight now and shouldn't try to go too much lower. Instead, I'd focus on what you already know you need to (toning by lifting weights, and not going overboard with the alcohol). 

Several people have mentioned having gw's of 110 or less at 5'3. I just want to point out that although this is not "underweight" according to BMI, depending on your body composition, frame size, metabolism, etc, it might be not enough. For instance, at 5'3 and 110 lbs, I don't menstruate. So that's something ot keep in mind. I think you look great at the weight you are. Good work!

mardix: YOU ROCK!

Hey hettyanne, looks to me like all you need is some weight lifting in your routine. You already look fantastic, so all you really need is a bit of muscle tone and you'll look perfect.

And you definately don't need photoshop or a fake tan. Lighting can make all the difference in the world. Black & White photos also help to hide blemishes.

Good work & good luck!

Hettyanne, some bad news, I seen some time ago how they take these already pretty women and edit the picks to make them look outstanding...Just take a pick of yourself and photo-shop it to make your waste 20 inches and no blemishes, if you can make the pick longer there you go...a fabulous picture of yourself looking like the altered girls on the cover.

Now is know one girl I just recently seen on the cover of Oxygen mag. Jamie Eason, She is a bodybuilder and that pick is of her in off season. You can go on figureathlete.com to see picks of her in season..that girl has good genes...naturally thin, and works out hard...I seen a pick of her bending over and all I could do was look at her adductor muscles (inner thigh) sticking out, It is just crazy...my husband works out too and his look like that but he is a guy.