I WANT TO BE ‘REAL’ TOO!!!

It’s an argument as old as time.  Women do not look like Barbie.  Moms, womens groups etc, etc. have fought for equality in the toy industry for as long as I’ve been a woman. Today though the fight has left Mattel and is now focused on the fashion industry.

I’m sure many of you have seen all the recent publicity made about the difference in size between the average American, a size 14 and the average runway model, a size 0.  It’s raised voices, hands and tons of criticism.  The plus size fight has hit the mainstream media circuit.  The argument, “real” women want to see clothing on models that look like them.  Well hold onto your horses because the worms are outta the can!

I have spent my adult life in the plus size fashion industry.  I have seen it grow and flourish, I’ve seen the most beautiful examples of models parade through the agency doors, I’ve had the privilege of being considered one of the best of the best.  I have never been embarrassed to be myself.  I’ve always tried to set a good example and I’ve always tried to educate females alike on total acceptance of who they are and to embrace it. 

I wouldn’t be fair to myself or fair to my friends if I didn’t tackle this issue head on, regardless of the consequences. 

  

I am a woman, PERIOD.  There is nothing more frustrating to me than reading the piles and piles of hypocrisy out there with regards to size and body acceptance.  Everyday we hear how fashion is destroying our children.  “The skinny models, the skinny actresses are all making our kids become anorexic and bulimic.”  As someone who has been both at one point in time, that is crap!  I was anorexic because my friends were thinner than I was.  It had nothing to do with what I saw on tv.  I was bulimic because I wanted to fit into a dress that was 2 years old and I wasn’t 2 years smaller.

I’m so tired of hearing we need to see more ‘real’ women in print, on tv or in films.  We need more real sized models on the runways etc.  Seriously?  Do we even think about the statements before we start splashing them all over the place?  The above photos represent big names that have all deemed that skinny women aren’t real.  Literature: ” ‘Real Fitness for Real Women’ A unique workout program for the plus size woman.”  Movies: “Real Women have Curves”, Media: Tyra Banks searches for a ‘Fiercely Real Model’ and last but not least, our cosmetics companies “Real Women have Real Curves”.

So what you are telling me with these messages is that I am real woman because I’m big and over a size 2, but my friend who is a size 4 isn’t ‘real’?  What makes me more ‘real’ than her?  The fact that my parents gave birth to me?  The fact that my Dad is 6’4 and hers isn’t?  Is this what makes me more ‘real’ than her?  Obviously giving birth doesn’t constitute as being a ‘real’ woman because I gave birth twice, she gave birth 3 times and if birthing children qualified you as a ‘real’ woman than she would have beaten me out.

Is this a ‘real’ woman?  According to the above statements no.

The below photo is Angelina Jolie pregnant with twins.  And the cover of US Weekly showing her 11 weeks later.  Is she not ‘real’?  She eats, breathes, gives birth, works etc.  But again, according to the above campaigns and movies she isn’t.  How about after she birthed 3 children?  No?  Still not considered real?  Oh, because she lives in a mansion, has a personal trainer, nannies etc.  Okay, so the hypocrisy continues…..

The plus size industry sits there and looks down on anyone who isn’t like us.  If you aren’t round, soft and jiggly you can’t be part of the club.  I myself am criticized constantly because I’m only a 14, I’m not even big enough to be considered a model in the industry I was a part of since almost it’s inception!  Now it’s one thing to insult me, or criticize me, I can take it, but now you want to pick on my friends too?  That’s where I draw the line .

What message are we sending to the little girls who read these articles, “Your mom isn’t ‘real’ because she’s too skinny”.  What about the girls who are naturally skinny?  They get to wake up every morning being reminded that they aren’t ‘real’ because they don’t have a muffin top?  Like this girl;

This is Hanya, she is my good friends daughter.  She is tall and she is rail thin.  She eats more than I do at dinner, how do I know this?  I’ve eaten with her many times.  Does she leave the room afterwards?  No, she actually sits on the couch and does her homework.  She is the average 14 yr old girl, except that she looks like a runway model.  Am I not supposed to accept her because she is a size 2?  Am I supposed to insult her and call her unreal? 

We spout about size acceptance but it seems that we only really want our own sizes to be accepted.  I’ve read all the articles, I’ve seen all the publicity, I am part of that publicity for Pete’s sake.  I write a monthly article for Plus Model Magazine. 

I cannot sit here and insult my friends by saying that I am more real than they are just because I am a size 14 and they aren’t.  Neither should you.

If you want to fight for equality, then write letters to all of the agencies in the world, telling them to accept models of all sizes and shapes.  Write letters to designers to encourage them to use models of various sizes too.  Models need to stand up for themselves and not allow their agents to blackmail them into starving.  Convince these young girls that they are REAL just as they are.  Whether I wear a size 14, a size 10 or a size 18, which I’ve done, I am still me.  I still hurt, I still cry, I still grieve, use the toilet, vomit, cook dinner, shop, work, raise a family, be a wife do I really need to go on. 

It’s what I DO that makes me real, not what size I wear.

February’s Favorite Things

For those of you who follow my Facebook page you know I am always introducing products that are either staples in my current regimen or ones that I’ve just stumbled across but love nonetheless.  I figured instead of scrolling and scrolling through all of my posts to find the one you are looking for each month I would post here in my blog the items that month that are my favs.  So here we go:

This is a staple for my body and hair.  I have been using Vitacost Coconut Oil now for 8 months and I won’t use anything else.  My skin is so soft, the oil isn’t greasy (after you leave it on for a minute to soak in) and it has a really light coconut scent that reminds me of the beach every time I put it on.  The benefits of coconut oil are numerous;

“The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.” http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

Well, just to name a few….lol.  You can see why this is a staple in my daily routine.  Just be careful, coconut oil can clog pores so if you do use it on your face, remember to exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate so your pores don’t clog up.  Try heating the oil up and adding baking soda to it and then massage on your face and rinse.  You can use your regular cleanser afterwards if you don’t want to leave the coconut oil on.  For a hot oil treatment for your hair and scalp, heat the oil in the microwave for a few seconds and then massage in and leave overnight for best results.

Many years ago I discovered how toxic colognes and perfumes were.  Since these are patented formulas, cosmetics companies aren’t required to put the ingredients on the labels, preventing the unsuspecting consumer from knowing which ingredients will be most likely to kill them the quickest.  My husband and I stopped wearing scents because of this and I’ve been in search of a replacement ever since.  I believe I have finally come up with some great options;

The Monoi Tiki Tahiti products blend Coconut oil with essential oils, flowers and spices to create a yummy scent explosion.  I recently purchased from Vitacost.com the Coconut Vanilla bottle of Monoi, it is a bit pricey but knowing that a scent can trigger memories, I only want to smell my best….when I wear this oil, I smell like a cookie, and who doesn’t love cookies!

Another more recent discovery is LaVanila Vanilla and Blackberry.  I received this as a sample during my last visit to sephora.  I’m sure you see a theme developing here, Coconut, Vanilla, yes, I am a fan of both of these scents, maybe because I myself have memories triggered when I smell them and they are always positive.  LaVanila scents are free of:  Petrochemicals, Phthalates, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oils, Silicone, Synthetic dyes, Sulfates and Parabens.  What this means is you can smell good while feeling good too.

Another oil I am a big fan of is Argon Oil.  “Health benefits of Argan oil are in popularity and can help to treat any ailment such as dry skin, eczema, acne, wrinkles, and lots more. Argan oil is also used on skin, hair, and nails for its beatifying action. They have hydrating and protecting action on the skin and so it can be used in facials and body massage, even for babies. Many women rub this oil over dry or cracked lips to make it softy. Argan oil is shown to be helpful for improving hair strength.” http://www.organicargan.com/about.html

I recently stumbled upon the Josie Maran line of Argan products in which I will be sampling all of them.  Just knowing that she uses this and tries to keep everything as natural as possible makes me love her even more.

I tried some AHA’s a while back that just ripped my face apart.  I developed a red rash that was on both cheeks and it looked just awful.  I headed over to my local health food store and saw this product, Derma E Skinbiotics treatment creme.  It is made from Oregano Oil and Tea Tree Oil.  “Tea Tree Oil has wonderful properties that makes it a popular natural agent for curing all three types of infectious organisms: fungus, bacteria, and virus. More importantly, it is known to effectively fight a number of infections that are resistant to some antibiotics. Therefore, Tea Tree Oil is an excellent natural remedy for hundreds of bacterial and fungal skin ailments such as acne, abscess, oily skin, blisters, sun burns, athlete’s foot, warts, herpes, insect bites, rashes, dandruff and other minor wounds and irritations. “  http://www.homeremediesweb.com/tea_tree_oil_health_benefits.php

Add to that the benefits of Oregano Oil, a lesser known healer but effective none the less; “

In research done on the oil, it has been found that it could supercede many commonly-used pain killers, such as aspirin and even morphine. Oregano oil also has extremely high levels of free-radical-fighting antioxidants, agents that protect the body from the development of chronic conditions over time.

Oregano oil may also aid in the prevention and treatment of a variety of common infectious ailments including the common flu, psoriasis, eczema, Athlete’s foot, yeast infections and bacterial infections.”  http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/oregano-oil/

Put these two powerhouses together and you get a creme that upon contact took the red out of my rash and with continued use over 2 days the bumps were gone.  I’ve found that short term use is best with this particular product but it’s a wonder product in my eyes.  You can also buy this at www.vitacost.com

Last summer while visiting my family in Ontario, Canada I headed to just about every health food store in the region.  Every town I went into I found their store and perused their aisles searching for that AHA product only found north of the border.    I came across this great line of products that are virtually all natural, which says a lot if you look at the ingredient list on similar items.  The best part was that after doing a little more digging I found these items sold in Walmart Canada stores.  At a price point of about $5 per item, you can get shampoo, conditioner, kids shampoo, moisturizers and body washes all in various scents.  The one above features Argan oil and smells divine.  Now whenever I head home I grab a few dozen bottles to bring over the border.  My linen closet now resembles store shelves.

Ok, so we have our foundation of oils and cremes done, our skin, face and hair are all ready to go, now what?

Makeup is expensive, the good stuff anyway and since I use mostly all natural products the shelf life on many are short, shorter than the otc products you get at your local Target store, however when it comes to staples, like brushes, eye lash curlers and neat little additions to my foundation and powder I head over to E.L.F (Eyes, Lips, Face).  Their products are simple, cheap and disposable.  You can buy a ton of brushes to use on shoots, at home to give you a versatile kit or gift to anyone who needs to get their own kit going.  Average cost is about $1 per item!  You really can’t complain about $1, even if after 10 uses and washes it dissolves, that means you were gorgeous for about $0.10 per use.  Not too shabby in this recession day and age.

Now that we have our gorgeousness all done, what do we put on our skin that deserves it’s undivided attention.  Well I’m not going to lie to you, I am adding in a shameless plug for the clothing line I work with.  KikaPaprika.  Wait, before you roll your eyes and close this blog out, you should know, that after you have taken such care to moisturize yourself using natural products that will inevitably increase your life expectancy (as long as you don’t drink, smoke, drive too fast, water ski, bungee jump, inhale aerosols or choke on big bites of food….) wouldn’t you want to put clothing on that is going to match the foundation you’ve just prepared?  Kika does just that.  Their organic cotton clothing lines features organic dyes in a process that allows you to create your dream wardrobe just by adding a few pieces.  Each one is custom colored to suit your specific taste and color scheme.  Made in the USA to boot.  The fabric is so soft it will rival that of your coconut oiled appendages and you will glow in more way than one.

That sums up my Fav pics for February.  Can’t wait to see what March has in store….

“Kika and I….”

One of the most comfortable and secure relationships I’ve ever had is with my new wardrobe by KikaPaprika.  Organic cotton, Made in the USA, comfort beyond belief and style that I literally can make all my own.  Never again will I be stressed out about what to wear.  I will never have to put my husband in that dreaded position of  responding to the age old question: “Do these pants make me look fat?”

My kika and I are besties.  BFF’s.  We are one in the same.  Why? you ask, because my kika is made for me.  My own colors, my own pieces everything made to mix and match.  Guaranteed softness in every piece and made to last. 

The new spring/summer line is launching and I will be amongst the first to have every piece.  How am I so lucky and privileged?  Well I know someone at the company.  ME!  Yes, I loved my kika so much that I joined the company and now offer kika to those special ladies around me.  You too can feel as close and comfortable with your clothes as I do.  No more fat days!  No more wondering if someone else is going to have what you have on….easy dressing and colors guaranteed to flatter you because they are made to order…

I can’t wait for my “kika and I” to go out and about together but better than that, I will share it all with you!

Here is a first look at what is in store for Spring/Summer 2012.  What am I going to wear first?

 

Expectations=Disappointment=Motivation?Discouragement?

I asked a question on my facebook page today, “Have you ever been disappointed?”  I put up the thought that if you enter your daily activities with no expectations then the chance for disappointment decreases greatly, especially when that disappointment is generated by others.   

However, disappointment in ourselves is another story but that is also a viewpoint that is up to us to change. 

We are all too familiar with the failing customer service industry in our society.  Businesses whose sole income survives on good customer service are hiring and introducing us to the worst possible representations of that exact trade.   However, if we walk into a store expecting bad customer service and receive really good service, we are pleasantly surprised, but if our expectations are met, we walk out with a smug, “I knew it” attitude and go on our grumpy old way.

Our parents, during our ‘at home’ stay would lecture us or scold us should we not meet up to their ‘expectations’.  “I am so disappointed in your behavior, I expected more from you.”  It’s this statement that brings me to my question:

If we put expectations on others, and find ourselves disappointed because they didn’t live up to those expectations, are we creating a movement of motivation in that person by expressing our discontent or are we only discouraging them further?  Or are those results up to the person receiving our disgust?

As a mom, raising 2 boys, I of course want them to be of the highest breed of male on the planet.  The courteous, polite, chivalrous breed, not the raunchy, perverse, rude breed.  So, on a daily basis I manage the lives of my children giving them plenty of examples to go by on how to behave or not behave.  The choice ultimately is going to be theirs.  Now, when one of my children acts in a very inappropriate way, and I scold them with my line “I’m very disappointed in you”, will that statement motivate them to be better people or push them into a depression fit for an economy?

How about the woman at the gym, who is on the workout bandwagon so that she can reclaim her life.  The woman who is a size 22, but wants to be the 14 she was when she married, the woman who feels like everyone is staring at her, making fun of her, and she herself is now having self-doubt as to why she is there or deserves to be there.  Whose expectation is she living up to?  Hers?  Theirs?  Will the expectations of strangers around her motivate her to succeed or quit?  When does a person who has lived their lives pleasing others take back the power to make those decisions for themselves?

Everyday!!!! 

I’ve written before that the only thing in life we can control is ourselves.  We control how we enter the world in the morning, and we control how we leave the world at night.  We control how we treat others and we control how others treat us.  So, if we have created a pattern in life of allowing others expectations of ourselves create our existence then whose life are we leading?  Ours or theirs? Therefore when they are disappointed are they really disappointed with us or with the image of ‘us’ that we have allowed them to create?  Or, Or are we living up to our own expectations to the degree where we are trying so hard NOT to fail, we are actually, in reality,  setting ourselves up FOR failure?

I know for a fact in my previous life, when I was previously married,  my ex husband lived a life that was not his.  His life was his parent’s life, it was their expectations, their goals for him, their money that paid for his education, that was the person I met and married.  The person I  lived with however,  was truly different and it was when the true side of himself was exposed that I saw the other man, the one who was the complete opposite of what was sold to me in the beginning.  I had expectations for our life together based on the image and persona that was given to me in the beginning, however when the chains of control were broken from his family he was able to start being himself, regaining his control, the ‘real’ him was not the one I had the dreams with, nor the one that I liked.  Hence the reason he’s an X!

The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is to not have expectations.  Is it hard!  Wholly crap yes, am I successful on a daily basis, heck no.  But, I understand now that when I feel disappointed in someone or something it isn’t their fault but my own and I need to make the resolution to do better. 

Try it for a day, a week, and see how by not putting expectations on others changes your views.  Please share with me any eye-opening moments you have…I’d love to hear them!

 

 

 

This is LaTanya……

A huge Thank you to LaTanya for sharing her story with me.  It’s important to understand that just because one door closes it doesn’t mean the building is off-limits.  LaTanya saw an opportunity and created her own road to success.  Congratulations and we look forward to hearing more about what you are doing in San Antonio, TX!  If you are in the neighborhood be sure to look her up.

T: Where did you start your modeling career?  

L:  Shortly after graduating from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a degree in Psychology I had the extra time (and break from my studies) to learn more about the business so I enrolled in Barbizon School of Modeling and finished courses in 2004.  I do not think Modeling School is necessary for everyone, but I grew up in a small town where there was no exposure to fashion, modeling, acting, etc so I wanted to learn how to approach things the right way and Barbizon did help me with that.  After graduating from Barbizon I signed a non-exclusive contract with Avant Agency, Inc here in San Antonio, TX and started my career.

T:  What got you interested in modeling or why did you choose this career path?

L:  I have always been intrigued by fashion and coming up I wanted to be a fashion designer and then that changed to wanting to be a talk show host! Neither one of these career paths was highly supported by my parents.  Aside from not having much of a support system I also wasn’t exposed to the resources I needed.  I always received compliments on my skin, style, smile, etc and people would ask me if I ever considered modeling and even though it was something I really wanted to do I just didn’t know where to start and how to go about it.  I didn’t have much exposure to fashion and had certainly never heard of a plus model but never once did I believe I wasn’t good enough for it.  Once I did more research and had the money and time to pursue it I went after my dream.  I learned early on the worst anyone can say is “No” and with that I had expectations of having many doors slammed in my face, but surprisingly the experience was not too bad!

T:  Where are you located now?

L:  I am located in San Antonio, TX where I graduated from college.

T:   What has been your greatest success up to now?

L:  My greatest success up to now has been taking my personal experience regarding the modeling business (what is good to know and what to avoid) and building my own business to not only create opportunities for myself but to help others.  I truly believe that God not only wants us to look out for our own interest but also the interest of others and I feel good knowing no matter how big or small the opportunity I honestly try and do just that.

T:  Tell me a little about your business and how it operates on a daily basis.  

L:  In an effort to improve my role in the community as a plus model and advocate for curvy women in fashion I created my business LWDesires.  At LWDesires our mission is to “bring beauty, curves, and professionalism to your world of fashion” and we do this through hosting events, collaborating on events, and as an aspiring writer I also offer fashion forward writing services as I try to build my portfolio in that area.  There are a lot of people who feel strongly about curves in fashion and in my local area where I try to stand apart from others is being honest with people and as our community grows in fashion I want plus modeling to grow with it and not be an afterthought.   Not only do I want plus modeling to grow I want people to be aware of standards and to have standards in what they do.   I have participated with other businesses in different capacities of fashion (modeling, hosting, and assisting) and below are a few events I have recently hosted:

Love Your Body Day Mixer- We held a mixer for the National Holiday and women of all sizes, colors, different walks of life and ages came together to celebrate self-acceptance and positive body image.  It wasn’t an ordinary mixer but a National Holiday Mixer offering Style and Beauty Tips.  I chose four women from sizes 2-26 to model and with the help of RoyalT Ink Kouture Boutique and Torrid we were able to have the women model garments and offer styling tips on how to switch it up from the workplace straight to happy hour.

Army of Fashion (Army Fisher House Fort Sam):  For Veterans Day we hosted a benefit fashion show for the Wounded Warriors at the Army Fisher House.  We made the decision during the planning stages of the show to donate part of the proceeds derived from the show to a charitable organization here in San Antonio, TX and with the event being around Veterans Day we decided to support the Wounded Warriors and families at Fort Sam Houston. We featured three local fashion designers, honored our veterans and had a representative from the Fisher House come out and speak to the attendees.

Style Your Life SA Fashion Mixers- We believe style goes beyond clothing. It?s in your fashion, what you eat, your walk, the way you speak and how you live! So, we are hosting a fashion mixer every 3rd Thursday to not only bring the local fashion community together to network, but we hope to draw in businesses and large vendors to make the networking successful for everyone.  In addition to networking, socializing, and shopping we will feature a local designer and/or boutique with a fashion showcase, style tips, and cultural chatter.

 

“Ginger Gives you snap”

“Best known in the West for its antinausea properties, ginger has probably been in the longest continuous use of any botanical remedy in the world.  The Chinese use it for both medicinal and culinary purposes, frequently in cooking seafood, since it acts as a detoxifier to prevent seafood poisoning.  Besides its popular application for digestive distress, ginger has been found to contain geraniol, which may be a potent cancer fighter.  It also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve pain, prevent blood clots, and inhibit the onset of migraine headaches.  Since ancient times, Chinese physicians have regularly consumed ginger tea to keep their vitality fired up.”  Dr. Maoshing Ni

I love ginger.  I first got hooked on when I went and had Sushi for the first time.  It has a bite and a bit of a burn but there is just something about this root that had me hooked.  If you like sweet tea, which many Americans do, here is a great recipe for ginger tea that will help you to incorporate this wonder root into your daily diet.

Ginger Tea

1 in of fresh ginger root

1 tbsp Organic honey (preferred but not absolute)

4 c water

Take the water and put it in a pan on the stove bring to a boil.  Slice up the ginger root into thin slivers.  Add the ginger to the water.  Let ginger boil in the water for a minute or two then turn off the burner and allow ginger to seep in the water.  This part is going to differ for each person depending on how strong you like your tea.  Once you have reached the desired strength remove the ginger root from the water and discard.  Add honey to your desired sweetness.   You can either drink this hot or refrigerate for use throughout the day.  You can adjust the amount of water and ginger based on how much tea you want.  Once cup, one cup of water, couple of slices of ginger.  A pitcher full, then you’ll need a bit more.

You can store the remaining root on the counter.  When you want to use it again just cut off a piece, remove the opened end that is now dry and repeat the process.

Enjoy!

 

Meet Tilly….

Here is a little info about Tilly:

Height:    5’9″

Dress Size:    16

Tracie: Where are you located?

Tilly:  Stockton, CA

Tracie:  When and why did you want to get into this industry?

Tilly:  I’ve loved taking pictures since being a small child, but my desire to model peaked as a pre-teen in middle school. As a matter of fact, during a meeting with my middle school counselor, I was asked by him what I wanted to do as far as a career. I told him I wanted to become a professional model. Of course, my counselor said that it was hard to become a model and that I should think of going to college to focus on a stable career. I did attend and graduated from college, but my yearning to model never left me. So, in 2001 I became a member of the PlusModels.com forum where I got advice on the industry and feedback on my TFPs from seasoned models and others in the industry. Finally, in 2004, I submitted some of my photos to Igigi.com, a plus size clothing designer out of San Francisco, along with my desire to model for them. To my pleasant surprise, someone from their office replied stating they would like to use me for a photo shoot. The pictures for this shoot appeared on their website – this was my very first modeling job which I loved and only fueled my desire to keep on modeling.

I got into the modeling industry because I’ve always had a passion for expressing myself in front of the camera; I love posing, giving a range of expressions and just having fun in front of the camera. I also love fashion, meeting new people and having my hair and makeup done – it’s like playing adult dress-up; never a dull moment. Another reason for me getting into this business is to show the world that women come in ALL different sizes. The average size of the American woman is a size 14, but yet this large group of women, approximately 50% of the female population, is underrepresented when it comes to fashion and the media. There are beautiful and talented plus size models in the industry and we need to continue doing what we are doing so that plus size girls and young women can be proud of themselves in their own skin.

Tracie:  What are your future goals?

Tilly: I want to continue modeling as long as I can. I am currently signed to a local agency, and am thankful for this. My desire is to branch out and work in larger markets, such as Los Angeles; honestly, I don’t see myself without modeling. I look forward to starting a family with my new husband. I am grateful for having such a supportive husband when it comes to my passion – he encourages me to keep modeling, even after we have children. Traveling is another passion of mine, therefore I want to visit as many parts of the world as possible, near and far.

Tell us a story Tilly:

“I did a job for my local agency which involved me doing a medical industrial video featuring a weight loss product.   This product is actually an implanted device that is placed on the stomach; it detects when and how much food you’ve consumed.   After eating so much, the implanted device sends low energy electrical impulses to a different, implanted component.   Basically what it does is make you feel full before you normally would.   Sorry for the long explanation, just want to give you an idea of what I was working with.   By the way, the device was taped to my stomach for the purpose of the video.   After completing one of the scenes, one of the crew members told me it would be great for me to have the procedure done so that I could be followed and my experience documented.   At first I thought he was joking, but no, he wasn’t.   He was quite serious about it.   I just smiled and said that the procedure wasn’t for me.   Obviously the company making this device wanted a plus size girl to demonstrate what it would be like, day-to-day, living your life w/this implanted device; this is fine and part of the marketing process.   However, the comment made to me by the crew member didn’t sit well with me at all – and I didn’t react to it because you have to be professional while on any job.   To me the comment about using the device, myself, says: “you can stand to lose some weight”.   I may be plus size, but I try to lead a very healthy lifestyle by going to the gym, eating healthy and just staying active.   Sure I definitely can stand to lose some pounds, but can’t everyone?   I was just shocked that he would make this comment to me and be so blunt about it.   He may as well have told me straight out to lose weight, lol!   I would never go through any kind of surgery to lose weight, eating healthy and exercise is the best way to go in my opinion.

And there you have it, that’s my one experience in modeling that almost made my jaw drop to the floor, lol!”

Thank you Tilly for sharing your story.  If you are an aspiring model and would like to share a story with my readers, please contact me at: traciestern@gmail.com

Don’t forget to visit my website: www.theofficialtraciestern.com for more information about what is going on in my world. 

 

Collective thought, HUGE results

When I entered the modeling industry I was dazed and confused.  It wasn’t anything like how I pictured it to be.  I didn’t understand the dynamic between my agents, clients or even other models and myself.  It’s been a long and sometimes very hard road to travel but I’ve never done it alone.  At each interval, a mentor has appeared and so I share my success with them.  Photo by Michael Dar, shot for Elite Model Management, Chicago 1996.

I’m going to be starting a small series of stories about you, the readers of my blog and followers of my page.  I have a lot of information to share but as some stories and experiences are unique to me and my career, each of you will have joys & battles of your own.  Some will be similar to things I may have experienced and some of you may be pioneers of your own paving the way to societal acceptance.

The stories will be here to inspire and encourage those who wish to become a part of history.  Every day we take a step towards total female acceptance and I’m not talking about the industry here, I’m talking about our attitude towards each other.

As a woman, wife and mother plus someone who has a very demanding and active career I face the same issues as the woman, wife, mother who stays at home and raises a family.  I gain weight, I get bloated, I become emotional once a month.  My husband and I disagree about things, my kids and I face challenges but none of that changes the fact that I am deep down seeking acceptance and love from those around me.  I am not a cold, heartless person.  I require love, encouragement and a chance at success as much as anyone else, the fact that I wear a size 14 should have no bearing on whether or not my dreams are valid or not.  Would I be loved any more or less if I were a size 8?  Or even a size 18?  The size of my jeans has no bearing the person I am or what I have to offer and each of you out there should feel the same.

These stories I want to share with you about the successes and struggles of others is to show you that no matter who we are, where we live or the size of our clothes, LIFE is something we all have in common and that is where we need to find our common ground.

Join me as I introduce you to women who will inspire and entertain you.

 

 

Stay Alive: Stop Eating Dead Foods

Many of us see and hear about the benefits of buying organic products.  Ever wonder why?

“Ever wonder what Wonder Bread is really made of, or how many miles that head of limp lettuce has traveled?  There’s nothing like fresh, whole, organic foods to maintain your health and well-being.  Farm-fresh produce and meats go directly from the source to your table, leaving little time in between for nutrients to be lost.  Many foods at your supermarket have been picked or slaughtered weeks or even months before they make it onto the shelf.  These items are preserved by nitrogen or other artificial means, making them appear fresh.  Moreover, foods treated with pesticides and artificial fertilizers have lower nutritional value than foods grown organically.”  Dr. Maoshing Ni

Again we are brought back to the phrase “you are what you eat”.  Scary thought if you think about the new crop of diseases and issues that we face today.   Have you ever asked yourself if your diet could be the contributor to your eczema or IBS?  50 yrs ago the pesticides and chemicals used today to preserve food didn’t exist, therefore the outcome of the daily diet was of a more natural state.  Families had gardens and preserved their own foods, canning was a very popular practice.  The pioneers who founded this country used to preserve and can their food in order to have it last through the winter.

What a fun family weekend activity it would be to take some of the current, in season fruits and veggies and preserve them at home.  Imagine what pride and sense of accomplishment our children will feel when the J of PB & J is one that they themselves made.  I think that it would taste that much better.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the idea of going organic vs. non organic produce.  Do you truly believe there is a difference like experts say?

 

“Eat like a King by day, like a Pauper by night”

“Remember the famous saying ” You are what you eat”?  It’s also true that you are when you eat.  Because of the human body’s circadian rhythm, the same foods eaten at breakfast or lunch are processed differently than when they are eaten at dinner.  Research shows that when you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast you tend to lose weight and have more energy, while eating the same things at dinnertime produces tendencies toward weight gain, increased blood pressure, and heart disease.”  Dr. Maoshing Ni

Many of us out here in the world have families.  Those families will usually include children who are in school every day,  parents that work, and rushed schedules that make eating once a day together their only option for socializing in the home.  If we take away the formal sit down dinner for most families and turn it into a snack time instead are there really advantages to this?

A casual snack with the kids at what we know as the dinner hour might be a great idea.  Casual, encourages conversation etc. , maybe serving finger snacks, small sandwiches cut up, veggies on a tray with dip, fresh fruit that can be dipped in chocolate or a cheese fondue instead of the heavy roast beef with potatoes, carrots and rolls?  It could work.  I’ll give it a try one night and see how it goes over.

In a world where we are judged by our size, whether it’s in North America where it seems to be a negative trait or overseas where various countries believe size = stature, there are ways we can control our destiny.  It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle.  So far it’s a pretty easy one to follow.