"I'm Pregnant, I'm Fat and I Hate It": Salon writer discusses pregnancy body loathing

Kim Brooks opens about her pregnancy weight struggles in her Salon essay, "I'm pregnant, I'm fat and I hate it." Read the article, and a response.

In other news, check out the latest reviews of Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? on Healthy Baby Network and Feministing!

The Fashion Industry Doesn't Like Coco Rocha's Grown-Up Curves

Coco Rocha is the latest model to come out against the fashion industry's stubborn adherence to a super-skinny aesthetic on the runway. Rocha has recently gone on the record saying that she has lost jobs because her body is too big now that she's reached the ripe old age of 21.

We remember when Rocha was a featured speaker at a CFDA Health Initiative forum back in 2008, where she confessed that a day in the life of a typical model involved hearing sensitive comments like, "We don't want you to be anorexic--we just want you to look like you are." She also admitted that an agent had once advised her to throw up after meals and that she had used diuretics to control her weight. Today, Rocha has a healthier outlook: “You know what, I’ve stopped caring. If I want a hamburger, I’m going to have one. No 21-year-old should be worrying about whether she fits a sample size.” The same cannot be said for many industry insiders, who, despite their attendance at the CFDA forums, are still upholding the unhealthy standard of hiring pre-pubescent girls and then routinely rejecting them when they start showing the first signs of curves.

“A lot of people are accountable, and nobody’s saying anything about it,” says James Scully a well-known fashion industry casting agent. “What happens when these girls develop and turn into women?” Well, it looks like they get the axe.

"A Model's Prospects: Slim and None" [NY Times]

Breaking Down Beauty Commercials: What Advertisers Don't Tell You

From the fake eyelashes in mascara ads to the "secret" ingredient in Proactiv, this parody takes on the beauty biz and its empty promises.

"What If Beauty Ads Told the Truth?"
via Jezebel

Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? Blog Book Tour

Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? has been on the virtual road over the past few weeks, making stops at lots o’ blogs. A few of our favorite quotes from reviewers:

“Reading this book was like listening to a friend…Obviously, this book is about pregnancy but underneath its healthy dose of humor, it’s about finally making peace with ourselves and our bodies.” –Crazy Suburban Mom

“I found it a very informative, fun read. It’s also an important book since women do so often feel horribly insecure about their bodies.” –Tripping Toward Lucidity

“Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? made me open my eyes to my own pre-conceived perceptions before I had children, what my expectations were while pregnant and the guilt that I had kept buried since then. I even giggled and cheered through the section of ‘The WTF Files: How to deal with dumb comments and stupid moves’…I finished reading with so much to consider. I leave with a whole new outlook on myself, almost making peace with myself after all these years.” –My Organized Chaos

“Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? is a no-holds barred, realistic guide about body image, the media, style, sex, and even breastfeeding. I found it informative, well-written, amusing and quick to read. And there was more than one section that I found myself nodding my head vigorously in agreement…This manual is a wonderful resource for any woman and would make a PERFECT baby shower gift!” –In the Trenches of Mommyhood (leave a comment by Friday, January 15th and you’ll be entered to win a copy).

Thanks to all those who have taken the time to read and review our book. You can check out a full list of tour stops here.

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Happy New Year! Healthy Beauty Resolutions for 2010

It's that time of year when we start hearing more about diets, workouts, and "goal weights." Every 12 months, millions of women make weight loss resolutions only to end up feeling disappointed and defeated. So we're challenging all of you to kick off 2010 with a new set of promises to yourself: Renew your commitment to the Heathy Beauty pledge. Read the pledge today, and leave a comment telling us what you would add.

Healthy beauty is not about pounds, calories, or hours logged at the gym. It's about making important changes in your life that will lead you to true body confidence. It's a positive attitude that you can pass on to your children.

We send you our best wishes for a healthy, happy new year!

xo,
Claire & Magali

In Your Words: What Children Can Teach Us About Healthy Body Image

There's no doubt that the body changes of pregnancy and motherhood can lead to a lot of insecurities. But we also talked to women who found that the process of becoming a mother helped to give them a whole new positive perspective on their bodies.

"A really healing thing has happened with my daughter. When I see her--I call her naked baby because she loves being naked--it's amazing to see her body. She's growing into my body shape. I love it so much in her. It's just making me accept it more in me."
--Lisa, 35, quoted in Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?

How about you? Have you had a moment of body image wisdom as a mom or mom-to-be?

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Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? Reviews

The latest buzz about Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby...

One of the Top 6 Parenting Books for Moms—SHE KNOWS

“A lighthearted guide to combating a silent societal epidemic...[T]he authors do a great service in bringing to light a fear that women may believe they suffer with alone...The concepts and solidarity offered here should prove valuable for millions of American women.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"...a good read that pregnant women will find comforting as they watch their bodies change."—LIBRARY JOURNAL

“It's never good to want to resist the changes your body is putting you through [during pregnancy]. But the fact is, a lot of us do. I'm excited to say that two women are taking on this issue in this book, to capture the many different ways we women go through, and what it makes us think and feel about out bodies. I haven't met a single woman yet who didn't have something to say about this.”—Stacy Morrison, Editor-In-Chief, REDBOOK

“Aside from offering great tips on dealing with hormones, breastfeeding, and those offhand comments from strangers, this book helps to remind me that NOW is the time to be grateful, not hateful, of my body.”—WORKOUT MOMMY

“I think I just found my favorite baby shower gift.”—THE GREAT FITNESS EXPERIMENT

“DOES THIS PREGNANCY MAKE ME LOOK FAT is full of fun and insightful anecdotes from real women talking about their changing feelings, and very helpful steps women can take to make their pregnancy experience a positive one.”—THE GIRL REVOLUTION

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