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Bad Advertising

(I wrote this a while back on seeing an ad for a well-known diet food) I see two pictures, one “before” and one “after.” In the first, the girl looks normal, much like me. In the second, she wears a size 4 bikini, but looks a bit too thin. So what’s to make me want to start starving on their diet?

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Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 4/22/2011 4:16:00 PM

We did a play in college where I had to wrap my arms under another actor's stomach and do an elbow stand. During the first rehearsal the director decided he wanted a picture. I had to hold that pose for at least 30 minutes while he went to look for his camera. Talk about back pain afterward! Have a nice Easter. Love, Carolyn

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 4/22/2011 4:14:00 PM

Hi Andrea, I'm visiting friends and will be fishing on and off for the next week or so. Hurt my back and had to take a break. I had a friend who wore a size 0. Even when I was way under 100 pounds, a three was tight around the back -- broad shoulders from all the acrobats. At least I could do all the yoga positions when I took the classes. Maybe I should stand on my head again and have someone take a photo. (cont)

Diane Locksley

Date: 4/21/2011 12:44:00 PM

I wish I could put on a few pounds. Bony bodies don't actually look good in bikinis. Would you send a few pounds my way? Cute poem Andrea. Best to you, Diane

Manouchka Doreus

Date: 4/20/2011 7:12:00 AM

i agree but so many people torture their bodies on a daily basis

Joe Maverick

Date: 4/19/2011 1:20:00 PM

Well written Andrea, i think this good piece says so much! keep them coming!

Nette Onclaud

Date: 4/19/2011 10:24:00 AM

SOUP MAIL!! :)

Constance La France

Date: 4/19/2011 6:37:00 AM

soup mail in moment~~

Renee Kelly

Date: 4/19/2011 6:29:00 AM

Perfect bit of poetry and very observant of today's "perfect body".

Linda-Marie Sweetheart

Date: 4/19/2011 5:41:00 AM

thankxx Andrea.. aching still but better and all that gardening got to my bones luv..haha..one year older next month..oh boy.. thankxx for your great comment on my Agua Amore'..to me everything has a measure of LUV in it..haha..

Gautami Phookan

Date: 4/19/2011 4:41:00 AM

Wonderful thought..who wants to diet? They won't let us enjoy what we eat.these days how people count calories.Enjoyed this Andrea..No: to dieting!!!

Lynette Chachere

Date: 4/18/2011 3:17:00 PM

): makes sense..haha. size FOUR bikini... who really wants to be anerexic.. reminds me of someone whose close,sadly. ~Always&Forever

Nette Onclaud

Date: 4/18/2011 12:56:00 PM

hello, miss ya heartie! :) huggs

Wilma Neels

Date: 4/18/2011 12:47:00 PM

A witty write Andrea, there are so many out there that totally fall for the ads.. Love Wilma

Matthew Anish

Date: 4/17/2011 7:14:00 PM

Nice comment on the American obsession with weight loss. Enjoyable shape poem! How have you been? Love & Peace Matthew Anish

Dr.Ram Mehta

Date: 4/17/2011 6:51:00 PM

Thanks for the heads up. Tide waits for none is tetractys and not etheree. I have corrected it. Thanks, love

Dr.Ram Mehta

Date: 4/17/2011 1:30:00 PM

keen sense of reading and interpreting the Ad in humorous and witty perspective, Andrea

James Foulk

Date: 4/17/2011 1:20:00 PM

yes i agree with you on this one. i see these real thin girls who think they need to loose weight and i think hey you look great, you need to put on some weight, not lose it. this was a great piece of work. thank you for reading Eagle on the lake and for your comment. I live in denver, but this was in town at this wild life park about 4 blocks from where i live.

Audrey Haick

Date: 4/17/2011 1:11:00 PM

"You're right, Andrea. "Bad Advertising" is what it is. I'd rather stay healthy at a size fourteen anyday than be unhealthy at size four. Have a good week! Annalise

Linda-Marie Sweetheart

Date: 4/17/2011 11:39:00 AM

Good question Andrea.. thin is not for everyone and a matter of choice to be ultra small .. we are alll beautiful anyway luv..no matteer what the outside looks like..it is the inside that really counts in life.. and u are tops..my friend.. a nice insight on advertising..luv..

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 4/17/2011 10:23:00 AM

Ah, size four! I was the "after" girl for many years and am now quite displeased to be "before." Enjoyed your humorous perspective. However, I hope your diet is working. I am seeing results and the weight lifting is making me stronger for catching big fish. I'm out of town fishing until after Easter -- returning home May 4. Have an EKG May 5. Have a wonderful Easter, my friend! Love, Carolyn

Nette Onclaud

Date: 4/17/2011 10:10:00 AM

yipers!! all that hype, heartie.. i'd rather have flesh than bones, hahaha... a hearty,smart right.. stick to your size; as billy joel said" don;t go changing , to try and please me.." :) huggs!

Daver Austin

Date: 4/17/2011 8:50:00 AM

Yes! The tendency is to go too far. I lost 100 one time and got chalked-up while passing a billiards parlor. Love, Dave

Mitch White

Date: 4/17/2011 6:29:00 AM

Funny one, I always tilt my head when I see those ads. In answer to your Q "I LOVE this,Mitch. A hauntingly beautiful write. Congratulations. (was there really a Grace?)" Your darn tootin there was a Grace!

Jack Horne

Date: 4/17/2011 6:20:00 AM

LOL - yes, I think we've all seen those ads. The ones I particularly like are when it's clearly a different person in the 'after' photo, or she suddenly wears loose, flowing clothes. Anyway, it sounds like your girl has lost too much weight and needs to put a few pounds back on - she needs a fry it diet LOL. I love your footles

James Tate

Date: 4/17/2011 5:06:00 AM

Andrea, cute little poem. And lots of truth in it. Reminds me of my diddy: I didn't say that your girl was fat or thin, I just said the two things I like about best is her chin. :)