Tuesday, July 30, 2013

"Slimming secrets"

Gwyneth Paltrow. Did you know that she smokes one cigarette a week? Why yes you did, but she was worried you may have forgotten about her charming quirk, or her self-control humblebrag, or whatever that tidbit is supposed to convey.

Whichever contingent of celeb-watchers concern-trolls Paltrow's health might want to focus more on her "cleansing." But more to the point, as impacts people other than this mysterious-yet-ubiquitous famous person: why is Gwyneth Paltrow giving diet advice? "Actress and lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow shares her slimming secrets." How can one have "slimming secrets" if one has never, in one's well-documented life thus far, been fat?

But this seems to be Paltrow's niche: advising already-thin women (who are not celebrities, and whose careers in no way require this) how to lose weight. What's surprising, in this latest installment, is that the pretense of 'health' seems just about abandoned. "A detox is a great place to start before a diet," she writes (or 'writes,' whatever), and while she has found a doctor to spout this nonsense, it's clear enough where the priorities lie.

6 comments:

Petey said...

"How can one have "slimming secrets" if one has never, in one's well-documented life thus far, been fat?"

You just need to go back 12 years to find the documentation...

Phoebe Maltz Bovy said...

Right - I linked to that in one of those other posts, but might have reminded readers of it this time around as well. Thanks!

Petey said...

"Right - I linked to that in one of those other posts"

I was unaware. My bad. (Would've been at least mildly amusing had it not previously entered the conversation. But as is, a comedy error.)

Phoebe Maltz Bovy said...

Sigivald,

They're just trendy euphemisms for dieting. And they probably do lead to weight loss, in that they involve not eating food.

CW said...

I thought enemas were also involved, though maybe that's a "cleanse"?

Phoebe Maltz Bovy said...

CW,

Evidently!