3 Dangerous Celebrity Diet “Tricks”
If you’re unlike me and you haven’t had E!’s Red Carpet Pre-Show Tivo’d for the past week, let me inform you: the Oscars are on Sunday.
Even if you don’t plan on watching, it’s hard to ignore the countless articles stating: “How Celebs Get Fit for The Red Carpet,” and secretly wanting to know their tricks of the trade.
I’m here to tell you, all that glitters is not gold.
While most of the actresses maintain a strict diet and exercise schedule at all times (not just for red carpets), some of them take their already severe routines to the extreme during award season.
I debated on whether I should share this information since even though I’m criticizing it, some people might take it as advice instead of a warning.
However, I reasoned that these dangerous celebrity diet “tricks” are not all that secretive. If someone wanted to learn them bad enough, there are many other dark holes of the internet they could source.
This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and my hope in sharing this with you is that it would dissuade anyone who wanted to try these things from doing so.
Being a celebrity reporter for many years, I think I’ve heard almost every sneaky and scary celebrity diet “trick” out there to lose weight before a big event.
These are the three most common:
1. No food for “x” amount of days prior. In other words, starvation. This number has differed in stories I’ve heard from one day to up to a week.
2. Taking laxatives, drinking large quantities laxative tea, and taking “water pills” (diuretics) for several days prior.
3. No drinking anything (even water) for 24 hours prior to the event, and during the event.
Notice a trend here?
These things mostly just deplete the body of water. No actual weight is lost. So in the short term, the person may weigh less, but in reality all they have done is completely dehydrated their body.
Not only is this pointless in order to achieve a likely unnoticeable difference, it’s very dangerous.
I turned to my friend Dr. Arash Kohanteb, who appears in the documentary Code Black releasing this June, to explain.
“Repercussions of moderate to severe dehydration include low blood pressure, increased heart rate, lethargy and injury to your kidneys,” says Kohanteb.
“Some studies also show dehydration causes cognitive impairment. Your blood becomes concentrated and electrolyte imbalances result. In a normal healthy person, the body does a great job of regulating electrolytes however in these dehydrated states can throw your electrolytes in a frenzy. Using laxatives and diuretics can make this frenzy even worse.”
“The results can be as severe as arrhythmias of the heart and neurological complications including seizures, changes in mental status and extreme cases brain swelling and coma.”
Heck yeah, it’s nothing to mess with.
And the side effects of regular laxative use: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, complete loss of bowel control, and again, even death.
Yikes.
If that isn’t enough to get you chugging your Smart Water, let’s talk about the food deprivation.
For all of the obvious reasons, starving yourself is a terrible idea. But even short-term starvation can have horrible side effects on your weight and have a reverse effect on what you were trying to accomplish in the first place.
“The body goes into a catabolic state,” says Kohanteb.
“This basically means that when the body has exhausted normal resources for nutrition such as carbohydrates, sugars and proteins, it starts feeding on itself, eating away valuable muscle and fat stores. And this doesn’t necessarily mean that flabby arms and love handles disappear during that one week starvation binge.”
During this period you’ll be tried, irritable, dizzy, and again, it can also dehydrate you.
Combine these three behaviors together and a celebrity is more likely to accept an IV at the award show rather than an Oscar.
Ok, so have I scared you enough? Good.
As you can see, I didn’t call out any specific celebrities in this post.
I’d like to stress that I’m not implying that the majority of actresses (or anyone who is attending the Oscars on Sunday) use these dangerous diet tricks. I’m simply stating some people in Hollywood do, and they’re not safe.
Well, I’m not going to leave you hanging without any resources on what you should do to feel your best before a big event.
Here are my three favorite “tricks.”
1. Avoid sugar, alcohol, soda, and salt for at least 24 hours prior to a big event.
This is the healthy way of eliminating excess water weight without dehydrating your body.
2. Slap on some self-tanner.
It’s like a little black dress for your bod.
Instantly slimming, with no nasty side effects (at least none that we currently know about!). I have heard whispers that it’s harmful to inhale fumes from spray-tans, so I avoid that by using a foam that you apply yourself.
My favorite is St. Tropez’s Bronzing Mousse.
3. Slip on the Spanx.
Still feeling a a bit blah? These tummy tightening undergarments do their job well. Sport them under a tight dress to smooth out any bulges.
And don’t wear baggy clothes. Contrary to what you might think, a billowing shirt will not hide unflattering parts, it actually just makes everything look bigger.
Show off your sexy curves in something body skimming and slimming.
Have a fab Oscars weekend!
Julie says:
Well clearly your tips work a lot better as evident from your picture. :)
Whitney English says:
Thanks girl :)
Ashley @ Brocblog says:
Love this! My biggest pet peeve in the world is celebrities saying “I don’t work out” because I think it sets a horrible example. I love JLaw but I hate that she’s always talking about cheeseburgers and lack of exercise. Everyone says it makes her relate-able but If she isn’t lying than she has a body type that maybe 2% of people share and it sets a bad example for the other 98% especially for young people that think they can chow down on french fries and candy and not need to exercise.
Rant Over. Can’t wait for the oscars!
Whitney English says:
Amen sista! I loved your rant :)
I feel exactly the same way, which is why I get so excited when I talk to a celebrity who doesn’t bs me like that, and tells me straight just how hard they do work to look the way the do.
I think it’s incredibly irresponsible as a public figure to lie about your habits and make young women feel like there is something wrong with them because they aren’t able to eat cheeseburgers and model bikinis.
Karen @ Kama Fitness says:
I LOVE your tips! They are so dead on as to what you can do for a few days of “quick, healthy weight loss”. I agree with you that these hollywood diets are a little ridiculous and I honestly can’t believe people would do such a thing to their bodies just to look “skinny” or “perfect” – but in a way, society has killed the “real” sexy look of women, which are those natural curves!
Whitney English says:
Yeah, it’s really sad! I know it’s not a recent thing but it’s still unfortunate that women aren’t appreciated for their natural, biological curves!
Jana @ Happy Wife Healthy Life says:
I like your tips a heck of a lot more than the starve yourself ones. I have read a lot of tips like this before and it just blows my mind! I would much rather eat healthy and workout and looking more ‘average’ compared to celebrities than to put my body in a situation like that. So scary!
Whitney English says:
Me too! Aside from just worrying about my health, I am not a pleasant person when I’m hungry or thirsty haha!
Kristina @ Damn Ten Pounds says:
Hollywood definitely puts the pressure on to be skinny, but I’m not sure I’d say they perpetuate dangerous diets. Even if they are taking drastic measures, they would never admit to starving themselves. We know the “I do Pilates and drink a ton of water” line is BS, but it’s what people want to hear. I’d rather eat healthy and not pass out. When all else fails, bronze. Thank god for self tanner!!
Whitney English says:
That’s a great point!
They aren’t going on TV and discussing these methods. So at least they are socially conscious in that respect.
And, what I failed to mention, is that these celebrities feel the same pressure as average women. It’s not necessarily the people themselves that are the problem but the culture as a whole…which is a much bigger issue than a few ladies skipping lunch. Until there is a change in the way our society thinks about weight and beauty, women (celebrities and us commoners alike) we will keep buying into it.
Kristy @ Southern In-Law says:
Oh, diet tips like this make me so worried for people! I think the most important things are to live a healthy lifestyle all the time and to accept yourself for who YOU are – otherwise you’re never going to be happy!
Whitney English says:
So true :)
Brittany says:
If I go more than a couple hours without water I get extremely anxious. I MUST have at least 80-100 oz every day!! I LOVE WATER!!! These trends are bogus crazy, I can’t even imagine!!
Whitney English says:
Haha same! I typically have a rotation of three beverages with me at all times. I’m weird like that.
Tatum | EATS from the oil patch blog says:
UGHHH the thought of water depleting makes me cringe so terrible!!
Will you be on the red carpet this weekend?!
Whitney English says:
No red carpet for me this weekend. I’ll be watching with friends from the comfort of the couch, which I’m extremely excited about :)
What people don’t tell you about these red carpets is just how long and exhausting they are (typically about 4-6 hours). Every good reporter knows to bring flip flops in her bag because by the end of the event, you can’t walk in your heels anymore!
Tonya@Healthy, Fit, and Frugal says:
I do think that Hollywood is vicious and awards season has to be tough. No, I really do feel bad for a lot of them under the white hot spotlight. Always having to be “on” and perfect looking. I can’t image not having any water that long, AND you know they have hectic schedules too so I’d for sure pass out if that were me. I think that is the biggest down side of any kind of fame is being seen so much. I don’t think I could ever handle that kind of life. I like going out in public with no makeup and Target clothes and knowing no one out there cares or is asking if my tummy is really a baby bump. Nope, just the pasta I ate last night. :)
Whitney English says:
Haha so true! The scrutiny would be way to much for me. I get worried enough that my neighbors think I’m losing it when they see me walking my dog in sweatpants in the middle of the day!
Brittany @ Barr & Table says:
I’m so glad you took the opportunity to share your healthy tips. It’s so scary what people do to look “good” for other people and it’s so not worth it! You look fab, they should be taking notes from you ;)
Whitney English says:
Aw you’re so sweet. Thanks Britt!
Sam Brown says:
Wow I love the honesty of this post Whitney!
When I watch red-carpet events I compare my everyday self with them and I usually don’t really even realise that that isn’t the everyday version of them – a lot of them haven’t eaten or had any water for DAYS, they’ve had hours in the make-up and hair chair, a stylist choose the perfect designer dress and perfect lighting on the red-carpet.
Thanks for this eye-opener! I agree with you that I HATE it when they say “I don’t diet” or “I don’t exercise”.
Sam xx
http://www.smart-twenties.com – how to make the most of your twenties
Whitney English says:
Thanks Sam! Even though I know all the tricks of the trade, I still catch myself falling in the comparison trap and have to remind myself to snap out of it.
Dale Janee says:
Love your ideas and I’m watching the red carpet right now and I can’t imagine how some of them must feel on the red carpet after not eating for up to a week or drinking water. How do they not pass out!? Scary…great article Whitney.
xoDale
http://www.savvyspice.com
Whitney English says:
Seriously! I get dizzy if I don’t have a snack for two hours haha.
Mishka says:
Great article here Whitney. I guess your tips were really effective cause you look so lovely in that picture. I’ve just read an article from http://www.enhancementscosmeticsurgery.com/oh-flabby-arms-dealing-area-specific-body-fat/that fat is distributed all over the body and sadly mine targets the arms. I’m actually stuck with frill sleeves to hide it in my events. I’ve saved this in my pocket!