Given her enthusiasm for all things denim, Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP to her friends) was a natural to become the centrepiece of a new ad campaign for Jordache jeans. Inspired by the vintage brand that ruled the runway from the 70’s to the 90’s, the current reboot features something for everyone, from ripped denim to high-rise jeans.
In the campaign, SJP shows off her curves in skin-tight skinnies that look virtually painted on.
Seeing how gorgeous she looks, you might think she’s a slave to her bathroom scale. After all, her popularity was built on her status as the trend-setting Carrie Bradshaw in the hit series “Sex and the City”. Surely the fifty-ish fashion icon must weigh herself constantly in order to keep her weight in check. How else could she fit into her stylish size two garments, right?
Wrong!
It turns out that SJP (and husband Matthew Broderick) don’t own a scale. Instead says Parker:
“I own a pair of jeans that fit great and are most comfortable when my weight is just right. When I’m feeling heavy, or I’ve been overindulging, I’ll try on those jeans. If I have to lie down on my back to get the zipper up, I know it’s time to cut back on desserts and bread and step up the cardio.”
There may be a method to her madness. Studies show that bathroom scales may contribute to weight loss struggles by lowering self-esteem.
Celebrity Weight Scale Pulled From Stores
Have you seen the new scale that replaces the numbers on the dial with the names of various celebrities between 50 and 114 kilo’s? If not, you won’t have a chance in the future. Singer Cheryl Cole is one of the celebrities featured on the product. When she learned about the use of her name without her permission, she took to Twitter.
“Shocked! Pls do not include me on your scale. Girls should be worried about the number on their exam page not a weight scale.”
Cole’s campaign against Superdrug’s celebrity weight scales sparked such outrage that the company decided to shelve its plans to try the product in stores.
Be Addicted to Love, Not Your Scale
It’s easy to become a scale addict, someone that Psychology Today describes in this way:
“During weight loss efforts scale addicts tend to weigh themselves many times per day. They start out weighing themselves stark naked before breakfast, and then again after workouts, before meals and of course before bed.“
Celebrity trainer and fitness expert Chris Freytag suggests that her clients “Zip it up once a week for weight loss.” She has them put on a pair of jeans and assess where they fit on what she calls her “denim spectrum”
- Baggy – great
- Same fit as always – good
- Unexpectedly snug – red flag
- Can’t zip – alarm bells
It appears that SJP is on to something!
Why Hollywood Celebrities Stay Away from Scales
It’s true, stepping on the scale can confirm your weight loss efforts. However, your weight fluctuates naturally from day to day, and weighing yourself obsessively can actually demoralise and demotivate you.Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, the trim star of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” says this about scales:
“You can’t live your life by the scale. We don’t even have one in our house. I’ve never believed in them, because your weight fluctuates. It’s more about how my clothing fits than a number. Besides, if you deny yourself everything because you’re so focused on the mirror or the scale, then when do you get to enjoy life?”
If you’re determined to focus on numbers, don’t focus on scale numbers that are fickle and sometimes inexplicable.
Instead, focus on numbers you can control:
- Hold a yoga pose for an extra 10 seconds
- Add an extra plate to a barbell you’re lifting
- Increase your treadmill time by 5 minutes
- Take two Zumba classes a week instead of one
Using these numbers can do wonders for your weight loss efforts moving forward. They create short-term goals you can work towards and achieve, and they don’t set you up for the roller coaster of emotions that accompanies scale addiction.
3 Ways to Track Healthy Weight Without a Scale
Costhetics, the leading online source for health and beauty information in Australia, suggests using these strategies to break your scale addiction:
- Rate your weight (and fitness) with everyday tasks – Pay attention to how you feel when you’re carrying groceries up a flight of stairs or cleaning up after your kids. When they seem to be more difficult than usual, it may be time to work on your weight.
- Check your sleep patterns – if you’re tossing and turning all night, and it’s not due to stress or too much caffeine, it may be an indication that your weight is fluctuating.
- Listen to your body – If your energy is up, your skin is clear, your food cravings are modest, and your digestive tract is working in tip-top shape, your body is telling you that it feels great. That matters much more than what the scale says. You could be a day away from an unexpected weight drop. Focus on how you feel.