I guess that's what you have to do to stay relevant, when your career dried up 25 years ago and no one is begging you to take any roles...

+1

I guess that's what you have to do to stay relevant, when your career dried up 25 years ago and no one is begging you to take any roles...

She's managed to make a pretty good career for herself without having to make shock value comments. Helen Mirren, who has constantly been in demand, has said far worse things in recent years. Sometimes celebrities just say stupid/questionable stuff.

She's been pregnant three times and lost the baby weight three times. As well, your point about her never being overweight herself proves her point: she knows plenty about how to stay slim and healthy. There is no excuse for being overweight aside from thyroid problems (which are corrected with medication) and complete physical immobility. It's harsh but true, if you're overweight you really are digging your own grave with your teeth.

100% agreed.

100% agreed.

Sad, really. Truly sad.

She's managed to make a pretty good career for herself without having to make shock value comments. Helen Mirren, who has constantly been in demand, has said far worse things in recent years. Sometimes celebrities just say stupid/questionable stuff.

Really? Seems to me that Joan's only claim to relevance over the past few years is her big mouth, and a guest spot on a D-List CBS sitcom.

Really? Seems to me that Joan's only claim to relevance over the past few years is her big mouth, and a guest spot on a D-List CBS sitcom.

We aren't really in an age of relevance now, if we ever were. She's known as herself, as Alexis, etc. That's always going to be a claim to fame. In an era when having a big ass and a sex tape makes you a superstar that's more than enough.

We aren't really in an age of relevance now, if we ever were. She's known as herself, as Alexis, etc. That's always going to be a claim to fame. In an era when having a big ass and a sex tape makes you a superstar that's more than enough.

I understand what you're saying. And I'm not trying to brush off the impact that she made on television history, or what she's done since. I know she's had much success in theater as well. However, I find it sad when celebrities of any age/generation think they need to run their mouth about subjects they are 100% ignorant on, to gain attention.

I understand what you're saying. And I'm not trying to brush off the impact that she made on television history, or what she's done since. I know she's had much success in theater as well. However, I find it sad when celebrities of any age/generation think they need to run their mouth about subjects they are 100% ignorant on, to gain attention.

I think she's just speaking her mind, which doesn't excuse a comment, but it's just what a lot of people do, especially when they don't care anymore. Like I said about Helen Mirren, she certainly doesn't need to gain attention, as she's seen as one of the sexiest women in the world and a very popular actress. Yet she made comments about date rape which offended many.

I haven't read Helen's comments. Somehow, I must have missed them. Do you have a link? (Not saying I don't believe you, I'm just curious, lol)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/sep/01/1

Oh my...

I agree. I respect your background, as well, DaytimeFan, but I don't feel you can just dismiss weight-gain like that. Food can be a serious addiction. As someone who struggled very much with food addiction in relation to depression and lack of self-esteem when I was much younger, I can wholeheartedly assure you that gaining weight/ being overweight is NOT a choice. You can hit that gym everyday. You can try to eat smaller meals. But when food is a coping mechanism, an escaping mechanism, that weight is there to stay. So maybe she's been pregnant, but it's not the same thing. And I'm assuming you've never been overweight yourself (though pardon me if I'm wrong), because I don't honestly believe someone who has been could say something so callous or agree with the comments this woman made.

In my college years I packed on 30 pounds, one day I caught a look at myself in the mirror, thought "What the hell?" and took it off over 9 months. It wasn't easy, as I ate out of stress, but I did it.

Using food as a coping mechanism illustrates that being overweight is often a symptom of something deeper. As you've said, in your case it is depression. Some people drink (and to Eric's point, Joan has never had a drinking problem), some smoke, some shop, some do drugs, some gamble and some eat. The depression, however, is your issue, not food. Food is simply your drug of choice.

Is any addiction easy to manage and control? No. Are some people predisposed, genetically, to addiction? Absolutely.

Is being fat a choice? As far as medical science is concerned, yes, it is.

And I don't want to be callous and dismissive because being overweight is difficult, but fat acceptance is not healthy either short term or long term for anyone's health.

In my college years I packed on 30 pounds, one day I caught a look at myself in the mirror, thought "What the hell?" and took it off over 9 months. It wasn't easy, as I ate out of stress, but I did it.

Using food as a coping mechanism illustrates that being overweight is often a symptom of something deeper. As you've said, in your case it is depression. Some people drink (and to Eric's point, Joan has never had a drinking problem), some smoke, some shop, some do drugs, some gamble and some eat. The depression, however, is your issue, not food. Food is simply your drug of choice.

Is any addiction easy to manage and control? No. Are some people predisposed, genetically, to addiction? Absolutely.

Is being fat a choice? As far as medical science is concerned, yes, it is.

And I don't want to be callous and dismissive because being overweight is difficult, but fat acceptance is not healthy either short term or long term for anyone's health.

Agreed, again.

My mom is somewhat overweight. Not morbidly obese, but not a size 8 either. And for awhile about 6-7 years back, she suddenly got on a health kick and decided to join a gym with her friend and I was very proud of her for that. Did she lose a lot of weight? Not at all. But she started a healthier lifestyle to keep her body, her bones, etc. stronger and healthier. She didn't shed a lot of pounds, but she made the *effort*. Which is so much better than being a complete lazy slob who acts like they have no control over their own life or their own body. People who are just plain lazy but then complain because the airplane seats are too small for them is what annoys me. JMO.

Edited August 24, 201114 yr by Gray Bunny

to me that is like saying people who are homeless are bums who don't want to get a job. Sure there are some like that, but the older you get the HARDER it is to shed pounds, and I think that frustrates people & makes them give up.

I just wish people like JC would STFU but what can you expect with someone who has diarrhea of the mouth

Edited August 24, 201114 yr by dragonflies

Agreed, again.

My mom is somewhat overweight. Not morbidly obese, but not a size 8 either. And for awhile about 6-7 years back, she suddenly got on a health kick and decided to join a gym with her friend and I was very proud of her for that. Did she lose a lot of weight? Not at all. But she started a healthier lifestyle to keep her body, her bones, etc. stronger and healthier. She didn't shed a lot of pounds, but she made the *effort*. Which is so much better than being a complete lazy slob who acts like they have no control over their own life or their own body. People who are just plain lazy but then complain because the airplane seats are too small for them is what annoys me. JMO.

And that, from years of observing Joan, is what she really despises: just letting yourself go. Not giving a flying sh*t about how you look because in her view, if you look good, you feel good.

It should also be pointed out that Joan has also made statements about being too thin. She told Piers Morgan that she has friends who are "like rails, being too thin is fatal, absolutely fatal" so it isn't that she's espousing anorexia or bulimia either. Joan herself is a size 8/10, certainly in good shape, but not a stick either.

She dresses well, takes care of herself, that's what she expects everyone to do. She has standards and when people deviate from those standards she lets it rip. Is that polite? No. Does Joan care? No.

In regards to age and weight loss. It does get harder because the metabolism slows and hormones go out of sync, but strength training tackles the metabolism issue beautifully and diet can do a lot for hormones (particularly insulin which is the biggest culprit with weight gain). Age and weight is severely overblown.

Agreed, again.

My mom is somewhat overweight. Not morbidly obese, but not a size 8 either. And for awhile about 6-7 years back, she suddenly got on a health kick and decided to join a gym with her friend and I was very proud of her for that. Did she lose a lot of weight? Not at all. But she started a healthier lifestyle to keep her body, her bones, etc. stronger and healthier. She didn't shed a lot of pounds, but she made the *effort*. Which is so much better than being a complete lazy slob who acts like they have no control over their own life or their own body. People who are just plain lazy but then complain because the airplane seats are too small for them is what annoys me. JMO.

Food addiction and depression are two things that CAN make you lose control of your own life and your own body.