The History of Body Language

Handshaking

Why is it that when we meet someone, we shake their hand, when we’re proud of them, we give ’em a high five, and when we’re angry beyond words, we give ’em the finger? The answers may surprise you…

Shaking hands

Have you ever stopped to wonder why we shake hands to say “hello”? The tradition is a Western one, with likely origins in ancient Greece or the Middle East, where people have long shook hands as a way of making a pledge. This symbolic expression of pledging is thought to be the reason that, during a wedding ceremony, the bride and groom are asked to join hands as they recite their vows to one another.

Not all handshaking is so gentle, however. In Russia, the tradition of handshaking is more a form of male competition than intimate union. There, the handshake is sometimes taken to a painful, competitive extreme – a little like arm wrestling. Even in the United States, a firm handshake is often considered a sign of confidence and power.

The earliest handshakes may have been more practical than symbolic. As people from different tribes encountered one another, they may simply have been presenting their open hands to each other to demonstrate that they weren’t carrying any weapons!

Raising an eyebrow

Eyebrow-raising is a gesture with its roots in biology rather than social custom. Just as dogs raise their ears and horses flare their nostrils when they are most alert, human beings – who depend on sight more than sound or smell – tend to raise our eyebrows when we are surprised or suddenly called to attention. Not only do our eyebrows involuntarily go up, but our pupils dilate as well. Some scientists theorize that these responses are designed to help us get a better view of whatever has so suddenly caught our interest.

Of course, sometimes eyebrow-raising can be an intentional gesture, too. As such, it communicates both vulnerability and interest. And it’s one of the most common facial expressions used in flirting!

Kissing

So, who invented kissing? Some scientists theorize that the gesture has its origins in mothers feeding their babies by chewing up food and then transferring it, kiss-like, to their babies’ mouths. Not a very romantic image! Then again, the practice of kissing may have more lofty origins. In ancient Hebrew, the word for breath also means soul. There are indications that as early as 2000 BC, some cultures believed that bringing the mouths (or breath) together signified the joining of the two souls.

Ancient Egyptians seem to have been big fans of kissing if their art is any indication. Some scholars believe that they thought of kissing as the giving of breath, or “giving life.

The Romans are credited with turning the kiss into a sophisticated form of communication. The Romans kissed each other hello on the mouth or on the eyes, kissed robes, and kissed rings and statues of gods to indicate submission and respect. One Roman emperor sent a message about what he thought of other people by his choice of the body part that he allowed them to kiss. Important nobles were allowed to kiss his lips, less important ones kissed his hands and the least kissed his feet. The Romans had several different words for kisses: an osculum was a friendship kiss; barium was a passionate kiss, and a stadium was a deep kiss.

And in some African tribes, people honor their chief by kissing the ground he walks on!

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Crossing your heart

Remember how you made a promise to your best friend in first grade? “Cross my heart and hope to die – stick a needle in my eye.” What was that all about? Well, crossing one’s heart, as well as crossing your fingers, has its origins in religious tradition. The crossing is a reference to “the cross” of Christ. As such, it’s connected to blessing – or invoking God as a witness to a promise you’re making. As part of worship, Catholics today still make the sign of the cross by first touching their hand to their forehead, then chest, and then left shoulder and righter shoulder – a gesture that looks quite a bit like crossing your heart.

Winking

A common nonverbal gesture in Europe and the United States, winking is an indication of a private understanding, a secret, or collusion of sorts. In Bodywatching (1985), Desmond Morris calls the wink a “directional eye closure.” By that, he means that the quickly closed and then opened eye is communicating a “secret aimed only at the person being looked at. The other eye is being kept open for the rest of the world, who are being excluded from the private exchange.”

Giving ’em the finger

Okay, is it obvious? Even the Romans used this gesture, calling it the digitus impudicus, or “digit without shame.” The suggestion is phallic aggression – but I doubt many people using this gesture stop to think much about what exactly it means.

Shrugging

Shrugging has been explained as the very opposite of a warlike posture. Instead of standing with shoulders squared, head upright, fists clenched, the shrugging person hunches the shoulders, tilts the head, and turns opened hands outward. The message is one of helplessness and retreat. Remember this: next time you’re in the middle of an important negotiation – don’t shrug!

Shaking your head

It took Charles Darwin, the guy who came up with the theory of evolution, to explain this one. Head-shaking is so nearly universal, Darwin thought that it must have biological origins. He claimed that nodding the head “yes” mimics the forward head nod of a baby seeking or attaching to his/her mother’s breast. And shaking the head “no”? That’s the headshaking gesture of a baby refusing the breast and/or food.

Crying

Animals don’t shed tears, except to wash irritants out of the eyes. So, why do we? Charles Darwin puzzled this one out, too. While he admitted that crying was a useful way for babies to get the attention of their caregivers, he was never able to find evolutionary usefulness for crying, or for tears. Finally, he hypothesized that someday humans would no longer cry.

Maybe he’s right. Maybe the day will come when we no longer have the need to cry. Or maybe we could just get past giving each other the finger.

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Celebrity Nose Jobs

I honestly can’t understand why celebrities try and keep their plastic surgery a secret. Attempted cover-up, in my opinion, is not unlike taking your purebred dachshund to a breeder, with claims he’ll father a show-worthy litter when you’ve already had him neutered. Yep, sooner or later, despite the quality of your stud’s neuticles (canine testicular implants), someone’s gonna find out that Old Yeller’s gone under the knife.

.Angelia Jolie: Before & After

Angelia Jolie: Before & After

ANGELINA JOLIE. Did she or didn’t she? I’d say 99% of the women in the world would like to believe Angelina Jolie has had at least some work done to her face. Why? Because it would make of us average lookin’ folk feel a little less bad for looking, well, a little average. Duh!

Although there’s no proof that the 31-year-old beauty has gone under the knife, CosmeticSurgeryTruth seems to think she had the tip of her nose refined. Cityrag believes Jolie has had a nose job and cheek implants sometime in the last ten years. If you’re still on the fence, check out Bastardly.com for more photos of Angelina pre-stardom.Ashlee Simpson: Before & After

Ashlee Simpson: Before & After

ASHLEE SIMPSON. Who doesn’t know about Ashlee Simpson’s nose job? Last year, when asked about the widespread speculation in the tabloids, the 22-year-old singer “giggled and told the Associated Press: ‘Everybody’s already saying it, so I just don’t talk about it. I’m like, okay, whatever. It doesn’t bother me.'” It did, however, bother Marie Claire magazine, and ignited heated criticism from thousands of Simpson’s fans.

The July 2006 edition of Marie Claire featured a pre-nose job of Simpson saying, “Everyone is made differently, and that’s what makes us beautiful and unique. I want girls to look in the mirror and feel confident.”

As reported by ChinaDaily.com, the editor of Marie Claire, Joanne Coles, fired back in the September 2006 issue when she wrote, “We’re dazed and confused – and disappointed – by her choice, too.” The magazine received thousands of letters from readers who agreed.

.Britney Spears: Before & After

Britney Spears: Before & After

BRITNEY SPEARS. My feelings for 25-year-old Britney Spears took a turn for the better during her 2006 interview with NBC‘s Matt Lauer after Brit was caught on tape driving with her baby on her lap. Britney’s defense:

“I can’t go anywhere without someone judging me…I did it with my dad. I’d sit on his lap and I drive. We’re country.”

Okay, sure, so the “We’re country” excuse may seem a little redneck, but at least it’s honest. Now, if only she would fess up to the plastic surgery she’s had since her days as a Mouseketeer.

AwfulPlasticSurgery.com reports, “Britney’s nose has gotten smaller and more contoured over the past few years.” They also report she’s had more than her share of breast augmentation procedures.

Cameron Diaz: Before & After

Cameron Diaz: Before & After

CAMERON DIAZ. Last November, 34-year-old Cameron Diaz told People magazine she wanted a nose job.

“‘I’m getting it fixed. I can’t take it. I cannot breathe at all,’ says Diaz, who broke her nose for the fourth time while surfing a few years ago. ‘One side of my nose is totally shattered – my septum is basically like a train derailed.'”

Makemeheal.com claims the nose job that Ms. Diaz had done was not only for medical reasons, but also imparted some cosmetic benefits. The website reports, “Photos of the star at the Oscars versus pre-operative photos show a straighter bridge than her older more crooked nose whose bridge was twisted towards the right at the top area of her nose. Diaz wisely did not have her nose made to look to perfect and asymmetrical as part of her charm lies in her not being a classic beauty with perfect features.”

It’s also reported that Diaz’s rhinoplasty was performed by Dr. Raj Kanodia, the same plastic surgeon responsible for both Ashlee Simpson and Jennifer Aniston’s new noses.

Catherine Zeta Jones: Before & After

Catherine Zeta-Jones: Before & After

CATHERINE ZETA-JONES. MakeMeHeal.com claims “the star denies having had any plastic surgery, although it is rumored that she had a blepharoplasty (eye lift) in 2001 and that she had previously had her nose done.” Yeeeah.com also reports (with pictures) that the lovely 38-year-old actress most recently went under the knife for a post-baby breast enhancement. Whatever she has or hasn’t had done, her plastic surgeon deserves a mountain of gold stars (not to mention referrals) for his work. I certainly hope to look that young and all natural when I start planning my 40th!

Cher: Before & After

Cher: Before & After

CHER. What part of Cher’s body hasn’t been altered? According to BodyLanguage.net, “Cher says the first time she went under the knife was to have a rhinoplasty, a result of seeing herself on film for the first time. ‘I looked at myself up there on that screen and thought, I’m all nose.'”

Although the 61-year-old, multi-award-winning actress and musician continually denies having rib removal and cheek implants, she openly admits to being somewhat of a “plastic surgery poster girl.” I probably would have used the word billboard instead of a poster, but she still gets my vote for her candor. It also doesn’t hurt that Moonstruck (1987) is one of my all-time favorite films.

Giselle Bundchen: Before & After

Giselle Bundchen: Before & After

GISELLE BUNDCHEN. According to GoodPlasticSurgery.com, 26-year-old supermodel, Giselle Bundchen has had a little trimmed off her once larger nose. Although Bundchen denies ever going under the knife, I’d still like (or rather need) to believe no one is born that perfect. (Insert BIG jealous sigh here)

Gwen Stefani: Before & After

Gwen Stefani: Before & After

GWEN STEFANI. CelebrityCosmeticSurgery reports, “Thirty-seven-year-old singer Gwen Stefani has given thought to go under the knife as she ages to maintain her looks according to a recent interview. Stefani states that she is a fan of television shows where surgery is the focal point, confessing to watching a lot of them while pregnant with her son Kingston last year.”

Meanwhile, ConversationsFamousPeople.blogspot.com leads me to believe the new mom has already gone under the knife in years past to make her face (her nose, rather) a little more camera-friendly.

Gwyneth Paltrow: Before & After

Gwyneth Paltrow: Before & After

GWYNETH PALTROW. “Paltrow had a nose job sometime in her past and this is evident when comparing older photos of her to recent photos which show a thinner nose,” states MakeMeHeal.com.

And after giving birth to her two children, Gwyneth is not above having additional plastic surgery procedures. As reported by CelebrityCosmeticSurgery.com, “The Sun claims Paltrow has told pals, ‘My stomach is rippling, my breast don’t feel good. I’ve been trying to work it out. I want to do something about it….’ septum that was incorrectly done over 12 years ago.'”

Jennifer Aniston: Before & After

Jennifer Aniston: Before & After

JENNIFER ANISTON. US Magazine reports, “In the early morning hours of January 20, one day after taping a guest spot on pal Courteney Cox’s new series Dirt, Aniston’s driver dropped her off at Kanodia’s office in Beverly Hills. The actress emerged four hours later, but instead of her usual golden glow, she sported fresh black-and-blue bruises along her right eyebrow and across the tip of her nose and upper lip.”

Aniston’s rep confirms the operation, though claims the procedure was done to, “‘correct a deviated

Jennifer Grey: Before & After

Jennifer Grey: Before & After

JENNIFER GREY. As reported by CelebrityPlasticPics.com, “After her successful role as the ugly-duckling teenager in Dirty Dancing, Jennifer Grey underwent nose surgery (rhinoplasty). They say she had not one but two nose jobs in the hopes that a better nose would advance her career. [And yet] after rhinoplasty she lost her special thing and finally, her career failed to live up to its earlier promise and has relegated her to made-for-television films.”

Maybe it’s an age thing, but I remember watching Grey in Dirty Dancing and thinking, Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman has a nose like mine, and look who she ended up with! Yes, the old Jennifer Grey gave me hope of finding a hot “dancing partner” without looking like everyone else on the Big screen. And now… well now I can barely watch free reruns of the 1987 hit without, well, feeling a little self-conscious.

JENNIFER LOPEZ. AwfulPlasticSurgery.com reports that Jennifer’s nose was thinned back in 1999. According to one of Google’s favorite websites, “She’s an example of good plastic surgery because the changes are not extremely noticeable and enhance her looks.”

Kate Hudson: Before & After

Kate Hudson: Before & After

KATE HUDSON. GoodPlasticSurgery.com thinks bridgework was “the perfect fix for Kate Hudson’s once fat pudgy wide nose.” Does anyone find it odd that Hudson’s old nose looks identical to her current on-again-off-again beau Owen Wilson’s?

Latoya Jackson:: Before & After

Latoya Jackson:: Before & After

LATOYA JACKSON. Sorry, Ms. Jackson, but you’re looking an awful lot like Michael these days.

And CelebrityCosmeticSurgery.blogspot.com agrees. According to their website, LaToya’s nose “appears to have been overly thinned. Nostrils can take an unnatural shape like she has when an aggressive alar [winglike] resection is performed. This is a procedure where the bottoms of the nostrils are cut out to make the nostrils smaller and the nose thinner. It can create an appearance where the nostrils appear pasted onto the face. Thinning the nose by removing too much cartilage can make the nasal tip appear pinched.”

Lil' Kim: Before & After

Lil’ Kim: Before & After

LIL’ KIM. Whoever says prison doesn’t change a person, is clearly unfamiliar with controversial rap star Lil’ Kim. The 31-year-old recently finished serving a year behind bars for lying to a federal grand jury about a 2001 shootout outside a Manhattan radio station. MediaTakeOut.com received the following anonymous tip shortly after her release.

“‘I just heard that Lil Kim hired a Mexican plastic surgeon to give her a facelift. The person that told me said that the doctor was so unprofessional that he did the face-lift surgery in Lil Kim’s bathroom. Now they’re scared because Kim looks really bad and they’re not even sure that the guy was even a doctor.'”

After viewing additional before and after pics on MediaTakeOut.com, I’m starting to wonder if her “surgeon” was also her cellmate. Some of her new features appear to have been carved with the end of a sharpened toothbrush

.Mariah Carey: Before & After

Mariah Carey: Before & After

MARIAH CAREY. Did she or didn’t she? It’s a wee difficult to tell with all that hair, is it not? Lucky for Mariah, no one is really looking at her nose these days. After going under the knife for her new pair of “Barbie Boobs,” I’d say the 37-year-old Ms. Carey has hit a new low in her attempt to “boost” sales.

Marilyn Monroe: Before & After

Marilyn Monroe: Before & After

MARILYN MONROE. As reported by CelebrityPlasticPics.com, Marilyn Monroe underwent plastic surgery in 1946, after signing a contract with Twentieth Century-Fox Studios. When an agent suggested Norma should become Marilyn to boost her career, Norma Jean Baker changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, dyed her hair, and underwent rhinoplasty to “make her bulbous nose more feminine and delicate.”

Michael Jackson: Before & After

Michael Jackson: Before & After

MICHAEL JACKSON. These days, unless Michael Jackson’s hanging out on the playground at the School for the Blind, I’d say his face is anything but approachable. Um, hooray? I certainly wouldn’t take candy from this man.

According to Wikipedia, Jackson “claims to have had three operations: two rhinoplastic surgeries and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin. When listing his cosmetic surgery, Jackson often omits to mention the cleft; however, he confirmed this surgery in his 1988 autobiography “Moon Walk.’

In the 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson stated that he had only two operations to his nose. He justified these operations by stating that they were to ‘help [me] breathe better and to hit higher notes’. Jackson also agreed with Martin Bashir, interviewer for the documentary, that he was affected when he was called ‘ugly,’ and mocked and ridiculed by his relatives for having a ‘big nose’ in his youth.”

A plastic surgeon on the Discovery Channel recently stated that Michael Jackson’s nose is actually dying from all the surgery, and now there is speculation that his nose is really a prosthesis.

Natalie Portman: Before & After

Natalie Portman: Before & After

NATALIE PORTMAN. When an anonymous ex-classmate of the 25-year-old actress posted a little inside dirt on NataliePortman.com, many had all the proof they needed that Portman did indeed get a nose job.

“I was at Harvard the same time she was (though not in the same year),” Natalie’s classmate writes, “and would occasionally see her around campus. By the time she graduated, her nose had clearly been altered; not only were the nostrils smaller, but it was smaller and narrower overall.”

Paris Hilton: : Before & After

Paris Hilton: : Before & After

PARIS HILTON. According to IMDB.com, “a naturally pleasant-looking girl, Paris Hilton underwent extensive plastic surgery, hair coloring, and tinted contact lenses in her attempt to reinvent herself as “hot”. Sadly, money could not buy alteration of the physical attribute she most dislikes about herself: her exceptionally-large feet.”

AwfulPlasticSurgery.com claims the 26-year-old socialite “appears to have had two nose surgeries, the last of which left her nose with a weird downturn at the end.”

These days, mediocre plastic surgery is the least of Paris’ problems. Last month, the hotel heiress was ticketed for driving with a suspended license, violating a previous sentence for reckless driving under the influence. Personally, I would love to see how far Ms. Hilton’s “looks” get her in prison if forced to serve 90 days, the maximum sentence for violating her parole if a judge finds her guilty.

Salma Hayek: Before & After

Salma Hayek: Before & After

SALMA HAYEK. CelebrityCosmeticSurgery.blogspot.com believes the 41-year-old actress may have undergone “ethnic rhinoplasty.” Lucky for her, I’d say most everyone is staring at her other altered assets. According to a 2006 poll from In Touch magazine, Salma Hayek has the third-best rack in Hollywood, under Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Simpson. Voters must not have seen Hayek’s before and after pictures on AwfulPlasticSurgery.com. According to the website, “Salma Hayek once had an average size chest, but now her bosoms have taken on stripper-esque proportions. Her big pair seem to be popping out of every low cut evening gown she wears and it looks tacky.”

Scarlett Johansson: Before & After

Scarlett Johansson: Before & After

SCARLETT JOHANSSON. Did she or didn’t she? Can’t seem to get a confirmation either way, but many of her fans on ImNotObsessed.com believe she had it refined in a small way to make it look a little less bulbous.

The face of cosmetics giant L’Oreal admits she has no intention of growing old gracefully. And according to PopCrunch.com, she has recently said as much to the press.

“I will definitely have plastic surgery, “says the 23-year-old, “I don’t want to become an old hag! I think if you’re comfortable with yourself that’s sexy, but if you’re not then go for it.”

Winona Ryder: Before & After

Winona Ryder: Before & After

WINONA RYDER. I can’t help but wonder if the 35-year-old Ryder initially got her nose “fixed” with hopes of being a little less recognizable on store security cameras. Ouch! CelebrityPlasticPics believes Winona’s nasal tip was thinned when she was younger.

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Preteen Plastic Surgery: A Lipo Controversy

The most “work” the average 13-year-old has had is braces. For 13-year-old Brooke Bates, it’s liposuction, a tummy tuck, and now, lap band surgery. According to ABC News, the Texas teen’s up-and-down battle with her weight has triggered controversy because of her young age. Brooke was a 220-lb. 12-year-old when she underwent her first two procedures but ended up regaining most of the 40 pounds she lost after the surgeries. This spurred her to get the stomach band, which will control her hunger urges.

“I gained the weight back and it was depressing,” Brooke told “Good Morning America.” “But now that I had the lap band done, everything is just working out great.”

Preteen Plastic Surgery

Brooke: Before & AfterBrooke: Before & After

But this latest procedure has just stirred up more drama. In the United States, the ABC article states, most doctors “don’t perform gastric lap-band surgery unless a patient is at least 18 years old, has a body mass index of 40 or higher or weighs at least twice his or her ideal weight.” To bypass this red tape, Brooke’s parents took her to Mexico for the surgery, against her doctor’s advice.

“It seemed to be very safe over there and the clinic Brooke had it done in was very clean and the doctor has lots of experience … so I was fairly confident,” Brooke’s mother, Cindy Bates, said.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons notes that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of adolescents undergoing cosmetic surgery over the past decade. The article says that many doctors “worry that getting weight loss surgeries so young can be detrimental in the long term and don’t address underlying issues.”

“It’s no walk in the park,” Brooke says. “I don’t think getting cut and going through surgery is the easy way out.”

What do you think? Would you let your teen undergo cosmetic surgery? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Three Ways You Can Catch Obesity from Friends

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Would you end a friendship because you were afraid of getting fat? That may sound like a silly question, but research shows there are at least three ways to catch obesity from your friends. Now, we aren’t suggesting you cut ties with all your heavy-set friends, but it is important to know what puts you at risk. And when it comes to gaining weight, hanging out with obese friends very definitely puts you at risk.

The “Fat” Virus: Ad-36

For me, not much is scarier than knowing there’s a virus that makes you fat. Forget the years of exercise and eating right: are researchers really telling me all that work will be wiped out if someone sneezes on me in an airport? Well, yes. And no. Surprisingly, there are six different viruses that have been shown to cause weight gain in animals. Adenovirus Ad-36 is the only virus associated with human obesity, however. In a study of rhesus monkeys and male marmosets, both groups of animals that had been exposed to the virus exhibited increased adiposity – that is, fat.

The good news is that not everyone who carries the virus will become obese. Research indicates that there is a genetic component involved as well. In fact, the adenovirus most often manifests as a respiratory or eye infection, but in some individuals, a particular gene inside the virus causes stem cells (cells that can develop into any type of in the human body) to turn into fat cells.

The human body recovers from most viruses on its own, including Ad-36. Scientists still aren’t sure why Ad-36 leaves you fatter after recovery. In studies, animals remained obese for six months after testing positive for Ad-36 antibodies. Considering the epidemic proportions of obesity in the United States, we can expect this virus to become a relatively long-term problem for people who become infected.

The University of Louisiana’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is studying Ad-36 with the hope of developing a vaccine that could prevent the spread and occurrence of the virus. Unfortunately, however, medical science doesn’t have any easy answers for us yet. There are no cures, and research is still in the preliminary stages. On the other hand, most researchers working on the problem agree that it is not the only cause of obesity in the United States or even one of the leading causes. In a study conducted in Bombay, only ten out of 52 obese adults tested positive for Ad-36 antibodies. Lifestyle and genetics are still much more significant concerns.

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Sharing Meals: Choose Your Dinner Partner Wisely

Did your mother ever warn you to watch your figure after marriage? Many new wives find that eating like a man can lead to a well, more manly figure, which is not exactly what most of us had in mind when we said: “for better or for worse.” When it comes to meals, what is good for a 6 foot, 2-inch man is not necessarily so good for his 5 foot, 4-inch wife.

While dating, many of the women I know have been willing to occasionally trade in their favorites for his – which usually means trading in the salad and lean meat option for an occasional t-bone and fries. But once the couple marries, and evening meals are more shared than not, this willingness to give in can become a problem that shows up on the hips.

Similar problems can arise with our friends. In fact, according to a new study by Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler, our chances of becoming obese increase by 57% if a friend becomes obese, as compared to only 37% of your spouse puts on weight.

Not only do we often eat the same food at meals with friends, but friends also serve as a social barometer of what is or is not appropriate. If your friend is ordering extra cheese and a double order of fries, you might indulge with them without scrutinizing this behavior as carefully as you might otherwise. A Cornell study even shows that obese wives are happier in their marriages than average-weight wives, which might suggest that the psychological comfort of marriage (or having friends who accept you for who you are), goes a long way.

Comfort food is a particular problem. Eating a pint of ice cream in your sweatpants at home might be a clear tip-off that you need to change your behavior, but meeting a girlfriend for a chat at a cute little downtown pastry shop isn’t likely to toss up any red flags. It just feels like a good way to connect with your gal pals. Unfortunately, in terms of fat and calories, both activities will leave you a little heavier.

Many weight loss programs advise you to avoid situations in which your companions are overeating. Others, such as Weight Watchers, stress the importance of support groups. One thing is certain you need to work extra hard to be sure that your dinner partner’s plate doesn’t affect yours unless you’re eating with Jenny Craig herself.

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Get Out and Move

Remember back in college when a girls’ night meant dancing in a crowded bar until two o’clock in the morning? Remember when you didn’t just watch football on Sundays, but you went outside at half-time for a game of pick-up? Just as an earlier active lifestyle kept us in the best shape of our lives, the inactive lifestyles of our friends can affect us as we get older. If spending time with a friend means always choosing a movie over a bike ride, this will have a long-term impact on our bodies.

It’s not just a question of how good you look. Sedentary lifestyles carry very serious medical and emotional risks. According to a Harvard study, “The direct costs of lack of physical activity, defined conservatively as the absence of leisure-time physical activity, are approximately 24 billion dollars [per year].”

Fortunately, this is one area in which our friends can be just as much of a help as they are a risk factor. Making a pact to meet two or three times a week to take a walk is a great way to keep in touch with friends and get some exercise at the same time. The gentle social pressure of knowing you have a commitment to someone can be a great way to motivate yourself. And a good conversation with a buddy can turn a long walk into something that’s more of a pleasure than a chore.

The most important point of the Christakis / Fowler study is that like it or not, we gain and lose weight as a team. Our friends’ choices and habits – and even their viruses – are likely to affect us. Yet the choices are ours. We just need to be conscious enough to make the very best choices. And once we’ve done that, we’ll be prepared to give the people we care about a pretty spectacular gift: a friend who is not just true blue, but a positive influence for good health and a slim figure. Who knew that friendship could provide such benefits?

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10 Good Reasons to Drink This Holiday Season

Let’s face it. This has been a rough year. A lot of us don’t feel all that merry (or bright) this holiday season. Well here’s something that’ll twinkle your tinsel and bounce your ornaments. Drinking is good for you! And I’m not just talking about red wine. Here are 10 reasons to put the good cheer back into your festivities.

10. Drinking alcohol does not contribute to weight gain.

Although alcohol contains calories, apparently drinking alcohol doesn’t lead to weight gain, according to extensive medical research over the past decade. In fact (and this really is the best part), many studies report a small reduction in weight for women who drink.

The reason alcohol doesn’t increase weight is unclear, but research suggests energy from alcohol is not efficiently used but the body. Alcohol also appears to increase metabolic rate significantly, thus causing more calories to be burned rather than stored in the body as fat.

Whatever the reasons (and frankly, I don’t care!), alcohol consumption is not associated with weight gain and is often associated with weight loss in women.

After drinking alcohol in bars you must test yourself with rapid tests, this is a simple COVID self-test that will ensure you that you did not get COVID from the crowded spaces. It will enable you to get medical treatment on time if you got COVID and helps others not get infected by you, it’s the responsibility of everyone to be safe.

9. Vodka could save your life!

It did for an Italian tourist in Australia. Although it’s not clear that’s the result he was seeking. The 24-year-old, who was not further identified, was rushed to Mackay Base Hospital in northeastern Queensland state after an apparent suicide attempt by ingesting a large quantity of ethylene glycol, a common ingredient of antifreeze that can cause kidney failure. Pure alcohol is often used to treat these cases because it can inhibit the toxic effects of ethylene glycol. Mackay Base Hospital Dr. Pascal Gelperowicz said the man was given pharmaceutical-grade alcohol when he arrived, but that the hospital’s supplies soon ran out.

“We quickly used all the available vials of 100 percent alcohol and decided the next best way to get alcohol into the man’s system was by feeding him spirits through a nasogastric tube,” Dr. Gelperowicz said in a statement.

“The patient was drip-fed about three standard drinks an hour for three days in the intensive care unit,” he said. “The hospital’s administrators were also very understanding when we explained our reasons for buying a case of vodka.” If you have just gone through cataract eye surgery, avoid drinking alcohol.

8. Compared to the rest of the world, you don’t drink that much anyway.

We’re always told you only derive benefits from alcohol with “moderate” drinking. In the stingy US, that’s only 2 drinks for men, and one for women. But most countries define moderation at higher levels than the US. For example, Australia, Italy, and France consider 3 to 4 drinks per day for men to be moderate. In terms of overall alcohol consumption by country, the US isn’t even in the top ten!

According to “The Top 10 of Everything” for 2000, with per capita consumption of only 1.74 gallons of alcohol per person, the US is way down at 32nd on the list. Portugal is number one, with 2.98 gallons per person, with Luxembourg, France, Hungary, Spain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland rounding out the top ten.

7. Moderate Champagne consumption may protect your brain.


According to study results published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, sparkling wine may help protect the brain against injuries incurred during a stroke and other ailments, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The joint British and Italian research team found that the particular antioxidant polyphenols found in Champagne (which differ from those in red wine) give bubbly its ability to not only protect against neurotoxicity but even restore brain-cell function in the test subjects (Champagne-quaffing mice).

The scientists also believed that two of the polyphenols (caffeic acid and tyrosol)l may help to normalize the cells’ response to injury with their anti-inflammatory attributes. The compounds also act as cellular-level mops, essentially cleaning up and removing hazardous chemicals from the body. The researchers also wrote that there was evidence that dietary polyphenols can cross the “blood-brain barrier,” which would suggest this molecular behavior has the potential to act in the same way within the human central nervous system if consumed. Down the road, scientists are hoping to shed more light on the potential beneficial effects of Champagne on human health and life span, with a specific interest in its influence on aging.

6. Overall, drinking saves more lives than it ends.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) calculates that if all drinkers in the U.S. became abstainers, there would be an additional 80,000 deaths per year because abstaining dramatically increases the risks of heart attack, ischemic stroke, and other diseases and life-threatening conditions. Separately, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated in 2001 that abusive drinking lead to about 75,766 deaths from all causes, a number that continues to decline. Putting the two analyses together indicates that moderate alcohol consumption saves more lives than are lost as a result of alcohol abuse.

5. Jagermeister might help your digestion (and trap flies).

Introduced in Germany in 1935, Jagermeister was originally concocted for medicinal purposes, said to cure everything of chronic cough to digestive problems. In Germany to this day, it is still widely recognized as a digestif and is kept in many German households for that purpose, sometimes irreverently called Leberkleber, or “liver-glue.”

It is also commonly used around the home in small quantities as an insect trap, as small flies and wasps are drawn to the sweet smell and taste of the drink (especially when mixed with Red Bull, but then you can’t get them to sit still).

4. Beer is good for you

While the health benefits of red wine are old news, Dutch researchers, writing in the journal The Lancet suggests beer may be even better.

Beer contains vitamin B6 which prevents the build-up of a chemical called homocysteine in the body- thought to be linked to an increase in the risk of heart disease. Dr. Henk Hendriks and colleagues from the TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute studied 111 healthy men who each drank beer, red wine, spirits, and water for three weeks with dinner. They found that homocysteine levels did not increase after beer consumption, but rose after drinking wine and spirits. Beer drinkers had a 30% increase in vitamin B6 in blood plasma, much higher than those who had drunk only wine or spirits.

3. Whiskey, brandy, rum, tequila, and gin might be healthier than your mother’s pot roast.

Distilled spirits contain no carbohydrates, no fats, no cholesterol, and no sodium. Your mother’s braised pot roast most likely contains about 10 grams of fat (3 grams saturated), 65 grams of cholesterol, 232 mg of sodium, and 12 grams of carbs.

2. Gin and tonic can help relieve cramps (leg cramps, that is).

Tonic water is flavored with a small amount of quinine, which comes from the bitter bark of the South American cinchona tree, and has been used for hundreds of years in more potent medicinal doses to prevent and treat malaria, stop nocturnal leg cramps, and treat a host of other maladies. It can also bring the fever down, reduce inflammation, and combat some infections. Full strength quinine is only available by prescription, but many people report relief from leg cramps – even those brought on by athletic activity such as cycling or running – when they drink tonic water.

1. The court won’t force you to join Alcoholics Anonymous.

In 2000, model-citizen Ricky Inouye, a Buddhist, meth addict, an ex-con in Hawaii was arrested for trespassing and tested positive for drugs. His parole officer ordered him to attend a Salvation Army treatment program that included participation in Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Inouye showed up but refused to participate, dropped out after two months, and was later sent back to prison in November 2001 for violating his parole. After his release in 2003, Inouye sued his parole officer and others for violating his constitutional rights. Inouye died while the suit was pending, but his son took over the case. In September of 2007, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Inouye, ruling that the state had in effect coerced him into a religious-based program in the form of Alcoholics Anonymous (which requires participants to commit to “turning our lives over to the care of God”). So that’s ONE less thing to worry about!

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Why High Heels Are Good For Your Sex Life

Women have long known about the impact high heels can have on sex appeal. Stilettos make them look taller, boost the confidence, and, yes, tend to be more effective at attracting men than a ratty pair of Birkenstocks. But now we have proof that those to-die-for-shoes are actually good for a woman’s sex life, The Daily Mail reports. And who better than a doctor from Italy to be the first one to discover the surprising sexual health benefits of high heels?

“I adore high-heeled shoes and I wanted to find something positive about them,” says Dr. Maria Cerruto, a urologist at the University of Verona. “In the end I achieved my goal.”What the lovely doc did was verify that wearing a moderate heel (about two and a half inches) is actually good for women, working the pelvic muscles and reducing the need to exercise them (no more Kegels!). The study, involving 66 women under the age of 50, found that women who held their feet at a 15-degree angle to the ground showed up to 15 percent less electrical activity in their pelvic muscles. (No, we don’t know how they measured this, but let your imagination suffice.)

“I’ve been hounded for years about how bad it is for posture, but I always thought it was contradictory,” says shoe god Manolo Blahnik. And even though the study focused on women under 50, older women shouldn’t worry about strutting their stuff in stilettos.

“Until my mummy was 87 she was wearing high heels and she looked wonderful,” Blahnik says. “She is my living example that heels are good for you.”

Between this bit of news and the upcoming Sex and the City film, 2008 looks to be a fabulous year for high heel addicts.

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Free Sex Changes at Goldman Sachs

Does Amanda Lepore Have a Future at Goldman Sachs?

You know the bankers and traders at Goldman Sachs make big bucks, but now they can also score an extra little bonus: sex-change operations! Fortune is reporting that the financial company added the perk to employees’ health insurance plans last year.

The gender reassignment surgery, which ranges from $5,000 to $150,000, is completely covered by the company’s insurance carrier. And Goldman Sachs isn’t the first to do this. Bank of America, Wachovia, and Deutsche Bank also cover all or part of the surgery cost for employees.

The coverage of sex change operations is a sure sign that Goldman Sachs is willing to be open-minded when it comes to not only supporting their employees, but also in maintaining a diverse workforce. Says Pauline Park, chair of the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy, “[A]ny employer that does not clearly include gender identity in their employment policies may send a signal that they’re not supportive.”

Who knew the benefits at banks were so generous?

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The World’s Most Bizarre Birth Defects

Anyone who watches the Discovery Health channel knows that nature likes to throw us a lot of genetic curveballs: Siamese twins, extra appendages, chimeras, hermaphrodites…you name it. But you haven’t seen anything yet. The people in this article have some of the most startling, unimaginable birth defects the world has ever seen. Suddenly that annoying birthmark of yours doesn’t look so bad.

Supatra "Nat" Sasuphan

Supatra “Nat” Sasuphan

“Wolf Girl”

She may look more like a furry animal than a little girl, but Thailand’s Supatra “Nat” Sasuphan (dubbed “Wolf Girl”) in fact has Ambras Syndrome (also known as congenital hypertrichosis), which causes excessive hair growth over the face and body. The Daily Mail reports that only 40 people worldwide have been diagnosed with this unusual condition.

Milagros Cerron: Before and After surgery

Milagros Cerron: Before and After surgery

“The Little Mermaid”

Lots of little girls dream about being a mermaid just like Ariel. But for Peruvian baby, Milagros Cerron, being born with fused, mermaid-style legs was a nightmare. The precious tot was born with a condition called sirenomelia, more commonly known as mermaids. According to Channel4.com, the disorder strikes one in every 70,000-100,000 babies; those affected usually succumb to severe health defects and Milagros is only one of two known survivors. Dubbed “The Little Mermaid,” she made headlines when doctors surgically separated her legs, and the San Francisco Gate reports that three-year-old Milagros took her first unaided steps earlier this year.

Tiffany Yorks

Like Milagros Cerron, Tiffany Yorks was also born with sirenomelia, fused legs that resemble a mermaid’s tail. According to “Inside Edition,” Tiffany is the first and oldest known survivor of the condition, though she has had her share of related ailments, including kidney and heart defects. Nineteen-year-old Tiffany has undergone more than 30 operations, and though her legs are now separate, knee ailments have left her in a wheelchair. Still, she hasn’t forgotten her “mermaid” roots, telling the TV program that “When I’m under the water and I’m swimming I just feel free like there’s no crutches, no wheelchair, no doctors, no needles, it’s just me and the water.”

cyclops.jpg

“Cyclops Baby”

In a story straight out of Greek mythology, an Indian woman last year gave birth to a baby girl born with a single eye in the middle of the forehead-an extremely rare condition known as cyclopia. The baby was also born without a nose, and her brain was squeezed into only one hemisphere. According to Wired, doctors speculate that the severe birth defects were potentially caused by an experimental drug called Cyclopamine, which is used to fight cancer. The baby’s mother had experienced fertility problems and may have been given the medicine-which gets its name from the one-eyed lambs that were born after a flock of sheep feasted on the toxin found within wild corn lily-as part of her treatment. Cyclopia can also arise when a mother has significantly low cholesterol or diabetes, Wired says.

Moises Chavez (center row left)

Moises Chavez (center row left)

“Lobster Baby”

Peruvian infant Moises Chavez was dubbed “Lobster Baby” when he was born with four claw-like limbs that bend around his body-a rare condition known as arthrogryposis. According to TheAge.com.au, about one in every 3,000 U.S. births features one limb suffering from this condition; that Chavez has it in all four is extremely unusual.

“Dark-haired Moises, who weighs 2.5kg and is 33cm long, cries and reacts to sound but his leg bones are bent at a 90-degree angle from his body, while his hands are distorted outward as his tiny elbows hug his chest,” TheAge.com.au reports.

Surgeons were planning to operate on Moises’s arms and legs to correct the problem.Manar Maged

Manar Maged

Manar Maged

The tale of little Manar Maged is a heartbreaking one. The Egyptian girl was born with two heads, the result of a split embryo that should have resulted in a twin; the condition is called craniopagus parasiticus. Maged’s second head could smile and blink, BBC News reports, but could not function on its own and it is unknown whether it had its own mental capacity. Sadly, Maged died at the age of two after contracting a brain infection

.The Khan Family

The Khan Family

The Khan Family

Birth defects are themselves extremely rare, but for multiple family members to be afflicted is almost unheard of. That makes the case of India’s Khan family so bewildering. Four Khan children-including a sister who died of pneumonia at age 16-have been diagnosed with progeria, a condition that rapidly accelerates the aging process; most sufferers die by the time they reach their early twenties. According to a BBC News report from 2005, this “is the only known example where more than one family member suffers from the disease.” In fact, there are only 48 cases of progeria in the entire world.

The three surviving Khan children, Ali Hussein, Rehana, and Ikramul, have skin and teeth problems, look decades older than they are, have stunted development, and are susceptible to age-related diseases. Their parents do not have the disease, and they have two healthy siblings. Doctors have concluded that both Khan’s parents must be carriers of the progeria gene for this anomaly to have occurred.

Mandy Sellars

Mandy Sellars

We all deal with a little cellulite here and there…but what if your legs weighed 11 stone (154 pounds)? Englishwoman Mandy Sellars looks like your typical trim 30-something woman from the waist up, but a disfiguring condition called Proteus Syndrome has caused her legs and feet to grow at an abnormal rate. According to BBC News, Mandy’s feet are 16 inches long and her legs measure 35 inches in diameter at the bottom.
Proteus Syndrome reportedly only affects 120 people in the world; “Elephant Man” John Merrick is thought to have had the condition, which triggers abnormal growth.
Mandy has been told that doctors may have to amputate her legs if they continue to grow, a possibility that doesn’t seem to faze her.
“I have goals for when that does happen,” she told the BBC. “Why not? It can be a different life. It could be a more adventurous life. Things I can’t do now I might be able to do then. I quite fancy having a go at snowboarding actually, maybe paragliding or white water rafting would be wonderful, it really would.”

Devendra Harne

Devendra Harne

Devendra Harne

Birth defects don’t always mean compromised health or painful surgeries. In the case of India’s Devendra Harne, his polydactylism condition earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the person with the most fingers and toes (25). That’s 12 fingers and 13 toes, for those of you keeping track at home. According to NagpurPlus.com, “The deformity is not a handicap for Devendra who is the kid next door and attends school regularly. Devendra also attends to his daily chores without any help and is an ideal student … Devendra says he does not feel any difficulty in using the extra fingers.”

Sarah Morrison

Sarah Morrison

Precious Sarah Morrison is not quite a year old, but she’s already suffered 30 rib fractures at birth and broken two bones at home. Little Sarah suffers from brittle bone disease (also known as osteogenesis imperfecta), and her hips and back must be supported at all times. This isn’t the first time her parents have dealt with the disorder; their first baby, also a girl, had the same disease and died after two weeks. Doctors advised Sarah’s mother to get an abortion, and expected that the baby would die after two days. Though the little girl has proven them wrong, she is “so delicate she can break a bone just by sneezing and can never be hugged by her parents,” says The Daily Mail.

Alamjan Nematilaev (post surgery)Diagram of Foetus in Foetu

Alamjan Nematilaev (post-surgery)Diagram of Foetus in Fetus

Alamjan Nematilaev

Alamjan Nematilaev of Kazakhstan for the most part looked like any other boy his age, except for a distending stomach that made him appear pregnant. TimesOnline.co.uk reports that when doctors noticed the then seven-year-old’s bulging belly, they rushed him into surgery and removed a “large, rounded mass” that was covered in blood vessels. The mass stumped Alamjan’s surgeons. “They saw dark hair, arms, fingers, and even nails, legs, toes, genitals, ahead, an approximation of a face,” The Times reports. “They had no idea what it was.”

The ultimate diagnosis: This was a fetus in the fetus, a “rare condition in which twins are conceived from one egg but the twinning is unequal, and at an early stage of development the incomplete twin is enveloped by the normal one, living off it as a parasite.”

Post-surgery, Alamjan is now a healthy and normal young boy. Rather than risk psychological trauma, Alamjan’s parents told him that he had needed surgery because he had eaten bad fruit.

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Why Orgasms Are Good For Your Health

Orgasms Have Health Benefits

Time to get busy, people! According to a new report, the Big O is more than just pleasurable—it’s also good for your health.

Orgasms (and just good ol’ fashioned arousal) can release DHEA and Oxytocin, hormones that are beneficial to the heart and lower breast cancer risks, according to the Los Angeles Times. What’s more, the benefits apply to both men and women, helping to prevent prostate cancer while serving as pain relief from migraines. The article cites these major findings:

Prostate: Two large studies, reported in 2003 and 2004, found that middle-aged men who had (or at least remember having) at least four orgasms a week throughout their 20s, 30s, and 40s had a reduced risk of prostate cancer by as much as one-third. Some researchers speculate that ejaculations may clear the prostate of carcinogens. Physical comfort: In laboratory studies, women are able to tolerate more pain when a vibrator is applied to their vaginas. When that stimulation leads to orgasm, their pain threshold doubles. And one small study found that orgasms provided some relief for women suffering from migraines.

General health: A 10-year study of Welsh men in 1997 found that those who had two or more orgasms per week had half the risk of dying compared with their less sexually active neighbors.

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Top Ten BEST Celebrity Boob Jobs!

Guess Who These Twins Belong To?

Guess Who These Twins Belong To?

If you’ve seen photos of Heidi Montag from MTV’s The Hills lately, you can understand how breast augmentation can suddenly throw anyone into the media spotlight, despite having little or no talent. One day you’re a nobody with a wonder bra and a dream; and then suddenly you literally bust into the limelight and never look back. It’s questionable whether all the celebs that made this list actually look better. However, they have allowed us to engage in a boob-tastic debate about what really makes a star, a star!

Hilary SwankCelebrity Plastic Surgery 

Hilary SwankCelebrity Plastic Surgery 

10. Hilary Swank, 32

There was a time in my life when I thought Hilary Swank was a hot dude with amazing Pecs. That was, of course, before she “blossomed” into a gorgeous actress with amazing boobs. GoodPlasticSurgery.com praised the Oscar-Winning actress’s other trophies in a November 2005 post.

Although I’m not sure if I prefer Hillary the hot actor or Hillary the busty actress (which is somewhat scary on my part), I certainly envy Swank’s all-woman rack. According to Wikipedia, Swank recently noted, “I feel like in the last couple of years I’ve really come into my own and a lot of that has come from figuring out who I really am and what I want in life.” And by the looks of her new chest, I’d say the Million Dollar Baby certainly got her money’s worth!

Jenna JamesonCelebrity Plastic Surgery

Jenna JamesonCelebrity Plastic Surgery

9. Jenna Jameson, 33

As reported by TheSuperficial, the Queen of Porn is 5’7″ and weighs a shocking 92 lbs. This means that if you subtract the weight of her massive boobs and over-plumped lips she is most likely like 72 lbs. Visually she is two bags of sand on a chick-o-stick. My overwhelming desire to force-feed Jenna aside, however, I gotta give the actress turned XXX entrepreneur props for setting the tits-of-the-trade standard. Of course, if she were a CPA or Dentist, I might feel a little different.

According to an April 2007 post on CelebrityCosmeticSurgery.blogspot.com, Jenna Jameson states that she “was diagnosed and treated for Malignant Melanoma of the back in November 2004. Before she could get treatment for the melanoma, a blood test revealed that she was two months pregnant. She, unfortunately, miscarried, possibly due to the stress of cancer.” Wikipedia reports that Jenna’s mother died of skin cancer at age 33 (Jenna’s current age) before her daughter’s second birthday.

Tara ReidCelebrity Plastic Surgery

Tara ReidCelebrity Plastic Surgery

8. Tara Reid, 31

I want to caveat this entry by stating in no way do I endorse Tara Reid’s boobs or think they look good. Little surprise then, that she also ranks on our Top Ten Worst Celebrity Boob Jobs! list. However, without Tara Reid’s infamous implants she would have fallen into oblivion after American Pie, thus making her first or second botched boob job (I lose count) the best thing that ever happened to the B-movie actress, earning her a spot on this list.

Reid is an example of how botched plastic surgery can result in a domino effect with lasting psychological implications. According to Us magazine, “actress Tara Reid revealed that she underwent reconstructive surgery on September 6, 2006, to repair the damage done by a 2004 joint implant-liposuction procedure,” which left her with visible (understatement) scar tissue around her nipple. Reid’s plastic surgeon, Dr. Steven Svehlak, performed a procedure called a doughnut mastopexy to correct her original breast augmentation. Lucky Her! Unfortunately, her first boob job has left us both with permanent scarring. The first time I saw Tara Reid in a bikini I hyperventilated, turned green then white, and eventually passed out. Since then, I have been unable to step foot near a pool, for fear I will run into Tara Reid in a bikini and have the same reaction.

Paris HiltonCelebrity Plastic Surgery

Paris HiltonCelebrity Plastic Surgery

7. Paris Hilton, 26

According to Wikipedia, Paris Hilton is a very serious actress, model, author, singer who has not admitted to having her boobs done. And in the May 7th, 2007 issue of In Touch magazine, Paris unsuccessfully attempts to, ahem, stuff the rumors. “Everyone keeps asking me if I have had surgery…” Paris admits. “I have a new lingerie line called Paris Hilton coming out. There is a bra that is so amazing. I have all the samples, so I’m wearing them. Instead of getting surgery, a girl can just buy my bra.”

Two words: False Advertisement… literally.

Recently, the hotel heiress has been traipsing around LA showing more cleavage than my toes in Jimmy Choo heels on a Saturday night. I highly doubt that plush pink falsies sewn into some tacky floral bra could have such an outstanding effect. And, yes, that’s my version of a compliment.

Kate BeckinsaleCelebrity Plastic Surgery

Kate BeckinsaleCelebrity Plastic Surgery

6. Kate Beckinsale, 33

I’m not even sure if that woman on the left is Kate Beckinsale. Regardless I am sure that is her on the right and she looks gorgeous.

In a 2006 post, GoodPlasticSurgery.com speculates that Kate Beckinsale may have had her breast implants revised. According to Dr. Tony Youn, CelebrityCosmeticSurgery.blogspot.com, “numerous photos on the internet… show what appear to be capsular contractures of her previous breast implants. This is what happens when the body creates excessive scar tissue around breast implants, causing them to look round and hard. It happens to a small percentage of women, although in the past upwards of 80% of women with first-generation silicone gel implants developed this dreaded complication. The ‘after’ photos show a considerably smaller bust.” Thank God…

As reported by Wikipedia, in 2006, Beckinsale was ranked #78 in FHM’s “100 Sexiest Women in the World.”

Adrianna LimaCelebrity Plastic Surgery

Adrianna LimaCelebrity Plastic Surgery

5. Adriana Lima, 25

As if this woman was not annoying the world enough with her utter perfection, semi-cute accent, and severely over-plumped lips… this Victoria’s Secret model had to go and plump up her boobs. If you’re not convinced she had her boob’s upgraded, check out these shots on GoodPlasticSurgery.com.

Now, I’m a huge fan of Victoria’s Secret, but I think Adriana may have misunderstood the Miracle Bra entirely and her status as Angel. The Bra performs the miracle, not Dr. 90210. Regardless, my friends at The Bastardly have posted some unbelievably gorgeous pics of the Brazilian beauty in all of her splendor.

As reported by Vogue.co.uk, in 2006, GQ magazine named Lima “The World’s Most Voluptuous Virgin.” If I had Lima’s looks – before or after – I probably would have held out, too…

Giselle BundchenCelebrity Plastic Surgery

Giselle BundchenCelebrity Plastic Surgery

4. Giselle Bundchen, 26

I heard that the excess flesh taken from Giselle’s nose job was actually injected into her boobs. OK that’s a lie. Whatever. I don’t know what to say besides she is “very sexy” and may be, as Wikipedia states,” the world’s richest supermodel, with a net worth of $150 million”. And according to a March 2007 post on UsMagazine.com, Giselle’s also expecting child with boyfriend, New England Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady.

Lindsay LohanCelebrity Plastic Surgery

Lindsay LohanCelebrity Plastic Surgery

3. Lindsay Lohan, 20

For the first time, I think Lindsay Lohan’s body looks awesome. She’s no longer a chunky freckled kid with a premature boob job (Top Ten Worst Celebrity Boob Jobs!), or the poster-girl for bulimia. Although in typical Lohan fashion, Lindsay denies ever having her boobs done, AwfulPlasticSurgery.com speculates she’s undergone more than one procedure.

In my opinion, Lohan is either delusional or a complete liar. (I think it’s the latter.) For example, remember when Lindsay planned a trip to Kenya last year to help people? It never happened. And when she came clean to Oprah, expressing that she is “not a party girl”? She’s out every night of the week! Whether you believe Lindsay’s a Troubled Saint or a Terrible Liar, the-latest-boob-job-Lohan-never-received looks pretty darn good if you ask me! Would someone please find me the name of her non-existent plastic surgeon?

Pamela AndersonCelebrity Plastic Surgery

Pamela AndersonCelebrity Plastic Surgery


2. Pam Anderson, 39

While some might trash her melons, I always say, “the bigger the fruit, the more potential for loot.” Actually, I’ve never said that before, and I’m kind of mortified that I just did.

Pamela Anderson would not be where she is today were it not for her savvy business skills and – of course – her trademark assets. Yes, breast augmentation has been good to the former Playmate, actress, model, mother, and activist. And unlike those lesser celebrities who continually deny having had surgery, Anderson thanks her breasts (and her doctors) by speaking out on behalf of the use of silicone implants. Wikipedia quotes Pam as saying, “We think the FDA should admit it had no basis for banning silicone implants. It’s time to make a clean breast of it. I wash mine every day.”

Recently Pam did a cameo in the movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. Allegedly, her role in the movie fueled a blowup by hubby Kid Rock that ultimately was the catalyst of their breakup.

Grandma (Courtney Love)Celebrity Plastic Surgery

Grandma (Courtney Love)Celebrity Plastic Surgery

1. My Grandma (the Ultimate Celeb according to Me), 112

Granny, seen far left on Holiday in Rio. Thanks for the postcard, Grandma. You look fabulous!

As an aside, Grandma mentioned in her postcard that she keeps being referred to as Courtney Love (on right). I’m not sure what that’s about…

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