The media today sets and advertises the ideal image. These days, everybody is striving for it. Whether its lipo suction, weight loss pills, expensive diet programs, personal trainers, or new lipo dissolve, the ideal image is on most everybody’s mind. Weight loss commercials have taken over radio and television daily. Not only is it a fad for women of all ages, men are just as into it. Television shows promoting weight loss include The Biggest Loser and Celebrity Fit Club. Millions of people tune into these reality television programs which just ad to the fad.

Not only do people dedicate so much time to this obsession, but its quite a pricy ordeal. A few popular weight loss programs include Weight Watchers , Jenny Craig , and Nutrisystem . These programs can cost up to $20 a week, which is very expensive. Weight loss pills cost about $60 on average for a supply, and going under the knife for lipo suction can cost thousands of dollars. The world is so stuck and obsessed with the ideal image, they will do just about anything for any price.

Where did all of this pressure originate? Magazine models, television programs, and celebrities definitely influence the world’s idea on how they are supposed to look. Model, Tyra Banks, created reality hit America’s Next Top Model, picking average girls to model and making them glamorous and of course thin. I feel that the millions of people watching these shows feel pressured to look like the models. I personally feel the tabloids and celebs new obsession with NOT eating is what people now think they are supposed to look and act like.

I have a very strong opinion about this new ideal image obsession. I find it good that people are striving for a healthier lifestyle and that people care about what they look like, but I don’t feel it’s the obese people going for this ideal image. It bothers me how this has become an obsession. Most Americans are so stuck on the tall and thin image, like I said earlier, they will do anything to achieve it. Contemporary’s society is much different from society back in the day. American’s today are concerned solely on image and what others think of them. In the past, I feel people concentrated more on important matters. People today believe that is what they are supposed to look like, and I find that very disturbing. They hope for the ideal image, and assume being tall and thin is going to make them a better, happier person.

Overall, I feel Americans today have their priorities jumbled. In the long run, being tall and thin is not the most important thing. After all of the tabloids, and different ways to help lose the weight, who knows how serious weight loss is going to be in the future.

Technorati Tags: ideal image, weight loss, models, obsession, weight watchers

Advertising is where it all begins. Have you ever noticed that when you purchase a Vogue Magazine it is generally more ads than genuine content worth reading? Those ads are the subliminal message to get you thinking..UM???? Can I really reduce my wrinkles by 50%? WOW! and my answer to you would be probably provided you haven’t used any skincare on your face recently. We are all such victims of advertising and I suppose I should just be happy that American Idol isn’t only 15 minutes out of the hour block. They (the powers that be) know exactly how long we will tolerate commercials associated with leisure TV viewing. Advertising goes hand in hand down the victimized path of Trending.

OH MY GOSH! I am a slave to trends. If I wake up in the morning and read that Pink lipstick is on it’s way out, then look for it in my cosmetic graveyard. I must admit I have lived through many ghastly trends such as those VERY DARK Twiggy eyes and gauze shirts. You need to learn to embrace trending and configure it to benefit you. The “BOB” hairstyle is hot right now and I have never seen a women that could not wear this style in one fashion or another. And if the advertising and trending can’t get you to whip out that credit card they haven’t won yet!

Have you ever wondered how the lipstick you just purchased won not only the right to ride home in your car but also valuable space in your purse when it wasn’t even in your mind when you first set off on your trip to the store?
Simple…GREAT Merchandising. Entire careers are made on merchandising and the best man (probably women) wins when he has his product out front and at eye level view. Yes! Your eye level and it is very calculated & contrived. Have you ever considered what it really took to get all those bottles of Nail Poilish in addition to matching lipsticks at the head of the aisle in your local Walgreens or CVS. Another interesting fact is I am certain that Walgreens knows exactly what it is worth to that cosmetic vendor to get his..Oops HER placement right where she wants it…Right in front of your face when you walk through the door.

We are all just victims of these often elaborate ploys to get us to do what we love most! Girl stuff, you know – cosmetics, hair products, new purses, clothes, shoes, etc. Poor us