Is that really the message you want to send?

During the winter, you see a LOT of ads and tv commercials (well...I don't because I have no cable) geared towards women who want to lose weight in time for swimsuit season. Many of these commercials have yogurt in them. And the actor is usually between 110 and 130lbs, needing to shed the 3-to-8-pound "winter weight." Unfortunately, it's not just the skinnies who get to see those commercials. Everyone does. And those women who are between 130lbs and, say, 430lbs will either ignore it and go on eating their pecan logs and frozen snickers bars, or they'll buy into it, buy the yogurt, and then get pissed when all it does is make them eat yogurt.

The tv marketing industry is what it is, and no one has quite figured out how to market correctly to an obese America. What I like to call "diet centers" are another thing. You've got your Jenny Craigs and your Weight Watchers and your Nutra Systems. They're about what they can shove into your system while whispering (from another, soundproof, room) that oh by the way, you should exercise, too. Up until today, I was safely tucked away from any of those places. I don't pass them on the street on the way to work, or around the neighborhood...

Up until a few weeks ago, there was a poorly-managed and poorly-frequented diner-ish place around the corner from me, called Elvis Coffee Shop. I have to pass the storefront on my way to and from my laundromat and my supermarket. Their chalkboard advertisement outside promoted smoothies in all shapes and sizes and flavors. Perhaps that was their problem - perhaps they should have marketed Elvis and/or Coffee. So they closed, and today the new business is having their grand opening. They're offering free smoothies -- I didn't check to see whether there was a variety or not, or if Elvis would be making a guest appearance. The reason I bring this up is that it's no longer a coffee shop.

Now, situated between the Funeral Home and the Laundromat is a "diet center." Kind of apropos when you think about it. The name of this new establishment is "Thin is In - Weight Management." This is very disturbing to me and somewhat offensive. I thought we figured out back in 1992 that "thin" was not the answer--healthy is. But let's go with this a second...if "thin" is "in" then does it follow that there are some skinnies inside operating the place? And if so, are they judging me every time I walk by? I want to be healthy, not thin. Thin can be a bi-product of healthy, but that depends on each person. If thin is in, I'm not even gonna fit through the door. And what's the point of marketing thin-ness to a largely Albanian neighborhood - it's not like the Italian side of the El tracks where the grandmothers might hop on the bandwagon. Have you seen Albanian grandmothers? They're thin, and they don't speak to non-Albanians.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I still haven't eaten breakfast today, and there's a homemade avocado & lime smoothie calling my name.