There are numerous statistics on how many calories the average American consumes on Thanksgiving Day, with most sources stating a range of 4,000-4,500 calories. Those numbers obviously vary based on a bunch of factors – such as what the meal consists of, who prepares it, the ingredients, preparation method, (deep-fried turkey anyone?) how much food is consumed, and whether or not they are counting just the Thanksgiving meal itself or all the food one consumes that day. Whatever the factors or statistics may be, I think we can all agree it’s used as a great excuse for humans to overindulge.

Would you dare eat in front of The Karl?

Here at Skinny Gossip we are above average. However in this instance, I’d much rather prefer to be below average – especially when it comes to calories and consumption. Consuming anywhere near 4,000 calories during a meal – OR even in an entire day – is totally unacceptable – in fact, it’s just disgusting! (WTF! That’s more than a pound of weight in terms of calories!)

To help all you Skinny Gurls out there survive and navigate America’s biggest face-stuffing day, I’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks to avoid the calories.. and the shame. I’ve broken them out into two scenarios: the first is a girl who wants to be/sit at the meal and partake without going crazy; the second is for the girl with too much anxiety about it and would rather avoid it completely.

If you must partake in a Thanksgiving meal that’s being prepared by someone else, and don’t want to be too out of place with your eating habits:

• Fill your stomach up before the meal. Eat something low in calories, drink a liter or so of water – anything to make you not as hungry and eat less.
• Eat small portion sizes. And spread them out on your plate to make it look like you have more than you really do. NO PILES! If it’s heaped up, it’s TOO MUCH.
• Focus on the protein (turkey, etc) and pure/clean forms of vegetables (not soaked or dressed with butter and other sweets or garbage). Avoid carbs as much as possible! This means as little as possible of potatoes, squash, cranberry sauce, and of course the sweets like pies.
• Minimize your use of condiments. Gravy, dressings, etc. A little butter or oil might be OK – fats make you feel fuller and believe it or not in a desperate situation like this they are far better than the heavy carby stuff.
• Skip the appetizers.
• Do not, do not, do NOT eat dessert!  Obviously we don’t want to offend our host, so tell them you are completely stuffed (with turkey, vegetables, and water, right!?) and can’t possibly eat another bite of anything else – however, it looks delicious and you’d love to take something home for later (which you’ll of course throw in the garbage or happily give to someone else.) If you absolutely MUST and I mean MUST, go ahead and take a small cookie or teentsy-tiny slice of pie onto your plate. But even this is big trouble and has the potential to blow your skinny plans and stop your weight loss for up to a week. The sugar, carbs, and fat are the worst of anything at the table (along with those damn potatoes!)
• Pretend not to like a certain dish, or say you recently discovered you had a new food allergy to avoid eating certain dishes that are laden with calories.
• Eat and chew your food very slowly. Everyone else will be shoving food in their faces at record speeds and no one will be paying attention to you – they will think you ate way more than you really did.

If you want to avoid the meal all together:

• Pretend you are sick (food poisoning, stomach flu, etc.) – this is a great excuse to avoid eating at all, or to stick to very low calorie foods such as chicken broth. It also gives you a great excuse to completely avoid annoying family members and just stay in bed all day.
• If you have to drive somewhere for it, say you had car troubles (a flat, dead battery, engine problems) – then you can skip it entirely (if that’s even an option) or show up two hours later after everyone has finished. Of course, they’ll probably want to feed you leftovers when you finally do arrive –>; see next excuse
• Share some big problem that’s giving you stress – broken down car, just broke up with your bf, personal issues, time of the month, work problems, etc. Have a little pity party (water works always help!) for yourself and tell them that you are so stressed that you have no appetite. Hopefully they’ll feel so bad for you that they won’t be on your case to eat. This excuse is also good if you choose to eat but you don’t want to each that much.
• Pretend you just came from another Thanksgiving meal, and you are stuffed to the brim.
• Be a conscientious objector! Tell them you do not wish to partake in a meal to celebrate a “holiday” where no one seems to recognize the reality behind Thanksgiving. Talk about how the Native Americans were brutalized by the colonists, and what a big, offensive lie the whole Thanksgiving myth is.

We all have different situations with varying circumstances. I’m sure most of you outside the states are relieved that you don’t even recognize or celebrate this holiday (lucky you!) Whatever the case may be, I hope you find my suggestions helpful and encouraging. I wouldn’t want any of you girls to end up like this.

Regardless of your beliefs surrounding Thanksgiving, I think it gives us all an opportunity to reflect on how lucky we are and the many reasons why we should be thankful.

What are your Thanksgiving survival skills? Do you have any special tips or tricks for this time of year? Tell us in the forums.

I’ll be traveling, but will try to chime in and tell you whether I was a good girl or not.

[Image is by Danny Roberts - check out his work!]

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As everyone who hasn’t been under a rock knows, tonight is the night the highly-anticipated 2012 Victoria’s Secret fashion show will air. I’ve never been a huge fan of the show, however I do enjoy seeing a handful of my favorite “mass-market” models prance down the runway in cheesy little outfits. I also appreciate and respect the high production value that goes into the shows, even if they are quite ridiculous, with the outfits often more reminiscent of a holiday masquerade parade than something appropriate for a fashion show.

Based on the images that I’ve seen, along with the backstage teasers, and a few conversations with those who were actually at the filming a few weeks ago, there are a few models that I’m looking forward to seeing this year.

First is Constance Jablonski. Constance is a larger-framed girl, and on the boxy side, and thus has to work much harder to look skinny compared to the smaller framed models – which she has obviously been doing. She’s definitely been a super good girl judging from these images, and I’m proud of her.. I can see how hard she’s been working!

The second model I’m anxious to see is Magdalena Frackowiak. Magdalena, for the most part, always looks great and is always very consistent with her body and appearance.  She has a very toned and slim body that always looks amazing, as you can see.

Some fashion models who get the opportunity to walk in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show use it as an opportunity to gain a few pounds to “fit the mold” of the brand, but not Constance and Magdalena! They didn’t slack off one bit (in fact Constance did the opposite) … very smart, because we know how fickle the industry is.

Then there are the standard Victoria’s Secret girls that we see every year, either because they are a staple for Victoria’s Secret or they’re Victoria’s Secret “Angels” – and honestly, some of them are just there because they’ve signed a contract for a certain number of years. These include Miranda Kerr, Candice Swanepoel, and Erin Heatherton. These three are nothing impressive, as you’ll see in the images below.

Erin seems to have gained quite a bit of weight, especially in her thigh area.

Now – one of the most questionable girls in the show – as well as one of the most questionable girls in fashion in general right now – is Cara Delevingne. I have a love/hate relationship with Cara, which I’ll elaborate on in an upcoming article, but I just don’t think she’s a fit for VS. I think the reason she is in the show this year is because she has become one of the new “it” girls in fashion. And what better way for Victoria’s Secret to gain appeal in the high-fashion market by putting one of the popular fashion “it” girls in their show. (They did the same with Karlie. Karlie, in my opinion, isn’t a Victoria’s Secret model either, she’s too skinny for their target audience, but they continue to use her because she has such a huge following in the fashion world.)  The only thing Cara has going for her here is her horrible, all-over-the-place walk, one that I hate seeing on proper high fashion runways. I think her mess of a walk, combined with the silly, obnoxious, self-impressed faces she’s always making – make her a perfect fit for the ridiculousness that is the Victoria’s Secret runway.

Then there is Barbara Palvin, who as you all know, I’m not a fan of.  Are any of you thinking the same thing I am about those boots and those thighs? I felt so embarrassed for her the way the fat was spilling out of the top of her boots. I wonder what Barbara did to piss off the stylist that they made her squeeze into those? Poor Barbara, do you feel fat? Because you look it. The girl really belongs in plus size work, but that’s another conversation entirely. Too bad, because she really does have a gorgeous face.

And last but not least, there are the bona fide fatties Adriana Lima and Lily Aldridge, who absolutely should not be on the runway because they just popped out babies these past few months. Seriously, I don’t know what woman aspires to look like them – except women who are 50-100lbs overweight and are looking for some inspiration from older, post-baby, overweight models with big floppy milk-filled breasts, thick mid-sections, and cellulite-marbled thighs. I know I’d rather barf than look like that – in fact, thanks VS, because seeing this is such perfect birth control!

There is one thing I must give VS credit for – they are smart marketers and know how to capture almost every audience. They’ve perfectly combined a few skinny fashion models, a current popular “it” fashion model, the standard VS girls that everyone recognizes for their ads and catalogues, the token fatties, along with two of the most popular music performers – Justin Bieber and Rihanna – into a highly publicized, must-see event that many top celebrities attend. I give them kudos, because they’ve done an amazing job of targeting almost every single demographic – young teen Bieber fans, to young fashionistas, to overweight middle-aged women, to men who want to see hot models walk around in lingerie (the most action they’ve probably seen all year – and right in their own living room,) and almost everyone in between. What they’ve created is an amazing marketing platform so powerful that even those of us who consider the majority of the models ordinary and far from inspirational will still watch the show – just like I will be doing with my boyfriend tonight.

Be sure and watch tonight 10/9C on CBS!

[Images: Getty, tochka.net]

Discuss this article in our forums!

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I haven’t posted anything on the main site in a LONG time (sorry gurls!) and want to get back into my groove. I thought it would be fun to take a look at the models we love today and what they looked like at the start of their modeling careers, so I created a new “Flashback Friday” category for this (hopefully regular) feature.

First up is Abbey Lee Kershaw. Abbey Lee got her start when she won the 2004 Girlfriend Model Competition. Not too long after that she was scouted and signed with Chic Management.

Now Abbey Lee is ranked one of the top 10 models in the industry and making it big. She’s definitely come a long way! She was the first model to start doing the baby food diet, and it’s interesting that her look change started around that time.

I prefer the look that Abbey Lee has now. She’s much more developed as a model and isn’t afraid to be her badass self. I also love her skinnier body and skinny sunken-in face, although I do have a soft spot for Abbey Lee’s baby face from when she first started.

Thoughts? Do you prefer her now or then? Discuss this article in our forums!

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The Met Ball is toted as the fashion world’s best red carpet event and – with the who’s who in fashion and entertainment in attendance – it’s an event not to be missed. Monday evening, everyone from Anna Wintour to Madonna showed up in style to kick off the yearly Costume Institute exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Many of the guests chose to embrace the theme of this year’s exhibit – Punk: Chaos to Couture.

There were many who wowed me with their looks, and a handful of others who failed – some left me feeling that they needed to team up with a new stylist. With so many fashionably dressed in attendance, I decided to narrow the field and focus on the models that attended for my ranking of my top fashionable looks.

Constance Jablonski – Constance looked radiant in her Wes Gordon gown – and how adventurous of her to rock that thigh-high slit. I love the mini corset part of her dress, she really made an appearance wearing that piece. And her eyes, so lovely and captivating.  Constance is definitely not at her skinniest here, but looks lovely and thin.

Anja Rubik – Anja made a statement wearing a red leather Anthony Vaccarello dress, she looked absolutely stunning! Anja hasn’t been on my radar in some time, but she instantly grabbed my attention at first glance of seeing her.  I give her props for wearing a short dress instead of a gown, a much better choice in my opinion to stand out from the crowd, which is exactly what she did.  Anja looks like she has been on good behavior – her great body and legs pair perfectly with her flirty dress.

Miranda Kerr – Miranda shined in a Michael Kors black cut-away dress. For a while, Miranda wasn’t looking so great, so I was definitely surprised to see how lovely she looked on the red carpet. Miranda rocked that dress with her toned body, I’m sure other attendees were jealous!

Chanel Iman – Chanel wore a J.Mendel black and white striped silk gown. Her pink tipped hair and clutch were a great contrast of color against the neutral colored stripes. I’m not a fan of Chanel, but I must admit she rocked those stripes, something not everyone can pull off.

Karolina Kurkova – Karolina went way out of the box and wore a custom asymmetric printed dress by Mary Katrantzou. With stripes and a crazy pattern this look could have easily gone awry, but Karolina pulled it off well with her simple accessories.  Karolina looks thinner than I’ve seen her in awhile – a nice added bonus

Doutzen Kroes – Doutzen wore a Theyskens’ Theory black strapless dress with a leather bodice.  I’ve never been a fan of hers either, but she did win me over with her outfit choice – great for her body type and also very dominatrix and sexy looking. She still needs work on her facial expression.

Thoughts? Which model do you think rocked it? Discuss this article in our forums!

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Sasha Luss has been one of my favorite models for quite some time now, so I figured a great way to return to the article writing was to showcase her in a model profile. One reason she has become one of my favorites is because she reminds me a little of Vlada, with a similar pale-skinned, little princess doll look. I also like her because she is another great example proving that you can be model thin and healthy.

This isn’t very surprising given that her mother agency is Avant. Avant has been leading the way in showing their new faces that it’s possible – fun, even – to get their bodies runway-ready in a healthy way. We only need to look at their AvantCamp to see that.

Sasha started modeling at fourteen, but didn’t get any serious work at that point. We all know she had a much different look back then – fuller figured with long brown hair. She didn’t get any major interest from clients at that point, so she returned to Russia to finish school.

In 2011, she signed with Avant. Not coincidentally, she lost a substantial amount of weight. It was a drastic transformation – and the beginning of the Sasha we all know and love. Not long after that, Karl Lagerfeld spotted her in an ad and invited her to walk in his Pre-Fall and Fall/Winter 2012 shows. After that, her career really took off, with her booking more than 50 shows for Fall/Winter 2013 and Spring/Summer 2014.

It’s fun to flip through her digitals from the last few years:

After a few big seasons, her career seemed to slow down a little. She even seemed to gain some weight in late 2014, because she looked a little heavier in the S/S 2015 shows, as we can see in this picture from Jean Paul Gaultier S/S 2015:

I think it probably got to be too much, too fast for her and she had a hard time managing it; going from zero to sixty and then having to maintain that intensity for long periods of time can be rough. (I agree with what Abbey Lee Kershaw once said – it’s like training to be an elite athlete – it takes much more focus, work, and stamina than most people would ever imagine.) I also don’t think it helped that they cut her hair – apparently because it was way over-processed and unhealthy – and the cropped look wasn’t a good look on Sasha. Many designers agreed, because in several shows they made her wear a wig.

Lately though, Sasha seems to be back “in the zone” and booking more work again. I’m hoping to see her back to where she was a couple of years ago. She has great discipline (and a real sense of humor about it too.)

I hope Sasha keeps rocking it — I think she’s great and I want to see her keep working for many more years. I wish her the best; she’s still one of my favorites!

What are your thoughts on Sasha? Share them in the forums.

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