Tracy AndersonDespite evidence to the contrary, celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson now claims she never advocated a baby food diet. But even if she doesn’t want adult women eating like children, she still says they should be “teeny tiny” creatures. Anderson’s publicist tells The Daily Beast that she never advocated the bizarre diet, which Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Lady Gaga were all accused of following. This is a bit hard to swallow, since last year she held an event promoting the “TA Baby Food Cleanse” at her L.A. studio, and told Marie Claire U.K. that the cleanse was a great way to “eliminate toxicity, break bad habits but still have your digestive system going.” While Anderson is distancing herself from one unhealthy idea about weight loss, she’s promoting another one: Her new “30-Day Method.” She claims the method will “start the journey to your teeniest, tiniest point,” in a video on her website. “Teeny tiny” has essentially become Anderson’s catchphrase. In countless interviews, she repeats some variation of, “I can give you a teeny-tiny dancer’s body.” While other celebrity fitness gurus at least give lip service to their program being about health, Anderson is mainly focused on making her clients the “perfect” size — “tiny,” of course. Actually, scratch that; women should be in a constant state of striving to be the “teeniest, tiniest” they can possibly be. Anderson has claimed that she, “spent five years doing research to show the body could be reshaped against its genetic build.” In other interviews this switches to having, “spent literally eleven years researching how to sequence leg movements to make sure that you don’t do the same leg movement over and over again.” Yet her five, or perhaps eleven, years of “research” haven’t actually given her a solid grasp on what it means to be a healthy adult woman. Among her more ridiculous claims is that conventional exercises like running don’t work because they can build muscle and “a bulked-up bottom is not a pretty one.” Also, aging isn’t a natural process, it’s a sign a woman isn’t trying:

“If your body looks old at 50, it’s only because you’re not making the effort.”

And similarly, every woman whose body changes post-pregnancy is just lazy:

“The skin will always come back to the muscle if you work hard enough. Even if you have loose skin after having babies. I’ve done it a million times.”

Though Anderson is often described as a health and fitness expert in the media, it seems she’s more of an expert in promoting dangerously strict diet and exercise plans, and the idea that women, not natural body processes, are to blame if they aren’t “teeny tiny.” It isn’t all that surprising that despite her shady business dealings and the accusations that she hires uncertified trainers, she remains a media darling — Anderson is the human personification of the lie that women are only beautiful if they’re extremely thin, and should constantly be trying to achieve a non-existent “perfect” body. Article by Jezebel *     *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *       *       *      *      *      *      *      * Let me first say that I don’t particularly like Tracy Anderson – at all. I’ve read various things about her and none of it impresses me. She’s responsible for promoting a diet that many high-profile celebrities use called “the baby food” diet, which is exactly what it sounds like – baby food all day every day. Yum. She also has been known to higher uncertified trainers in her gym, hiring them because they’re “hot.” Not very safe or professional. The things she says are ridiculous. Things like “If you’re 50 and you look old, you’re not putting in the effort.” First, off – what’s wrong with looking your age? And no, you look 50 because you are. Sure, some of us are going to age more gracefully than others – but it’s a lot more involved than baby food and spending hours in a disastrous gym. Genetics, geography, lifestyle and environment also make huge contributions to how our bodies will mature. I’m annoyed by what she has to say about women who have had babies. Yes, Tracy has two children and doesn’t have any apparent “loose skin.” But things like C-sections can damage the abdominal muscles permanently and many women will vouch that their bodies have never been the same after childbirth. Maybe if a woman has the time to “work hard enough,” Tracy’s statement would be true – but who does? To put that pressure on women (or anyone) is not fair. New parents have babies to look after – which is a full time job. Not to mention many new parents have a regular full time job to maintain as well. New moms do not need the extra stress of having to tighten up their “loose skin.” It’s Tracy’s job to exercise and train her clients – so she has all the time in the world to tighten her body up. She should recognize that she and her clients are in the business of looking good – which is not the norm. I can think of tons of more beneficial, useful and totally awesome things that mothers could do for 30 days other than Tracy Anderson’s 30 Day Method. I hate how Tracy talks about how women should be striving for their “teeniest, tiniest” size. No thank you, I don’t want to eat baby food and I don’t think the body of a 12 year old boy is a good look for me right now. My health is not a size and I like a little jiggle.

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