Stevie's weight?

[gldstwmn]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
Oh, and by the way... male celebrities also use Botox and have cosmetic surgery. It's not solely a "female" thing.

Thank you!

[sulamith]

OK, here comes the anatomy and biology Instructor to attempt to clear this up a bit.

Epstein-Barr virus is one of the members of the Herpes virus family, as is Chicken Pox, shingles, fever blisters, and yes, genital herpes. This family of viruses are attracted to your nervous system, just like the Hepatitis family is attracted to your liver.
The EB virus used to be called mononucleosis, and as many as 95% of people are infected with it, but not everyone shows symptoms. Also, as with all herpes viruses, once you have it, it stays dormant in your body and can be activated by stress, poor diet, etc...

Also, don't forget, Lindsey has it too.

Everyone knows about Lindsey and his particularly bad bout with "mono" in 71 that we now call Epstein Barr. Stevie probably got it from him, as they were a couple then, and has had it for years. As most of you know, it is also called the "kissing disease".

It's hardly anything to stigmatize someone over.

-Sharon

[dissention]

I had Epstein barr and it's a nightmare.

Epstein Barr (chronic fatigue syndrome) and Infectious Mononucleosis are two different things but are related. Epstein Barr is the most widespread virus; over 95% of us will be affected by it by the age of 40.

When you get mono, it's a clear indication that you are at high risk of developing Epstein Barr. Mono *usually* occurs before you get Epstein Barr. While mono usually resolves within a month or two, Epstein Barr can last for years. The germs that affect the throat and blood with mono can lay dormant and then trigger back up and that is when you are afflicted with Epstein Barr. It triggers back up in your saliva.

I was afflicted with the EBV three years ago and it crippled me. My throat was constantly sore, I didn't have the energy to get out of bed in the morning, and I rarely left the house. When I would get up, I could only stand up for a few minutes before I had to sit back down. This was when it was most extreme. I would sleep for 10-12 hours a day with little naps throughout the day. Because my throat was so sore, I could only eat a little at a time, which caused me to lose weight. I was pumping omega acids and garlic into my body constantly. I was taking so many things, I can't even remember all of them. Lecithin, Carotenoids, Acidophilus. Slowly, after about 11 months, I began to get strength back and my doctor put me into physical therapy classes. While I'm still not completely over it (I still sleep a lot and do not have the energy to exercise much at all), I'm a hundred times better than what I was.

Yes, Epstein Barr is a herpes-related illness, but not in the derogatory way in which you posted. It was as if you put it in there for shock value, to support your argument.

[sulamith]

Yes, and there are all those reports of Stevie and her constant colds, flus, sore throats, etc... during the Rumours and Tusk eras. She has likely had it a long time. Since everyone's immune system is different, she may not have realized what it was at the time, especially if it wasn't as bad as Lindsey's. She likely thought she had a really bad case of the flu. There's that article where she is talking about the famous lecture her father gave her right before she and Lindsey went to Aspen. She said her father was concerned about her because "you're always sick".

Her breast implants probably weakened her immune system, which can reactivate this virus.

Chicken pox is herpes-related too, and we have all had that.

I agree with dissention, I think that comment was made to get a certain reaction, and that's unfortunate.

-Sharon

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by sulamith
I agree with dissention, I think that comment was made to get a certain reaction, and that's unfortunate.

I thought that when I read it as well.

Thank, by the way for your and Dissention's clarification of EBV. I kind of knew a little about it, but that really helped.

[dissention]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
I thought that when I read it as well.

Thank, by the way for your and Dissention's clarification of EBV. I kind of knew a little about it, but that really helped.

Your welcome. A few word sof warning: if you ever get mono, fear for your life! The end will be near...

[Janet]

I have had mono and I never knew all this info.

I was diagnosed with mono when I was 19. For about 2 years before this, while in high school, I was always sick, tired and had a constant sore throat.

Finally, I just had no energy and I couldn't even swallow...they told me I had mono. I stayed home 1 week only and went back.

I always have sore throats, and energy sometimes is hard to come by. I always blame myself for this, but maybe its more? Im 25 now, I work an extremely physical job, I don't let myself slack around and I always still have sore throats.

My liver isn't in the best shape either, but they told me that back in 1997-who knows what it's doing now. I never go to DR's because I dont have insurance.

In May, after working years of 6-7 day weeks and all that...I got sick again, no energy, felt like mono. I spent $70 to go to a DR and he didn't even take a blood test. I hate DR's ( no offence to anyone)

This same DR gave my mom klonopin about 2 months ago, and she was horrible, she didn't tell anyone she had it. Just now she stopped and shes back to her old self, but she gained some weight and was horrible...trully horrible.

This just makes me think of everything Stevie goes through, must be rough, but what a trooper, shes in good shape, she still goes on and shes proved everyone wrong.

Stevie rocks-thin or fat or whatever. Shes been everything hasn't she and we have loved her in each and every stage. I love OSOTM and she's doped up on klonopin and I love half the songs on Street Angel and she's 175..I mean no matter what she looks like or what she's doing --she always rocks.

[dissention]

That's awful, Janet; I'm so sorry.

Do you still feel crappy? My advice would be to get in touch with your medical insurance company and ask them to refer you to a doctor that has had experience with Mono/Epstein Barr/Chronic Fatigue. That's what I had to do and I found a terrific doctor.

Good luck!

Back to the free concerts in 1996....

I didn't think the pics were bad...I was at the Boston concert and i was fortunate to be front row and, in my opinion, she did NOT look ill or sound bad as someone had previously pointed out. She sounded a lot clearer than the Street Angel tour. The thing that did bother me though was that she didn't appear to be overly excited or happy and i actually left the concert sort of depressed... but i wouldn't say she looked ill...It's amazing at how different the views are.

However, i will admit, when i saw the Clinton performance i actually was very shocked and sad. I'm sorry, but she did not look like Stevie to me. I really couldn't believe it. Whether it was from medication or not, she looked horrible. She looked the worst i have ever seen her. Those pics that were posted were very good ones of her. I felt like crying cause i always was intrigued by her physical beauty and her cute face and it was gone.

Let's take a moment to forget about all the trauma and medication/drugs etc that she has/was going through....when these people are in the media and we see them, we're not supposed to be psychics and know what is going on with them personally. We just react automatically cause their appearance is the first thing that reaches our senses. When you have someone that for a long time is thin and beautiful (disclaimer-i'm not saying that's the perfect way to be) and then years later they're 50 pounds overweight and it appears that they aren't taking care of themselves, we react unfavorable. I adore Stevie and i recognize that she's had a tough time. She's only human. But, let's be honest people, are we all just supposed to sit back and say "yeah, she looks great!" when she put weight on (years ago) BUT most importantly, her performances seemed uninspired and she seemed to have a bad attitude. Furthermore, her songs at that era (87-94 in my opinion) were not the best of her career, and her voice was not in the best shape either...so, i think looking at everything as a whole is why she's gotten negative press and reaction from fans.

Believe me, i have nothing against overweight people. I have many friends that are overweight and it doesn't bother me whatsoever. It's funny though that people look down on others that smoke, do drugs, or drink. We all have our vices but for some reason it's ok to just overeat. However, that extra weight puts a lot of pressure on your entire body. How many overweight 80 or 90 year olds do you see walking around? I'm not trying to be harsh here but i'm tired of reading people getting so sensitive about other people criticizing her weight. I do agree that there's no reason to be sarcastic about it or mean. That's what i don't like.

I think that a LOT of people out there including people that don't consider themselves fans thought that Stevie was absolutely gorgeous in her heydey and because we have a hard time being emotionally sensitive and tactful, the only thing we know how to do is be blunt and hurtful. When i say "we" i mean society.

Anyway, i'm tired and i need to end this post. I hope i made some sort of sense and that i didn't offend anyone. If i did, i apologize.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by joe
Believe me, i have nothing against overweight people. I have many friends that are overweight and it doesn't bother me whatsoever. It's funny though that people look down on others that smoke, do drugs, or drink. We all have our vices but for some reason it's ok to just overeat. However, that extra weight puts a lot of pressure on your entire body. How many overweight 80 or 90 year olds do you see walking around? I'm not trying to be harsh here but i'm tired of reading people getting so sensitive about other people criticizing her weight. I do agree that there's no reason to be sarcastic about it or mean. That's what i don't like.

Well, it's true... a lot of people do look down their noses at people who smoke.
Although I look at it this way... if your habit has the potential of harming ME, then it's not cool.
Second-hand smoke is extremely dangerous to one's health, so yeah, I admit I look down my nose at smoking.
If you wanna kill yourself, fine... go outside, and away from me.
And good God, don't smoke in front of children, whose lungs are small, and who are still growing and developing.

Anyway, enough of that rant... I don't think people feel it's "ok to just overeat."
How many times have people said, "oh, did you see her?? Wow, she really let herself go!"
Or, "that poor thing... she used to be so pretty."
You become the target of all kinds of crass comments and snide remarks when you gain weight.

Look at Stevie, or Ann Wilson, or Delta Burke, or poor Sally Struthers... you'd think these women murdered a puppy or something. All they did was gain some weight.
Big deal.

Even VH1, when discussing Sally Struthers during their 'I Love The 70s' special... what did they do but show a pic of her holding up an entire pizza, with her mouth open wide.

How kind that was.

When Stevie gained weight, I honestly never thought she looked bad because of it.
So she wasn't thin anymore... what did it matter to me?

That she was unhealthy otherwise was not a good thing... but her weight itself should have never mattered.

[strandinthewind]

I agree for the most part. But, I think it is important to remember that it is Stevie who put the emphaisis on the way she looked out there in the first place. She is the one who initially sold herself and her craft as a young, hot looking , sexy female artist (much like the young artists of today in fact only to a lesser extreme). So, when she no longer looked that way, it is only logical that people would go "what happened to that sexy girl," etc.

Disclaimer: I am in no way am I saying that Stevie is not a great songwriter, or that she does not have a good voice, or anything like that. In fact, I think her words and her delivery of them played and still play a significant part of her charm for many if not all people who like ot liked her. I am solely saying that when she prepared the "package" to sell to people, she consciously put sex way up in the front. So, when in many people' eyes that sexiness went away when she gained weight, she should not have been that surprised. In fact, for years (1989-94), she dressed to hide the weight gain in an effort to remain sexy. So, she must have known something.

This example may help me make my point. Assume Bob sees two people at the same time but does not know either of them in any way; they are complete strangers. Person A is Bob's ideal as far as body type, looks, etc. Person B is not and is someone Bob would not be attracted to based on looks only. Bob's eyes will naturally go to the one that is his type. Right or wrong, nine out of ten times that will be a well-built and non-obese person. Having said that, Bob may later learn that Person A (his ideal) is really a jerk and that Person B (his non-ideal) is really Bob's soulmate. How many people in general would give that non-ideal person the time to find that out. Most people would not.

I think the same line of thought can be used for Stevie. If you were used to seeing her slim and hot (most people's ideal) and then she appears onstage 50 or so pounds heavier (most people non-ideal), most people will be turned off and say "what happened to her!" So, while I agree Stevie's weight (not health) did not really affect my opinion of her as a songstress, my eyes did not like seeing her overweight.

I hope that makes sense and I did not come off as a jerk

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by trackaghost
I mean why isn't there a thread saying "John McVie's got old and fat looking"?

Well he is no longer hauling out in the 70's shorty shorts

Sorry, I just could not resist!!!

[diamondsnake]

To these people that are saying that she did not look bad at the Clinton concert, did you even see it? I love Stevie so much, but lets not lie. She was very overweight, maybe even obese during this time frame. It was mainly her face, which I think would be the worst place to gain weight. Stevie is sexy now. Sorry to be blunt, but I think she looked really bad. Even though I'm sure her music was pretty good, it is distracting at a conert when you know how gorgeous the person really is. Sorry to offend anyone, but I'm just going to tell it like it is. I am very happy that she lost all that wieght because now she is confident in herself.