Archive for the ‘Lost in translation’ Category

I am a primitive hotdog.
At least that’s what this site tells me.
Enter your name to find out which food you are!

Ummm.

I’ve just seen an ad for Skinny Water.

And I didn’t understand it at all.

It’s a low-calorie water. A low-calorie water.

This phrase actually momentarily inspired me to go online and attempt to research if there are, in fact, any calories in water. Which I had never, ever thought about before.

But common sense held me back. For two main reasons.

One: Calories are not inherently bad. We need calories. To live. Using the phrase low-calorie will inevitable prompt people to be more conscious of how many calories are in their food (and drink). But how many people actually know what a calorie is? Scientifically speaking, I mean.

Two: Water is good for you. We’re encouraged to drink eight glasses a day. If water was full of “bad” calories (which don’t exist, since calories are just a unit of energy), then this advice probably wouldn’t be so prevalent (leaving aside momentarily the question of whether it’s accurate advice or not).

The point is that - as far as I’m concerned, at least - an advert should not be specifically designed to: a) make me doubt “normal” water (and I’m talking about water from a tap, not a mineral water bottle) and b) by making me doubt “normal” water thereby encourage me to believe that buying expensive (at least more so than tap water) Skinny Water will somehow make me more beautiful = skinny = attractive to men/peers/employers/general society, etc. etc.

Anyway. I’ve looked at the Skinny Water website. Which tells me that the product is, and I quote:

A low-calorie water, enhanced with a unique combination of ingredients to help (YOU) lose and maintain YOUR weight. Skinny Water contains selected essential nutrients, which combine the benefits of hydration with vitamins, minerals, and clinically tested natural ingredients that suppress appetite, block carbohydrates from converting into fat, and increase fat burning, without stimulating the nervous system.**

As a dietary supplement, drink 1 bottle of Bio-Synergy Skinny Water 2 to 4 times daily. Drink a bottle of Bio-Synergy Skinny Water 30 minutes before a meal to block carbohydrates. And, naturally, drink Bio-Synergy Skinny Water whenever you are thirsty.(or during exercise for re-hydration.

Oh I don’t know (and I can’t find the information referred to by the ** at the end of the first paragraph, either). What’s wrong with normal water, balanced diet and regular exercise?

There are enough things to feel bad about - internationally, locally, personally, professionally, whatever-ly - already. Why do I now have to feel bad about water?