The one thing I like about 'Playboy' is they don't have the

Listen, O children of wisdom, to the words of Jenny McCarthy, who speaks with clarity about the complexities of self-image and the pursuit of health: "The one thing I like about 'Playboy' is they don't have the anorexic look. The women are voluptuous. So I didn't really want to diet. I just wanted to tone up." In these words, McCarthy reveals a deep truth about how we view ourselves and the bodies we inhabit. She speaks to the struggle many face in defining beauty and health, a struggle that has been shaped by society's often skewed standards of what is desirable. Yet, her words also reflect a more ancient truth—that true strength and beauty come from embracing one's own body, not through the pursuit of perfection, but through a balanced and mindful approach to health.

In the days of ancient Greece, the Greeks celebrated the beauty of the human form in all its diversity. The famed Venus de Milo, a statue that has come to symbolize feminine beauty, was not one of slimness and frailty, but of strength and voluptuousness. Ancient Greeks did not worship the fragile or the thin, but the fullness and vitality of life. Jenny McCarthy’s appreciation of the voluptuous women of Playboy echoes this ancient wisdom, a reminder that true beauty comes in many forms, and that the pursuit of health is not about chasing an ideal, but about embracing one’s body with strength and purpose.

Consider the example of Hercules, that great hero of Greek mythology. His strength was not measured by his size or his adherence to some superficial ideal, but by his courage, endurance, and the power he wielded. He was a symbol of both physical and spiritual strength, unafraid to face his challenges head-on. Hercules would not have sought to attain a frail or anorexic form, but would have embraced his voluptuous body as a symbol of his power and vitality. McCarthy’s desire to tone up, rather than diet to the point of fragility, reflects this ancient wisdom, where the body is viewed not as something to be controlled or reduced, but as a vessel to be nourished, strengthened, and celebrated.

In the Roman world, Cicero understood that the body should be cared for, but not idolized. He believed that true virtue and strength lay in the mind and spirit, but he also acknowledged that the body was the vessel through which we carry out our duties and pursuits. The Romans practiced moderation in all things, including their diet and exercise routines. They did not seek to attain a body that adhered to the latest fashion, but instead focused on maintaining a body that could serve them well in their duties. Jenny McCarthy’s words reflect this balance, where health is viewed not as an obsession with external ideals, but as a holistic pursuit that integrates both the body and the mind in harmony.

In the modern world, we often fall prey to societal pressures that demand we conform to a single ideal, whether it be in our weight, shape, or appearance. We see images in the media that present a narrow view of beauty, one that often excludes the natural diversity of the human form. Jenny McCarthy rejects the anorexic look and embraces the voluptuous form, understanding that true beauty and health are found in a body that is strong, full of life, and reflective of one’s inner vitality. She does not desire to fit into a mold, but to cultivate a body that reflects strength, vibrancy, and purpose.

The lesson, O children, is clear. Beauty is not found in the fragility of the body or in the pursuit of a fleeting ideal. True health comes from embracing the body in all its forms, understanding that strength, vitality, and self-love are the true measures of beauty. Like Jenny McCarthy, who chooses to tone up rather than diet to extremes, we too must seek to nourish and strengthen our bodies with the right foods, the right exercise, and the right mindset. Let us not fall into the trap of chasing an ideal that leads us to self-doubt, but instead, let us celebrate the voluptuousness and strength of the body as a reflection of our inner power and vitality.

Therefore, O children, let us follow the wisdom of McCarthy and the ancients. Let us honor our bodies, not by trying to reduce them to a fleeting ideal, but by toning up our strength, vitality, and confidence. Let us seek balance in our approach to health, embracing the fullness of life and the diverse forms of beauty that the world offers. Just as the Greeks and Romans understood that strength comes from balance and moderation, so too must we. Let us celebrate our bodies, not as objects to be molded, but as living vessels that carry us through the world, full of strength, purpose, and beauty.