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Models on Tyra Banks' ANTM, and other mentally strong competitors

Ed the Editor's personal blog corner

I was sat thinking about some of the episodes of America's Next Top Model, as you do, and was reminded of that pool photo-shoot where one model got hyperthermic and had to be almost resuscitated. I can't recall if they praised or scolded her for going so far over the top to put on a brave face, but, whatever, it was a gutsy performance and amusing to see.

Arctic nutter

And then I was thinking of other extreme mental head cases and came up with a couple of examples. One is Sir Ranulph Fiennes. he is not an actor but he is a nutcase explorer. Imagine he was eating 5000 calories a day and came back from a polar expedition looking skeletal. Not satisfied with surviving, he submitted himself for medical examination too, and his buddy literally cut off pieces of his flesh and muscle to examine what the hell made this guy tick so well.

At a later date he ran 5 marathons back to back, never achieved by anyone, and apparently an exercise that transcends the physical capability of the human body, namely, he shouldn't have been able to recuperate between marathons. But he did it. In his case his mind was so tough it carried him through everything. This one man could destroy a dieting industry, as he is living proof that anyone out there thinking of losing serious weight should indulge in pure unadulterated exercise and consume 5000 calories a day.

The great canyon run

Another loony, whose name escapes me, did a canyoning run that took several weeks. You know these guys who don a wet suit and helmet and jump into a raging river and shoot waterfalls and shimmy through rapids - for fun. He achieved his aim, but en route he suffered from depression.

I am a great believer that depression is a physical issue that has mental repercussions, a bit like how your computer hardware can be faulty but all you see is programs crashing and you blame the software not the hardware for your ills!

So this guy went all introverted and sad, much like his family back home biting their nails every day praying he made it through? He did pull through and finished his descent, and may that be a lesson to all of us who wonder if it is worth buying a canoe! Save your money and spend your money on Prozac.

And getting back to the original inspiration for this meandering thought trip. Am I the only one who thinks Tyra is a big big girl these days? She has a strong mind, so maybe she should head for the North Pole and work out on The Arctic's Next Top Model, with a daily sled pull, feasting between shoots on Eskimo food.

Enjoy the content.

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