You probably already knew this, but you really shouldn't feel bad about yourself when you watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which tapes in New York on Wednesday and airs on network television at the end of the month (after Thanksgiving, kindly). Adriana Lima, veteran "angel," who wore the diamond bra in last year's show and will walk again this year, has spoken quite frankly about the work she puts into her diet and fitness regime to attain the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show physique that allegedly defines what the world perceives as the hottest–sexiest–most beautiful female form. Last year before the show, she told us that six weeks beforehand, she adopts a very strict diet consisting of almost no carbs or fat, and works out for two hours a day. This year, she makes that regime sound a bit more intense in the Telegraph.

Lima's daily Victoria's Secret workouts began in August, and she increased those sessions with her personal trainer to twice a day three weeks ago. (The "really intense" exercises consist of jumping rope, boxing, and lifting weights, she says.) And the diet?

If that sounds difficult, to say the least, the stylist for the show prefers to qualify the routine in terms of athletic pursuits, as casting and model agents often do.

So it’s not the same as long-distance running in the least, though the regime may be as intense as what professional athletes go through. Yet unlike many female athletes, the resulting figure, without all those “lumps and bumps,” becomes the ultimate standard of beauty. The Victoria's Secret model's athletic pursuit, unlike a professional athlete, is only the appearance. So don't worry about why you don't look like them, or how you can. You probably didn't beat yourself up for not winning the New York City Marathon yesterday, after all.