Former Fat Celebrities
Dear FFGs and Future FFGs--
So maybe you have been reading the news about Kirstie Alley quitting (or getting fired from?) Jenny Craig. You know the backstory: Kirstie, who had a show called Fat Actress (never saw it), signed on as the JC spokesmodel in an effort to lose weight. I think she lost something like 70 pounds (same as me), and flaunted it on Oprah in a bikini.
Now there are reports that she's quitting Jenny to start her own weight loss thing. Or if you believe the National Enquirer, which I noticed (how can you not?) at the checkout lane in the grocery store Sunday, she was fired for gaining the weight back. In true NE style, they had a horribly unflattering photo of her on the cover of their "expose" story.
Who knows if it's an old photo, a new photo, whatever? And who, in fact, really CARES?
Sure, Kirstie put herself out there, and it was a great professional move for her. It kept people talking about her for a good long while (3 years?). It also really did get her to lose the weight she wanted to lose, and hopefully come away with some sense of what works for her and what doesn't weight loss-wise. Maybe she did/will gain the weight back, or at least some of it. Jenny is, after all, one of those plans that has you eating "unreal" food in an "unreal" world. So when you stop ... when you start going to parties, or eating out, or traveling, or just trying to live like the rest of us do surrounded by all kinds of temptation, how do you cope?
I have no idea if Kirstie exercises, if she has mantras, if she has any ways of mentally coping beyond the sort of forced portion control that is at the heart of the Jenny plan. I hope she does. One powerful stimulus is the fact that she so very publicly lost the weight--so hopefully, that will help her keep it off too. I have to say that I have joked to people that there's nothing like the pressure of "coming out" as a Former Fat Girl to keep you on a weight loss plan.
But even if she does gain it all back, as I did so many times along my journey, it's not wasted effort. I know it is hard to believe when you're in it, but I know that with every attempt to lose the weight, get healthy, start exercising--success or non-success (i will not use the f-word!)--I learned something about myself. What made it harder, what made it easier, which foods I could live without, which fitness routines I absolutely couldn't stand. And all of that knowledge helped me, in the end, become an FFG.
I have blogged a bit before about forgiveness, about our need to give ourselves a break when we don't meet our goals. If we truly believe this is a journey, a process, that should make it easier to look at our stumbles as lessons that will make us stronger and smarter when we wake up tomorrow. Know that I still struggle with this, too, in all aspects of my life. I struggle to get past every less-than-perfect moment in my life ... every lapse of memory (yesterday, I forgot to fill Johnny's water bottle to take to school), every slip of the tongue (so, I called a new colleague Darrel instead of Darin on the phone ... so what?), every inadequacy (too many examples to mention here). Every extra slice of pizza ... sneaky bite of chocolate ... fingerful of icing. It's almost a physical process to shut out the urge to dwell, overanalyze, relive these little moments. Sometimes, I visualize myself pushing closed the door to a huge vault, shutting myself off from those super-self-critical thoughts. It's another INO moment: It's Not an Option to obsess.
Anyway, that's what I'm thinking about today.
Lisa D
So maybe you have been reading the news about Kirstie Alley quitting (or getting fired from?) Jenny Craig. You know the backstory: Kirstie, who had a show called Fat Actress (never saw it), signed on as the JC spokesmodel in an effort to lose weight. I think she lost something like 70 pounds (same as me), and flaunted it on Oprah in a bikini.
Now there are reports that she's quitting Jenny to start her own weight loss thing. Or if you believe the National Enquirer, which I noticed (how can you not?) at the checkout lane in the grocery store Sunday, she was fired for gaining the weight back. In true NE style, they had a horribly unflattering photo of her on the cover of their "expose" story.
Who knows if it's an old photo, a new photo, whatever? And who, in fact, really CARES?
Sure, Kirstie put herself out there, and it was a great professional move for her. It kept people talking about her for a good long while (3 years?). It also really did get her to lose the weight she wanted to lose, and hopefully come away with some sense of what works for her and what doesn't weight loss-wise. Maybe she did/will gain the weight back, or at least some of it. Jenny is, after all, one of those plans that has you eating "unreal" food in an "unreal" world. So when you stop ... when you start going to parties, or eating out, or traveling, or just trying to live like the rest of us do surrounded by all kinds of temptation, how do you cope?
I have no idea if Kirstie exercises, if she has mantras, if she has any ways of mentally coping beyond the sort of forced portion control that is at the heart of the Jenny plan. I hope she does. One powerful stimulus is the fact that she so very publicly lost the weight--so hopefully, that will help her keep it off too. I have to say that I have joked to people that there's nothing like the pressure of "coming out" as a Former Fat Girl to keep you on a weight loss plan.
But even if she does gain it all back, as I did so many times along my journey, it's not wasted effort. I know it is hard to believe when you're in it, but I know that with every attempt to lose the weight, get healthy, start exercising--success or non-success (i will not use the f-word!)--I learned something about myself. What made it harder, what made it easier, which foods I could live without, which fitness routines I absolutely couldn't stand. And all of that knowledge helped me, in the end, become an FFG.
I have blogged a bit before about forgiveness, about our need to give ourselves a break when we don't meet our goals. If we truly believe this is a journey, a process, that should make it easier to look at our stumbles as lessons that will make us stronger and smarter when we wake up tomorrow. Know that I still struggle with this, too, in all aspects of my life. I struggle to get past every less-than-perfect moment in my life ... every lapse of memory (yesterday, I forgot to fill Johnny's water bottle to take to school), every slip of the tongue (so, I called a new colleague Darrel instead of Darin on the phone ... so what?), every inadequacy (too many examples to mention here). Every extra slice of pizza ... sneaky bite of chocolate ... fingerful of icing. It's almost a physical process to shut out the urge to dwell, overanalyze, relive these little moments. Sometimes, I visualize myself pushing closed the door to a huge vault, shutting myself off from those super-self-critical thoughts. It's another INO moment: It's Not an Option to obsess.
Anyway, that's what I'm thinking about today.
Lisa D
posted by Lisa Delaney at
7:41 AM
6 Comments:
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I think Oprah is also another celebrity with weight problems. I saw a documentary about her where she talks about her weight issues. She yo-yo dieted MAJORLY back in the day. It was very interesting because she said that if she was to find an easier way of losing weight she would have. And why not- she’s not short of cash! She went on to saying there is no easier way. Healthy eating and exercise is the only mantra. But I do believe that a lot of us think about this way of life as negative. We need to focus on the fun part of working out and eating healthy. The great side effects of an healthy life style out does the fatty foods, emotional eating patterns, and every thing else. In my opinion- Jenny Craig is not an option! ;) I rather look up fun recipes online- there are tons of good healthy stuff that we can cook. It’s so much fun experimenting in the kitchen!
Btw Lisa, I have “It’s not an option” as my screen saver!
I think you're right, Lisa -- every time we go through the "lose it, gain it, lose it" cycle, we can learn something IF we keep trying. One of my favorite quotes (and I can never remember where I heard it!) is "Failure isn't 'failure' until you stop trying". :-?
We can look at our re-gaining as either a stumbling block, or a stepping stone.
For me, in my own journey, I *was* a FFG, 3 years ago, but then went back to being a FG. ;o) But, I know I've learned a lot in the last 3 years ... and I'm still learning! So, I'm not giving up! I'll be a FFG again (and STAY there!) eventually. ;)
PS...I really appreciate your realistic look at all of this. Your book was awesome, and I've been recommending it to a lot of people! ;) Thanks!
I think a lot of us imagine losing weight to be like climbing down a ladder -- one pound lost, one rung down, a second pound lost, another rung down -- and if you're "good" you just keep going straight down la la la until you reach your goal at the bottom. But in my experience, losing weight is more like a spiral staircase -- I'm working hard and it seems like I should be making more progress, but it's slow and I keep feeling like I've been in the same spot for a long time. Then every once in a while I look up and realize I *am* in a different place, that I *have* made progress. But I've had to adjust my expectations, to stop expecting the fast straight ladder and to accept the slow spiral staircase instead, because I really am making progress, even if it feels like I'm just going in circles.
I just want to echo what you said about going through weight loss cycles and how it is not a waste. Each time I have gone through a new "health" cycle - whatever that has been - eating plan, exercise regimen, etc. Even when I haven't stuck with the whole thing I always come away with at least a couple new good habits that stick with me. Some that have never gone away are drinking lots of water, stretching in the mornings, and taking the stairs whenever possible (or walking rather than taking the bus for that matter). In this way, each round helps towards a more healthier lifestyle overall. You are right that it certainly isn't all or nothing.
I know a lot of people who've had great success with Jenny Craig. I haven't personally tried them myself but when you can get a generalization of what every main-stream diet requires of you (via the Internet) you really just learn that portion control, eating 3-5 small meals a day and exercise are all you need.
Everyone slips up at some point, it's human nature to revert back to the ways of comfort food when you're going through a difficult time. There's no reason to dwell on it though, I'm not sure why so many people do.
I'm proud of Kirstie for being able to lose the weight, she was honestly the reason why I started my diet - oddly enough. I'm not disapointed in her for gaining some (or all) of it back because everyone knows that she worked hard to get to where she was. She didn't want to be a fat actress anymore, and I didn't want to be a fat bride or even a fat mother for that matter, so my life with my fiance has everything to do with my weight-loss. It's not 100% though, it's also the sale of self-esteem and just generally feeling good about myself.
She may have gained something back but as long as she's happy with who she is NOW, I think that's all that really matters.
In my humble opinion of course.
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