Secrets of a Former Fat Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:15:00 +0000

Perfectly Healthy vs. Pretty Healthy

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:43:00 +0000

Hey, FFGs!

I just blogged (on the Spryliving.com site) about this new book about getting off the perfection train and making our goal to be "pretty healthy" instead. I love this idea! Totally in line with what I so annoyingly preach about getting rid of that all-or-nothing thinking and all that. Read my post here!

Remember ... INO!!

Lisa D

Women's Wellness Weekend in Nashville!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:33:00 +0000

Hi, FFGs and Future FFGs!!

Join me at the Women's Wellness Weekend in Nashville, February 26 and 27! I'll be giving the keynote address Saturday morning and will hang around all day to sign books and chat. Hope to see you there! Check out this cool video invitation, and pass it around!

Lisa D

The Numbers Game

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

So I think you might know (from my annoying attempts to promote it) that I have an email newsletter that comes out every other week. (And if you don't ... and want to subscribe ... here's how/where!)

Last week, I wrote a particularly insightful missive about finding your healthy weight. The gist of it was that experts say you only have to lose 5-10 percent of your current weight to make a huge difference in your health ... cholesterol numbers, blood pressure, blood sugar, all that. And that maybe, as we in the media celebrate people who have managed to lose half their weight or more (aka The Biggest Loser types), we are discouraging people because they think they have to live a boot-camp existence just to get healthy.

(It read much better than this summary, I promise.)

Why am I telling you all this? Well, after the newsletter went out, I got an email from the CEO of my company. The Big Cheese. I don't hear from him much so as soon as I saw his name pop up, I clicked. As all good managers do, he started with some nice comment about the newsletter. And then the dreaded BUT. It turns out that I had written ... in BOLD type, no less ... that you "only" have to lose 50 to 10 percent of your current weight to make a huge difference in your health. That sneaky little zero ... damn it! How did it get in there, and how did I miss it? My boss was OK (or so he said) ... just pointing it out. And luckily I had written it correctly two other times in the piece. But I am STILL red-faced over that one. Mortified. Struggling to move on.

See, if you've read my book, you know I'm a huge perfectionist, and think that perfectionism is one of the unrecognized reasons why Fat Girls are Fat Girls. We abandon entire exercise plans because we miss one day. We will eat an entire box of cookies because we give in to our cravings and eat just one. And some of us, like me, shy away from challenges, afraid to make a rookie mistake.

Now that I've worked through my journey, I am much less likely to allow perfectionism get the best of me, especially when it comes to eating, exercising, and staying healthy. It's the other stuff, though, that I struggle with more: Owning my mistakes at work. Opening myself to criticism without spiraling into self-loathing. My tendency is still to wallow in my own inadequacies, to think that I'm never enough. But this whole FFG journey has given me many of the tools I need to combat that, to forgive myself whether it's for a typo or cookie binge, and move on.

I didn't get a chance to send out a correction--our web administrator thought it would confuse the thousands of email newsletter subscribers on our list. I wanted to. I wanted to own up to my mistakes, to admit that I'm not perfect, because as I see it, that's part of my program. So I'm confessing here (good Catholic that I am). Owning it. And moving on.

Lisa D

Get Inspired!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:21:00 +0000

I am SO excited about this event I'm doing at Studio B, a completely cool/beautiful place in Florida. It's the perfect time to grab a girlfriend, get in the car, and roadtrip away for a weekend just for you ... to explore your creativity, to shake you out of your routine, and to learn a little something about how enjoyable healthy food can be. Please come! I'm counting on a good representation of FFGs!

Lisa D

Dueling Blogs!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:27:00 +0000

Hi, FFGs!

It's National Yoga Month, and I've decided to try doing yoga every day for the month of September. Follow along as I downward dog my way through copious classes, DVD sessions, and my own personal poses this month. I'm blogging about it on my other site, spryliving.com.

Join me on the 30-day Yoga Challenge!

Lisa D

Inspiration is EVERYWHERE!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:56:00 +0000

Hi, all--

Today is the deadline for Spry magazine's Inspiration Awards (details here). We're choosing three people for a weekend in Florida and an opportunity to share their stories in the December issue of Spry. I want the judges' decision to be as tough as possible!!! Already, we have a ton of great stories, but don't let that keep you from nominating someone in your life.

I am a big believer that there are opportunities to be inspired every day, as long as our antennae are tuned into them. For instance--on my route home from work, I drive by a house where just about every day, there's a woman walking with headphones on, up and down the slope of her driveway. Now, you may think that sounds crazy, sort of OCD, borderline psycho. If this woman was a stick figure, I would totally worry. I look at her and think ... well maybe she's got kids in the house and can't leave them for a walk around the neighborhood, or perhaps dinner's in the oven, or maybe she's just intimidated by the whole idea of walking in a neighborhood without sidewalks (understandably especially here in Nashville, one of the deadliest cities for pedestrians in the country). And really, what's the difference between doing that and walking on a treadmill? I would argue that she's at least outside, breathing fresh air, getting some sunlight on her soul. Anyway, sights like that inspire me, because she is obviously committed enough not to care what passersby like me think. Her commitment makes me more committed, every day, to move more, eat well, share a smile, strive to be kind and gentle to myself as well as others.

Are there moments like this in your life? I bet there are ... you just have to look.

Lisa D

How to Beat a Summer Workout Slump

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:16:00 +0000

As the Wicked Witch of the West famously said, "I'm mmmelllltiiiinnnggg!" According to my car (a very credible source), it was 107 outside at noon today--not exactly conducive to a lunchtime walk around the office park, eh?

I always seem to slip into a fitness slump in July and August, when the heat and humidity are at their peak. And I'm not the only one: My very unscientific poll of friends, acquaintances and readers confirms that this is the most challenging season to stay fit. How do you resist the temptation to curl up on the couch with a pint of Ben & Jerry's and the AC on full blast? Here are some of my favorite tactics.

--Become a mall-walker. Hey, who says mall-walking is just for the senior set? Get thee to the Galleria, lace up thy trainers and take some laps. If you're lucky and the crowds are elsewhere, you can even try doing some intervals: Pick a landmark (Banana Republic?) and pick up your pace till you reach it; slow down to recover, then repeat. Just resist the urge to pull out the plastic and take advantage of the inevitable closeout sales. Note to runners: Better stick to walking--you could raise the suspicions of the ever-vigilant Mall Cop if you break into a trot.

--Walk your office building. I once worked in the perfect building for this: Each floor was a square with an open area-atrium in the middle. I would take the stairs up one floor, walk a lap, climb another flight to the next and walk another lap, and so on. A 150-pound person burns about 270 calories walking up stairs ... not too shabby.

--Become a morning person. Around these parts, it can still be 80 degrees at 6 a.m., but at least it's not in the 100s. Talk a friend into meeting you for an early morning walk, run or outdoor fitness session. Even though there's some short-term pain, you'll feel better about yourself afterward. More tips on becoming a morning exerciser.

--Move your workout to the water. And I don't just mean swimming laps and water aerobics (although give it a try if you haven't already). Working out in the water is amazingly hard, because you're working against constant resistance. But because you're in the drink, you stay cooler, so it doesn't feel as difficult. You can do just about anything in the water that you can do on land: jumping jacks, kick boxing, biceps curls (with or without floating dumbbells). I did water running to stay fit when I was pregnant--I simply "ran" laps in the pool rather than swimming them. You can even take one of those foam "noodles," mount it, and pedal like a bike to work your lower body.

--Explore the gym. I love being outdoors too, but maybe this is the time to check out a new class at the health club. Zumba? Gyrotonics? Belly dancing? Hula-hooping? Sure sounds like more fun than slogging around a steamy track.

--Drink, drink, drink! Keep a glass of water with you at all times! I start the day by downing two 8-oz glasses back-to-back while standing by the water cooler at work. It's not easy, but at least I get a jump on my water consumption.

See you at the mall ... I'll be the one looking longingly at the Cinnabons ...

Lisa D

OMG, It Worked!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:50:00 +0000

And as promised, I am BACK!!!! (As if you all have been checking the site obsessively for posts!)

Heavy on my mind right now are the Spry Inspiration Awards ... Spry is the magazine I edit, a little health and wellness publication with a huge readership (we go to more than 9 million households via community newspapers). We're taking nominations for our awards ... I'm hoping to feature women (and/or men) who are inspiring others to live healthfully and happily. I believe there is inspiration all around us--mostly because I marvel every time I check the guest book here on the site and see evidence that my story is touching people around the country (er, world?). It's testament to the power of ONE person to affect change. I am hoping that through the Inspiration Awards we can honor other change agents ... whether they are active in a charity, have overcome a health issue or other type of setback with amazing aplomb, are inspiring others through their work, etc.

Nominate away! The deadline is August 31, quickly approaching. More details here.

I love you all, FFGs!
Lisa D

Testing 1, 2, 3

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:39:00 +0000

In addition to being a total blog slacker, I have been having technical difficulties over the last several months with this blog ... I'm posting this non-post to see if it actually works! If it does, I will be back to blogging soon ...

Lisa D

Not Exactly Run of the Mill

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:33:00 +0000

My inbox (e and snail) is full of all kinds of stuff--the latest products ... new diet books ... you name it. It never fails--people are always trying to figure out creative ways to get the general public off its collective duff. Case in point: the Aquabilt underwater treadmill. For a mere $1,299 (and FREE SHIPPING!), proud pool-owners can purchase this revolutionary gadget for water runners. Now--I did water-running when I was pregnant with my son, after I decided that, at 7 months in, I was done with the treadmill and trail. But I didn't have a treadmill to do it on--I simply ran the length of the pool, treading water in the deep end. It's a great work out ... but ... do you NEED to blow big bucks for a treadmill? I think not.

Also in the file right now is the treadmill desk. Yes, it's a way to work (as in, at a job) while you work out. Or the other way around. Now, I love multitasking, and preach getting the most activity you can in your day. And we have talked about somehow setting up my old treadmill in an empty cube here, so we could take walking breaks. But ... again ... there are better things I can do with $4,000. Like, um, pay my mortgage for three months.

What do you guys think of these gadgets? Am I the only one who doesn't get it?

Lisa D

Hello, Again!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:21:00 +0000

Hey, FFGs and Future FFGs!

Welcome to all of you who read my essay in the May issue of Runners' World. I have heard from so many runners, beginning runners, wannabe runners since the issue came out. And running has been on my mind (and feet) a lot lately. Several friends just ran or ran/walked the Nashville Marathon and Half Marathon a couple of weeks ago. I didn't do it because I was closing on my house--yes, it finally sold!--in Birmingham! But I was thinking about all of them as it was in the 80s that day. Scary-hot for a marathon, let me tell you. But everyone I talked to did OK, paced themselves, and got through. Which I guess is a good lesson for all of us. When you're trying to stay healthy and fit, you can't just be a fair-weather exerciser. Heat, cold, rain (wait a minute, isn't that that the mailman's mantra?) ... you've got to find a way to get moving. I think about first snowstorm after I moved from balmy humid Texas to Allentown, PA. It started coming down thick in the early afternoon, so our bosses let us go early. My office mate at the time was big into cross-country skiing, which I had never done and was dying to try. She was heading to the hilly park near her house to for her first x-country session of the season. So what do I do? Head home and snuggle up with a vat of hot chocolate and the remote? No way. I practically four-wheel it to a sporting goods store to buy a beginner x-country ski package. They were about to lock the place up and head out (probably for their own impromptu ski sessions!) when I showed up. We skiied until it was too dark to ski--and THEN snuggled with our mugs of cocoa.

That's part of what I mean when I talk about embracing the adventure of healthy living ... making the commitment to living a life full of activity (body AND mind), and adjusting our expectations and plans along the way. Sometimes it isn't easy. Sometimes it isn't all that fun. But I always find that it's worth it afterwards, feeling like you've conquered the elements, like you've made it work (to quote the great Tim Gunn).

Share your stories about coping with bad weather, dashed plans, making it work in general!

Lisa D

We Are What We DO

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:31:00 +0000

Hi--

One of the so-called problems with being a magazine editor is all the reading you have to do. I've got stacks and stacks of books, just waiting for me to get through ... on top of the three newspapers, numerous monthly magazines and many websites I check out daily. I say this is a "so-called" problem because it's not really a problem at all ... reading is one of my favorite favorite things to do. My appetite for reading always rivaled my appetite for food ... and thankfully, reading is a no-cal activity!

Anyway, I have finally gotten to a book called Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart, by a psychiatrist named Gordon Livingston. I think it came out in hardback a couple of years ago, and was issued in paperback this summer. I have to admit right here ... I'm not a huge fan of self-help books. I like stories with messages, sure, but out of context advice? Not so much. Maybe that's why I wrote my book the way I did ... I felt like who would listen to my advice without knowing my story, where I'm coming from?

But I have found some nuggets in this book that resonate. One especially: We Are What We DO. Dr. Livingston (I presume! Sorry, couldn't resist) basically says that at the end of the day, our intentions, our justifications, our excuses, our words don't matter--our actions are what make us who we are.

As someone who walks around with a head full of ideas, only a fraction of which are ever executed, this hit me hard. It's not like I didn't know it before I read that passage, but the reminder came at a good time, I suppose. For instance, I think about this blog all the time ... but you all (if there is anyone out there!) know how rarely I post. YOU don't know that I think about blogging, that I actually compose posts in my head that never make it to the page. Just like my sister doesn't know that I have a card sitting here, waiting to be addressed, congratulating her on being pregnant with her third child. Nor does my friend Kim know that I've been thinking about emailing her to tell her where I am now since I've moved.

What is stopping me from following through? My son's homework, the housework, my workouts, my job, Project Runway, all those books and newspapers I read, I guess. It's not that I'm beating myself up about all this ... the book has just caused me to take stock, to look at WHAT GETS ON THE PAGE, and figure out from that if I am acting, in reality, as the person I want to be. If I am expressing what is inside.

I think not.

So ... what will I do with all this? I will DO. I will stop cogitating so much, and DO. Yes, I have a full life, and this doesn't mean I will be blogging every five minutes, or every day even. But I will try to DO more, all around. I will try to THINK, THEN DO, instead of THINK, THEN DELAY. Because time's a-wastin'.

Thanks for listening.

Lisa D

The Flip Side

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:05:00 +0000

Hi, all--

I just returned from a short long weekend (you know what I mean ... they're always shorter than you want them to be!) at our house in Bham. My son was down at my inlaws, so my husband and I had some nice adult time in a REAL home ... not that temporary space in Nashville. Although according to my feng shui expert friend Ellen Whitehurst, to finally sell our house I need to let go, and start thinking of it as "that living space." Hey, I'll try anything.

So we spent the weekend in that living space in Bham. And during that time, I got to talk to my mother-in-law, who was recently diagnosed as pre-diabetic. Now, the woman has been through a lot--she had breast cancer several years ago and is doing well, thank goodness. But I think she is having a really hard time dealing with the idea that she isn't as strong as she used to be. And I can certainly get that. And she has always (or since I've known her) been on the heavy side, and has at various times asked me for help. She had started walking and kept it up for a while, but quit. And now this. She was so depressed this weekend, feeling nauseated and sounding really tired and discouraged. So I am trying to help--sending her cookbooks, offering her suggestions, giving her my rah rah speech. It just so happens that I am working with a really great writer named Jon Katz on an essay about HIS diabetes problem, which, at age 60, he kicked by exercising and learning how to eat. I love Jon's take (I won't reveal much because the piece will be in the November issue of Spry). He was actually in a pretty dark place emotionally when he got the diagnosis ... but he saw it as an opportunity. It's almost as if, he says, he needed this excuse to finally get off his butt and start doing right by his body, and so he did.

I love that--I love that he just jumped on it and took charge of his own health. But as someone whose purpose in life and career is to help others find their way to good health, there's still the question: how do you get someone to flip that switch? To go from OH, NO! to OH, YES! I went through it myself ... hit my own bottom (well, you know what I mean!) and I can't get you there. I think the answer for me, anyway, is to continue to find and tell the stories of people who have turned it around, in the hopes that maybe reading those stories--mine, Jon's ... my mother-in-law's (thinking positively here)--will help someone, anyone, turn it around.

And, again, I am always looking for stories. It's amazing how many successes there are, if you only look for them. Drop me a note at lisa@formerfatgirl.com if you have one to share!

Salude!

Lisa D

The Pepper Principle

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:04:00 +0000

Hey, all you FFGs and Future FFGS!

First, a word from our sponsors:

I just put a little note on the home page about my appearance on Samantha Heller's Sirius Radio show on Doctor Radio tomorrow (Friday!) from 1-2 EST. If you have a Sirius subscription and want to hear me blather on ... please listen in! Also, you'll be able to call in and/or email questions. The phone # (NOT A TOLL-FREE, SO USE YOUR UNLIMITED MINUTES!) is 1-877-698-3627; email is docs@sirius-radio.com.

Just kidding ... I don't have any sponsors. Unfortunately. If I had sponsors, maybe I could just blog all day and not have to actually work ... because this is not really work for me. Too much fun to be work.

Anyway ... I have been working lately on something I call "The Pepper Principle." As you faithful blog readers know, I have been in major transition for a while now ... and as you may not know, I haven't been handling it very well. One of the reasons I have been so absent from the blog is that I've given in to that old perfectionist's flaw ... the whole thing about hiding when you're not at your best. I can't be the perfect friend, perfect employee, perfect blogger? Well, then, I'm just going to disappear. Not sure if this is just something I do or if you guys can relate. But there it is.

I have been worried about EVERYTHING. Questioning EVERYTHING. What if it wasn't right to move my family to Nashville? What if my magazine isn't everything I want it to be (or at least doesn't suck?)? What if my husband isn't happy here? What if my son hates his new school? What if my dog misses her back yard? What if Michael Phelps doesn't win gold tonight?

This isn't typical of me, really. I have moved several times in my life, but never with a family. I guess I feel like the stakes have never been higher, and that's made me even more likely to obsess about everything.

But I have been working to quiet my mind, quiet those doubts and questions that are keeping me up at night and threatening to make this time ... what should be the best time of my life ... miserable.

You know that whole thing about being "in the moment"? I have never really understood how to get there or even what that means, until lately. But I was reading a book by my friend Ali Domar, "How to be Happy Without Being Perfect," and came across this little thing about of all things, a dog. She makes the point that dogs are the perfect (! there's that word) example of being in the moment. They don't worry about what they're having for dinner, whether they're going to get to work out today, how they might have screwed up a conversation yesterday. No. They are just sitting there, taking in life, their little eyes sucking up the scene in front of them.

I thought that was interesting. And then a couple of days later, I looked at my cute little Pepper (check out her mug, above), sitting on a chair in our APARTMENT, just staring out into space. And I actually said out loud, "I wonder what she's thinking." and then I realized: SHE IS NOT THINKING ABOUT ANYTHING. There is no running commentary in her head. She's not running down the list of what she should be doing today, tonight, tomorrow, yesterday, next month, last year. She is just sitting. Waiting for the next thing. Not judging every moment as good, bad, and spinning out to the next.

And I thought, I want to be like that. I want to stop letting my expectations of this life get in the way of actually living.

That, my FFG friends, is the Pepper Principle. Whenever I start spinning, ruminating, worst-case-scenarioing, I think about Pepper's eyes. That kind of blank stare behind which there's no complicated set of machinery, twisting and turning forward and behind in time. And it's really been helping me, I have to say. Helping me move on when I screw up. Helping me not to lie awake, thinking of all the to-dos.

Anyway ... I would love to hear if you connect with this at all, or if it's just me. And if it's just me, well ... that's ok.

Thanks for reading!

Lisa D

Hi from the Land of I Don't Know!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:14:00 +0000

I apologize for my unexplained absences, my impromptu hiatus, my complete and utter disappearing act for the last several months (I can't bear to look at the date of my last post for fear I will drown in the waves of guilt that I'm just barely surfing on right now). Anyway ... I want to hear all about what's up with you. But I will start with what's up with me ... as usual ... and hope that the one or two of you still out there will drop me a comment.

To keep from going on and on, I'm going to do this in a list.

The Top 10 Things I Did (and Did Not Do) on My Summer Vacation

1. I did not have a summer vacation.
2. I uprooted my family and moved them ... with the bare minimum possessions (flat-screen TV, running shoes, assorted Transformers and various other pieces of molded plastic that pass for toys for Johnny, an IPod shuffle loaded with my husband's favorite Johnny Cash tunes) ... into an APARTMENT in Nashville. I have not lived in an apartment in 25 years. Nothing against apartments, but I feel like I'm in an alternate universe.
3. I did not sell my house in Birmingham (yet), a major source of consternation.
4. I rediscovered how much I love cycling thanks to the parks and the Natchez Trace near my APARTMENT.
5. I put out the first issue ... a sneak preview mini version ... of my new magazine, Spry. And I am in the process, right now, of putting out the REAL first issue, which will be published the second week of September.
6. I realized that all that fear I've been working so hard to banish--that self-doubt, that perfectionism, that all-or-nothing thinking--was just waiting here, under the surface, for the smallest opening to emerge. And that it has the potential of undoing this dream ... the dream of having my own magazine, of making the most of a platform where I can spread the message of positive, inspirational healthy living to 9 million people (!). BUT ONLY IF I LET IT.
7. I got lost going to and from work almost every day for three weeks after I moved to Nashville. (And still do, some days.)
8. I re-experienced the power of It's Not an Option. As in ... INO to give up and go home, to Bham. INO to let my perfectionism close my mind to input and criticism. INO to not speak my mind when I need to, seek clarity when things are fuzzy, push the issue, ask questions, risk looking like the fool or the bitch or the trouble-maker.
9. I reconnected with my husband. This move has not been easy, no, but it is bringing us together in a way that we really needed. We're talking more than ever, cooperating more than ever. We're more of a team than we have been in a long time.
10. I figured out how important friends are in my life ... my "running friends" in Birmingham, in particular. I miss my little group so much ... even though I was barely coherent during our 5 a.m. runs, they were always there for me, a great sounding board. I am not the easiest person to get close to ... I am always holding a piece of myself back--a bigger piece with some people than with others. So it is not easy for me to replace friends. All I can do now is be myself, let my true self shine, with all of its flaws and imperfections, and see what (and who) that brings to me.

So ... that's what's up with me. The short version, anyway.

I do want you to know that I am launching Spryliving.com, a companion site to Spry magazine. It is up and running in betaish form right now. I would LOVE it if my FFG friends would follow me there. One of the things I'm trying to do with Spry is help people achieve good health for a good life--health, as you all surely know, is not an end in itself. It's what allows us to reach for what we really want in life--it's the platform from which we can spring forward, take a leap of faith, and chase the dreams that we've always had inside.

On the site, we're launching something called the Dream It, Do It Diary. Here's the idea: You sign up, and choose a dream: have you always wanted to play guitar? Do ballet? Take a trip to the Andes? Walk a 5K? Lose a bit of weight? Anyway, choose from the menu of dream categories, and you'll have your own little diary on the site. You'll be able to update daily (if not more often) and get comments from others who share your dream.

I'm counting on you guys to make the Dream It Do It Diary break all kinds of traffic records!

I promise I will post soon ... see you on Spryliving.com.

Lisa D

Wish You Were Here

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:59:00 +0000

Hi, everyone!

I am writing from deep in the heart of I Don't Know, on the precipice of The Scary Thing, somewhere east-northeast of Reinvention. It isn't my first time here, but it's been a while.

It's also been a while since I have written. You know, it's hard for me to admit this ... as much as I preach against perfection and for reality, I still tend to hide when I'm out of sorts ... or sorting out. It's like I know that I Don't Know is where I need to be ... I am just still afraid of not seeming so damn SURE of myself all of the time. Even to you, my FFG friends.

Anyway, I want to tell you first that reading the guest book brings tears to my eyes. It astonishes me every day that more and more women are claiming what is rightly theirs ... their health, their time, their bodies, their power and confidence ... and that I might have something to do with it. Little ordinary me. It shows me every day that massive change is possible, even on a grand scale, if we just take some chances. Because (like I said in the book)--if I can do it, anyone can.

I am rambling a bit (so what's new?), but I just can't tell you how much your posts mean to me ... that I am somehow making a difference. I am hearing your stories of real change, and am so grateful for them.

Back to the point already!

So ... the actual, physical locale I'm writing from is Nashville Tennessee, soon to be my new home. I am moving here to be editor of a new magazine called Spry ... that's launching in September.

Spry is a monthly magazine distributed in newspapers to 9 million people! That's the same number of copies of Elvis's Christmas Album ever sold, and tops Michael Jackson's Bad by a rather embarrassing million!

So what the heck is Spry about? Living every day better than the last. Seeing life ... and age ... as an opportunity, an adventure (not as an endurance race). It's about the glass-half-full, the new door opening, the next phase of our lives where we have the confidence, the power and the wherewithal to explore new things, to reach new goals ... to live the life we have always wanted.

Yes, it's about health and wellness and fitness and nutrition and all that, mostly for women ages 35-64 (but hey, I know you youngsters and "maturesters" will love it too!). But it's also about inspiration ... being inspired to take healthier actions in your life, and reading inspiring stories about women who are achieving, bouncing back, taking risks ... and helping others to do so.

For me, it's a chance to create my own thing from scratch and to reach a bigger platform than I ever have before. I am so excited about it ... but it is a huge risk and responsibility. Selling a house (have you HEARD about the current real estate market?). Starting a magazine. Moving a family (son, husband, dog). Moving away from family (my inlaws). No one ever said I had perfect timing.

But this IS the year of I Don't Know, right? I am trying to remember that, as wonder where we will be for the summer ... when Johnny is out of school ...

Anyway, I wanted to let you all know about my new thing. I promise I won't abandon you ... and I'm hoping I'm more connected than I have been over the last several months.

Also, I am looking for stories about women who are what you think of as Spry: someone who has reached a life goal (like ... losing weight? hint, hint), someone who has conquered a health issue, or started a charity, or just looks damn great for her age (and makes us all wonder how she does it!). Tell me about all the Spry women in your life (or maybe it's you!)!

Love you, all of you wonderful friends--

Lisa D

The Scary Thing!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:29:00 +0000

Hi, FFGs and Future FFGs--

I have been neglecting you. You know, I think as much as I vow to blog shorter and more often, this is what it is and I am what I am: not a short/sweet/frequent blogger. Believe me, I think about it ... and you ... all the time. The solution may be to do a vlog or an audio blog, because by god, I could talk your ears off about all things FFG. (The only danger: that you would get sick of me. I am a firm believer in the "absence makes the heart grow fonder" aka law of supply and demand thing.)

I have a million things on my mind, but I have to make a choice. So here it is.

I have to say I am sucked in to "Dancing With the Stars." (Please, please don't click that little red box with the X in it ... yet, anyway!) I do think of myself as somewhat hip and cool for my age, but I know this puts that illusion in major jeopardy. But who can resist watching such an odd, disparate group of people do ANYTHING, let alone cha cha, rhumba, crunk (the hip-hop version of the Viennese Walz), and tango. This season is an embarrassment of riches in that respect. I mean, Priscilla Presley and the guy from Police Academy? How strange can you get?

Part of the attraction could be that I, in fact, love dancing. I actually took ballroom dance classes in the early 90s (I was firmly rooted in the un-comfort zone!). My partner was a guy who now has a talk show on Fox News ... I won't tell who because he may skewer me on air! We were co-workers, and I had a little crush on him. NOT because he was any good at dancing, mind you. He had completely no rhythm whatsoever.

I also dabbled in something called contra dance, and used to go to swing dances in Philly with a girlfriend of mine. That was totally fun. Then, soon after I moved to Birmingham, I was at a festival hosted by the magazine I was working for at the time. We had hired a Cajun band for entertainment, and a cute guy asked me to dance. That cute guy is now Mr. FFG. And no, we don't dance much any more but I am lobbying for it!

Anyway ... back to Dancing With the Stars. So the other night, the audience voted out Adam Carolla, a comedian who I have to say I don't really find all that funny. He didn't do much to endear himself to the audience, either, especially when he called the female judge the "b" word on live tv (hey, hey--this is a family show!).

And, he was about as graceful as Herman Munster on the dance floor. I don't deny anyone the right to get out and dance, even if they stink at it. I, as you know, am ALL ABOUT trying ... and fight a daily battle against the perfectionism that threatens to keep me, and all FFGs and Future FFGs, frozen in fear. But the rules of the game say somebody has to go, and last night, that was Adam.

Why am I blathering on about this? Here's the point. This guy said something at the end of the show, his final words before he left the ballroom forever, that really stuck with me. It was pure FFG. He looked at the camera and said (paraphrasing): "Hey, America. I know everyone can't be on Dancing With the Stars. But if there's something out there that scares you, go for it. Do the scary thing."

Wow.

I wrote about that in my book. How the things that most scare me are the ones that, in the end, have the most potential for making me happy (ok, except maybe pit vipers). It has been true, time and time again. And I needed to hear that (from Adam Carolla, no less) yesterday, because I'm kind of in a scary transitional place again in my life. (What, you are saying? AGAIN?)

I won't go into details now. But I have committed to a new venture and am doing my usual thing ... having that morning-after OH SH**! reaction. The what-have-I-done-I-can't-do-this-i'm-not-as-good-at-[fill in the blank]-as-they-think-and-what-if-they-find-out? thing.

I am flat-out scared.

This has happened before. Indeed, it happens every time I take a leap. I should be prepared for it, but no. I need ADAM CAROLLA to remind me that the scary path is the right path. But hey, I'll take it--it just tells me that the right messages can come from anywhere ... billboards, fortune cookies, Dancing With the Stars, even blogs.

I tried to find the clip from Adam on You Tube to post here. If anyone does a better job of searching than me, please post! And ... tell me all about your scary things. I want to hear!

Lisa D

I Give UP!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:04:00 +0000

I know lots of you have come to expect messages of hope, inspiration, motivation from this FFG. But today, I may not deliver. See ... I've got a confession to make (tis the season for fessing up for Catholic girls like me).

I quit.

The other day, I went to a Pilates class. Now, I have done Pilates before, and, while I don't buy the idea that there is one perfect workout out there that will transform our bodies ... Pilates comes pretty close. The couple of times that I have done it with any consistency, I can see and feel the changes in my body so fast ... it's amazing. Talk about your total-body toning. And those of you who have back problems should check it out (after talking to your doc).

I'm not saying Pilates is easy. Just the opposite. (In fact, what makes it less than perfect is that it's so damn hard!) I have seen it bring big, strapping football player-types to tears (on second thought, maybe that was sweat).

So, I go to this class, despite the fact that I was EXHAUSTED. Not merely tired, which is my usual state, but an empty shell. A deflated balloon. As listless as the most overcooked strand of spaghetti you have ever stomached. (I think you get the picture.) So what do I do? I go anyway. It's rare that I have the TIME to go, but I was off that day, so I thought, to h*** with what my body's saying ... I'm going anyway.

And it was a disaster.

I felt like crap the whole time. I struggled to do even the most simple pose. I could feel my back cramping, my neck aching, and finally, I just quit. I walked out.
But I didn't WIMP out. I did what my body was screaming for me to do ... give it a rest.

One of my issues as a Former Fat Girl is knowing what I NEED at any given time. It was a problem back when I was heavy, when it was more important to take care of everyone else's needs before my own, and it is a problem now. The challenge now is that it takes different forms. Back then, I NEEDED to get off my butt and get to Pilates, to drown out that whiner in my head who wanted me to quit, to use INO (It's Not an Option) to keep me true to my workouts, true to myself. But it is a BALANCE. Sometimes that little voice inside your head isn't the whiner, it's the voice of reason. It's the voice telling you that the healthiest thing to do for yourself is to take a freakin' nap.

How do you know what path to follow? How do you know when you need to push yourself, or ease off?

I have no easy answer. All I can say is that I KNOW. I know what I need, deep inside, even though sometimes I have to dig for it. Even though sometimes I mistake the whiner for the voice of reason ... and vice versa. Part of the trick is to find that quiet place in your head, away from the "noise" of life and all its demands and preconceptions of who you are, where you are comfortable with your most secret thoughts and desires. And then to use that place as your base of operations, the place where you make all your decisions, big and small. I try to get to that place as much as possible ... even envision what it would look like, and see myself sitting there. (Mine looks a little like a room I was lucky enough to stay in at the Mandarin Oriental in New York ...!)

And the other thing is, when you get it wrong, to forgive yourself and move on. I have gotten much better at this over the years (it must be all the practice I've had!), but still, it is work for this recovering perfectionist.

Like I said at the beginning--maybe this isn't the most inspirational message this FFG has to pass on. But it is honest. And I think it's important for you all to know that there isn't some switch I have flipped in my head that makes balance a no-brainer. It is an ongoing conversation, a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute process. Part of getting to that FFG place is recognizing this, accepting it, and embracing it.

Stay strong in your journey!

Lisa D

Former Fat Celebrities

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:41:00 +0000

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

The Year of I Don't Know

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:58:00 +0000

OK, so it's a month into 2008 and I'm just now writing about my New Year's resolutions. (Guess it's good that I didn't vow to tackle my propensity for procrastination or tendency to take liberties with the concept of time.)

Actually, I don't really make resolutions any more. Oh, I did vow to drink more water: I force myself to stand in the kitchen and down two 16 oz glasses at the start of every day. I think I'm in a perpetual state of dehydration, and front-loading helps me make a dent in it. (It's not exactly pleasant, though.)

Anyway, beyond those small-time vows, I have stopped doing resolutions. Instead, I do "theme years." The year I wrote my book, the theme was "All About Me." I chose that theme because I was determined to stop dreaming about writing a book, wishing wistfully for a little baby hardback to call my own. It was time to actually make it happen. I'd been thinking about writing Former Fat Girl for years--eight of them, actually. But other things, other obligations, usually obligations to other people, always got in the way. "All About Me" kind of kept me on task, gave me permission to take the time I needed to pursue that dream. And hey, it turned out pretty well, didn't it?

[Detour: Any of you FFGs out there who loved ... or even sort of liked ... the book, please go to Amazon.com and write a quick review. I have 18 reviews so far, and most are really good, but the last woman who wrote really zinged me. Said that all the positive reviews must have been written by my friends! And we know that's true, because I don't HAVE that many friends!]

So I do theme years. This year is The Year of I Don't Know. Allow me to explain: You know about the Un-Comfort Zone? That place where you are pushing yourself beyond your limits, your safe, secure, deadly boring limits? The limits that keep us from having the life we want to have, from losing the weight, from getting the job, from dating the man ... you know what I mean. Well, it's SO easy to slip back into that comfortable place without even knowing it. And it makes sense. The fact is that yesterday's challenge is today's rut. Unless we keep consciously and constantly pushing ourselves to seek out the new, we find ourselves back in that comfortable place.

I know me: I have this need to have all the answers. To be on top of it all. And while I have experienced the value of approaching this life as an adventure, I haven't been exactly living that way. Many of you know that I did make a career change last fall, and that was a big step. But part of the reason for adopting the I Don't Know theme is that I have this way of getting too committed to things way too fast, to shutting off my brain to other choices, other opportunities. (Maybe this is the dark side of INO.) Anyway, I am trying, this year, to suspend myself in this state of I Don't Know. To try to get back to where I am following my gut, listening to my instincts, trusting that the answers will come, instead of forcing them. Branding this The Year of I Don't Know reminds me that it's ok not to be so damn certain about everything.

Now ... I would love to know if any of you have themes for this year. Maybe this is The Year of I CAN! or The Year of YES! or (maybe even better) The Year of NO! Or it could be The Year I Travel to Italy and Decide Never to Return! The possibilities are endless.

What's your theme? Share it here.

Until next time ...

Lisa D
FFG, FKIA (Former Know-It-All)

In Coach, Going Nowhere

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:10:00 +0000

The other day, I almost staged an intervention.

I was at the Y, talking myself into doing a treadmill workout. I have what I call a 3-to-1 relationship with the treadmill: I hate it three times more than I love it. I hate it for obvious reasons ... boredom, with a double side of monotony. But I love it because it allows me to squeeze in a quick run or walk when it's too cold or rainy or whatever outside. I love that it's there for me. It's like that shot in the butt you beg for when you have a sinus infection: You know you need it, you know it will do the job, but the fact of the thing is pretty god-awful.

I have learned, though, how to outsmart the treadmill. How to play games with the speed and incline buttons to distract that whiner inside (who whinges incessantly during my 20 minute or so ordeal). How to cover up the timer so I'm not aware of how achingly slow the minutes go by. How to only allow myself to peek during commercials on the TV monitor, where I may be treated to an I Love Lucy episode on a good day, or subjected to the yammering about the elections or the latest Britney episode on one of the 24-hour news channels.

Anyway, on this particular day, as I was on the treadmill, I noticed the woman on the machine beside me. I had actually seen her when I checked in at the front desk. She was one of those women who look completely put together, even on her way to a workout. Nice hair, nice makeup, what looked to be a new outfit straight from the pages of Athleta.

I think she was new at the Y, from the way she fumbled a bit with the treadmill buttons and neglected to use the sign-up sheet. (I'm no gym monitor--I only noticed because I was in the process of signing up for that very treadmill when she jumped on it.)

"Good for you," I thought (despite the fact that she stole my favorite 'mill). "You Go, Girl!"

She began walking at a decent pace, then picked it up to a light jog.

"Yeah! You're moving now!"

(Can't keep my inner cheerleader down.)

And then I glanced down at her feet and saw what could be her undoing.

Her shoes.

They were beautiful, brand new (apparently) Coach "fitness" shoes. You know, the ones with the little "Cs" on them.

I almost reached over and pushed the emergency STOP button right there.

Not that I have anything against Coach shoes. Or bags. I have spent my share of $$s in that store, believe me.

But trying to actually work out in Coach sneakers is a recipe for disaster. Those shoes ARE NOT fitness shoes, ladies. We all need more support than those sleek, chic sneaks have to offer.

Maybe I've drunk the sugar-free KoolAid, but I am a big believer in true fitness shoes and fitness shoe technology. I've been running for a long time (and hope to have many good miles in me yet), and the only time my knees start aching is when my shoes are worn down. It's very important to get the right shoe for your primary activity (ie, if you usually walk, get a walking shoe, if you usually run, get a running shoe). It's equally as important to get a shoe that works with the way you move. Does your foot roll in, roll out, or neither? Do you first land on your heel or your toes (more applicable to runners)? You can figure these things out by looking at the bottoms of your shoes to see which places wear down fastest. Or, you can just find a good fitness shoe retailer, take in some old shoes, and have them fit you.

And those stores aren't that hard to find. I used to tell people to go to a running specialty store (even if they were walkers), because the people who work there seemed to be more knowledgeable than the clerks in general sporting goods stores. But I did some events with Lady Foot Locker when I was an editor at Health magazine, and found out that the staff there really knows their stuff.

It helps, though, for you to take a few minutes to read up a bit on the subject. Here's a good article (I know because I edited it myself!).

Why invest in good shoes? Here's a cautionary tale. Once upon a time, I got a free pair of shoes from a company that was trying to woo me to write nice things about them (editors get stuff all the time, by the way--this particular incident really turned me off to the practice!). So I ran in them. After about the third time--no kidding--I started feeling this awful pain in my heel. It hurt so bad when I got out of bed in the morning that I could barely walk. Soon, I found out that I had what's called plantar faciitis, an inflammation of the band of tissue that runs along the bottom of my foot. Now, it could have been coincidence, but ... I think not. I have always blamed those shoes for the 6 months I lost to that horrible problem. That's right--six months of pain, six months of not running, six months of anxiety that all the hard work I'd done to lose my 70 pounds and change my life would all go to you-know-what.

All from a little pair of shoes.

I know, believe me, how much inner strength it takes to get yourself to a gym or get yourself up in the morning for a walk, or whatever your fitness resolution is. The mental thing is so, so hard--the last thing you want to do is have a PHYSICAL setback.

I didn't say anything to my treadmill companion in Coach. Should I have? I think not. I don't think she would have listened. And who the hell am I to give her advice? All I can do is make sure YOU girls know the score. Save the chic shoes for the post-workout Starbucks run (skinny latte no foam!).

Share your shoe stories--and ask questions, please!--here!

all my best--

Lisa D

ISO Fat-Free Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:48:00 +0000

Hey, Girls--

I had a great time speaking to a group of women last night at the Hoover Public Library here. I love getting out and meeting you FFGs and Future FFGs--as I told the group last night, it probably helps me as much as it helps you guys. Just like you, I need inspiration every day, to Just Try.

Anyway ... one of the wonderful women in the audience asked me for ideas for things to do with girlfriends (and I guess boyfriends too) that DON'T involve food. I had a couple of ideas, but I know you guys probably have better ones! Here are a couple of ideas I had (they were fresh on my mind since my running friends and I were trying to think of something to do together to celebrate the holidays). Please post your own!

1. Mani or Pedi or Mani/Pedi night: Set up a time for everyone to get their nails done together. Each of you pays for your own service; the point is to just meet together, relax, and chat. You could even make this a standing appointment (monthly!)--the best would be to find a salon that had a small area with enough chairs for you and your friends. Lots of women do this before their weddings with their bridesmaids, but why wait for the ring and the white dress? If you get your nails done anyway, turn it into a social occasion.
2. Art night: A very cool idea here in Birmingham: Some art galleries have started having something called Sip 'n Stroke (sort of an unfortunate name). You bring a bottle of wine (not required; but if you do want to drink, go for champagne--the bubbles make you sip slower so you don't drink as much!), and create a painting with expert instruction. Here's info on one called Art Buzz; maybe galleries in other cities are doing the same thing?
3. Free night: There always seem to be cool free things--lectures, art openings, even films--going on around here. On your girls night out, why not make it your goal to choose only from the list of free stuff (INO paying for anything!)? I know--it's kind of random, but it's good for us girls to get out of our comfort zones.
4. Comedy clubs, concerts, local theatre: Non-free stuff that might involve drinking, but at least it's not all about consuming calories. And 10 to 15 minutes of laughing, according to experts, can burn as many as 50 calories. Don't (er, do?) laugh--every little bit counts!

OK--now I want to hear from you. Do you have any fat-free fun ideas to share?

Thanks!

Lisa D

Short and sweet: My new blogging mantra

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:04:00 +0000

Former Fat Girls, Future FFGs, and all who know and love me well enough to still care about reading after such a long absence:

Welcome to 2008! And I will just say it once, and then get on with it: I SUCK for neglecting this blog! No explanations, apologies, excuses, or justifications. It's time for a fresh start ...

Congrats to all of you who survived the holiday season, the "trying times" of food, family, fun, and more food. This holiday was pretty normal for me, which means that it wasn't normal at all: crazy schedule, tons of demands (mostly ones I put on myself!), completely no ideas for gifts (some years I get inspired--this one, sadly, I wasn't!), 13-hour car ride to Houston to visit family (I could just FEEL my butt spreading ...). But I took my own advice and tried to be forgiving, exercised when I could (even if all I could do was walk, or a Pilates DVD), sampled my homemade fudge and gave the rest to neighbors, friends, and family, and tried to remember to enjoy the minutes I had with Johnny, who was off for two whole weeks (he goes back to school tomorrow!).

The best gift I received: I saw my sister-in-law at one of the three Christmas celebrations we had. She looks great, and I told her so. She said she had dropped two dress sizes, from a 16 to a 12, and said, "Your little mantra is helping me."
INO (It's Not an Option, for those of you who need translation), she meant. That made me feel SO good. I had thought a lot about my sister in law when I was writing my book, because she is one of the most giving, sweet people I know--to the point of sacrificing herself for the needs of other people. I could just tell that she struggles with the same issues that all FFGs and Future FFGs struggle with. So to hear her say that sharing my struggle has helped her ... I truly can't describe it.

One of my big struggles right now is that I want to be here more for you all--I want to do more for the community of FFGs and Future FFGs out there. But real life and real job intervene. You all are constantly in my thoughts. I don't really make New Years' resolutions (I will explain what I DO do in another post), but one vow I am taking is to stop thinking so much and start acting. The thing with this blog is that I approach it like it's an essay, that it needs to have a start-finish-end, that it needs to live up to some kind of standards I set for myself as a writer. That makes blogging SUCH a big deal, when it should be more of a casual thing. I think that's why I could never really sustain a diary, either ... I just didn't get the point of sitting down to ramble ... it would be like sitting down at the piano and playing only half the notes in a piece.

But I'm vowing to write shorter and more often. I want to keep this momentum we have, to continue to share our successes and struggles. And lots is happening: I'm continuing to connect with new groups of women through speaking engagements, and I hope to do more of that in the future (believe me, I will make sure you get the info when I have it!), and the book is coming out in paperback (!) in March. I think I told you guys a while ago that I wanted to make a bunch of enhancements to this site ... I reached out to my fabulous webmaster only to find out that he is too busy (uh, directing music videos for some major stars, if you can believe!) to help. I'm hoping to get someone else to help me add all the features I want to add ... to make the site really more of a community than just ALL ABOUT ME!

OK. So in the spirit of brevity, I'm out.

I love you guys ... stay strong in your commitments to yourself!

Lisa D

The Un-luckying of Lisa

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Delaney) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:21:00 +0000

Hi.

I am coming off of an amazing two weeks of meeting FFGs and Future FFGs in a variety of places--Brooklyn, NY last week at the SUNY Downstate Women's Health Fair ... here in Birmingham at the University of Alabama-Birmingham's Good Health program ... and just last night at an open house at Milestone books, again here in Birmingham. Meeting all of you, who are so welcoming, supportive of my message, willing to ask questions, challenge me, hear what I have to say--all of that just confirms for me that I'm doing what I need to be doing with my life.

When I was in Brooklyn, at the amazing Brooklyn Tabernacle, I kept hearing the word "blessed" a lot. So I started counting my blessings (the number of times I say the word, that is) ... and realized that I don't really say that word much. I say "lucky." But you know, I'm not lucky. I'm not lucky to have a beautiful, wonderful son who looked up at me last Sunday, amid the drudgery of the weekly grocery store visit, and said, "Mommy, I love being with you." I'm not lucky to have a husband that tolerates my uber-healthy cooking when he'd rather be eating barbecued ribs and pork n' beans. I'm not lucky to have friends willing to meet me in the freezing pre-dawn to run. I'm not lucky to have you to affirm me, support me, lift me up when I'm not sure why I do what I do.

I am blessed.

Right now, I vow to stop saying "lucky." Lucky implies a randomness, an accidental encounter. There's nothing random about the list I just ran through. Maybe I can use lucky if I ever take up poker, or Alabama gets a lottery. But there's a plan behind this whole life; there are reasons why I have been through what I've been through on the way here.

I thought a lot about that idea before I wrote my book. I don't for a second regret the struggles I had as a pre-Former Fat Girl. Even the most painful parts brought me to this place, gave me something to share, blessed me with the ability to share it.

So that's what's on my mind as we enter this Thanksgiving week--making sure I'm talking "blessings" as we're all taking "turkey."

have a "blessed" week.

Lisa D