A Weighty Issue

I recently read an article penned by Rita Wilson, the wife of actor Tom Hanks. It chronicles her weight- loss journey after gaining some unwanted pounds and what it took to achieve her now sleek physique so she could look better in her clothes.  She had graduated to a permenant wardrope of sweats and was looking for a change - sound familiar?  If there is one thing I have noticed about being a forty something gal, the weight is far more difficult to shed now then when I was in my twenties.

Rita hires Jillian Michaels of The Biggest Loser fame and proceeds to take her on a 1,200-calorie a day diet primarily of grilled fish or chicken, steamed vegies and big salads. No sugar (yikes) very little dairy (not even lattes?) and NO ALCOHOL followed up with lots of exercise - twice a day!  Now I guess if your on T.V. or in the movies, this would be something I would think twice about, but lets face it, I am in neither so I didn't see the point in it.

Have you ever hung out with people that are obsessed about their weight? A girl needs her sweet treats every now and then and there is nothing more annoying then being the only one getting in line at starbucks while your starving friend waits outside for you. Plus I always like to have a latte handy while I'm in the dressing room (since I really hate trying on clothes) this gives me some comfort while I am in there staring down a pair of jeans.

I will exercise daily ( not twice a day as Rita had to do), but I refuse to forbid myself the indulgence of dessert when out for dinner, a glass of wine or that buttered popcorn that I just have to have when going to a movie.  It's just like I always say when sitting across from the woman who refuses to order dessert after dinner "And you'd hate to die tomorrow and say to yourself on your way up there - Damn, I should have eaten that cheesecake" so just go ahead and order it and go for a run tomorrow.

Rita looks amazing in her clothes now I will give her that, but the reality of how she obtained her figure is not appealing to me - I would tire of that diet in about one week and would not even want to hang out with myself.  Ladies, let me be frank with you - I wear a lot of black, it's not only slimming, but it lets you enjoy the finer or should I say tastier things in life. Who ever said nothing tastes as good as skinny feel has clearly never been to Europe.When I saw that scene in the movie "Eat,Pray,Love" where Julia Roberts tries to squirm into her jeans after eating her way through Italy, I could totally relate, having split a pair of skinnies wide open myself after a month long holiday there.   

The bottom line (no pun intended) is that while us forty somethings should not be eating everything in sight unless we want to be wearing a caftan for the rest of our lives, we should be more forgiving of ourselves and give in to our indulgences every once in a while and then hit the gym hard the next day and remember the color black never goes out of style, and that my friends is my fine fashion line.