Valerie Bertinelli's Weight Loss: Inspiring or Controversial?

I'm definitely inspired by Bertinelli's weight loss -- I couldn't believe how much MORE gorgeous her face became after slimming down!

But, the trick is keeping it off after you're not being watched by millions or getting Jenny Craig's meals (because I can't imagine anyone could eat those forever). I agree with whoever said "wait a year and see what happens" -- if she can sustain it permanently, then she's an even bigger inspiration than I first thought :-)

See Jane Soar: Life Lessons From Well-Behaved Women (Not!) ( http://seejanesoar.theadventurouswriter.com/ )

If true, how diasppointing. I expect that in a fashion magazine, but not in a story like this :-(

 there is lots of an inspirational stories around us but each persons have a diferent result when do the same. just be smart where is the best for us and do some research which ones is better

Marianaws

My Weight Loss Diary ( http://www.bestweightlossdiary.com/ )

I think that these types of stories can be very inspirational when they are honest, and in this case they are. But these alone don't help most women succeed. And even in the best of cases, they are often tainted by problems, in this case, by accusations of some Photoshop carving, which further whittled the thighs. Reality is, not everyone is going to be a perfect Size Zero, and they shouldn't be. And by perfecting even the success stories the message is, sure she lost 40 pounds and she STILL needed photoshop!! As an Anorexia survivor who had the determination to take herself to 90-ish pounds and come out of it, this quest for perfection is impossible. I do wish the focus would be on health, and strictly health. Look your best, feel your best for you, whatever that is for you personally. Today, I focus less on my calories and more on my lifestyle and workouts. I live with my Trainingpeaks app on my iPhone and track my progress in my HealthVault account and do my best to look for my own personal bests. I thought that the Dove campaign was doing a good job helping to change this perception, but we've got a long way to go. 

Catherine, what you write is always interesting! I can't imagine judging anyone who wants to lose weight and be healthier. I've lost somewhere around 45 pounds over the last year. Part of this was due to stress, but a lot of it also had to do with major lifestyle changes. I attend yoga class 2-3 times/week and as a result, I've become naturally more concerned with what I use to fuel my body. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the reflection in the mirror these days.

I do, however, agree w/Debontherocks: the diet industry is manipulative. It is a for-profit system. Even Weight Watchers, which was probably the most successful of all of them for me due to the group meetings, is a business. And the media perpetuates it - or vice-versa. I don't judge Valerie Bertinelli, but I do have vast amounts of disdain for People and other mags like it for highlighting only the physical. Megan is so right when she mentions the emotional piece of this. I feel like there has been such a missed opportunity.

Anyway - I commend you for wanting to live a healthier, stronger life. And really, grab  inspiration wherever you can...and don't feel guilty about it!

Lara

Notions of Identity ( http://www.notionsofidentity.com )

I agree.  As someone who has always struggled with my weight and finally was able to lose over 40 pounds a couple of years ago, I too can identify with Valerie Bertinelli.  Her book was actually pretty good also.  I didn't lose weight for health reasons, although I did end up improving my health drastically.  I was sick of hating the way I looked and the clothes I had to buy.  It isn't superficial at all and losing the weight and looking good did amazing things for my self-confidence in addition to my health.  I can't understand anyone who says they are truly happy in plus sizes, I think it's a cop out, but maybe that's just me.

http://somuchmorethanamom.wordpress.com/ ( http://m/ )

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight!  I personally don't have a huge "body image" problem and I certainly am not buying into any of the hype about having to be thin to be worthwhile in life.  But I am currently about 35 lbs. overweight (have lost 6 lbs. so far on Weight Watchers) and for health reasons I would love to lose the rest of it.  I'm 55 years old and want to be around for a long time, and like you at your heaviest I had edged over into that "obese" category.  (I'm only 5 feet tall so it isn't hard to do!). 

I hope Valerie is able to keep the weight off (I have lost 20 lbs. several times and gained it back, so I know how hard that can be).  And congratulations to you on your weight loss!

Hi KiKi.  Thanks for all of your comments, I'm happy you liked the post.

:-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ ) and Women4Hope ( http://women4hope.wordpress.com/ )

Hi Megan.  Thanks for your comments, I am looking forward to reading you post on Star Jones Mondaynight.

 :-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ ) and Women4Hope ( http://women4hope.wordpress.com/ )

I am 48 years old and quit smoking about a year and two months ago.  Faster than a wink, I gained 20 pounds!  I guess when you don't have all that nicotine fueling your metabolism any more, stuff happens.

Portion control + running a few days a week = lost 7 pounds since January 23rd.  A little slower than Valerie, but hey, the job is getting done.  I can do it!

I can also do math.  Bertinelli lost 50 pounds and landed on 123.  That means she was 173 pounds when she started the program.  So unless she's, like, 5'10 or thereabouts (she's not), 173 lbs. was an unhealthy weight for her height and age.  She needed to lose that weight.  Anyone who cannot see this and villifies her for it has traded in their intellect for sour grapes.

Tink *~*~*

My Mobile Adventures *~*~* ( http://MyMobileAdventures.com )

I really love everything you have to say here, and I agree completely and have been on the same roller coaster ride, and everyone always has something to say about it either way.

I was at the salon today and actually read the People issue...and was absolutely inspired by Valerie's story...and I think she looks GREAT! Not at all too thin...just right. I have been having a tough time trying to kickstart myself into getting in shape and being healthier...and reading about her struggles and determination (much, much more than Jenny Craig...) was very motivating. 

 Obviously, this is a sensitive topic -- and I don't think anyone is wrong...it is such a personal issue. From personal experience, I do know that my weight--and, don't get me wrong, I am not overweight...but I am extremely untone, bloated and have not had the best eating habits, and no exercize--DOES effect my mood, my drive, my confidence, and therefore--my happiness. But that's just me.

 In any case, very interesting post you wrote--and a topic, despite what side you take, that remains an important one in the lives and esteem of women.

KiKi

 ___

http://kikiwalter.blogspot.com

http://twoliablog.com/i-am-not-kidding

It was great to hear your take on this topic, Catherine.

As someone who's struggled with weight and body image issues all my life, the piece that's always missing for me when celebrities tout their weight loss is the emotional component of why people overeat.

Like with everything related to celebrities, the issue is always covered as a quick and easy fix.  So and so lost "X" pounds in "X" months!

But almost never is the emotional component dealt with.  Like what does Valerie do late at night when she feels lonely and her only emotional crutch in the past has been a box of cookies?  What techniques has she learned to cope with that?  If any?

I don't relate to any of these women because they don't speak to what I know my issues are.

I'll address some of this issue on Monday night when I post about the Star Jones portion of that same Oprah show. 

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video ( http://www.blogher.com/blog/megan-smith )

Megan's Minute ( http://www.megansminute.com/ ) 

Oh geez, I just went and looked at the People magazine photo of Valerie that you linked to.  At her largest, a size 14, wearing a size 20 top. Ridiculous.

The issues of women, dieting, body image, eating disorders, judgement--all of these are huge and controversial.

 But one thing stands out about your writing and question that I want to approach.  It's not that "dieting" itself is controversial or something to apologize for, not at all.  It's the Diet Industry, capital D.

While I think we all want to be able to be in a place where we cheer on every woman's approach to wellness, whether that is to exercize, diet and/or work on feeling good about herself within her own skin, companies and media outlets that make money off of weight loss as a cultural pre-occupation (which is different than weight loss as a pubic or personal health issue) interfer with our desire to support all women in becoming the healthiest woman they can be.

 Oprah is a huge part of the Diet Industry, constantly working this theme to hook viewers.  If someone takes inspiration from that big Jenny Craig informercial for her own life, terrific, but that doesn't mean that people weren't paid and other people weren't hurt or even exploited for that profit.  That exchange is one of the reasons people do enjoy the schadenfreude when Kirstie or Oprah gain weight again.  Those women choose to make money telling everyone how to "just do it!"  And other media often falls for the same message.  Talk about shilling for the man.

Jenny Craig did not create permanent results for me and ended up being the opposite of inspiration.  Should have known that getting "meat in the mail" as my son hilariously described it was not a sensible approach to nutrition.  But the Diet Industry loves to mess with our minds.  Keeps their wallets fat and happy.

Is that about weightloss, though, or about Oprah? Oprah hasn't said anything relevent to me in...15 years? I'm not only not interested in her celebrity friends, I'm also indifferent to her favorite stuff, her taste in books and the importance of her dogs. I think she's chosen her audience, and I'm not among them.

But weightloss and beauty mean a lot of things to women, and not all of them are superficial. For the ordinary woman who are my friends and neighbors 'time in the gym' is one of the few times when they are doing something by and for themselves. Therefore, the outer expression of weightloss reflects an attempt to balance concern for others and care for self in a socially acceptable way. That's the kind of accomplishment that's hard to celebrate directly. You're not going on Oprah, or even to the local coffeshop, to say, "I adore my kids, but it's taken me years to work out what percentage of my time belongs to my family, what belongs to my community, what belongs to my job, and what belongs to me. This is the look that reflects my current answer."

Instead of saying that, we take refuge in "I want to look good."

That it is not helpful for anyone to be judgemental.  It would certainly be wrong of me, personally, to judge you, personally - for wanting to lose weight.

But maybe there is a difference when someone as high profile as Oprah showcases a story about women who lose weight.  Maybe the problem is not "they should not want to lose weight" but rather - "why should we care"?

I dont mean that in a nasty way - certainly you found it inspirational... but I just see far too much of this type of celebrity news around women and weight loss.  Do any of the other things you do to try to stay healthy have remotely the same amount of media attention?  A show on Oprah about a celebrity who...stopped smoking?  Magazine covers showing the latest celebrity  ... sneaking a cigarette?  Or proudly smoke free? 

I think the people who criticise are trying to point out not so much that the individuals concerned are "wrong" to want to lose weight.  Its more - why is that so important?  Why is it that so many women's self image is desperately hung up on their weight?  What about  all the other things women achieve?

I'm personally saddened by seeing my mother, my sisters, my friends, all the women I know channel so much emotional and physical energy into .... making themselves smaller.

Sure - be healthy. Absolutely.  And look good.  But there is the rub. As far as I can see, "looking good" has very little do do with how a healthy woman actually looks beyond her teenage years.

Thanks for writing about this topic. As someone who lost 20 pounds last year, I fully support and commend Valerie and Marie for their success. There is nothing wrong with knowing what you want, and having the discipline to stay focused. And if what you want is to lose weight, then great! Losing 50 pounds in a year is less than one pound a week! That is more than reasonable - it is actually a little slow, especially since she started at "obese." And who is to say her diet and exercise are extreme? The average American eats 120 pounds of sugar a year and enough fat DAILY to equal a stick of butter. So what is extreme? 60 pounds of sugar and 1/2 a stick of butter?!

What's wrong with feeling GOOD that you lost weight?

Maybe some people experience disappontment if they believe losing weight is going to result in something that may be unrealistic. If I lose weight, all my problems will go away and I'll be truly happy. Losing weight is the only way this can happen. But it's up to that person to discover what life lessons come their way. Let each person make their own decisions.