DON'T Call Jenny!

Hate is a strong word but I can truly say I HATE them! They are misleading and manipulative and when you make a pact with this devil, it can be expensive! What am I referring to? Jenny Craig, her crappy food and manipulative commercials!

I have a personal reason to be frustrated: not only do I have a lifelong struggle with my weight, but against the advice of my own inner voice and all my friends, I spent three weeks and close to $600 on Jenny Craig! I didn't lose anything but money and lots of it! I hated the food, didn't like the 5 minute "support" and resented paying lots of money while the food sat in the freezer because I didn't like it! Some of it is still in there!

Kirsty Alley was on Oprah this week speaking of her struggle with weight. She tried Jenny but the minute the guys with the scale and a copy of her contract quit coming to her house, she gained the weight back! Sure it must be easier to stay on that diet when you are getting paid but the real reason she quit was most likely that she didn't have her head in the game.

On the same show, Oprah spoke with the guy who weight over a thousand pounds, lost 800, gained it back and is now in the process of losing it again. When asked why he hadn't tried gastric bypass he said it was because they couldn't do a bypass for his brain. Hunger is rarely a factor when he eats.

I see a pattern here and it's one I believe to be true, especially for myself: the biggest struggle with weight loss is going to be the battle that is waged in your head, not the one between you and the fridge. If you aren't dealing with the reasons why you eat why you do, the ones that don't involve "addiction to chocolate" or eating at "that time of the month", than the weight won't come off or stay off.

That is what I most resent about Jenny. She isn't truthful about what it takes to get the weight off. Sure, we all look at Valerie Bertinelli's AMAZING 48 year old new body and think all we have to do is eat that expensive box/frozen food to get it. What they don't tell you in the ads is that Valerie spent hours in the gym to get it! I just hope she is doing the head work as well to keep it off! The odds aren't in her favor!

The odds aren't in my favor, either! I had the full gastric bypass surgery 3 years ago after topping off at 347 pounds. The weight came off as quick as the compliments started coming in. Before I knew it I was down 110 pounds. Yeah...I am fitting in a airline seat, shopping at Old Navy, loving hearing how people tell me I look good. None of that solved the real reason I kept the weight on in the first place: my fear of intimacy with men. Oddly enough, when I came to that "ah ha moment" was when my weight loss efforts stalled and started to slowly creep back up. My head isn't in the game totally. I feel schitzo...I want to take the weight off so I can get into a relationship but keep the weight on so I don't have to face that fear!! Sheesh...that's not something Jenny is going to help me with!

It is still a major struggle just to keep the weight i've lost off much less lose any more! My total net loss at this point is 95 pounds down but I have gained much more in self-awareness. I am going to continue with Weight Watchers, the safe and supportive way to lose weight and start seeing a therapist. And when I am ready to deal with the real reason why the weight is not coming off, it will come off.

Life is hard, there is no way around it. We all have our ways to deal with the downs, be it alcohol, shopping or food! The key is to find a healthy way to deal with the hand you are dealt and I don't think that the solution is found in boxed food, no matter if its yummy or not!

DON'T Call Jenny!

Hate is a strong word but I can truly say I HATE them! They are misleading and manipulative and when you make a pact with this devil, it can be expensive! What am I referring to? Jenny Craig, her crappy food and manipulative commercials!

I have a personal reason to be frustrated: not only do I have a lifelong struggle with my weight, but against the advice of my own inner voice and all my friends, I spent three weeks and close to $600 on Jenny Craig! I didn't lose anything but money and lots of it! I hated the food, didn't like the 5 minute "support" and resented paying lots of money while the food sat in the freezer because I didn't like it! Some of it is still in there!

Kirsty Alley was on Oprah this week speaking of her struggle with weight. She tried Jenny but the minute the guys with the scale and a copy of her contract quit coming to her house, she gained the weight back! Sure it must be easier to stay on that diet when you are getting paid but the real reason she quit was most likely that she didn't have her head in the game.

On the same show, Oprah spoke with the guy who weight over a thousand pounds, lost 800, gained it back and is now in the process of losing it again. When asked why he hadn't tried gastric bypass he said it was because they couldn't do a bypass for his brain. Hunger is rarely a factor when he eats.

I see a pattern here and it's one I believe to be true, especially for myself: the biggest struggle with weight loss is going to be the battle that is waged in your head, not the one between you and the fridge. If you aren't dealing with the reasons why you eat why you do, the ones that don't involve "addiction to chocolate" or eating at "that time of the month", than the weight won't come off or stay off.

That is what I most resent about Jenny. She isn't truthful about what it takes to get the weight off. Sure, we all look at Valerie Bertinelli's AMAZING 48 year old new body and think all we have to do is eat that expensive box/frozen food to get it. What they don't tell you in the ads is that Valerie spent hours in the gym to get it! I just hope she is doing the head work as well to keep it off! The odds aren't in her favor!

The odds aren't in my favor, either! I had the full gastric bypass surgery 3 years ago after topping off at 347 pounds. The weight came off as quick as the compliments started coming in. Before I knew it I was down 110 pounds. Yeah...I am fitting in a airline seat, shopping at Old Navy, loving hearing how people tell me I look good. None of that solved the real reason I kept the weight on in the first place: my fear of intimacy with men. Oddly enough, when I came to that "ah ha moment" was when my weight loss efforts stalled and started to slowly creep back up. My head isn't in the game totally. I feel schitzo...I want to take the weight off so I can get into a relationship but keep the weight on so I don't have to face that fear!! Sheesh...that's not something Jenny is going to help me with!

It is still a major struggle just to keep the weight i've lost off much less lose any more! My total net loss at this point is 95 pounds down but I have gained much more in self-awareness. I am going to continue with Weight Watchers, the safe and supportive way to lose weight and start seeing a therapist. And when I am ready to deal with the real reason why the weight is not coming off, it will come off.

Life is hard, there is no way around it. We all have our ways to deal with the downs, be it alcohol, shopping or food! The key is to find a healthy way to deal with the hand you are dealt and I don't think that the solution is found in boxed food, no matter if its yummy or not!

I Love LA!!

I have been searching for a background for my blog for a week or so. I wanted something that said something about me. I tried argyle print....too girly. Paw prints spoke to my love of dogs but that is only a small part of who I am. Then today I finally found the background that I feel speaks to exactly who I am.

The picture in the background of my blog is not a picture of any city. It is a place where dreams are made, where the sun shines aproximately 360 days a year, where you can ski in the morning and surf at night. It is the heart of the entertainment industry and the heart of the automobile culture. It is the center of pop culture.

I am a rare breed, the native Angeleno. I am, in fact, an original "Valley Girl". Its true and a fact I am proud of! However, Angelenos are up against the LA stereotype. When you tell people you are from LA they immediately get a read on who you are: Superficial, flakey, rich, blond! People from other places use what they see in entertainment as a reference as to what Angelenos must be like. I got news for you. We aren't anymore like the kids on "90210" than all New Yorkers are like their counterparts on "Gossip Girl". We aren't all blond, rich and thin and all New Yorkers don't live on the Upper Westside and send emails about their "frienamies" to a gossip website. Imagine me, a overweight, short brunette driving a 15 year old Ford being a LA native! I told you, here in LA anything is possible!

LA is a place like no other place on earth. The great weather lends to good moods, the entertainment industry lends to the belif that anything can happen. The diversity leads to hope for a better world. Sure we have our crosses to bear for living in paradise: traffic is a bitch as is not being able to get anywhere in less than an hour. But when you live in a place millions dream of living in, it's a small price to pay!

La La Land...City of Angels...The Southland...LA...Los Angeles. The place in the background of this blog is known by many names. The name I like best is home. LA is more than just a place to live or even a place to be from. It is one of those rare places that sneaks in and becomes part of the fiber of your being. I won't live anywhere else. Why would I would I when I live in Paradise?

I Love LA!!

I have been searching for a background for my blog for a week or so. I wanted something that said something about me. I tried argyle print....too girly. Paw prints spoke to my love of dogs but that is only a small part of who I am. Then today I finally found the background that I feel speaks to exactly who I am.

The picture in the background of my blog is not a picture of any city. It is a place where dreams are made, where the sun shines aproximately 360 days a year, where you can ski in the morning and surf at night. It is the heart of the entertainment industry and the heart of the automobile culture. It is the center of pop culture.

I am a rare breed, the native Angeleno. I am, in fact, an original "Valley Girl". Its true and a fact I am proud of! However, Angelenos are up against the LA stereotype. When you tell people you are from LA they immediately get a read on who you are: Superficial, flakey, rich, blond! People from other places use what they see in entertainment as a reference as to what Angelenos must be like. I got news for you. We aren't anymore like the kids on "90210" than all New Yorkers are like their counterparts on "Gossip Girl". We aren't all blond, rich and thin and all New Yorkers don't live on the Upper Westside and send emails about their "frienamies" to a gossip website. Imagine me, a overweight, short brunette driving a 15 year old Ford being a LA native! I told you, here in LA anything is possible!

LA is a place like no other place on earth. The great weather lends to good moods, the entertainment industry lends to the belif that anything can happen. The diversity leads to hope for a better world. Sure we have our crosses to bear for living in paradise: traffic is a bitch as is not being able to get anywhere in less than an hour. But when you live in a place millions dream of living in, it's a small price to pay!

La La Land...City of Angels...The Southland...LA...Los Angeles. The place in the background of this blog is known by many names. The name I like best is home. LA is more than just a place to live or even a place to be from. It is one of those rare places that sneaks in and becomes part of the fiber of your being. I won't live anywhere else. Why would I would I when I live in Paradise?

In Repair

I am at the laundry for the first time in 8 years because the dryer is broken. While sitting there watching my underwear going around it occurred to me that the dryer isn't the first or last thing in our house in need of repair.

Its funny...when I moved in 8 years ago, I was the one in need of repair. My family had left for Arizona and didn't want me to go. At 345 pounds I was a physical and emotional wreck. I was a broken down human being.

Enter Val, the human repair woman. A human with a bigger heart is hard to find. I moved in with her and others in need of repair: son-in-law, daughter, 3 grand kids and two 4-month old Rottweiler puppies. We became the extended family we all needed.

The puppies and I flourished and became life long pals. Through gastric by-pass I lost 100 pounds, through our giving into their sweet faces and begging eyes, the puppies grew and ultimately found a 100 pounds. Nothing grew as fast as our bond as I came to love them like I never knew I could love!

Its unconditional love that healed this broken human, love from both Val and the puppies. Unfortunately, some things can't be fixed and the son-in law became an ex and everyone moved on and out. I stayed. Val, Beanie, Thor and I became a family with all the ups and downs that come with that title.

We are now in a down period. Val and I argue more and I am wondering if she is in need of the love repair she so freely gives everyone else. My first response is to say F-off but I think I am going to surround her with the love she surrounded me with 8 years ago and continues to surround me with today. She is dealing with a friend with cancer and family members in various states of crisis. Its my turn to be the repair woman for her.

When I first started this post I was pondering if a move is in order but I now know that is the last thing I want. I want my friend Val to know I love her and will be here for her. She deserves that and more.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

In Repair

I am at the laundry for the first time in 8 years because the dryer is broken. While sitting there watching my underwear going around it occurred to me that the dryer isn't the first or last thing in our house in need of repair.

Its funny...when I moved in 8 years ago, I was the one in need of repair. My family had left for Arizona and didn't want me to go. At 345 pounds I was a physical and emotional wreck. I was a broken down human being.

Enter Val, the human repair woman. A human with a bigger heart is hard to find. I moved in with her and others in need of repair: son-in-law, daughter, 3 grand kids and two 4-month old Rottweiler puppies. We became the extended family we all needed.

The puppies and I flourished and became life long pals. Through gastric by-pass I lost 100 pounds, through our giving into their sweet faces and begging eyes, the puppies grew and ultimately found a 100 pounds. Nothing grew as fast as our bond as I came to love them like I never knew I could love!

Its unconditional love that healed this broken human, love from both Val and the puppies. Unfortunately, some things can't be fixed and the son-in law became an ex and everyone moved on and out. I stayed. Val, Beanie, Thor and I became a family with all the ups and downs that come with that title.

We are now in a down period. Val and I argue more and I am wondering if she is in need of the love repair she so freely gives everyone else. My first response is to say F-off but I think I am going to surround her with the love she surrounded me with 8 years ago and continues to surround me with today. She is dealing with a friend with cancer and family members in various states of crisis. Its my turn to be the repair woman for her.

When I first started this post I was pondering if a move is in order but I now know that is the last thing I want. I want my friend Val to know I love her and will be here for her. She deserves that and more.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

The Blog-Off Begins! :)

Wahoo...The great blog-off begins! I am excited to see what the month brings and also encourage everyone to read my fellow bloggers blog: Oh, My Aches And Pains! Selena is a great friend, fellow pet parent and excellent writer!

Selena is my hero in that she rescued both her dogs….well, technically she rescued Brunswick, the poodle and he rescued Theo, the terrier. Or as Selena calls him the “terrorer”. Theo is still a puppy and is in the fun chewing stage! You should see the pic of my nephew Brunswick on her blog....so cute! She is such a good pet parent! Her dogs are always on a leash and you should see the tricks they do! Selena is a good pet parent AND trainer!

Selena is a good friend and great writer! Check out her blog too! And keep an eye on this spot for more from me! Stay tuned!

The Blog-Off Begins! :)

Wahoo...The great blog-off begins! I am excited to see what the month brings and also encourage everyone to read my fellow bloggers blog: Oh, My Aches And Pains! Selena is a great friend, fellow pet parent and excellent writer!

Selena is my hero in that she rescued both her dogs….well, technically she rescued Brunswick, the poodle and he rescued Theo, the terrier. Or as Selena calls him the “terrorer”. Theo is still a puppy and is in the fun chewing stage! You should see the pic of my nephew Brunswick on her blog....so cute! She is such a good pet parent! Her dogs are always on a leash and you should see the tricks they do! Selena is a good pet parent AND trainer!

Selena is a good friend and great writer! Check out her blog too! And keep an eye on this spot for more from me! Stay tuned!

SAVE CHUCK!!

I am an avid TV fan. A fan of well-written TV! It can be meant for teens (Gossip Girl), action packed (24), funny (30 Rock) or campy (Ugly Betty). As long as it is well written, I will watch it.

Which brings me to one of the most well written, funny, action packed and heartfelt shows on TV:



Chuck is about an accidental spy living in two worlds, his spy world and his "normal" world. It is also about the inhabitants of both those worlds and what happens when those worlds start to mingle. The cast of crazies is led by the amazing Zachary Levi, who is so good that you expect to walk into your local Best Buy and see him running the "Geek Squad". Zach plays the title character Chuck, who moonlights as a spy while working days at the "Buy More" running the "Nerd Herd". Attempts to disguise the Best Buy goof are thinly veiled at best but they are hilarious!

The spectacular Adam Baldwing and Yvonne Strahovski lead the spy pack and it's Strahovski as the object of Chuck's affection and her sorting between her feelings for him and her job that give this show heart!

Words can't do this show justice and it says a lot when I let "24" sit on my TiVo for a week but rush home to watch "Chuck". If NBC lets this one go, it will be a HUGE mistake! It will seriously make me think about my devotion to broadcast TV and their respect for the viewers. I hope by this time next week, after NBC announces it's fall lineup, I will be breathing a sigh of relief!

SAVE CHUCK!!

I am an avid TV fan. A fan of well-written TV! It can be meant for teens (Gossip Girl), action packed (24), funny (30 Rock) or campy (Ugly Betty). As long as it is well written, I will watch it.

Which brings me to one of the most well written, funny, action packed and heartfelt shows on TV:



Chuck is about an accidental spy living in two worlds, his spy world and his "normal" world. It is also about the inhabitants of both those worlds and what happens when those worlds start to mingle. The cast of crazies is led by the amazing Zachary Levi, who is so good that you expect to walk into your local Best Buy and see him running the "Geek Squad". Zach plays the title character Chuck, who moonlights as a spy while working days at the "Buy More" running the "Nerd Herd". Attempts to disguise the Best Buy goof are thinly veiled at best but they are hilarious!

The spectacular Adam Baldwing and Yvonne Strahovski lead the spy pack and it's Strahovski as the object of Chuck's affection and her sorting between her feelings for him and her job that give this show heart!

Words can't do this show justice and it says a lot when I let "24" sit on my TiVo for a week but rush home to watch "Chuck". If NBC lets this one go, it will be a HUGE mistake! It will seriously make me think about my devotion to broadcast TV and their respect for the viewers. I hope by this time next week, after NBC announces it's fall lineup, I will be breathing a sigh of relief!

My Writer's Assistant

I have an assistant. He is sweet and gives me inspiration for the task at hand. Did I mention that he let's me pick what we watch while writing and ....oh yeah....he is very very handsome. Here is a pic



He is one of my dynamic duo: my Rotties, my loves, my heart! I love this bug bug and his brother more than I thought possible! Thor sits at the foot of the bed while I sit at the top and type. He would rather be watching "animal Planet" but is ok with me watching "Private Practice" on TiVo. Bear is off chasing birds in the backyard and comes in to get his hugs while checking to make sure all is well! I love the two of them and they love me! Life is good!

My Writer's Assistant

I have an assistant. He is sweet and gives me inspiration for the task at hand. Did I mention that he let's me pick what we watch while writing and ....oh yeah....he is very very handsome. Here is a pic



He is one of my dynamic duo: my Rotties, my loves, my heart! I love this bug bug and his brother more than I thought possible! Thor sits at the foot of the bed while I sit at the top and type. He would rather be watching "animal Planet" but is ok with me watching "Private Practice" on TiVo. Bear is off chasing birds in the backyard and comes in to get his hugs while checking to make sure all is well! I love the two of them and they love me! Life is good!

OK...Now I Have To Keep This Up!

I am the queen of procrastination so that is why I put the shout out to my friends on Facebook to follow my blog! I am hoping that will help me to keep my plan of one post a day! One post a day....they say the biggest challenge for writers is finding the discipline to sit and write each day. So, my friends, you are my inspiration and motivation to do just that! Challenge me and hold me accountable if I am not doing what I set out to do. Discipline has never been a strong characteristic of mine!

I am headed to work but will post more when I get home tonight!

Cyn

BTW....hugs and kisses to Selena! She is so excited about my blogging, she followed me twice! LOL

OK...Now I Have To Keep This Up!

I am the queen of procrastination so that is why I put the shout out to my friends on Facebook to follow my blog! I am hoping that will help me to keep my plan of one post a day! One post a day....they say the biggest challenge for writers is finding the discipline to sit and write each day. So, my friends, you are my inspiration and motivation to do just that! Challenge me and hold me accountable if I am not doing what I set out to do. Discipline has never been a strong characteristic of mine!

I am headed to work but will post more when I get home tonight!

Cyn

BTW....hugs and kisses to Selena! She is so excited about my blogging, she followed me twice! LOL

A couple of nights ago, I was engaging in America's new favorite pastime, stalking people on Twitter and something stuck out to me! There is Ali Sweeney of Biggest loser fame, tweeting about how she is going to the Springsteen show. Greg Grunberg of Heroes....going to see The Boss. But the one that really got to me was one John Mayer! Now I am all for my musical heroes enjoy each others work and getting inspiration from each other which is the reason John said he was going to the show! Awesome that he is worshiping at the feet of one of the masters, as John is prone to do! But when it dawned on me that the reason I was home instead of at the show was that I just spent a fortune going on John's cruise to Cabo...well, that just sucks! In the imortal words of my mother, "who said life was going to be fair".



I know...I know...poor baby...whining because she just spent money on a cruise she couldn't afford and now can't afford to go to a concert! Yes....I am well aware of how blessed I am in this economy

Mayercraft-It's An Attitude

The attitude adjustment starts before you even leave. You wake up in the morning and you feel different! The sun is shining, it's a gorgeous day and the weight of the world temporarily feels like it's lifted off your sholders. You aren't going to work, you are headed to the Cabo with John Mayer and 2, 800 music fans! How could you possibly be anything other than hopeful, excited, elated?

Reality Sucks

This time last week I was having lunch on the deck of a cruise ship waiting for John Mayer to take me to Cabo. Today I am spending lunch worried about the stray dog outside of Trader Joes. Abandoned? Backyard escapee? No one is sure. What I do know for sure is reality bites.
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Reality Sucks

This time last week I was having lunch on the deck of a cruise ship waiting for John Mayer to take me to Cabo. Today I am spending lunch worried about the stray dog outside of Trader Joes. Abandoned? Backyard escapee? No one is sure. What I do know for sure is reality bites.
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Recovery From The Mayercraft

Its been 2 days since the boat docked and I am finding it hard to adjust. How do you assimilate back into the 9-5 grind when you have just spent 4 glorious days at sea with some of the friendliest, coolest music fans on the planet?? (2,800 of them to be exact). How do you get over being among the 75 or so people who were lucky enough to catch the comedy stylings of Mr. John Mayer....or lucky enough to be able to say you danced to his dj'ing? How do you get over the joy of basking in the Cali sun on deck as we sailed away while John played an amazing acoustic set with DRH....even debuting a new song??

I am going to try and work through what John Mayer calls "post departum depression" by blogging about the most amazing experience I have ever had the pleasure of paying through the nose for. I have to do something. My dogs are tired of trying to balance trays of fruity drinks on their heads as they walk through my room!
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Greetings From Wonderland Pt. 1

Mayercraft Days 1 and 2

My what an awfully big.......BOAT:



we drink this.....



....to get through this:



The Lido Deck became the "Libido" deck. Ground zero for good times:





Cool breeze, fruity drinks, John Mayer acoustic on the Lido as we sailed out to sea:





Cool thing about a cruise....BATH TOWEL ANIMALS:



Cabo Wabo...where "there is only one way to rock":





The "bathrobe guys"! The gang that put the "party" in "bachelor party":




More to come...stay tuned! :)