Posts Tagged ‘hair’
Did you know you’re a supermodel?
When people ask what I do for a living and I tell them I’m a supermodel, I’m only half kidding. Sure, they chuckle — especially when learning that I’m actually a screenwriter who works behind the cameras rather than in front of them. But if I happen to share that I took off over 250 pounds of excess weight over a decade ago and have kept it off ever since, they then start to notice my model-like swagger. After all, as someone who used to wear a size 60” belt (as long as I am tall), I never thought that I’d be able to fit into and wear clothing that wasn’t purchased at one of those Big and Tall stores. So now that I do, I’m only too happy to strut my stuff — no runway required.
And I’ve got news for you. You’re just as much of a supermodel as I am. Perhaps even more so.
Before moving to Los Angeles, I worked in the fashion industry as both a copywriter and art director. This gave me the opportunity to work with real life models and supermodels — most of whom were surprisingly human. When working in New York City with some of the biggest names in the biz (at the time), I weighed in excess of 400 pounds. You can only imagine the heads that turned when I would walk into a meeting to discuss some designer’s latest clothing line. I was the extra-large square peg trying to fit into the fashion industry’s round hole. But being from the other side (the real world side), I was determined to find out the secrets that these creatures of beauties knew, but that they didn’t seem to be sharing with the rest of us.
To my surprise, most professional models (the ones who wanted a lasting career at least) were pretty darned normal. They put on their pants one leg at a time. They got irritated when their hair didn’t turn out the way they wanted it to. And they also (surprise-surprise!) were conscious of what types of foods and how much of these foods they were eating (all the good things we learn about here and on other helpful websites like joybauer.com).
Sure, there was the occasional girl (an industry term not a sexist one, I assure you) who didn’t have to think twice about what she ate. But most models were careful about their food choices and portion sizes. And it’s while working with them that I began to pick up strategies that would help me eventually shed the 250+ pounds of my excess weight once and for all.
But my initial fascination with supermodels aside, I eventually began to realize that everyone around me was a supermodel in their own right. No matter if they were flying to Milan or trying to get the kids to school on time, everyone had agendas, everyone had schedules. Sometimes they met them. Sometimes they didn’t. But the real champs (whether appearing in magazine ads or not) carried themselves with grace at all times. And yes, I would even see this kind of grace in friends selecting vegetables while at the grocery store or picking random bits of baby food out of their hair after feeding time.
No matter what we do (or are trying to do) for a living, aren’t we all rockstars? (Oops. Sorry. I’ll try and stick to one analogy here.) But hopefully you’re starting to get my drift.
We’re all on life’s runway and all strutting our stuff. We have good days. We have challenging ones. But we’re making life work as best we can. And it’s when we throw our shoulders back, walk with proper posture and keep the right attitude that we can achieve even greater successes. This is true whether we’re trying to take off some excess weight, working to find that dream job or even simply meeting friends for coffee. We are all supermodels. And the sooner we own that, the more easily we can shift into carrying ourselves with a little more self-confidence — the kind of self-confidence that can help us meet all of our goals (even if said goals are going to take a little time).
So now the answer to the question posed in the headline of this piece… Did you know you’re a supermodel? Because, without question, you are one. And yes, with this proclamation, I’m giving you permission to work it however you see fit. As you scan this blog for your next favorite recipe, some fun snack food ideas or tips for looking your best, own your goals. Own your challenges. But also own your star quality… And make it shine.
Photo Source: Grunge Mummy
Meet my perm
Growing up heavy (okay, fat), I quickly learned the best way to pose for pictures. After all, I knew I was fat, but on some weird level, I must have thought I could hide it (or at the very least minimize it) by positioning myself behind people, furniture or walls.
I’m not sure what, exactly, I thought I was hiding. In retrospect, I guess I was really hiding from myself. After all, I wasn’t being honest with myself in regard to the amount of food (and therefore calories) I was consuming at the time. So why would I be honest with myself about my actual girth?
It’s for this reason that I marvel at the series of pictures taken at my heaviest weight. I knew I wanted to document all 450+ pounds of me as I began my 5,000th (10,000th?) attempt to get rid of the excess weight once and for all. But I’m still surprised that I not only posed people-, furniture- and wall-free, but even appeared without my shirt in one of the shots (stretch marks and all). Of course, these days I’m glad I was brave enough to pose for these pictures. They not only remind me of where I’ve been, but also of where I never want to ‘go’ again.
But there’s something about these photographs (taken when I was at my heaviest) that I find even more fascinating than my size 60-inch waist. Look closely at these shots and you’ll see I had a ‘perm’ in my hair. (And no, I didn’t lose a bet – this is a perm I not only paid for, but wanted.) And it’s this perm from my past that makes me laugh hysterically and cry tears of joy at the same time.
Before going public with my book and blog, I would only show my “Before Pictures” to a precious few. And if I would trot them out, I’d quickly point out the perm in my hair, noting that I was more embarrassed about getting a perm than I was about having boobs that would fit into many of my girlfriends’ bras (and yes, we tried once or twice).
But looking back on the perm, I must applaud my 450+-pound self. At that weight, I was terrified to go out into public and would often even food shop only at night or use only drive-thru windows at fast food restaurants in order to come into contact with as few people as possible. So the fact that I went to my hair stylist and ordered up a perm for something fresh and funky (emphasis on the funky) lets me know that even at 450+ pounds, I had not given up all hope of being part of the human race.
I remember always having a good head of hair on my head. As I kid, I was a sprightly red head, who soon evolved into having more of an auburn color mop top. I remember even at my heaviest that women would sometimes approach me and ask hopefully if my hair was colored and, if so, what hair colorist I went to. (They were usually disappointed when I told them it was all natural.) I suppose that these queries gave me hope at the time. It helped me to realize there was at least one thing about my physical appearance that I could work with in order to try and put my best foot forward.
Fact is, at 450+ pounds I was running out of clothing choices. I couldn’t even find many pant options at my local Big and Tall Stores (my waist had gotten that big). Thus, I’d taken to wearing sweatpants and one of two oversize t-shirts (sold as novelty shirts) that I could fit into. My fashion options had become virtually nonexistent. But damnit, I could control my head of hair. And I was gonna do so by getting a perm, which I guess was in style at the time. So even though I wanted to hide in my apartment for fear of being judged, I went to my salon of choice and ordered up some tightly wound curls.
Look at me, world! My hair is permed! Woohoo! (Now, someone point me to the nearest auditions for the next community theatre production of “Annie.”)
Funny. Sweet. And a little heartbreaking.
But solid proof that I hadn’t completely given up on life. And it’s that ‘not giving up’ that eventually brought me to the point of caring enough about my appearance (and health) to shed my 250 excess pounds and keep it off once and for all.
If you know someone fighting obesity, or if, perhaps, you’re battling it yourself, what do you do for your physical appearance that could compare to my perm? Do you always make sure your nails are manicured? Do you make sure that your hair always looks good? Or are you do you have a shoe collection that would make Imelda Marcos jealous?
Whatever it is, that’s your proof that you care about your appearance (or that your friend cares about his or hers). And this ‘proof of caring’ can be the first step toward committing yourself to lasting and permanent change when it comes to other matters like losing weight and/or getting healthier.
So no matter what goal you have ahead of you (even if it’s a goal that you haven’t quite committed to yet), think about how you can affect your life (and your self-esteem) today. This moment is all you have. So do something that boosts your ego and adds a little pep to your step. These small enhancements can fuel your dreams of achieving all of your goals, whether health or appearance related.
It’s all about showing faith in yourself and making an effort in the present moment. And if I can do it – even with a perm – then you can, too. Isn’t it time you made a perm-anent commitment – to yourself? (If so, please let me know!)
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