Ms. Cheevious in Hollywood

My Zany Years Spent Working in Tinsel Town

Single Women

Hot or Not THIS

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Okay.  I just hate those lists. You know them – the Hot or Not, Who’s Who, Most Likely to Succeed, or whatever-you-can-think-of lists?  In my opinion, they’re shallow, inhumane approaches to valuating people, based on lame sets of criteria, impossible to understand, follow or measure.  Don’t you think?  Well at least we all talk about how shallow and unscrupulous these types of lists are…  just as we read them, cast our votes, make our own judgements, and tune in to our favorite tv show or results episode to see if we were “right.”  I admit it.  I’m guilty as charged.  Though, I can’t say I’ve ever actually visited or voted at one of those Hot or Not websites. I am one of the most opinionated people I know, however.  Just ask anyone who watches television with me.  It doesn’t go without comments out-loud, like “Yeah, right.  Like anybody would really do that!” or “BAD hair day!” or any other wisecrack you can think of.  And I have tuned in to see and voted for the next American Idol on more than one occasion.

I’m sure there are pure, more serious-minded creatures out there who don’t even waste a glance at silly little trivialities such as these. But we’re not here for them, now are we?

But this last week, this whole thing came to mind, because my boyfriend has a gal-pal who’s a chef.  He’s trying to get her to open a hip-cool night time spot in Moab.  He said, “You know, she should have really hot waitresses like they do at Cantina in Aspen.  Her place should have that.  It should be a cool, hip place to go.”  This only came about because his gal-pal asked if he would help out by waiting tables, to which he whooped a resounding “NO.”  The problem is, I couldn’t picture one single “hot” waitress at the Cantina in Aspen.  Not that they are ugly.  They each have their own attractive factor.  So, it actually made me proud of my boyfriend.  He saw their hotness beyond what the media says is “hot.”

So, in the spirit of true shallow, degenerate, perverted, yet fun-spirited behavior, I’ve compiled a very unique HOT OR NOT list.  This one contains just a few women that strike me as – well, something – one way or the other.  I think they are “hot or not” ha ha.  But this is a REAL WOMAN’S LIST.  I’ve got a good mix of sexy, beautiful, smart, powerful, you name it.

On a side note: this list also came about while reading USA Today this week, and observing some of the wicked-harsh comments made about Cindy McCain’s looks.  I raised an eyebrow at the comments some in the media have made, which sounded so childish and petty.  I am not even necessarily a McCain supporter, but veer more toward someone who did not or could not, in my opinion, make this list. But I provided a link to the article where McCain is listed below.  I just thought it was unfair, so she made the list.  I thought it’d also be interesting to see what the REAL pundits say.

But YOU decide!  Remember, “HOT” can come from many places:  brains, power, balls or moxxy, the hip-factor, or just plain sexy/beautiful.

DO THIS:

Copy and paste my list (complete list without photos at the bottom) into your reply and rank them with “1” being the highest.  If I get a lot of replies, then next week, I’ll post your HOT OR NOT list.  If not, I’ll just post them based on what I like!  BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR:  I don’t have these in any specific order.  But, here they are, with photos.  Remember, the list alone is at the bottom for you to cut and paste.

 
1. Cindy McCain.

Meryl as the Devil 
2. Meryl Streep.

 

 
3. Michelle Pfeiffer.

 
4. Ali McGraw

 
5. Angelina Jolie

Famed female politician in Nigeria. 

6. Margaret Ekpo – Nigerian Politician

 
7. Paris Hilton

 
8. Audrey Hepburn

 
9. Jessica Alba

 

10.  My Mother – Nereide Frances Padalino Sherwood – A mother of 11 children, a Cancer, Stroke, COPD and more-than-one-car-accident survivor, as well as HOT MOM.  I guess you can assume where she may rank on my list!  But REMEMBER: She is EVERY MOTHER.

Here’s your list to copy/paste and arrange in your HOT or NOT order.  #1 is THE HOTTEST:

Cindy McCain
Meryl Streep
Michelle Pfeiffer
Ali McGraw
Angelina Jolie
Margaret Ekpo
Paris Hilton
Audrey Hepburn
Jessica Alba
Nereide Frances Padalino Sherwood

 

As for me:  I’m Always Hot Baby!  heh heh.  I’ve just been settling into the relaxing, fun, adventurous life in Moab for a short spell before I move to my new place in LA.  I’ll let you know the progress on those last three pounds when I’ve completed my move and can make heads or tales of what/when/why I’m eating!  ha ha!

Have a fantastic week!  And don’t forget this:  YOU ARE HOT.

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Blog content copyright 2008, LISA JEY DAVIS a.k.a. Ms. Cheevious

The Indelible Foibles of Drinking & Dialing (or Texting)

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“This i-phone!” my girlfriend Danielle shrugged, exasperated. 

“What’s the deal?” our friend Debra and I asked over breakfast.

“Last night I was texting back and forth with different people, and for some reason, when you hit ‘reply’ on a text message, sometimes it brings up the last person on your phone list, rather than the person you actually meant to reply to. So last night I was texting back and forth with Craig [sometime boyfriend] – and of course I did have a few glasses of champagne throughout the evening – and he was sending me texts like ‘where are you?’ or ‘what are you doing?’, so at one point I thoughtI was texting him and I said, “I’m on the corner by The Lounge. I’ll be the girl with the hot tits.””

Debra and I chuckled at that statement alone!  Then we heard the real punch line.  “So this morning, I was going through my old texts, and what I thought was a text to Craig, went to the taxi driver from earlier in the evening!” 

We roared with laughter.  The thought of that guy racing to her corner (since we are talking about small-town Aspen here), looking for someone who was hot-to-trot for him was just priceless. 

If you are new to this blog, welcome!  Come on in.  It’s fun here.  Would you care for a drink?  ha ha

Seriously, we’ve all had our share of experiences I’m sure (unless of course you do not indulge or over-indulge in the occasional alcoholic beverage), where we’ve said or done something embarrassing as a result of having too much fun.

cocktails.jpg

And be warned:  These sorted scenarios don’t only play out on the evening in question, but can carry over to the morning after, while we recover from the night before.

I’m sure this is why my friend Danielle thought for certain that the i-phone was her problem.  She continued, “So, this morning I had a text from Ellie, who was asking where I went last night, and I thoughtI was texting her back, when I said, “I met up with Craig and we had wild monkey sex until three in the morning.”  Hey – what can I say? Some of my best friends are base individuals – given to animal instincts and behaviors at times!

As we absorbed her comments, she delivered this little doozy: “Well, I just looked, and that text went to Craig.”  she said, mortified.

“Oh no!” we said, laughingly.  Then I offered, “That’s so weird!  There must be some faulty programming on those things. You should check for updates or something online.  I bet it’s a known problem!” 

In reality, it’s more likely the alcohol in her system to blame, rather than a renegade text mechanism in her i-phone.  I’m sure Danielle, now that her system is clear, knows this to be true.

So, though I have dealt with the consequences of drinking and dialing, the whole texting thing is a new one to me.  I mean, I’ve sent some indecipherable texts after a few cocktails.  I’ve even texted the wrong person, but generally the messages were harmless, and left my unintended targets scratching their heads, and later writing it off to my – well, blondness.

It begs the question, however, how does one, if inebriated, make the  level-headed “call” to step away from the cell phone?  I am asking this question as a student – someone who does not have the answers, I swear.  If I did, my friend, I promise I’d rattle off some list of do’s and don’ts!

I suppose the very same mechanism that kicks in, making some insist, by god, that they can drive, even though they’ve only had three? four? five? drinks, may be to blame here. 

What is it about this legal drug and its affect on us?  And why do some people have more command over their faculties than others?  I have some friends that get just plain stupid when they drink. I don’t even want to be around them.  Then there are others that seem perfectly normal.  Or could it be that I’ve had as much to drink as they have on those occasions?

I can offer this sage advice, from years of doing the RIGHT thing:  If you don’t want to do anything stupid, determine that ahead of time, and be responsible.  If you find yourself guzzling the wine, perhaps you are actually thirsty.  Try a glass of water.  It’s actually refreshing.  And, as a wise man once said “Know thyself.”  Don’t be an idiot and think you can pound down the drinks without even developing a slight stagger or stutter.  Everyone does to a certain extent.  If you are going out to drink, learn from other people’s mistakes if you can and take precautions.  As a single mother, I learned long ago that you do NOT go out and drive if going out for a night of drinking. There are precious people I am responsible for, and it is just wrong. Don’t even BRING your car if you stand a chance of drinking over the course of an evening.  A hundred dollars in cab fare is far better price to pay than dealing with the myriad of other possible outcomes, which I won’t even go into here (the very least of these being a DUI).

So – enough about drinking, dialing and texting.  I know you are all sitting, waiting with bated breath to hear about my results for the week.  In case you’ve not been here, I’ve been on this challenge to get back to a healthy eating lifestyle.  I’ve been known for being an incredibly disciplined eater for most of my post-divorce, adult life.  That is, until a few years ago.  It got to the point this past January, where I put some of my favorite clothes on and they looked awful.  There were bulges where it use to be solid and lean, and I just didn’t feel as good as I’m accustomed to.  So, I got rigid.  Then I got lax (last week I actually gained half a pound).  Anyhow, I am back on track, and still determined.  You don’t get rid of bad habits overnight.  This I know. I’ve decided that until I reach my goal, I will not belabor the message in these posts.  I will simply state my goal, current weight and weight lost/gained. 

Sound good? Works for me!  Except, of course, for this week.  PSYCHE!  I am in Albuquerque, New Mexico to spend time with my mother who recently had a stroke.  I’ve been packing, condo hunting, moving, running a business and much much more ever since this whole thing started.  I’ve been traveling so much (just this month) that my whole system (physical and logistical) is off, and I decided not to go there.  I will weigh in on this (no pun intended) next week!  Know this:  Changing habits that you aren’t fond of (in yourself) takes determination, stamina and time.  You have to be IN it for real.  I am.  Bring it on, baby!  I’ve lost 8 of 11 lbs, and I am going to WIN. hee hee[digg=http://digg.com/food_drink/The_Indelible_Foibles_of_Drinking_Driving_or_texting]

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Yo Yo Me

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Up.

Down.

Up.

Down.

I’m nauseous already.  Sorry. 

But I’m being real here!  And at the same time, I’m waxing metaphoric.

The Realness? My battle to lose 11 pounds has now spanned over two months, and though I’ve managed to dodge the bullet, if you will, when it comes to gaining weight on weigh-in days, I’ve not managed to reach my goal yet.  All in good time ladies and gentlemen.  All in good time.

The Metaphor?   It’s all in the week I’m having!  Or month.  Or season?  It’s been so crazy – in a fantastic way.  My business (going from running full board to gangbusters in just about three months) is ever growing – something I’ve intended for quite some time.  My writing career has gone from non-existent to something to speak of – which didn’t happen really until I finally took the advice of the astrologist at the Ebony Magazine / Essence Awards After Party held at Merlin’s in the Universal City Walk back in 2002, who said “You are a writer. You should write. Now.”  – okay, so it’s not a totally reliable source, but hey, it got me writing. (I just got an email from a hot mommy’s website asking me to do a column – won’t say much more until it’s official, but that’s AWESOME).  It’s almost more than I could have imagined. Well, almost.

Heather Headley at 2002 Essence Awards

So, why does the picture above suddenly appear in my blog?  Well, that is Heather Headley.  You should look her up.  She is actually a FANTASTIC vocalist. She is somewhat of a Diva (at least it seemed that way to me), but she is the reason I was even AT the Ebony Magazine party that year.  I was dating her manager, but that is a whole OTHER story. HA!

In case you are new here – welcome!  I’ve been on this lonnnnnng, drawn out quest to shed a few pounds and get back to a healthy eating lifestyle, and I’ve taken my peeps along with me on the roller coaster ride.  I’ve had some challenges, but all in all, it’s been pretty simple I think. Once you put your mind to something, I am convinced you can achieve anything.  Yep.  Anything. 

So, on to the reasons for some of my YO YO – isms:

I’m buying a condo in Los Angeles.

Or am I? No, yes I am.  Well, I am trying to.  DO YOU SEE what I mean?  Yes. No. Yes. Buy Right Now. Don’t Buy Right Now. Hurry. Wait.  It’s dizzying! I had two condos in mind that I liked, after my last trip out to LA. The one I was leaning toward sold. Sounds simple enough, right?  Buy the other one, right?  No, it’s not so simple.  The let-down on the first condo – it was soooo cool – coupled with some things my worry-wart Realtor said about the shaky market and when I should strategically make my offer on a property, made me rethink everything. 

So.  Here’s the lowdown on my dizziness:   I’m in Aspen.  I’m going to Moab in a few days.  Then I go to Grand Junction, Colorado with my boyfriend to celebrate his birthday – woo hoo – Grand Junction (don’t ask – it was my idea, and I’m sticking to it). Then I’m flying to Albuquerque to spend time with my mom.  I need to be with her.  I’ll be there a few days, then I fly back out to LA to hunt some condos down.  Then I go back to Albuquerque to spend more time with mom.  Then I’ll be back in Moab.  Then we (my boyfriend and I) go to Aspen to pack up that condo.  Then we are moving all of my belongings to GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE.

Stop. Start. Stop. 

Travel. Stay.

Shave. Grow. 

Sneeze.  Don’t. 

I just threw that last one in to shake things up a bit, and see if you were reading.  Don’t you hate when you need to sneeze, and suddenly it’s just GONE?

Well, anyway – here are my health quest results for this week.  I have to say that considering the following:

Easter (fantastic brunch at the St. Regis Hotel in Aspen)
PMS (can you say “monthly bloat?”)
My friend Tanya came to visit for a couple of nights to PAR-TAY in Aspen
My twelve year old son came to Aspen to snowboard and take a vacay, which meant eating out and movies and popcorn.

Considering all that, I did not do so bad!

Start Date:  Thursday January 31, 2007
Height: 5′ 5″
Goal: 125 lbs
Beginning weight:  136 lbs
Weight after week 1:  132.5 lbs (02.07.08)
Weight after week 2: 130 lbs (02.14.08)
Weight after week 3: 130 lbs (02.21.08)
Weight after week 4: unknown – no scale! yippee! (02.28.08)
Weight after week 5:  128 lbs (03.06.08)
Weight after week 6:  127.5 lbs (03.13.08)
Weight after week 7:   127.5 lbs (03.20.08)
Weight after week 8:   128 lbs (03.27.08)
Net Loss / Gain this week:  + .5 lbs 
IT’S A GAIN – OKAY I USE TO HATE THE MOAB SCALE.  NOW I KINDA LIKE IT.
TOTAL Net Loss:   8.0 lbs 

Time to buckle down and get back on track.  No more Mister Nice Guy.  For those of you who read this and think ‘Wow, it just seems so hard,’ don’t.  It’s not that hard.  I just underwent a brief stage of the “Cutsies,” as a wise Weight-Watchers counselor once told me.  We get a few pounds off, and we start to think, ‘Hey! I’m lookin’ pretty good.  Now I can eat whatever I want!’  But the really successful people – of course I AM one of those – stick with it, and don’t get discouraged, realizing it’s all part of the journey.  You’re Up.  You’re Down.  Physically, Mentally, Spiritually.  Don’t give up, or you won’t experience the bliss of success.   

So! I’m excited about the coming months and years ahead for me (and my lovely man), even though I’ve now added even more travel to my future, and it will be hectic and crazy at times.  Can you believe my man actually agreed to go on this wild ride with me? He doesn’t even like Los Angeles! He must really love me.  By the way – let’s wish him a Happy Birthday.  Happy Birthday to him! He’s an April Fool’s baby.  What does that tell ya? That he is a fool for love? Well, that works for me. He IS a love! Mmmmphhhhuuuuhhh!

Now Let’s Talk About You:  I actually don’t mind it so much when life gets hectic and crazed. How about you?  How do you handle things when your world gets tossled up a bit?  We’d all love to hear how you glide through life with chaos in your wings.  How you do so with charm, grace and sophistication.  Oh, and be sure to let us know if you are 40+ years or older, and haven’t a wrinkle to show for it.  (ha ha)

Also, do you think I am being too easy on myself? Should I have LOST weight this week?  It was “all so easy” in the beginning.  Do you think I should just buckle down, go postal on my body and LOSE THE LAST STINKIN’ THREE POUNDS ALREADY?  Please feel free to leave me a nice, friendly reply.  (ha ha)

[digg=http://digg.com/health/Yo_Yo_Me_The_Up_Down_Sideways_Adventures_of_Me]

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When Is Saying No Not Okay?

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It’s the wee hours of the morning, and I am wide awake.  Perhaps it’s that “decaf” coffee I’ve been drinking, which in retrospect, contained some flavored, caffeinated grounds as well?

Anyhow, my boyfriend underwent surgery early this week.  It was a surgery he put much hope in, as he’s been dealing with an illness for quite some time (since before I knew him), that since I’ve known him has gotten progressively worse (Yeah, I know.  The inferences are endless here, so spare me!).  He suffers with what the doctors believe is Eagle Syndrome.

He went in feeling and hoping that THIS surgery was going to be the answer. It may have been.  But he’s very stubborn.  I tried to explain to him that surgery is still trauma to the body, and that he would have to slow down afterward for at least a few days, no matter how good he felt, to allow his body to heal.

But noooo.  He went on an intense hike the day after his surgery.  He went on another one the following day.  Today he stayed in because he felt extremely sick.  Now he is feeling HORRIBLE. So bad, in fact, that he declined my taking him out to dinner to celebrate our Easter Holiday together (an early dinner as I will be out of town).   He went to bed hours ago, because he felt so sick.

Here’s the clincher.  I’ve been planning to leave tomorrow – or is it today?  I’ve been planning to leave on Friday the 21st, to head back to Aspen and get ready for my twelve year old son to come for the week.  Before going to bed, my boyfriend said, in a worried voice, “I don’t know what I’m going to do if I continue to feel this way, babe.”

Immediately, I’m embarrassed to admit that my heart sank.  Not because my boyfriend is being unreasonable, and not because he has even created this dilemma.  This conflict is my own.  I spent my entire married life (obviously, prior to this) revolving everything around my ex, his life, career, health and mental issues.  I sacrificed what I wanted to do ALL the time.  It’s a sensitive subject.

But I couldn’t help but feel like the right thing to do would be to cancel my plans and stay and take care of my man, until it was absolutely necessary to leave for Aspen.  I’d made plans to meet a girlfriend in Aspen, prior to my son’s arrival, but this only made me feel more guilty – like I shouldn’t have made those plans.

I am normally one to trust my instincts, but in this case I am just not sure what to do.  Am I being selfish?  Should I stay and take care of my boyfriend, or should I stick to my plan and trust that he can take care of himself?   Is it okay to say “no” to my instincts in this case? Or is saying “no” NOT okay in this instance? Would that communicate poor priorities to my love?  My boyfriend and I have worked hard to individuate and live healthy “individual” lives, while sharing everything with each other.  This is a tough one!  Give me some advice here people – because I am definitely struggling!

The Monster in Me

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Let’s just say that right about now, if you’ve been reading this blog, you know me pretty well.  You know things about me that shouldn’t be known, one of which is that my cardinal weakness tends to lie in, um, well, food.  I was about to say, sweets (and NO, nothing else. Get your minds out of the gutter!) but then I remembered my Pizza diversion last week.  And then of course, there was the decadent, delicious dinner on Valentine’s night at my favorite restaurant.  Then there was tonight’s menu at Pasta Jay’s, which I won’t even go into.  Have I forgotten something? 

I don’t believe I am a food addict, however.  (Yeah, yeah.  The first stage is denial, I know).  No really. I just have this fantastic relationship with food, and I am an exceptionally relational person.  Plus I love to cook.  I’m pretty good at it too.  I can pick out the spices that grace a phenomenal dish, and daringly attempt to recreate the dish on my own – even to my own detriment. 

So, what?  My own personal roller-coaster ride exemplifies the ups and downs, mind games, incredible temptations and roadblocks associated with injecting discipline into an everyday life – especially my life.  Anyone desiring real change in their life, need only visit me here regularly to see that it requires real, true commitment and the discipline, diligence and determination to weather the storm amid seeming failure.  As my mama use to say, “Anything worth anything requires something.”

Plus, as I near the end of this stinkin’ “get healthy again, fit into my summer suit” weight-loss challenge, it’s inevitable that I encounter and come face to face with one of the countless tempting, alluring, tasty treats or “no-no” foods that call out to me relentlessly. 

Of course it’s bound to happen,  since I am so close to complete success.  Go figure.  I’m about 3 pounds shy of my goal, and low and behold this great fiend of a “thing” hunts me down.  It is the still, small voice in the quiet calm of the day that I hear as clear as a bell.  It’s the hypnotist’s chime that mesmerizes me into a dazed trance and tugs at me until I surrender, bowing at its feet.  It’s my ultimate torturer, playing target practice with my senses and disabling my ability to reason, rendering useless all cognitive and self-restraint skills.

Hello, and welcome.  If you’ve stumbled in here by chance, be afraid. Be very afraid.  You’ve just entered my own personal nightmare.  Well, okay.  It’s not really a nightmare. 

Anyone who’s ever tried to slim down, lean out or trim the fat has dealt with this very same horror:

How do we conquer our own personal food demons? 

In my case, it’s not a demon, as I said, but a monster.  The problem is, mine is not really your everyday, average-joe kind of monster.  This guy is not content to stay in my closet, no.  He resides under my bed, in my closet, in my kitchen, in the car on the way to my favorite coffee place, at my desk and anywhere else I may be trying to stay faithful to my renewed sense of health. 

No matter what I do, I cannot get out of earshot from him.  To compound things, my monster is also a shape-shifter.  In the past he took the form of a Cinnamon Sugar bagel at Einstein Brother’s Bagels on Academy Boulevard in Albuquerque, New Mexico (because no other Einsteins made them the same).  They were toasted to perfection and smothered in butter, tasting like a hot, buttered cinnamon roll. 

Then, before I got too smart, my monster shifted into a Palmier cookie from the Champagne French Bakery Cafe in Los Angeles.  The mini version, of course.  You’d think it might as well be the large one, but no, this monster is clever.  You see, it convinced me that the mini palmier didn’t count.  Therefore, I could eat one every single day. I must admit, that flaky, buttery, crispy thing was yummy.  I finally got over that one by realizing that all that needless butter “in” would only turn to fat “out,” and I needed to regard my body as a temple.  Whole grains, vegetables, lean proteins like fish and poultry were all the essentials I needed.  But it was a tough one.

palmier.jpg

Now, as I prepare to divulge the latest shifting of this devious fiend, I want you to prepare yourself too.  You are going to laugh in disbelief at how non-devious and obvious this monster has become.  It’s almost as if my own personal monster has been dabbling in Buddhist philosophy, and become a Zen-master, fooling my mind to help me reach a higher plane or greater consciousness.  The new shape of my monster is:  drum roll, please:

The Monster Cookie at Red Rock Bakery Cafe in Moab, Utah. 

monster.jpg

What kind of joke is this?  Can you believe it?  You’d think my monster was doing the old reverse psychology on me.  Was I becoming too smart for my own good, that it had to shift into something so blatant, even I would be fooled?  Or is this the universe’s way of assisting me in finally overcoming the hurdle of the latest decadent food I’ve become enslaved to? Perhaps I’ll take this little realization with me tomorrow when everything starts all over again!

Being enslaved to a Monster Cookie in Moab, Utah wouldn’t be so bad, in any normal person’s life, because most people don’t reside in Moab, Utah.  Heck, I don’t even reside in Moab, Utah.  So, what’s the problem?  Well, my pretties, I do sort of reside in Moab part-time, and it just so happens that THIS part-time session has been during my weight-loss challenge.  The hitch with this monster?  The one thing that keeps me eating them?  Could it be that they don’t have any flour, so they must be low-calorie?  Well, that’s the snare, but it’s too good to be true.

Though I’ve not conquered my demons in totality, I like to think that I conquered my monster.  Today, I actually did it.  I finally conquered the Monster Cookie!

How?  I ate every last bit of it.  I even licked my fingers and grabbed the crumbs and ate those too.  It was all for you, I must say.  I had to quiet the monster, so I could report back that I’d done it.  And the only way I saw how (in a pinch) was to eat it and silence it’s voice forever (at least until tomorrow, that is).  Now the monster is indeed in me.  Get it?  The Monster in Me?  I crack myself up. 

Now the real question is, how do I get that thing out of me without going bulimic, and can I do it before weighing in?

You see?  I did say to be very afraid.

In my defense I promise in all honesty that I never have nor will I ever cheat at this thing.  It doesn’t do me any good.  I always know the truth.  So does the scale. I won’t lie about what I eat.  I won’t lie about my weight.  I will always take responsibility for my actions.  So if, when I weigh-in tomorrow morning just before sending this, I have gained weight, I will tell you. 

Here are my results for this week.  Please be kind.  Remember, I’ve had quite a challenging few weeks.  You’d almost never know I was trying to slim down, now would you?

Start Date:  Thursday January 31, 2007
Height: 5′ 5″
Goal: 125 lbs
Beginning weight:  136 lbs
Weight after week 1:  132.5 lbs (02.07.08)
Weight after week 2: 130 lbs (02.14.08)
Weight after week 3: 130 lbs (02.21.08)
Weight after week 4: unknown – no scale! yippee! (02.28.08)
Weight after week 5:  128 lbs (03.06.08)
Weight after week 6:  127.5 lbs (03.13.08)
Net Loss / Gain this week:  -.5 lbs – YEAH BABY!!
TOTAL Net Loss:   8.5 lbs  UH HUH!

All in all, I am like the energizer bunny of healthy eating.  When my world is crazed, and life is busy, and I am traveling and buying property and transitioning in life – I could easily give it all a rest.  So many of my friends have said things like, “Give it a rest, girlfriend. You are thin. You don’t need to worry about it, especially now!” But they have always said that.  No one has ever come to me and said, “You need to cut back girl.  You’ve been eating like a horse.”  No one, that is, except my anorexic ex-husband.  I actually see this time of transition and hectic schedules, and incredible pressure to be one that demands health to stay alive and to be able to enjoy that life.  I can do this, and I will.  I know I need it and that’s what truly matters.  I will not stop trying.  Today is the first day of my greatest success. 

So tell me, who, what or where are your monsters?  What are your secrets to overcoming them?

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Blog content copyright 2008, LISA JEY DAVIS a.k.a. Ms. Cheevious

Shimmy Shimmy Cocoa Pop, Zucchini on the Top!

by

I had quite an eventful week after chatting with you last. 

It started in Tampa, Florida, where I attended a business conference.  It’s also where I successfully fit into THE summer business suit.  Yes, that very suit.  You all know what I’m talking about.  Aside from the fact that THE suit I’m referring to has been the catalyst for this entire series of posts (regarding my urgent quest to shed 11 pounds), it’s also a part of your lives too.  You either own one, or you have something similar hanging in your closet.  It’s that one item that doesn’t look or feel as good as it use to, and yet you continue to store it in your closet.  Why?  Because of the promise of “some day.”

Some day.  We all know that nifty little “catch all” too well, don’t we?  How many times do you plan to do something, or simply envision life a certain way in the future, and yet some how, “some day” eludes even the best of planners? 

When I put MY summer suit on the first time, “some day” was no longer an option.  THE summer suit  precipitated a somewhat frenzied, yet long overdue reversion back to healthy eating habits, with the full intention of not only fitting into, but looking HOT in said suit.  And guess what?  I fit into my suit.  It looked great, and I felt great wearing it.  The shoes – not so much.  But as they say, “Fashion before comfort, baby.”

Welcome to part #263,000,432 of my series on, well, me.  And if I’ve actually fooled you into thinking that, my work here is done.  HA!  You’ve actually entered a place for people to read the stuff of an every-day life enjoyed to the fullest – shaken, not stirred.  And with a twist. It’s a place people come to read each week, because they laugh and they identify, and because we are all a little insane at times. But seriously, I am actually in the midst of a self-imposed weight loss challenge.  I will fill you in on my progress eventually.  So keep reading.  It’s very good, I promise (my weight-loss result, of course).

After writing last week’s blog post I hopped a plane in Tampa and headed to Los Angeles, California.  I am buying a condo in LA, and over this past weekend I hunted like an Amazon for the best deal, in the best neighborhoods.  It was also the day I received a call, with subsequent text messages from a sister I rarely hear from.  I was changing planes, and missed the calls and texts, but my heart leaped into my throat when I saw who it was.  My worst fears entered my mind.  I called my sister immediately to discover that our mom had suffered a stroke. 

It turns out that my mom, although 83, is doing okay. She’s a fighter, I tell ya’. But it was a scary and uncertain couple of days, which when pondered, brought to mind all the most important parts of our lives.  Forgive me if I wax sentimental here for a bit.  I know. For me, this is a stretch.  I found myself remembering my mom as my “mommy” who I loved so much as a kid – and of course, I still do today.  I really, really loved my mom though.  She was my very first best friend.  I called her ad nauseam at work every day after school.  Sometimes I would hear the receptionist say laughingly, before she actually put the phone on hold, “It’s Lisa again!”  But I didn’t care.  I needed to tell my mom what I thought about my walk home from school that day, and how funny something struck me on television, or how Billy Norton ate a grasshopper on the play ground, and “ewe” how gross was that, and whether I hated my homework assignment for the day.  She always listened and laughed and tried to accommodate my need for her over the phone, no matter how busy she was.

I realize now, without a doubt, that I never lost that best friend status with my mom, and even as she approaches the end of her time here on earth – and no one knows when that will be – she could be with us for many more years to come – I will always revere her and think of her as one of my very best of friends, as well as my mother, my nurturer and my very own special mommy.  She has no idea of the grand and beautiful legacy she has built over her lifetime, and I am a proud and very lucky part of that.

My mom was the consummate “hot mom.”  We grew up with incredible images of our mom as a youth – photos proudly displayed around our parents’ business and our home by our dad – of her in her late teens and early twenties, when she looked more beautiful than Rita Hayworth.  We knew that our mom was glamorous, beautiful, talented and incredibly intelligent.  What a role model, eh? 

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She was (and is) also very funny.  While we were growing up, she regularly did things (without meaning to) that cracked each and every one of us kids up.  We had so much fun around our house, we were taught that life was to be enjoyed.  And my mom is responsible for that.  She showed us all how to have fun or to look on the bright side, no matter what the circumstances.  She modeled it for us as well. 

Thinking about my mom like that truly reminds me of being a kid. 

It makes me remember simple things like wanting to learn to jump rope.  My mom took me out to buy one, because she understood. I remember working so hard at it so I could jump in with the other girls on the playground at school as they jumped to all the different chants and rhymes, like this one: 

Down, down baby, down by the rollercoaster,
Sweet, sweet baby, I’ll never let you go,
Shimmy shimmy cocoa pop, shimmy shimmy rock,
I met a girlfriend, a triscuit, she said a triscuit, a biscuit,
Ice cream, soda pop, vanilla on the top, 
Ooh Chelley, walking down the street, ten times a week,
I said it, I meant it, I stole my mamma’s credit,
I’m cool, I’m hot, sock me in the stomach or forget it.

Remember those types of meaningless games we’d play over and over again?  Okay, maybe it was (or is) just me.  But I have to admit, it was a carefree time, in the biggest, truest sense of the word.

And now, I find myself at a loss for funny words to describe my challenges of weight loss this week.  How does one mitigate the seriousness of life, with its very trivialities?  I guess that staying fit and lean, for me is not trivial.  It’s a matter of life or death, and the ability to enjoy that life that is so precious!

This week for me was all about survival, I suppose.  Not in a sad sense, but I just found it challenging to stay awake!  I was exhausted the entire trip!  But I did have some fun in LA, like seeing The Color Purple (INCREDIBLE), and going to the Clipper’s game (thanks, Bill!).

I suffered the usual missteps, like being served regular coffee instead of decaf (BAD thing to do to me), and feeling so shaky and almost hypoglycemic at an airport that I ate an entire large slice of pizza, only to arrive home and eat a giant cinnamon role at Zele Cafe – not to mention eating the remainder of a Cadbury Dairy Milk bar found in freezer when I returned home!  Now that’s WILL POWER  my friend!   

I can, however, leave you with this:  I stuck with it.  I could have hung it up, especially after that big pizza, pastry and chocolate day, and allowed myself a few more days lacking self control, but I didn’t.  I had to make the conscious choice NOT to.  It was also difficult staying on track in strange cities, at hotels and in airports.  I did what I had to do.  I went to the local grocer and bought organic baby carrots, I brought my favorite bite-sized chocolates with me, and I was a complete nuisance to waiters at restaurants (okay – that last one is always true – but I just love making up my own healthy menu item – without butter or oil, please).

I even blamed my hardcore antics on you guys! It was a real convenience, so thanks! Ha ha.  I only used it as a last resort, but I said something like, “Nope.  Can’t have it. I’m on this weight loss challenge with my blog, and I have to report my progress every week.  Sorry!” I know, it’s bad, but hey, whatever works!

My results for this week:

Start Date:  Thursday January 31, 2007
Height: 5′ 5″
Goal: 125 lbs
Beginning weight:  136 lbs
Weight after week 1:  132.5 lbs (02.07.08)
Weight after week 2: 130 lbs (02.14.08)
Weight after week 3: 130 lbs (02.21.08)
Weight after week 4: unknown – no scale! yippee! (02.28.08)
Weight after week 5:  128 lbs (03.06.08)
Net Loss / Gain this week:  – 2.0 YEAH BABY!
TOTAL Net Loss:   8 lbs  WOO HOO!

It just goes to show that persistence pays off.  If you’ve set a goal that seems difficult to achieve, don’t give up.  Keep your focus and stay determined.   You’ll get there. 

So many of you wrote me emails over the last two weeks asking what I am doing to lose the pounds, exactly.  Don’t forget that the first week of my diet is posted on my website for all to see.  Check it out.

Have you instigated your own “challenge” lately?  Are you trying to achieve a goal in an area of your life?  Hit reply to post and talk about it!  Be comfortable in your own skin, and have a wonderful week!

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Blog content copyright 2008, LISA JEY DAVIS a.k.a. Ms. Cheevious