UPDATE YOUR GOOGLE READERS, FAVORITES TABS AND BLOGROLLS!
I’VE MOVED! I now own my own “home”! The updated web address for my blog is http://poiseinparma.com – make sure to update accordingly!
TODAY’S POINT OF BALANCE: THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
If you aren’t familiar with my weight loss story, you can check out my “More Than” guest post over at Then Heather Said for the full tale.
I went from almost 250 pounds back in 2002:
…to maintaining this today:
I always tell people that I lost the weight “the old fashioned way”: by eating less and working out more. Yes, I took over seven years to lose over 115 pounds, but I’m more likely to keep it off because I made gradual changes to my overall lifestyle.
Even so, it’s easy to forget to give yourself some credit for the major accomplishments you achieve. My mom, on the other hand, is my number one fan and wanted me to get my pretty face out into the world.
After a good kick in the pants, she talked me into submitting my story. I chose to submit to one magazine: Women’s Health. I find I enjoy WH the most out of all the women’s health and fitness magazines. I always contently read every page cover to cover while enjoying my elliptical sessions! So just imagine my excitement when I was contacted by an editor from the magazine saying Women’s Health Magazine wanted to feature ME and my weight loss story!
If you read the magazine, you are familiar with their monthly feature called “You Lose, You Win”. In it, they feature your average WH reader that has lost a significant amount of weight. You can check out some of the previous ladies’ features on the Success Stories page on their website.
After doing a phone interview last month, the editor contacted me to do a photo shoot to show my new “healthy, active, dynamic” me! I met a local photographer and his assistant down at Voinovich Park, right behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, along the North Coast Harbor.
The day of the shoot, I met the photographer Greg Ruffing and his assistant Tim Harrison at 9AM. After they set up their equipment and I took a brisk walk around the park to loosen up, we spent the next few hours taking some really great pictures. Greg took a nice variety of photos: this included me in some yoga poses along Lake Erie. He took some beautiful photos of me in dancer pose and Warrior 3. I was nervous when we started, but it my nerves went away quickly – must have been all the yoga!
While working with the editor at Women’s Health, she had nothing but the highest praise for Greg. Now I see why. Greg and Tim were a joy to work with. If I didn’t have somewhere to be that day, I would have suggested grabbing some brunch to hang out the rest of the AM!
While I won’t get to see the photos until after they run in the magazine, Greg’s been kind enough to share some of his other work with me to post on the blog.
You can see the full assortment of Greg Ruffing’s work on his photography website and on the Redux Pictures website.
He also writes a blog that is worth clicking over to!
Also, don’t forget to check out Tim Harrison’s photography website. Tim was a great assistant on the shoot, even being kind enough to laugh at some of my lame jokes that morning!
Due to contractual obligations, we won’t get to see the pictures until they run in the magazine. My feature is schedule to run in the October 2010 issue. So mark your calendars for mid-September to check the newsstands – this crazy lady will be gracing your grocery store checkouts then!
this is so exciting!!!
congratulations!!!
That’s great news, congrats!
Aww Alicia! I couldn’t be happier for you – that is so exciting! All of your weight loss hard work has paid off ten fold! 🙂
(oh, and thanks for the picture shout out, you are too sweet!)
That is amazing. I’m too scared to submit my story because I don’t feel that I am an after yet!
Fantastic!! You deserve it!!
Congrats on buying your own domain and congrats on the magazine thing!!! That’s awesome!
Congrats! I’m very excited for you for both things-especially the magazine-I noted it in my calendar!
Congrats! That is so exciting! I will def. buy that issue!
I couldn’t think of a more deserving person for that feature! Congrats!
Holy crap! That’s awesome! Congrats!!
ohhhh congratulations!! you deserve recognition for the awesome job you have done :). can’t wait to see the issue when it comes out!!
– Beth @ http://www.DiningAndDishing.com
That is so great Alicia! Congratulations. You look great and I’m sure your story will inspire many!
That is CRAZY awesome!!! I am so excited to read your story in print! I subscribe to Woman’s Health too – it’s probably the only fitness mag I’ll continue reading, the others are too flimsy in terms of recommendations and stuff, but I love WH! That is so awesome!! Congrats girl, you deserve it!
How exciting! Congrats. 🙂
just have to write it again- this is amazing A!!!!!!!! you will be a worldwide celeb!!!! AWESOME!!!!
CONGRATS, pretty!
so proud of you!
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you that you get to share your story in more than just your blog. I read those stories every month and am so inspired 🙂 Can’t wait to see yours in print!
Congrats Again Alicia…you are an inspiration to me and so many others. You did this the right way!!! But remember that you have always been special…I knew the moment you were born…now the rest of the world will know!
That’s awesome! Congrats.
Hi there! I just found your blog and I find you and your story so inspiring!!! I’m someone who went down 100 lbs too, but over the course of 2 years, gained back 50 and got to a place where I feel aweful and sad when i look in the mirror. It’s so hard to get to what you’ve achieved – maintenance. That’s the part that you hsould get the most credit for! Congratulations on your success and for being featured on Women’s health!!
Alicia, you are a true super star. It’s so great that you and your story are going to be shared with millions of people. Our family has enjoyed you for your entire life and we always knew you were special. Now every one will know what a very special person you are. Congratulations on all your achievements. I know there will be many, many more achievements ahead of you. I hope nothing but happy days for you. I love you dearly. BTW, as Olga would have said “You go away girl!”
Alicia–This is beyond amazing; congratulations! You have so much going for you! As I always say, you are such a role model! =]
OMG that’s amazing! Congrats!!!!
This is so so so amazing!!!!! I can’t wait to read it. I did not know you had lost that much weight-I assumed you were a naturally thin person!
Congratulations! What a wonderful honor.
I am so proud of you & hope that you can inspire others to go about change in a healthy & smart manner. You have been on a long journey and prove that it never ends, for that is life.
Glad to have found you, my long lost sista’ 🙂