How Much is Fitness Worth?

Featured on Rachel Ray today in her "Human Lab" were a pair of MBT Sport Shoes, which are said to be designed to help you walk more upright and tone your legs and glutes. MBT stands for Masai Barefoot Technology and there are many places which offer the sneakers online. However, the price-tag is around $250! Now, I freak out when I had to pay $75 for a pair of Easy Spirit sneakers. (I usually try to get them on clearance or on sale or at an outlet, but rarely do they have my size.) Yes, my new gym is supposed to open up next week and I'm really excited about being able to use the treadmills, but it looks like I'll be doing it in my new under $100 sneakers. I bet those $250 are nice, though. Maybe I'll have to treat myself for them eventually, but for now, it just seems silly to pay that much for a pair of sneakers I'll wear at a gym which will cost me only half that in membership and monthly fees!

TV women are just too skinny

Two weeks ago I was flipping thru and I caught a bit of Desperate Housewives on ABC and I was just so surprised at how ill the principal actresses appeared on screen. And then yesterday I was on the set of Cold Case, those actresses are a little on the too skinny side, too (they were also shorter than I thought they would be in person, but I digress). Then I see Kirstie Alley on the Jenny Craig commercials talking about how much weight she's lost and I don't think she looks all that wonderful. Sure she looks better than she did, but remember when she was skinny?

And I wonder, why am I so hypersensitive to this? I don't think it's simply because a few years ago an indie casting director told me I reminded him of Kirstie Alley and I looked all insulted. It was when she was doing Fat Actress.

It's no secret I used to be fat. Though I am by no means thin now, I am in thinnER, and most importantly, I FEEL HEALTHIER.

I am also an actress, and though I am talented a great deal of my success has to do with my image. I've had success with particular acting roles on-camera and live as well as some modeling, but it's always had to be - to some extent - qualified as "plus-sized". The sad fact is, I'd likely get more work if I were skinnier.

However, I am not going to starve myself to work. Even though my annual income as an actress could easily make me a "starving artist." I have always insisted that any exercise / diet plan would have to be for me to feel and look healthier simply because I wanted to do it for myself. Not for a career, not for a guy... as soon as I insist that others' approval hinges on how I look, I am defeated before I even begin.

I don't really know where I was going with this post. When I started I didn't think that was where I'd end up. Well, that's part of the fun of blogging, I suppose.

But don't be surprised if I get all caddy and comment on the red-carpet happenings at tonight's Golden Globes.

(cross-posted to miranda_lane on LiveJournal)