Is Kirstie Alley that needy ?

A woman of a certain age has found that one thing you never want to do is criticize another woman. It's just not done, it's rude...you don't throw stones if you live in a glass house. Well - -I believe I have a need.

I just finished reading the Sunday paper. It is one of my guilty pleasures. I drink coffee, listen to NPR and read a few papers. There were two articles one in entertainment and the other in perspective that caught my attention and hit a raw nerve.

First we'll dive into the perspective piece, well -written by a degree'd professional citing that 'fat' was the last legitimate and vocal prejudice. In her piece she noted that people that would otherwise be ashamed of telling jokes or making comments about someones race, gender preference or heritage; would participate in lambasting the fat. It appears that this is the last vestige - -girth ! She mentioned that Michele Obama was putting her girls on a diet. The point I believe was lost in that I believe Mrs. O's objective is to get her girls on a path to a healthy lifestyle. One that does include eating good, clean food, exercising and perhaps staying away from subversive behaviors, e.g. trans fats, smoking, excessive drinking and perhaps even sex...who knows. But - -brava to Mrs O - raising daughters today is a challenge (I know) and doing it under the microscope of the media is daunting ( Congratulations, Mrs. O)...and sad that the writer took it as another slam against the corpulent. The writer's claim was that fat people wear their shame. I believe she is correct. It did give me additional perspective. I have found that since my weight loss, I do look at the fat as something I can 'catch' again. It's like a virus - - I believe I am one slab of carrot cake away for descending into the abyss myself...which brings me to the subject...

I am terribly sorry - -this is a rant - -and needs to be framed accordingly- -and appearing in the entertainment section of the paper (which is where it belonged) It's about Miss Kirstie Alley. Yes, I was one of the millions that saw her lose her weight publicly, be a spokes model for Jenny Craig. I did see her reveal on Oprah - swim suit strutting...You go girl ! I also saw her beg Oprah for some sort of reward and Oprah being, well - -Oprah gave her a kitchen beyond belief. Kudos to Oprah for praising efforts. Shame on her for not being able to say "no" to the needy Alley; again - she is Oprah and Miss Alley could push the buttons and got swag (and Ned Berkus too). Demonstrating that being needing and asking for stuff publicly is both distasteful (I hate when people leverage Oprah as if she's the ultimate human ATM machine) and can get you home renovations (whether you are worthy or not).

As with most people who do have a weight issue, Miss Alley did relapse. For those of us who suffer with this, we feel your pain. What I don't get is the need to keep doing it publicly ? It appears that this is one big infomercial for her new product line - and using the reality format to gain attention and acceptance. What's with that ? Now on one hand, very few of us do have the platform to teach. Oprah does - -and again - she does demonstrate that this is a struggle and every day is a new beginning and we all need to do what is right for us. Miss Alley's method seems more needy and self-serving. Quite frankly...Who cares ? She has morphed into the Paris Hilton of the Chubby set. Guess what...We don't need a middle-aged clebra-tante to represent all of us mid-aged women who are basically invisible - hold on to a few pounds and obsess about what's in our new designer refrigerator. Lighten up - -figuratively and literally.

Dear Miss Alley - - Get treatment, do it privately and are you so needy that you need to share these intimacies with the balance of America - and now, the world wide web? Guess what...? We don't care. Please go back to your gourmet kitchen with your lemurs, eat yourself into a coma and leave us alone...Or - -better yet - -You are an actress - -Exercise your craft - get a real job - -like the rest of us. Leave us alone -or- make us legitimately pay to see you perform in something worth seeing (try - Ibsen, Williams, Shakespeare....anything...)

Note to the producers: What the hey are you thinking ? Do you want edu-tainment, sensationalism - -or do you really want to do something to benefit the viewer. Take a look at the "Biggest Loser" - -these are everyday people making a difference...Look at Mrs. Obama - -eat healthy and exercise (live by example)...even look at Oprah - -you can't just make the fat disappear - it's a struggle.

Note to Potential Viewers: Don't watch this crap - -! Get off your sofa and take a walk...talk to your kids, read a book, edify yourself in some other way. This is worse than pornography - you are wasting your precious time watching someone that requires your adulation to carry on - -oh, and by the way - -she is getting paid (yes, money) to perform for you. Does that make it more obscene ? It should...You can make this show from your own TV room...Video your family eating -and- vegetating all at the same time...Does it have the same entertainment value ? Here's the challenge - -Do not be a spectator - Be the star of your own world and participate...you will be surprised what you can accomplished. Write your own destiny ...

For all the other middle-aged women who carry a few (or many extra) pounds on your frame. Don't buy into this - -you are better than this. If you struggle, know that we all do. Once you do accept that this is difficult - that is half the battle. There are all methods to help you shed the weight. But it's like quitting smoking, the only person who can make it happen is you. Believe in yourself and amazing things can happen. Take a pill or short cut with Miss Alley and you'll be in the same loop as she is in. Remember - -we've seen her do this before. It's a re-run...Make yours the most individual and eventful journey you can. It's all about YOU not her.

With love,
Kit