@juliejulie in a Bikini?

So, good for you Valerie. I know getting your body back took a lot of work, especially since you had to eat Jenny Craig food for a very long time to do it.

And it must be really fun for you to wear a bikini again. As someone who's never worn a bikini, except maybe as a confident, chubby four year old, I'm not sure what it feels like.

If I could wear a bikini, would I? It seems like I'm too old for that kind of thing now, but hey, you are older than me, and you seem to have pulled it off.

There may be air brushing involved in this picture of you, which I will not have access to at the beach, but I will accept you as you appear, and your bravery for sharing your struggle with your weight anyway.

I have to admit, this picture of you got me thinking about me (like usual!) and my 43 year old body. It made me wonder if I could get into bikini shape, even if I choose to wear a modest tankini from J. Crew instead of a sexy mint green thingy that could be untied quick as a wink by a naughty prankster.

In my attempt to be brave and change my body from very flabby to less flabby, I've decided to partner with Matt and Kim Barrett, owners of two of Bend, Oregon's Snap Fitness personal training studios (NW Crossing and Brookswood) and try to get in better shape.

There's a Snap Fitness about a mile from my house, and I hate to drive anywhere far away to work out. It seems silly, like I should just go for a run in my neighborhood and do some sit ups in my family room for heaven's sake, not get in the car and DRIVE to do sit ups.

Right. So, the sit ups in the family room thing? Doesn't really happen much. Also, my husband is not as pushy as those personal trainers are bound to be. When he says "Let's do sit ups!" I say, "Good for you! Go for it!"

At this point I usually run about 15 miles a week, walk with a weight vest for about 10 miles a week, and have cut out wine, and most refined foods, including sugar (except for an occasional piece of birthday pie, when forced). I'm losing a pound or two, here and there, but I know I have to do some weights and push ups to really make the flab melt. I do have muscle, it's just covered up.

So Valerie, I hate push ups as much as sit ups, by the way. Also, wall sits? HATE. And let's not get started on lunges. Did you have to do lunges, or did the Jenny Craig food just magically melt your body into bikini shape on it's own?

Matt did not mention lunges, but he said I should try kickboxing and throw one of those medicine ball thingies around the room. That will be a hoot, I can assure you. There's been talk of video. I may regret this whole thing, shortly.

I will admit I like the idea of Kickboxing. Do I get to wear gloves? Will I end up looking like Hilary Swank? Will Clint Eastwood be there? Seriously, that wouldn't be such a bad thing. I bet Hilary looks good in a bikini.

Did you do kickboxing, Valerie? If so, I hope you weren't wearing the string bikini at the time.

Don't worry Valerie, even if I do get a bikni body like yours, I don't think I'll push you out of the limelight. I doubt if I'll make the cover of People Magazine, and I'm not sure I'd want to. But I'll see what I can do in the next 6 months, and then we'll talk some more.

I'll Snap to it now, and keep you posted. Have fun at the beach, you've earned it, and watch out for naughty pranksters.