Inspiration for Weight Loss After 50 from Lisa Kudrow!!

Lisa and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Phone Call

Pearl One

Did you know that Lisa Kudrow was rejected by Saturday Night Live in 1990? Four years before bringing Phoebe Buffay to life in 1994?

True.

And Lisa’s had plenty of company like John Mulaney, Tim Roberts, John Cusack, Rachel Bloom, Cameron Diaz, Geena Davis, Kevin Hart, Mindy Kaling, Ellie Kemper, Jim Carrey and so many more.

I’m just guessing, but Lisa likely auditioned for SNL, praying, hoping, and crossing every finger that she’d landed the job.

Then she got the call.

First, she was probably numb. Then she likely cried for the first day or two. Maybe took in a movie to get her mind off the rejection, and in the evenings possibly had one or two glasses of wine with her ice cream.

“I remember being super disappointed,” Lisa told Vanity Fair, “because I thought, ‘maybe you’re one of those people for whom good things don’t happen.'”

Four years later, she made it happen.

I’m not surprised these days to see a story arc like Lisa Kudrow’s and everyone else in the “SNL Reject Club” who auditioned feeling like they’re this close to being a huge star with the money and the fame and the access to great roles.

Only to have it all ripped away by one little phone call.

My Point

Champions like Lisa Kudrow and the other SNL’s rejects, likely feel awful for days or even weeks after they get the call, but then they dig in their heels and get back to their grueling climb which is why the long list of rejected celebrities doesn’t surprise me. People who’ve “made it” in any field are go-getters who over-deliver time and again. They’ve learned how to talk to themselves to maintain their focus. Sure, they allow themselves time to mourn, but they don’t see a setback as being indicative of anything.

The important takeaway: allow yourself to be moved by Kudrow’s example.

Let her trek inspire your trek.

In your journal ask yourself this:

• If Lisa was “super disappointed” after the SNL phone call, how do you guess she managed to audition for Friends (four years later)?
• How do you rally when you’ve felt “crushed”?
• Why don’t you just give up on smart eating? What propels you forward?
• What prominent person in our culture inspires you? And why?

When a strong question is asked in front of a pad of paper and a pen (that works), the gems appear. ♥

Pearl Two

Back when we were little, overeating really did keep us tethered to life, giving us comfort, or even delivering welcomed numbness that brings its own relief.

Fast forward decades into the future and the substance that was so calming back then is today, dangerous. Think I’m overstating it?

We’ve both read the articles that say being overweight leads to so many problems and diseases. In my life, I’m certain that being overweight lead to my gallstone surgery and, at another time, falling on my own foot and breaking it.

So, consider reframing overeating from it’s a comfort to instead being overweight doesn’t serve me in my life and only brings disappointment and diagnosis that I can live (literally) without.

This is the moment when I always go back to my “why.”

I don’t mean to overstate it, but the “why” in our lives is everything.

• I mean, I have tolerated a variety of situations because my sons were my “why” (hello? Paging Chuck E. Cheese, the worst pizza known to mom-kind).
• I maintained a strong “why” when we pulled our two out of Kindergarten after four months. A loved one didn’t speak to me for a year.
• I relied on an ironclad “why” as I homeschooled the boys through two moves and into college. (No judgement if you didn’t homeschool your kids, I happen to think homeschooling is like a calling rather than “everyone should do this” kind of thing.)

Two Takeaways

There was a time when food was a comfort. Today, food is hurting us. So, the journaling question is: how do we go into the very core of our being and discover what matters the most to us. ♥

Pearl Three

Our last “stacking” for November. I heard a guy on Instagram say, “Our brains are like a supercomputer. Our self-talk is the program. Our brains are always listening when we talk to ourselves.”

Pull out your journal and write to these prompts. When I wrote, I was quite surprised at some of the answers.

I really love that I . . .

I can always count on myself to. . .

It’s taken time, but I’ve learned to be great at . . .

Learning to manage . . . 

I like that I learned how to . . .

I’m tickled that I developed a habit of . . .

Next write one word to each answer. For example, these were my six words.

I’m saying this stack to myself daily and it’s been especially supportive during tough moments when it seems like the blanket of negativity is descending. ♥

Pearl Four

Our food slot. A sweet reader – “M” wrote to ask me whether the whole wheat pumpkin muffins that I love would work as a pumpkin loaf.

I thought, sure, why not? I’m a fan of the muffins because they come in their own serving-size.

But whether you’re team-muffin or team-loaf, I’m repeating the recipe here. I eat these as mini-meals throughout the cold months. And the pretty photo is from “M” too. Yum, right?

Also, this recipe is a go-to for eating before you eat.

Set the timer for 375 degrees.

Mix together dry items:

• 1 cup flour
• ¾ cup whole wheat flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar (only 3 tablespoons!!)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt (an eighth!!)

Mix Wet:

• First, melt 2 tablespoons butter (just 2!).
• 1 whole egg (add two eggs for more protein).
• ¾ skim milk (but almond milk works just as well).

Now the fun part:

• If you want pumpkin pie muffins: add ¾ can of pumpkin puree to the wet mix and one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to the dry mix.)
• Want apple pie muffins? Add a peeled and diced Granny Smith apple and a mashed ripe banana to the wet mix along with one teaspoon of cinnamon to the dry mix.
• Love banana bread? Mash three to four super ripe bananas and along with a teaspoon of vanilla add to the wet.

Bake muffins for 18 to 20 minutes.

“M” baked her loaf at 350 degrees for one hour. Once baked, she sprinkled powdered sugar on top! ♥

Pearl Five

Never, never, never give up.” — Winston Churchill

Two days into the long weekend. Today is the day to give the leftovers to the wild animals or the happy neighbors. 🙂

Have a great long weekend and see you on Tuesday!

♥, Wendy

P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!

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