Celebrating Mother’s Day (and My Mom)!

On days like this, I miss my own mother, who passed away seven years ago.

My mom in the mid-90s. Wasn’t she purdy?

In honor of my mother, Mariana Jusino, and all our mothers (both with us and not), please consider pledging to the Pound By Pound Pledge Drive. Or if not that, choose a charity/cause that means something to you and your mom. Celebrate the woman who raised you and taught you values by showing her what a great job she did in turning you into the kind of person who cares about the world around them!

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone!

MS. IN THE BIZ POST: Pound By Pound – The Journey Begins

Mom, Dad, and Baby Me. This is the thinnest I’ve ever been. 1979.

My first Ms. In the Biz post is up today! It’s the first of my weekly posts about the Pound By Pound Pledge Drive, and I’m actually really proud of this one.

EXCERPT:

Being a writer isn’t exactly conducive to engaging in any kind of fitness.  Your job pretty much consists of sitting on your ass and thinking. At most, you might type so much you develop carpal tunnel syndrome.

Thing is, I can’t blame my weight on my job. While I’ve been writing stories from the time I was three, I’ve only been a professional writer for three years. I’ve been fat forever. Blame it on the enormous servings of rice and beans with which I grew up. Blame it on using food to escape family troubles when I was a kid. Blame it on the self-sustaining cycle of being made fun of for being fat, which made me sad, which made me eat, which made me fat, which got me made fun of, which made me sad, which made me eat, which made me fat…

Point is, my being fat isn’t new. What is new is how I feel about myself and how much I, as a woman in her early thirties, think I’m worth. (Answer:  a lot) This has a lot to do with my mother.

To read the complete post, and to post a comment, CLICK HERE! Please don’t comment here! Get on over to Ms. In the Biz!

MS. IN THE BIZ LAUNCHES TODAY!

Me and Ms. In the Biz founder/editor, Helenna Santos-Levy at the Ms. In the Biz/FilmBreak launch mixer. Photo by Michael Jackson of ChileJam!

I’m so excited to finally be able to tell you that MS. IN THE BIZ, a new site I’ll be writing for, LAUNCHES TODAY! Go on over and check it out!

One of the things that excites me most about this new endeavor is the community that editor and founder, Helenna Santos-Levy, has managed to create. There are 70+ bloggers on the site, and having had the opportunity to meet many of them at several events now, I have to say that I am so proud to be associated with such a creative, brilliant, and genuinely kind group of women. We are at all different levels of the entertainment industry, but we are all there for each other and support each other and each other’s work. I can’t wait to get to know these ladies better and read all of their contributions to the site!

As for me, I’ll be contributing 3 regular columns:

• Pound By Pound – updates on my fitness and my pledge drive. Weekly.
• The Write Stuff – a day in the life of a woman trying to break into the mad, mad world of TV writing (and other types of scribbling for a living). Monthly.
• Pretty Plus – I try to get my look together and show you how to find awesome, quality plus-size fashion on a budget, with the help of some stylish friends! Monthly.

And you’ll be able to find links to all my Ms. In the Biz posts here at The Teresa Jusino Experience! Stay tuned for those, and in the meantime, go check out the site now! You’ll love it!

Me and some of the Ms. In the Biz ladies (and a gentleman!) at the Ms. In the Biz/FilmBreak launch mixer. Photo by Michael Jackson of ChileJam!

** DON’T FORGET THE POUND BY POUND PLEDGE DRIVE – RUNNING APR. 5TH 2013-APR. 5TH 2014 **

POUND BY POUND UPDATE #3: THE FIRST WEIGH-IN

Photo by Michael Jackson of ChileJam!

Well, I’ve made it. I’M ONE MONTH INTO THE POUND BY POUND PLEDGE DRIVE! And you know what that means…

MY. FIRST. OFFICIAL. WEIGH-IN.

*drumroll*

I’ve lost 2.9 LBS this month! That’s almost a pound a week. Not bad, if I do say so myself! So, how does this translate into dollars?

With the 9 pledges I’ve gotten so far, I’ve raised $50.75. Add the flat donation of $75 I received, and that brings us to a grand total of $125.75 raised in the Pound By Pound Pledge Drive by May 2013!

I’m very, very happy about this.

Anyway, my complete stats for May can be found on my PROGRESS REPORT page. Go have a look!

May will find me stepping up my game. 2.9lbs is great, but that was with me monitoring my own eating and starting gradually with exercise. This month, I’ll be kicking things into a higher gear w/more exercise and tighter reins around my eating habits. You’ll hear more about that in my upcoming weekly Fitness Goals post.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who’s already pledged, and to those of you who haven’t, won’t you consider making one today? The American Diabetes Association needs you, and I need your pledges to keep me motivated! I’ve still got three adorable teddy bears looking for good homes – next 3 pledges get them, so you’d better hurry!

POUND BY POUND: TERESA THE PIN-UP!

Make-up: in progress

So, I had a crazy idea that came true.

When I saw that Cupcake Quarterly, the uber-awesome pin-up magazine, had one slot left for a pin-up in its next issue, I decided to approach the editor about taking part!

Me? A pin-up model? Yeah, I wasn’t sure at first, either.

But then I thought, what better way to celebrate the Pound By Pound pledge drive than by taking fancy “Before” and “After” photos? As it turned out, she loved the idea and wanted not only to have my pictures taken, but interview me about the pledge drive!

Why pin-ups? Because I didn’t want my “Before” photos to be unhappy and frumpy. Just because I’m fat doesn’t mean I’m not attractive, and I wanted to take these pictures at my current weight to make sure that comes across! I’m not losing weight so that I’ll “look better,” I’m losing weight for my health, for my mom, and to allow myself to lead the kind of active, adventurous life I’d like to live.

As for my “After” pictures….? No matter how much weight I lose, if these current photos are anything to go by, I know they’re gonna be smokin’ hot!

So, I had an amazing photo shoot last Saturday where I took photos in my Tara Reich Dalek dress (and my Olga Branson Dalek earrings!), as well as in a new bathing suit. I thought I’d share some candids from the shoot with you below!

And from what I hear, the issue of Cupcake Quarterly that will feature my photos (as well as an interview with me about Doctor Who, writing, and the Pound By Pound pledge drive) will be available just in time for SDCC! Can’t wait to see the finished product! A BIG thank you to editor, Elisa Teague, photographer/interviewer Curt Sandvig of Hollywookie.com, and the crazy-talented Erika Diehl on hair and make-up for making this little cupcake feel like a pretty big deal!

Full make-up face! Hurr did.

Feelin’ bashful in my bathing suit. Not really, that’s just my “bashful” pin-up face.

Watering imaginary flowers w/a fake watering can in a bathing suit. You know, how you do.

*insert wolf-whistle here*

*** DON’T FORGET THE POUND BY POUND PLEDGE DRIVE – RUNNING APR. 5TH 2013-APR. 5TH 2014 ***

POUND BY POUND: MY FITNESS GOALS FOR THE WEEK (Week 3!)

I did a pretty decent job of keeping up with my fitness goals of this past week. I floundered a bit, however, because of life stuff. I didn’t do anything on Wednesday, because I’d decided to save my exercise for later in the day, then had to race to the ER where The Boy’d been admitted (he’s fine, don’t worry!). However, I did my morning mini-workout on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and went to the YMCA using my 7-Day free guest pass Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

I worked out on Friday, too, when I went to visit my friend, make-up artist extraordinaire, Kristen and we ended up doing this…

Yes, that would be the Pussycat Dolls Dancer’s Body Workout DVD. It was SO FUN, and I now know choreography for “When I Grow Up.” Whenever Kristen and I see each other from here on out, that routine is gonna be our Secret Handshake!

So, no YMCA on Friday, but I shook my ass like a Pussycat Doll. You know, whatever gets you in shape, right?

THIS WEEK, I’m going to be embarking on a new, slightly frightening fitness endeavor. My motto always used to be, “I don’t run unless I’m being chased.” However, inspired by my sister (who’s done this TWICE), my friend Patty, several friends of mine who are avid runners, and the impending apocalypse as described in just about every book I read and film I watch, I’ve decided to devote the next 9 weeks (or so) to the Couch to 5K Program. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s a program designed to help you get your ass off your couch and running 5K over the course of 9 weeks. You can, however, repeat weeks. You’re supposed to go at your own pace, which is the best part about it. It allows you to push yourself, but only when you’re ready, and if you finish this, there’s a 5K to 10K Program you can do after that…

But, one thing at a time.

As you’re supposed to run three days a week, I’ve decided to do my running on the days I work my day job. So, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings, I’m going to get my running in after work. The other two days this week, I’m gonna do that mini-workout. And I also have my third Teresa’s Hike & Brunch on Saturday, the 4th. If you’re in L.A. and you’d like to join in on that, like my Facebook page and send me a message – I’ll add you to the Facebook invite!

I even got new running shoes to use specifically for my Couch to 5K endeavor as well as for hiking!

My new Nike Pegasus running shoes, purchased on sale at Lady Foot Locker

So, wish me luck with this running business! I’m actually rather nervous about it, and I don’t know why that is. I don’t know why running makes me nervous in a way that gym machines and hiking don’t. But here I go anyway, because it’s Week Three, and it’s time to step things up a notch!

And keep your eyes on this blog NEXT Sunday, May 5th, because it’ll be time for my FIRST WEIGH-IN! Until then, keep your POUND BY POUND Pledge Drive pledges and donations coming HERE.

Thank you all SO MUCH for your support of me and of the American Diabetes Association!

POUND BY POUND: UPDATE #2 (Or, Thank You Bear-y Much!)

We are now in Week Two of the Pound By Pound Pledge Drive to benefit the American Diabetes Association, and there are SO MANY THINGS that have happened, or that are coming up because of it! Last week, I had seven fabulous people to thank for extreme generosity. They put me at $1,650 in pledges. So, where do we stand this week….?

$1,825 FOR THE ADA!

Thanks to another generous pledge, and a flat donation, I’m getting ever closer to my new $2,000 goal! So this week, I’d like to thank:

1. HELENNA S-L on behalf of MS. IN THE BIZ (pledge)
2. RACHEL H. (flat donation)

So, while there are still free copies of my chapbook, On the Ground Floor, left to be had, all the red ADA bracelets have been snatched up!

BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THERE AREN’T OTHER FUN GIFTS IF YOU MAKE A PLEDGE!

The next THREE pledges of $1.00/pound or more (or flat donations of $100 or more) will receive:

Gift for the next THREE pledges!

That’s right! The next three of you who pledge/donate will get this cute little guy sent to you bearing a slim volume of my writing! It’s my way of thanking you for your support in me efforts. So get on over to my pledge page and pledge/donate however you can! And if you can’t do that, then spread the word far and wide!

Onward and upward! (or, in the case of my weight, downward!)

POUND BY POUND: My Fitness Goals For the Week (Week 2!)

Me at Runyon Canyon 4-6-13.

Hey there, everyone!

So, I was able to stick to my fitness goal Every. Single. Day last week. Huzzah!

Yesterday, I ended up not doing my 100 Calorie Mini-Workout, but to me it’s an unspoken rule that anything is optional on Sundays. Maybe that’s my inner-Catholic struggling to get out. Who knows?

But, today is the beginning of a new week, and with it comes new goals! This week, I have two of them:

1) I’m still going to do my mini-workout every morning. For those who need a refresher, it’s this:

AND

2) I’m going to the Hollywood YMCA every day to do SOMETHING with my body. I went on their website and got a free 7-day guest pass (anyone can!), so starting tonight after work, I’m going to go there every day and either take a class they offer, or do some free swimming, or work out in their gym for no less than an hour.

And I’ve already done my mini-workout today.

So that’s it, kids! Mini-workout in the mornings, going to the Y in the evenings. And that’s SEVEN DAYS, so since I didn’t do anything yesterday, that means this coming Sunday cannot be optional. LET’S DO THIS!

SONG OF THE DAY: “LONDON CALLING” – THE CLASH (In Honor of Paul Cornell’s US Novel Release Day!)

So, I was lucky enough to get an advance review copy of Paul Cornell’s new urban fantasy novel, London Falling, the story of a group of cops who end up getting the power to see all the supernatural goings on in London. I’m about halfway through it, and will be reviewing it officially for NerdSpan, but my early review is…it’s awesome. Seriously. You all already know I’m huge fan of Cornell’s work, but this is the best thing of his I’ve ever read (and in case you doubt my objectivity, come find me and I’ll tell you what the not-so-great things are). If you’re curious about the novel and you live in the US, you are in luck! The UK has had the book since December (and if you’re in the UK and haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for?!), but the book is released in the US TODAY! Hardback, e-book (DRM-free from Tor!), etc, etc. So pick up a copy this week! If you love urban fantasy, or just good stories that have fast-paced plots but are still very much character-driven and emotional, you won’t be disappointed. Promise.

And in honor of this book’s release, today’s Song of the Day is “London Calling” by The Clash. Enjoy!

*** DON’T FORGET THE POUND BY POUND PLEDGE DRIVE – RUNNING APR. 5TH 2013-APR. 5TH 2014 ***

POUND BY POUND: UPDATE #1 (AND THANKS!)

The Pound By Pound Pledge Drive to benefit the American Diabetes Association is only a little over a week in, and I’m already floored and humbled by the response. Thanks to some wonderful and generous folks out there, if I make my goal (and I PLAN ON IT!), I will raise…

$1,650 FOR THE ADA!

I can’t believe how fast this has grown! I’d originally set the goal at my ADA Page at $1,000 – I didn’t think that I’d exceed that a week in! But now, I’m making my goal $2,000! Who’s gonna get me there?

And now, to thank the lovely people who got me this far:

1. MATT C.
2. TRISHA W.
3. ARLENE D.
4. LISA K.
5. JEAN F.
6. JASON E.
7. OLGA B.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!

Their combined generosity has already put me close to $2,000. Unbelieveable. Or rather, I DO believe it, because I know some amazing people, but I’m flabbergasted just the same. As these folks are among the first 50 pledges I’ve received, they will be receiving free, signed copies of On the Ground Floor. However, since they are the very first pledges, I thought I’d throw in a little something extra. They’ll not only be getting a copy of the chapbook, but they’ll also be getting…

Gift for the first 9 pledges!

A red ADA “Stop Diabetes” bracelet like the one I’m sporting in the photo from my first Teresa’s Hike & Brunch! The ADA gave me 10 of these, and I have one, and 7 are now spoken for, which means that there are TWO MORE LEFT TO CLAIM! If you’d like one of these bracelets to let the world know that you’re supporting the fight against diabetes, send a pledge my way!

And thank you ALL so much for your support! So many of you have sent me words of encouragement, have shared my pledge drive on Facebook and Twitter, and have made me feel like this isn’t such a silly thing I’m trying to do after all. That means more to me than I can say.