Repost: The Photo Shoot and Magazine Debut

(This is reposted from last year for new readers of my blog. If you are a new reader, I was featured on the cover of FIRST Magazine for Women back in October! I hope this post inspires any of you New Year’s Resolutioners who may be losing steam mid-January!)

I didn’t want to say anything until I knew FOR SURE it was happening…but First Health Magazine for Women is doing a story about my weight loss!

Originally, the article scope was going to be about fiber and lethargy but the woman writing the article changed the scope of it after hearing my story. I did an email interview with her about a month ago, sent before and after photos, and then it was a waiting game. She contacted me a few weeks ago saying that her editors loved my story and they wanted to do an article about how I lost 100 pounds doing my own program. It sounds like the scope of the article is now about how I was pre-diabetic and that’s what motivated me to lose the weight.

Well last week I did a phone interview with her. She was really nice and seemed impressed with my story. She had a lot of really good, interesting questions! I’m excited to actually see it in print. Of course, part of me is trying not to get too excited because anything can happen between now and October when my story is supposed to come out.

Saturday was my photo shoot for the magazine article. They sent a freelance Hair and Makeup girl (Amy) to my house and she spent almost two hours getting me ready! It turned out that my hair was the biggest challenge. It took forever to dry and then re-curl. I have naturally curly hair–which can be a challenge. 🙂

Of course Fat Kitty was in the middle of everything supervising my Hair and Makeup experience. 😛

It was weird sitting still for so long and letting someone do all sorts of things to your hair and face–that you cannot see! I trusted Amy though. She seemed really professional and her own makeup looked great.

Michael would poke his head into the living room and occasionally take photos. Then my parents arrived from Seattle. I was glad they arrived early enough to be part of it.

After the hair and makeup was done, we went down to the park for the shoot. Ty, the photographer was REALLY nice and it was a great experience. It felt really weird at first. I was awkward and wasn’t sure what to do with my hands.

My mom tried to be stealthy and take some photos with my camera. 🙂 Ty didn’t mind so that was cool. Amy was there to puff up my hair in between shots. Once outside for awhile, the hair started to flatten a little.

They wanted me to have two different tops so I wore the purple shirt first and then half way through the photo shoot I changed to the pink shirt.

It was strange posing in a park and having strangers walk by or drive by and stare. I tried not to notice.

It was a really fun experience. I can’t wait to see the professional photos!

The Magazine Debut!

When Michael first saw my magazine cover he said, “Now Lisa, from now on I’ll start speaking very slowly and use small words so you can understand them. You know, since you’re a cover girl model now.” Hahaha very funny! 😉

He then went on to say that when he bought two magazines at the store the checkout girl said, “You know you have two copies of the same magazine, right?” Michael got to brag a little and explained that it was his girlfriend was on the cover. I guess the checkout girl wasn’t impressed (or thought he was delusion) because she didn’t say anything. Too funny!

Monday night Michael and I got dressed up and went out to dinner to celebrate FIRST coming out. We had reservations at Mint/820.

It’s a trendy martini bar and restaurant. It’s a brick building in North Portland, dimly lit by candles, with trance music playing. It was very romantic.  For my drink I splurged and got a Pineapple Drop.

Dinner took a long time. We enjoyed every relaxing minute of it and then headed to the grocery store to see my magazine on the stand!

There it was! Next to the Runner’s magazine and at the check-stand.

It was very strange to see my face on the cover of the magazine where anyone can see it.

I bought my copy. It was a very, very special night for me. I am happy I got to share my story with the world and even more excited that they chose me for the cover!

Thank you for all my readers that bought a copy of the magazine. It means a lot!

Thanks for reading! It means a lot that I can inspire other people. 🙂