Morgan BellI am so proud of Magda
February 24th 2009 06:40
I never buy trashy mags.
Growing up, my parents owned a sub-newsagent corner store so I could flick through every issue of every magazine without ever needing to outlay any cash. Over a decade of thumbing through New Idea, Who Magazine, and the Women's Weekly taught me that you spend much more time turning the pages than you do reading the articles. They are usually just paparazzi snaps, royal gossip, and a ludicrous amount of advertisements aimed at homemakers. I don't consider them to be good value for money.
This week I bought a Women's Weekly.
Why?
Because Magda Szubanski is on the cover and I was actually interested in reading about her recent weight loss.
It was a fantastic article.
I have a bit of an affinity with Magda. She seems really down-to-earth, and she's a comedian that has entertained me since I was a little kid raiding my parents shop for lollies.
Magda is a funny lady who has used her weight as a gag for as long as I can remember. By joining Jenny Craig and taking and interest weight loss, Magda is removing the stigma of "dieting" for all the Gen X and Gen Y women and men that adore and respect her. It really is a significant move for Magda, as her weight had become part of her identity and the punchline to most of her jokes.
Magda, 47, weighed 121kg when she took on a role in the stage musical Guys & Dolls. Magda is only 153cm tall. Due to the physicality of performing on stage Magda lost 10kg, which started the ball rolling for her to want to lose more. She contacted Jenny Craig, became their official ambassador in Australia, and has lost a further 16kg in 16 weeks of being on the program.
Magda's goal weight is 85kg, the size she was 16 years ago when she played Pixie-Anne Wheatley on Fast Forward.
Magda has quipped that she has not been under 100kg since last century.
From the Women's Weekly interview:
Magda Szubanski
I think Magda is doing a wonderful job of promoting good eating habits as a health issue rather than just a body image solution, even going so far as to discuss the benefits of psychotherapy for matters of emotional health.
Magda's Jenny Craig ad:
Magda as Pixie Anne Wheatley on Fast Forward:
Growing up, my parents owned a sub-newsagent corner store so I could flick through every issue of every magazine without ever needing to outlay any cash. Over a decade of thumbing through New Idea, Who Magazine, and the Women's Weekly taught me that you spend much more time turning the pages than you do reading the articles. They are usually just paparazzi snaps, royal gossip, and a ludicrous amount of advertisements aimed at homemakers. I don't consider them to be good value for money.
This week I bought a Women's Weekly.
Why?
Because Magda Szubanski is on the cover and I was actually interested in reading about her recent weight loss.
It was a fantastic article.
I have a bit of an affinity with Magda. She seems really down-to-earth, and she's a comedian that has entertained me since I was a little kid raiding my parents shop for lollies.
Magda is a funny lady who has used her weight as a gag for as long as I can remember. By joining Jenny Craig and taking and interest weight loss, Magda is removing the stigma of "dieting" for all the Gen X and Gen Y women and men that adore and respect her. It really is a significant move for Magda, as her weight had become part of her identity and the punchline to most of her jokes.
Magda, 47, weighed 121kg when she took on a role in the stage musical Guys & Dolls. Magda is only 153cm tall. Due to the physicality of performing on stage Magda lost 10kg, which started the ball rolling for her to want to lose more. She contacted Jenny Craig, became their official ambassador in Australia, and has lost a further 16kg in 16 weeks of being on the program.
Magda's goal weight is 85kg, the size she was 16 years ago when she played Pixie-Anne Wheatley on Fast Forward.
Magda has quipped that she has not been under 100kg since last century.
From the Women's Weekly interview:
"I discovered you binge eat because you're actually malnourished. There are a lot of big people out there - and thin people as well - lacking the right micronutrients. When you're eating the right foods, you don't feel hungry all the time because your body isn't crying out for them."
Magda Szubanski
I think Magda is doing a wonderful job of promoting good eating habits as a health issue rather than just a body image solution, even going so far as to discuss the benefits of psychotherapy for matters of emotional health.
Magda's Jenny Craig ad:
Magda as Pixie Anne Wheatley on Fast Forward:
| 158 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
This is awesome and am sure everything will be fine for her. Don't think it will be difficult for her Ruby - she can make more jokes while feeling fab about herself, plus she has put her weight in the spotlight for so long, if anything she will get nothing but praise and more adoration. Just what she deserves - nice one Morgan!
Comment by the-sandwich-shak
I saw that same magazine cover and it actually stopped me in my tracks when I was walking past the newsagents.
Well done Magda! It's a supreme effort.
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
yeah anyone can visit the Jenny Craig website and check her progress, it is pretty brave of her to publicise her weight - a figure most women try to conceal
in the Women's Weekly article Magda was saying she is quite touched when people approach her on the street and with her luck
hi Jason,
nice to see Magda has so many fans!
he definately deserves the praise shes getting
i know Magda has used her size as a gag for a long time, but revealing her actual weight in kilos is probably like an alcoholic or drug user admitting they are an addict . . . very brave!
hi Sandwich Shak,
shes such a fantastic comedian!
from Fast Forward to Big Girls Blouse and Kath & Kim, shes become a real fixture in Australian entertainment
how interesting that we were both stopped by the same magazine cover!
im glad so many people are wishing her well and supporting her!
hi Janet,
i actually saw her in Guys & Dolls last year when i was in Melbourne, and she really added something special to the show!
part of the reason ive always liked Magda is because shes never been ashamed of her weight . . . its the reason i like comics like Dawn French and Kirsty Alley and Julia Morris too
but i really respect that Magda could recognise her weight was affecting her health . . . she spoke of having sleep apnea and general unfitness and low energy
i hope becoming healthier makes her happier!
Comment by alt_ed
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
The Inner Saintdom
And sitting there, watching all these fat whiny people kinda made me start to not like fat people. But then I see Magda, and I just go *sigh of relief* she is just awesome!
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
yeah Madga definately is not the whiny type!
i like her Jenny Craig ads, they actually make me laugh, theres one where she says "imagine if you had a mum that you actually listened to" haha
i nodded my head with a smile . . .
Comment by Postmodern Critic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
This is very inspiring indeed. As you know I'm a big girl (I am 171cms tall and weight 109.6kgs), and last year I joined Weight Watchers and the experience helped me lose almost 5kgs. I am still about 4 kgs lighter than I was before, it's a shame that I stopped going and retreated to some of my bad habits, but I am just waiting... biding my time... until it's time to tackle the weight thing again.
What sort of help are you getting yourself?
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
i started doing Tony Ferguson a few weeks ago (as im sure you have gathered from my Facebook updates), before that i had never been on a diet in my whole life . . . i think i was inspired in equal parts by Magda and my own mum
one of my friends mums lost heaps of weight on Weight Watchers and has kept it off for like 10 years . . . i think some people are really suited to the whole points-counting system
good luck if you go back on it!
Comment by Postmodern Critic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I think what Magda said is so true... you only need the right types of foods to nourish you - the rest is disposable.
I just made the decision to go to Dance classes regularly starting immediately - something inside is saying 'do you really want to keep yourself less happy with your body than you know you can be?' Hopefully I have enough inertia to sustain my present resolve.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
its a bit more like Kate Morgan or Xndo, in that it has shakes as meal replacements and cuts out nearly all the carbs
i used to eat whatever i wanted and just excercise more, but i also used to have a really active lifestyle with long days of commuting between work and uni etc
ever since my back was injured ive been fairly inactive, its taken me some time to accept that i cant do as much as i used to and alter my food routine accordingly
Comment by Chris Champion
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old
Money Whither
This is such a positive story. Magda Szubanski has always been a fabulous role model for those less than accepting of less than glamorous bodies.
Now she's doing something for herself, which is good, and in doing so sending positive messages about health and decision-making, which is great.
Apart from that, she's got more talent in her little finger than all the celebrities on all the pages of any issue of New Idea.
Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Funny, sightful and warm - I don't know too many people who don't like her.
And to those who say that she epitomises every stereotype of being jolly and large - well that's just a cheap shot.
I would like to know though whether Jenny Craig approached her - or whether her agent approached Jenny Craig.
Good on her - size is one thing - health is another.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Magda is a great role model hey
im glad shes doing something for herself
and you are right about her talent, its much more massive than her body ever was!
hi Norm,
i hear it on good authority we should be looking for knees and knuckles as well . . .
hi MNG,
its phrased a few different ways in the magazine but doesnt explicitly state who approached who
"Yet it's joing Jenny Craig 16 weeks ago that Magda credits as the real key to her phenomenal success."
"after joining weight-lodd company Jenny Craig"