For years upon years, when my struggle with food and weight felt like a heavy burden, and constant reminder of my deficiency as a person, truly appreciating my desires was never something that had crossed my mind.
As far as I could see, my desires did nothing but get me in trouble.
On some days they were such a distraction that I cursed their existence, and wished they’d leave me alone, to live my life in peace. But as much as I tried to ignore them, they dominated me, and the one thing that kept coming back to, again and again, was food.
Food, food, food. Day in and day out, food was in my thoughts, and to my despair, I always craved something I shouldn’t be eating.
Then came the teaching that changed everything, in the form of a pink book called the Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts, written by the astonishing Regena Thomashauer, who smiles on from the back cover, encircled by pink feather boas.
“The absence of appetite is the absence of life itself,” the book said, “in order to get what you want, you must be able to recognize and celebrate your appetite.” The words stopped me in my tracks.
Celebrate my appetite? Are you kidding? I was a compulsive over-eater, my appetite was my greatest source of shame, not my cause for celebration. No way.
But I couldn’t help myself. I’d struggled enough. Mama Gena’s argument for desire and pleasure was so persuasive that I could not resist giving this “trusting my appetite” thing a shot.
And there began my investigation of my desires, to depths never previously explored. Where before I’d scratched the surface of my desires, like mosquito bites, I now wanted to plumb the depths. Driven by curiosity, I became a “pleasure researcher.”
And…drum roll…what did I find?
To my surprise and delight, the deeper I explored what my body wanted, the more it was revealed that what I really wanted was actually healthy food after all! Not the death by sugar I’d expected!
After years of distrust for my body, complete with fears that if left uncontrolled, my wanton desires would lead to a miserable and lonely death by cookie or ice cream overdose, began to crack and fall away, I realized, both in theory and in practice, that the desires of my body were not shameful at all, far from it, they were wise, and they were sacred.
Through this discovery, and through paying attention in a whole new way, I lost 20 pounds permanently, but that was only the beginning…
Since then, investigating and following my desires has never let me down, but right now. Let’s fast forward nine years to last week, when the phone rang at the Jena Wellness Center, the headquarters of Pleasurable Weight Loss.com, communicating that no less than the Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts itself, was awarding me the “Pleasure Revolutionary of the Year” award! Woohoo!!!
Now what is that, you ask?
According to Mama Gena, a “Pleasure Revolutionary” is someone who goes about doing “pleasure activism.” Meaning taking a stand for the desires of other women, so that they may too access their greatest power, for their benefit and the world’s, and I was being awarded, side by side with two other women, this recognition that I had only ever dreamed of one day receiving. (And yes, this was on my desire list!)
And this is where it gets even juicier….:)
One of those women, was also a hero of mine, no other than Dr. Christiane Northrup, author of “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom,” and other books that have informed my relationship with my body, my sexuality, and my mother, to name a few!
My excitement was off the charts. To be receiving an award from the hands of one of the most influential women in my life, Regena Thomashaeur, side by side with to Dr. Christiane, simply blew my mind and my heart, wide open.
Especially open to continuing the spreading of the message that changed my life, and that every woman needs to know, that pleasure is an intelligent guiding force in life, and that attending to your pleasure, as a practice, for life, is good for you on all levels.
Weight loss happens to be one of those levels, but there are countless ways more that pleasure, and I specifically mean your pleasure, as felt, experienced and defined by you in your body, will steer you directly to getting what you want.
That night, with my heart-shaped glass award in my hands, I danced for joy in my kitchen, without even needing to turn on the music.
May my dance inspire you to acts of pleasure activism yourself, and an ever deeper inquiry into the desires of the wise female animal that is your body.
New York, New York
Kelly
Congrats Jena! You deserve it, and btw, fabulous dress!!!!!!!
Susan Mathison
Dear Jenna,
SO very happy for you! It’s great for you to take your place amongst thought leaders in women’s health!
Sue
Gloria Dignazio
Congrats Jena! Well deserved and fab pic of you and Christine, 2 Goddesses that have inspired many fellow Goddesses!
Blessings and Love from Winnipeg, MB Canada
Nisha
Yeah! You are FIERCE + FABULOUS all the way through, my sister. Love Love Love you. Women of the world rejoice!
morgan reeser
Jena! I am so happy for you, congrats! You paved the way for my experience with pleasure too!
Christie Simmons
Jena…. LOVE what you do, ADORE your passion for helping others, and so HAPPY you are getting such well deserved recognition! Keep up the goodness! If you are ever in Phoenix I’d love to host you for a workshop for my ladies – our missions are so very closely aligned I think they would love you.
Best!
Christie
Cynthia
Jena my sweet friend! You are a force of nature. congrats on this amazing award. Your “you” has aligned with your work – 100%. Love you, Cynthia
Angela Minelli
Ha Jena but of course! You deserve it! You’re such a doll and an inspiration. My best health coach ever 🙂
Jo Ann
Great News!! I am so happy for you. Great dress! I have read Mama Gena’s book and cant wait to do the program myself. Thank you for being an inspiration!
Jena la Flamme
Thanks, every one 🙂 I’m beaming.
Stacey Morgenstern
Way to go love! And yet another confirmation from the universe that you are truly on your path. I am so delighted to know a true pleasure revolutionary!
You are so inspiring,
xo
stacey
Bre-An
Congratulations Jena, a pleasure revolutionary, indeed. Thank you for the ever abundant inspiration!
Wendy
Fantastic Jena!!!! I’m dancing right there with you. Such a honor! And I’m delighted how you are sharing it all with us. Your sparkle, sizzle, your joy is utterly contagious. Thank you!
Jenny Smith
Congratulations, Jena!! You are a shining light of Pleasure!! Thank you for doing what you do — I smile a happy smile when I think of you… Cheers!
wendy k yalom
FANTASTIC!!!!!
Kat
You are a gift!
Joyce Shotwell
Congratulations! Keep the pleasure flame shining. Loving you my pleasure mentor.
Joyce
Riikka
This is amazing, sweet heart!!!! so excited for you! you are doing such beautiful work and i’m so proud of you!! with lots of love and deep blessings -riikka.
K.C. Baker
Yay Yay YAY!!!!!! This is so fantastic and perfect. Congratulations!!
Erna
Congrats Jena,
I wouldnt know anyone who deserves it more than you.
I just love what you do and how you do it!You are wonderful and you help us feel wonderful too.
Erna
SG Luxurious Laurie
You looked AMAZING in that dress!!! xo
Theresa D'Ambrose
So fantastic Jena!! You look beautiful 😉 xo
Andrea
It’s been wonderful watching you align fully with your purpose! It’s now even more fun watching you reap the benefits of fully standing in your greatness! CONGRATULATIONS! with warmth, Andrea!