Valerie Bertinelli Back in Bikini for 49th Birthday!(pic)

People Mag ^ | 3/25/2009 | Elizabeth Leonard

[SonOfDarkSkies]

The night before Valerie Bertinelli prepared to step out in public wearing a bikini – for the first time in nearly 30 years! – she found herself unable to sleep. As her mind raced with insecurity ("I thought, Am I really going to do this? Can I pull this off?" the actress admits), Bertinelli tried to summon up a pep talk, telling herself, "What am I so afraid of? Come on – it's just a bathing suit!"

And yet as any woman knows, those innocent-looking strips of Lycra can be a terrifying sight – especially for someone just shy of her 49th birthday (April 23), who only two years ago tipped the scales at 172 lbs. – more than 40 lbs. over her goal weight for her 5'4" frame. But after whittling herself down to 132 lbs. in about 9 months on Jenny Craig (for whom she serves as a company spokeswoman), Bertinelli, who had last worn a bikini when she was 20, was ready for a new challenge.

"I thought, If I'm so afraid of a bikini, there’s something wrong. And so I had to get back into one!," Bertinelli says in the new PEOPLE, available on newsstands Friday.

[mountn man]

but Valerie was the next more appropos (in a fantasy sort of way) TV personality/creature of lustful beauty.

I can only think of 3 words. MARCIA, MARCIA, MARCIA!

Oh I can't forget Dawn Wells-Mary Anne. She is still gorgeous.

[mckenzie7]

Why is it important to be seen, away from the beach,in a swim suit?

[mrmargaritaville]

well in the words of that great philosopher Glenn Quagmire:

“giggidy, giggidy, giggidy....awwlllright!”

[rollo tomasi]

But she looks darn healthy for being 49.

[a real Sheila]

Robert should rethink the geri-curl

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

She looks great! Good for her.

[Frantzie]

I am glad they did not try to get old spokesperson Kirstie Alley in a bikini. I am suprised they did not dump Kirstie earlier.

[rollo tomasi]

Whoops, 48.

[PLMerite]

“It only cost $450,000 for everything.”

I heard it cost Demi Moore a cool million to get in shape for “GI Jane.”

Ashton’s gonna be surprised when the warranty on all that work expires.

[RandallFlagg]

It’s amazing what difference a haircut and haircolor can make.

Haircut? What's that?

[freedomlover]

She doesn't look tardy.

[nathanbedford]

LOL

[bigbob]

You nailed IT right there ;-)

Valerie looks very good - nice to see something besides the usual pothead/rehab/AA/BettyFord kinda story.

Anyone seen Bill Clinton hangin around her...just sayin...

[Phlap]

I’ve always had a soft spot for Valerie Bertinelli.

Mine isn't soft. lol

[tumblindice]

Helen of Mirren—yeah baby!

I dream that someday Helen walks through the door, sits on the couch, takes my head in her lap, strokes my brow and says,
“There, there my poor, brave tumblin ... there, there.”
Then we’d have a snort of sherry.

[TADSLOS]

How can I get cool?

Wardrobe change and a shave? Just kidding ;~)

[angcat]

If I had the money for tummy tucks and lipo that would be a great inspiration!

[Tired of Taxes]

Haircut? What's that?

:-) My hair is almost as long as yours. Almost.

[LucyJo]

That’s a great album.

[cvq3842]

Very nice!