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.

[gathersnomoss]

Ashton will dump the starter wife for a much younger model. Oh yeah.

[nathanbedford]

Speaking of shaves, I've noticed while laid up recovering from my knee replacement that the hunks on the shows I get over here in Germany all have about three days growth. Many of these boys have bangs.

Now we have already established beyond paradventure of doubt that I am uncool but could you explain whether my working thesis about this is correct: the three-day growth business is the result of input from homosexuals in the world of entertainment who have decided this is a way of stating virility. This is in compensation for the fact that the character must be presented in a metro sexual way to satisfy political correctness and the new age image of eligibility so virility must somehow be established.

How cool is that?

[rbbeachkid]

Maybe what we need to take a minute think about bikinis and ex-rockers and how much the lawn needs mowing.

All Geithner all the time is just as destructive as all People all the time.

She looks great. And she worked at it.

[Oldpuppymax]

“How can I get cool?” Easy. Just be about 30 years older. Val was a puppy in one of those typical lib sit-coms in the 70s. If you’re 20-40, you probably don’t remember it. I’m older than hell, so I do. Personally, I’d much rather be YOUNG than COOL! Unfortunately, I’m neither.

[Clintonfatigued]

Check it out, you’re a fan. She hasn’tchanged a huge amount since “One Day At A Time.”

[TADSLOS]

In that case, nathanbedford, skip the shave and the euroweenie manbag then go for the Ukranian babes with a full face of hair and that new bionic knee (My Dad just had his replaced this past fall- he was out on the dance floor doing the twist last month).

[Califreak]

That does it!!!

I’m calling Jenny NOW!!

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[BlueMondaySkipper]

A little camel toe was most likely brushed out.

Camel toe? You mean like this one???

[Revolting cat!]

I thought she had died in the Dallas series?!

[GSWarrior]

Nice magazine cover. You’ve made a happy man feel very old.

[Revolting cat!]

No, I thought she had Elvis' toes in mind (cropped out here!)

[Skooz]

How can I get cool?

Normally, that is a process that takes many years. But, for those in a hurry, listening to Television's Marquee Moon album is a short cut.

You'll be cool in no time.

[oldfart]

In an earlier life I dabbled a bit in photography and learned right away that wrinkles, stretch marks and scars can all be “cured” with a good airbrush.

Still, she looks pretty good for 49 years old and having just lost all that weight. I’d hit it - if I could remember how.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Oh man what a mess.....He was a hottie also!!!

Meth's a hell of a drug.

[Chi-townChief]

YOWSAH!!!!!!!!

[El Gato]

Who the hell is this woman?

Am I supposed to know?

Yes

Not knowing, am I terminally uncool?

Yes,

Is this the fault of the NEA? Of George Bush?

More likely the former

How can I get cool?

You can't.

[El Gato]

A tad fat...and I am being kind.

I guess you were hot for Twiggy, and Goldie Hawn (who was very sexy, for a skinny woman).

[visualops]

ping

[fieldmarshaldj]

She’s still got it. ;-)