‘I Stopped Denying and Punishing Myself’

“I tell you, I am a happy kid,” Emme gushed. Five years ago, the plus-size Ford model struck a new pose. “I stopped denying and punishing myself and going through the diet-binge-guilt cycle.”

Emme, spokesmodel for Body Language, a Playtex lingerie line, elaborated.

“I had to reprogram my beliefs--that my body is beautiful the way it is at 190 pounds. I’m a size 14-16. I take care of myself, but I am not going to be 150 pounds ever again. I can guarantee you that.” Her whole story is chronicled in “True Beauty” (Putnam, 1997), but for now, here is Emme’s fitness formula.

Three days a week Emme, 34, is at a gym near her New Jersey home putting in 15 minutes each on a Versaclimber and a stationary bike, and walking and running on a treadmill. The rest of the week, she power walks for 20 minutes first thing in the morning. Weekends are for the outdoors--swimming, bike riding or cross-country skiing with her husband of seven years, Phil Aronson.

Breakfast on the weekends is either an omelet with cheese or vegetables, or she may have pancakes with butter and syrup. During the week, Emme goes for oatmeal, two slices of buttered whole wheat toast and orange juice. She sips herbal tea every morning.

Lunch is always a salad with oil and vinegar, sesame seeds, slivered almonds and feta cheese. Then, fish or crab cakes with a steamed vegetable or baked potato or yam with butter.

A typical dinner would be fresh tuna, whole grains, like couscous, and steamed broccoli. “And I’m drinking water throughout the day like a hound.”

Dessert is biscotti and tea. “If I feel like having a slice of pecan pie, I’ll have it and a la mode. But now dessert is a conscious decision.”

* Guest Workout runs Wednesdays in Life & Style.