My Holiday Wish to You ALL!!!

Sunday Funday!

Stick your head out the window and see how good you feel!


Dogs in Cars from keith on Vimeo.

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- FINALE!!!

So, the finale.  It was pretty uneventful.  The ladies looked good, the guys looked good.  But the real question was who was going to beat John?

Apparently no one.  Boo.  John wins the title of The Biggest Loser (I already thought he was one) and Jenn takes the at home prize.  DietsInReview.Com sums it up perfectly.

Tune in in a couple of weeks for next season where Santa Claus is coming to town. . .and the ranch!

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- MARATHON MAN

The finale of season 12 of The Biggest Loser is upon us!  I can smell the scale, feel the confetti in my hair, and see Ali in a bandage dress of some kind!  I also want to shout out that Jen of @TheBLBlog is going to be actually there as we are actually watching from the comfort of home.  So tune into her twitter feed and read her site because she will have the inside scoop.

Me?  I'll just be pretending I know it all as usual.

So, the marathon.

Okay, first the contestants went home and they were welcomed as usual by friends and family.  They showed montages of them working out and Bob and Dolvett coming to visit everyone.  John has his wife in slave labor while he trains.  You know, all the good stuff.

Then it is time for the marathon!  The four remaining contestants (John, Becky, Antone, and Vinny) are joined by everyone else that has been eliminated so far.  Even Bonnie make a guest appearance but is not running the marathon.  That's okay, because Crazy Johnny and his straw hat are nutty enough for the both of them.

The marathon feels like a marathon as we watched it stretch on.  The winner will get a place in the finale and everyone else will just have sore knees and bragging rights that they ran a marathon on national television.

Ramon and his never ending stream of positivity wins the race, securing him a spot in the finale.  Then at a tension filled weigh in, his competition is revealed:  John and Antone.  I'm sorry to say, Becky and Vinny, you are not the Biggest Losers but you will be in the running for the at home prize.

There is some MAJOR AWESOME trash talk (finally!) between John and Antone about who will win and Ramon is hoping he'll be able to sneak in there and steal it.  My money is on Antone.

YOU BETTER WIN ANTONE!!!!!  YOU HEAR ME?!?!?!?

Want to know what the delightful Courtney has to say?  Here is her review from DietsinReview.Com!

Sunday Funday!

I bet these cookies taste like steak.

buzzfeed.com

Always a Work in Progress

The other day at work I had a really negative experience and I felt like I needed to share it.  I realized lately I haven't been able to share much personally due to being busy.  I have been sitting on this experience and felt if I could share it maybe I could gain some perspective.

And if you are reading this and you would like to comment or share, please feel free!

At work we have  a great juice and smoothie bar.  From my weight loss in the past I have a fairly good idea of calorie content in food because I calorie counted for over two years and occasionally revert to food journaling if I am feeling a lack of control in my eating habits.  I had had a few clients early morning, worked out, and needed some sustenance to carry me over until later on in the day.  I grabbed my favorite smoothie and headed down to the locker room where I was confronted by another employee by my choice.  He asked me if I knew how many calories were in what I was eating.  I told him I hadn't eaten in six hours and this was my meal replacement.  He then proceeded to "school" me on bringing snacks to work like Clif bars (which I don't usually choose because they are too sweet) or yogurt to eat between meals.

I told him I figured the smoothie was between 450 to 600 calories which, in my opinion, seemed reasonable.  When he kept at it I just said okay and shut down because I didn't feel like having the conversation any more.  I was really angry at him.  I didn't want to confront him about my feelings on the subject.

I don't have a great relationship with food.  This stems from my childhood and adolescent years where my parents felt that since I had a hearty appetite they should intervene because they were afraid that I would be heavy.  I wasn't heavy YET, but they were hoping that by commenting on the amount I ate I would become self aware.  It worked.  It worked too well because I spent many years feeling inadequate about my eating habits.  I felt anguish about every bite of food that went into my mouth.  I couldn't enjoy eating because I was afraid that it would make me fat.

When I got to college I hit a wall and I decided screw it, I am just going to eat how I want to eat.  I got heavier but I felt free in a way.  It was like a big middle finger to everyone.  I never had problems meeting guys and dating and having friends.  I was an actress who sang and danced well so I never felt limited except when a certain role would pop up and I didn't "look the part" because I was bigger than other candidates.

When I moved to New York City after college I started to eat more because I felt insecure about living there and competing as an actress and then September 11th happened and the food made me feel secure in an insecure world.  Then my sister was ill and I moved home and this was the first time that I knew I really was fat.  Not just oh these pants are tight kind of fat but fat like I have to shop in the big girls store fat.  I was out of control.  I was sad.  I was angry.

When Jocelyn died I was so sad I don't even remember the three months between her passing and when I decided to start working out for the first time.  I remember spare memories, but the rest of the time is like it didn't even happen.  I do remember eating and eating and eating because I wanted something to comfort me from such an enormous loss.  Starting to exercise was the first step in taking control of my life, then watching my food, then losing the weight.

It hasn't been an easy journey.  I have become obsessed with the scale, obsessed with the food, felt like people wouldn't love me unless I was at a certain weight.  It has taken many years to realize that I have to do it for me and not for my parents or a boyfriend or a casting agent or my friends.

I was angry at my coworker for calling me out for something that is none of his business.  He touched on a subject that is so hurt and scarred and private.  My first thought was how dare you judge me or judge my choices.  Who the hell are you?  The food police?  I was angry for not speaking up or standing up for myself.

The moment has passed and I have armed myself for the future should the coworker every mention it again.  But it was interesting to think back to why it bothered me.  I realized that every day is a new opportunity to work on myself and I will never be finished.  I am thankful for this medium to help me share and I love that I have such an amazing community of support.

At the end of the day I am ultimately responsible to be the change I want to see in others and I must lead by that example by not allowing the judgements passed on me to not affect me and to be there for others who feel like they are being judged.  As my hero Patricia Moreno always says, "Live a life you love in a body you love right now".  I am learning to love a little bit more every day.

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 10 and week 11- Thanksgiving and The Dreaded Makeover Week

John is Kevin.  Kevin is John.

I am behind with my Biggest Loser recaps due to the Thankfulness of my own life:  I am thriving at the gym with my personal training and about to start my dream of group fitness instruction.  YAY!  With a busier life, though, comes the lack of time to fully rewatch an entire episode and write my comprehensive analysis you have all come to know and trust. ;)

So here is a quickie recap of the last two weeks before the MARATHON and LIVE FINALE.

Week 10

It's Thanksgiving week on The Bigget Loser campus.  They start with a Thanksgiving temptation where the grand prizes include a 3 lb advantage, $500 per pound lost, and a $25,000 home gym.  The nicest prizes ever on the show!  Vinny takes the 3 lbs, Becky the home gym, and Antone the cash for pounds.

We work out.  Then we have the physical challenge involving a one mile climb on the Jacob's ladder and three more great prizes:  A meal plan to keep and one to give away, $2,500 to keep and to give away, and a 1 lb adavantage to keep and a 1 lb DISADVANTAGE to give away.  Clearly the producers want us to get some more gameplay for our buck!

Eveyone's least favorite creepy contestant John wins the 1 lb advantage causing quite the stir.  Who ever shall he give it to?  Someone who's as "dumb as poo"?

He chooses Sunny.  Surprise.  WEIGH IN.

Vinny:  From 335 lb to 324 lbs- 11 lbs lost- 4.18% BW (3 lb advantage)
Becky:  From 182 lbs to 177 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 2.75% BW
Antone:  From 339 lbs to 331 lbs- 8 lbs lost- 2.36% BW
John:  From 310 lbs to 305 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 1.94% BW (1 lb advantage)
Sunny:  From 207 lbs to 202 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 1.93% BW (1 lb disadvantage)
Ramon:  From 273 lbs to 268 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 1.83% BW

Sunny and Ramon fall below the yellow line.  John "feels just awful" about giving Sunny that one pound, so awful that he votes for her to be sent home.  What did Sunny ever do to John!?  Even Antone squabbles with John about his vote.  Everyone says that Ramon is the bigger threat and he is sent packing.

Ramon goes home, gets a haircut and a shave, sports a v-neck sweater, and goes sky diving with new girlfriend Jessica.

Week 11

Makeover week is USUALLY one of my fave weeks.  It is always a cool surprise to see the transition with the contestants.  For some reason NBC showed all the contestants in the commercial for the show.  So that fun was taken away.  Then they got rid of Tim Gunn.  Next you'll tell me that NBC is going to pull Perfect Couples and put on The Paul Reiser Show instead!  Or fire Conan O'Brian and give his time slot to Jay Leno!  Or make Grimm a television show!

Sigh.

Makeover week starts with the put on your weight challenge.  The winner takes a 1 lb advantage!  Again, everyone doesn't want John to win.  And again, John wins it.  Because he is a "beast".  And Antone lost his mojo and couldn't kick it into high gear!

Then the contestants head to a spa day, where they meet the super energetic Jeannie Mai, who is a stylist and on a show on The Style Network.  She is REALLY energetic.  Like meth energetic.  I miss Tim Gunn.  Jeannie takes the contestants to Beverly Hills for a make over with clothing and onto the Ken Paves (prounounced PAY-vus) salon for hair cuts and beard trimming.  If they all came out with beards I would not have been surprised!

Then the newly transformed Losers who we have already seen in the commercials pull up outside the Kodak Theatre where a new Cirque du Soleil show is playing to meet their loved ones and enjoy being pretty.

Then they all head back to the ranch where the trainers get real with the loved ones (especially John's wife) to ensure future success with their health and weight loss.  Like we need another season 3 fiasco on our hands.

WEIGH IN!

John:  From 305 lbs to 296 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 3.28% BW (1 lb advantage)
Vinny:  From 324 lbs to 314 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 3.09% BW
Becky:  From 177 lbs to 172 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 2.82% BW
Antone:  From 331 lbs to 323 lbs- 8 lbs lost- 2.42% BW
Sunny:  From 202 lbs to 201 lbs- 1 lb lost- .50% BW

Antone and Sunny are below the yellow line and I thought FOR SURE that Antone would be going home.  Boy, was I wrong.  John decides that he wants a real competitor and send home Sunny (what!) and Becky decides that she wants to be the last beeyatch standing so off you go, Sunny.  And we will enjoy when Antone beats John in the finale, thankyouverymuch.

Next episode- MARATHON.  Remember that whole thing?

Want to know what Courtney has to say?  Here are her recaps courtesy of DietsInReview.Com!

Sunday Funday!

This chick makes the treadmill look like FUN.  That is a major feat!

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 9- PENTATHLON!

Early trainer beating his client while he uses a medicine ball.

The Biggest Loser is all about the game play this week- literally!  Ali announces the contestants will be competing as individuals and against each other in a 5 legged race.  Whoever gets the most points wins!  To the winner:  immunity!  To the loser:  a one pound disadvantage.  Wee woo.

Ramon tells us it is time to see who the real winner is.  And I bet he also says he is planning on being number one this week.  I just have a feeling.

The game play starts right away.  The producers force the players hands, making them vote for who they think would be the next Biggest Loser, besides themselves of course.  The results of the first game will not be released until the weigh in.  Lord knows we wouldn't want to watch an episode full of people having to explain themselves.  That would be boring. . .*whispering* It wouldn't be boring!

Game #2:  The players must eliminate the opposition by plugging their opponents holes with batons.  On a game board!  C'mon.

The results:
Sunny  7
Becky  6
Antone  5
Vinny   3
John  2
Ramon  1

Game #3:  Trivia!  It is nutrition based.  Bonnie gets really excited for a second, thinking Ali is going to be asking questions about Father Dowling Mysteries.  Or maybe Murder, She Wrote.  Interesting fact:  Onions have a lot of calories for a vegetable.

The results:
Antone  11
Becky  9
Sunny  8
Bonnie  7
Vinny  7
John  4
Ramon  4

Game #4:  Pull an inflatable peanut across a pool using your arms and your balance.  Bonnie fell off.

The results:
Antone  15
Sunny  15
Becky  12
Vinny  12
John  10
Bonnie  8
Ramon  6

Ramon says now it is time for him to get serious.  'Cause he gots to win!

A quick last chance workout where Antone ends on the floor weeping, and then it is time for the last leg of the race!

Game #5:  The contestants are running 1 mile as quickly as they can with the help of Apollo Anton Ono and Subway.  Ramon finally wins one!

The results:
Sunny  20
Antone  19
John  16
Becky  15
Vinny  14
Ramon  13
Bonnie  9

Then it's time for the final weigh in and the results of the first game.  Everyone is so in love with each other I can't imagine why they waited.  And it is completely anonymous!

Game #1 Results:
Antone  7
Becky  7
Sunny  5
Bonnie  4
Ramon  4
Vinny  4
John  1 (making a lot of friends, I see.)

And the final results!
Antone 26- winning immunity
Sunny  25
Becky  22
Vinny 18
John  17
Ramon  17
Bonnie  13- wins 1 pound disadvantage

To the weigh in!

Antone:  From 348 lbs to 339 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Sunny:  From 216 lbs to 207 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 4.17% BW
Vinny:  From 345 lbs to 335 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 2.90% BW
John:  From 319 lbs to 310 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 2.82% BW
Ramon:  From 280 lbs to 273 lbs- 7 lbs lost- 2.50% BW
Becky:  From 186 lbs to 182 lbs- 4 lbs lost- 2.15% BW
Bonnie:  From 213 lbs to 208 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 1.88% BW

Bonnie and Becky end up below the yellow line, and Bonnie insists that Becky stays because she wants a teacher to win the show.  Then after a quick montage of In Memoriam Bonnie messages, we see Bonnie at home, having lost 68 pounds and wearing jeggings.  Life is good, Dolvett!

Want to hear what Courtney has to say? Here is her two cents, courtesy of DietsinReview.Com!

Muppets Take on Pizza as a Vegetable

Hilarious.

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 8- To be the best, BEAT the best

This week's episode of The Biggest Loser wasn't super tweet worthy.  There were no slip n' slides, very little Bonnie moans, and no frank sex talk from Anna.  Upon second watch, this episode is where the s*%t hits the fan game play-wise.

Up until this point, everything has been pretty hunky dory on the ranch.  Maybe John ate some extra donuts, or Bonnie sent Coach Mike home instead of Becky, but people have been buddies and pals.  Everyone has each others backs.

Then Jessica gets sent home last episode.  Ramon is upset, obviously, because Jess is his girl and he wants to have her around.  But when Vinny and Ramon start talking about it, they realize that Joe, who is now Ramon's teammate, may have some sort of former Black Team alliance in place.

The former Black Team still has more people in the game than any other team:  Joe, Antone, John, and Sunny.  The remaining Red Team is only Ramon and Vinny and the remaining Blue Team is only Becky and Bonnie.  If Vinny and Ramon are on to something, Hardy Boys style, they need to work extra hard this week to turn the tables.

And this week is a hard time to turn the tables.  Ali tells the trainers that only one team member's weight will be recognized this week.  The trainer has the power to choose who it will be.

The episode is filled with various "Who should I choose?" montages listing the pros and cons of each team member, but at the end, the trainers choose (fairly) wisely.

Dolvett chooses John over Bonnie.

Bob chooses Becky over Vinny or Antone.  Vinny looked a little hurt.

Anna chooses Joe over Ramon or Sunny.  I would have chosen Ramon, especially since Joe lost 15 pounds the week before.

How does it all shake out?

Bonnie:  From 221 lbs to 213 lbs- 8 lbs lost- 3.62% BW
John:  From 329 lbs to 319 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 3.04% BW

Antone:  From 353 lbs to 348 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 1.42% BW
Vinny:  From 355 lbs to 345 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 2.82% BW
Becky:  From 192 lbs to 186 lbs- 6 lbs lost- 3.65% BW (With 1 pound advantage won from challenge)

Sunny:  From 218 lbs to 216 lbs- 2 lbs lost- .92% BW
Ramon:  From 286 lbs to 280 lbs- 6 lbs lost- 2.10% BW
Joe:  From 271 lbs to 269 lbs- 2 lbs lost- .74% BW

The Blue Team finds themselves in the bottom, and Joe's weight is the lowest out of all the contestants.  He is confident, however, because he knows that Antone and Vinny have his back.  That's at least two votes that he can count on.  The one person who can't be voted off?  Ramon.  My, how the tables have turned.

Then we get to the elimination ceremony, and Joe gets a vote from Vinny AND Antone.  Antone states that Joe is too much competition.  Funny, that's what Joe said about Jessica at the last elimination ceremony.  He is sent home to Dollywood where he can now ride the rides.

Good thing that the team work is starting to fade, because next episode is onto singles.  Now for the good stuff!

Want to know what Courtney has to say?  Here is her recap, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 6 and 7 recap!!!

Week 6- They all lost. Wee woo. Did someone go home? Oh! Courtney. Courtney? Yeah, Courtney.

Week 7- I went to a taping of Conan O'Brian last week! So I watched the show on DVR.

Here is a photo!




And here is me and the fiancé!




Anyhoo! How did I miss the most tweet-worthy show EVER!?!?

Slip and Slide. Come on!

And just when I thought Bonnie may be sent home, Jessica was voted off instead. Sorry, Ramon. No more squeaky squeaky.

Want more in depth coverage from someone who isn't typing on their IPhone? Here is #BL11 Courtney's recaps from dietsinreview.com!

Really? C'mon Wedding Workout!

I don't disagree with this video.  I just don't agree with it.  And why does it feel like something out of the Red Shoe Diaries?

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 4- "Happy feet! Happy Feet!"

This week's episode of The Biggest Loser is all about leadership and believing in yourself and believing that you can achieve most anything if you put your mind to it.  And the teams need this kind of encouragement, especially the Red team, who just let Patrick leave.

Ramon has taken the loss of Patrick the hardest, and can't seem to live with himself that Patrick was voted off. . .even though that was what Patrick had asked for.  Dolvett tells them not to fret and to get some rest, because they have a long day ahead of them tomorrow.

A long day of hanging out with past Biggest Loser contestants, that is!  Hannah from season 11, Adam from season 10, and Marci from season 11 come to visit the teams and show how it is possible to maintain their weight loss after they have left the confines of the ranch.  Hannah shows the Black team the joys of Jenny O Turkey, Adam takes the Red team on a sandbag hike where Ramon learns that he must become a leader by carrying the sandbags as a sacrifice for Patrick, and Marci shows the Blue team that just because they are older they can still kick some ass.  Marci seems like a 20-year-old next to these guys.  I mean Bonnie is like the Tin Man, poor thing.

After Antone quits whimpering, Bob talks with his team about the importance of changing their relationship with food.  THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!!!  You can eat anything you want within reason.  There is a proper time and proper place for everything.  Learning how to differentiate those times is the life lesson that this show tries to teach.

Score one for the Biggest Loser!

Joe opens up to the group, sharing that he would stop at different drive throughs throughout town and eat all day secretly, and then go home and eat with his family.  He had been wrapped in that shame for years because he was afraid that if his wife found out she wouldn't love him anymore.  He is beginning to learn that he does deserve love and he is worth it.

We are all worth it.

Bonnie overcomes her fears of walking on the treadmill, Courtney overcomes her fear of being a disappointment by playing hoops with Dolvett, everybody is making huge bounds and strides with their inside training this week- just in time for this week's challenge!

The challenge is mail themed- snow, wind, rain, all that jazz- and the prize is letters from home.  The Black team wins again, but Ali announces that everyone is a winner and everyone will get to read their letters from home.  The Black team also gets some FaceTime chatting with their families.

There are a lot of tears and a lot of encouragement.  Weirdly, Antone doesn't want his family to see him cry because he wants him to think that he is staying strong for them.  Won't they be surprised when they watch the show!  Antone is The Biggest Cryer.

Last Chance Workout sees trainers in different elements.  Anna is FINALLY on the tennis court teaching drills (where she looks happy AND comfortable), Bob is in the pool teaching Joe to swim and making his team cry, and Dolvett is screaming to his team about losing each week, cajoling them to win a weigh in to the Black team at least one time.  Come on guys!  Let's go weigh in!

With a coffin nailing "I'm not worried about this weigh in!" from Coach Mike, the Blue team begins the weigh in.

Mike:  From 273 lbs to 268 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Becky:  From 214 lbs to 212 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Bonnie:  From 240 lbs to 233 lbs- 7 lbs lost  TOTAL:  14 lbs, 1.93% BW

Joe:  From 307 lbs to 301 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Sunny:  From 245 lbs to 241 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Antone:  From 389 lbs to 381 lbs- 8 lbs lost
John:  From 375 lbs to 366 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Jennifer:  From 289 lbs to 282 lbs- 7 lbs lost  TOTAL:  34 lbs. 2.12% BW

Courtney:  From 240 lbs to 237 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Jessica:  From 221 lbs to 219 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Vinny:  From 390 lbs to 382 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Ramon:  From 322 lbs to 311 lbs- 11 lbs lost  TOTAL:  24 lbs, 2.05% BW

Ramon has accepted the leadership mantle!  I guess there is a new coach in town, much to Mike's chagrin.

Blue team is in the bottom again, and this time Bonnie is the one in charge.  Who would have ever thought this would have happened!?!  Bonnie gets the single vote, and she sends the blustery self named captain of the Blue team's ship packing.  Women doing it for themselves, I suppose.  Girl Power!

Coach Mike has gone back to coaching his high school football team and has lost 70 pounds and is now spending more quality time with his wife.  He would also like to lose 100 pounds by the finale.

Next week:  I have no idea!  My DVR didn't tape and I had to wait to rewatch the show.  And of course, no previews on the On Demand channel.  It will be a surprise!  At least, I hope it will be.

Want to know what Courtney has to say?  Here is her two cents, from DietsinReview.com.

Cereal Box Makeovers

Artist Ron English changed some of cereal's most famous faces to what they might look like if they actually ate the contents of their own boxes.  He then put the boxes onto supermarket shelves at a Ralph's in Venice, California.

It is said if you find one of the boxes, you can mail it to the artist and he will sign it for you.

I like Sugar Diabetic Bear.

Sunday Funday: Occupy Foster Fitness

Barbie in Real Life

Model Katie Halchishick, creator of the site Healthy is the New Skinny, was photographed for O Magazine to show how much plastic surgery would be required for her to achieve Barbie's physique. 

It's scary.

How do you all feel about plastic surgery?

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 3- NFL WEEK

Take a former NFL player, make him a contestant on The Biggest Loser, and then you get to have NFL week!  Take a former Olympian, make him a contestant on The Biggest Loser, you get to have Olympic Training week!

I see a pattern here.

Week 3 of The Biggest Loser starts with a very dejected Blue team down 2 players and Anna in fear for her job.  I mean, I really didn't know how they were going to turn it around this week.  Becky can't carry the entire team!

No time to dwell- it's time for the first NFL week themed challenge!  The contestants find themselves on a football field with life size cut outs of their visages, complete with a large stomach hole filled with netting.  The contestants must throw a football into the stomach hole, eliminating their fellow players, last cut out standing wins.

Oh, and they have to compete with pro NFL players, too.

Winner gets $5,000!  Ali also tells the players the contestant with the highest percentage of weight loss at the end of the week gets two tickets to the Super Bowl.  Not a bad prize.

Courtney ends up winning the $5,000 over the smell of the testosterone, and Joe declares, "Every day is a good day on the Biggest Loser Ranch!"

Then it is time to darken the mood with a little one on one Bob and Antone time.  Of course, Antone was in the NFL.  I don't know if you all know that.  He is feeling left out because everyone is making such a big deal about the NFL players and no one is making a big deal about the fact that he used to be in the NFL.

I counted.  Antone and the word NFL or mention by others that he was in the NFL count: 21 times in 2 hours.

ENOUGH!  Time for some crazy high school marching band music and a team challenge!

This time the players are competing as teams to burn as many calories as possible in 4, 15-minute heats.  The Black Team annihilates the competition, burning 1,171 calories to the Red Team's 952 calories and the Blue Team's 764 calories.  Bob declines the spa day prize, and the team agrees they don't want to be thrown off track like others who have participated in spa days past.  Hello, Jennifer and Courtney from last season!

After the team challenge, the Red Team hanged out in Biggest Loser brand soaking tubs and talked about how much they love each other.  Translation:  The Red Team is getting eliminated this week.

After an NFL themed last chance workout, it is time for the Weigh In!

Courtney:  From 247 lbs to 240 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Vinny:  From 400 lbs to 390 lbs- 10 lbs lost
Ramon:  From 329 lbs to 322 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Patrick:  From 361 lbs to 350 lbs- 11 lbs lost
Jessica:  From 232 lbs to 221 lbs- 11 lbs lost  TOTAL:  46 lbs, 2.93% BW

Antone:  From 405 lbs to 389 lbs- 16 lbs lost
Sunny:  From 255 lbs to 245 lbs- 10 lbs lost
Joe:  From 324 lbs to 307 lbs- 17 lbs lost
Jennifer:  From 305 lbs to 289 lbs- 16 lbs lost
John:  From 393 lbs to 375 lbs- 18 lbs lost  TOTAL:  77 lbs, 4.58% BW

Bonnie:  From 247 lbs to 240 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Becky:  From 223 lbs to 214 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Mike:  From 290 lbs to 273 lbs- 17 lbs lost  TOTAL:  33 lbs, 4.34% BW

The Blue Team has saved themselves, Anna's job, and old man Mike won the tickets to the Super Bowl!

The Red Team heads off for a weepy elimination talk, where quitter Patrick tells them to vote him off (surprise) and they do just so.  He loses 91 pounds at the reveal, cooking with his wife, running police officer obstacle courses, and vowing to win the big marathon later in the season.  We'll see. . .

Next week:  BOB vs. DOLVETT!

Want to know what Courtney has to say?  Here's her recap, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!

Free Flexor Latest in Shake Weight Technology

I really can't believe that someone invented this and didn't get in on the joke.

Introducing the Free Flexor.  Make your muscles cry. . .when you don't call them the next day.

Ghost of Jillian Michaels Haunting Biggest Loser Campus?

Brandi from DietsinReview.com gets the inside scoop from newest trainer Dolvett Quince.  Personally, I think it is Old Man Witherspoon.

http://www.dietsinreview.com/videos/dolvett-quince-in-his-element-as-a-biggest-loser-trainer/

Oops! Pilates for Pink on SUNDAY!

My friend Caroline informed me October 2 is Sunday. Not Saturday. Don't go to Union Square on Saturday.

My bad!!!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pilates for Pink this Saturday!

Hey New York readers, if you are available this Saturday, SHAPE Magazine is hosting Pilates for Pink to raise money for breast cancer research in Union Square.  One of my fellow co-workers and friend, Caroline Leone, will be demonstrating her Pilates magic for instructor Julia Starobin, in her "Elite Pilates" class, held from 1-1:45pm. It will be an open class designed to challenge all levels. Each class costs $25, with 100% of the fee going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Additionally, each participant will receive a goodie bag and a Pilates mat from SHAPE.

The event begins at 9 am with plenty of classes to please the pickiest Pilates participant.

You can find the class descriptions here: http://www.shape.com/sites/shape.com/files/minisites/pfp/schedule.html

 

Get out there and raise some money for the cure!!!

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 2- "Don't sit on the couch and spit on the ceiling and expect things to happen for you."

I believe this is the book Anna got that quote from.

It's a new week on The Biggest Loser:  New theme song, new challenges, new drama!  Usually the contestants wait a few episodes in to start talking about GAME PLAY, but not season 12.  Let's get it on.

Ali introduces the first temptation challenge of the season:  DONUTS!  A room full of sweet donuts that need to be eaten so control can be gained!  Who will stoop to the challenge? 

Ali explains that the groups will not only be divided by age but also by time slots this week.  There is an early morning slot, a mid-day slot, and a late night slot.  Whoever eats the MOST donuts will get to choose what time the teams workout.  This is important because the teams only get two hours a day to get their burn on.

Of course we have the saintly contestants who decline to participate because they want to workout only.  But there a couple of GAME PLAYERS in the bunch:  old team Mike eats 11 donuts and feels like he has clinched the win for his team, but middle aged John ate 37 donuts, over 1,295 of winning calories.  "What did I just do?" he moans.  The black team decides to take the early morning time slot, they give the old timers the mid-day time slot because they "respect them" (burn!) and the youngsters get the late night time slot.

Bob wakes the black team up with a manic megaphone, getting them into the gym by 5 am.  John is newly crowned "Donut", and everyone feels the wrath of their win.  HIGHLIGHT:  Antone breaks down again, this time slamming his fists into his spin bike and into the ground.  Is he going to cry every episode?  Is this what releasing the demon means?

Did you all know Antone was in the NFL?  I'm not sure if the show covered that.

The black team also starts fighting with each other because John, that little trouble maker, says that Sunny is a dumb as "poo" (her quotes, not mine) and he is making alliances with members of the red team.  Has this guy never watched an episode of this show?  You don't play all your cards in the second episode!  Where will we go from here?  Where is Melissa Morgan when you need her?

Antone says in the NFL this is called an "airing out session".  Thanks, Antone.

Then it's the old timers time in the gym.  This is code for everyone works out while Anna has to coax Boston Johnny to work out.  Poor Becky.  I bet she is wishing she was just one year younger so she could be on the black team.

After a late night Yoplait yogurt plug ("It tricks it out!"), Dolvett brings the whipper snappers into the gym and gets amped!  So amped, we find out that Jessica's boyfriend MADE her gain 135 pounds during their 6 year relationship.  They blurred out the photos with his face, but apparently it is her twitter avatar if you missed it on the tv.  I'm sure she is over this guy.  I would never want to date a guy that force fed me- that is not cool.  Good thing she can now choose what she wants to eat. . .

Am I being overly sarcastic?  Or have I watched a lot of episodes of The Biggest Loser?

Dr. H drops in with his silky mullet to inform the contestants that disease is right around the bend if they don't take responsibility for their health.  I think it's sad that we get serious about our health only when it seems too far to fix.  If you start NOW when you have no issues or small issues, it's a lot easier to turn it all around.  Not when you are face to face with Dr. H and a JC Penney collection tie from 1987.  That's not the right time.

The physical challenge for the week involves a floating maze and life jackets-awesome-which the black team whoops up on for the second week in a row.  They earn a 2 pound advantage at the weigh in, the red team earns a 1 pound advantage, and the blue team gets that sound from The Price is Right when you lose- wwwwwaaaaaaahhhhhhhh.

The Last Chance Workout montage this week was seriously the BEST MONTAGE I have seen.  I was riveted the whole time.  I also heard the worst sentence: "5 am last chance workout!"  Dolvett's workout was especially sexy for some reason.  If you have it taped, go back and watch it and tell me if I am making this up.  Especially during the tug and pull section.

Weigh in!  How can people fare when they get two hours to workout a day?

Vinny:  From 405 lbs to 400 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Jessica:  From 239 lbs to 232 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Courtney:  From 257 lbs to 250 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Patrick:  From 367 lbs to 361 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Ramon:  From 338 lbs to 329 lbs- 9 lb lost  TOTAL:  35 lbs, 2.18% BW

Joe:  From 326 lbs to 324 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Jennifer:  From 311 lbs to 305 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Sunny: From 261 lbs to 255 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Antone:  From 415 lbs to 405 lbs- 10 lbs lost
John:  From 408 lbs to 393 lbs- 15 lbs lost TOTAL:  41 lbs, 2.38% BW

Becky:  From 228 lbs to 223 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Mike:  From 297 lbs to 290 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Bonnie:  From 250 lbs to 247 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Johnny:  From 311 lbs to 313 lbs- 2 lbs GAINED  TOTAL:  13 lbs, 1.2% BW

Say it ain't so, Boston Johnny!  The numbers are usually lower week 2, but a weight gain is something special.  Anna totally calls him out, saying "If you don't want to change anything you shouldn't be here."

Her words must have stuck with him, because after he is eliminated, he goes home and loses 59 pounds.  But not the straw hat.  The straw hat is staying.

Next week:  NFL WEEK!  WHAT?!?  I wish there was someone on the show this season that had been in the NFL so this episode would really resonate with them.  Like if we went to the Olympic training camp and there was a former Olympic athlete on the show.  It just makes sense.

Want to know what Courtney from season 11 has to say?  Here is her recap, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!

Sunday Funday!

I had the jingle pop into my head the other day and I just HAD to share. . .and yes, I owned all five sets.  My parents should have known that that, coupled with my love for Richard Simmons, would lead me to where I am today.  Get in shape, girl!

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 1- BATTLE OF THE AGES

Grr faces, everyone.

After a nice long break, The Biggest Loser roars back to life complete with US Marine helicopters and hummers to drag the 12th season competitors to the brink of Death Valley (literally) and back.

We know the 411, so lets jump into my first impressions of the 15 contestants:

Courtney: 24, "Single Girl"
Joe: 46, "Big Daddy"
Becky: 50, "Daddy's Dieing"
Jessica: 26, "Nervous Nelly" OR "Dazed and Confused"
Jennifer:  39, "Bob Lover"
Ramon:  27, "2 Legit tattoo artist, dude"
Patrick:  25, "Cry Baby"
Antone:  44, "The Footballer"
Vinny:  27, "Overalls"
John:  40, "Helicopter Lover"
Mike:  61, "The Cheerleader"
Bonnie:  63, "The Weeper"
Debbie:  60, "Gimmie a Break"
Johnny:  65, "The Don"
Sunny:  41, "Didn't know she was on the show until the weigh in.  Seriously."

Ali jumps out of a hummer with sunny blond pig tails to explain the rules for this season.  The contestants will be split into three teams based on their age:  The Under 30's, The Middle, and The Over 50's. 

The trainers for the teams are introduced as well.  We have good ole Bob, Anna K, and DQ- Dolvett Quince- who may be my new favorite now that Jillian Michaels is no longer on the show.  I did keep waiting for Jillian to ride up on a kick ass Ducati and have a secret fourth team, but it didn't happen.  That was the number one thing talked about during the live tweet fest was that everyone REALLY MISSED JILLIAN.

Ali introduces the first challenge.  Of course, it is a mile run to choose the trainer.  And of course they are all attached to a pole with a camera on the end.  Happily, no one has to be helicoptered out, and the teams are as follows:

Bob with The Middle
DQ with The Under 30's
Anna K with The Over 50's

We have a first chance workout in the shiny and amazing new Biggest Loser gym on the ranch, where the mettle of all the contestants is tested until they are left in sniveling piles of tearful goo.  After a quick Brita plug, it is time for the Last Chance Workout (!) and then on to a 50 minute weigh in ceremony.

Are we sure we can't get this show down to one hour, NBC?

WEIGH IN!  Age before beauty, Johnny.

Johnny-65:  From 328 lbs to 311 lbs- 17 lbs lost
Bonnie-63:  From 254 lbs to 250 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Mike-61:  From 309 lbs to 297 lbs- 12 lbs lost
Debbie-60:  From 239 lbs to 233 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Becky-50:  From 238 lbs to 228 lbs- 10 lbs lost  Total:  49 lbs, 3.58% BW

Joe-46:  From 348 lbs to 326 lbs- 22 lbs lost
Antone-44:  From 447 lbs to 415 lbs- 32 lbs lost
Sunny-41:  From 277 lbs to 261 lbs- 16 lbs lost
John-40:  From 445 lbs to 408 lbs- 37 lbs lost
Jennifer-39:  From 330 lbs to 311 lbs- 19 lbs lost Total:  126 lbs, 6.82% BW

Vinny-27:  From 426 lbs to 405 lbs- 21 lbs lost
Ramon-27:  From 355 lbs to 338 lbs- 17 lbs lost
Jessica-26:  From 254 lbs to 239 lbs- 15 lbs lost
Patrick-25:  From 387 lbs to 367 lbs- 20 lbs lost
Courtney-24:  From 270 lbs to 254 lbs- 16 lbs lost  Total:  89 lbs, 5.26% BW

Bob's team leaves everyone in the dust, obviously, and the Seniors must sort out who is going home first.  The Seniors have a Real Housewives moment when Debbie tells Bonnie she finds her tears annoying which doesn't earn her any points in the popularity department.  Not surprisingly, Debbie Downer is eliminated.  Now she can take all the breaks she wants!

When we check back with Debbie, she has gone from 239 to 215, is break dancing with her grand kids, and hopes to be 160 by the finale.

This season looks like there is plenty of drama on the teams- GAME PLAY!- and lots of blood, sweat, and tears.  I am looking forward to seeing how Anna K fits into the whole show and if she'll be able to help her team see the numbers they need to see so they aren't picked off one by one.  Dolvett can stay.  You can stay, Dolvett!

Want to know what Courtney from season 11 has to say?  Here's her recap, brought to you by DietsinReview.com!

Reality Alert! Wicked Fit coming to Style Network

Katie Boyd kicks some pageant butt.

Yes, the 12th season of the Biggest Loser is starting tonight on NBC, but if you are in the mood for something new, check on Wicked Fit starting October 23rd on the Style network. 

You know I always try to bring you the latest and greatest weight related reality shows, and this one looks like fun!

Really? C'mon Guy Sueing White Castle!

If you can't fit into the booth, maybe that's a sign?

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/man-sues-white-castle-because-over-booth-size-160126946.html

New Season of The Biggest Loser Starting Soon!

I was watching America's Got Talent and saw the new ad for The Biggest Loser with Bob, Anna, and DQ.  Plus:  No more boxing workouts!  Con:  All tennis workouts.



Of course, I totally miss Jillian.  Here's an article from FitPerez.com to tide you over!

See you in a couple of weeks!  This is gonna be an interesting experiment!

Big Sexy is a whole lotta fun!

The one in the middle? 6'3"!!!

I have to thank Project Runway for introducing me to two new shows:  Dance Moms, which is horribly wonderful, and Big Sexy, which is really fantastic!  If it wasn't for Lifetime and their wonderful advertisers, I wouldn't know about this little treasure of a reality show that knows how to handle a "real" woman.



Big Sexy is actually on TLC, but there isn't anything to really learn about.  The women of Big Sexy are women you know, or maybe you ARE this woman:  Curvy, busty, beautiful, and not ashamed to be those adjectives.

Big Sexy follows the lives of four fabulous females living and working in the fashion industry here in New York City. (LADIES: IF YOU ARE READING THIS I TOTALLY WANT TO BE FRIENDS!)  Yes, there are issues of weight addressed, like when the women tried to get into snotty nightclub Marquee- it was blurred out on the show but not here!- and they were asked to pay a $30 cover charge and the thinner girls got into the club for free, or when they are speed dating and one guy candidly tells one of the plus size ladies that he only dates big girls when he is drunk (!).  But what I LOVED about this show is that the women are confident and are sexy on their own and that their weight is not what defines them.  They define themselves.

Everyone has their hang ups about their bodies.  I see women at my place of business that have bodies that most women would die for, and yet they spend hours on the elliptical, pinching and pulling at fat that isn't there and fretting about what calories that they put into their mouths.  Hell, I have been there.  It is nice to see women that have a healthy view of themselves and want people to know that not everyone has to be thin to be happy.

Of course, my concern AS ALWAYS is that people know that no matter your size that your internal health is my most important concern.  Cholesterol, blood pressure, visceral fat around your organs, joint pain, drinking and smoking habits:  All of these conditions effect women of all sizes and I want people at the end of the day to love their size AND be able to live long and lovely lives.  I feel as if the ladies of Big Sexy are living the lives they want to live in bodies they love.  And that kind of confidence is sexy in a big way.

TV people!  Choose to show more people that are happy and proud of whatever life they live, and that even if they are big, they don't JUST have to be contestants on a weight loss reality show!

A Wag of the Finger to DENNY'S

Oh, Denny's.  Why do you keep finding yourself in my blog?  Why are you so bad?  And why do you have a menu item called Moons Over My Hammy?

According to food blog Eater, Denny's is launching a new "Let's Get Cheesy!" campaign and have introduced a new sandwich:  The Mac n' Cheese Patty Melt.

I think that's a tomato.

What's on this one, you may be thinking.  It couldn't be any worse than the grilled cheese sandwich stuffed with fried mozzarella cheese sticks, right?

The Mac n' Cheese Patty Melt has a hamburger patty covered in mac' n cheese.  With special sauce!  While it sounds terribly messy, which is a pretty good reason not to eat it, let me give you another one.  This sandwich is 1,690 calories.  Just for the sandwich.  No fries.  No drink.  Just the sandwich.  The average person should take in 1,800 to 2,200 calories a day based on personal factors and physical activity.  That sandwich blows that to hell.

Why is Denny's trying to take on the mantle of America's cheesiest assassin?  Please don't order this, folks.  Send a message to Denny's that we deserve better!!!

"If sugar is so fattening, how come so many kids are thin?"

I have been watching a lot of Mad Men lately.  Here is an ad campaign for sugar versus artificial sweeteners that would make Don Draper proud.

I wonder if this P.O. Box is still operational. . .

For more "truth" about sweeteners, click here.  HILARIOUS.

What Real Women Look Like?

I just read this post on FitPerez.com about the website MyBodyGallery.com.  It is a collection of "real women" body photos.

What do you all think?  Is this site meant to encourage positive feedback?  Is it a reference guide for other women?  Why are all the faces blacked out? 

What I took away from it was that at 5'4" and 160 pounds, everyone looks different.

Tell me what you all think about it.

BIG NEWS!

It's me!  I got engaged to the boyfriend yesterday.  Now he will be known as the fiance.  It is on like Donkey Kong!

Sunday Funday!

If colonics make you look as young as Richard Marx does, then count me in.

Eating Yourself to Death

I have been watching a lot of shows about food addictions lately.  What a hard thing to deal with!  If you wanted to quit smoking or stop drinking or stop smoking crack you could separate yourself from those habits.

Everyone has to eat.  How does one overcome this issue?

I watched an episode of Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition where the trainer on the show actually gave up on a client and made him go to rehab because he COULD NOT stop.  He lied and lied about what he was actually eating and when he came in for a weigh in he gained back all that he had lost and more.  While he was still participating in the weight loss portion of the show!

I also watched an episode of True Life that covered two women who were addicted to food in such a way that they were like junkies.  They were moody and irritable if food was unavailable, they ate until they were sick, and they alienated themselves from friends and family to get their fix.  One woman actually had the SHAKES.  Not a shake, but the shakes from food withdrawal.

I remember when I was at my heaviest how food was such a comfort to me.  All I thought about was what I was going to eat next.  I never wanted to feel hungry.  I kept filling that hole inside with food until I didn't have to feel anything anymore.  If I was full then I wasn't worried- I was taken care of so everything else in life was not so bad.  It was probably why I smoked pot or drank too much.  It's a temporary distraction from whatever in life is bothering you.

I don't know when the light switch moment occurred in my life that made me substitute my more negative behaviors with positive ones.  And I don't always crave those trigger foods anymore.  I certainly don't act on the triggers.  All the substitutes I have made over the years have become habits and I feel queasy when I remember the days of eating an entire pint of Chubby Hubby AND a cheese sandwich AND a bag of chips in one sitting.

Any of us could suffer from a food addiction at any time based on what's going on in our lives.  Is anyone out there dealing with this?  Or if you have overcome a food addiction, how did you do it?

Are you the world's toughest human?

And I complain about running three miles. . .



Anyone going to sign up for this?  Here is the link!

http://toughmudder.com/events/worlds-toughest-mudder-series-finals/?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=FBWTM0001

Squeaky Wheels make Happy Meals!

And it rhymes.  Come on, that is an awesome title. :)


I wanted to post how excited I was to read in the local morning paper two things that I feel so passionate about:  Happy Meals being made healthier and calorie counts on menu boards making a difference in people's dietary choices.

Don't get too cozy with that smile, Happy Meal.

McDonald's is downsizing their Happy Meal size fries to an 100-calorie version and adding apple slices with no caramel dipping sauce to all of their Happy Meals by the end of the year.  In all of their stores!  This is good news for kids and parents- kids get their fries at a better size and parents get them to eat some fruit.  Everyone is a winner.  Now let's keep it coming and actually make it healthy, not less unhealthy.

I also read that they are lowering sodium in their foods by 2015.  What takes so long?  All the lab taste testing. . .

Why hot cakes?  Why not pancakes?

I am a huge fan of the calorie counts being put on menus and menu boards.  It really makes me take a long, hard look at what I am going to put into my mouth (and onto my butt) and try to make a better, more well informed choice.  Well, a new study came out that shows the calorie posting is actually causing people to take in less- about 100 calories less per meal.  I think that that is effective enough to merit going across country with this concept, don't you?  In about a month, that's 3,500 calories or 1 pound of fat.  That's 12 pounds a year that people could be saving without even trying!

And that is really just the tip of the iceberg.  With more education about portion sizes and what healthier eating really means (not just "natural" being put on a box), we can really see changes being made in our communities.  But we have to keep being the squeaky wheels to see that change happen and to keep the companies that feed us accountable!

Ron Swanson Approved Meals

Applebee's- why do you have a fruit in your name?

If you are not Ron Swanson, please don't eat these things.  Notice how Denny's grilled cheese with cheese sticks sandwich makes it onto my blog AGAIN.  How's this thing not being banned!?!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/buzzbrewery/ron-swanson-approved-8-xtreme-eats-397c

Want to see some of Ron's other favorite foods?  For your consideration.

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Bathing (and writing) Beauties!

He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish.

Ever wanted to see Ernest Hemingway in his Old Man and the Sea get up?  Want to know why Sylvia Plath was depressed?  It probably wasn't because she looked great in a bikini.  Click on the link below to see some literary greats in their bathing dresses, courtesy of Flavorwire.com.

http://flavorwire.com/190406/take-a-dip-literary-greats-in-their-bathing-suits

That's a lotta Bull!

I'll be on you like a spider monkey.

An energy drink that's the equivalent of 11 croissants? C'est non! I've always thought that "energy drinks" are naughty, but here is the proof.

Read on!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/grace-nasri/energy-drinks-sugar_b_876409.html#s291399&title=1_Full_Throttle

Sunday Funday: Father's Day Workout

Warning:  Extreme Adorable Factor.  Do not watch if you hate cute babies.  Happy Father's Day!

My thoughts on Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition

Chris Powell on the first episode of EMWLE

I have been trying to figure out how I want to blog about EMWLE.  It's tricky:  It's only an hour long, it's real interview heavy, and it only covers one person per episode.

One year for a weight loss transformation is amazing, and much longer than The Biggest Loser.  And you well know that I think slow and steady wins the race in the weight loss world.  I love the personal trainer Chris Powell.  He is warm and supportive and has a lot of charisma.  I just wish there was more of him and the subject in each episode.  I wish they showed the food the people ate.  I wish they showed more of the workouts.  I just wish there was MORE.

It is a great concept, but I think if they do another season it needs to be a little more dense with HOW the transformation is taking place.  People know how a house is built.  People don't know as much about how to change their lives and live more healthy. 

Please ABC!  If you bring back the show, maybe make it a hair longer?  It doesn't have to be like The Biggest Loser (20 episodes), but I would like a little more info on the actual transformation and not so much on the big reveal.

That is all.

Sunday Funday!

Take a breather.


see more dog and puppy pictures

Saturday Snippet

An apartment complex that promotes weight loss.  They should have called it "The Loser".

http://blisstree.com/live/anti-obesity-housing-poll/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+b5media%2Fblisstree+%28Blisstree%29

Casual Friday

Or CryDay.  Debbie loves running.

BE FIT NYC! Befitnyc.com launches this week!!!

The only thing I love more than being fit is not having to pay for it.  This week, BEFITNYC.COM has launched to let you know all of the free goodies that are going on this week and all summer!

CHECK IT OUT!  And for all the goings on, check out their page on Facebook, too.