Thursday, December 22, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
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!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
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, December 11, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
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!
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