Afternoon Delight

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Barefoot Training Lecture Series with Dr. Emily Splichal

If you have been looking at the feet of your fellow gym goers or runners at your local track, you may have noticed the latest trend: Barefoot running or running in "shoes" like Vibram 5 Fingers. Is this just a fitness trend (hello, Jazzercise!) or something you should be investigating further for yourself or as a personal trainer for your clients?

Dr. Emily Splichal, specialist in podiatric medicine, thinks barefoot training is definitely worth it for the health of your entire body. "Our feet play an integral role maintaining balance and body alignment. This postural feedback from our feet is often attenuated by our shoe gear and may put us at risk for injury. Research has compared injury rates between shod and barefoot athletes, with an overwhelming higher rate of injury in shod athletes. This higher injury rate is associated with the thicker soles blocking proprioceptive feedback from the foot and ankle," Dr. Splichal writes in the October issue of the Rofami Inc. Health and Wellness newsletter.

Where can we as health and wellness professionals turn to learn more about our amazing feet? Dr. Splichal will be leading a two-part lecture series through Evidence Based Fitness Academy  on November 6, 2010 entitled "The Functional Foot and Ankle" and "Barefoot Balance Training" at the New York Sports Club (217 Broadway, NYC, NY).

"The Functional Foot and Ankle" will help fitness professionals help their clients gain an understanding of the role the foot and ankle play in creating and modifying fitness programs to maintain competitive among their colleagues and achieve the greatest results with their clients. "Barefoot Balance Training" will focus on postural training, including balance training, strength training, and flexibility training, to help bring client's away from chronic pain and muscular imbalances by learning how to realign the body from the foot up.

Dr. Splichal knows what she is talking about: She holds a DPM from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine; a Master’s in Public Health from Brooklyn College and has recently completed her Master’s in Human Movement from A.T. Still University. She also is the founder of the Evidence Based Fitness Academy, an educational institution dedicated to providing research-based fitness education for fitness professionals specializing in Human Movement.

Evidence Based Fitness Academy will have their official website launch (designed by health professional Jessica Vergottini http://www.jvdesigns.net/) this Wednesday, October 20th. The goal of the site is to connect fitness professionals with affordable continuing education and amazing professionals in their own cities. No longer will trainers have to spend extra money on travel at an expensive continuing education conference!

To learn more about the lecture series and for a complete list of other classes coming to your area, head to http://www.evidencebasedfitnessacademy.com/ or connect with them on Facebook.

Sunday Funday!

My dawg! She's a real lady. . .


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Casual Friday

Who doesn't think hard work doesn't pay off?  All these hours of reality based television watching have payed off:  Someone in "digital PR" has sent me some Casual Friday links for next week's Thintervention!  Subject:  Joe gets schooled by Frau Craig.  Thank you, 360i!



AND. . .Joe is a jerk.  Will he learn his lesson on this Monday's episode?  I'll be tuning in!

What's Eating You?- First Episode Thoughts

What's Eating You is a new six part series on E! that chronicles different people with different types of eating disorders:  Everything from anorexia and bulimia to the more bizarre like eating chalk.  Chalk?  Hmm.

Here is the commercial for the show.



The first episode followed two girls, 21-year-old Adrienne and 20-year-old Danni, as they tried to cope with their eating disorders.  Adrienne is anorexic and Danni binges and purges.  Their stories couldn't be anymore different, though. 

Adrienne's mom had been anorexic as well.  Adrienne is a dancer in an Elvis review, eats oatmeal, looks like Paris Hilton, and doesn't think she is skinny.  Danni was the All American cheerleader who started binging and purging when she didn't make captain of the cheer squad.  Her parent's took out a loan to send her to treatment and when she returned she went back to her old ways.

Both girls are going to out patient therapy, and Adrienne is also seeing a registered dietician.  I feel bad to see their struggles with their sense of self and where they fit in in the world.  I am not sure that this show is a beneficial show for the true exploration of an eating disorder.  I mean, it IS on the E channel, home of the Kardashians and Kendra and the Girls Next Door. 

The show didn't show the girls getting better.  Adrienne lost two jobs (her Elvis gig and a job as a dance teacher TO YOUNG GIRLS!!!!!) over the course of the show and although she realized she actually did have anorexia, the show didn't show her progress.  They did state at the end of the show she had gained six pounds, though.  Danni pouted and cried through her therapy sessions and then fired her therapist.  According to her mom she has done this many times.  Danni had mentioned she felt like her family didn't pay enough attention to her-- so the eating disorder created the attention that she craved.  Maybe she wasn't ready to give it up yet.  I am not a doctor or a psychologist, so this is just my opinion.

As a fit blogger, I felt a need to cover this show.  I have had my own trials and tribulations with my own body issues, and I am always wanting to learn more about what makes people with these illnesses tick.  I don't know if E really handles these issues with the care they deserve or if they are making it into salacious television watching.  If eating chalk and being anorexic are in the same category, I don't know what the goal of the show is.  To show that these people are freaks?  Or people that need help?

The Biggest Loser- season 10- week 4- Meet the Blob

The Blob- Biggest Loser Mob.  Consisting of Frado, Patrick, and Brendan with their gal Friday, Ada.  They are gettin' down to business, see?  Yeah!  Gonna make things real difficult around these parts, see?



It all started when that dame Ali walked in.  Told these Losers they were going to have to face a Temptation challenge, the first of the season.  What was in store?  Cupcakes.  About 400 of 'em, all dolled up, looking real sweet like.  If they participate they win a 1 pound advantage that grows a pound every week they don't use it.  Sounds easy enough.  Oh, and there is a double elimination this week too.  The old yellow line/ red line business.

The players that stepped up were Rick, Adam, Elizabeth, and Jesse.  The contest starts tight, but Adam and Rick prove their gag reflex is not as strong and quickly take the lead.  The big winner is ADAM, who professed not to be a cupcake man.  That's what they all say, Adam.  Until you've got a sweet cupcake staring you in the eye.

Ali announces that Adam has ingested 1,350 calories, to which he coolly replies, "Not a problem.  I'm gonna burn an extra 1,350 tonight.  Simple."

Brandon fumes to big boss Frado, "Wow, he is so cocky, dude.  He really is!"  Ali notices him talking a big talk, which leads Frado to get a little Moe on him.



"If you win this you have a target on your back," Brandon says, rubbing his head. 

Then Elizabeth gets all weak kneed and sobby, because she is scared of going home.  HELLO!  They are all scared!  But if you have lady parts, there is a real fear here.  The yellow line has not been a friend to the ladies.

You know what makes ladies feel better?  A visit from Chef Curtis Stone!  He teaches everyone to make 100 calorie cupcakes- find the recipe here!

Then it's more talking about targets and people feeling threatened and the yellow line and the red line and blah blah blah.  22 minutes into the show, Bob and Jillian FINALLY show up and everyone who participated in the cupcake challenge are waiting for their ear boxing session.  "You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes, I guess," says Bob.  "You're trying to stay here.  Who can fault you for that?" says Jillian.

This season really is crazy!

Time for the yellow line/red line workout, where Bob and Jillian ask repeatedly who is going to be below the red line this week.  Jillian heals Elizabeth from her exercise induced asthma, and Bob puts Frado in his cross hairs, bringing him to the brink of INSANITY.  Positive side note:  Frado is off all of his medications!  Score one for exercise!   Mark injures his back on the rowing machine and Aaron gets his second wind after thinking about his son.  Time for a broccoli plug and ten the weigh in.

All 40 minutes into the show!  Whew.

At the weigh in, Adam decides not to use his cupcake advantage.  Bob and Jillian talk about the game play that is going on (Hello, Blob!) and Bob keeps it koombahyah by reminding us that we are all winners if we lead healthy lives.  YAY!

Frado:  From 337 lbs to 317 lbs- 20 lbs lost- 5.93% BW

Ada:  From 234 lbs to 22lbs- 10 lbs lost- 4.27% BW

Brendan:  From 326 lbs to 315 lbs- 11 lbs lost- 3.37% BW

Rick:  From 306 lbs to 297 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 2.94% BW

Adam:  From 356 lbs to 346 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 2.81% BW

Aaron:  From 431 lbs to 419 lbs- 12 lbs lost- 2.78% BW

Patrick:  From 366 lbs to 356 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 2.73% BW

YELLOW LINE

Jessica:  From 261 lbs to 254 lbs- 7 lbs lost- 2.68% BW

Lisa:  From 267 lbs to 260 lbs- 7 lbs lost- 2.63% BW

Elizabeth:  From 229 lbs to 223 lbs- 6 lbs lost- 2.62% BW

Jesse:  From 329 lbs to 321 lbs- 8 lbs lost- 2.43% BW

Burgandy:  From 218 lbs to 213 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 2.29% BW

Mark:  From 369 lbs to 361 lbs- 8 lbs lost- 2.17% BW

RED LINE

Sophia:  From 252 lbs to 250 lbs- 2 lbs lost- .79% BW

Sophia has fallen below the dreaded red line and is automatically eliminated.  Another lady down!  It was a bleak weigh in, full of complaining and oh wells and it is what it is.  No one pointed out that Frado only lost 3 pounds last week when he had immunity.  *Cough cough*

Ada made the mistake of telling JILLIAN of all people that she was upset she hadn't had a break through yet.  At the next day's workout, Jillian cocks her fully loaded mind bullet gun and blows her away, forcing her to reveal how her parents make her feel about her brother dieing when she was three years old.  Her story is super wee woo.  Ada realizes that she is having to relearn to be happy.  Mission accomplished.

Bob focuses on those below the yellow line, and decides the only thing he can do is throw a dinner party- holler!  Bob takes them to the Hollywood Hills for a fab vegan lunch and conversation about their previous dining experiences that got them to this point.  Most troubling was Lisa, who buys a $5 pizza for her family three times a week because it is cheap.  But Bob points out that a bag of beans is cheap too, and that these parents have a responsibility to their children to teach them how to eat properly and healthfully.  Score one for the food revolution!!!

Back at the ranch, Burgandy receives bad news from Dr. H:  She has tendinitis in her foot and won't be able to participate in the elimination challenge, automatically putting her in the bottom two.  Yikes.  But maybe Frado will save her?

No.  Frado saves Jessica because she was the closest to the yellow line (and they are buddies!) and Ali introduces the challenge.  The players must unroll a football field's length of carpet weighing over 900 pounds.  Then they must run back the length of the carpet to avoid the bottom two.

The guys push through easily, leaving the ladies in the dust.  Elizabeth struggles and is last, but she did finish the race and is proud of herself.  Her new spark in herself is enough to win favor in the hearts of the voters, causing Burgandy to be eliminated.

Two ladies gone.  But not so fast-- Ali announces that the OTHER eliminated players from the first episode will be coming back to fill one position on the ranch.  This may be the longest season ever.

Sophia has gone from 272 pounds to 225 lbs and Burgandy has gone from 231 pounds to 180 pounds.  Each are paying it forward to their families and communities and are eagerly anticipating the at home prize of $100,000!

Fun New IPhone Toys (aka Apps)

I am an app enthusiast.  Meaning I have a lot of them.

I found two new apps that are super awesome and I must share!

Nike+ GPS is my new fave app for running or walking! It doesn't require special shoes or anything in your shoe to keep track-- just your IPhone with GPS.  It has many options for music (but no shuffle option, which C25K has) and the voice over lady sounds super professional and not at all like Mary Poppins.  The new female voice over on C25K (named Alison so I had to try it) is not even supercalifragilistic.  Besides being able to log how you felt and the type of terrain and all that jazz after your run, it shows you on a map where you ran and when you were fast and slow!  THAT IS THE COOLEST!  I love finding out where exactly I was in Central Park and how far I really went.

You can also challenge yourself to beat an old time or challenge your friends.  And you can tweet and facebook your run like C25K.

courtesy meditationoasis.com

I also just purchased the Meditation Oasis apps Simply Being and Relax & Rest to help me with falling asleep and reducing my stress hormones.  I used the 30 minute guided meditation last night and slept like a rock.  I can't wait to keep using it!  There are a variety of options, from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, all with a peaceful voice over and New Age synth music.  If you are feeling super stressed out or are having issues with sleep, get these apps for a song- 99 cents each!

Got any new apps you want to share?

5 Questions with Thintervention's Bryan T. Donovan!

Bryan glowing in his last trimester. (courtesy of Bryan T Donovan)

Funny man Bryan Donovan has captured my heart and my blog with his many quotables on Thintervention.  He is seriously funny and has become the leader of the pack with his weight loss.  I asked him to take a little time out of his busy schedule to answer 5 Questions for me.  READ ON to learn about how he feels about his team mates, his fave extreme workout, and his plans for after Thintervention.

FF: In a cage match between Jackie Warner and Jillian Michaels, who do you think would win and why?

BD: I gotta go with Jackie, because I have met her inner warrior, Hank. He doesn't mess around. He has had a few scraps with my inner warrior Ethel, and of course Ethel won, but Jackie is tough. Plus Jackie's balls are enormous and that has got to play a part in fighting til the death, right?

FF: On the first episode of the show, Jackie made you run up and down your stairs with cookies in your hands. Did you eat the cookies after she left?

BD: I actually fu^%&^ the hell out of those cookies, then cried and attempted to hold them, but by then it was too late. Sometimes you just have to let go.

FF: As one of the participants on Thintervention that doesn't kvetch all the time, what is your position on the participants that do? (i.e. Stacy's heavy breathing episodes, being afraid of heights on the pull up machine, Nikki having fat girl knee, etc.)

BD: Stacy should be forced to have her tear ducts removed, Nikki should be taken out to pasture and just left to graze on fermented potatoes and when Jeana's alien leaders allow the real Jeana to return back to earth I'll let you know.

FF: What has been your favorite Extreme Workout on the show? I liked watching you kick butt at the canyon and then having an "intimate" dinner with Jackie and Craig.

BD: Really? Is that a trick question? Hands down, Pussycat Dolls workout. I mean, come on, I am giant homo...Who wouldn't want that? It was like I had died and gone to heaven. I am super excited to be joining the The Pussycats Dolls on tour this summer...OK, that's not true, but a girl can still dream, can't she?

FF: Since this is going into print before the finale, let's say you are still a "Fatty Patty". What is the first thing you want to do when you get super buff and hot?

BD: I'd like to go to the beach and not be harpooned or have Hayden Panettiere show up and try to rally a group to roll me back into the ocean. I'd also like to pose for Playgirl..... or is it Playboy? who knows...

Thintervention with Jackie Warner- episode 6- "Week 6. About time you joined us."

Herr Warner and Frau Craig (zap2it.com)

According to last week's Thintervention, Jeana is moving in with Bryan and Nikki is moving in with Mandy.  "I am moving myself from temptation to oh my God the suburbs," moans Nikki, who orders liposuction right away.  After Nikki marvels at Mandy's full fridge and Bryan grills Jeana about her sweat glands, Bryan states, "Let's get out fat asses to the gym."

Basic training this week is no excuses and balls to the wall.  This week:  Working on the sexy body parts.  Nice butts, nice arms, and nice abs.  Nikki cries.

Everyone is being pushed to their absolute limits.  Mandy is crying, Stacey threatens to puke, Nikki is actually participating.  At the after workout pow wow, Jackie states the importance of being selfish for your own well being.  She also lets the participants know they will be working on finding their own inner sexy this week, complete with a trip down to China Town for some sexy herbs.  HEY THERE SEXY GIRLFRIEND!!!!!

-cue sexy music-

At Mandy's home, Mandy has ordered massages for Nikki and her husband.  Mandy teams up with her hubby's masseuse, prompting him to say, "Every man's dream.  Two Asians."  *shudder*  At Bryan's house, a less sexy air as Bryan opts not to free ball and grills Jeana (again) when she asks him how she comes off to other people.  He tells her she has "an air of superiority" (surprise) and she doesn't get it.  Good night, Miguel.  Good night, John Boy.

The next morning, Bryan wakes up to take Jeana to spin class.  He makes her breakfast, gets her dressed, and makes her sweat for real.  After spin they go to brunch in West Hollywood and meet Robert the waiter.  Is he gay?  Is he straight?  He is an older blond waiter in West Hollywood, but Bryan asks him the definitive gay questions:
1.)  In shoes pink or blue, which would you choose?
2.)  Nascar or gymnastics?

Richard answers blue and Nascar-- he's straight!  Jeana points out "Some gay men have to like Nascar."

Nikki and Mandy go lingerie shopping for Mandy's hot new bod, and then it is time for China Town.  Joe immediately starts acting like a jerk, asking the herb guy for a cure for cankles and then saying Stacey needs it and then interrupting the lady dispensing the medical knowledge.  The herb guy was right on with everyone's assessments, by the way.  Next time I am in LA I need to check him out!

At the extreme workout, the participants meet Jackie at a theatre with Robin Antin, creator of the Pussy Cat Dolls for a sexy burlesque dance workout that can burn up to 500 calories an hour.  Craig works it out with a grand jete, showing he was the Rum Tum Tugger at the Pasadena Play House in his pretrainer days.  Everyone is popping, locking, and grinding.  "It is 1,000% a girls dance.  I love it!" squeals Bryan.

There is a dance off at the end between Shay, Stacey, and Bryan which was seriously hilarious (Bryan in his hot pink satin mini bolero jacket steals the show) and Stacey is declared the big winner.  I burned many calories laughing.

After the workout, Joe and his homies go out to Chez Douche Bag in Hollywood to pick up some hot ladies to get laid.  OKAY- Joe is super repulsive.  He is so conceited and abrasive and jerky, it is a wonder that he can get ANY tail at all.  If any single lady in LA watches Bravo (which is a no brainer) than Joe is not shoring up any sleeping partners for the immediate future.  Jackie goes to check up on him and tries to offer him lady tips--she is Jackie Warner, power lesbian-- and Joe manages to turn off an entire group of girls with his insensitive questions and Spanish skills.  His response?  "It is what it is."  Wee woo.

At therapy, everyone talks about sex or their lack of it.  It's nice to know that Stacey and Joe find themselves attractive enough to themselves to masturbate.  It's also crazy to learn that Mandy's husband rewards her with gifts when she has an orgasm.

Jackie calls Joe out for acting insensitive in China Town and for being a jerk at Chez Douche Bag, and Joe says, "I didn't come out to make seven friends."

Fail, Joe.

Time for the weigh in!

Bryan:  From 240 lbs to 234 lbs- 6 lbs lost

Jeana:   From 167 lbs to 162 lbs- 5 lbs lost

Joe:  From 213 lbs to 211 lbs- 2 lbs lost

Stacey:  From 211 lbs to 206 lbs- 5 lbs lost

Shay:  From 191 lbs to 184 lbs- 7 lbs lost

Mandy:  From 148 lbs to 145 lbs- 3 lbs lost

Nikki:  From 212 lbs to 205 lbs- 7 lbs lost

Jackie points out it took Nikki five weeks to lose eleven pounds and only one week to lose seven- the experiment worked!!!

Next week:  The vacation from hell for all participants.  Fried foods that you can't eat and rowing galore!

AND READ ON FOR MY INTERVIEW WITH BRYAN!!!!

Another reason why dogs rock my socks.

Monday Melee: Weighing in on kid's issues

Which means to say I am not only weighing in on kid's issues but also issues involving parents, teachers, and the general public.

This past week I saw three different topics I wanted to cover:  New York City taking sugary drinks and candy off the approved list for food stamps, gardening as a "snooty" sport, and healthy snacks shouldn't be offered for Halloween.

Topic One:  The Food Stamp Ban on Sugary Drinks and Candy
My first job was at a grocery store in Oklahoma City.  I worked in the bakery first (Lord, the temptations of freshly glazed donuts!) and then transitioned to working as a check out girl.  This was the first time in my life that I saw a food stamp being used.  What always surprised me was the type of foods that were bought on food stamps:  Fruit punch, chicken thighs, American Cheese.  The users typically bought junk items with the food stamps and bought "real foods" with cash.  As a high schooler I thought this was odd, and I still think this is odd, because junk food was always a luxury type product in my household.  We didn't get sodas except for school field trips or for slumber parties-- soda was not apart of our daily diet.  Just like McDonald's was a once a month treat, not a daily necessity because it was cheap.

Both of my parents worked, my mom sometimes working two jobs, to provide my sister and brother and I a middle class lifestyle.  My mom was innovative in her eating habits:  Skim milk, whole wheat breads, home cooked meals with salads and fish.  Part of my after school chores was helping to get dinner ready by prepping veggies, getting all the necessary components set up and what not so my mom could put it all together when she got home from work.  I can't even imagine my mom going through a drive through and getting us dinner.  Because we didn't have a ton of money we didn't spend unnecessarily on sodas, candy, or cookies.

I am in FULL SUPPORT of New York City deciding to eliminate sugary sodas and candy off of the food stamp list.  They aren't required for normal living.  They are treats that should be purchased with your own cash if you want them.  I also like the incentive programs that make the food stamp "bucks" go further by making fresh produce cost less per dollar and allowing food stamps to be used in Farmer's Markets.  I don't think this is punishing lower income families because the facts are that these groups have higher rates of obesity, diabetes, etc. because of poor food choices.  It has be a combo of education and tough love to help rehabilitate these families to make wiser and healthier decisions, and I am glad that NY is in the forefront of this movement.

Topic Two:  Teaching Children to Garden is a Yuppie Dream
When I found this article on Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish, I was really surprised.  The author, Adam Ozimek, writes that gardening is not a reasonable or realistic way of teaching children how to make proper food choices.  We should be teaching them about the merits of frozen veg instead because that is what more blue collar people can afford.

WHAT?  After watching Food Revolution, I feel gardening at it's most basic is helpful in teaching children where those frozen veg actually come from.  Seeing those little kids not knowing what a potato or a tomato was was heartbreaking!  And saying that gardening is for the upper class is hilarious.  How many rich folks do you know grow all their own produce?  Last time I checked, farmers were also considered blue collar folks.  Hmm.

Ozimek's article also says that organic produce has no more nutritional value than it's conventionally grown counterparts.  DUH.  An organic apple and a conventional apple are still APPLES.  It's the care of the soil, the types of pesticides, the support of local farmers:  That is what sets organic produce apart from conventional produce.  Buying organic is a great choice if you can make it, but if you are buying apples at the end of the day, isn't that a better option than no apples at all?

Topic Three:  No Healthy Options for Halloween?
I am not saying I want you to buy raisins for the neighborhood kiddies this Halloween.  I personally hate raisins.  I'm also not saying you should give out razor blade filled apples.  I read this "blog" post-- maybe it's a blog or a really personality filled article posed as fact?-- that you should allow kids to go hog wild on Halloween and get real candy.  This was written by a mom whose children don't drink soda and don't know what Pop Tarts are, but she is completely cool with them eating a pillow case full of candy.  Heck, maybe all that sugar will get them sick and they'll realize that candy is not all that great for you.

I just disagree with allowing kids to eat as much candy as they like just because it is Halloween.  I was told I could eat a certain amount and then the rest was put away by my mom.  I think if the people that passed out candy chose some healthier options like pretzels or healthier candies, it wouldn't be such a bad idea, either.  Although I congratulate this mom on her practices the other 364 days a year, I don't think she should give up the fight just because it is Halloween.  Seems irresponsible somehow.

And that's my two cents for today.  Any thoughts?

Sunday Funday!

It's Sunday and beautiful outside!  Take a tip from our friend, Jesse the dog.  You can jump rope, skate board, or get some chores done.  The options are only limited to the insides of your brain.

Cyanide Saturday

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Is there such a thing as too much salsa?

Thintervention with Jackie Warner- episode 5- "It makes me want to eat a cake."

Shay  (poptower.com)

Things are going cuckoo crazy for the cast of Thintervention.  Crazier than Shay's hair?

Crazier!  Jackie knows that not all the cast gets it.  Mandy, Bryan, and Joe are losing weight, getting fit, and really suffering for the show.  Not so much:  Jeana, Nikki, Shay, and Stacey.  Although we have all been thoroughly entertained by their antics (I mean, who cannot just adore Nikki when she is at her meanest?), Herr Warner has reached her tipping point.  So what is a girl to do?

SHOULDERS!  Jackie and Craig work the heck out of some arms during basic training.  "This is hideous," moans Nikki, claiming she has delicate wrists.  Joe sullenly bicep curls in the corner, watching longingly as Jackie spends one on one time with Nikki.  Joe says in his interview that he will give Jackie the "beautiful body" that she wants, not Nikki.  I hope that Joe saw that when he watched the show and cringed.  Just a little bit.

Everyone is in pain at the end of the workout, but Jackie puts the hurt on her rebel bad girls:  Shay and Stacy are not on program because they are skipping meals, Jeana is yessing Jackie to death but not really following through, and Nikki needs to stay home more.

Cut to:  Nikki at home, Skypeing without a care, when Jackie breaks in "unannounced" again.  Doesn't Nikki lock her doors?  She has brought Nikki some healthy foods to make lunch, which they enjoy on Nikki's white furniture.  My mom would be totally flipping out.  Jackie and Nikki have uncomfortable sex talk.  Eek.

Jackie continues her Operation: Shock and Awe with the other participants.  Next on her list is Joe, who is in the middle of remodeling his home by having professional spray painters create a mural in his living room.  Even though he is busy, Jackie reminds him that he wanted to spend more one on one time with her and he says, "When God gives you a bag of muscled up lesbian lemons, you make lemonade."

Lemonade in this case is a grueling boxing workout in the park in the rain.  Mandy and Jeana are also called to participate, and Jeana proves she is not really in it to win it with a pathetic display of boxing skills.

On the other side of town, Bryan finds Nikki in a bar and tries to convince her to be more serious about the program.  Nikki says she doesn't ask for help.  "Confrontation over!"  But she does invite him for a round on her, so that's nice.

Stacey goes to the doctor to check on her PCOS ( he calls her a tortoise) and when Jackie checks on Shay her mom, Kim, swears to Jackie that Shay is on task. 

Jackie wants some honesty here, but not before the extreme workout.  This week is MMA- mixed martial arts.  Bryan sees "five guys boxing--I see one of them is Jackie."  She throws down with the best and urges the others to find their outer warriors.  Bryan is not down with the fighting, and when one of the MMA fighters throws him down, Ethel comes out with a ROAR.  Jackie barely makes it out alive.  BRUTAL.

Even more brutal:  A "fun" clip of Stacey going out on a blind date.  "I have no problem getting men. Trust." assures Stacey, but after watching her blah blah blah and the guy just nod blankly, I do not think this was a match.com.   I did burn calories watching in embarrassment.

On the day of group therapy and the weigh in, Jackie has big surprises.  On to the scale first!

Joe:  From 216 lbs to 213 lbs- 3 lbs lost

Mandy:  From 152 lbs to 148 lbs- 4 lbs lost

Bryan:  From 246 lbs to 240 lbs- 6 lbs lost

Jeana:  From 166 lbs to 167 lbs- 1 lb gained

Shay:  From 194 lbs to 191 lbs- 3 lbs lost

Stacey:  From 212 lbs to 211 lbs- 1 lb lost

Nikki:  From 210 lbs to 212 lbs- 2 lbs gained

Excuses from the peanut gallery:  "How did I do that?"- Jeana, "I can't make sense of it."- Shay, "You think I cheat and I don't!'- Stacey, "Wow.  That's embarrassing."- Nikki

"There.  Is.  Something.  Going.  On."  Jackie says.

Cheat you say?  Why, Jackie just HAPPENS to have a lie detector right behind door number one!  Bryan, Joe and Mandy are exempt from the hot seat.  What did we discover?

Shay lied on calories and on working out to full intensity.  Jeana lied every time they asked if she was telling the truth.  Stacey went over her allotted calories at least three times a week.  Nikki went over 22 cocktails a week.

The only way to fix these Pinocchio's is to take the most extreme measures.  Mandy is having Nikki move in with her and Bryan is having Jeana move in with him.

Sounds like an episode of Three's Company!



Wacky.  Tune in next week for my 5 Question interview with Bryan!  He is CRAMAZING.

Organic Eating Check In

Happy Thursday!  It has been about a month since I started to incorporate more organic foods into my diet as a result of reading two books:  Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels and The Hormone Diet by Dr. Natasha Turner.  I have not had an official blood test to see if I have real thyroid concerns, but thyroid issues do run in my family and I am a big fan of preventative care.  I have contacted a friend who has a doctor that she likes and trusts for me to get some blood work done-- the last "doctor" I went to was my work doctor and a complete and total a-hole who didn't give me an accurate test that I trust.  So, until then. . .

I have to tell you, I really feel and see a difference in my body!  The products that I have switched to:  organic dairy (milk, eggs, coffee cream and occasionally organic yogurt- still trying to find a brand that I like as much as Fage), organic meats when possible, organic produce or local produce, organic coffee, filtered water from my Brita pitcher, organic face and body wash, organic body lotion (vanilla by Jason is JUST DIVINE), and organic deodorant.  I am not a huge fan of the deodorant-- I am a sweater!!!

From Jillian's book I have stopped drinking any caffeine after noon.  I struggled with this at first because I always made myself a cup of coffee before my shift at work, but I really have grown used to it.  As a result, I have been sleeping better at night and I have much less breast sensitivity and swelling in my hands and feet due to PMS.  Normally I feel like Violet Beauregard from Willy Wonka ("My daughter's a blueberry!") but not this month.  That is awesome.

My skin also feels smoother and any eczema patches I had seem to be all but gone.  I feel like I have less acne.  I feel less bloated.

I don't know if this is all in my head or really a result of trying my hardest to only ingest the healthiest, my whole foods possible.  I also feel less cravings for the sweet stuff and the salty stuff.  I also have been eating more consistently (especially breakfast) and at more regular intervals.  As a result, I am down a pound or two.

I will keep up this "experiment" for another two to three months and see if the organic lifestyle is really the way to go.  So far, it is a resounding YES!