Sunday Funday! HAPPY HALLOWEEN EDITION!!!!

I lurve Halloween and wanted to share my Halloween costume with you all.  HOLLER!

Your girl Snooki!

Let's smoosh.

I had such a blast waiting on my tables in character.  Everyone called me Snooki, too.  WAAAHHH!

I also wanted to share my favorite characters on SNL singing some Halloween songs for your pleasure.



Have a great super fun super spooky Halloween!!!!

Halloween Hijinks!

While I am waiting for my self tanner to dry for my Snooki costume, here's a Halloween ha ha.


Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

The Biggest Loser- season 10- week 6- EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!

This week's episode starts the same way it ends.  The Black team and the Blue team in the elimination room, letting go of someone that the audience did not see coming.  Lord.  This season of The Biggest Loser is so full of twists and turns I feel like I need a guide book.

Luckily, Ali tells us what is going to be happening. . .if I could only focus long enough to get the information.  With every episode being so different, it's hard to keep up!  Lucky for you, dear reader, I take copious notes in my rewatching of the episode.  LONG STORY SHORT:  Only one player's weight will count on each team, and they will not know who that person will be until the actual weigh in.  Then for further clarification, each player reiterates what Ali said in a montage.

BS Quote of the week:  "We're only going to chose the person who worked out the least and ate the worst."- Brendan  Oh, how this comes back to haunt us in the end!

The players quickly choose Elizabeth and Jessica as the supposed targets because they are both women and they say they have low weights week after week.  I went back to my past five blogs, and Jessica has never lost less than six pounds and Elizabeth usually loses about five pounds.  How does that put them on the chopping block?  Also, why don't the women stand up to the guys and put them in the cross fire?  I don't understand this season of wimpy chicks.  I feel like the guys on each team are such game players they have manipulated the whole situation in more ways than the camera could ever catch.

But enough about game play.  This week's episode was all about the melt downs.  Jillian's team is a bunch of cry babies!  She looks like she is about to pull the car over for Elizabeth and Frado who can't seem to keep up with the treadmill.  My favorite moment of the show is when Frado storms out after he falls off the treadmill, ripping his shirt, and Jillian is talking to the camera as Frado wanders around in the fields behind her.  Classic.  The Blue team, on the other hand, is all team work and smiles.  Nothing will ever tear them apart, right team?

After Jillian blows Frado away with some mind bullets, the teams head to the Four Seasons Hotel for a cooking challenge with everyone's cutest chef, Curtis Stone, and new contributor, Chef Lorena Garcia.  They take a hands off approach to cooking:  Each chef must merely instruct each team on how to cook a healthy appetizer, entree, and desert (find the recipes here!).  Then the other half of the team must guess who cooked what dish.  Whoever wins gets ten seconds to help them in a future challenge.

The Black team begins to fray at the edges while the Blue team works together in perfect harmony.  After a tie breaker where the contestants must figure out the calorie content in the desserts, the Blue team takes the win and the prize.  Then the Blue team meets in the "Zen Garden" to discuss their strategy- picking Elizabeth (Adam's idea)- while the Black team again say that Jessica has pulled some "lame numbers".  Again, where are the ladies in the decision making?

Onto the team challenge, which involves the 2,500 year old sport of dragon boat racing.  The teams must successfully paddle 1,000 meters and the winners get to chose who they want to weigh in from the other team and block the other team's choice.  The Blue team, even with their ten second advantage, is off to a shaky start, but manage to pull out yet another victory over the Black team.  Brendan loses his cool in a sour grapes moment while Frado tries to comfort him.



Then it is time for the LAST CHANCE WORKOUT, where Jillian threatens Elizabeth: "I'm going to beat your ass today," and Bob offers simple advice to his team:  "Don't.  Stop.  Peddling."  Jillian gets to the crux of the Elizabeth issue with some tasty mind bullet action.  Elizabeth has always been weak and protected by her family and now she is being protected by Frado and Brendan.  Jillian gets her to realize that she is ultimately responsible for whatever happens to her and she needs to be a bad ass.  Elizabeth gets it, saying, "I don't want to be weak anymore."

When the weigh in rolls around, the Blue team thinks they have it ALL WRAPPED UP, but they make two very crucial mistakes.
FAIL #1:  Adam declines to use his weight advantage which has grown to three pounds.  His eyes get shiny and Gollum like as he describes the weight growing and growing in power each week.  His Preciousssssss.
FAIL #2:  When the Black team picks Jessica as their person to weigh in, the Blue team declines to block their choice.  The Black team's second choice was Jesse.  Hmm.

Anna:  From 286 lbs to 283 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Ada:  From 215 lbs to 211 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Brendan:  From 313 lbs to 302 lbs- 11 lbs lost
Patrick:  From 346 lbs to 337 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Frado:  From 308 lbs to 294 lbs- 14 lbs lost
Elizabeth:  From 218 lbs to 213 lbs- 5 lbs lost

"We're going to have a battle here," Adam says.  Oh yes, Adam.  You have played all your cards!

Jesse:  From 305 lbs to 296 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Mark:  From 352 lbs to 336 lbs- 16 lbs lost
Adam:  From 335 lbs to 322 lbs- 13 lbs lost
Lisa:  From 252 lbs to 244 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Aaron:  From 407 lbs to 398 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Jessica:  From 248 lbs to 244 lbs- 4 lbs lost

"I'm sorry guys," Jessica says tearfully.  If the Blue team had let the Black team picked Jesse, they would have won the weigh in.  Now they realize the only person who is safe is Mark and Adam quickly realizes if he had used his advantage that HE would have been immune.  Oh no.

In the elimination room, the Blue team shows the underbelly of their really great team:  Mark, Jessica, and Jesse ALL vote for Adam (GAME PLAY) and Adam, Lisa, and Aaron all vote for Jessica.  It is a tie, and the Black team comes in and quickly eliminates Adam.  BAM.  And Brendan's quote from the beginning?  I guess it is what it is.

Adam ends up going from 402 pounds to 264 pounds, paying it forward to his local YMCA and helping his community lead healthier lives. 

Next week:  Marine training and an unacceptable weigh in?  Should be a good 'un.

Wanna know what an ex contestant has to say about the episode?  Tune in below to hear what Season 8 contestant Shay has to say, courtesy of Diets in Review!

Why my life gets more awesome every day. . .

1.)  Bryan Donovan (my fave from Thintervention) came to visit me at my place of business last night.  He is awesome, much taller than I expected, and he got to visit Rosie O'Donnell earlier in the day.  I hope he could handle the whirlwind of cool seeing me in my waitress uniform!  THANK YOU BRYAN!!!!

2.)  Mandy (the mommy from Thintervention) posted on my finale blog in the comments!  WHAT?!?  How neat is it that people from the shows I love love the love that I am pouring out?

I am blessed. :)

Thintervention with Jackie Warner- episode 8- THE FINALE!- "I didn't know you were female!"

After seven weeks with Jackie and six weeks at home, the Thinterventionists of Thintervention have come to the Park Plaza Hotel for their big reveal to their friends and families.  The mc's for the evening are Herr Warner and Frau Craig, looking dapper in their Sunday's best.  Even though Jackie is wearing a dress she still could kill you with those biceps.

How did everyone do?  Bravo put together this slide show with great before and after pics.  We know that Jackie has got the goods because these folks look amazing!!!  But it isn't just their outsides.  Everyone has a light in their eyes, more awareness of how they got to the size they were, and the realization of the things they need to watch out for in the future.

Mandy:  Started at 167 lbs- Goal was 137 lbs- Finished at 133 lbs- 34 lbs lost!

• Has decided to get her personal trainer certification
• Helped her husband lose weight
• realized in order to be there for her kids she needed to be there for herself first

Jeana:  Started at 174 lbs- Goal was 149 lbs- Finished at 153 lbs- 21 lbs lost!

• has reprioritized her life by putting herself first
• has fought against her depression
• doesn't let her kids treat her badly anymore
• "She struts!"

Shay:  Started at 204 lbs- Goal was 154 lbs- Finished at 170 lbs- 34 lbs lost!

• admitted she had been abusing laxatives since she was 12-years-old
• discovered that she loves to dance
• lost almost half of her body fat percentage

Joe:  Started at 230 lbs- Goal was 190 lbs- Finished at 188 lbs- 42 lbs lost!

• learned to hold himself accountable for his actions
• has learned he wants emotional connections with women, not just focusing on looks
• has earned the nickname "Mr. Muscles" from Jackie

Nikki:  Started at 223 lbs- Goal was 173 lbs- Finished at 182 lbs- 41 lbs lost

• her biggest struggle was her self sabotage
• tells her friends she is "not calling to cocktail, but calling to hike"
• has learned that she actually enjoys exercise and taking control of her own life

Stacey:  Started at 224 lbs- Goal was 174 lbs- Finished at 184 lbs- 40 lbs lost!

• even with PCOS managed to more than double her expected weight loss
• learned that food didn't have to be her security blanket- now she goes to the gym
• no longer has cankles- take that, Joe!

Bryan:  Started at 266 lbs- Goal was 206 lbs- Finished at 198 lbs- 68 lbs lost!

• can now fit into his partner Miguel's clothes
• looks about nine feet taller
• has really worked on his relationship with food and knows when to step away

This show was so much fun to watch and I enjoyed getting to "meet" Bryan and getting to share all these wonderful stories of achievement.  Who would have thought this ragtag band of characters would have made it so far?  I am looking forward to Jackie and Craig motivating more people for many seasons to come!

Oh, Marie Claire. Tsk Tsk Tsk.

Have you all heard this story?  I had to put my Thintervention recap on hold for a moment because my blood is boiling!!!

Marie Claire, magazine "for women", had the huge lady balls to publish this article entitled "Should Fatties Get a Room?".  Writer Maura Kelly (who is going to have to move into witness protection after this one) "delves" into her feelings about the CBS comedy "Mike and Molly" (that I love!!!) and whether the two characters should be shown in intimate situations.  Like kissing.  Or hand holding.  Maura talks about how the obese characters are disgusting and compares them to alcoholics and heroin addicts-- and even talks about how anorexia is not so bad because at least some models are naturally thin!

WTF, people.  WTF?

First of all, the characters Mike and Molly meet in Overeaters Anonymous.  They are trying to be happy with themselves inside and out.  They both have great jobs- Mike is a cop and Molly is a grade school teacher- and they realize through their crazy families and friends that they need not to turn to food for comfort.  And now that they have met each other, they can make this journey together.  I was worried about this show at first, because I did not want to see a show that was exploitative of the obese or was making fun.  I feel like the writers get what it is like to be heavy and having to deal with all the BS that is out there but still make the show a great romantic comedy.  I love the actress playing Molly!  Her eyes sparkle, she has a great smile, she always dresses cute.  Mike is HILARIOUS and sweet.  I don't even see them as overweight because the show doesn't make you focus on that.

Reading this article made me sad because the author clearly has issues with food or weight (read her apology-surprise- she had an eating disorder) and thinks that losing weight is "easy" and just a matter of choice.  Anyone that has ever struggled knows that they would give up anything to be thin, thinking it will solve all of their issues, only to realize that it is clearly what is on the inside that counts and once you deal with that you can move forward.  If being at a healthy weight were easy, we would all be there, right?

I am also sickened that an article like this would actually make it into a magazine for women.  We come in all shapes, and to think so narrowly of your readership proves that Marie Claire has NOT A CLUE who reads their magazine.  Just read all the drama on Twitter and on their Facebook page!

Like Juan Williams, I wouldn't be surprised if Maura Kelly loses her job.  Or if Marie Claire loses a huge chunk of readers.  May it be a lesson that the obese and overweight, like gay teens, also do not deserved to be bullied.  And they can kiss on TV as much as they would like  because they are PEOPLE.  We are human and we need to be loved, just like everybody else does. . .right, Morrisey?

Look who is a big deal. . .

My article I wrote about barefoot training has been chosing for the Fall Fitness landing page at the Examiner! HOLLAH!

Examiner.com Fall Fitness Guide.

Pretty good stuff. :)

Thai Yoga Massage with Yogini Annie

Annie Foster- yogini

Yesterday I had the good fortune to receive a Thai Yoga Massage from my friend and fellow fitness enthusiast Annie Foster.  Annie and I met at a theatre I worked at a couple of years ago and, like me, has branched out from the fine arts into a fitness career.   Annie is being certified through Lotus Palm Massage School at the Integral Yoga Institute here in New York City.  She is also a certified yoga instructor.

So, what is Thai Yoga Massage?  It is AWESOME.   Kam Thye Chow, who started the Lotus Palm school, began teaching Thai Yoga Massage as "a safe method of integrating the Eastern approach to body, mind, and spirit with the Western understanding of the physical body".  Through a series of different yoga based moves, the massage leads your joints through a complete range of motion.  After the 90 minute treatment, you feel refreshed, aligned, and reawakened.

Unlike a traditional massage where you lay on a table and someone massages your muscles, Thai Yoga Massage is done on a padded surface on the floor.  Annie had me set up two yoga mats with some towels and blankets for padding.  Another difference from traditional massage:  Thai Yoga Massage is done fully clothed.  I wore what a would wear at yoga class--loose fitting pants and a top.

After the set up, Annie put on some ambient yoga music and got to work.  We started in an upright cross legged position, and I was amazed that Annie used her own body to prop up my back, my arms, and my legs to make me incredibly comfortable and relaxed.



Annie demonstrates how Thai Yoga Massage works on her website http://www.yoginiannie.com/

My fave move was the thunderbolt, where I was on my stomach and Annie had my feet almost touching my low back- very aerodynamic.  I don't know if you all remember when I injured myself earlier this year doing Insanity, but when Annie got to the deep muscles in my butt and lower back I felt all that old pain come to the surface and just release.  It was incredible.

Thunderbolt pose.  I mean, look at his face!  This is good stuff.

The best part?  Annie can come TO YOUR HOME!  You don't have to even leave to experience all the wonderful benefits that this service has to offer.  It felt like a custom yoga workout that someone else did for me using my own body.  Annie is professional, soothing, and very well versed in what each move does for your body.  How can you reach her?  Email her at yoginiannie@gmail.com, check out her website at http://www.yoginiannie.com/ and read her blog at http://yoginiannie.blogspot.com/ .

Thintervention with Jackie Warner- episode 7- "Camp Jackie!"

After last week's interview with Thintervention's Bryan I was ready to throw in the towel.  How will I top that?  Then I realized there are still two episodes of the show left and I should probably finish what I started.  Okay.

Still reeling from Bryan's surprising loss in the Pussy Cats Doll sex off, the Thinterventionists are on their own for the first three days of the week, promising to eat cleanly and workout to intensity.  At the end of the three days everyone packs their bags:  We are going on vacation!  Fitness vacation, but still!

The team heads to Renaissance Club Sport to meet a grinning Craig in the lobby with a stack of gift bags.  Inside the bags:  Swim suits!  Suddenly the air is out of everyone's happy balloons.  "So, yes, we are doing a pool workout," Craig says.  There is a lot of fuss, mostly with the ladies, and Joe of course shows his sensitive side by telling them to suck it up.  When Shay seems overly sensitive about showing her body because of stretch marks, Craig offers to show her his own and some tears in the process.  I am loving Craig more and more every episode-- hot gay guy that is also sensitive?  Does he like musicals?  Let's talk, Craig.

Out by the pool, Jackie is looking Terminator Fab in her bikini, eliciting a "Turn around, let's see" from Joe.  CREEPY.  Jackie says no and threatens some bodily harm after he asks again.  What is with this guy?  It's almost like he doesn't know that there are cameras on him.  PS- Jackie likes ladies.  Didn't he watch "Work Out"?  Joe thinks his charm knows no bounds.

After an intense pool workout, Stacy wins her own hotel room.  The others are paired up:  Joe and Bryan, Mandy and Shay, and Jeana and Nikki.  "I'm being punished," moans Nikki, hurting Jeana's feelings.  Even though Stacy is in her own room, she still comes to Shay's to gossip about Joe and talk about his toddler sized package.

Meanwhile, Joe is working one on one with Craig who is trying to teach Joe some manners with the ladies.  Joe thinks his sense of humor is fun and Craig tells him that making fun of Stacy's cankles and asking to see Jackie's ass are not considered funny.  And if Jackie took it personally, she is taking it out on Bryan, who decided to have a one on one with her.  "I'm SO glad I asked Jackie for an extra workout today," he sweats.

Joe meets up with Jackie and apologizes for being crude, rude, and socially unacceptable.  Jackie tells him he needs to stop being so caught up in trying to look like her and focus on his insides.  With that fresh knowledge, Joe asks a Bible reading Bryan ("It's the Good Book.  It's really good.") if he would like to go to the bar and get a drink.  Bryan reminds him that they are on a workout show called Thintervention, leaving Joe to meet up with Jeana and Craig.  No Nikki, though.  Improvements all around!

For the Extreme Workout, Jackie breaks the participants into two teams to compete in a rowing race.  The winners get a day at the spa and the losers get to wake up early for a two hour morning workout.  Bryan, Joe, Nikki, and Jackie compete against Jeana, Shay, Stacy, Mandy, and Craig.  Not surprisingly, the team with five people wins the race.  "It's so great to beat Jackie Warner!" says Mandy.

After a hard day of boating, Jackie takes them all out to dinner.  For starters, she orders a bevy of unhealthy choices:  Fried calamari, artichoke dip, coconut shrimp, kobe beef sliders.  "What is Jackie doing?  Is she stoned?" wonders Joe.  Bryan and Stacy become visible upset when the food arrives, and when Jackie asks why, Bryan says, "It's like throwing cocaine at a drug addict."

"This is how the world operates," Jackie replies.  And it is true.  When people are trying to lose weight and be "good", the temptations of food and things you can't control sometimes appear to be too great to resist.  Nikki doesn't know what the big issue is, stating if she was upset over the food she "would realize I'm not ready".  Nikki gets totally Oprah and starts offering some really sound advice about dealing in the real world.  "When Nikki is the voice of reason, anything is possible," Jackie says.

The offending coconut shrimp is removed, and everyone starts to order their real meals.  It is every waitress's nightmare:  A bunch of special instructions that TV shows tell you that restaurants are totally cool with ("Can you give me four ounces of a six ounce steak and wrap up the other two ounces for me?") that they really are not.  Modifications within reason are acceptable- sauce on the side, no cheese, etc.- but when you start asking to change the portions?  My chef at my job would rip me AND the customer a new one.

Later in the evening, Nikki and Bryan are tucked into bed and Nikki shares that the program is really starting to work for her.  "My one concern is motivation," she says.  Luckily, she had Bryan there to keep her going over the next six weeks when they have to go off on their own.

After a naked Craig in the jacuzzi interlude, the ladies at the spa and the losers in the gym, it is time for the therapy and weigh in.  When asked what their biggest challenges were, everyone has a lot of good observations about themselves.  Realizing they are emotional eaters, that food is not love, food is a crutch, not caring about themselves, putting others before themselves, and not feeling like they were worth it are all major discoveries that they have made.

And Joe finally apologizes to Stacy.  What if they ended up together?  Wouldn't that be nutso?

Mandy:  From 145 lbs to 144 lbs- 1 lb lost
Shay:  From 184 lbs to 185 lbs- 1 lb gained
Jeana:  From 162 lbs to 161 lbs- 1 lb lost
Joe:  From 211 lbs to 208 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Stacy:  From 206 lbs to 204 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Nikki:  From 205 lbs to 205 lbs- 0 lbs lost
Bryan:  From 234 lbs to 227 lbs- 7 lbs lost

Not the greatest weigh in ever.  Shay gained because she ate three breakfasts, Jeana is barely half way to her weight loss goal, and Nikki thinks this is getting "ridiculous".  I mean, if you can't lose weight at Camp Jackie, how are you going to do it at home?

Jackie reminds everyone what they will need to do to stay successful during their six weeks apart:
1.) Intensity of exercise
2.) Eat clean and control your portions
3.) Rely on each other for support

Good advice!  Let's get ready to see some results on the Season Finale next week!

Here are some memorable quotes from the episode- enjoy.

The Biggest Loser- season 10- week 5- Rick Rolled!!!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  The five eliminated people come back blah blah blah, have to weigh in, one will stay.  The Biggest Loser is throwing more monkey wrenches at us.  But it wasn't the game changes by the show's producers that caused the most dramer.  OH NO.  Upon rewatching, this week's Biggest Loser was like an episode of Murder, She Wrote.  The victim:  The unsuspecting Rick.  He was eliminated in a super surprise elimination ceremony. . .or was it?  Check out my clues throughout the post to see why I think this decision was no last minute choice.

Back to the five people that came back.  Don't you remember Blond Dreadlocks Guy or Beyonce Back Up Singer or Cancer Survivor?  Sure you do.  They have been invited back to campus AGAIN to weigh in and only one will be chosen to stay.  At least they are getting some frequent flyer miles.

Montina:  From 287 lbs to 270 lbs- 17 lbs lost- 5.92% BW
Shanna:  From 242 lbs to 221 lbs- 21 lbs lost- 8.68% BW
Corey:  From 391 lbs to 354 lbs- 37 lbs lost- 8.68% BW
Sandy:  From 259 lbs to 234 lbs- 25 lbs lost- 9.65% BW
Anna:  From 330 lbs to 291 lbs- 39 lbs lost- 11.82% BW

CLUE: Anna is the big winner!  The green team is reunited. . .for now.  Hugs!  We now have a lady replacement in the game.

CLUE:  Ali points out that if the competition ended today, Rick would be in FIRST PLACE, leading Mark to say that "this guy could be a threat."  So the house is already thinking about Rick.

Ali then tells the newly elated Anna that she will be choosing the teams when the show goes to Blue vs. Black mode.  "No pressure," says Frado.  Anna will have to put six people on each team and give one person immunity.

During the selection interview process, Anna asks the important questions like "Who do you work well with?", "Do you like the color blue or the color black?" and "What is your t-shirt size, I need to order it in blue."  Everyone tells her to take immunity and she would be a moron not to take it.

So, who is on what team?

BLUE:  Jessica, Aaron, Lisa, Mark, Jesse, and Adam

BLACK:  Rick (CLUE:  "I asked to be with Bob!"), Ada, Frado, Elizabeth, and Anna

Immunity goes to Patrick, who now has become more important than that cow that Jack traded for magic beans.  I thought Anna chose wisely:  She wanted to be on Jillian's team and she put three girls and three boys on each team.  Even Steven.

At the first Black team/Blue team workout, Jillian is surprised and flattered that Anna chose her over immunity, and Anna has won brownie points for the rest of the season.  She has a rude awakening, however, when the workout actually starts and she struggles to keep up.

CLUE:  There is plenty of buzz on campus about who is going to get Patrick and we hear the first mention BY BRENDAN of a weigh in being thrown that Patrick can be on the same team with the rest of his buddies.  But Brendan did not mention Anna.  The editors just want you to think that. . .

Then it is time for the FIRST Blue vs. Black challenge.  The winners get letters from home and 40 weeks of prepared meals.    The losers get nothing!  The contestants must race to five different food stations around downtown LA, answer trivia questions about food items, and either perform a penalty for getting the question wrong or get directions directly to the next clue for getting the question correct.

CLUE:  Black team takes an early lead, but Rick is worried that Anna won't be able to keep up.

CLUE:  Rick is ahead of all his other teammates (except Ada) when they race for the finish-- ahead of Frado, Brendan, and Elizabeth.

CLUE:  When Black wins, they get letters from home and many of the Black team members give their letters to Blue team members.  Brendan, Frado, Ada, and Anna give their letters away.  RICK reads his letters, though he did comment that he "thought it was special" that others gave their privilege away.

CLUE:  At what used to be known as the "Last Chance Workout", Rick tells Jillian, "I think Bob's cooking something up with the Blue team!".  This leads Jillian to put the Black team in her mind bullets, calling out Frado and Brendan in particular for thinking about throwing the weigh in.  So this whole conversation wouldn't have happened if Rick hadn't brought it up.

CLUE:  When Jillian talks to Frado and Brendan one on one, Frado says, "You can be number one and they'll vote your ass out."  Guess who is number one as of now?

Anywho, they promise not to throw the weigh in.  *fingers crossed*

Patrick:  From 356 lbs to 346 lbs- 10 lbs lost- IMMUNE

Jessica:  From 254 lbs to 248 lbs- 6 lbs lost- .31% Team BW
Mark:  From 361 lbs to 352 lbs- 9 lbs lost- .76% Team BW
Lisa:  From 260 lbs to 252 lbs- 8 lbs lost- 1.17% Team BW
Adam:  From 346 lbs to 335 lbs- 11 lbs lost- 1.73% Team BW
Aaron:  From 419 lbs to 407 lbs- 12 lbs lost- 2.35% Team BW
Jesse:  From 321 lbs to 305 lbs- 16 lbs lost- 3.16% Team BW:  Total Team Loss- 62 lbs

Anna:  From 291 lbs to286 lbs- 5 lbs lost- .30% Team BW
Elizabeth:  From 223 lbs to 218 lbs- 5 lbs lost- .60% Team BW
Frado:  From 317 lbs to 308 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 1.14% Team BW
Ada:  From 224 lbs to 215 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 1.68% Team BW
Rick:  From 297 lbs to 287 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 2.28% Team BW (CLUE: Says he wants to be the Biggest Loser of the week so he can be immune. . .is he aware of the team change?)
Brendan:  From 315 lbs to 313 lbs- 2 lbs lost- 2.40% Team BW:  Total Team Loss- 40 lbs

So . . .did Brendan throw the weigh in or not?  It is a highly debated topic.  Most of the live tweeters and bloggers thought that he did.  But someone posing as Brandon has written this blog post  exposing the dirty secrets of editing.  You know how everyone always blames editing!  In the blog he writes that no one suspected Sophia or Burgandy of throwing the weigh in when they got low numbers but this argument is flawed.  They are women and the weigh in challenge was to lose the MOST weight for themselves as individuals.  You know who did fake it?  Frado when he had immunity (3 pounds and then 20 the next week?) or Melissa Morgan from season 9 who lost a pound or gained a pound every time she had immunity.  At least she finally admitted it.

Game Play is an important part of the show and makes it fun to watch.  I don't know Brandon, but I do know reality television.  To quote my least fave quote, "it is what it is."

Blue team wins, Ada gets immunity from the elimination vote, and Rick gets played in the final vote by Elizabeth, Ada, Frado, and Brendan.  I guess they weren't never going to give him up.  Now Rick is out, Patrick is in, and next week's episode promises that the players are going to get played.  Rick looks great at the reveal, having lost 120 pounds since the show started and paying it forward to his family.  Maybe it is better to be at home?  But then I wouldn't have anything to write about.  :)

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. . .


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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!