Deja Blog: Spring Cleaning!

Why Emily, your apron is spotless!

I am once again cleaning my apartment in anticipation for a spring they may or may never come (come on!) and I remembered this post I wrote about the calories you can burn while cleaning!  Pull out the broom, whistle while you work, and get your sweat on!

The Biggest Loser- #BL11- week 12- "I'm going to beat the s@$t out of you!"

Deal with it.  I am calling you out.

This week's episode of The Biggest Loser was both inspiring and frustrating.  I loved that the all Blue team was separated into four teams.  What I didn't like was that some of the Losers are SO attached to their trainers they aren't looking at the big picture:  The opportunity to change up their routine and not reach a plateau.

It is simple, really.  If you have been performing the same workout routine- same reps, same weights, same amount of cardio- you WILL stop losing weight.  The Overload Principle states that in order to overcome muscle plateaus you have to overload the muscle with something new so that it has to work to change.  Keep it fresh and incorporate something new into your routine and you will notice the changes!

Whether the Losers want to change it up or not, they are placed into the following teams:

Brett:  Justin, Courtney, and Jen

Cara:  Austin, Ken, and Kaylee

Bob:  Moses, Olivia, and Irene

Jillian:  Rulon, Hannah, and WHA?

Oh no!  We are one person short- so TWIST- Rulon and Hannah get to choose one former player to come back to fight for their team.

At least everyone gets another t-shirt and hoodie, right?

The new teams leave the gym and have adventures all over California.  Bob takes his Blue Team to a spin class that he used to teach at Crunch (how fun!) and is crowned the "Cardio King" by Moses.  Rulon and Hannah head to Jillian's Malibu Manor (to die for) for a beach workout and some Mind Bullets.  Brett takes his Red Team to hike and meditate in the cheap showiness of nature where they discover the greatest gift of fitness:  Becoming what YOU WANT TO BE!  This message is the most important part of my job as a personal trainer and blogger- inspiring others to know that absolutely, unequivocally you can become what you want to be.  Cara takes her team to go boxing.  SURPRISED?  It was cool to see Austin actually in the ring with another boxer.  I was wondering if Cara does anything else. . .

At the first four team challenge, Rulon and Hannah reveal they have brought back Jay, who was sent home by Arthur's game play five weeks ago.  He has lost 111 pounds since the show began, and unfortunately, his weight won't count towards the groups total and he will have immunity for the week.

The challenge involves the teams holding up the weight that they have all lost thus far for as long as they can.  The winning team will earn video chats with their families.  The new Red team of Justin, Courtney, and Jen win the challenge, but give their prize to the Blue Team because they really needed the boost from home.

Olivia gets a confidence wake up call from her husband, and Moses tells his wife he is ready to leave and she and her daughter convince him to hold out and come home when he finishes the whole thing.

It must run in the family, because Kaylee reveals that she also is ready to go home to Cara at the Last Chance Workout.  Kaylee is as serene as Mother Theresa, benevolently extolling that she has learned all that she can possibly learn and she is ready to spread her wings.  So what does that mean for her Green teammates? 

AND WHAT HAPPENED TO PEOPLE WANTING TO WIN THE MONEY?  This is a game show, right?

At the weigh in we are told that the Biggest Loser on the losing team will have immunity as well as daddy Jay.  How do the teams stack up?

Moses:  From 303 lbs to 300 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Irene:  From 178 lbs to 173 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Olivia:  From 185 lbs to 180 lbs- 5 lbs lost  TOTAL:  13 lbs, 1.95 % BW

I guess those calls to home really worked!

Jay:  From 289 lbs to 282 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Hannah:  From 176 lbs to 172 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Rulon:  From 335 lbs to 330 lbs- 5 lbs lost (WHAT?)  TOTAL:  9 lbs, 1.76% BW

When Kaylee weighs in, she informs Ali that she is ready to leave and that she has asked her team to do something really hard.  Throw the weigh in maybe?

Kaylee:  From 174 lbs to 174 lbs- 0 lbs lost
Austin:  From 275 lbs to 272 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Ken:  From 270 lbs to 263 lbs- 7 lbs lost  TOTAL:  10 lbs, 1.39% BW

Kaylee is shocked and upset that Ken and Austin didn't go along with her plan, which is SO SELFISH.  Ken barely gets to say he is pleased with his weight loss, and Ali curtly informs Kaylee she can leave if she would like, but it will not effect the fact that another player will be eliminated this evening.  The Red team is on the bottom of the leader board.

Jen:  From 191 lbs to 187 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Courtney:  From 237 lbs to 234 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Justin:  From 249 lbs to 247 lbs- 2 lbs lost  TOTAL: 9 lbs, 1.33% BW

Jen is safe from elimination, which means Courtney and Justin are up for the vote.  It is a truly hard decision, as both of these players are well liked and motivating, but Justin decides he wants Courtney to stay since she just hit her 201 pound weight loss milestone and wants her to keep on her journey.  With a happy heart, Justin is sent home.

At home, he is running a gym (with boxing, of course) and calling people out.  It's name?  JUSTIN'S CALL OUT.  His calling out is to help out, and he is inspiring others with his message.  GET IT.

Next week:  A secret team number 12 and Rulon gets BUSTED for eating in his bedroom.  A Biggest Loser first!!!

Want to know what Mark has to say? Check it out, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!

The Biggest Loser- #BL11- week 11- "Eat with your eyes."

Eat with your eyes, chew with your mouth.

I have a confession.  Last week when I was live tweeting during The Biggest Loser I was so tired that I fell asleep before the last 5 minutes.  The crucial who is going home moment!  As I started to take notes for the blog, I realized I had NO IDEA how this week's episode ended.  So, if you didn't watch the episode either, I won't ruin it for you.  Until the end, that is.

This week's episode begins like many episodes this season:  A grainy, sepia-toned film showing the latest cast off (Sarah), and then Ali announcing that the other team needs to join them in the elimination room.  The weekly twist:  There is no Black team and there is no Red team.  There is only the BLUE team.  Their one common enemy:  The scale.

The team must lose a combined 64 pounds together.  If they meet their goal, no one will be eliminated and if they don't they will send one of their members packing.  At least they get new t-shirts!  Silver linings.

Dr. H stops by with good news for some of the Losers:  Courtney is average now, Marci is now at her ideal goal weight, Moses pushed back his death date by 19 years, and Rulon has won the gold medal in healthy life for his family.

Ali pops over for a pop challenge with Curtis Stone and Lorena Garcia (cross promotion at its finest) for a cooking challenge.  The former two teams must compete together and against each other to cook a tasty low-cal meal in thirty minutes.  The winners were Moses and Olivia, who presented baked cod with asparagus and dill.  Lots of dill.  Curtis reminds us to "eat with our eyes" by choosing colorful fresh veggies when we cook.

Then it is time for the first all team, all trainer workout.  "No games.  Just hard work," promises Bob.  Everybody switches around and tries all the different things the trainers have to offer, and the trainers get to try out their special skills on fresh meat.

"In the Cross-Hairs with Bob!  This week's guest: Rulon"
"Chatting with Cara!  Chatting it up with Hannah"
"Mind Bullets!  starring Jillian and Austin"
"Tag Team with Brett featuring Marci and Courtney.  Sponsored by Ziplock."

After a desert challenge where the teams pull a rope and answer trivia questions for an hour and a half for the chance to win 5 pounds for their team (they won with 6 seconds to spare), it is time for the team weigh in.  Will they be able to pull it off?

Jen:  From 196 lbs to 191 lbs- 5 lbs lost

Hannah:  From 180 lbs to 176 lbs- 4 lbs lost

Olivia:  From 188 lbs to 185 lbs- 3 lbs lost

Justin:  From 254 lbs to 249 lbs- 5 lbs lost

Rulon: From 342 lbs to 335 lbs- 7 lbs lost

Ken: From 277 lbs to 270 lbs- 7 lbs lost

Austin:  From 283 lbs to 275 lbs- 8 lbs lost

Courtney:  From 241 lbs to 237 lbs- 4 lbs lost

Irene:  From 180 lbs to 178 lbs- 2 lbs lost

Moses:  From 309 lbs to 303 lbs- 6 lbs lost

Marci:  From 162 lbs to 162 lbs- 0 lbs lost

Kaylee:  From 174 lbs to 176 lbs- 2 lbs gained  TOTAL LOSS:  49 pounds

Even with the 5 pound advantage, the team doesn't reach their goal, leaving Marci and Kaylee in the bottom.  Obviously, Marci falls on the sword, and is eliminated.  When we see her now, she is glowing and happy, running her gym the way it needs to be run.  She is in maintenance mode and loving it.

Next Episode:  Ali schools someone and a old team member returns.  DRAMA.  Got to love it.

Want to know what Mark has to say? Check it, courtesy of DietsinReview.com.

Sunday Funday!

A 6 Pack has never been easier.

Is Saturday Your Cheat Day?

Don't get caught!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Fight Childhood Obesity! Take the Pledge Today!

One of my favorite reality television shows, Too Fat for 15, is back for it's second season on the Style Network.  I love this show and the positive message that it sends about kids trying to overcome obesity at a boarding school in North Carolina. 

You can help them fight with just a click of your mouse!  Go to www.mystyle.com/toofatfor15 , click on the "commit!" link, and show your support via twitter or facebook.  For every click, the Style Network will donate $1!

The Biggest Loser- #BL11- week 10- "You go, Baby Muscles!"

The "C" is for Charles in Charge!

Fresh off the loss of Arthur, the Black team and the Red team join Ali in the elimination room to begin this episode of The Biggest Loser.  What could she possibly throw at them?  It is Team Captain week!  The teams must select one person to make all the decisions for them for the week.  So, like normal but now it's all official like.

The Black team chooses mom Marci (duh) and the Red team chooses Justin.  I would have thought they would choose Rulon because I thought he was the leader of the Red team.  Did you also know he won a Gold Medal in the Olympics?  It's true.  Apparently Rulon is just a puppet leader with the brilliant mastermind Justin behind all of the Red teams diabolical schemes.

I am making this episode seem WAY more entertaining.  It wasn't.  Here are some of the moments I liked the best: An assorted box of chocolates, if you will.  I get the chocolate covered cherries.

• The little "C" on the front of the Coach t-shirts.  I wish they had gone all the way and made them wear a hat.  And a little cravat.

• Marci exclaiming that Mom's need to protect their kids, then sitting her daughter out of the challenge, winning immunity at her weigh in, and then realizing she can't be sent home.  Oops.
• Sarah catching Bob up on her back story (hasn't he been watching?) of being in a car accident and being bed ridden.  Her muscles had atrophied so much that Dr. H told her she had the muscles of a baby.  Now her nickname is Baby Muscles.



• The Red team having dueling themes- apparently it is Theme Week!  Team Captain Justin is going with a healing theme, and Trainer Brett's theme is "Never Forget Your Past."  I wonder what theme they will chose for the Winter Formal?
• Olivia is designated as team chef, and installs a spin bike in her kitchen so she can work out and cook.  She claims that this is how mothers do it every day.  Remember when your mom did that?
• The editors not catching that Austin's age is still listed as 20 even though he celebrated his 21 birthday last episode.
• Someone on Twitter saying that Moses looked like the Rock Biter from The Neverending Story.  OMG.

• That weird moment between Justin and Cara where they scream at each other and then pant.  I wanted them to grab each other and just start sucking face.
• The Red team's ability to pull it out for this week's weigh in- beating the Black team's 24 lb loss with 44 lbs.
• Sarah being sent home even though she lost 4 pounds, while Jen lost 1 pound, Hannah lost 2 pounds, and Olivia lost 2 pounds.  That's not very teamy of them
• Next episode:  Working together as a team- man.

New Years Resolution- CHECK ONE!

Hello friends!  What a ridiculously busy week it has been.  I miss regularly blogging, and hope that as my schedule at the gym opens up I will have more time to reach out and be ME.  Writer me. 

I wanted to share my good news!  One of my New Year's Resolutions was to be promoted to the Tier 2 level of trainer- and it has happened!  Today I have been officially promoted!  YAY!

There has been a lot of hard work that went into this:  Hours of classes, lots of studying, and not a lot of time for me.  But it was totally worth it!  I love my job and the company I work for and I am so pleased I have been able to already accomplish one of the goals that I set for myself this year.

How about you all?  Been able to keep up with your intentions you have set for this year?

Sunday Funday!

Take the stairs!

The Biggest Loser- #BL11- week 9- My Big Fat Super Obese Mega Blog PLUS MultiGrain Cheerios WINNER!

A winner has been crowned!

I have to apologize to you, dear readers!  As you know, my new job as a personal trainer is amazing and awesome, but as far as the time to blog the way I usta, it is a major feat of time management.  I mean, seriously.  If there was an 8th day of the week to just blog and clean my apartment, I would feel so on top of things.

So first off, I want to announce the winner of my very first giveaway!  Congrats to my new reader KRISTY (@casualdish on the Twitter) who also is a fellow blogger.  She will be receiving the MultiGrain Cheerios prize pack- go cereal!!!

Second, I wanted to let you know how I felt about The Biggest Loser 7 day jump start that you can get with a box of specially marked MultiGrain Cheerios ( www.multigraincheerios.com/biggest loser).  The website is clean and easy to manuever, with different tabs for menu, exercises, even videos featuring former Biggest Loser Ali Vincent demonstrating basic strength and cardio moves and inspiring motivation.  For the person who is just starting out on their weight loss journey, this is a great introductory tool.  The menus also have recipies that are quick and easy with basic, easy to find ingredients.  And you don't have to eat Cheerios for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

The only thing I am not crazy about is the site only has a BMI calculator, which based on your height or physical activity is not an accurate assessment of obesity.  According to it, I am obese, as is Michael Jordan.  Don't let the calculator make you feel bad!!!  I say skip the assessment online for one at home based on circumference measurements with a tape measure and a good old fashioned scale.

Overall, the program seems very solid.  And if it helps you reach your goals and start that first step in a lifetime of healthy steps, then DO IT.  Don't start tomorrow.  Start today!

Walk Hard, Arthur.

OKAY!!!

On to this week's episode of The Biggest Loser.  I didn't get to Twitter with my #BL11 tweeps, so for the first time in a long time I watched the episode on my own.  What a tear jerker!  I am not made out of stone, and this episode really touched me.

After a quick recap where the announcer mentions that Jesse "sacrifices himself for Arthur" which is not how I remember that episode going down at all, Ali announces that the Losers are heading home for two whole weeks.  "This is sick!" says Austin, who will be celebrating his 21st birthday while he is there.  When the teams return, they will be running a 5k, Ali warns, so don't go too far off the reservation.

"Turn down the covers, here I come!" says Justin, and the teams are all whisked away home.  There are many tears and the usual homemade signs and streamers, with a great song playing in the background that states "I can't go back to how it was".  I actually teared up when Courtney came out to see her family and friends because she looked so different.  You got me NBC!  Okay?  I surrender.  Most interesting to me was how attractive Justin and Rulon's wives were.  How did that happen?  They must have amazing personalities.

So the Losers are home in their respective towns and they have to deal with a chocolate covered slice of the real world.  The one story I couldn't believe even for a moment was Courtney having to go back to work.  What?  Courtney states, "I have to go back to work.  And I have to go back to work at my family's ice cream shop."  How about going to work at your mom's gym?  I can't believe that Courtney must struggle to survive by slinging fries and Oreo Blizzard's to make ends meet so she can pay her way through college.  Also I can't imagine the family shop demanding her time like, "Courtney, I know you are on the most successful show on NBC but we are going to need you to cover the register."

The other Losers hit the gym, have heartfelt talks with their family members (most notably Jesse and Arthur), and struggle with at home temptations.  Austin hangs out at the bowling alley for his 21st birthday with his naughty girlfriend who keeps enticing him with huge pieces of chocolate cheesecake and greasy pizza.  Olivia comes home to NYC to her now much thinner husband and runs around the Central Park reservoir which is right outside my apartment- come visit Olivia!  And Hannah steps foot on the volleyball court for the first time in years and starts to gain her confidence back.  So moving it was unreal.  My heart strings are totally stretched out.

A quick 5k montage to show who is training and who is not, and then it is tearful goodbyes as everyone heads back to the ranch.

Ali announces that the 5k challenge will be just like the very first 5k challenge, only this time the players will be competing as singles.  And the first seven to complete the race get to choose their trainers.  AGAIN.  This is a time that some major monkey wrenches will be thrown in the game.

While the teams are racing, the players notice that Sarah is moving slowly and she says, "I don't want to make this choice."  After everyone has completed except Sarah and Arthur, Sarah's former Unknown teammates tell her she needs to fight for her own spot and not let anyone take that decision from her.  She suddenly kicks it into high gear, beating Arthur.  So who does everyone decide to choose?

In order of their win:
1.) Justin- The Unknowns
2.) Rulon- The Unknowns
3.) Kaylee- The Unknowns
4.) Jen- The BJ's (a slight against Arthur, no doubt)
5.) Austin- The Unknowns
6.) Marci- The BJ's
7.) Olivia- The BJ's
8.) Hannah- The BJ's
9.) Moses- The Unknowns
10.) Irene- The BJ's
11.) Courtney- The BJ's
12.) Ken- The Unknowns
13.) Sarah- The BJ's (which was unexpected- she could have gone back to her former team)
14.) Arthur- THE UNKNOWNS

TWIST!  Arthur gets played in the worst way.  Off the team he has been been on since day one, he is know thrust onto The Unknowns at the weigh in. No time for the team to get to know him.  Will he be able to win immunity and stay in the game?  Black team weighs in first.

Jen:  From 211 lbs to 197 lbs- 14 lbs lost

Irene:  From 195 lbs to 185 lbs- 10 lbs lost

Hannah:  From 193 lbs to 182 lbs- 11 lbs lost

Olivia:  From 202 lbs to 190 lbs- 12 lbs lost

Courtney:  From 256 lbs to 246 lbs- 10 lbs lost

Marci:  From 181 lbs to 167 lbs- 14 lbs lost

Sarah:  From 204 lbs to 194 lbs- 10 lbs lost  TOTAL:  81 lbs, 5.62% BW

The Black team absolutley killed it in the weigh in.  But the weight loss is bittersweet, as the women realize that their high numbers may be sending Arthur home.  Marci is tearful and repentant- maybe she realizes the game play she orchestrated last week sent him here?  But Arthur is a big boy and played a few games himself.  How will he fare on his new team?

Ali points out that the Red team, in order to win, must lose 120 pounds, an average of 17 pounds a person.  Gulp.

Rulon:  From  367 lbs to 350 lbs- 17 lbs lost

Austin:  From 299 lbs to 289 lbs- 10 lbs lost

Ken:  From 291 lbs to 286 lbs- 5 lbs lost

Moses:  From 322 lbs to 317 lbs- 5 lbs lost

Kaylee:  From 180 lbs to 179 lbs- 1 lb lost

Justin:  From 270 lbs to 262 lbs- 8 lbs lost

Arthur:  From 406 lbs to 390 lbs- 16 lbs lost

Arthur needed to have lost 20 pounds to be immune from elimination, and he fell 4 pounds short.  He is still proud of the number, and says he can go home proud.  Bob and Jillian plead for Arthur to fight to stay, and beg the Red team to consider keeping Arthur here because of all the contestants he really needs to stay.  Their please fall on deaf ears, and the Red team boots him.  Personally, I would have gone for Kaylee because she already is so small.  Her journey is almost finished, where Arthur still has over 140 pounds left to lose to hit his goal.

At home, Arthur is still in it to win it, have lost 158 pounds total.  He is training regularly, being a super dad and cook, and plans to win the at home prize.

Next week everyone realizes change comes from within- it is MIND BULLET week on the Loser.  Tune in!

Want to know what Mark has to say?  Here is his take courtesy of Dietsinreview.com.