What I'm F'd Up About: FitVine Wines

I LIKE WINE.

I don't like wine, that's a lie.

I LOVE WINE.

It's delicious, it makes me look like a grownup, and it's healthy.

Right?

We've all heard the benefits of a glass of vino, and I'm happy to report a new wine company that has harnessed the goodness of the grape one step further: FitVine Wines.

I asked (begged) FitVine for a sample of their health wine so I could report on it for you, my loyal readers who I know enjoy a tasty glass (bottle) of wine on a regular basis.

According to co-founder of FitVine Wines Mark R. Warren, "We biohacked our wine to have higher antioxidants, no residual sugar yielding less carbohydrates and calories, and about half the sulfites. We've accomplished these things a few ways, sourcing grapes from higher elevations, taking our time in our extended fermentation process and being sure to balance out the pH levels of the wine to present a high quality, clean tasting wine for athletes and the health conscious. We did it without lowering the alcohol content as well."

It's true, the wine I sampled was at 13.5% alcohol content. This isn't  a Skinny Girl wine, people. It's real!!!

But how does it taste, Alison?

FitVine Wine sent me a bottle of red and a bottle of white, as if I was Billy Joel. The two varietals they currently offer are Cabernet and Chardonnay. 

Since I was a waitress for 13 years, I will use my wine adjectives here.  The Cabernet is warm and fruit forward, jammy, and smooth. There was a slightly bitter aftertaste, but nothing too lingering. I feel it would pair well with foods that aren't too strongly spiced. Or alone in a glass in front of the TV.  The Chardonnay was clean and fresh, no oakiness (maybe aged in steel instead of wood?) with a slight sweet note. It had some notes of tropical fruits and no lingering finish.  It could be an appertif or after dinner wine as well.

Bottom line, I would totally buy and drink this.

The label didn't list the calorie content, but a typical glass of red is 100 calories for a 4 oz pour and a typical glass of white is 120 calories for a 4 oz pour. Or, to think in more realistic terms, a typical bottle is 780 calories. So if FitVine Wine is less than that, that would be awesomesauce.

Alison, how can we start drinking like Iron Man athletes and Cross Fit Champions?

Per Mark, "Currently we are selling direct to consumer via our website offering free shipping on all case orders, 12 bottles. We will begin entering stores later this year in certain regions and expanding on that throughout 2016."

To enjoy and learn more about this fit vino, please check out www.fitvinewines.com. And save me a glass!!!

New Year, New Nikes! Review of the Nike XT Quick

Behold! The Nike XT Quick in Grey Volt Beauty. . .

So, you have almost made it through the first week of January.  Hopefully, you are hitting the gym faithfully!  Nike wants you to be well shod during the winter months when we are all stuck inside, and offers your resolution a big life preserver with the Nike XT Quick.

The XT Quick is a low profile, high fashion cross trainer that offers your feet stability for cardio classes and support for runs on the treadmill or that long elliptical session.  The XT Quick also offers a place for the Nike+ running sensor that syncs up with your Ipod or Iphone to track your progress.  And who doesn't need some motivation and encouragement to get us through the new year?

Here is what the Nike website says about their shoe:

The Nike Free XT Quick Fit+: Versatile and flexible


Cardio workouts. Drills. Weightlifting. The Nike Free XT Quick Fit+ Women's Training Shoe brings flexibility and support to all of your training activities.


Benefits
No-sew upper for enhanced comfort and flexibility
Flywire for ultra-lightweight support and comfort
Nike Free flex grooves for enhanced flexibility and stability


Support
Side-to-side movements are essential to drills and other training activities, so the Nike Free Quick Fit+ was designed with Flywire on the upper for lightweight lateral support in the forefoot. Flywire is made up of thin, super-strong nylon fibers that strategically hold the foot in place, helping to reduce slippage during movement.


Flexibility
Nike Free XT technology uses full-length, multidirectional flex grooves to allow the foot to move in a more natural way for training. Exaggerated and intuitive flex grooves extend into the midsole to help reduce the overall weight of the shoe and enhance multidirectional flexibility so you can be nimble on your feet.


Additional Details
Breathable mesh upper
Synthetic overlays for support
Outsole rubber pods for durability and traction
Nike+ ready

Here's what I thought about the shoe:

First off, I LOVE the style and color!  Dark steel grey with lime green accents?  SOLD.  But besides being pretty, I had to make sure the shoes were functional.  I have been wearing them at the gym for about three weeks, and my first thought was how light the shoe was.  Many cross trainers I have owned over the years have felt heavy or clunky, and running shoes don't have all the great side to side support that I like.

After a couple of hours, the large shoe lace grommets were digging into the top of my foot- I have high arches- but after relacing the shoe and loosening it a bit, the fit is perfect and comfortable.

I was also thrilled about the Nike+ capability!  I liked tracking my runs in the warmer months outside, and now I can do it on the treadmill during the winter.

Overall, I give the Nike XT Quick an A for awesome!  Thank you to Alex for sending me the pair I am now wearing to review.  What a great way to start the new year with some new shoes! 

Want to own a pair?  Check out nike.com for colors, prices, and where to buy!

Losing It with Jillian!: Episode 2- "Don't Say Can't to Me."

This week Jillian is still in Massachusetts, but now she has moved to Cambridge to visit the Jones family. There is mom Deb and her two children, 12-year-old Isabella and 10-year-old Jordan. The story starts out pretty rough: Deb's husband died of a heart attack 6 years ago at the marriage counselor's office. She had dragged him there because his health was taking a toll on their marriage. Now Deb is afraid to work out because she doesn't want to die and leave her children without a parent.

HEAVY. If that isn't the ultimate excuse, I don't know what is.

Undeterred, Jillian calls the family and tells them to meet her at the sports center. "Which sports center?" Isabella asks. "I don't know!" says Deb. They find it, because they are still on camera when Jillian enters the gym.

The introductory exercises that Jillian uses to asses the Jones' level of fitness look pretty rough (jumping jacks on a gym mat? JUMP ROPE?) and she soon finds the main problem in the family is Deb. Deb's favorite word is CAN'T and she says it often. Jillian is itching for a thorough ass kicking, but restrains herself because of the children. There are a lot of muffled threats through clenched teeth and she looks like she may kill Deb. She is just waiting for the kids to have their backs turned.

After an emotion-filled workout, they head back home, and the show takes a little road trip to Hoarders land. Each room in the Jones' home is FILLED with dirty clothes, dirty dishes, papers and trash and Jillian quickly decides she will be staying in a motel. Deb's room is so bad that she doesn't even have a bed to sleep on. "This is unacceptable," Jillian says.

After her night in the motel, Jillian returns to take the mom to the gym and leaves the kids to start cleaning their very messy rooms. At the gym, Deb is subjected to a litany of Jillian classics like "You're not going to die!" and "FIGHT BACK DEB!" Deb finally breaks down in a pile of tears and gasps, "I'm so tired of doing everything by myself." She is lonely and broken and unable to move forward. But after admitting that she needs some help, there is already some life in her eyes.

Deb and Jillian head back to the house for a day of cleaning. Jillian realizes that Isabella has been in the co-parent role since her dad passed, and takes her aside for a little heart to heart where she urges the girl to "go be 12". Deb needs some help, but it shouldn't be at the expense of her daughter's childhood.

Deb takes her Jillian to work, and Jillian finds out that Deb's coworkers get together and run three times a week and compete in 5ks on the weekends. It is her chance to be social, have adult interaction, and also get healthy. Jillian informs Deb she also will be competing in a 5k in 6 weeks- just in time for her to return to check in on the family!

Later at the gym, Jillian is inflicting some serious mind bullet action on Deb when Isabella wigs out on Jillian- something that most people never live to do. Deb tells Isabella that she doesn't have to protect her, that she can defend herself, and Jillian decides to make a point with a weighted vest. She puts the weight on the daughter, and the light bulb finally goes on in Deb's head that she should carry the burden because she is the mom. Jillian does some crazy Jedi reverse psychology- she is not just a trainer. She is a MACHINE.

Now that the literal and figurative burden has been lifted, Deb and Isabella are free to engage in some healthy mother/daughter activities like African Dance. Jillian is good at many things, but dancing is not one of them. IT WAS FUNNY. (You can watch the episode at nbc.com) She also takes the family out on a canoe ride and the canoe tips over. Make that two things.

It's the final day, and Jillian packs up her carpet bag in the newly clean Jones family home and promises to return in six weeks. After a quick montage of Deb's trials and tribulations while training for the 5k, it is race day. Jillian shows up with Team Deb t-shirts and runs alongside Deb and her coworkers to the finish line.

Deb looks incredible! She ended up losing 32 pounds, she is healthier and happier, and the family bond is stronger. The kids look great too. It's all in a week's work.

Next week, Jillian doles out more tough love and does more house cleaning. . .

Feel like a Million Dollar Baby: Boxing Boot Camp with VFitness

This is Victor Rojas, amateur boxer and personal trainer, and he wants to beat your ass. Better yet, he wants to beat your fat butt into submission and get you into fantastic shape through his boxing and interval training and conditioning program at VFitness.





I am all about kickboxing, but have never donned a pair of real boxing gloves and tried real boxing. Mostly because I don't want to ruin my beautiful face, but also because most gyms I have visited don't have a real boxing option. After watching Jillian Michaels work over Biggest Loser contestants with her boxing pads, I have been dieing to try it out and jumped at the invitation that Victor extended!












VFitness meets in Central Park at the Bethesda Fountain (ever seen "Angels in America"?). Monday night was BEAUTIFUL, crisp and cool, and was perfect for all the work I was going to be undertaking. I ran from my apartment to the fountain because of all the gorgeousness, but also because I didn't know what the class was going to be like. Hindsight being 20/20, I would have walked because the class burned plenty of calories!






The fountain is undergoing some work- It looks like they have captured the angel to prevent her from escaping! (This is me being artsy fartsy.)





Victor lent me a pair of boxing gloves to use for class, and then introduced me to the basic boxing stance, jab, cross, hook, uppercut, pivoting, and ducking so I would be ready for the drills. The first time my gloves made contact with the pads I was sold. It is super satisfying to punch something as hard as you can! I also could feel my heart pumping and my arms and legs working immediately, so I knew I was in for something good.



The workout consists of shadow boxing, where Victor tells you what punches to throw on his go. Then it was sparring with a partner.

These two participants (Tyler and Berman Sr.) show the sparring portion of the workout. Each person takes turns hitting the other person's gloves. I got to work with Victor one on one, and he is a very patient and motivating teacher! He has a relaxed and easy going vibe that makes you feel comfortable, but he is also tough.

Example: After the sparring, it was time for interval drills. I was already feeling the burn, but add 5 burpees, running up the stairs, 10 push ups at the top of the stairs, and then running down the stairs times 8 and you would be a little red in the face and winded, too. No rest for the weary, Victor then made us do 4 sets of old school jumping jacks, push ups, planks, etc., and then run laps around the fountain. AND then abs.

The class runs at 90 minutes, and for a mere $20 you get more than your money's worth. The only necessary piece of equipment is boxing gloves, which can be purchased on the VFitness website for $19.99 or bought on your own. Victor will let you borrow gloves in the beginning, but your hands sweat SO much you will want your own pair to sweat into.

The boxing classes meet in Central Park, in Astoria, and in Prospect Park with sessions to be extended soon to the Bronx. VFitness also offers private training in Manhattan and in Queens. The classes in Central Park are held Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.

Think boxing may be too hard for you? I spoke with student Dana who has been training with Victor for 4 years. She is an inspiration: Not only is she recovering from surgery for fibroids, she has lost over 65 pounds, going from 200 pounds to 135 pounds and is now training to do fitness competitions. Dana said the classes are tough but worth the results. And after how my arms and back feel today, I can definitely agree.

VFitness is worth your time and money! Check out their website for further information. I will see you there!

Losing It with Jillian!: Episode 1- Thoughts. . .

Losing It is a very different concept from The Biggest Loser. Some pros, some cons, but overall I enjoyed the show and thought Jillian Michaels held her own without Bob and Ali by her side.

The first and biggest difference? The show is ONLY one hour in length. By the time I had gotten the old live tweeting engine in full throttle the show was over. I like that it's a breeze to watch and easy to blog about, leaving me some more time to do other things with my day. I am sure that Jillian would want that! I did find it hard to connect with the family and their journey when there are so many characters and issues and only one hour to solve them.

This first episode focused on a "larger than life" Italian family in Wilminton, MA. There is a neck pillow wearing dad, a sausage and peppers cooking mom, a Marilyn pierced daughter, tattooed son, and an even more tattooed daughter's fiancee. The dad and daughter both had gone through gastric bypass surgery but it hasn't fixed them on the inside. The mom has lost and gained weight many times. The son is heavy as a side effect. The family suffers from lack of communication due to a death that occurred at the beginning of the couple's marriage: They lost their son one month after he was born and hadn't ever tried to grieve together. As a result, the family ate their feelings and their family bond and waistlines spiraled out of control.

Heavy, right? Add to that the daughter's pending nuptials in six weeks and you get why I feel we may need a little more time. The Biggest Loser almost spends too much time crafting the characters. Maybe since Losing It is not a show based on votes and game play we can skim over the particulars.

Jillian comes to the family in her usual style with a not so great catch phrase: "You asked and I came!" I think it should be "I am here to kick your ass!", but maybe that isn't so family friendly.

Side note on the family friendly: NBC, why put the show on at 10? Who wants to wait that late? I know the show goes back to 8 pm next week, but why not start there? Oy, Conan was right. . . Don't even get me started.

Anyhoo, Jillian meets them at the gym and the family manages to quit within 5 minutes and get into a shouting match. After Jillian "leaves", the family decides they really DO want the change, and decide to stick it out. So, workout section complete.

Now to diet. The family eats fried chicken, instant mashed potatoes with ADDED butter, and no veggies. The dad even states that if there is anything green in the fridge it is because it's moldy. Didn't the surgeon that performed the gastric bypass give them ANY recommendations for after care? The surgery didn't stick for the dad, and the daughter is just a matter of time. Jillian wakes up early and takes the daughter to shop and to educate her on standing up to her family and forcing them to make the right decisions.

Now to the insides. Jillian takes the mom for a walk and she spills about the loss of her son and how her husband never would deal with it.

Then there is another workout. The mom has turned into a mini Jillian, pushing her husband to the limit.

Then the insides. Family meeting is called and Jillian gets the mom to open up to the family about the loss of their son. Pictures are shown of the child and everyone cries. IT WAS A TOUGH MOMENT. Jillian is not playing with her fully loaded and cocked mind bullet gun.

Then the outsides. The family goes shopping for the daughter's wedding and is unhappy that their outfits don't fit and vow that by the wedding day they will be in better shape. Over dinner Jillian blasts the daughter for turning her parent's compliments about her in her wedding dress to something negative. Which leads to. . .

The insides. And a workout. At the final workout, Jillian gets the daughter to open up about still feeling like a fat kid and urges her to let it go while performing crunches. Then she makes the family talk about their goals for the future. Then there is a group hug.

And it is time for Jillian to go. Much like Mary Poppins, she packs her carpet bag and flies on the wind with her magical umbrella to the next family who needs her.

6 weeks later. . .the daughter is getting married and everyone looks like they are on the road to recovery. Dad has lost 48 pounds, mom has lost 34 pounds, son has lost 25 pounds, and daughter finally feels beautiful.

Mission accomplished.

My questions are what happened in those six weeks? How long did Jillian work them out while she was there? Did she sleep in the house? Who taught them how to cook? I feel like I am watching Lost.

Next week: Hoarding. And weight loss. And grief. And family issues. Looks like a doozie. Get 'em, Jillian!

BL9- week 5- Yellow and Blue makes GREEN

This week's show started with a bang, or really a burst. Miggy's emotions bottled up and her appendix actually exploded. I don't know if this is Dr. H's medical opinion, but it is my completely non-medical opinion that this is what occurred. And somehow, the loss of her daughter last week AND her appendix this week enabled her tear ducts to start flowing. Miggy cried a lot this week.

The teams are unplugged from their Top Gun breathing apparatus and told by Ali the news about Miggy. Then she takes them outside for some more news- the yellow and blue teams are back on the ranch.

As we all remember, Bob and Jillian hid in the bushes and told the yellow and blue teams that it wasn't over yet- they would return to the ranch in one month's time to weigh in. Whichever team loses the greatest amount of weight gets to stay and compete.

Yellow and Blue look great and eager and ready to weigh in. But first. . .they get a personal last chance workout with Bob and Jillian. It's a "rite of passage" for each contestant, according to Bob. It's super intense, and of course they push themselves way further than they ever did at home. And everyone is surprised that they could push themselves so hard! Then it is right to the scale.

TWIST: Ali informs the contestants that not only will the team with the greatest weight loss get to stay on the ranch, but they also get immunity AND they get the only vote at the elimination ceremony. PERKS.

"God bless this game,"Jillian sighs. The weigh in results:

Cherita and Vicky- 24 pounds lost and 39 pounds lost
Sunshine and O'Neal- 25 pounds lost and 51 pounds lost

Yellow team wins! The blue team is going home, but they are confident that they will be able to further continue their journey at home.

Workout time! Bob and Jillian load their mind bullets into their mind guns and get started on Melissa and Daris. Melissa and Bob work one on one, and Bob is making it HARD for her. She cries. And cries. And screams like she is giving birth. What she has given birth to is Bob's new found respect for her because she didn't throw last week's weigh in, even with immunity. Jillian focuses on why Daris isn't bringing in the high numbers he should be bringing in. He is having major esteem issues, still thinking of himself as the funny fat guy. Jillian suggests he call himself the guy who lost 51 pounds in four weeks guy. Not as catchy, but I think it's more fitting.

PLUG #1- Jenni-O Chili time! The yellow team is quickly inducted into the world of semi-scripted commercials. Sunshine gives a brief monologue about why she loves stew during the winter, and Bob suggests using Jenni-O turkey to make chili. "Aren't you comforted?" he asks.

Then it is time for the CHALLENGE! In honor of the Superbowl, the contestants will choose one member of their team to hit tackle dummies back and forth until they reach 1,000. The winner will receive immunity, and the loser will receive a 2 pound disadvantage.

White Knight Mike gets into an Olivia Newton John groove, and uses his disco skills and massive reach to win the challenge. Poor tiny Sherry from the pink team loses and earns the disadvantage.

Back at the ranch, Miggy returns from the hospital, filled with saline and a hole where her appendix once was. The only exercise she is approved to do is walking. She walks 13 miles the day AFTER she has surgery. This lady is a machine. Apparently losing your daughter and your appendix will not slow a sassy Latina down.

PLUG #2- Stephanie and Sam are hungry. What to eat? How about Yoplait smoothies? Bob hears a package being opened and like a dog with a bag of dog food pops into the kitchen to make sure that the plug is going "smoothie". HA! That was a good one. :)

LAST CHANCE WORKOUT is called jab jump and bounce! John is out of the pool and back in the gym, and Bob offers these prophetic words, "I have a feeling John's gonna blow up the scale this week!"

Jillian takes aim at Ashley and gets into her head when she catches her slowly walking on the treadmill even with the 2 pound disadvantage looming over her head. Turns out that Ashley has some serious daddy issues: her father, who was very negative about Ashley's weight, died of cancer and she wasn't there until it was too late. Jillian allows her to unburden herself, but will it be enough to turn things around at the weigh in?

Before the weigh in, O'Neal gives Sunshine a lesson in crushing the other opponents, and then it is time to see who will persevere for another week.

Sunshine and O'Neal: 5 pounds lost and 5 pounds lost
Mike: 13 pounds lost
Ashley and Sherry: 9 pounds lost and 6 pounds lost (2 pound disadvantage)
Melissa and Lance: 5 pounds lost and 4 pounds lost
"I am disappointed in Lance. I am!" Melissa exclaims.
Daris and Cheryl: 12 pounds lost and 3 pounds lost
Stephanie: 5 pounds lost
Sam and Koli: 10 pounds lost and 6 pounds lost
Andrea and Darrell: 5 pounds lost and 8 pounds lost
Miggy: 5 pounds lost
John: 6 pounds lost

Unfortunately, John needed to lose 7 pounds to stay in the game. And since he is not in a team, the yellow team didn't need to have a vote. John is gone, and so is the brown team.

At the reveal, John has lost a total of 104 pounds, and has discovered that he loves Ji Jitsu. He is kicking ass and he is taking names.

Next episode is about the Olympics- timely!- and 2 contestants will be eliminated. BUM BUM BUM.

BL9- week 4- Lady In Red

Flub of the week: Jillian called Sam "Sionne" (a contestant from another season that kind of looks like him) during Ziplock plug.

Mike's headband color this week: White
How much Daris' hair weighs: 7 pounds
Weirdest commercial: Mascara ad that claims skinny lashes are bad- was this targeted at the audience that sees skinny as good?
Quote of the Week: "With great power comes great responsibility." -Ali
Number of times she said it: 4 1/2


Is it really ONLY week 4? I feel like there has been so much drama that we are much much further into this season than just week 4. I have to remind myself that this show is about weight LOSS, not throwing weigh ins or lying or Gossip Girl.


A pop challenge starts the episode. Ali tells the contestants that they have to run around the ranch's presidential mile, grab a key card from a display of key cards, run back, and put the key card in a reader. The reader will then give a green check and the team will get a point, or the reader will give a red X and the team will get no points. Whichever team gets three green checks first wins immunity.


Guess who wins? Yup. The Red team. Once again we have to watch them dance around and hug each other and we know that they are stuck here another week. ANOTHER WEEK. Blurgh.

With their win comes GREAT RESPONSIBILITY: they have three different handicaps to hand three different teams.

1.) No access to gym: Goes to John, who spends most of his time in the pool anyway.
2.) No elimination vote: Goes to Mike, who might be angry at everyone for telling him he is lazy.
3.) 2-pound disadvantage: Goes to Green Miggy and Migdalia, because. . .they had a really bad week last week and the Red team has a death wish.

You can tell by the Green team's warm smiles and open arms that they are totally cool with this decision.

Bob and Jillian are let in on the immunity issue, and Bob feels he needs to clear the air. So, he goes and talks to Lance and Melissa together and they like totally mad at each other and then Bob says let's try to be friends and Lance and Melissa are like okay and then Bob takes Melissa to lunge and then yoga so Lance goes with Jillian and Jillian talks to him about Melissa and Lance is like I totally hate you right now and Jillian is like fine and Lance is like whatever we aren't going to work out with you anymore and Jillian's like cool that and then Jillian goes and talks to Bob and says guess what the red team is your deal now and Bob is like what and then he tells Melissa to go talk to Jillian and Melissa is like you called me a liar and Jillian is like you are and Melissa is like I swear to Buddha and my third grade teacher that I didn't lie and Jillian is like let's agree to disagree. And then Brenda and Dylan FINALLY break up for good.

BREATHE. I think that covers it all. In a shockingly creepy plug for the Biggest Loser swap book, Melissa and Lance decide in bed that they should quit trying to fool everyone on the planet and they should work out with both Jillian and Bob. How this ties into them being in bed is still a mystery.

Then it's challenge time! Ali in her Tool Time Pam Anderson get up tells the team that they have to pull their window washer carts 120 feet in the air. Whoever gets there first wins calls to home for themselves and three other teams.

Red ALMOST wins this one, but the graycious Gray team wins, and then gives calls to the Red team (WHAT?), the Green team (WHAT?), and the Brown team. I guess Grey is protecting themselves from Green's switchblades and Red's craziness. Brown is just cool, I guess.

Bob then takes the players to a romantic lunch at Subway, and then it is on to the last chance workout, which starts across the street from Subway on a hill on the side of the road. The teams huff and puff their way up and down the hill, where Jill is waiting with not a pail of water, but wheelbarrows, kettlebells, and rocks for the second half of the last chance workout. I'm shocked that no one put an eye out.

"Let there be no yelling tonight," decrees Red team Melissa as they head into the FINAL WEIGH IN. Since they had immunity, will Melissa try to be sneaky and hold on to her weight for another week?

Melissa and Lance: 11 pounds lost and 6 pounds lost
"I can't game play!" she exclaims. BARF.
Mike: 15 pounds lost
Andrea and Darrell: 5 pounds lost and 10 pounds lost
Cheryl and Daris: 6 pounds lost and 6 pounds lost
Ashley and Sherry: 7 pounds lost and 4 pounds lost
John: 10 pounds lost
Sam and Koli: 14 pounds lost and 12 pounds lost
Stephanie: 6 pounds lost
Migdalia and Miggy: 4 pounds lost and 1 pound lost (and the 2 pound disadvantage)

Melissa smiles and says, "Hey Ali. Just so we're emphatically clear, 2 pounds didn't mean BLEEP tonight." Wow. She has death wish! Green gets all no you didn't, and Miggy tells Migdalia not to cry (of course) and at the dance for your life portion of the show, Migdalia tells everyone she wants to go home. Miggy wins! She gets to stay and Migdalia doesn't have to pretend she wants to be on the ranch anymore.

At the reveal, we see that Migdalia is still pretty heavy. But she is smiling a little more. And maybe without her mom around she will learn to open up and accept the help that is being offered to her. We'll check at the finale if she makes it to 140. . .

BL9- week 3- Mike's Dream Journal

Every week I try to find the most entertaining and non-boring way to share The Biggest Loser with my reading audience. I was struggling- this episode was chocked full of excitement, and I didn't want to write a blog that was 3,000 pages long. My inspiration came in the form of White team's Mike, who I saw writing in a spiral bound note book during the last chance workout. Light bulb!

Dear Diary,

It's your buddy Mike here! Fuggeditaboutit! I can't believe it's already week 3. So much has happened this week, diary. I feel you are the only person that I can talk to about it. Hopefully ma hasn't been reading you.

Okay, so the beginning of this week was wicked crazy. We walk outside and see Alison- sweet!- and then realize that something wild is about to happen. Our first temptation! I'm hoping it is a lasagna eating contest or a pizza eating contest. I know I would totally go Garfield on that. Unfortunately, it is not a lasagna eating contest.

Alison tells us that it is student teacher week here on the campus, and I'm nervous because I haven't been in school for a while. I hope this isn't trivia based! I stop thinking about what I hope it's not and try to pay attention while not looking at Alison's totally hot body. She explains that one person is the student and one person is the teacher- and that the teacher will be the personal trainer this week. No Bob and Jillian for the student! I'm totally bummed because I want to look at Jillian's totally hot body while I work out on my emerging six pack abs.

The temptation is then revealed- 2 mega huge troughs filled with M&M's! It looks like the perfect treat for all the hard work that I have done, and then realize that candy is bad. I should not want to eat this trough of candy.

Note to self: Candy is bad. Lasagna is also bad.

So, ma sends me up to the candy trough (her nose is still all messed up- for reals) and Alison tells us who ever wants to pick who's the student and who's the teacher has to eat the most candy. Oh my God! Why are they playing me like this? She says go, and I eat one 5 calorie piece. So does Shelly (who's daughter is so hot) and then we are the only people left in the contest. In the second round, I don't eat any- suck it!- and Shelly eats one and she and Ashley have to make up the teams.

I'm nervous. Ma is usually the boss (not Tony Danza- HA!) and I don't know how she would take it if I was in charge. I'm her little meatball! But Ashley must have noticed that I was undressing her with my eyes and not looking at her mom's boobs, because she made me the teacher and my mom the student! SCORE! Now I can still look at Jillian. Bonus.

So, here are the other student teacher teams:

Darrell (S) and Andrea (T)

John (S) and Stephanie (T)

Koli (S) and Sam (T)

Lance (S) and Melissa (T)

Daris (S) and Cheryl (T)

Miggy (S) and Migdalia (T)

Ashley (S) and Sherry (T)

So us teachers go to talk to Bob and Jillian and give them the 411, and Migdalia is looking so pissed off. I mean, I wouldn't want to cross her path because she might cut me. Jillian and Bob kept asking her what was up, but she wouldn't spill the beans. After Bob and Jillian did some serious Gossip Girl action about her, it was time for them to teach us to be trainers. Who would have ever thought that I would be a personal trainer? Not me, that's for sure.

While we are working out, I was watching Jillian and Migdalia go at it! It was kind of hot, but also kind of sad because Migdalia looks like she has some serious issues up in her pastrami. Jillian asks her if she is happy and Migdalia just shuts down and says she quits. WHAT? She just left the gym and Jillian ran after her- boy, does she look good going. I'm just saying!

Then us teachers get to take a little field trip to the Four Seasons to visit Curtis Stone. I don't see what the big deal is about him! I mean, yeah, he is tall and in very good shape and he has an accent and he can cook. Big whoop. All the ladies were going ga ga over him and I was like whatever. He showed us all these delicious platters of food and I about died! Caesar salad, fried macaroni, seafood pasta, gravy and biscuits and a death by chocolate for dessert! I was like, where do I get my bib and fork? Curtis said that this whole meal was 8,894 calories.

Note to self: Don't eat all that food. Even if you really want to.

Curtis taught us some tips about cooking, and I thought maybe I would cook ma some dinner later that night. Minus the death by chocolate.

The next day was our team challenge, and I was wicked excited. We get to spend time with Alison (bonus) and I get to spend time with my ma. Alison tells us that we have to take this ribbon and wrap it all over this playground real complicated like. I love games, so I was like bring it on! I was going to wrap up that playground deeper than a Chi town pizza! But I didn't know the rules, and didn't realize that my ma was going to have to undo all that wrapping with a blind fold on. I was so scared she was going to trip and break her nose again!

Needless to say, we did not win. Stupid Sam and Koli won- some business about Koli's dad taught him how to work with knots. Big friggin' whoop. Sam and Koli are always looking at me funny. They are a-holes. They won immunity and they get to switch one team's student and teacher. I have a feeling. . .

We are doing our last chance workout, and Bob and Jillian have to teach us how to give our teammates their last chance workout. I hate having to push ma so hard. Totally cool thing- during the workout Migdalia gets medieval on this heavy bag and she beats the crap out of it until the stuffing came out. Like I said, I wouldn't want to mess with her.

So I start training ma, and I want to let lose a little, so I try joking with some of the other teams. I can't help it! I am a comedian. Maybe after I'm done with the Biggest Loser I will try out for Last Comic Standing. I was so busy telling jokes, that maybe I didn't work as hard as I could. But I hear that laughter burns calories. So there.

At the weigh in, Koli and Sam tell Alison that they are going to switch me and ma and now I have to weigh in. They nag me about not working hard and I should be so lucky to be one of the contestants and now it's time to work. A holes. I wasn't surprised. I was going to show them!

Here's how everyone else did:

Sam and Koli- 11 pounds lost and 13 pounds lost

Migdalia and Miggy- 8 pounds lost and 7 pounds lost

Andrea and Darrell- 7 pounds lost and 12 pounds lost

Cheryl and Daris- 7 pounds lost and 9 pounds lost

Stephanie and John- 7 pounds lost and 14 pounds lost

Melissa and Lance - 1 pound lost (What? That's nuts!) and 12 pounds lost

Sherry and Ashley- 6 pounds lost and 12 pounds lost

Alison told me that when I weighed in I had to lose at least 13 pounds. Well, I lost 10 and ma lost 4. Which was good, but not good enough. Maybe Sam and Koli were right, but I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me upset. I put on my totally sweet sweat band and talked to my ma and the rest of the group. Ma wanted to go home.

And everyone sent her home! I am finally free! Now I got to beat Sam and Koli. It's on, like Donkey Kong.

Thanks for listening, diary, Tonight I am going to dream about Jillian and I going on a date and eating that death by chocolate.

Peace,

Mike

BL9- week 1- Meet the Losers

EPISODE ONE IN BRIEF:

Number of mind bullets used: 1 (Cheryl)

Number of vomiting contestants: 4

Largest contestant: Mike at 526

Number of contestants sent home: 5 (yellow team, blue team, and half of brown)

Newest nickname: Texas (Lance)

How much Daris' hair weighs: 5 pounds

Quote of the week: "Are my abs showing?" Mike

After a brief holiday hiatus (long enough for the average American to INDULGE in all the badness) the Biggest Loser Couples is back for ANOTHER season.

9 seasons in 5 1/2 years. That's a lot of losers.

Bob and Jillian both are slack jawed and hungry: This new cast is bigger and fatter than ever before. What sort of torture do they have in store?

Well, first of all, the contestants have to introduce themselves to America and their communities by publicly weighing in in each of their home towns. It's not enough to be shirtless in front of Ali and your teammates. Now you have to show the mayor and your third grade teacher, too.

So, who is letting it all hang out?

Ardmore, OK residents Daris and his mother Cheryl meet at Daris' high school. Another Oklahoman- proof positive that my home state needs help. Daris' starting weight is 346. He announces it like he is at an AA meeting. Cheryl is 227.

Orlanda, FL natives and twins John and James meet in Orlando's square. (I wish it had been at Disney. How cool to have had a parade.) John is 484 and James is 485. I guess that's how you tell them apart. It was hard to hear that they had no idea how much they weighed because scales don't accommodate numbers that large.

Lafayette, CA's Stephanie and Patti, an overweight mother and daughter duo, meet in their backyard. Doesn't seem as fair, but whatever. Patti is 243, and Stephanie is 264.

Knoxville, TN shows mother and daughter Sherry and Ashley, dead ringers for season 7 Helen and her daughter. Ashley is 374 and Sherry is 218.

Ann Arbor, MI gives us Darrell and Andrea, a father and daughter team. Darrell bears a striking resemblance to Kenny Rogers. If Kenny Rogers had let himself get to 413. Andrea is no slouch at 298.

Houston, TX has cancer survivor Victoria and her daughter Cherita. Victoria weighs in at 277, Cherita at 358.

Permberton, NJ brings us sassy Latinas Miggy and Migdalia, mother and daughter at 240 and 265- "Yes we can," Miggy says.

Aspermont, TX gives us Melissa and Lance, husband and wife who have eaten themselves out of the equation. Melissa is 233 and Lance is 365. Melissa looks like Buck Wild from Flavor of Love. Seriously!

Rohnert Park, CA is home to Tongan cousins Koli and Sam, just like Season 7's Tongan duo. Koli is 403 and Sam is 372. They too want to inspire the Tongan culture to lose weight.

Minneapolis, MN gives us Sunshine and O'Neal, father and daughter. He has grown three times his original size since he and his wife got married, and now she has to help him put on his shoes. O'Neal is 389 and Sunshine is 275. It breaks your heart to see Sunshine cry at the results of the scale.

Chicago, IL gives us mother and son Maria and Mike, Italians that eat too much. Maria is 281, and her son Mike is the largest contestant at 526. Maria holds herself responsible like any mother would. Mike jokingly punches the scale, but you know he is dieing inside.

After we meet everyone, it's on to the ranch! Ali, looking svelter than usual, meets the stretch limos that pull up with the fatestants. They are all happy now, but as anyone who watches this show, if Ali is there you know that something is up.

A CHALLENGE! Everyone piles into the gym (no equipment, hmmm) to learn of their fate: They are competing in a 26.2 mile cycling tourney. The curtains part to reveal rows of stationary cycles that the contestants must collectively ride 26.2 miles on. The first 9 teams to finish will be in the house: The last two teams will be asked to leave the campus.

TWIST.

Ali points out that they are the sickest contestants ever before telling them to go. A harbinger of things to come? The cyclists pound it out, and we see sweat bouncing off the floor. No amount of towels will clean up this mess- maybe a tie in with Shamwow would be in order?

The green team of Miggy and Migdalia kick some serious ass while Mike gets his ass seriously kicked by the bike seat- uncomfortable.

Miggy and Migdalia pull it out before anyone else, and win immunity for the week. Sam and Koli are second, Andrea and Darrell are third, Cheryl and Daris are fourth. . .and then the blue team's Victoria starts going through some pain as she cycles, falling off her bike. Dr. H makes her stop, and puts her on a stretcher. It is so hard to watch her feel as if she has failed her daughter. The stuff good reality TV is made out of.

Pink team comes in fifth, then the red team in sixth, the white team in seventh, and the brown team in eighth. Will it be blue, yellow, or purple that makes it in the coveted last spot?

The purple team of Patti and Stephanie take the prize, leaving Sunshine, O'Neal, Victoria, and Cherita out in the proverbial cold.

TWIST. Bob and Jillian (hiding in the bushes, of course) stop the limos that are carting off blue and yellow and inform them they will be competing the first 30 days from home with Bob and Jillian's help. Then they will be pitted against each other, and whichever team loses the greatest amount of weight will get to come back to the ranch.

Shhh. Don't tell the other teams!

After a restful nights sleep, Bob and Jillian pull the fire alarm to get the contestants out of the house and into the gym. Luckily, there was no real emergency as the contestants SLOWLY meandered out of their bunks.

"Pain will begin now," says Maria of the white team. The count for the first workout is 4 contestants vomiting, 3 contestants screaming like they are giving birth, and 2 plugs: Wal-Mart and Brita. Sneaky sneaky Jillian.

If the trainers can't produce results, they can get the contestants to produce a lot of snot and sweat.

Cheryl of the orange team gets the first round of Jillian's mind bullets- and Cheryl turns into a screaming punching bad ass. Her son looked frightened- let's not let those curls turn white now!

The contestants then meet each other for reals to talk about why they are the weigh they are. Get it? Weigh? *cough*

The number one thing I kept hearing repeated was everyone was single, never had a boyfriend or girlfriend, never been kissed. I am surprised that eharmony wasn't a sponsor- opportunity!!! This is a sad bunch, friends. Their self esteem is GONE and they need to get it back, one pound at a time.

The contestants punish themselves during a grueling last chance workout, and only one person (Ashley) falls off the treadmill. Progress.

I think Bob has grown some serious Jillian cajones this season- no more Mr. Nice Guy! He screams and steps on them like the best. He does show his soft side again while talking to James- who is so big and physically challenged that he has to work out in the pool instead of the gym.

Then it is time for the second weigh in of the show- this time the way that we are all used to. One more player will be going home- that makes 5 count 'em 5 contestants leaving in the first episode!

Miggy and Migdalia: 13 and 16 pounds lost

Sam and Koli: 18 and 29 pounds lost

Daris and Cheryl: 29 and 14 pounds lost

Andrea and Darrell: 14 and 30 pounds lost

James and John: 23 and 23 pounds lost (twins!)

Melissa and Lance: 19 and 21 pounds lost

Stephanie and Patti: 18 and 23 pounds lost

Ashley and Sherry: 21 and 17 pounds lost

Mike and Maria: 34 and 13 pounds lost

The brown team's twins are below the yellow line, which makes a pickle for the other contestants. How do you chose between identical twins that you JUST met? And how do you know if you sent the right one home? John wants James to stay because of his knee issues. James says he can swim at home and wants John to stay.

Ultimately, James is sent home, and loses an amazing 100 pounds in two months off the ranch. Truly inspirational and proof to America that you DON'T have to be a contestant on this show to lose weight. If the will is great, so will the weight loss be.

So, the roller coaster is loaded and has left the station- hope you are strapped in, 'cause this season looks CRAZY.

Extra bonus: Jillian playing carnival worker to a deep fried pizza eating Jay Leno- enjoy!

Apartment Fitness: Trudie Styler's Warrior Yoga

(Read the article on examiner.com!)

There have been many media reports about Sting and his wife Trudie Styler and their love for all things yoga. According to a 2005 interview with the Times Online UK, Mrs. Sting does two hours of yoga daily: An amazing feat for any 52-year-old. It is no surprise then that Styler would pair up with leading yoga workout DVD producer Gaiam for her aptly titled "Trudie Styler's Warrior Yoga" (Gaiam, $14.98).

Styler herself does not lead the video: It is instead led by her yoga instructor and fitness guru James D'Silva in voice over format. Styler and D'Silva perform the routine on the lawn of her "eco-friendly" estate in Italy. The scenery is lush and tranquil and really puts you in the mood to relax and exhale. To up the cool factor, the workout is underscored by Sting's own music: "Fields of Gold" and "Message in a Bottle" are slowed down to a yogic pace.

I found the routine to be really different from most yoga DVDs I own. There were fresh combinations: No boring sun salutations here. Although the selection is entitled "warrior", it is based on the warrior pose. It is not aggressive in the slightest.

The combination is performed all on one side of the body, and then again on the second side. There is not a lot of repetition. I find you do not have to have an advanced knowledge of yoga to perform the routine, but there is not a lot of explanation on D'Silva's part. Besides the 45 minute Warrior Workout, there is also a 25 minute express option which promises "a total-body strengthening workout and the mind-body connection you crave" in a shorter block of time.

Buying this DVD will not only make you feel good inside and out: This purchase also benefits the Unicef Ecuador water project. I would expect this from the couple who has championed so many eco-friendly causes. It would make a fabulous addition to any yogi's fitness routine.

The Biggest Loser- SEASON 8 FINALE- "I AM LITTLE DANNY!"

Have I mentioned that I enjoy a reality based program entitled "The Biggest Loser"?

I do. Very much.

As my hero and secret agent girlfriend Jillian Michaels says, "It's not just a reality show. It's a movement." BL changes lives, for good or for bad, and the nation has been affected. I would like to think that the show shines a light on America's dirty "little" secret. We are a nation of ease and convenience. Food is bountiful. And so are our waistlines. But BL takes these normal folks, trains them like super human killing machines, and with the right ratio of food to exercise, the pounds seem to melt away and a new species is born, ready to speak motivationally to our country and the world.

Sometimes there is failure. Erik from season 3 was seen on the "Where are they now?" special almost at his regular weight. Season 2 winner Matt has gained a considerable amount back, but was still able to compete in the Kona Ironman. Surely, had he not been on the show he never would have thought to attempt this.

Pros and cons. Last night's finale of BL was filled with 'em.

Pro: Amanda beat out Country Liz for America's vote and made it into the final three to compete against Rudy and Danny. Liz didn't seem all that surprised. Maybe she had been watching the show and saw that she came off a little harsh. Or maybe she knew that her only fan was the girl writing this blog.

Con: Creepy 3-D cutouts of the contestants walking next to their thinner selves was really disturbing. Isn't it enough to burst through the life sized poster of yourself? Now you have to interact with them too. I liked that Liz sized herself up and Rudy patted himself on the tush.

Pro: Amanda looked really great in her hot pink number last night. She said it was the first time she had worn a dress since she was a kid. I didn't want to raise my hand and and be the one to say she wore a dress during the marathon. I don't think she would have heard me.

Con: Country Liz is 49 and has 9 grandchildren. WHAT? Remind me to never move to Tennessee. She did look like a sexy real estate agent, though.

Pro: The first eliminated players looked amazing. Antoine, Alexandra, Sean, and Julio paraded themselves like they knew what was up. I liked Julio's new addition of the mustache, and we learned that Sean had named his baby Jillian.

Con: We also learned that the baby's birth had been in a tub of Brita filtered water and catered by Subway.

Pro: Bob and Jillian looked AWESOME last night. Jillian looked like a sexy assassin. Bob looked like a sexy professor. It was a win for everyone.

Pro: Julio won the first round of weigh-ins, weighing in at 180 down from his starting weight of 407.

Then it was time for Coach Mo in his purple sweater, Dina, Abby (aooga! HOT!), and Trazy.

Pro: Abby looked so svelte and young in her sassy red dress.

Con: Trazy has to have starved herself. Her crazy eyes were more pronounced in her newly skeletal face. And her bangs were BAD. Sorry Trazy. FAIL. Unfortunately, she took the lead from Julio, losing an impressive 118 pounds. What kind of magic powers does this chick possess?

Then the last of the eliminated players came out: Shay, Dan, Rebecca, and Allen.

Pro: Dr. H tells Shay and Dan that they got rid of their diabetes and they did it without gastric bypass surgery. Scary fact: 1 in 10 young people who get gastric bypass die. *shiver*

Con: Rebecca's hair. WHAT DID YOU DO? "I'd like the Sandy Duncan, please."

Pro: Rebecca beat out Trazy for the lead AND beat out Country Liz to win the $100,000. Please take the winnings and go change your hair back.

Rebecca's startling transformation wasn't the only big surprise of the evening. Subway told Shay if she came back to the season 9 finale to weigh in, they would pay her $1,000 per pound she lost. WOW. Talk about some incentive to keep it up. Antoine asked Alexandra to marry him: A whirlwind courtship only eclipsed by the amount of weight they have lost.

Then it was the moment we had all been waiting for: THE FINAL WEIGH IN.

Rudy and Danny got their chance to walk out next to their cyber selves, and we marvel at how handsome they both have become. I mean, seriously, did you ever think those handsome men were hiding under the beer bellies and logger beards?

Danny chooses to weigh in last. Amanda goes first, losing an astonishing 87 pounds. She has gone from 250 pounds to 163 pounds. Rudy goes next, losing 234 pounds (!). A WHOLE PERSON! He now weighs 208.

And then it was home town favorite and the pride of Oklahoma, Danny. He has to lose more than Rudy did. Can he pull it off? YES! Danny goes from 430 pounds to 198, losing a whopping 239 pounds- over half of his body weight!

It was an amazing season with so many surprises. And if you can't wait for the next one, it starts in January. I'll be there!

The Biggest Loser- week 10- Losers, Losers Everywhere. . .

Week 10 of The Biggest Loser was not limited to just the show on Tuesday. There was also the Where are They Now? special on Wednesday, Jillian popping up at the Thanksgiving Day parade on Thursday and the Suze Orman show on Saturday. Instead of giving you a play by play of what happened, I thought I would list my favorite moments out of all of these moments. The Biggest Loser really is a nationwide movement. And apparently channel wide.

RECAP OF THE BIGGEST LOSER:

It was the last week on campus, and Country Liz was kept over firefighter Allen. WHAT? Was Rudy behind this? It was actually Amanda, using female solidarity as her reason.

I felt the scorn of all of America as I was the only one who thought Liz was going to stay. I don't know how I am the last one standing on the Liz band wagon, but it was lonely up there. I watch a lot of reality television, and I knew that GAME PLAY was going to be in full effect. Allen was a tough competitor. Of course he was going! Liz is no Helen.

He looked great on Leno, and schooled Charles Barkley and Jay on some healthy eating.


RECAP OF THE BIGGEST LOSER WHERE ARE THEY NOW:

I have watched almost every season of BL, and it was nice to see that the bulk of the former contestants are still going strong and are spreading the message of health and wellness wherever they go.

• Jerry, Colleen's dad from season 6, has gone from 380 to 262. At the age of 52, he is now healthier than he has been in years- and is RealAge has gone down from the 76 years it was when he arrived at the ranch.
• Mallory from season 5 went from 217 and is now a personal trainer.
• Pete Thomas from season 2 went from 401 pounds to 238, and he has a little rhyme: "Sexy, strong, and great as I maintain my weight at 238!" He is paying it forward by being a motivational speaker and personal trainer.
• Drea from season 1 went from 215 pounds to 160 and runs a not for profit organization called HealthWorks that is striving to get inner city women in better shape.
• Mark and Jay, the brothers from season 5, are now running road races and have kept their weight at 185 and 207 respectively.
• Season 2's Matt and Suzy are now married and have two children. They are keeping their weight at 237 and 175, and Matt competed in the Kona Ironman. This was the most awe inspiring and tear-filled parts of the show. He missed being a qualifier by only 3 minutes, but he finished the race and inspired so many people to think they can do it, too.
• Nicole and Damien from season 7 have gotten their weights to 155 and 253. They got married, and now are both personal trainers and gearing up for parenthood.
• Nicole from season 4 is now 174 and a radio DJ at a station in Philadelphia.
• Jerry and Estelle from season 7 are still going strong and spending time with the grand kids and being motivational speakers for older people who want to start getting fit.
• Mike and Ron from season 7 are still small and have motivated the youngest Morelli, Max, to also lose over 100 pounds. Mike is now a freshman at Michigan State University intent on gaining the freshman 15 in muscle. Max lost his weight at The Biggest Loser Resort in Utah.
• Tara Costa from season 7 is still at 165 and is a marathon runner and organized a run in her hometown of Bethpage, New York.
• Jaron from season 3 is a svelte 200 pounds and competes in triathlons: Most recently in the Beach 2 Battleship Triathlon.
• Julie Haddon from season 4 is little tiny! She works out 5 to 6 days a week with a Jillian Michaels treadmill and has adopted a baby since her season wrapped.
• The most hated player (maybe more than Trazy) is Vicky from season 6. She is still 150 pounds, but offers these words of advice, "Keep your mouth shut".
• Felipe and Sione from season 7 are still motivating the Tongan community in Arizona. They offer weekly workouts and lower calorie luaus for their families and friends.
• Dan and Jackie, the mother and son team from season 5, are busy promoting Dan's country music career. Nothing says rock and roll like traveling in a tour bus with your mom.
• Michelle Aguilar, winner of season 6, has been working with the Texas state legislature to redefine state health. She also is newly married.
• Ali Vincent, the first female Biggest Loser in the world, is keeping herself trim at 125 pounds. She has gotten her mom, Bette Sue, down to 160 pounds. Ali has written a book, and is a spokesperson for The Biggest Loser franchise.
• Twins Bill and Jim from season 4 are now certified Spin instructors, motivational speakers, and Jim is still a kick ass cop.
• The adorable Bernie Salazar (one of my all time faves) from season 5 weighs in at 160. He has written a book called Monstercise to help kids get in shape.
• A lot of past season's contestants met in Detroit for a half marathon.
• Bob met with Erik, the season 3 winner who gained back almost all of the weight he lost. Bob has challenged him to weigh in at the season 9 finale.
• David from season 3 weighs in at 224 and is a personal trainer.
• Neil from season 4 has lost 211 pounds and finally got married to his long time girlfriend.

The show closed with some cool stats: 18,200 pounds have been lost on the show. But the real goal is to inspire it's watchers. And I know we have all been inspired by these people's stories.

RECAP OF SUZE ORMAN SHOW:

Love her or leave her, Suze speaks the truth about financial health. Jillian teamed up with Suze to talk about the relationship between your financial health and how that in turn affects your physical health. I know from personal experience that when I feel stressed out about money the last thing I want to do is workout.

Below is a clip from the show:

The finale is only 2 weeks away! My money is on Suze Orman's choice: Danny.

Foster Fitness Feature: 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels

In Jillian Michaels' world, there are no excuses. There are no reasons why you cannot be fit, you cannot workout, you cannot break through your mental barriers to find a stronger you. Alas, most of us will never get to be on The Biggest Loser ranch. There is a solution, however, for the need to have Jillian yell at you and inspire you to your fullest potential: The 30 Day Shred DVD.

The 30 Day Shred (Collage Video, $14.95) is a collection of three 20-minute workouts that range from "easy" to "hard", although none of the workouts are truly novice. If you are familiar with Jillian and her boot camp style, you know that she expects great things from those she trains, and you at home are no exception. She is followed by two women who do the easier and more difficult modifications, so there is always someone doing the level you are working on.

The workout itself is 20 minutes, but there is a brief warm up and cool down attached, making the workout really about 25-30 minutes in length. Each level follows Jillian's "3-2-1 Interval System": 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs. Lather, rinse, and repeat. The plan is to do 10 days of each level, but of course, you can customize to your own preferences. All you need for equipment is light hand weights and a mat.

Level 1 introduces you to the way Jillian teaches, and the moves are fairly basic but not unchallenging. She jumps right into the strength session with push ups on the toes, and some of the shoulder concentrated strength work is very tough. The cardio is also a challenge, mixing in jumping jacks, butt kicks, and jump rope to get your heart rate up.

Level 2 ads on to Level 1, but ups the intensity with more plank work and more complicated ab work. The plyometric factor also goes up in the cardio bursts.

Level 3 (my personal favorite) takes everything you have learned from Levels 1 and 2 and adds weights to the cardio activities, side planks for ab work, and lots of plank work and Super Mans in the strength sessions.

The workouts are really great stand alone, but you can also layer the workouts on top of each other for super calorie blasting. With such a customizable program with such great results (read my blogs of my own 30 Day journey in my 30 Day Shred Challenge posts), there is no reason not to put this DVD into your workout rotation.

The Biggest Loser- week 9- Tim and Tabitha Take Over Make Over

Normally my BL recaps are filled with all the dish that's fit to print. This week was make over week, and with the help of my Bravo TV faves Tim Gunn and Tabitha Coffey, the BLers made their outsides match their newly shaped insides. Pictures speak volumes, so I will let them. Bloggers note: I searched high and low over the Internet to find after pictures for this season's contestants and they are not out there. I am assuming because the results show is so close NBC is keeping a lid on it. So these are the pics I found!

Rebecca before and Rebecca after:

Amanda before and Amanda after:

Allen before and Allen after:

Country Liz before and Country Liz after:

Rudy before and Rudy after:

Danny before and Danny after:

Favorite show moments:

• Danny's daughter saying she couldn't wait to start her journey.
• Rudy trying to fend off Jillian's mind bullets and finally opening up about his sister who died of cancer when he was a teenager.
• Liz pulling the age card when she is only 49.
• Rebecca's face when she lost 3 pounds.
• Amanda's face when she lost 9 pounds.
• Danny pulling double digits 6 weeks in a row.
• Rudy acting like he has a case of the crazies and accusing Rebecca of GAMEPLAY.

It was sad to see Rebecca go, but if you saw her on Leno, she looked ridiculously hot and sexy. Watch out Dan.

'400 Calorie Fix' for Holiday Weight Gain

Here is the article on examiner.com!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 30- THE SHRED IS DONE!!!

Oh, did we ever think this day would come!?!

30 days ago I was feeling weak, powerless, unfocused. Today I feel strong, supported, and full of more hope than I could have ever imagined!

I will delve more deeply into what I learned from the 30 Day Shred Challenge tomorrow in another post. Today, let's celebrate today!

I completed Levels 1, 2, and 3 today. I skipped through the cool down section in 1 and 2, and focused on staying warm and keeping my heart rate up. I powered through with 5 pound weights, and was so impressed at how strong I have gotten! I didn't have to move down to lighter weights! The cardio bursts were done full out Natalie style. No Anita moves here.

I am filled with such a sense of accomplishment. And I am so happy that you followed me on my journey!

Onto the next challenge!

DietTribe Season 2- episode 4- "Greatest Fears"

What are you afraid of? What is holding you back? I'm scared that I will end up gaining all the weight that I lost. I'm scared that people won't love me if I don't look a certain way. I'm scared of leaving my closet door open when I go to sleep at night.

Everyone is afraid of something, and this episode of DietTribe entitled "Greatest Fears" focused on the five women's fears and what hurdles they need to jump over to accomplish their ultimate goal: competing in the triathlon and losing 50 pounds. Or 35 pounds if you are Rita.

Day 62: Jessie meets the ladies at the beach, but instead of playing beach volleyball like last episode, they are all suited up in their swim gear to tackle an open water swim in preparation for the real deal. Tiffany is afraid that the ocean is stronger than she is. Rita doesn't like to swim in the ocean. But the ladies have only 6 weeks until they compete, and they need to know what they are really up against.

Swim Coach Diana Nyad meets them on the beach to guide them through this scary experience. We met her in episode 3 at the LA Expo when the women first were learning proper swimming technique. Jessie thought it would make the ladies a little more confident if they had her there to help. Diana asks them who is afraid and Rita and Tiffany immediately raise their hands. Rita is afraid to be out of control and Tiffany is totally out of her comfort zone. Even Jessie is nervous for the ladies!

The women will be swimming half the length they will be swimming at the triathlon- 200 meters. They run out into the choppy Pacific, and Tiffany is immediately slapped with a wave, knocking off her goggles. Rita and Laneesa easily take the lead, followed by Mary who starts to struggle with her breathing. Diana swims in to assist her, as Stephanie helps Tiffany who is really struggling. Mary is having a full blown panic attack, but Diana calmly talks to her and gets her to continue.

Surprisingly, Rita finishes first even though she was so apprehensive to start. She says the fear was her motivator- she just wanted to get out of the ocean as quickly as possible. Laneesa comes in second with ease. Stephanie and Tiffany tie for third. While Stephanie looks exhilarated and happy to have finished, Tiffany breaks down in tears. Mary came in last with Diana's assistance. She literally breaks down when Jessie goes to greet her. "It was a rough road," Mary said. But they made it.

Diana tells them she is inspired and heart warmed to see them overcoming their fears. And they did it as a team! Jessie couldn't be more happy that the ladies have been able to conquer every obstacle that has been put in their paths.

Day 63: Stephanie and Tiffany take their families to Knotts Berry Farm to spend some quality time. They tell their daughters how they used to be so large they couldn't fit on the rides. Now the ladies can strap in with ease- and Stephanie realizes that she has a new fear of roller coasters. She has so much fun on the first ride, however, that she decides to ride every ride in the park with her girls. Weight was no longer the issue. They could focus on fun and their families instead.

Then it is off to Laneesa's sister's house, where she is doing a little babysitting for her two nieces. We discover that Laneesa is a pretty fair singer, and likes to sing in front of her family. But she won't sing in public. She is afraid of being judged or being the center of attention. Something tells me that this will probably come up later. Maybe at. . .

Day 65: . . .therapy time with Stacy Kaiser. Stacy wants to focus on their fears and how they choose to overcome them. Stephanie says you just do it and it's part of the journey, like the ocean swim. Tiffany says she gets through the tough times because someone who loves her was there and they did it together. She says it helps to have someone to lean on.

I really believe this to be true. I know that with my friends I have met on Twitter and my blog help raise my level of accountability and diminish the fear factor. The 30 Day Challenges on my friend Paula's website make getting healthy fun because there is a team working together for a common goal.

Mary said that her fear turned into frustration, because the swimming didn't come easily to her. The frustration and fear turn into anxiety which triggered her panic attack. We know from last episode that Mary is a bit of a control freak. She felt exposed and unprepared. Rita, on the other hand, was panicked when she saw how far she as going to have to swim. She conquered her fear by just jumping in and doing it.

The swimming was so easy for Laneesa, but singing in public is not. Stacy challenges her by signing her up to sing "America the Beautiful" at a local baseball game. Stacy tells the ladies that experiencing fear and getting through it is how change comes about.

Day 66: The ladies decide to kick up their heels and take a salsa class. Dancing can burn up to 500 calories an hour, and is a fun alternative to working out on a treadmill. Everyone was laughing, having fun, and breaking a sweat.

Day 67: The tribe and Jessie are at Bally Total Fitness, where Jessie is helping them make the transition into becoming real athletes. Up to this point, they have been focusing on mostly cardio activities. Jessie wants to up the ante and get them into resistance training. Resistance training slows down the aging process, builds bone density, mass, and strength. (Try Jari Love's DVDs for amazing strength training!) He also shows the ladies how to add a stability ball to their weight lifting practice to further engage their core. Rita says she can do it while she is watching television- an excellent idea!

Day 69: Mary and Tiffany are planning Stephanie's 40th birthday bash. They head to Fantasea Yachts to check out the accommodations and to try a tasting menu. Tiffany is worried because she hasn't not eaten cleanly in such a long time- she doesn't want to sabotage all of her efforts. The food starts to roll out: crab cakes, bruschetta, fillet Mignon bites, coconut shrimp, glazed chicken, and for the finale? Cheesecake. Bum bum bum.

Tiffany starts to freak out a little. She can't eat the cheesecake because she doesn't trust herself not to eat the entire thing. Mary coaxes her to take a bite. This is how they can learn to eat in moderation! They are using willpower not to eat the entire thing, and know that they will be working it out in the gym.

Day 71: The tribe heads out to watch the Orange County Flyers baseball team and Laneesa singing during the seventh inning stretch. She is incredibly nervous. She finds the strength to go on with Stacy, the girls, and her boyfriend Matt (they have patched things up) to head out onto the field alone and sing. She sounds great! And she manages to conquer one of her biggest fears.

Day 72: It is time for their 10 week weigh in! Jessie is worried that the ladies are going to start to plateau and he doesn't want them to feel discouraged. The weigh in has highs and lows: Laneesa breaks the 300 pound mark, while Rita and Tiffany feel discouraged by lower weight loss totals.

Tiffany: starting weight- 221 current weight- 192 weekly loss- 4 pounds loss to date- 29 pounds
Rita: starting weight- 177 current weight- 160 weekly loss- 3 pounds loss to date- 17 pounds
Stephanie: starting weight-244 current weight-210 weekly loss-5 pounds loss to date-34 pounds
Mary: starting weight- 210 current weight- 176 weekly loss- 7 pounds loss to date- 34 pounds
Laneesa: starting weight-336 current weight- 297 weekly loss- 6 pounds loss to date- 38 pounds

Jessie promises he will work one on one with the ladies who have lost less weight to get them back on track. The team weight loss was only 25 pounds, so they don't reach the goal of 30 pounds that was set for them. No fabulous prize this week.

Jessie sets the new goal at 25 pounds, and hopes the ladies don't get discouraged. The ultimate prize is their health and competing in the triathlon.