Weight Watchers: 3 Weeks In

Hello lovely readers! 

I have been working the Weight Watchers point plus program and I am happy to report that I have lost 11.4 pounds in 3 weeks! Cue WW commercial playing "Another One Bites the Dust"!

The photo above shows my face. The left is the day before I began WW, the right I took last Friday when I was playing around with my new phone. I had no idea how big of a difference I could see in my face already. 

The program has been fairly easy to follow. I love cooking the recipes and tracking my portions. Apparently I had been eating 2-4 times more than I needed. That was an eye opener.

This was the first meal I prepared, a cider glazed pork with fall veggies. That's a 3.5 ounce serving of pork. When I looked at the size I had been eating I was wondering if I would ever be full again! But I have learned much over the last three weeks, and now I eat more fruit during the day and a nice salad before each meal. I have stopped drinking as much wine, and I have increased my physical activity. I also have started wearing my activity tracker I received before I got pregnant to see what I am doing all day long.

My next milestone is to hit the weight I was when I began IVF. I have 9 pounds to go!!! It was very amazing to be at 5% of my goal weight this morning.

I will keep on keeping on and keep you posted!

Getting Some Outside Help

Being a stay-at-home mom has been amazing but also a rude awakening. In my imagination, before I left my job, I thought I would have plenty of time to workout AND my house would look like Martha Stewart's AND I would be raising a thoughtful and talented child.

All my time has really been on the latter.

I love this child with every fiber of my being, but lately I've become frustrated because I haven't been able to get the traction I desire losing weight. It's not Gemma's fault. Clearly, I needed a mind shift.

I thought back to how I lost my 60 pounds 13 years ago. What was different?

I was 26. I was single. I only had myself to worry about.

Fast forward to now and I am married and I have a baby. I've lost 7 pounds in 3 months but I had to fight way too hard. My priorities are different but I still need to find time to take care of myself. Plus, if I ever want to train clients I need to look like I train myself. Books get judged by their covers all the time.

So, I made a big decision yesterday. I joined Weight Watchers!

I lost my weight by counting calories and exercising. I've been trying to count calories since I've had Gemma and it is so time consuming I just stop because I don't have the energy.

Weight Watchers uses points instead of calories. Each food has a point value and you are allowed a certain amount of points a day. No guessing. No counting. No research.

I'm anxious to see how my experience will be on this program!!!

If you are going through your own struggles, it's okay to ask for help. Support is how we get through this life journey. I'll share my progress with you, and if you've been on the program before I would love to hear about it!

Operation Alison or Where the f@$k have you been!??

Oh, blogosphere! Is that what you are still called?

So, I said in 2013 I was going to blog MORE. Then I didn't write at all and now it's 2015. So much has happened! But, long story short. . .

I was a manager for Equinox West LA for two years and I got to conceive a baby via IVF. If you are familiar with any of those things you will know that those are time suckers. But I never forgot about my love of writing and all things fitness and pop culture.

This year, something amazing happened.

This kid! This is my daughter, Gemma. She was born in January. She is seriously awesome and my husband and I are so in love with her. 

She RUINED my body. Correction: IVF medications plus pregnancy ruined my body.

I've some weight to lose. Like the same amount that I lost when I became a fitness enthusiast. Like the weight I was for 10 years. 

Come on the journey with me! And let's have some fun along the way. And now I can talk about mummy stuff too!

With love and science,

Alison

The Biggest Loser- #BL13- week 1- "The Place Where Dreams Come True!"

The sexy new face of The Biggest Loser, KIM!!!

Here we go again!  Not even two weeks have passed since the finale of season 12 of The Biggest Loser and NBC is throwing us another action packed season full of weight loss, tears, and puke.  Hopefully this season will have the drama that makes the show so fun to write and tweet about!

Instead of a long winded recap, I've decide to cherry pick my favorite moments each week.  Feel free to add your favorites in the comments section below or tweet me at my twitter handle, @FosterFitness.  You know I like to dish!

• Wow moment #1- new contestant Kim in her pink bikini.  I mean, wow.  She was pretty hot.
• Santa Claus is coming to the ranch and he is codependent.  AND REALLY HAIRY.
• The best name of the season: Chism.  Yup.
• Grandma Nancy has 13 children and 54 grand kids.  Ben has 9 children.  These contestants are getting busy, but not in the weight loss way.
• Contestant Mark claims the first FACE PLANT of the season in the very first challenge!  CONGRATS!
• The drinking game for this season is NO EXCUSES:  If you hear the term no excuses or the word excuses, take a drink.  You will be drunk in about 15 minutes.
• Kim was a pro wrestler and Emily was an Olympic weight lifter.  These ladies are going head to head- I can't wait to see the cat fight!
• Dolvett is so ripped this season my fiance said he could see his abs through his shirt.  And we don't have x-ray vision.
• Fake vomiting is a new trend this season.
• Planet Fitness is the first PLUG of the season.  Sorry, Jennie-O.
• Ali drops the bomb that the couples will be AGAINST each other, not on the same teams.  I love this new twist!  No partners, and no excuses! *drink*
• Bob and Dolvett have a score to settle.  Or Dolvett has a score to settle and Bob is like, "Oh, you are still here?"

At the first weigh in, the folks are smaller- will that mean bigger results?  Bob is nervous.

BLACK TEAM (BOB)

Gail:  From  322 to 313- 9 lbs

Chism:  From 361 to 349- 12 lbs

Megan:  From 259 to 252- 7 lbs

Chris:  From 240 to 232- 8 lbs

Jeremy:  From 389 to 376- 13 lbs

Joe:  From 357 to 342- 15 lbs

Ben:  From 396 to 381- 15 lbs

Emily:  From 264 to 254- 10 lbs

Cassandra:  From 239 to 225- 14 lbs  TOTAL: 103 lbs BW:  3.64%

RED TEAM (DOLVETT)

Roy:  From 306 to 292- 14 lbs

Conda:  From 294 to 285- 9 lbs

Mike:  From 358 to 345- 13 lbs

Kimmy:  From 219 to 210- 9 lbs

Lauren:  From 246 to 237- 9 lbs

Mark:  From 291 to 282- 9 lbs

Nancy:  From 217 to 212- 5 lbs

Kim:  From 252 to 239- 13 lbs

Buddy:  From 403 to 381- 22 lbs  TOTAL:  103 lbs BW:  3.98%

Dolvett: 1  Bob:  0

The Black team heads to the elimination room where Ben volunteers to go home because he really didn't want to be there anyway.  Thanks Ben!  I'm sure there wasn't any other contestants who may have wanted to take your place in all of America.  Isn't there someone like this every season?  And if you are reading this and you are that person, could you NOT be that person?

Anyway, Ben has gone from 396 to 346, a total of 50 pounds lost.  He wants to lose 150 pounds and prove he can do it at home.  With 9 children and 1 more on the way!  God speed, Ben.

Next week:  GAMBLING!  Sounds like Game Play.  Me likey.

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- MARATHON MAN

The finale of season 12 of The Biggest Loser is upon us!  I can smell the scale, feel the confetti in my hair, and see Ali in a bandage dress of some kind!  I also want to shout out that Jen of @TheBLBlog is going to be actually there as we are actually watching from the comfort of home.  So tune into her twitter feed and read her site because she will have the inside scoop.

Me?  I'll just be pretending I know it all as usual.

So, the marathon.

Okay, first the contestants went home and they were welcomed as usual by friends and family.  They showed montages of them working out and Bob and Dolvett coming to visit everyone.  John has his wife in slave labor while he trains.  You know, all the good stuff.

Then it is time for the marathon!  The four remaining contestants (John, Becky, Antone, and Vinny) are joined by everyone else that has been eliminated so far.  Even Bonnie make a guest appearance but is not running the marathon.  That's okay, because Crazy Johnny and his straw hat are nutty enough for the both of them.

The marathon feels like a marathon as we watched it stretch on.  The winner will get a place in the finale and everyone else will just have sore knees and bragging rights that they ran a marathon on national television.

Ramon and his never ending stream of positivity wins the race, securing him a spot in the finale.  Then at a tension filled weigh in, his competition is revealed:  John and Antone.  I'm sorry to say, Becky and Vinny, you are not the Biggest Losers but you will be in the running for the at home prize.

There is some MAJOR AWESOME trash talk (finally!) between John and Antone about who will win and Ramon is hoping he'll be able to sneak in there and steal it.  My money is on Antone.

YOU BETTER WIN ANTONE!!!!!  YOU HEAR ME?!?!?!?

Want to know what the delightful Courtney has to say?  Here is her review from DietsinReview.Com!

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 9- PENTATHLON!

Early trainer beating his client while he uses a medicine ball.

The Biggest Loser is all about the game play this week- literally!  Ali announces the contestants will be competing as individuals and against each other in a 5 legged race.  Whoever gets the most points wins!  To the winner:  immunity!  To the loser:  a one pound disadvantage.  Wee woo.

Ramon tells us it is time to see who the real winner is.  And I bet he also says he is planning on being number one this week.  I just have a feeling.

The game play starts right away.  The producers force the players hands, making them vote for who they think would be the next Biggest Loser, besides themselves of course.  The results of the first game will not be released until the weigh in.  Lord knows we wouldn't want to watch an episode full of people having to explain themselves.  That would be boring. . .*whispering* It wouldn't be boring!

Game #2:  The players must eliminate the opposition by plugging their opponents holes with batons.  On a game board!  C'mon.

The results:
Sunny  7
Becky  6
Antone  5
Vinny   3
John  2
Ramon  1

Game #3:  Trivia!  It is nutrition based.  Bonnie gets really excited for a second, thinking Ali is going to be asking questions about Father Dowling Mysteries.  Or maybe Murder, She Wrote.  Interesting fact:  Onions have a lot of calories for a vegetable.

The results:
Antone  11
Becky  9
Sunny  8
Bonnie  7
Vinny  7
John  4
Ramon  4

Game #4:  Pull an inflatable peanut across a pool using your arms and your balance.  Bonnie fell off.

The results:
Antone  15
Sunny  15
Becky  12
Vinny  12
John  10
Bonnie  8
Ramon  6

Ramon says now it is time for him to get serious.  'Cause he gots to win!

A quick last chance workout where Antone ends on the floor weeping, and then it is time for the last leg of the race!

Game #5:  The contestants are running 1 mile as quickly as they can with the help of Apollo Anton Ono and Subway.  Ramon finally wins one!

The results:
Sunny  20
Antone  19
John  16
Becky  15
Vinny  14
Ramon  13
Bonnie  9

Then it's time for the final weigh in and the results of the first game.  Everyone is so in love with each other I can't imagine why they waited.  And it is completely anonymous!

Game #1 Results:
Antone  7
Becky  7
Sunny  5
Bonnie  4
Ramon  4
Vinny  4
John  1 (making a lot of friends, I see.)

And the final results!
Antone 26- winning immunity
Sunny  25
Becky  22
Vinny 18
John  17
Ramon  17
Bonnie  13- wins 1 pound disadvantage

To the weigh in!

Antone:  From 348 lbs to 339 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Sunny:  From 216 lbs to 207 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 4.17% BW
Vinny:  From 345 lbs to 335 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 2.90% BW
John:  From 319 lbs to 310 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 2.82% BW
Ramon:  From 280 lbs to 273 lbs- 7 lbs lost- 2.50% BW
Becky:  From 186 lbs to 182 lbs- 4 lbs lost- 2.15% BW
Bonnie:  From 213 lbs to 208 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 1.88% BW

Bonnie and Becky end up below the yellow line, and Bonnie insists that Becky stays because she wants a teacher to win the show.  Then after a quick montage of In Memoriam Bonnie messages, we see Bonnie at home, having lost 68 pounds and wearing jeggings.  Life is good, Dolvett!

Want to hear what Courtney has to say? Here is her two cents, courtesy of DietsinReview.Com!

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 8- To be the best, BEAT the best

This week's episode of The Biggest Loser wasn't super tweet worthy.  There were no slip n' slides, very little Bonnie moans, and no frank sex talk from Anna.  Upon second watch, this episode is where the s*%t hits the fan game play-wise.

Up until this point, everything has been pretty hunky dory on the ranch.  Maybe John ate some extra donuts, or Bonnie sent Coach Mike home instead of Becky, but people have been buddies and pals.  Everyone has each others backs.

Then Jessica gets sent home last episode.  Ramon is upset, obviously, because Jess is his girl and he wants to have her around.  But when Vinny and Ramon start talking about it, they realize that Joe, who is now Ramon's teammate, may have some sort of former Black Team alliance in place.

The former Black Team still has more people in the game than any other team:  Joe, Antone, John, and Sunny.  The remaining Red Team is only Ramon and Vinny and the remaining Blue Team is only Becky and Bonnie.  If Vinny and Ramon are on to something, Hardy Boys style, they need to work extra hard this week to turn the tables.

And this week is a hard time to turn the tables.  Ali tells the trainers that only one team member's weight will be recognized this week.  The trainer has the power to choose who it will be.

The episode is filled with various "Who should I choose?" montages listing the pros and cons of each team member, but at the end, the trainers choose (fairly) wisely.

Dolvett chooses John over Bonnie.

Bob chooses Becky over Vinny or Antone.  Vinny looked a little hurt.

Anna chooses Joe over Ramon or Sunny.  I would have chosen Ramon, especially since Joe lost 15 pounds the week before.

How does it all shake out?

Bonnie:  From 221 lbs to 213 lbs- 8 lbs lost- 3.62% BW
John:  From 329 lbs to 319 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 3.04% BW

Antone:  From 353 lbs to 348 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 1.42% BW
Vinny:  From 355 lbs to 345 lbs- 10 lbs lost- 2.82% BW
Becky:  From 192 lbs to 186 lbs- 6 lbs lost- 3.65% BW (With 1 pound advantage won from challenge)

Sunny:  From 218 lbs to 216 lbs- 2 lbs lost- .92% BW
Ramon:  From 286 lbs to 280 lbs- 6 lbs lost- 2.10% BW
Joe:  From 271 lbs to 269 lbs- 2 lbs lost- .74% BW

The Blue Team finds themselves in the bottom, and Joe's weight is the lowest out of all the contestants.  He is confident, however, because he knows that Antone and Vinny have his back.  That's at least two votes that he can count on.  The one person who can't be voted off?  Ramon.  My, how the tables have turned.

Then we get to the elimination ceremony, and Joe gets a vote from Vinny AND Antone.  Antone states that Joe is too much competition.  Funny, that's what Joe said about Jessica at the last elimination ceremony.  He is sent home to Dollywood where he can now ride the rides.

Good thing that the team work is starting to fade, because next episode is onto singles.  Now for the good stuff!

Want to know what Courtney has to say?  Here is her recap, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 5- "Dr. Phil. Dr. Laura. Dr. Oz. Dr. Dre."

This is still on my bucket list.

Okay, so my week has been busy.  And yes, I fell asleep last week during the end of The Biggest Loser and I couldn't even remember who was eliminated!  So I quickly watched last week's show and I have a quickie break down for you, my loyal readers.

Here it goes, in 15 easy steps.

1.) This week's show was decided by Plinko.  Sunny won.  Her weight is the only weight that counts for the entire Black team.  Bob is going to Frisco, TX with her.  The Black team is alone. 

2.)  Everyone hates Jennifer.  She has "baggage".  What is going on behind the scenes and why can't we see this stuff!?!?

3.)  Bob doesn't want to go to Texas.

4.)  Bonnie will not stop bitching.  Apparently it is all Anna's fault.  For the first time, I really feel for her as a trainer.  Nothing is harder to deal with than an uncooperative client!

5.)  Bob makes Sunny's husband cry tears of joy.

6.)  Sunny falls off the treadmill.

7.)  Sunny takes Vegan of The Year Bob to a BBQ restaurant for dinner.

8.)  Bob rides a mechanical bull.  And he wears a cowboy hat.  He looks adorable.

9.)  Dol-vader breaks Vinny down after Vinny reveals his pet name for his stomach.  It's Cecil, by the way.

10.)  Bonnie bitches some more.

11.)  Bob returns to the ranch with his cowboy hat.

12.)  SUNNY BLOWS IT UP!  She loses 14 pounds, 5.81% BF to save the Black team.  They win their fifth weigh in in a row.

13.)  The Blue team, with only two members, beats the Red team.

14.)  The Red team is sent to the elimination room again, and they send home Courtney.

15.)  Courtney has lost 65 pounds since being sent home and looks GREAT!

The end.

Want to know what Courtney from season 11 has to say?  Here is her recap from DietsinReview.com!

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 4- "Happy feet! Happy Feet!"

This week's episode of The Biggest Loser is all about leadership and believing in yourself and believing that you can achieve most anything if you put your mind to it.  And the teams need this kind of encouragement, especially the Red team, who just let Patrick leave.

Ramon has taken the loss of Patrick the hardest, and can't seem to live with himself that Patrick was voted off. . .even though that was what Patrick had asked for.  Dolvett tells them not to fret and to get some rest, because they have a long day ahead of them tomorrow.

A long day of hanging out with past Biggest Loser contestants, that is!  Hannah from season 11, Adam from season 10, and Marci from season 11 come to visit the teams and show how it is possible to maintain their weight loss after they have left the confines of the ranch.  Hannah shows the Black team the joys of Jenny O Turkey, Adam takes the Red team on a sandbag hike where Ramon learns that he must become a leader by carrying the sandbags as a sacrifice for Patrick, and Marci shows the Blue team that just because they are older they can still kick some ass.  Marci seems like a 20-year-old next to these guys.  I mean Bonnie is like the Tin Man, poor thing.

After Antone quits whimpering, Bob talks with his team about the importance of changing their relationship with food.  THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!!!  You can eat anything you want within reason.  There is a proper time and proper place for everything.  Learning how to differentiate those times is the life lesson that this show tries to teach.

Score one for the Biggest Loser!

Joe opens up to the group, sharing that he would stop at different drive throughs throughout town and eat all day secretly, and then go home and eat with his family.  He had been wrapped in that shame for years because he was afraid that if his wife found out she wouldn't love him anymore.  He is beginning to learn that he does deserve love and he is worth it.

We are all worth it.

Bonnie overcomes her fears of walking on the treadmill, Courtney overcomes her fear of being a disappointment by playing hoops with Dolvett, everybody is making huge bounds and strides with their inside training this week- just in time for this week's challenge!

The challenge is mail themed- snow, wind, rain, all that jazz- and the prize is letters from home.  The Black team wins again, but Ali announces that everyone is a winner and everyone will get to read their letters from home.  The Black team also gets some FaceTime chatting with their families.

There are a lot of tears and a lot of encouragement.  Weirdly, Antone doesn't want his family to see him cry because he wants him to think that he is staying strong for them.  Won't they be surprised when they watch the show!  Antone is The Biggest Cryer.

Last Chance Workout sees trainers in different elements.  Anna is FINALLY on the tennis court teaching drills (where she looks happy AND comfortable), Bob is in the pool teaching Joe to swim and making his team cry, and Dolvett is screaming to his team about losing each week, cajoling them to win a weigh in to the Black team at least one time.  Come on guys!  Let's go weigh in!

With a coffin nailing "I'm not worried about this weigh in!" from Coach Mike, the Blue team begins the weigh in.

Mike:  From 273 lbs to 268 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Becky:  From 214 lbs to 212 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Bonnie:  From 240 lbs to 233 lbs- 7 lbs lost  TOTAL:  14 lbs, 1.93% BW

Joe:  From 307 lbs to 301 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Sunny:  From 245 lbs to 241 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Antone:  From 389 lbs to 381 lbs- 8 lbs lost
John:  From 375 lbs to 366 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Jennifer:  From 289 lbs to 282 lbs- 7 lbs lost  TOTAL:  34 lbs. 2.12% BW

Courtney:  From 240 lbs to 237 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Jessica:  From 221 lbs to 219 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Vinny:  From 390 lbs to 382 lbs- 8 lbs lost
Ramon:  From 322 lbs to 311 lbs- 11 lbs lost  TOTAL:  24 lbs, 2.05% BW

Ramon has accepted the leadership mantle!  I guess there is a new coach in town, much to Mike's chagrin.

Blue team is in the bottom again, and this time Bonnie is the one in charge.  Who would have ever thought this would have happened!?!  Bonnie gets the single vote, and she sends the blustery self named captain of the Blue team's ship packing.  Women doing it for themselves, I suppose.  Girl Power!

Coach Mike has gone back to coaching his high school football team and has lost 70 pounds and is now spending more quality time with his wife.  He would also like to lose 100 pounds by the finale.

Next week:  I have no idea!  My DVR didn't tape and I had to wait to rewatch the show.  And of course, no previews on the On Demand channel.  It will be a surprise!  At least, I hope it will be.

Want to know what Courtney has to say?  Here is her two cents, from DietsinReview.com.

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 3- NFL WEEK

Take a former NFL player, make him a contestant on The Biggest Loser, and then you get to have NFL week!  Take a former Olympian, make him a contestant on The Biggest Loser, you get to have Olympic Training week!

I see a pattern here.

Week 3 of The Biggest Loser starts with a very dejected Blue team down 2 players and Anna in fear for her job.  I mean, I really didn't know how they were going to turn it around this week.  Becky can't carry the entire team!

No time to dwell- it's time for the first NFL week themed challenge!  The contestants find themselves on a football field with life size cut outs of their visages, complete with a large stomach hole filled with netting.  The contestants must throw a football into the stomach hole, eliminating their fellow players, last cut out standing wins.

Oh, and they have to compete with pro NFL players, too.

Winner gets $5,000!  Ali also tells the players the contestant with the highest percentage of weight loss at the end of the week gets two tickets to the Super Bowl.  Not a bad prize.

Courtney ends up winning the $5,000 over the smell of the testosterone, and Joe declares, "Every day is a good day on the Biggest Loser Ranch!"

Then it is time to darken the mood with a little one on one Bob and Antone time.  Of course, Antone was in the NFL.  I don't know if you all know that.  He is feeling left out because everyone is making such a big deal about the NFL players and no one is making a big deal about the fact that he used to be in the NFL.

I counted.  Antone and the word NFL or mention by others that he was in the NFL count: 21 times in 2 hours.

ENOUGH!  Time for some crazy high school marching band music and a team challenge!

This time the players are competing as teams to burn as many calories as possible in 4, 15-minute heats.  The Black Team annihilates the competition, burning 1,171 calories to the Red Team's 952 calories and the Blue Team's 764 calories.  Bob declines the spa day prize, and the team agrees they don't want to be thrown off track like others who have participated in spa days past.  Hello, Jennifer and Courtney from last season!

After the team challenge, the Red Team hanged out in Biggest Loser brand soaking tubs and talked about how much they love each other.  Translation:  The Red Team is getting eliminated this week.

After an NFL themed last chance workout, it is time for the Weigh In!

Courtney:  From 247 lbs to 240 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Vinny:  From 400 lbs to 390 lbs- 10 lbs lost
Ramon:  From 329 lbs to 322 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Patrick:  From 361 lbs to 350 lbs- 11 lbs lost
Jessica:  From 232 lbs to 221 lbs- 11 lbs lost  TOTAL:  46 lbs, 2.93% BW

Antone:  From 405 lbs to 389 lbs- 16 lbs lost
Sunny:  From 255 lbs to 245 lbs- 10 lbs lost
Joe:  From 324 lbs to 307 lbs- 17 lbs lost
Jennifer:  From 305 lbs to 289 lbs- 16 lbs lost
John:  From 393 lbs to 375 lbs- 18 lbs lost  TOTAL:  77 lbs, 4.58% BW

Bonnie:  From 247 lbs to 240 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Becky:  From 223 lbs to 214 lbs- 9 lbs lost
Mike:  From 290 lbs to 273 lbs- 17 lbs lost  TOTAL:  33 lbs, 4.34% BW

The Blue Team has saved themselves, Anna's job, and old man Mike won the tickets to the Super Bowl!

The Red Team heads off for a weepy elimination talk, where quitter Patrick tells them to vote him off (surprise) and they do just so.  He loses 91 pounds at the reveal, cooking with his wife, running police officer obstacle courses, and vowing to win the big marathon later in the season.  We'll see. . .

Next week:  BOB vs. DOLVETT!

Want to know what Courtney has to say?  Here's her recap, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 2- "Don't sit on the couch and spit on the ceiling and expect things to happen for you."

I believe this is the book Anna got that quote from.

It's a new week on The Biggest Loser:  New theme song, new challenges, new drama!  Usually the contestants wait a few episodes in to start talking about GAME PLAY, but not season 12.  Let's get it on.

Ali introduces the first temptation challenge of the season:  DONUTS!  A room full of sweet donuts that need to be eaten so control can be gained!  Who will stoop to the challenge? 

Ali explains that the groups will not only be divided by age but also by time slots this week.  There is an early morning slot, a mid-day slot, and a late night slot.  Whoever eats the MOST donuts will get to choose what time the teams workout.  This is important because the teams only get two hours a day to get their burn on.

Of course we have the saintly contestants who decline to participate because they want to workout only.  But there a couple of GAME PLAYERS in the bunch:  old team Mike eats 11 donuts and feels like he has clinched the win for his team, but middle aged John ate 37 donuts, over 1,295 of winning calories.  "What did I just do?" he moans.  The black team decides to take the early morning time slot, they give the old timers the mid-day time slot because they "respect them" (burn!) and the youngsters get the late night time slot.

Bob wakes the black team up with a manic megaphone, getting them into the gym by 5 am.  John is newly crowned "Donut", and everyone feels the wrath of their win.  HIGHLIGHT:  Antone breaks down again, this time slamming his fists into his spin bike and into the ground.  Is he going to cry every episode?  Is this what releasing the demon means?

Did you all know Antone was in the NFL?  I'm not sure if the show covered that.

The black team also starts fighting with each other because John, that little trouble maker, says that Sunny is a dumb as "poo" (her quotes, not mine) and he is making alliances with members of the red team.  Has this guy never watched an episode of this show?  You don't play all your cards in the second episode!  Where will we go from here?  Where is Melissa Morgan when you need her?

Antone says in the NFL this is called an "airing out session".  Thanks, Antone.

Then it's the old timers time in the gym.  This is code for everyone works out while Anna has to coax Boston Johnny to work out.  Poor Becky.  I bet she is wishing she was just one year younger so she could be on the black team.

After a late night Yoplait yogurt plug ("It tricks it out!"), Dolvett brings the whipper snappers into the gym and gets amped!  So amped, we find out that Jessica's boyfriend MADE her gain 135 pounds during their 6 year relationship.  They blurred out the photos with his face, but apparently it is her twitter avatar if you missed it on the tv.  I'm sure she is over this guy.  I would never want to date a guy that force fed me- that is not cool.  Good thing she can now choose what she wants to eat. . .

Am I being overly sarcastic?  Or have I watched a lot of episodes of The Biggest Loser?

Dr. H drops in with his silky mullet to inform the contestants that disease is right around the bend if they don't take responsibility for their health.  I think it's sad that we get serious about our health only when it seems too far to fix.  If you start NOW when you have no issues or small issues, it's a lot easier to turn it all around.  Not when you are face to face with Dr. H and a JC Penney collection tie from 1987.  That's not the right time.

The physical challenge for the week involves a floating maze and life jackets-awesome-which the black team whoops up on for the second week in a row.  They earn a 2 pound advantage at the weigh in, the red team earns a 1 pound advantage, and the blue team gets that sound from The Price is Right when you lose- wwwwwaaaaaaahhhhhhhh.

The Last Chance Workout montage this week was seriously the BEST MONTAGE I have seen.  I was riveted the whole time.  I also heard the worst sentence: "5 am last chance workout!"  Dolvett's workout was especially sexy for some reason.  If you have it taped, go back and watch it and tell me if I am making this up.  Especially during the tug and pull section.

Weigh in!  How can people fare when they get two hours to workout a day?

Vinny:  From 405 lbs to 400 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Jessica:  From 239 lbs to 232 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Courtney:  From 257 lbs to 250 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Patrick:  From 367 lbs to 361 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Ramon:  From 338 lbs to 329 lbs- 9 lb lost  TOTAL:  35 lbs, 2.18% BW

Joe:  From 326 lbs to 324 lbs- 2 lbs lost
Jennifer:  From 311 lbs to 305 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Sunny: From 261 lbs to 255 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Antone:  From 415 lbs to 405 lbs- 10 lbs lost
John:  From 408 lbs to 393 lbs- 15 lbs lost TOTAL:  41 lbs, 2.38% BW

Becky:  From 228 lbs to 223 lbs- 5 lbs lost
Mike:  From 297 lbs to 290 lbs- 7 lbs lost
Bonnie:  From 250 lbs to 247 lbs- 3 lbs lost
Johnny:  From 311 lbs to 313 lbs- 2 lbs GAINED  TOTAL:  13 lbs, 1.2% BW

Say it ain't so, Boston Johnny!  The numbers are usually lower week 2, but a weight gain is something special.  Anna totally calls him out, saying "If you don't want to change anything you shouldn't be here."

Her words must have stuck with him, because after he is eliminated, he goes home and loses 59 pounds.  But not the straw hat.  The straw hat is staying.

Next week:  NFL WEEK!  WHAT?!?  I wish there was someone on the show this season that had been in the NFL so this episode would really resonate with them.  Like if we went to the Olympic training camp and there was a former Olympic athlete on the show.  It just makes sense.

Want to know what Courtney from season 11 has to say?  Here is her recap, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!

The Biggest Loser- #BL12- week 1- BATTLE OF THE AGES

Grr faces, everyone.

After a nice long break, The Biggest Loser roars back to life complete with US Marine helicopters and hummers to drag the 12th season competitors to the brink of Death Valley (literally) and back.

We know the 411, so lets jump into my first impressions of the 15 contestants:

Courtney: 24, "Single Girl"
Joe: 46, "Big Daddy"
Becky: 50, "Daddy's Dieing"
Jessica: 26, "Nervous Nelly" OR "Dazed and Confused"
Jennifer:  39, "Bob Lover"
Ramon:  27, "2 Legit tattoo artist, dude"
Patrick:  25, "Cry Baby"
Antone:  44, "The Footballer"
Vinny:  27, "Overalls"
John:  40, "Helicopter Lover"
Mike:  61, "The Cheerleader"
Bonnie:  63, "The Weeper"
Debbie:  60, "Gimmie a Break"
Johnny:  65, "The Don"
Sunny:  41, "Didn't know she was on the show until the weigh in.  Seriously."

Ali jumps out of a hummer with sunny blond pig tails to explain the rules for this season.  The contestants will be split into three teams based on their age:  The Under 30's, The Middle, and The Over 50's. 

The trainers for the teams are introduced as well.  We have good ole Bob, Anna K, and DQ- Dolvett Quince- who may be my new favorite now that Jillian Michaels is no longer on the show.  I did keep waiting for Jillian to ride up on a kick ass Ducati and have a secret fourth team, but it didn't happen.  That was the number one thing talked about during the live tweet fest was that everyone REALLY MISSED JILLIAN.

Ali introduces the first challenge.  Of course, it is a mile run to choose the trainer.  And of course they are all attached to a pole with a camera on the end.  Happily, no one has to be helicoptered out, and the teams are as follows:

Bob with The Middle
DQ with The Under 30's
Anna K with The Over 50's

We have a first chance workout in the shiny and amazing new Biggest Loser gym on the ranch, where the mettle of all the contestants is tested until they are left in sniveling piles of tearful goo.  After a quick Brita plug, it is time for the Last Chance Workout (!) and then on to a 50 minute weigh in ceremony.

Are we sure we can't get this show down to one hour, NBC?

WEIGH IN!  Age before beauty, Johnny.

Johnny-65:  From 328 lbs to 311 lbs- 17 lbs lost
Bonnie-63:  From 254 lbs to 250 lbs- 4 lbs lost
Mike-61:  From 309 lbs to 297 lbs- 12 lbs lost
Debbie-60:  From 239 lbs to 233 lbs- 6 lbs lost
Becky-50:  From 238 lbs to 228 lbs- 10 lbs lost  Total:  49 lbs, 3.58% BW

Joe-46:  From 348 lbs to 326 lbs- 22 lbs lost
Antone-44:  From 447 lbs to 415 lbs- 32 lbs lost
Sunny-41:  From 277 lbs to 261 lbs- 16 lbs lost
John-40:  From 445 lbs to 408 lbs- 37 lbs lost
Jennifer-39:  From 330 lbs to 311 lbs- 19 lbs lost Total:  126 lbs, 6.82% BW

Vinny-27:  From 426 lbs to 405 lbs- 21 lbs lost
Ramon-27:  From 355 lbs to 338 lbs- 17 lbs lost
Jessica-26:  From 254 lbs to 239 lbs- 15 lbs lost
Patrick-25:  From 387 lbs to 367 lbs- 20 lbs lost
Courtney-24:  From 270 lbs to 254 lbs- 16 lbs lost  Total:  89 lbs, 5.26% BW

Bob's team leaves everyone in the dust, obviously, and the Seniors must sort out who is going home first.  The Seniors have a Real Housewives moment when Debbie tells Bonnie she finds her tears annoying which doesn't earn her any points in the popularity department.  Not surprisingly, Debbie Downer is eliminated.  Now she can take all the breaks she wants!

When we check back with Debbie, she has gone from 239 to 215, is break dancing with her grand kids, and hopes to be 160 by the finale.

This season looks like there is plenty of drama on the teams- GAME PLAY!- and lots of blood, sweat, and tears.  I am looking forward to seeing how Anna K fits into the whole show and if she'll be able to help her team see the numbers they need to see so they aren't picked off one by one.  Dolvett can stay.  You can stay, Dolvett!

Want to know what Courtney from season 11 has to say?  Here's her recap, brought to you by DietsinReview.com!

Big Sexy is a whole lotta fun!

The one in the middle? 6'3"!!!

I have to thank Project Runway for introducing me to two new shows:  Dance Moms, which is horribly wonderful, and Big Sexy, which is really fantastic!  If it wasn't for Lifetime and their wonderful advertisers, I wouldn't know about this little treasure of a reality show that knows how to handle a "real" woman.



Big Sexy is actually on TLC, but there isn't anything to really learn about.  The women of Big Sexy are women you know, or maybe you ARE this woman:  Curvy, busty, beautiful, and not ashamed to be those adjectives.

Big Sexy follows the lives of four fabulous females living and working in the fashion industry here in New York City. (LADIES: IF YOU ARE READING THIS I TOTALLY WANT TO BE FRIENDS!)  Yes, there are issues of weight addressed, like when the women tried to get into snotty nightclub Marquee- it was blurred out on the show but not here!- and they were asked to pay a $30 cover charge and the thinner girls got into the club for free, or when they are speed dating and one guy candidly tells one of the plus size ladies that he only dates big girls when he is drunk (!).  But what I LOVED about this show is that the women are confident and are sexy on their own and that their weight is not what defines them.  They define themselves.

Everyone has their hang ups about their bodies.  I see women at my place of business that have bodies that most women would die for, and yet they spend hours on the elliptical, pinching and pulling at fat that isn't there and fretting about what calories that they put into their mouths.  Hell, I have been there.  It is nice to see women that have a healthy view of themselves and want people to know that not everyone has to be thin to be happy.

Of course, my concern AS ALWAYS is that people know that no matter your size that your internal health is my most important concern.  Cholesterol, blood pressure, visceral fat around your organs, joint pain, drinking and smoking habits:  All of these conditions effect women of all sizes and I want people at the end of the day to love their size AND be able to live long and lovely lives.  I feel as if the ladies of Big Sexy are living the lives they want to live in bodies they love.  And that kind of confidence is sexy in a big way.

TV people!  Choose to show more people that are happy and proud of whatever life they live, and that even if they are big, they don't JUST have to be contestants on a weight loss reality show!

My thoughts on Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition

Chris Powell on the first episode of EMWLE

I have been trying to figure out how I want to blog about EMWLE.  It's tricky:  It's only an hour long, it's real interview heavy, and it only covers one person per episode.

One year for a weight loss transformation is amazing, and much longer than The Biggest Loser.  And you well know that I think slow and steady wins the race in the weight loss world.  I love the personal trainer Chris Powell.  He is warm and supportive and has a lot of charisma.  I just wish there was more of him and the subject in each episode.  I wish they showed the food the people ate.  I wish they showed more of the workouts.  I just wish there was MORE.

It is a great concept, but I think if they do another season it needs to be a little more dense with HOW the transformation is taking place.  People know how a house is built.  People don't know as much about how to change their lives and live more healthy. 

Please ABC!  If you bring back the show, maybe make it a hair longer?  It doesn't have to be like The Biggest Loser (20 episodes), but I would like a little more info on the actual transformation and not so much on the big reveal.

That is all.

The Biggest Loser- #BL11- FINALE!!!

It was all ladies all the time on the season finale of The Biggest Loser!!!

Winners:

1.)  Irene beat Jay in America's vote to be apart of the top 3.

2.)  Deni (Baby Muscles mom?  The one who didn't go to her daughter's wedding?) won the at home prize of $100,000 by losing 125 pounds and 48% of her body weight.

3.)  Hannah for looking HOT in her finale dress.

4.)  The Oklahoma Twins for shocking everyone and making Bob and Jillian eat a little crow.

5.)  Olivia winning the damn thing- we knew she would!

Losers:

1.)  Irene's not orange dress.

2.)  Cara's baby bump.  Or was it?

3.)  No montage of Jillian training after 11 seasons of being awesome.

4.)  Kaylee gaining 14 pounds and not being eliminated.

5.)  Anna Kournikova replacing Jillian on the show.  WHAT?  I mean, really.  Yes, she is pretty.  Yes, she is thin.  But what does she know about weight loss?  Wrong move NBC.  Hire a real trainer!!!

It was a long season of The Biggest Loser.  I wrote 20 posts!  I even skipped last week's episode because it wasn't anything new or anything you and I haven't seen before.

I had a good time watching the finale with some Biggest Loser Twitterphiles (these girls made me look like an amateur BL fan) and some specially placed Wholly Guacamole.  Let's make this summer memorable!  I will be blogging about the Food Revolution and ABC's new weight loss show, as well as all the goings on in the city.  Biggest Loser break until September!

Here's a recap from DietsinReview.com- including an interview with winner Olivia!

The Biggest Loser- #BL11- week 19- "Like someone putting gold in your lap!"

Remaining 5.  Biggest Loser.  Montage.  Jay.  Irene.  Austin.  Hannah.  Olivia.

It is Final Exams Week (another week I've never heard of!) on the Biggest Loser ranch, and the final 5 need to fight for the right to call themselves the final 4.

How to pass your exams:
1.)  Be a spin instructor for Bob.
2.)  Answer Brett's health and fitness questions correctly.
3.)  Punch Cara in the face.
4.)  Turn Jillian's mind bullet gun on Jillian and aim for the heart strings.
5.)  Beat your avatar in the XBox 360 Kinnect  Biggest Loser game.

Olivia is aces in all her exams, sweeping them all (except for sis Hannah beating her in the Kinnect game) to win $10,000.  That's a lot of money to a New York artist.

Then it's enough with the games and time for a work out!  It is Jay's third chance, and Jillian unleashes the full torrent of all she can give to finally light the fire under Jay's ass and make him fight for his place in the house.  He even falls down a flight of stairs for her.  Okay, they were stairmaster stairs, but still.  It felt dramatic.

After a milk plug with Austin, The Pluggin' Kid, it is time for the weekly challenge!  The prize is a one pound advantage at the weigh in.  Gold in the lap, according to Olivia.

The contestants must stack sand bags up progressively higher stairs and be the first to reach the top.  Austin barely beats Olivia (who has become quite the champion).  And the nail in the coffin begins to hammer itself in.  Austin goes a little on cruise control with his new insurance policy while the rest of the Losers work twice as hard to claim their piece of that deep dish finale pie.

Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki!  It is time for the weigh in!

First, Ali informs Olivia she can trade her $10,000 for one pound, too.  She turns it down with a twinkle in her eye.  It is SO on.

Jay: From 255 lbs to 246 lbs- 9 lbs lost- 3.53% BW
Irene:  From 152 lbs to 147 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 3.29% BW
Olivia:  From 158 lbs to 153 lbs- 5 lbs lost- 3.16% BW
YELLOW LINE
Hannah:  From 154 lbs to 150 lbs- 4 lbs lost- 2.60% BW
Austin:  From 236 lbs to 235 lbs- 1 lb lost- .85% BW

Obviously, Austin is heading home. 

He is revealed to be 230 lbs, looking like a lean, mean, MMA fighting machine.  He beats up his brother and serenades 5th graders.  Watch out, ladies.

The final four are heading home next episode- any marathons in our future?  And stay tuned for the big finale wrap up happening live in NEW YORK CITY!!!

The Biggest Loser- #BL11- week 18- MAKEOVER WEEK!!!

THIS WAS THE BEST MAKEOVER WEEK EPISODE OF THE BIGGEST LOSER EVER!!!

1.)  Tim Gunn.  I don't think I can adequately express how I love Tim Gunn wielding a Fairy Godfather wand and transforming the contestants into real life Cinderellas.

2.)  Pumpkin coach.   Yes.  Drawn by a team of milk white horses.

3.)  Tim Gunn saying things like "I'm witness to the epiphany!".

4.)  The not so subtle Extra sugar free gum plug by Austin at the Ken Paves Salon.

5.)  The Biggest Loser Fairy Castle complete with moat.  Note this is also the castle the season one cast of Last Comic Standing stayed in.  Also on NBC.

6.)  Hannah's blond hair.  AH-MAZE-ING.  I thought she looked a lot like Teri Polo.

Right?

7.)  Austin's little prince getup.  I wish he had had a bolo tie.  Sigh.  Best curly hair transformation yet!

8.)  Irene being super girly girly, complete with "glass" slippers.

9.)  Jay looking like a dapper little man.  Really, so much littler.

10.)  FAVE TRANSFORMATION:  Olivia and that wicked new haircut.  She grew so mature and womanly in one day.  And her husband!  I keep thinking how much fun they will get to have in their new bodies.  Did that sound dirty?  It sounded dirty, didn't it. . .

11.)  Olivia and her beautiful singing voice.  It blew me away.  No jokes, folks. 

At the weigh in, we think that Hannah or Jay will have to be sent home, but Tim Gunn waves his fairy wand and *poof!* the yellow line is gone and no one is eliminated.

All is well in the magical land of The Biggest Loser!  No ogres, no Tweedle Dees or Tweedle Dums, no Kaylee.  Sleep well, my Losers.  Until next episode.  The final four is revealed- who will it be?  My guess?

1.)  Austin
2.)  Irene
3.)  Hannah
4.) Jay

I want it to be Olivia, but she has gotten SO SMALL.  How can she turn out another massive weight loss?

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

Don't be fooled by the "Market Fresh"!

It is Spring (finally!) and many advertisers know that we want to tone up and look great before we ditch our dowdy duds for more warm weather fare.  You'll notice an abundance of commercials for weight loss drugs, flavored waters, cereal diets, etc. with lovely women traipsing about in sarongs and over sized sun hats.

While you are out and about looking for delicious lighter food items, don't be fooled by items that seem healthy.  My beef with this one is the Arby's Market Fresh Sandwich.

It's on whole wheat bread.  It looks fresh and tasty.  But choosing this sandwich is like taking mayonnaise and smearing it on your butt and thighs.  According to the Calorie King Calorie Counter, the Chicken Salad with Pecans is a whopping 770 calories with 39 grams of fat.  My favorite sandwich, the Beef n' Cheddar, is 445 calories and 21 grams of fat:  Even with the electric orange cheese sauce!

A better choice may be Subway's 6-inch Orchard Chicken Salad at only 360 calories and 8 grams of fat, even though Arby's released this taste taste video saying their sandwich is better.



If you can make it through his TERRIBLE acting, you'll see their "fresh" ingredients (celery!) are blended with mayonnaise, and then they make you feel bad by throwing in hungry children.

I have an idea!  Save your money and donate the $5 to the charity instead.  You'll feel good inside and out- and your waist line will thank you too!

The Biggest Loser- #BL11- week 17- Back to the Ranch, One Hour Loser, and Top Chef Masters: Biggest Loser Edition

www.toothpastefordinner.com

Personal Note:  First of all, I want to apologize to my loyal readers who have become my friends for not being around more since I started my new job as a personal trainer.  Starting your own business is hard, y'all!  The hours are wackadoodle and I am pulling energy out of thin air that I didn't know was possible.  I miss being able to have more days off in a row, or a day off at all, and I really miss the connection I get with people I've never even met by reading their blogs and tweets. 

I have been told that it won't always be like this.  Fingers crossed!

I also think it is terribly unfair of NBC to adjust The Biggest Loser time slot to accommodate their new baby, The Voice.  It feels like a summer show, right?  There's only a few more episodes left of The Biggest Loser- can't we wait?  Now because of my work schedule I am going to miss the MAKEOVER EPISODE, which this year is only one hour long.  What?  ONE HOUR?!? AND TIM GUNN IS BACK!

Tim Gunn smash.

It's like when NBC canceled Conan for Jay Leno.  Or dropped Perfect Couples for The Paul Reiser Show.  Cluck cluck cluck.

If anyone of power is reading this, please bring back this show.  PLEASE.

Sigh.  So, back to the Ranch.  This one hour episode of The Biggest Loser starts with Austin needing to cut the cord, Irene stressing about losing 2 pounds and being THE biggest loser, and Ali introducing a new thing called "Favorites Week."  Does anyone remember there being a Favorites Week in the past?

Favorites Week includes the following:

1.)  Visits from favorite past contestants:  Ali, Sam, and Tara show up looking amazing and inspiring.

2.)  Favorite Challenges:  Tara drags a race car again and beats all the contestants.  Fair?  No (I think someone from this season should have gotten the prize), but she does get her face on a box of Wheaties and $5,000 for her charity.

Tara beating Rulon by a nose leads to yet another upset in a season full of upsets:  Rulon decides to leave the show.  No questions asked.  Seriously, nobody asks any questions and he leaves before he even weighs in.

My theory?  There are a lot of them out there, but I think he was pissed he got beaten by a woman and didn't want to lose any more.  He is an Olympic Athlete, after all.  He seemed really slated to win the entire show and everyone seemed really surprised.  Bob says it's a Biggest Loser first, but this season we had Dan, Don, and Kaylee all throw weigh ins to leave.  What are we not seeing behind the scenes?  That's juicy TV, folks.  We've got questions we need answers to!!!!

Oh, and Cara thinks it's fine because Rulon "is just tired of competing".  News Flash:  The Biggest Loser is a competition game show.  A GAME SHOW. 

They still have a weigh in, and Kaylee, after gaining weight AGAIN, is sent home and goes on a date with her new boyfriend, white team's Vance.  You know, the guy we met that one time.  With his mom?  No?  Hmmm.

Want to know what's in Mark's Melon?  Here is your chance!  Better not be any Brandon in this one, Mark.





****************************************************************************

James Oseland stinks.

I also wanted to add my two cents about Top Chef Masters.  This past week they aired an episode featuring Biggest Loser contestants (Rulon was there, and Courtney).  The chefs were in charge of following the shows strict calorie guidelines while adjusting the Loser's fave dishes into low calorie treats.

That part of the show I loved.  What I didn't like is that the judges and chefs talked to and about the contestants like they were mentally retarded or that being overweight is something you can catch.  It was really disturbing.  Maybe in their world it's not something they understand.  Curtis Stone has been hanging around a while and he is much more game, but that horrible judge with the glasses had a palpable disdain for the contestants and the challenge.  Not everyone is as nice as The Biggest Loser team, I guess.  I was looking forward to that episode and was disappointed and offended.  That is all.

The Biggest Loser- #BL11- week 16- The Biggest Loser XTREME

It's mostly water weight.

This episode of The Biggest Loser must have been created just for Earth Day because it was made of all recycled materials.  New Zealand?  Check.  Jumping off of tall structures?  Check.  Brett?  Check.  Kaylee speeches about believing in herself?  Check.  Hannah living in fear. . .again? Check.

I love The Biggest Loser, but this episode was really boring.  Maybe I'm old fashioned, but what happened to working out and overcoming fear via mind bullets?  How come we have to overcome our fears by being in a harness?  And why does the show think we want to hear more about Kaylee when she should have been sent home weeks ago?

My questions may never be answered.  Sigh.

The contestants are now playing as singles, which means that make over week is right around the corner- that's good!  I did love that Olivia won the challenge and immunity, and I loved the breathtaking scenery of New Zealand.  That place is awesome looking!  What I would like is a little more balance between the trainers story and the contestants story.  Last time I checked the show isn't called "Top Trainer".  Someone tell Cara and Brett!

Plus, what about the Rulon drama?  I hear the contestants saying they don't want him to win- but why and what is going on behind the scenes!?  That sounds like a more exciting story arc than whether or not Cara can be just as good a trainer as Bob and Jillian.

I know, I know.  I am rambling.  Recycle my own quote: "My questions may never be answered. Sigh."

After a tag team, four trainer Last Chance Workout, it is time for the weigh in.

Olivia:  From 172 lbs to 168 lbs- 4 lbs lost, 2.33% BW  (immunity)

Rulon:  From 311 lbs to 301 lbs- 10 lbs lost, 3.22% BW

Kaylee: From 168 lbs to 163 lbs- 5 lbs lost, 2.98% BW

Irene:  From 161 lbs to 157 lbs- 4 lbs lost, 2.48% BW

Austin:  From 255 lbs to 250 lbs- 5 lbs lost, 1.96% BW

Jay:  From 270 lbs to 265 lbs- 5 lbs lost, 1.85% BW

YELLOW LINE

Hannah:  From 164 lbs to 161 lbs- 3 lbs lost, 1.83% BW

Ken:  From 247 lbs to 243 lbs- 4 lbs lost, 1.62%  BW

Hannah's worrying came true, putting her below the yellow line with Ken, but her strong bonds with the remaining players keeps her in the game.  Be thankful Hannah!  Chin up, stiff upper lip, all that jazz.

Ken heads home, revealing more weight loss at 238 pounds.  He takes his two younger children on a paragliding adventure.  Apparently the contestants can't get enough xtreme sporting.  Looking forward to The Biggest Loser: Snowboarding and Balloon Race Adventure Inside a Live Volcano next season.

Next episode:  ONE HOUR LOSER!  See where some fave past contestants are now, and see one contestant walk off the show.  My guess?  Cara.  Okay.  Kaylee.

Want to know what Mark has to say?  Here's his take, courtesy of DietsinReview.com!