One of the great things about Pinterest is the plethora of amazing recipes available. But although I have a "Food and Recipes" board chockfull of recipes I plan to try, I've actually gotten around to making just two of them.
Last night's Pinterest recipe endeavor was a SMASHING success. I made Kalyn's Stuffed Cabbage Casserole from Skinnytaste.com, a wonderful site that blogger Gina bills as "delicious low fat recipes from my family to yours."
As soon as I discovered this site on Pinterest, I immediately "followed" it and put the link on my sidebar.
2012 is the year of eating healthy for me and my husband. Recipes that fill his grown-man stomach but stick to our healthy mantra are, as my son would say, "money"!
Not only was this casserole delicious and filling, but judging by my blood sugar check this morning, it's very good for Type 2 diabetics as well.
Of course, you'll only like this recipe if you like cabbage...fortunately both my husband and I love it!
There is brown rice in the recipe, but some commenters at Skinnytaste say they substituted quinoa with excellent results. Others fiddled with the spices or made it with spicier or Italian-seasoned tomatoes or tomato sauce. There's lots of room for improvisation.
Some commenters also saved some valuable prep time by using bagged cole slaw, but I liked having the cabbage pieces a little bigger.
(The only way I had to modify it was that I couldn't find Sweet Hungarian Paprika at my local grocer, so had to use just regular paprika.)
Anyway, two thumbs up from both me and my hubby!
I'm linking up today to Company Girl Coffee, hosted by Home Sanctuary--click on the icon!
(Note: My "update" of The Biggest Loser is really more about my impressions than an actual retelling of everything that happened in the show)
Listen to my 4 min 25 sec podcast, or just read the post below it!
Well, it's Week 2 of this season, and all the participants are slowly starting to come into focus for me.
Early standouts were Antone, the fearful former NFL player, and Ramon, the young tattoo artist with the handsome face and sweet spirit.
Now I'm also recognizing Sunny, the schoolteacher who (rightly) took such offense at Black Team-mate John calling her "dumb as a box of rocks"; Jennifer, the gorgeous brunette who found out last night that she has a ton of health problems looming; and Jessica, whose jealous boyfriend helped sabotage her into gaining over 100 pounds.
Some random thoughts:
--John apologized to Sunny for the obviously false slurs on her intelligence, but I'm not sure how I feel about him right now. I always cringe when BL contestants go ahead and eat like pigs to win a challenge. The 37 donuts he consumed ended up not hurting his weight loss, but...I'm going to have to see more of John being a nice guy.
--Bonnie. I like her--she seems like a sweet lady--but I have to question why the producers would let someone on the show who can barely get around, thanks to a bad knee. Maybe they're trying to make a point that there IS hope for weight loss after knee surgery?
I hate to say it (since I would actually be part of the "old" team if I was there), but the slowness of the old team just makes me sigh. (With the exception of Becky, who doesn't seem that old at all.)
I feel bad for Anna Kournikova, who was stuck with a very low-achieving team that is now dwindling in numbers. I like Anna--she's shown herself to be very caring and good-intentioned--but I'm still not convinced she's the caliber of trainer that needs to be on the show. We'll see.
The ghost of Jillian Michaels haunts the gym. (No, don't worry, she's not dead--but I fear her spirit is there feeling awfully frustrated because she can't take some of these people, royally kick their behinds and whip them into shape.)
Still loving Bob--he can pretty much do no wrong in my book.
Still loving Dolvett, whose brilliant smile and caring spirit go all Jillian once he hits the gym. Honestly, I think he's the best addition the show, when it comes to trainers, that I've seen since I've been watching--and I first starting watching when that obnoxious Kim was on.
Two-hour workouts
The premise of this week's episode was to allow each team only two hours of work-outs a day, with the idea that when they get back to "the real world," that's probably the maximum that most of them will be able to manage.
It was good to see that the participants still lost weight--and remember, the 2nd week is usually the time when they don't lose much, thanks to their often-huge first week loss.
Drama
The producers always try to stir up a little drama, which isn't necessary at all, because that's not what we watch the show for. We watch (or at least I do) to be inspired by a group of people who are transforming their lives.
The John vs. Sunny thing was quickly resolved, though, and as I said earlier, we'll have to see if John is on good behavior from here on out.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
I'm sorry, but I wasn't sad at all to see Boston Johnny go home. It annoys me like crazy when I see contestants get on the show--a chance thousands of people would give a LOT for--and whine and moan and constantly talk about quitting.
I'm truly glad that Johnny was able to successfully lose weight at home--I'm really happy for him. But I'm not going to miss him. What did you think? Let me know in my comments!
(Note: My "update" of The Biggest Loser is really more about my impressions than an actual retelling of everything that happened in the show)
So, one of my favorite shows ever is back! Here are some of my thoughts:
Dolvett (one of the new trainers)-I think I love him. Not only does he have a smile that would light up Dallas, he seems to be the perfect mixture of tough and caring. I'm looking for good things from him.
The age factor: I'm not sure how I feel about the teams being divided up according to age.
I know Survivor did this before, but I just don't see how older people can compete with younger ones...even morbidly obese younger ones. Maybe they'll prove me wrong. They didn't seem to slack off in the weight loss department last night.
And--I know this is terrible, because I would actually be IN the oldest group--the older ones just kind of bore me a little. Not necessarily because of their age, but their personalities just don't appeal to me very much, at least at this point.
And one more thing. It never ceases to amaze me that some people come on the show and are surprised by the intensity of the workouts. Do you not WATCH THE SHOW???? I can clearly see how hard the work-outs are, which is one reason I would never try to go on the show!
Anna--Put me in the jury's-still-out category. Sure, she's a great athlete, but possessing skills and abilities doesn't always equal being able to parlay them to others. She is definitely no Jillian.
She does seem sweet...but her attempts at being hard-nosed and tough came off a bit lame, at least for me.
Bob, of course, is still wonderful Bob--a mainstay of the show. His talk with Antone--the former NFL player--was classic Bob, clearly indicative of the way he can motivate people with a combination of tough love, genuine compassion, and belief in what they can accomplish. No wonder people love him so much.
Do you have a favorite yet? I don't...I think it's going to take at least one more show before everyone starts to gel and you really see what they're like. I must say, I'm rooting for Antone to succeed.
What do you think about the new season? Any thoughts on Anna and Dolvett? Let me know in my comments section!
Brooke Elliott dishes about body image, working with icons, and NOT being pressured to lose weight
Note: This post was originally published in August 2010, but since "Drop Dead Diva" is back for another season, I thought I'd reprise it!--Cindy
Television being what it is, I never give a blanket endorsement to a TV show. However, I've seen "Drop Dead Diva" several times now, and I've really enjoyed it so far.
OK, it's one of those someone-comes-back-to-life-after-dying premises. We all know you have to suspend disbelief there, so just enjoy the show for what it is: light-hearted fun with some occasionally serious things to say about the weight issues that most women live with.
The best thing about the show? Its star, the delightful Brooke Elliott.
Deb is a slim, air-headed woman brought back in the body of a brilliant but dumpy and overweight lawyer, Jane. Somehow they merge--with Deb getting Jane's overweight exterior and brilliant mind, but keeping her own ditzy personality. Plus, Deb can't seem to remember that she doesn't look like a babe anymore, so she still acts like one.
The lovely Brooke Elliott is absolutely convincing portraying this paradox, and as I told her, it makes me believe that all overweight women should just act beautiful...then maybe it would become a self-fulfilling reality!
I asked Brooke about having a job in which she feels NO pressure to lose weight...what it's like working with famous guest stars like Delta Burke, Paula Abdul and Liza Minelli..and what about the guardian angel, Fred--will we ever see him again?
You can listen to my 8-minute interview with Drop Dead Diva's Brooke Elliott here.
Listen to my 4-minute podcast, or just read the post below!
Well, I finally--belatedly--was able to watch the Biggest Loser season finale, and since I've been commenting on it all season long, I thought I'd wrap it up with my final thoughts.
First of all, I am really glad Olivia won! To be honest, the sisters--Hannah and Olivia--weren't my favorites from the beginning. Although I'm all about sisterhood, their giddy comments and "OMG!"s occasionally got on my nerves.
As the season progressed, though, I grew to really admire those two. Their all-out determination and gung-ho attitude and competitive spirits impressed me.
It eventually became clear to me, just in recent weeks, that it was actually Olivia that I wanted to win it all.
I'm sure Hannah is an awesome girl, and kudos to her for all she's accomplished. I think she looked lovely at the finale.
But it just seemed to me that Olivia was a bit more mature, her spirit and attitude a bit more seasoned and balanced. I just felt that she would be a terrific spokeswoman for The Biggest Loser. So I was truly delighted when she won it all.
Olivia on Access Hollywood
Now for just a few random comments about the finale...
...Congrats to Deni for winning the at-home competition! I always thought she was a sweet and lovely lady, and she certainly went the distance at home.
...I read that Rulon was invited to appear at the finale, despite the fact that he had left the show voluntarily and couldn't be part of the at-home competition, but the show's producers never heard back from him. Kinda weird. Rulon was never my favorite, but I would have liked to have seen him again.
...Is trainer Cara pregnant, or has she just been choosing clothes that really emphasize her slightly bulging tummy? My husband pointed it out on one of the last shows, and her dress really emphasized it at the finale, but nothing was said. In fact, it seemed Cara was rather slighted when it came to any attention given to the trainers.
...I've also read that Brett and Cara are not going to be back on the show. When they introducted Anna Kournakova, I assumed she would be replacing Jillian but that the new trainers would be back. Bummer. I really grew to like Brett and Cara.
...Random question...why do the returning female contestants feel the need to dress as skimpily as possible? I know they're proud to show off their new bodies, but some of them should realize that everything isn't worthy of being displayed. In fact, some of the dresses can be downright unflattering. (By the way, I'm not talking about Olivia or even Hannah here--they looked amazingly toned in their dresses.)
For example, some of them just don't have pretty legs--do you really need to display them in a miniskirt? And when trying on those strapless dresses, shouldn't the question "How is this going to make my arms look while I'm waving to the audience?" be one to consider?
Don't get me wrong, I totally applaud these women for accomplishing something that is VERY difficult, and I can understand their justifiable pride in their new bodies. I'm just saying, maybe they don't need to bare quite as much as they do. End of mini-rant. :)
Still one of my faves
All in all, despite its excesses, audience manipulation and sometimes manufactured drama, The Biggest Loser remains one of my very favorite shows. I love the transformations that take place. I get inspired by the hard work and dedication of the contestants. I end up truly caring about the participants.
It's been a while since I've done a Biggest Loser update, but I have been watching the show. And now we're just a couple of weeks away from the finale, and the Final Four are in place!
From the beginning of this season, my favorite contestant was Courtney, and I was crushed when she was eliminated--way too early, in my opinion. Courtney had the spirit and determination that could have helped her win it all.
After she left, I cast about for my remaining favorites, and I soon realized that they are the sisters, Hannah and Olivia.
To be honest, I wasn't always so crazy about them...but as the weeks have gone by, these two have definitely emerged as my favorites. Honestly, I would be fine with either one of them winning, and that could very well happen.
Last night, Austin was voted off. That leaves Jay, Irene, Hannah and Olivia.
I hope it's not mean of me to say that I've just always felt Jay is a little boring. I like Irene, but she's been quiet for the most part and fairly under-the-radar.
Olivia before, and on the make-over episode
I just really, really like the sisters. I think they've shown remarkable strength and determination, and I think I identify with them because I love my own sisters so much.
It's also been amazing to watch their transformation into such lovely and confident women. (And were you blown away when Olivia sang last week?)
So what do you think? Do you have a favorite among the final four? Let me know in my comments section!
Listen to my Biggest Loser update, or just read the post below:
Well, last night the Biggest Loser ranch said good-bye to my favorite contestant of this season--Courtney.
What an amazing young woman. When you talk about The Biggest Loser, you toss the word "inspiration" around a lot--but in Courtney's case, I have to say the word was truly deserved.
21-year-old Courtney had already lost over 100 pounds on her own when she came to the show...where she lost another 92 pounds.
As this week's show began, Courtney was the only person left on the red team, coached by trainer Brett (who I've grown to like more and more over the course of the show.)
She had been experiencing what she called a "plateau"--although, in the real world and in my experience, a plateau is when the scale is NOT budging. Courtney had never stopped losing weight...she was just doing it slowly, and that's not good enough for the Biggest Loser show. You have to pull substantial numbers or you get eliminated.
So despite giving it her all, basically working her rear end off (literally), Courtney only lost one pound this week. And that meant that not only she had to go home, but so did her trainer, Brett.
It was one of the show's saddest moments. All the trainers were incredulous and even angry. I think sometimes the trainers get really frustrated with the "game" aspect of the show, and last night was one of those times.
Courtney's attitude was, as always, amazing. She assured everyone that she knew all about losing weight at home, and that her weight loss journey was far from over.
I have loved the confidence and determination of this young lady from Day One. I'm so sorry she's gone, because she was the one I wanted to win it all. I honestly don't know who will be my favorite now.
One of her parting comments was to tell the audience directly that you DON'T have to be on the Biggest Loser ranch to lose weight, and she encouraged us all to get up off the couch, believe in ourselves, and make it happen. For me, her few words of encouragement were better than an hour-long sermon on the need to lose weight!
As we saw in her follow-up, Courtney's doing fine at home. I have every confidence that when we see her at the finale, we're going to be wowed. She's a beautiful young woman with the kind of spirit and attitude that will take her far in life.
How about you? Were you sad to see Courtney go? Who is your favorite to win it all?
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I've got to say, this show always know how to throw you a curve ball!
First of all, I was interested to see how Courtney and Jen would do when they lost that pop challenge and had to spend a week off the ranch.
Jen was so sure they wouldn't need a trainer, and that they just needed to put into use all the things they'd been taught to do in their time on the ranch.
The price of having their trainer for one day WAS a bit steep--200 dollars, and they only had a thousand to work with. However, as my hubby pointed out, they could have given up a few luxuries and at least had their trainer for a couple of days.
At weigh-in time, we saw that their lack of a trainer probably bit them in the behind. Courtney lost 2 pounds, Jen none at all...which ended up sending her home.
Olivia found the Golden Egg in the Easter egg hunt challenge...but instead of it being immunity or something as terrific, it was the lone vote in the weigh-in. Did you think Rulon of the black team would be the one to go home? I sure did...and honestly, after we saw that he wasn't giving 100 per cent in the diet area, I thought maybe he deserved to go.
But no, Rulon gets a reprieve, and Jen goes home. As we saw in her follow-up, she's doing fantastic.
I'm just glad Courtney didn't go home. I firmly believe she needs to be there as long as possible, and I'm wishing her all the best.
By the way, I'm getting used to Brett and Cara, and now it feels like they really belong on the show.
Oh, and I just have one question. WHEN WILL THEY GET THEIR MAKE-OVERS!!!???
How about you? Do you have a favorite contestant...a least favorite? Let me know in my comments section!
Listen to my 2-minute podcast by clicking the player, or read the post below!
I've gotta say, The Biggest Loser is at the point where it's really getting good. There are fewer contestants, so you can really focus on and get to know the ones who are left...and the changes in their appearance are stunning!
However, I thought this week's episode was a little on the lame side. I don't mind the contestants zeroing in on the emotional problems that made them gain weight in the first place--in fact, I think that's crucial--but it gets a little heavy-handed when that's what the episode is mostly about.
One of the more interesting things about last night's show was the fact that captains were chosen--Marcie for the black team and Justin for the red team--with certain responsibilities.
Each captain had to choose who would cook for the entire team. Marcie chose Olivia for the black team; Justin chose Ken. Both cooks got a taste of what it will be like in the real world when they go back home, and household and other responsibilities force them to carve out time for exercise.
All during the show, Marcie stressed that whatever happened to her team at the weigh-in, she would sacrifice herself to let all the younger women stay on the ranch. And as it happened, the black team did lose the weigh-in--after having a stellar week last week, a few of the women eked out small weight losses, bringing the team total down.
But what Marcie didn't count on was that she would lose the most weight for her team--thereby getting immunity. Anyone could be voted off EXCEPT for Marcie.
She was devastated. But although we didn't get to see how the black team arrived at the decision, it appeared Sarah was fine with being the sacrificial lamb, and she was sent home.
And wow...her home transformation was incredible! I always knew Sarah was a pretty girl, but after losing more weight at home, she was downright gorgeous.
Sarah's main reason for losing weight was so that she can become pregnant. I really hope this happens for her.
Despite the fact that this episode was less than exciting, I still prefer it to the "drama" generated by over-zealous game-playing in past seasons.
What do you think? Were you amazed at Sarah's gorgeousness? I'd love to hear (read) your thoughts and feedback!
Listen to my 2 min. 32 sec. update by clicking on the player, or just read the post below it!
Well, that was an interesting turn of events!
The show really laid it all on the line last night...the red line, that is. Early on in the show, Alison told the black team that the person who fell below the red line (with the lowest weight-loss percentage), would be immediately ousted...while the losing team at the weigh-in would have to vote off one of their own.
I had a feeling the red team would win, just because the black team has killed them more often than not in the past. But I admit I never guessed why the black team would lose the weigh-in.
As it turned out, Deni, Marcie and Jesse purposely gained weight so their children would be safe from elimination.
This saved Jennifer, who actually wasn't the child of any of them...but she had gained two pounds, obviously UNintentionally, and was on the chopping block until the weight gains of Deni, Marcie and Jesse insured she would NOT fall below the red line.
As I've said before, The Biggest Loser often touches my heart and brings a tear to my eye. Last night was no exception, as these parents expressed their sacrificial love for their children. Each of them--especially Jesse, I think--would liked to have stayed on the ranch, but they were more concerned about their offspring.
Deni actually gained 8 pounds to insure that her daughter Sarah would not be in danger. Apparently, Sarah's weight had caused her to be unable to sustain a pregnancy in the past. Deni wanted to make sure Sarah is able to lose the weight so she can have a baby in the future.
I loved the selflessness of these parents. What a contrast to Biggest Loser winner Helen of a few seasons ago, who not once, but twice allowed her daughter to be thrown under the bus and ousted from the ranch.
So, the show is really heating up as the black-versus-red team rivalry continues, and each week brings changes in how these contestants look.
What are your thoughts? As a parent, would you have sacrificed yourself to make sure your child got to stay on the ranch? I'd love to hear your feedback!
If you'd like to read a detailed recap of the episode, go here
Listen to my Biggest Loser update (less than 3 minutes long), or just read the post below!
Red Team versus Black Team drama continues--with the Red Team being the former "unknowns," who trained in a different location for four weeks, and the Black Team being the team who stayed on the ranch, training with Bob and Jillian.
Am I the only one having a hard time rooting for the red team? Thanks to the show's device, I've never really been able to bond with the red team members. It's not that I dislike them, I still just don't feel like I really know them.
So I find myself pulling for the black team members during challenges, like the train challenge tonight.
I will say this: Last week, I was getting really annoyed with Red Team "leaders" Justin and Rulon. I've always thought they were really heavy-handed in their criticism of their team-mates, and last week Justin especially was on my last nerve.
However, both Justin and Rulon came across as much more likable and sympathetic this week. Rulon had issues, and trainer Cara tried to draw him out, but she was pretty unsuccessful in doing so. I have a sneaking suspicion that if it had been Jillian doing the counseling, SHE would have had Rulon spilling his guts in no time! :)
And then there's Arthur of the black team. I have kind of a like/dislike relationship with Arthur. He often comes across as a bit of a slacker, and he makes really questionable decisions--like sending Jay and Jen over to the red team last week.
But when he lost 20 lbs this week (!!!), I couldn't help but be happy for him, and it was fun to watch the exuberance of his team members and trainers. Again...because I'm a black team fan.
Kudos to Bob and Jillian for helping their team members achieve solid weight losses, despite the fact that losing a challenge meant the team lost the use of the gym for a week
I'm loving the fact that we're starting to see some real changes in these contestants' appearance--I love their transformations!
Since these are basically just my thoughts on the show, you may want to read more of a blow-by-blow account--here's a good site for that.
Meantime, I'd love to read your own thoughts and feedback in my comments section!
Please check out my book blog, Cindy's Book Club, where I'm reviewing Words by Ginny Yttrup!
Well, we finally got to see the weigh-in that we didn't get to see last week. The team that's been on the ranch the whole time had to eliminate Don after he followed in his twin brother Dan's footsteps and sabotaged the weigh-in by gaining weight so he could go home.
"...after watching I've decided I'm glad we didn't get the first weigh-in last week. I don't think I could have handled two weeks ending with Dan and Don throwing their weigh-ins so they could go home. Talk about infuriating as a viewer; I can only imagine what it must be like for those would-be contestants who just missed the cut."
OK, we get it--the ranch isn't for everyone. But I think you could determine that if you've EVER watched the show! I personally know that I could NEVER make it on the ranch, so I wouldn't try to take up space there, knowing there are other people who would give anything to be there.
The "Unknowns" Return
The other big event of the evening is the return of the "unknowns" to the ranch, complete with their trainers, Cara and Brett. (We need to find a different term for them, because they actually aren't unknown to us anymore.)
I'm finally feeling like I'm getting to know these people better. We were also able to see that the unknowns "family" doesn't feature complete solidarity...they obviously were just waiting for a chance to get rid of Q, who they view as a slacker.
However, they did listen to the pleas of both Q and his wife Larialmy to let him stay, and Larialmy went home.
Some random observations:
--The former "unknowns" seem to be firmly embedded in their identity as a family--but what do you bet the show shakes things up by doing something to integrate the two sides? I can totally see that coming!
--Justin and Rulon seem to be the leaders of the former unknowns, but as I mentioned earlier, I think they get a little heavy-handed in their motivational preaching/lecturing. (By the way, have you heard about the 1.5 pound "Rulon Burger" that he sells at his Wyoming restaurant?)
--Whatever Cara and Brett are doing to help their people shed the pounds, it's definitely working! Before they were able to be in the ranch's gym, it looked like they were mainly doing a lot of boxing.
--I noticed the trainers were absent at the final weigh-in last night. Wonder why? And did I catch a sense of some tension between the old and new trainers in the previews for next week?
I'd love to get your thoughts and observations in my comments section!
Tonight's episode of The Biggest Loser wasn't one of the more eventful or drama-packed ones...it was just kind of functional.
As the show opened, we found Jillian trying to get Don riled up. (Remember, he's the twin who stayed at the ranch, letting his brother Dan go home because Dan was just so homesick.)
Jillian apparently felt that Don needed to let his feelings out--so he did, making good use of the sounder that bleeps out cuss-words. Don continued to stick with his assertion that he DIDN'T gain 9 pounds last week on purpose. Mmm-hmm.
The rest of the show pretty much revolved around the results of a challenge faced by the contestants on the ranch. Each team had to go into an area that was packed from floor to ceiling with the very foods that had been their individual downfall...be it pizza, fried chicken, chocolate cake, macaroni and cheese, cheesecake.
The team who ate the most calories had the power to send any team they chose to the "unknowns" facility (although they really aren't so unknown anymore.)
As it turned out, it just wasn't worth it for anyone to eat anything. They were steadfast...except for Arthur, the guy who had once weighed 600 pounds and who still seems to really struggle with his love affair with food.
Arthur ended up eating just one fried chicken leg, saying he did so to take control of the challenge. And indeed, that gave him the right to send a team to the unknowns, and he chose the green team--Jay and his daughter Jennifer.
I was impressed to see how well Jay and Jennifer did during their week with the new trainers...it really looked like they were working their behinds off.
NO!!!!! Bummer...
But rather abruptly (or so it seemed to me), a big "To Be Continued" sign flashed on the screen! Let me tell you, I REALLY felt ripped off. To be honest, my very favorite part of the show is the weigh-in...WHAT??? NO WEIGH-IN???
Maybe the show was shortened to accomodate the State of the Union address, but it was a big disappointment for me.
I guess we'll have to wait till next week to see how everyone fared on the scale.
Listen to my 2 min. 46 sec. Biggest Loser update...just click on the player. (Or read the post below)
Well, the show dragged it out for suspense sake, but we finally got to meet the new trainers on the Biggest Loser last night.
They are Brett Hoebel, who has a background in martial arts and works with celebrities, and Cara Castronuova, a professional boxer.
After getting a good look at them for the first time, I have to wonder if they weren't hired as much for the hotness factor as for their training qualifications! These are two goodlooking people.
They do seem likable. We'll have to see if they're as good as Bob and Jillian at whipping people into shape and helping them drop the pounds--so far, it seems they're doing a good job of it. ("Q" lost 19 pounds, if I'm not mistaken!?!)
I appreciate getting to see more of the other team members, by the way. Just wondering: am I the only one who thought Rulon and Justin were a little heavy-handed in their "encouragement" of their team members to get with it? However, again, it did seem to work, as both the players they were "encouraging" did man up and lose the big numbers.
Dan and Don
It seemed pretty obvious throughout the episode that Dan wanted to go home, and it appears he did what he could to make that happen. However, I can't help but agree with Bob and Jillian that bailing so early is kind of a slap in the face to all the people who would LOVE to have a place at the ranch, but didn't make it on the show.
I understand Dan missing his daughter, but didn't he think about that when he made the decision to be on the show?
In any case...as the show goes along, I'm enjoying getting to know all the players a little better, and seeing how their transformations are already beginning to--no pun intended--take shape.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback in my comments section!
Click the player to listen to my 3-minute podcast, or just read the post:
(If you're not seeing the player, go here to listen to the podcast.)
Well, I told you this show likes to manipulate us. They dragged out the anonymity of the new trainers for one more episode. Honestly, it's not so much that I'm dying to see the new trainers--it's that I'm having a hard time getting to know the teams that are off the ranch with the new trainers.
Although I'll admit, the show did make a bit more of an effort to let us see those teams this time.
But I digress. I find myself siding with and pulling for the teams that ARE on the ranch, training with Bob and Jillian. Is that exactly what the show's producers want us to do? In past years, they've always highlighted every bit of drama between the contestants on the ranch--what better way to create drama than to have the two groups vying against each other?
Anyway, yes, I'm liking the ranch-teams best right now. I'm still loving Courtney. She has the spunk and motivation that have made me like other contestants in the past. I can also see her transformation with each passing week. Mark my words, she is going to get prettier and prettier as each pound drops off.
I also really like Jennifer, the blonde girl who had the struggle with worrying too much about her dad.
I've got to admit, though, that I was perturbed at the ranch teams' performance during that disastrous challenge. The fact that they couldn't agree on a strategy was disturbing. Also, are the guys on those team men, or mice? Interesting that not one of them "manned up" to say, "OK, THIS is what we should do." Actually, they just needed someone with leadership skills, man OR woman, and they just don't seem to have that.
Also, Arthur's confidence seems to get a bit out of control at times. He needs to dial that down a notch before it balloons into OVERconfidence. Fortunately for him, it paid off this time, as he lost a whopping 13 pounds and helped insure that the ranch teams won the week's weight loss challenge.
So no one had to go home, and I was happy about that.
Listen to my Biggest Loser blogcast (3 min 52 sec), or read the post below!
Granted, The Biggest Loser is one of my very favorite shows, but I also can't stand how manipulative it is sometimes. There are times you can almost hear the conversations of the writers and producers in their planning room, brainstorming ways to manipulate the emotions of we, the viewers.
Last night, the biggest twist since I've been viewing the show. Some of the contestants were allowed to choose between having old stand-bys Bob and Jillian as their trainers, or two brand-new trainers completely unknown to them.
And to us, at it turns out. The new trainers were seen only in silhouette throughout the episode.
An unheard-of prize...
If they chose the new trainers, they got an unheard-of bonus: FOUR WEEKS of immunity from getting kicked off the show.
Some of the contestants, even given the choice, decided to stick with the people who had a proven track record. Others simply couldn't resist the pull of four weeks' immunity.
We got to see very little of the teams who went off with the "unknowns"--to a completely different location. There was some footage of them sweating it out through extremely difficult work-outs, and a couple of shots of contestants who had amazing results at the unknowns' weigh-in. One man, Moses the Tongan, lost (if I'm right) 41 pounds in one week!
It's hard to connect with contestants that you see very little of on the show. I've got a favorite or two already--I like Courtney, the girl who had already lost 100 pounds before she came on the show.
I like Arthur, who also lost a lot of weight before arriving on the ranch, but was still over 500 pounds (he did lose down to 476 the first week.) I also like Arthur's dad, Jesse, but he's going to have to start taking things more seriously if he wants to keep himself and his son on the ranch.
The 54-year-old twins, Don and Dan, broke my heart with their backstories--one had a son who died, the other's son has disowned him because of his weight. You can count on Biggest Loser to tug at your heartstrings. I've boo-hooed many a time, and last night was no exception.
Ana of the orange team ended up going home, making the sacrifice so her daughter Irene could stay.
Trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper
Different Dynamic
There's no question that the addition of the two new trainers will provide a different dynamic for the show. It's too early to tell if I'm going to like that dynamic or not.
I WOULD like a chance to get to know the new trainers...as it stands now, I can't relate to a couple of silhouettes, and as I said earlier, it's hard to get attached to contestants you rarely see. I hope that changes, because for me, the contestants and their remarkable courage, determination and radical transformations are what makes the show for me.
...and for people just trying to get healthy and/or lose weight!
Since I found out almost three years ago that I'm a Type 2 diabetic, I've learned a wealth of information about nutrition and weight loss.
For that, I can first thank my diabetes educators at SwedishAmerican Hospital in Rockford, IL. (If you are diabetic and your doctor never referred you to diabetes educators, I urge you to find some--they are an incredible help.)
Besides that, there are some fantastic publications and online resources that are a great help in educating you and supporting you in your quest to control your blood sugar and just get fit.
Even if you're not diabetic....
It makes sense to start living as if you could be. This from a National Institutes of Health website:
In a new analysis of national survey data, researchers found that the prevalence of diabetes in U.S. adults is continuing to rise. And despite efforts to raise awareness of the problem, about a third of adults with diabetes still don't know they have it. Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of glucose in the blood. Persistent high levels can lead to blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart disease and stroke.
The article goes on to say:
The researchers found that the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in U.S. adults rose from about 5.1 percent in the years 1988–1994 to 6.5 percent in 1999–2002. About 2.8 percent of U.S. adults, a third of those who have diabetes, don't even know they have it. The study also found that about a quarter of U.S. adults have impaired fasting glucose, a form of pre-diabetes. People with pre-diabetes have an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, and for heart disease and stroke.
So it makes sense to be proactive. Eating to control blood sugar is beneficial in EVERY area of health--heart health, blood pressure, etc. And it's much easier to lose weight when you control cravings and blood sugar spikes by eating in a low-glycemic way.
Here are some of my favorite resources:
Dlife.com is an amazing website. I subscribe to it on my e-mail, and it never fails to have a great array of tips, advice, recipes, etc. There is even a forum where you can get support from other diabetics and get questions answered.
Another great resource is Diabetic Living magazine. The magazine also has a website and a Facebook page.
The thing I really love about this magazine (other than the wealth of knowledge it contains) is that it's bright, positive and optimistic, as opposed to some diabetes publications that a bit gloomy and filled with medical lingo. This magazine projects the message that life isn't over just because you're diabetic...in fact, it can be better than ever.
Another publication I really like is Outsmart Diabetes, which is put out by Prevention magazine (in fact, Prevention itself is a terrific magazine with an excellent website.)
Outsmart Diabetes isn't put out monthly, but when I find it at the cash register at my grocery store, I always pick up a copy. My old copies are dog-eared from using their recipes repeatedly.
You'll be amazed...
You'll be amazed at the delicious foods and recipes you can enjoy and still not only keep your blood sugar in check, but actually help your blood sugar. And you'll benefit by becoming a much healthier person overall.
This is Julie Hadden, another one of my most admired Biggest Losers contestants. A wonderful and inspiring woman, Julie is the author of Fat Chance--which I haven't read yet, but really want to!
Hard to believe it's been one week since I vowed to go on a quest to lose 10 pounds!
It's actually been a good week...I haven't felt really deprived at all. I've eaten very healthily, drank lots of water, and exercised six of the 7 days (every day but yesterday, which was Sunday.)
And I'm very happy about the results so far.
The result of my weekly weigh-in today: 4 LBS. LOST!
So now I have six more to go.
I'm aware that this week's weigh-in will probably not be as substantial...I probably got rid of some water weight. But I still loved seeing the scale at a lower number!
So, here I go...another week of concentrating on eating less, eating healthy, drinking lots of water, and exercising.
Thanks for all your tips and encouragement. Please keep the support coming!
(That's Michelle Aguilar, probably my very favorite Biggest Loser winner, who happens to be touring now with Women of Faith. People like Michelle inspire me in my own quest to lose weight and get fit!)
Yep, this is already Day 5 of my Quest to Lose 10 Pounds, and it's going great so far. I've exercised every day this week, been drinking lots of water with lemon, and focusing on healthy, low-carb, small-portion eating.
I've learned if you have a question, just go on Facebook and ask! That's what I did, seeking weight loss advice from people who have successfully lost, and here are just a few of their tips:
Tina Maavich: I've lost 20+ lbs since March and still losing. I just cut my calories down, drink lots of water and go walking everyday for about 30 to 45 min.
Erica Gehrke Smith : One of the easiest ways to loose weight and keep it off, is to switch to a combination of mild excerise and a Low-glycemic diet. Cutting carbs is a good idea, but not all carbs are bad for you. By going Low-glycemic you keep your blood sugar at a more constant level and avoid the spikes that cause carb cravings.
Gwen White Bartholomee:I recenly learned that drinking 2 cups of Green Tea a day will help aid in weight loss. Also, fruit smoothies (no sugar) can help. I use frozen berries & fruits, fresh apples, oranges & bananas. Blend well and enjoy. You may want to add ice cubes or some brewed tea to thin it down a bit. It will help to fill you up plus the nutrition from the fruit will help prevent cravings. Sometimes I need to add a little sweetener depending on how tart some of the fruit may be.
Misty Taggart : Low carb is the most effective. And I've tried them all. But getting bread and sugar out of my life is the ONLY way I can lose a pound. That's what I'm doing right now and have lost five lbs. in a week.
Linda Crow Eat like a king in the morning and a pauper at night. They said it doesn't make a difference when you eat calories so much as how many you eat, but I'm not buying that anymore. I'm a believer in the king/pauper theory.
Joan Abegglen Kahley: Watch the carbs and sugar. Exercising also helps. My doctor said I should walk 3 times a week for 15 minutes (I walk 30 mins. each time). Just a normal walk, no power walking or anything like that. Between watching the carbs and walking I have lost almost 50 pounds.
I got so many great tips from proven "losers," I'll be using more of them in future blog posts.
I'll be weighing and posting the results this coming Monday, June 14. Wish me well!
