Jumping on the Fit Train - Week 8

Biggest Loser
There are literally NO words.

Okay, I'm lying...I have plenty to say :)

I am appalled that the black team (i.e., Marci and Deni mainly, but I think Jesse a little bit too) purposely gained weight in order to "save" the younger players from elimination. In all of the seasons, I have not seen this many incidents where players purposely gain weight. First it was Don, Dan, and Irene, and now these 3 in this episode. It's amazing because the players that gained weight were applauded for being "selfless." What planet are we on that it's okay to do this and it's considered selfless?

Moses said it best, "I do respect what they did, but it doesn't really teach the children to go out through life to tackle anything. Regardless of whatever obstacle's in front of you, give everything you got."

I really hope that the producers have learned something from this episode and in the future, they don't tell players about a double elimination until the weigh-in because in the end, it really only hurts the players

And on another note, Jesse got completely screwed in the elimination. He should not have gone home. It was Marci and Deni who wanted to throw the weigh-in to begin with, and use Jesse as the scapegoat, should they have to go to elimination. This is so unfair and makes absolutely zero sense to me. He needs to be there, certainly more than Marci or Deni (who ended up being eliminated for falling below the red line). I just really don't get why the team ganged up on Jesse over Marci...oh, and also - my new least favorite player is Hannah...or is it Olivia? Actually it's both. They've got bad attitudes and temper problems.


Angela
Like I expected, it was tough to get back in the mindset I needed to be in. I struggled to get to the gym and I didn't make the best food choices, especially at lunch. Dinner tends to be easier because C and I are able to make the right choices together, but I'm on my own at lunch. Thankfully, even with moderate exercise and less attention paid to my calorie intake, I was still able to lose the weight I had added while on vacation (it was about 1 lb).

The not so great part? I'm heading out on a 9 day vacation starting Saturday, and am concerned about how to stay on the right path while still having fun. I know this is a situation that I will encounter for the rest of my life, and I have to figure out a way to continue the "get fit" journey even when there are temptations and obstacles in my way.

Here are 5 rules I've made for myself and I hope they help me stick to the plan:

Work out every day. Whether it be only 300 or up to 800+ calories burned, exercise is exercise. It gets the blood moving, it kick starts your metabolism, it helps you burn calories all day long! Plus, it makes me more conscious of calories consumed if I know how hard it was to burn those calories in the first place.

Eat a sensible breakfast. For me, breakfast is what keeps me structured throughout the day. I try to stick to a 200 calorie breakfast, usually in the form of a Luna bar. This fills me up for such few calories, and there is no reason to go crazy at breakfast, especially when you have the whole day ahead of you.

Drink LOTS of water. This is a habit that I've always been good at. I actually love water, and rarely drink other beverages, except maybe a glass of sweet tea every now and then. Water is a great way to keep your stomach happy and full, especially when you may be tempted to eat even though you're not hungry.

Keep fruits and healthy snacks within arm's reach. I love potato chips! Obviously, this snack isn't very conducive to my "get fit" plan, but I've found a great alternative to curb my crunch cravings...popchips! These are a delicious snack and I highly recommend them! Taken from their website:

We don't fry it (unhealthy). We don't bake it (undelicious). We take wholesome potatoes, add a little heat and pressure, and pop! It's a chip. The only thing added is a flavorful blend of seasonings for a snack so delicious and crispy, you won't even notice it's (we hesitate to say) healthier.

What's out? More than half the fat of fried potato chips, trans fats, and cholesterol. All gone. For good. What's popped in? Only what's natural, tons of delicious, and plenty of crunch.

I also love the sugar-free Jello pudding cups - the dulce de leche is especially tasty and at only 60 calories, makes an ideal afternoon snack. And of course, I try to eat around 3 servings of FRESH fruit a day - usually an orange, pineapple slices or a handful of grapes. Yes, fruit is high in sugar and sometimes calories, but it's a way better option than say a 100 calorie snack pack, which has absolutely no nutritional value.

Keep alcohol to a minimum. Honestly, this won't be a problem. It's very rare that I drink anymore, mainly because I get awful headaches and very tired after only one sip of alcohol. I'm not sure why, as this has really only happened in the last year (believe me, I used to have zero problems with drinking!!) but it's substantial enough to make me not want to drink.



Putting my rules down in writing makes it feel real, and I'm now being held accountable by each one of you that's reading. I'd like to thank all of you for coming on this "get fit" journey with me! I know this feature isn't appealing to everyone, but I'm very appreciative of the comments I do get, and each one helps to motivate me! So thank you :)