Heading to week 10

Week 10

I was updating the eliminated contestant page. I can't believe that the season is already heading to week 10 with the makeover in just a few days.

What's been good 

The positive tone on this season and only one temptation challenge have been positives for this season. Most of the contestants seem like people that you could relate to and enjoy hanging with. There's only been one stab in the back moment with Michael's elimination.

Kids are inspiring.

What's been lacking 

Not really sure on this one, but something is missing for me this season. Incorporation of the kid's story hasn't been that great. Their clips seem to be an afterthought.

The main lacking thing is enthusiasm on my part. Maybe it's the busy nature in my life right now. Maybe it's my own pursuit of health with crossfit and a focused diet plan. It's more important to me to do the real thing than watch it on TV.

I guess we'll have to see what NBC sees in ratings and feedback on this season in another 4 or so weeks.

Time and Priority

I missed a whole episode 2 weeks ago when David was eliminated. I probably won't bother to catch-up and watch that episode.

Only watched a partial of this past week's episode. Life is lived, and sometimes TV shows aren't a priority. I can't say that I'm  burned out with BL, but it's just not the priority that it was in the past.

I've updated the contestants page, and we'll see how things go with tomorrow's episode and any commentary.

The Kids

The kid's stories are somewhat inspiring, but I'm still not getting into that aspect of this season. BL just can't seem to incorporate them in the episodes in a way that is meaningful to me.

Week 5 Recap

So Fast! 

Hard to believe we're at week 5 already. This season seems to be flying by. I watched last night's episode via DVR late last night.

I am so glad to see the apparent end of temptation challenges. This season is straightforward, mostly non-nonsense get healthy and lose weight.

I like it!
It's refreshingly positive

Eating healthy challenge 

I'm living last night's challenge with the family month of eating healthy. I've been up early and staying up late to prep food or cook. Didn't get the large batch operation done this past weekend; so, it's a daily grind to get healthy meals done. I got breakfast, work lunch, and dinner done.

• Breakfast - boiled eggs, lean sausage, assorted bite-size veggies - will get some fruit in the morning
• Lunch - more assorted bite-size veggies, apple, left-over rotisserie chicken, baked sweet potatoe 
• Dinner - crockpot roast 

Contestants had to shop on a budget and fix from their purchase for the week. It's a great practical lesson on shopping healthy and cooking healthy. I think they have a link at the NBC website on shopping lists. Head over and check it out.

We got to meet chef, Devin Alexander, and watch her prepare a southwest sweet potato recipe. 

I'm really getting into sweet potatoes! 

Tonight's stumble 

 

Life is messy. Today was a messy day. I ate well this morning and at lunch. Tonight, it was pizza and skinny girl margarita. I wasn't a big fan of plain margaritas on the rocks. Skinny girl takes some of the calorie hit out of margaritas. 

Challenge 

We get a frigid, pond swimming challenge with 5 lb weight. Danni, sole white team member, wins!


Weigh-in 

Red team falls with Lisa going home. The elimination format is filled with a whole lot less drama. I noticed that they aren't doing the dramatic commercial break in the last few eliminations. Again, I like it.

Nikki and TC

We get a glimpse of Nikki and TC doing a photo shoot. Both seem to be doing well. Nice to see that Nikki appears to have gotten help and is in a better place mentally.

Live blog BL episode - No trainers this week

The trainers head out for the week to visit the teens. They'll be back for the last chance workout! In the meantime, trainers meet with their teams.

Bob

Written plans. One person will lead the team workout each day.

Dolvett 

State of the warrior, get pissed off, and fight - Dolvett's words of advice.

Jillian 

Workout plans for the ladies. Goal of 5 miles.

To the kids! 

 The trainers are with the kids to get a chance to see their world.

Biingo's family has succeeded in changing food choices and cooking at home. Biingo - 27 lb weight loss, awesome!

The overloaded, stressed Sunny eats to deal with stress. She is afraid of failing and feels trapped in her role.

Whole family change is happening in Lindsay's family. Dolvett is truly a man unfraid of a unique work-out. A cheerleader workout this season and ballet last season!

Teams on their own 

Blue team seems to be struggling with direction and motivation. Dave is worried about going home due to his

Jackson seems to be doing a good job in leading the red team and seems to have more motivation with less health problems.

White team is bonding and getting stronger.

To the beach for a 5K! 

We get Allison running with the group along with other support, wow!

Dr. H to the rescue and brings an inhaler to Jackson.

White team cleans up with 1st and 3rd place finishes and take the top cash prize.

Last Chance workout

Mom & Dad - aka Jillian & Bob workout the blue and white team together.

Jeff and Jillian clash, and back to bob he goes.

Weigh-in

Best quote of the night - I've always been a ripped, bald black guy on the inside - Jackson

Then there was one for the white team, Pam is eliminated.

Goodbye Cate

Show Recap 

I did get a chance to watch BL late on Monday. Love that DVR! The show has been enjoyable to watch so far. It is definitely staying on the positive.

Biggest Loser Junk 

The theme for the week was lose the junk. The blue team lost a childhood obesity trivia challenge and was forced to spend hours in a junk food laden, sedentary room.

A childhood obesity expert stopped in to the teen contestants' homes and emptied out the junk food.

The best part of the episode was Bob's deck of cards crossfit wod in the junk room. weigh-in

Cate Laughlan from the red team was voted off after red team lost the weigh-in. I was pulling for a red line again, but the voting was much more civil this time. There are very nice Q&A interview by Cate that I found that is inspiring.

Random Sunday Thought Collection

End of last week's episode

I posted before the end of last week's show. Jillian's team is now decimated with the loss of Nate. Her two remaining ladies will have to pull it together to keep any of the white team members around. Fortunately for Jillian, the trainers are working with everyone; so, she'll still have a job but no team if the other two ladies get eliminated early in the season.

NFL challenge

I liked the NFL challenge in the 2nd episode. I think the kids got included in the segment much better than in the prior challenge.

Reasonable physical challenges are a great part of BL and should have center stage.

Next week's teaser 

Looks like a ridiculous temptation challenge is coming - getting locked in a room with sweets. I really hope there is no advantage given to a contestant that pigs out. Overall, the temptation looks lame.

I'm about 11 days into my whole 30 challenge. I get temptation as I deal with some cravings for diet coke, bread, and peanut butter. However, the reward and sense of accomplishment keep me motivated.


Interesting things I'm doing in the the kitchen

Over toasted cumin seeds

I got a mortar and pestle for Christmas and used it last night. I toasted (over in my case over-toasted) some cumin seeds. They tasted not burnt, and the cumin flavor was INTENSE. I used it on my 2nd, improved batch of cauliflower carrot hummus as well as on some baked sweet potatoes.

I seeds toast very quickly. I think the key to my next toasting will be lower heat and immediate transfer out of the hot skillet when they are that nice golden brown color. I delayed a bit and the seeds toasted even when the skillet was off heat.

Season 14 Biggest Loser Premiere

I'm finishing up yesterday's episode right now. I'm liking what I see so far. Here's some bullets so far from yesterday and what I'm seeing so far.

The Kids

One of this season's focus is childhood obesity. There are three teens who have joined BL this season. They will highlight the problem and struggles of obesity in children. They did work out on the ranch for the 1st week. There wasn't a whole lot of footage for ranch workouts. So far, trying to include them with the adult contestants has seemed a little clunky.  But, it's kids... who can't feel warm and fuzzy!

Lindsay, Sunny, and Bingo

Sunday Night

I was a little disappointed that we didn't get back story on all of the contestants.

Jillian Michaels returns for Biggest Loser

Jillian showed up which was great. I think it will be a good season with red, white, and blue teams.

Jillian's team suffered a double hit though. Demons overcame Nikki who left the ranch to deal with personal issues. It is a shame that there aren't alternates that are selected to replace those who quit the show so early. Nikki's departure along with other problem contestants from past year makes me question BL psych screening for contestants. It doesn't seem that great.

It was so sad to see TC eliminated leaving the white team with only three contestants. TC had a heart-warming back story.





Workout Buffet

We get to see different style workouts on Monday. Bob had a major Crossfit set-up. The crossfit workouts have been great for me, and I know the blue team will be inspired. Dolvett gives us a boot camp workout.

Jillian Drama

Ok, we are getting drama already but it isn't the same crap as last season. Jillian's team of three is have major issues. The yelling and screaming approach isn't working. I was totally surprised by Jillian's flexibility in dealing with her team. The three remaining seem like emotionally healthy people, but the women are basket cases!  Will we get the warm & fluffy Jillian this season?

Red Line

I am SO glad to see the red line this season! So, nice for effort/results to determine elimination rather than game play! Keep that red line goin' baby!

Biggest Loser Season 14 Launch

Season Premiere

We get part 1 of a two part season premiere tonight. NBC has some details up on contestants and the concept for this season. 

This season is Challenge America. Inspire and change lives. Sounds very positive and uplifting. As I wrote in the past, this season is likely to be very over the top kumbayah to overcome the negativity and nastiness from the last couple of seasons. 

Whole 30 breakfast 

I'm into day 5 of whole 30, and it's going okay. Hunger has been a challenge. I have to eat more frequently. Time for meal prep is also a challenge. I'll be making some tweaks on a paleo breakfast casserole recipe that I discovered and have it either this morning or tomorrow morning. Looks good and will hopefully taste good too. 

Paleo breakfast casserole

 

Day one of whole 30

Just finished crossfit workout this morning, and the whole house is still sleeping.

I also started the whole 30 challenge as well. We spent the day yesterday prepping veggies and other food.

Breakfast part 1 was a different experience for me. I had a whole egg with veggies and cauliflower/carrot hummus. I haven't decided on part 2 yet but will probably start with some black coffee shortly.


Here's a link to the basic paleo hummus recipe. I substituted in about 1/4 of the cauliflower with carrots. I also added 1/2 teaspoon of chopped fresh garlic.  I did a saute on the veggies and garlic with olive oil in the skillet prior to food processing them.

New BL Season Starts on Jan 6th

I stopped by the NBC BL site this morning to see what was happening with the new season. Here's the 1st video.

I expect this season will be over the top with niceness, heart-warming stories, and team work. Hopefully, NBC really had the psychologists screen this bunch and weed-out the nasty, crazy folks.

Besides writing on BL, I'll also share the upcoming whole 30 challenge that me and the fam will start in about a week.

Hope everyone has a great Christmas and New Year's.

Crossfit Progress

Continued Crossfit Journey

I feel that I'm seeing some results from Crossfit besides just soreness. I have been challenged  in new ways. The resistance training is slowly helping me get stronger and building some muscle. Perhaps, burning more fat because of more muscle mass.

I know that a healthy diet will remain important and can help with avoiding adding more fat. I'm still committed to more veggies in my diet along with lean protein.



I think the warm up that lasts ten minutes or more along with the stretches are good ways to warm up and avoid possible injuries. Rest at least one day between workouts is a good way to avoid over-training or injury. I am doing some cardio workouts like running in between my crossfit days.


I think it is key to concentrate on form.  I appreciate feedback from the coaches. Also, I am going slow and low on weights and increasing the weight only when I feel confident.


I hope this article may motivate you to try crossfit or some other kind of circuit training program. The most important thing is to stay motivated and be willing to try new exercises to help you in your fitness journey. T And, remember to talk to your healthcare professional if you are new to strength training or other kinds of more intense training to make sure it's OK for your medical history.

Combating stale blog and stale workouts

Crossfit, the new workout plan

I've had poor motivation to blog in the last month or so. With BL not airing, there seems less point to write about the topic. Also, life remains busy as always.

Workouts also were getting stale; so, when things are stale, shake it up! I certainly did shake things up with joining crossfit a couple of weeks ago.

I completed the 2 weeks fundamentals and have now done about 5 regular team workouts. I'm taking this morning off due to soreness and need for rest.

My biggest worry about diving into crossfit was injury. As a somewhat "seasoned" man who has a history of shoulder problems, I worried about getting hurt with the more extreme workouts. So far, I am scaling my workouts for weight, and I am testing my physical limits.

The experience is positive for me. I see many people of different ages and skill levels. I'm content now to stay at the back of the group and work on my skills.

I'll post on my progress. As always, I stay focused on healthy eating which is the foundation for good health. Checkout more on crossfit and decide if it might be right for you.

News on Season 14 Biggest Loser

Jillian Michaels Returns

It will be a long Fall without Biggest Loser. So far, no TV show seems that interesting to me. I just don't warm up to sit-coms.

The BL staff have been busy re-working the show and NBC is  praying that people will forget the disaster that was season 13.

News is out that Jillian Michaels is back for season 14. A new addition to the show will be weight loss for teens. I suspect that Jillian may have a leading role in working with the teens.

News is that the teens will not be eliminated from the show and won't be weighed in.

I buy into the no elimination part of the deal. But no weigh in, hmmm? I understand the shame and low self-esteem angle on teen obesity, but what about accountability and achievement recognition?

Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince will be part of the trainer crew as well. It won't take much to surpass Season 13, but it will take some major changes to keep the show going long term. We'll see what Biggest Loser Season 14 brings.

Fitness on the go

The challenge to work fitness into business travel

Just got back from a three-day business trip. Traveling can be a real challenge to stay fit. Lots of sitting on the flights as well as sitting in meetings. There's dessert and alcohol temptations as well.

I managed to do a decent job in the hotel workout room in the mornings for about 25-30 minutes of combined cardio and weights. The effort was fair, but as I've said recently, an effort is better than no effort.

I found an article on work-outs for those on the go and share it. I hope it helps you find new ideas and stay motivated.

Former Biggest Loser Contestant Update

Jay and Jennifer Jacobs 

Biggest Loser Season 11 finalist, Jay Jacob, and his daughter Jennifer have struggled since leaving the show. You may recall that Jay was voted off in week 7 and returned in week 12. Jay did have a decent performance overall and lost a little over 45% of his body weight. He ultimately lost out to Irene Alvarado for the 3rd finalist spot at the finale weigh-in. It seemed to me that Jay was never really checked-in after his return to BL in week 12. Like father, Jennifer also lost around 40% of her body weight.

Both Jay and Jennifer appear to have struggled with regaining the weight and are striking out to something new. They will be partnering with the author, Jonathan Bailor, to try out his program, the Smarter Side of Slim. .

The program says that it focuses on eating and a smart approach to exercise. You can check out the book, The Smarter Side of Slim (affiliate link).

You can check out more information about Jennifer and Jay as well as information regarding the program at the Smarter Side of Slim blog.

Just Gotta Run

End of the summer season and start of school is coming rapidly, and I've switched my workout routine a bit. Motivation and time have both been problems lately, Going to the gym just isn't as appealing these days.

It's important to keep some focus and realize that an effort and a game plan are better than nothing.



Lower intensity workouts like a slow jog or a brisk walk are still a good fitness tool. You'll have to walk longer to burn the same amount of calories that a short, more intense workout would burn. However, when you are working at a lower intensity, you burn fat for your energy.

Combining a jog or brisk walk with some basic exercises like crunches or push-ups provides additional benefit.

Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid for Bodybuilding Success

Have you been visiting the gym, or working out at  home, for a long time but still haven't met the fat loss/muscle mass levels you want?  Maybe the problem is one of these five reasons:

1.  Do you have a training plan that is suitable for your level of fitness?  If you try to do too much, too soon, you may get frustrated and quit.  Or if you don't even have a plan, you can feel scattered and not organized.  You can spend more time trying to decide what to do, than actually doing anything.  Talk to a personal trainer at your gym and have him/her help you develop a plan tailored just for you.

2.  Besides a good training program, you need to  have a sensible meal plan that will enable you to lose fat and increase muscle mass.  You have to eat properly so you supply your body with what it needs to recover from your training and give you adequate energy.

3.  Have you set realistic goals?  Do you know what you want to accomplish with your body building training?  It is essential to have a clear picture of what you want your final results to be.  You need to identify and focus on this target each and every day.  At night, before you go to sleep, visualize what you want to look like and keep a "vision board" where you see it often.  On this vision board, put pictures to inspire and motivate you to keep working towards your goals.

4.  If you expect to just take supplements to reach your goals, you must realize that supplements only work hand-in-hand with your training regime and a good body building diet.  Supplements by themselves won't get you where you want to go.  Get your diet and workout programs finalized and then add supplements.

5.  Make sure you get at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night.  This is when your muscles grow.  They become fatigued during a workout and need time to rest and recover.  Don't waste your workout efforts by not getting enough rest!  Remember, also, that if you are lacking in adequate rest, your body produces more cortisol.  This adds body fat and reduces muscle mass.  If you have trouble falling asleep, try not to eat late in the evening, don't watch disturbing programs on television, don't do something that requires intense concentration, and try to spend time just relaxing and being calm before it's time to go to bed.

Achieve Fitness by Swimming

U.S. Men's 2012 Olympic Swim Team 

The London 2012 Olympics got me thinking about different exercise programs for fitness. Swimming is an often overlooked fitness approach that has some benefits.

Swimming is an option for those who are injured with reduced exercise options. Here are some reasons to consider a swimming program for exercise.


1.  Swimming is probably the gentlest aerobic exercise available to you!  Unlike jogging, aerobic dancing, or even brisk walking, it doesn't damage your joints, bones, or feet.  If you are overweight, have joint problems, or have been injured, this is the perfect exercise for you.  It's great for people with arthritis as it improves the body's fitness without pressure, which could make some ailments worse.

2.  The water in the pool is a form of resistance, and as your body moves through the water, the resistance improves your muscle tone.  Your body becomes more flexible and your cardio fitness also improves.

3.  Take a class at your a local YMCA, gym, or health club.  Even public pools offer classes.  You may not need many lessons to relearn the proper way to do the different strokes, but having these lessons can make your swimming workout more effective.  Learn a variety of strokes so you can vary your workouts as your fitness increases.

4.  Find different places for your swimming workouts.  You can chose to go to a public pool, swim outdoors, go to the local YMCA, or a community center.  Maybe you have a friend who has their own pool!  Vary your routine so sometimes you are swimming indoors and other times you are swimming outdoors where you can enjoy nature.

5.  If you are extremely out of shape, learn strokes that are not as intense as others.  As you gain in fitness, you can add more strenuous strokes and vary your workout.

6.  As with any exercise program, be sure to check with your doctor before you begin.  Even if you have a health concern that precludes other exercise regimes, you might be able to begin swimming with the aid of a kickboard, paddles, or flippers.  This is also true if you have recently been injured and are still recovering.  There is no reason you cannot begin an exercise regime, with the consent of your doctor, to decrease the time it takes to recover and begin getting your body totally in shape.

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High protein food sources

I'm a big fan of cooking light. The magazine has tons of recipes and articles that help and motivate me for healthy living and healthy eating.

I ran across an article on Cooking Light on daily protein needs to build muscle and share it here.

Easy-to-Follow Weight Training Program For Beginners

Are you ready to get into shape, or improve the shape you're already in?  This muscle and basic-strength weight training program may be just what you need.

As with any new exercise program, visit your healthcare professional first to see if there are any restrictions on what you can do.  Also, changing your eating habits to eat a healthy diet will go a long ways towards increasing your fitness and safeguarding your health.

Before you begin this formal program, remember that any plan works well if it's designed for your body and fitness goals.  Talk to a personal trainer at your health/fitness club to see what he/she advises.

You will be able to find the equipment and free weights you need at almost any health/fitness club.  If you prefer, and you have the equipment at home, you can do your workout there.

Remember, it's important to take your medical condition into consideration before beginning.  If you have injuries, joint damage, or have just had surgery, factor these conditions into your training routine.  As your fitness level improves, you can ramp your routines up a little bit at a time.

Here are the steps to follow.  For each of the nine exercises, do one set of twelve repetitions, gradually increasing the number of repetitions, so by week eight, you are up to three sets of twelve repetitions:

1.  Warm Up:  The best way to warm up is with aerobics.  This should only take ten minutes or so.

2.  Squats or Leg Presses:  If you're just beginning, leave the squats for later and use the machine leg press for starters.

3.  Chest or bench press.

4.  Dead Lift.

5.  Crunch.

6.  Seated cable row.

7.  Triceps push down.

8.  Lateral pull down.

9.  Over head press.

10.  Biceps curl.

11.  Cool down and stretch - Yoga stretches would be nice to incorporate into your cool down.

Pay attention to your form or have a friend or someone at the health club "spot" for you to make sure you are doing the exercises correctly for the maximum benefit.

Talk to the personal trainer at the health fitness club to determine how long you should rest between repetitions.  This will depend on what your fitness goals are.  Also, have him/her help you determine how heavy your beginning weight should be.  There are a lot of different formulas to help with this.