Dealing with Fitness Roadblocks

Summer Here We Come 

The unofficial start of summer is already here with the end of school, and the official season start of summer is only a week or so away. 

Is your body prepared for summer? 

My answer to the question is, No. 

No, my body is not as ready as I hoped it would be. I could feel better at the pool or beach by comparing myself to overweight and less fit. That bit of mental coping won't ultimately help me in my fitness journey. Reality is that all of us will ebb and flow in our efforts and our success. Staying committed and putting out consistent efforts are the keys to success. 

Is someone ever too far gone to begin or resume a fitness journey?  The answer from the Biggest Loser show is  no. What's your answer? 

Biggest Loser Season 13 Mutiny Final Goes Down

Week's theme: I lack motivation 
The week's theme is shot-down in flames with the opening segment. 

The only motivation on display is the motivation to quit the show. 

We get to see a lot of the behind the scenes folks such as producer Joel Relampagos and other production people in the opening segments. There's a flurry of activity as Allison, Bob, and Dolvett are brought in to talk to the remaining
five contestants to convince them to stay. 

Unfair! Undeserved!

Intervention by Bob and Dolvett at Biggest Loser Mutiny

Seems everyone is upset and threatening to quit the show because eliminated players are coming back for a shot at a spot in the finale. The remaining five believe that the plot twist is unfair, and that only the remaining five deserve to compete in the finale for the grand prize. 

The BL ranch is a high stress environment, I get that, and I can understand that stress can make people a little crazy. I don't get the reaction of players this week. They should understand that BL is a reality TV show with the need for plot twists and other "devices" to keep the whole show interesting. You might as well  watch a P90X infomercial if the plot twists, human interest, challenges, and (sigh) drama are removed from the show. Bob Harper even mentions that many of the seasons give an eliminated player a chance to return and compete. 


They've been at home all this time, sleeping in their own bed! 

The five remaining five are upset with the twist so late in the game. The eliminated folks aren't worthy of the chance. 


Mark - are you saying your son, Chism, isn't worthy for a chance at the grand prize? 











Kim - are you telling your "best pal" Emily that she isn't worthy? 










A home journey towards health and weight loss at home can be every bit as challenging as life on the ranch but in a different way. Balancing work and family while staying focused, I believe, is every bit as challenging as following that path on the BL ranch. 

Poppi Kramer at home winner for Biggest Loser Season 3 

The true proof of "worthiness" will be revealed by weight loss, and maintaining the health achieved at the finale. Consider Poppi Kramer, at home winner for season 3. Poppi lost 50.4% (232 lb --- 115 lb) entirely at home. The 50% loss hasn't been achieved by several people who were grand finale winner on BL! 


In the end, Buddy and John walk out in spite of all the intervention. 

The unaired challenge 
Contestants competed in a tough mudder run. Past champions, Olivia War, Patrick Hall,d and John Rhode make appearances. 

Weigh-in
Producers decided to put in a red line to chop the remaining three contestants 
down to two. I was fairly sure that Jeremy would fall below the line, which he did. I suspected that he would throw the weigh-in to give his sister a spot. 
still put up a respectable 10 lb loss. 

Conda and Kim both put up unbelievable numbers. Kim especially loses 15 lbs. The cynic in me wonders if Kim (maybe Conda too) cheated by dehydrating themselves to get that degree of weight loss. 

Kim wins a Ford Escape as her reward for having the highest weight loss at the weigh-in. 

Another cynical though from me - I wonder if producers pulled out the SUV on this episode as "an incentive" to motivate mutinous players to stay? 

The final segment shows the eliminated players marching in to compete for a spot in the final three.   

No excuses, the weather is too bad to workout today

Got a practical experience with the bad weather excuse this morning. I woke up, and it was raining pretty hard. Motivation to head to the gym was low.

But, I didn't let that excuse stop me from moving forward with my goal to lift up my fitness. AND, you shouldn't let this excuse break your focus either.

VARIETY and OPTIONS

I like to think of fitness as a buffet of options. You can choose the type, location, and intensity of the workout to fit the day and situation.

Try what I do when faced with low time or low motivation. Create a small workout space in your house and stock it with some basic equipment like a set of dumbbells or  resistance bands.

Use a workout video series. You can buy many workout videos for cheap. I used one of Beach Body 10 minute trainers this morning. I was able to get a decent, quick workout using just my body weight.

Start the week off with a workout. Any effort in the direction of better fitness is a positive step for your health.

Breaking unhealthy excuses

This season's Biggest Loser is about excuses. Old habits are hard to break, and excuses are the enablers of unhealthy habits.

I found this link on twitter and found the article from the site zenhabits.net very motivating. I share with you Five Excuses that Keep You Unhealthy.

Enjoy and get motivated to make a change!

Biggest Loser Contestant Go Home for this Week's Show

Eighteen Days Home 


Contestants were sent home for 18 days during this week's show. I thought it was a refreshing change from all the game-play and drama that has happened over the last few weeks.

There was a chance to see a personal side of all the players and learn more about them. There was also the opportunity to see how they confronted temptations of food while at home. For the most part, everyone did a good job.

Challenge and Immunity

A rowing challenge for $10,000 cash was won by Chism.

The biggest reward for this week's episode was immunity from elimination for those who lost 5% weight. Almost the entire group met and conquered the challenge with only three people falling short. Even those who fell short didn't do that poorly.

The immunity challenge really highlights what "laser-beam focus" on diet and exercise can accomplish in even a short period of time.

Chism Elimination 

The black team lost the weigh-in, and Chism was the only person on the team without immunity. It was an emotional time for everyone. You could tell that Chism was liked by everyone on the team.

I think his elimination also brings into focus the theme of No Excuses. He did a good job at home, but the job wasn't quite enough for immunity. He accepted the consequences with making excuses and is now moving on in a positive direction.