Biggest Loser 13 - Makeovers Part 2, First Lady Fitness

Since we got to see the actual makeovers last week, you'd think this week would be anticlimactic.

And in a way, you would be right. After all, the best part of Makeover Week is the transformations. Once you see those there's usually not much else to the episode...but Biggest Loser found a way to give us some excitement anyway.

It was really great to watch everyone exercise with Michelle Obama, and especially fun to see how nervous Bob and Dolvett were to lead her in a workout. The one thing I really like about Mrs. Obama is her commitment to fitness and helping kids get and stay healthy. So the fact that she issued the contestants her own challenge was pretty cool. If you go to the Biggest Loser website you can sign up for this fitness challenge, and support your favorite remaining player by signing up under his or her name. Whoever gets the most sign-ups will receive a new gym in their community to help others get fit. I predict a lot of votes for Kim, and possibly Buddy or Mark. But who knows, we may be surprised!

Our dilemma for the week came from Chris. She talked to her husband at home, who was having a hard time without her and wanted her to come home. After she hung up, she literally ate away her feelings. There were all kinds of weird food combinations going on there - right in her room on the Biggest Loser campus. (How do you get that kind of junk up to your room there? Just saying.) Her mind was definitely not on the game, which Bob picked up on right away. He got her back in the right frame of mind so she wouldn't backslide into the old Chris anymore.

Have you ever done something like that? I know I have. I haven't eaten those kinds of foods mixed together...usually my binge of choice was something sweet and/or filled with chocolate, but I have gone the fast food route as well. It's important to stop that slide as soon as you can. Or as Bob said, if you're going to make a mistake like that you need to learn from it so the mistake was worthwhile. We all make those mistakes, but if we learn and do better next time then something good comes out of it. I know for me, realizing how crappy I feel after a sugar rush/crash/burn makes me choose a different, more productive way to deal with problems or stress. It's all a matter of perspective.

Unfortunately for Chris, she did enough damage during the week to cause a two pound gain. She fell below the yellow line with Kim. The rest of the players chose to save Kim, so Chris went home. It's good to see that she has continued to lose weight in her stressful home environment and is getting her whole family involved in fitness. So she did learn from her mistakes after all!

Next week looks like the drama we've all been waiting for - the episode where the remaining contestants walk off the show. I'm sick of drama this season, but curious to find out what exactly happened. With all of the stories floating around out there the last few weeks, maybe we'll learn the truth. Well, as close to the truth as reality show editing allows!

Biggest Loser 13 Challenge - Easter

Yesterday I should have weighed in...but I forgot.

With so much going on for Easter, celebrating at home, church, and then having two dinners to attend - well, I got up early, praised God and got on with the celebration. So I will step on the scale next Sunday.

Now, celebrating didn't mean eating up a storm, even with the two dinners. I paced myself at both and ate carefully, enjoying only a couple of treats. The main thing was to thank Jesus for all He's done for me and spend time with family. That satisfies much more than food!

I hope you all had a blessed Easter, and that you keep the spirit of Easter alive in your hearts all the time, not just on Easter Sunday. Carry your love and gratefulness for all God has done into today and every day from now on. Be blessed all the time!

The Power of My Own Words - From God

Have you ever gone back through an old diary or journal...and found nuggets of wisdom among the words you had written during a different time of your life that fit your situation now?

I just took it up a notch from there. I found hope, comfort - and yes, wisdom - in my novel manuscript.

I'm in the process of making final revisions in this manuscript so it will be ready as I pursue a publisher. These revisions will be done within a couple of weeks, since I set a deadline of my birthday to have it finished. (My earlier deadline of March 1st was not met because of the job from you-know-where...stress and time constraints really did a number on me.) My gift to myself that day, and to God, is to finally have the book done that He called me to do and ready for where He wants it to go next.

One of my main hopes with this book is that it will touch and inspire other people who are going for their dreams in the midst of other life issues. I was not prepared to have my own words come back at me in the revision process and inspire ME. But they did...not just a phrase or two, but throughout the last few chapters consistently. The overwhelming sense of hope that comes over me as I read these words calms me, even on the roughest days. I can only pray that when my novel is published, it moves other readers the same way.

The other emotion coming over me as I read, revise, and write is joy. The writing process brings me happiness like nothing else I've ever known. This is what it feels like to find your true passion and purpose in life. I've learned that even when other issues arise, my writing keeps my centered and closer to God. When in doubt, WRITE!

I know the true source of my writing talent, and the words themselves, come directly from God. He has given me the ability and the love for words, and I am His instrument as I write them down.

It's just like Him to comfort and inspire me through my own words - that is, the words He sends through me in the first place. I thank Him from the depths of my soul for His amazing and perfect ways!

Biggest Loser 13 - Makeovers Part 1, AKA Taking a Swing at Life

I've been awaiting this episode for weeks.

And it's not just because I always love the makeovers. This time I actually wanted a contestant to get to Makeover Week solely because she needed one SO BADLY.

It's no secret to my Twitter friends that I couldn't wait to see Chris get rid of that gray hair that made her look at least twenty years older than she really is. I mean, come on...the woman is 42 years old and looked like she'd had her AARP card for years. I bet she always got the senior discount at restaurants too!

The makeovers began with Jeannie Mai styling the six remaining contestants with new clothes. Kim was really rocking that red dress - after Jeannie made her try on her old clothes first, the ones she wore for her audition. What a difference! Kim was happy to put them on because they were way too big now, but you could tell it still blew her mind to see where it had all started for her.

Jeannie told them all that she wanted them to look Presidential for the White House. Of course, with the hair Jeremy was sprouting on his chin he was already starting to channel Abraham Lincoln. I'm happy to report that he no longer looked like Abe when Ken Paves was done with him. And nobody else, thankfully, looked like a dead President either.

Everyone looked amazing. In past seasons there have been a couple of bad makeovers with either too much change or too little, but this time everyone got just what they needed. And what they needed included having their families see their new selves, which never fails to make me cry. Buddy likened his makeover, both inside and out, to finally taking a swing at life. I really like that analogy, because its true - you just have to get off the sidelines and get into the game. We should all be swinging for the bleachers...all the time.

And as for Chris? Her makeover did not disappoint. The gray is gone and she actually looks younger than 42 now. No more senior discounts without getting carded! She literally looks like a whole new woman, and I bet she feels like one too.

Next week is part two of the makeovers, as everyone works out with Michelle Obama and celebrates their new looks. Of course there's still some drama, and I hope Chris does not have to go home before her time. She's come such a long way that I'd like to see her enjoy it. I guess we'll find out next week what really happens!

Biggest Loser 13 Challenge - Just Keep Swimming...

It turns out that I have a lot in common with Dory.

Nemo's faithful friend isn't perfect, but she always does her best. And sometimes she has no idea how she wound up where she did, but she doesn't let it stop her from trying to get where she's supposed to be. She just keeps swimming.

This is a lot like my life right now. Sometimes things happen that really make me wonder how I wound up in such a weird or stressful situation. Then I try to figure out the best way to get from where I am to where I need to be. But I keep on swimming, otherwise I would just sink.

I lost almost a pound this week, .8 to be exact. It's time for the usual monthly gift with all of it's aches and pains, but I keep pushing through it the best I can, along with the roller coaster ride of life. Considering that I'm also still trying to find that part time retail job to help out as my writing career builds - and working hard at that building process - well, it's been a busy week balancing everything. But I love writing and it's my true passion, so it's completely worth it even on the days that I don't know which end is up. So I dive in and swim like crazy.

One thing I will never, ever do is give up. I may have moments when I feel like crying or at least yelling when no one else is around, but I make it through those and press forward toward my goals. God often reminds me to trust Him, so I know it will all turn out well in the end. He will get me where I need to go as long as I give it over to Him.

All I know is that I have to keep on praying and swimming. Things are going to be all right!

Biggest Loser 13 - For The Love of Money...and Zumba!

Money money money money...MUH-nee!!!

Cue the O'Jay's and Donald Trump. He can share his theme song with another show on the same network, right?

The previews led us to believe that the entire episode would be about the money. But that was not the case, and I for one am glad about that.

In fact, the show started out with a challenge that led to Newman's Own donating a truckload of groceries to each contestant's local food bank. I can't think of a better way to start out the week. For the record - I love me some Newman's Light Balsamic...the very dressing Bob showed off in the promo spot. Not only is it great on salads, but you can marinate chicken or veggies in it before you cook them and the flavor is fabulous. God bless Paul Newman, for a variety of reasons.

This week's excuse was that exercise is too boring. Well, it can be if you don't find something you love to do or do the same workout over and over again. I love to mix up my workouts with spinning, Pilates, tennis, walking...and my favorite, Zumba. I loved seeing Dolvett take his team to a Zumba class and watching them get thrown into the mix. It reminded me of my first ever Zumba session. My friend Kristen invited me, and it wasn't just the regular one hour class. Oh no...it was a 90 minute Zumba Party! Talk about trial by fire. I somehow kept up for the whole time, getting a majority of the moves down pretty fast. Kristen was impressed - and so was I. Actually, happily stunned is more like it. But those of you who know anything about me know about my love of dance, so of course Zumba became a true joy for me. Most of the time you forget you're working out because it's so much fun!

Jeremy and Megan were the ones with breakthrough moments this week. Dolvett talked to Jeremy about the issues with his dad, which Jeremy said he had swept under the rug before being on Biggest Loser. Dolvett reminded him that it's better to address and deal with your pain instead of hiding it. Pretending it never happened means you never deal with it so you can move on to a better life.

Megan was still holding back, so Bob made her videotape her entire week to keep her focused, especially since her mom just went home. Megan still has a long way to go, but she's on her way to realizing just how strong she is and how much she can motivate herself without outside help. Let's face it - as much as we love help from others, there are times when they are not able to - for whatever reason - help us or understand where we are coming from. But we know what we need to do to be our best selves...so we must motivate ourselves so we don't get down if our support systems falter.

Yes, we did get to the challenge where one player won $1,000 for every pound lost this week on the scale. That person was Kim, who is also really coming into her own strength. She lost 7 pounds, and $7,000 will go a long way for Kim and her kids. I'm really proud of her. And it was nice to see Vinny, Becky and Antone from last season judging the cooking challenge, even though the whole concept turned out to be very strange.

Mark and Megan fell below the yellow line, and Megan was sent home. But at least she had her "a-ha" week before she left. She's back to barrel racing with her horse again and is doing really well at home. Kudos to her boyfriend Michael, who lost 80 pounds while she was away...AND proposed to her when she got home. She looked stunning trying on wedding dresses, and I know her future is very bright indeed.

Next week is MAKEOVER WEEK!!! I always look forward to it, but I really can't wait for Chris to get rid of her gray hair. Plus, they all get to go to the White House, so it all promises to be exciting. I know you'll be tuning in as well!

Biggest Loser 13 Challenge - Much Needed Success!

I really needed this...thank you God!!!

After missing my weigh-in last Sunday due to being sick (partially stress, partially stomach bug) I was nervous about it this week. After all, it's been a rough one, which I posted about in my blog a couple of days ago. I wasn't sure what I'd see on the scale today.

Well, I saw a loss of 2.4 pounds! I allowed myself one Shamrock Shake on Monday night after the "I-knew-it-was-coming" fiasco earlier in the day, but other than that I ate healthy foods. Just because one thing went wrong, I wasn't going to let everything go wrong.

I also think it helped that I was able to walk a lot outside to help deal with the stress, instead of eating my stress. I prayed and thought things through on my walks...and I burned calories! Even though I still have stress from the situation, I'm making the most of every day and moving forward.

Which means I'll be back to Pilates and spin this week, stressed or not. At least the stomach bug part of things has calmed down so I can get stuff done. Also, since I don't need ginger ale for my stomach now I can drink even more water to clean out my system.

So I pray that this week will be much better, and I will do my part to make it so. I'm pulling the positives out of the situation (like my 2.4 pound loss) and working to improve in all areas. And I know - God will do His part because He is faithful!