Focus Word for 2014 - Believe

Happy New Year!  It's time once again to reveal my chosen word to focus on for the year, and the word of 2014 is BELIEVE.

Believing is truly something I need to set my mind to, as there are plenty of times when I let fear or discouragement derail my dreams and plans.  As much as I work on staying positive, I still spend too much time wondering just how things are going to get better or thinking about how far I still have to goal to reach my goals-in-progress.

So starting today and all through 2014, I am going to believe.  I BELIEVE God for the promises He has made to me, to give me hope and a future.  If I stay focused on Him instead of worrying about challenges, I will get where I need to go and find the joy I so desperately need in each and every day.  He is making things happen for me, and for my family and friends!

I also BELIEVE in myself...God gave me specific talents, gifts, and abilities, so I'm going to banish the doubt that creeps in at times - the false voice in my head that tries to tell me I'm not good enough or don't have what it takes.  I will be the me that He has created me to be.  I BELIEVE in what God gave me and will use all of it to the best of my ability.  It's time to move forward with confidence!

I wish you and our loved ones a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2014.  May we all BELIEVE...today and every day of the entire year!

Biggest Loser 15 - Fiery Fall Finale

This is a first for The Biggest Loser.

This season, which began in September, will not end with the usual December finale, which gave past contestants some room to relax over Christmas.  Their seasons were done, so New Year's truly began the next chapter of their lives.

The Season 15 contestants won't have that breathing room.  Tonight was the fall finale, with the next part of the season to start again in January.  So if they want to keep their eyes on the prize, they need to keep the Christmas cookies and eggnog out of sight.  Their season begins in one year but continues into then next.

On tonight's episode, we get an update on Bobby, who was eliminated last week.  He's lost over 90 pounds so far, and had the courage to speak with his father about coming out.  He was pleasantly surprised to find out that his dad supports him all the way no matter what and is proud of him.  But being Biggest Loser, this may not be the last we've seen of Bobby...

Alison informs the players that the game is now moving to singles, and they each receive shirts with their new individual colors.  They then participate in the "Ring of Fire" challenge - each of them must support a rod that weighs 20 percent of their body weight in the middle of a ring to determine their endurance.  If they waiver and the rod touches the ring, it bursts into flames and they're out of the challenge.  The last one standing gets a 1 pound advantage at the weigh-in.  After over an hour and a half, Rachel wins the challenge along with the coveted advantage.  There is a double elimination this week, so this pound might make all of the difference between staying and leaving.

Ali also mentions a special challenge for those who make it to the last week on the ranch...they will participate in the first Biggest Loser triathlon, where the winner will earn an automatic spot into the finals.  Rachel really wants to make it to the tri - especially because she wants to show what made her a champion swimmer in the past and reclaim athletic glory.

The trainers are enjoying this switch to singles, because they now get to work with all of the players instead of just their own teams.  Dolvett is proud of Matt for how far he's come in the past 10 weeks, and Jillian has another talk with David, who gives himself permission to let go of the past and become who he's always known he's supposed to be. 

Bob works with Jennifer, who has trouble getting over her fear of the box jump.  (I have to admit...that would be an intimidating move for me as well!)  Afterward when she's recovering from the workout, she is angry with herself for failing and bursts into tears, worried that she will revert back to old habits and negative self-talk.  Bob tells her not to beat herself up, and to congratulate herself for confronting the fear and moving past the negative to the positive.  Jen feels somewhat better and throws herself into the remaining workouts.

Jay and David decide to exact a little "revenge" on Rachel for beating them in the challenge, and she suggests a pool race.  They give themselves a head start to win, knowing that she's an excellent swimmer and they probably wouldn't be able to best her in the pool.  Rachel is a good sport though, and she delivers them breakfast in bed...from Subway, of course!

When it's time for the moment of truth on the scale, both Hap and Matt fall below the red line and are eliminated.  Alison, however, tells them they may not be leaving just yet.  The two of them, along with all of the other eliminated contestants, will compete to win back a spot on the ranch and back into the game.  With that announcement, all of those already eliminated march back into the gym, ready for another chance.

What will happen in this new twist?  Tune in on January 7th to find out.  I already can't wait to see who makes it back onto the ranch!

Biggest Loser 15 - A Long Trip Home and a "Double Elimination"

 

 

After Holley was eliminated at the end of last week's emotional episode, Alison told everyone that someone else would be going home.  They thought it might be a double elimination.

 

It turned out that they were wrong...but in strange way, there was still a double elimination - so to speak.

 

Ali was right about someone else going home, but only for a week with their trainer.  After a spin of the wheel with each player's picture on it, it landed on Jay.  Jillian would be going home to Missouri with him, and his weight would be the only one that counted this week for the white team.  The other teams would still count everyone's weight.  Jay was thrilled...Jillian, not so much.  She worried about leaving Marie and Tumi without a trainer, and of course all of the pressure on Jay to pull a big number to keep them all safe.  She needn't have worried TOO much.

 

On the ranch, Dolvett put his team through an NFL training camp style workout to motivate them.  On top of that, he had Ruben's old high school football jersey sent over to for extra inspiration.  They were both thrilled that it fit again now, and Ruben worked hard to remember the athlete he used to be years ago.

 

Speaking of former athletes - Rachel was a state champion swimmer in high school, and had received scholarship offers from many different colleges.  She chose her boyfriend over that opportunity, and regretted it ever since, especially when they broke up and she was left all alone to think about what she had given up for him.  That was when she turned to food for comfort.  Dolvett got her back into the pool to swim laps and timed her.  Her first results was decent, but nowhere near her times in the past.  The competitor in her came out, and she kept going until she improved her time over and over again.  Dolvett was happy to see her get some of her old fighting spirit back.  (Hmm...I wonder what ever happened to that old boyfriend?  I'm glad Rachel is choosing what's best for HERSELF now!)

 

Bob trained both the blue team and the white team, saying that Jillian would have done the same for his team if he'd had to go home with one of his players for a week.  Tumi and Marie were worried about keeping up with Bob at first, but realized they were stronger than they thought.  I love that Bob had Jill's back this week!

 

Meanwhile, Jillian met Jay's family and friends, then took to torturing him in the barn using various farm equipment and his body weight to get good workouts.  He showed her around the family farm, then explained how not long after his parents got divorced, the family home burned to the ground.  He's been trying to move forward without ever taking time to grieve, but Jill got him to admit that it felt like he had died along with his parents' marriage and home.  They really bonded, and Jill was finally glad that she made the trip with him, acknowledging that everything happens for a reason.

 

The two of them got back in time for the weigh-in, where it was revealed that Jay lost 12 pounds and definitely kept his team safe.  The other two teams had weird numbers, but in the end the red team had to send someone home.  Ruben fell below the red line and was eliminated, making it a double elimination for him.  He was sent home for the second (and I believe final) time, and next week we'll learn how he's been doing at home.  (As for Holley, things are going well and she's starting to compete at weightlifting again...lifting even more than she did before!)

 

Next week also promises to be interesting on the scale, and with a possible Jillian meltdown.  I wonder why?  I guess we'll find out in a few days!

 

 



 



Biggest Loser 15 - Ruben Comes Back, Bob's Team Is Blue

What a difference a week - or six - makes.

This week the contestants revisit their old selves, along with having Ruben revisit the ranch due to Jillian's "cheating".  When Jill meets with her team after the weigh-in, she sincerely apologizes to them for putting them in this position, saying that what she thought was helping them backfired.  They all agreed that they have her back and want to move forward.

Ruben is impressed with how great everyone looks now, as they are with him since he kept up the hard work while he was at home.  I'm glad to have him back but feel bad for Craig who went home.  (although in the update we see Craig's lost 110+ pounds, so he's doing well!)

In this week's challenge, the teams have to transport balls to a trampoline, then bounce them to a teammate who bounces them to a target with point values on it.  The first team to get to 30 points wins, and each team member receives $1000.  David really steps up for the red team, helping them gain the victory and the cash.

In the gym, Dolvett wants to keep the momentum from the challenge going and works his team out hard.  Rachel expresses how happy she is that they are all like family now; she works from home and feels isolated, so having the connections and contact with other people is good for her.  (Being someone who does most of my work from home, I can vouch for that...it really is good to get out and get connected!)  Jillian gets the white team to step up, while Bob's blue team is a little nervous after losing their first challenge.

Each team is surprised with a DVD to watch, which shows each member as they were at their initial interviews six weeks ago.   All of them are shocked at their beginnings, but really proud of the way they've changed over the course of time.  David's clip is especially moving, and it's wonderful to see all three teams bonding together without any thought of competition at this point.  This is as is should be:  all of them supporting each other no matter what color shirt they wear!

Last season's winner, Danni, stops by for a visit with - what else - sandwiches from Subway.  (What a shocker...right?)  She gives them advice as they move toward the finale, which isn't really all that far way now.  And of course she tells them all about Subway's Fresh Fit menu!

Ruben and Dolvett head over to Ruben's record producer David Foster's house to hang out in the recording studio.  (David Foster?  Yes...I'm just a bit jealous!)  David is proud of how far Ruben has come on his weight loss journey, and gives Ruben a new song to try out that fits what he is going through.  I have a feeling we may hear this song in its entirety at the finale - just a hunch!  And they even get Dolvett to sing...he actually sounds pretty good!

At the weigh-in, the blue team loses for the first time and Matt falls below the red line.  After a few minutes pondering, Bob decides to use the save on Matt, so nobody is going home.  This, however, means that there are no saves left. 

Next week the contestants celebrate Thanksgiving Biggest Loser style, and not only is one person definitely going home, but we learn there will be a double elimination.  Who will it be?  Looks like we'll find out next week!

Biggest Loser 15 - Jillian Breaks The Rules, White Team Pays The Price

 

 

 

In the past, we've had contestants break the rules and suffer the consequences of their actions.  But this time, it's a trainer's mistake - and it costs her team dearly while giving another player a second chance.

 

More on that after we recap the rest of the week.  The red team is coming to grips with losing Ruben, who they describe as the light that inspired them.  They know it's time to regroup and get focused, and Dolvett knows it too.  That's why he takes them to meet the ladies of Beat Cancer Bootcamp.  These women have all been through cancer or supported someone who has, and they work out HARD to stay healthy and strong, both physically and mentally.  David is especially moved, since he lost his first wife to cancer and made her a promise to take care of their girls.  The workout became a source of healing for him (for me as well, since I've lost my mom and several family members to cancer).  the bootcamp ladies show all of us what it means to never give up - and are the inspiration Dolvett's team needs to move forward.

 

Ali leads the players to this week's challenge, which is to cook a healthy meal that not only pleases White House Chef Sam Cass, but all three of our teen ambassadors from last season.  Sunny, Lindsay, and Biingo are judges along with Sam...and Biingo still hates vegetables so the teams have their work cut out for them.  The blue team wins by making a delicious quesadilla that disguises the veggies enough that Biingo goes back for more!  The prize is a year's worth of groceries for each team member, which really pleases Hap...he can't wait to share all of the fresh produce with his family.

 

While the teens are there, red team member Jennifer has a talk with Biingo and his mom about how they became a healthier family.  Jenn really wants to help her daughter lose weight and get the whole family on a better path, and she got some wonderful advice to take home with her when it's time for her to leave the ranch.

 

This week's workouts got very interesting.  Dolvett informed his team that Tanya was sick in bed and they would have to work out without her.  Later in the day, she was able to get up and still get some exercise in - the bootcamp ladies had made her realize that she needed to get back up and get going again.  Bob worked his blue team hard, hoping to still save their "save" and keep their progress.  Jillian worked the white team out in the pool, and discovered that Craig didn't know how to swim.  She got him to overcome his fear of the water and start swimming...shades of Maria from Season 9! 

 

Before the weigh-in began, Alison made a surprising announcement.  Jillian broke the rules the week before by giving her team caffeine supplements without a doctor's permission.  Because of this, the white team would be penalized this week with a 4 pound disadvantage.  And...the blue team's immunity would carry over, keeping them safe again this week.  Furthermore - Ruben would be brought back after the weigh-in to compete again, since the previous week's numbers became invalid.

 

Jillian's only apology was that she stands by the supplements, and she's sorry that her team was going to suffer.  I feel that if it was in the rules, then any supplements should not be given, no matter what kind they were. I also understand that these types of supplements have been used in past seasons without any issues, so Jillian may not have done anything wrong or unusual.  Being a reality show edited for television, we don't know the whole story or what exactly is set in the rules.  But I do feel badly for the white team members who were caught in the middle of this.

 

The white team did lose the weigh-in, and Craig fell below the red line, which automatically sent him home.  I'm really glad he had the chance to face some of his fears before he left, and that Jillian used the save on him so he could have those 4 extra weeks on the ranch.

 

Next week Ruben is back for his second chance - and their are more surprises in store for all.  What do you think of Jillian's supplement debacle?  Please share with me in the comments, or on Twitter or Facebook!

 

 

 

 

 



Biggest Loser 15 - Tricks and Treats

After missing last week's Biggest Loser due to work and catching up on it a few days ago, I was more than ready to watch tonight's show when it aired.  And I'm definitely glad that I could - because there was a lot of action this week!

We begin where last week left off...with Tanya, who had just been saved from going home by Dolvett.  She feels the pressure to step it up this week, since the team save was used on her and the next person to fall below the red line would go home.  She wants to do her part to make sure the red team is safe from elimination.

Of course, the next item on the Biggest Loser agenda is the first temptation of the season.  Alison leads the players to a pumpkin patch, informing them that the pumpkins are filled with tricks (candy and pumpkin pie) or treats (cash or immunity for the team).  If someone's pumpkin contained food they had to eat it, or else their team would not be allowed to continue on to play for the immunity.  Several rounds went by before immunity was discovered, causing thousands of calories to be consumed by all three teams.  The blue team, however, took in the least amount of calories AND found the immunity. 

Bob was happy that his team would be safe at the weigh-in, as long as none of them gained weight.  He was also inspired by his team member Holley, who is trying to get back into the Olympics as a weightlifter - just in better shape than the last time.  He wanted her to see women in the 165 weight class lift, so she would realize that she would be even stronger and able to lift more as she lost weight.  Holley also got the chance to lift, proving to herself that she is gaining muscle as her weight goes down and she will still have the power she needs to get to the Olympics. 

In the meantime, the white and red teams worked out furiously to stay away from elimination.  Only the blue team has a save left, so this week someone would definitely be sent home.  At times some of them felt ready to pass out or throw up, but after a short rest they were able to get back to the workout and keep going.  Nobody wanted to be the 2nd person to go home this season.

We also got to catch up with last season's teen ambassador Biingo, who has lost even more weight and kept it off.  His mom is thrilled that he's so active now, because he doesn't sit as much in front of video games anymore. And Biingo's whole family has lost almost 300 pounds with his motivation and encouragement.  It's great to see the whole family become healthier!

Finally, it's time for the moment of truth on the scale. The blue team goes first, and since all of them lost weight they keep the immunity.  All of the teams' numbers are on the lower side (it seems like this season the numbers are much lower overall) but the red team is the one with the lowest percentage of weight loss.  The person below the red line is Ruben, so he automatically goes home.  I'm glad Tanya squeaked by again, but I'm also disappointed that Ruben's time on the ranch was up.  He vowed to continue the hard work at home so he would be soulful AND sexy by the finale.

Next week, it looks like Tanya has a critical breakdown...and it also appears that someone will finally have a big loss on the scale.  I wonder who it will be?  We'll find out in a week!

Fresh Start November!

October has been an extremely challenging month.

All kinds of issues have come up - trying to work around my son's school schedule while working retail, not knowing my work schedule each week until the very last minute (and it STILL being subject to change in the middle of the week), trying to fit everything in that needs to be done, and not being able to sleep from all of the stress, then trying to function each day on very little sleep.  And that's only part of the challenge.

Now that November is here, I've discovered that I gained a couple of pounds back...most likely because I turned to food to deal with stress and I've been so exhausted from insomnia that the workouts I have been able to fit into my schedule wound up being cut short - or not being at full speed as I would have liked.  There has been - and still is - a lot of prayer and tears while trying to figure it all out.  At least I finished the editing on my novel so I can look for a publisher, so something was accomplished during this time!

One thing I do know for sure...something has to give soon.  I refuse to let November go by with no weight loss (or a gain), making me feel even worse than I already do.  Seeing pictures of my self from the last couple of weeks only makes me more depressed...but also motivates me to do better. And I'm still catching up on this week's Biggest Loser - since I had to work and was unable to watch/recap.

So on this 1st day of November, I declare a fresh start.  I will find a way to get all of my workouts in, while being more careful about what I eat, even when I'm stressed.  (which is, by the way, pretty much 24/7!)  I will continue to pray that God leads me in the way I should go so there can be more of a balance in my life.  And I will keep the faith - and hope - alive that things are going to improve as long as I set better goals and carry on.

Please feel free to share your goals for the month with me, as we support each other on the journey of life.  Here's to a better, more successful November!