Summer Workout Playlist!

Since Memorial Day weekend is upon us, it's time to think about summer workouts - and the music that will keep us pumped up and going through hot days.

Here are a few of mine for this summer:

"Start Me Up" - Rolling Stones
"Good Morning" - Mandisa feat. Toby Mac
"Feel Like a Rock Star" - Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw
"Rumour Has It" - Adele
"You Gonna Fly" - Keith Urban
"Good Feeling" - Flo Rida
"Georgia Peaches" - Lauren Alaina
"Free Ride" - JaneDear Girls
"Good Girl" - Carrie Underwood
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson

I wold love to hear what you're listening to when you work out...and don't forget to stay hydrated!

Fashion Star Inspiration

 Fashion Star has gotten me thinking...

I really love fashion.  As someone who doesn't fit into single-digit sizes yet, sometimes I've tried to pretend that I don't care about fashion.  Sure, I get excited when I discover that something in my closet that I haven't been able to wear for a while fits once again.  But a lot of designer clothes come in only smaller sizes, which can be depressing if you think about it too much.

Enter Fashion Star - a show trying to find the next big designers, who can be creative while still making something that we "regular" people can wear and afford.  Let's face it, the economy does not help the fashion industry.  Many of our budgets can not withstand the big designer prices, which I'm sure is the reason why some designers create special lines for the stores many of us can afford to shop at. 

 I've become inspired by the designers trying to live out their dreams, and have discovered that I would actually wear quite a few of their creations.  I haven't shopped for any of them yet, since I'm losing more weight and don't want to spend money on something that will be too big soon.  (Although, it's a wonderful feeling to find out something is now too big on you!)

But that also inspires me in another way - to stay on my path to fitness so I can wear these awesome clothes.  Of course, there are much more compelling reasons to get fit and healthy...but fashion is still fun and we all want to look good.  Being your best in every way is important, which includes looking your best.

Congratulations to Kara, the winner of Fashion Star, and all of the other designers who sold pieces to H & M, Saks, and Macy's.  Soon I will be sporting your creations proudly - not only because I'm proud of your work on the clothes, but also because I'm proud of the work I've done on myself!

Biggest Loser Withdrawals - Or Not?

So the Biggest Loser finale was last week...two weeks earlier than it would normally be for the winter/spring season.  I'm sure it was because of the walk-off and having less people competing toward the end.  But it still means no BL to watch - not only for the next two weeks, but all summer and possibly longer.  (Still hearing from various sources that there will be no fall season!)

What are you doing to combat Biggest Loser withdrawal?  Or were you just so fed up with this past season that it doesn't bother you?

As happy as I am to be done with the nastiness and drama from certain contestants this season, I'm still missing BL.  Actually, I've been missing the BL of past seasons since January...you know, the seasons with more inspiration and motivation than drama.  So I've been having a type of withdrawal already. 

My plan is to watch old clips of past seasons to be inspired all over again.  And I'm doing my thing - spinning, Pilates, walking, eating healthy...pushing myself to be my personal best.  The one way to overcome someone else's drama is to take the focus off of them and concentrate on yourself and what you need to do to make your own life better.  Don't let any negative people, whether on TV or on real life, bring you down with them.  Live your own life to the fullest.

What are you doing to motivate yourself without Biggest Loser?  Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with me!

Biggest Loser 13 - Yes, The Finale Was Still Inspiring!

I wasn't sure about this finale.  For one thing, this is the first time ever that it was only an hour long.  That alone was disappointing.

Plus, we all know that some of the contestants were negative and irritating...more than any other season.  I didn't know if I would still be inspired watching them get on the giant scale.

Well, I was happily surprised.  NBC managed to fit a lot into that hour, and everyone was still able to have their moment on the scale to show just how far they've come.  And did they ever come far!  The ones who blew me away the most were Cassandra, Emily and Roy.  You know the writer in me loved the sign in the audience saying Cassandra has the "write" stuff.  I think I identified the most with her this season for that reason alone.  Overweight writer wanting to get fit and live out the career of her dreams?  Yep - I certainly identify with that!

I was also happy for Mike.  He went through a lot in the short time he was on the ranch, putting up with the negativity while dealing with his own demons.  It was brave of him to admit all of that on camera, and he showed just how much you can accomplish at home...along with the other players.  Congrats to Mike on the $100,000 prize and his new life!

When it came to the final 3, I shocked myself with how happy I was for them.  I mean, I was already rooting for Kim because she seemed to learn the most of the 3 of them - but I love that Conda and Jeremy did so well and hopefully they will start living life in a more positive way.  Kim blew me away, and even though she came close to beating Jeremy for the grand prize but fell a little short, I know her future is very bright.  You can see it in her eyes!

So this concludes the wild ride of Season 13.  Hopefully there will be a Season 14 to write about...but no matter what, get out there and achieve your goals!

Biggest Loser 13 Challenge - Final Results!

Since the Biggest Loser finale is on Tuesday, this is my final weigh-in for the challenge.  It may seem strange to weigh in today...but remember, the contestants always step on the actual doctor's scale Sunday before the finale anyway.  The numbers are recorded and programmed into the giant TV scale for Tuesday.  So technically, it's only fitting to make today the day!

Since my birthday was on Thursday, I did indulge a little...but I still made sure I got all of my workouts in.  I lost .6 pound this week.

But overall, I lost 17.4 pounds since the beginning of the challenge!  I'm really happy with that, especially after the stressful times in the past couple of months.  I didn't give up and lost as much as I could.  (And hey, the finale is two weeks earlier than I origially thought it would be...most likely because of the walk-off.)  I'm still proud of how far I've come.

I'm over 17 pounds lighter than I was in January - and that's an accomplishment!  How did you do?  Let me know so we can celebrate our successes together!

Biggest Loser 13 - Finally the Final 3

Talk about an anticlimactic episode.

I suppose it was somewhat exciting, seeing all of the contestants come back for one last shot at the finale.  Well, almost all of them.  It was strange seeing Ben and Chism there, without Buddy and Mark.  I wonder how they were feeling, knowing their partners had walked off the show?

The weigh-in kept the people with the top 8 percentages of weight loss in the running, and then those 8 had to compete in a challenge.  The first part was 100 yard dash that took it down to five - Cassandra, Megan, Lauren, Mike and Jeremy.  The next part was a food/calorie puzzle, which brought it to three.  Lauren, Mike and Jeremy competed in the final part, holding a giant golden ticket over their heads while balancing on a platform.

I was really hoping Lauren or Mike would win at that point, mostly because all Jeremy seemed to do was whine about having to compete for his spot, and still complain about bringing everyone back. (Conda also still whined about the twist...she should know by now that second chances are what the Biggest Loser is all about.)  Dolvett was right to tell him to just forget about that and focus on the challenge. 

So Jeremy won his spot back, and joined Conda and Kim in the final three.  It looks like I'll be rooting for Kim.  And I'll actually be more interested in who takes the at-home prize this season.  I'd rather enjoy watching a more positive, inspiring person win something.

How about you?  Who would you like to win the grand prize and the at-home prize?  Drop me a line and share your thoughts!

Biggest Loser 13 Challenge - Getting Closer to Finale and Running My Own Race

We're just a little over a week to the Biggest Loser Season 13 Finale.  And while I can't wait to finally see the finale so we can get this season from H-E-Double Hockey Sticks over with, I'm kind of sad that my challenge will be ending.

You see, I enjoy setting these goals for myself.  I don't always reach the exact number that I set at the beginning of a challenge, but I always make progress.  If I didn't set goals at all, I'd either stay stuck or take a step backwards.  Knowing that I challenged myself - and put it out there for the world to see, join in, encourage, judge or whatever they decide to do with it - I try harder.  I put in more effort.  Sometimes I hit the goal, sometimes I just come close.  Either way, I'm still a winner.

So today's weigh-in is another step closer to my goal, with a loss of 1.2 pounds.  Life is a marathon, not a sprint...and sometimes during the road race of life we have to climb steep hills or dodge falling rocks.  Staying in the race is the most important thing - sitting on the sidelines watching other people run is not an option.

You can bet after next week's finale I will set another goal for myself, whether it is connected to Biggest Loser or not.  There is no BL during the summer, and rumor has it that there will be no fall season coming up.  ("Rumour has it she's the one..."  NOW I have Adele playing in my head!)  No matter what is going on the the wild world of reality shows, we can all still reach our own personal goals. 

Please join me here as we all work on becoming the best we can be...any season, any time of year.  ALL THE TIME!