My Frustration with The Biggest Loser

If you couldn’t tell from my last post, I was really frustrated after watching the Biggest Loser on Tuesday. Two things I really noticed this time were product placement and the perpetuation of the myth that it’s all about the scale. Let’s tackle the product placement first.

I’ll admit that I haven’t been a regular watcher of Biggest Loser over the past few seasons, however I was really irritated by Jillian and Bob obviously plugging Cheerios and Fiber One. The Brita ad over the sink is kind of annoying and I can live with the 24 Hour fitness logo splashed across the Gym wall, but I was irritated that Jillian made Kristin throw away a perfectly good bowl of oatmeal so that she could eat the sponsored cereal, especially since they are doing the thing with the food banks around the US. It was a waste of food and oatmeal is a perfectly acceptable choice for breakfast. 

You can mix up a bowl of oatmeal in 5 minutes and spice it up with a few nuts, some cinnamon, a banana, or a few raisins, and a splash of skim milk. Add a couple eggs  or egg whites on the side with some salsa and you have a great breakfast that keeps you fuller a lot longer than a bowl of cheerios. It has healthy fats, carbs, and protein for you to start your day with.

I think the thing that really got my panties in a bunch is Jillian’s comment about “losing inches is just some bullshit that trainers feed their clients.” Anyone who has recomped their body knows that it’s not always the scale that is the best indicator. I lost a significant number of inches when I first started lifting but my weight maybe changed 10-15 lbs. I laid in a lot of muscle and lost a lot of fat, but you couldn’t tell it from my scale measurements. It was only when I took progress pictures that I realized that while it’s useful, the scale is not a great  tool, nor is it the only tool to indicate weight loss. The tape measure and pictures are also good indicators.

Anyone who is has a trainer who is relying on one method to track their weightloss ought to fire that trainer.

Month 3 completed and a name change

Month three has been completed. This month was all about maintenance since life has been more about being stressed out than anything this month. Two Hurricanes that did nothing, a death in the family paired with a trip to California and being more tired than I can remember in a long time. I’ve taken done an okay job of taking care of myself and trying not to eat out of stress.

One thing I did catch myself doing is eating out of relief – a crisis would pass and I would want to stuff my face out of relief. I felt a little strange about that, but I’ll figure out what is going on.

The cool thing that did happen was I got my new driver’s license from the State of Texas. I ended up putting my pictures side by side and was absolutely amazed by the changes that have happened over the last 6 years (for whatever reason the state of Texas has a 6 year cycle for renewal).

WEEEEEE look at me, I look like a whole different person

The other thing that is going to happen is a name change to this blog. I am switching the name from “A Year of Paula” to “Weighty Matters” because weight loss and being healthy are weighty matters in the lifes of many Americans and other people around the world. The name change will also allow me to expand the topics I cover instead of just focusing on my stuff.

I am A-Peeleing Again

I’m working with Leigh Peele again. The focus right now is Fat Loss and Metabolic repair. And in talking with Leigh, we decided that Pylometrics are not in my best interest at this time. I just don’t have the stamina to do them with all this weight I’m carrying. Maybe in the future.

For most of June, I’ve done little exercise due to lots of travel with work. I’ve kept calories in check at the recommendation of Leigh, but nothing more than walking, stretching and foam rolling for exercise. For the first time in a really long time I’m seeing some significant weight loss and my clothes are looser. I’m down almost 10 lbs since the start of the month and most importantly I’ve almost lost the all weight I managed to regain in the last 6-9 months.

With hard work I should solidly be in the 240s by the end of next month.

One of the things I’m also working on is figuring out healthy alternatives to the food I really like. So if you like to cook check out my Clean Eats Site.

HELL Day 1

Calories for the day 2500  (YEAH FOR LIFTING DAYS)

I am feeling the muscle love tonight….. ought to make for interesting aerobic drills tomorrow.

DB Front Squat superset (SS) (60 seconds of rest after each superset)
1×15x20s
2×15x15s

Lat Pulldowns
3×15x5 plates (which I think are 12.5 lbs each. Need to find out from jeff or jason)

Lat Raises SS (60 seconds of rest after each superset)
1×15x5s
2×15x8s
Last reps on last set of these were really tough. My arms were trembling.

Good Mornings
3×15x45 (bar) (Jeff watched me as I did these, he said my form was very good. Plan on increasing the weight for these carefully)

Incline DB Flyes (3×15x5s) SS
Swiss Ball Crunches (1×20x20, 2×20x15s) – I’m really feeling these tonight
(45 seconds of rest after each set)

Side Planks
3×15 seconds (30 seconds of rest after the first 2, 60 seconds after the last 1)
Did these on each side
Right side 9,9,6 seconds, left side 10,11,10 seconds

Realized after looking at the sheet I might not be doing these correctly because there is a tempo of 0-2-0 written. Need to get clarification from Leigh.

15 minutes of aerobic activity at 55-65 MHR. – I made it through 8 minutes on a 6% grade and 2.9 for the treadmill speed.