A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle: 3/1/09

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Guess Who's 2 Years Old Today?

Our little one has hit a major milestone today. Two years ago today, Brady Thomas Eilers made his entrance into this great big world, and our lives have never been the same.

While scanning all the pictures we have of Brady, the above one summed it all up. He's independent now! Though he doesn't say it with words, there is no doubt what he's saying... "I can do it myself!"

I must tell you it's been a fun two years. Tiring at times but overall it's been a blast. I'm way behind on getting pictures uploaded to his website but little by little I'll get caught up.

Today we are going to my brother's house to have Brady's birthday party. My brother has recently gotten a bunch of baby chicks and a new puppy so we thought the kids would have a lot more fun at his place. Brady's eleven cousins will be there along with three uncles, three aunts, grandpa, two grandmas, brother, sister, brother-in-law, and last but not least... mom and dad.

I've been on vacation this week and I really enjoyed spending quality time with Paul and the kids (except for Dylan who spent Spring Break with his dad in Texas). Dylan flew into Little Rock yesterday morning but I haven't seen him yet. My brother, Jeff, picked Dylan up at the airport so that he could spend the night with his cousins. So I'm looking forward to seeing him today too.

Since Paul and I are doing ER Fat Burn, we are going to eat lunch before we go to the party. I'm also going to make Paul and I a 'special' low carb strawberry shortcake. I made muffins yesterday out of almond meal ... delish! The muffin is going to be the 'shortcake'. Each muffin has only 1.5 carbs! Here's the recipe:

Low-Carb Muffins

2 cups almond meal
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup melted butter
4 eggs
1/3 cup water
1-1/4 tsp Stevia (natural herb sweetener)

Preheat oven to 350. Butter muffin tin. Mix dry ingredients thoroughly. Add wet ingredients and mix thoroughly. Put in muffin tins (1/2 to 2/3 full) and bake for about 15 minutes.

Unfortunately, I should have added a teaspoon of vanilla to make my 'shortcake' a tad bit sweeter but I didn't read that little tid-bit until it was too late. But I taste-tested a muffin and they are delicious. For strawberry shortcake, all you have to do is slice up some strawberries, layer on top of the muffin, then top with homemade whipped topping. Yum!

I hope y'all are having a great weekend!

Thanks for reading!

Laura

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Aubrey Cheney Is Not The Biggest Loser

I can't say I was surprised to see Aubrey voted off. Two weeks ago, her sister, Mandi, was sent home and I don't think Aubrey, a 28-year-old education specialist from Gooding, Idaho, made a whole lot of friends while there on campus.

For week twelve, the contestants were given newly fitted t-shirts in their original colors and told there was no more black and blue teams but that: (#1) they would be competing as individuals for the remainder of the competition and (#2) they would get to choose their own trainer. The only surprise was Aubrey switching her trainer from Jillian to Bob.

Highlights of the show:

The NASCAR challenge was cool. In the first part of the challenge, the contestants were shown blocks that represented the amount of weight each had lost. The players were told that they could distribute their lost weight to the players of their choice. Naturally, most added weight to Tara's pile (257 pounds in fact). Tara had a boo-hoo session and

said she didn't want to play anymore and was planning on sabotaging herself at the weigh-in. Laura talked her down and all was well once again. Oh, the drama! The second party of the challenge was revealed the following day. The contestants were taken to the Auto Club Speedway and there they saw race cars lined up (the same color as their shirt and with a picture of their face on the hood). They were told that they would not only have to push their car (which weighs a couple of tons) around the track for a half mile but they would have to haul the weight that was given to them in the first part of the challenge. So with Tara having the most weight, she felt that she probably wouldn't win but was determined to do her best. Here's the shocker...SHE WON! The woman is absolutely amazing. As the winner, she got to ride in NASCAR champ's Clint Bowyer's race car. That was cool to watch. Tara also won a VIP pass to an upcoming NASCAR race best of all... immunity at the weigh-in.

At the weigh-in, Tara needed to lose 4 pounds to win the title of the first woman to lose over 100 pounds on The Biggest Loser campus. Unfortunately, Tara came up 1 pound short. However, Kristin managed to grab the title by losing 8 pounds, for a total weight loss of 105 pounds!

After the weigh-in, Aubrey and Filipe fell below the yellow line. It would have been an extremely smart move to vote Filipe off since he is by far the bigger threat. But noooooo! They decided to keep Filipe and send Aubrey home. Go figure.

Once Aubrey returned home, she let herself fall back into old habits and after only being home 3 weeks, she gained 9 pounds. It was at that point Aubrey realized she needed to form a plan and stick with it in order to reach her goal. She persevered and lost those 9 pounds plus 10 additional pounds, for a total weight loss of 73 pounds!

You can watch Aubrey's "Where Are They Now?" video here.

Thanks for reading!

Laura

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Cathy Skell Is Not The Biggest Loser

Well, they're dropping like flies from Bob's blue team.

After telling Mandi that she wasn't The Biggest Loser, host Alison Sweeney had the black team come into the elimination room, where she informed everyone that they would all be going home to spend a week with their families. Since they've been at the ranch for eleven weeks, you can imagine what wonderful news that was.

The Biggest Loser folks made sure the contestants didn't get any rest or relaxation while at home. They had to compete in the toughest challenge yet - a half marathon! Each player was also given a tin of sugar cookies and was told for each cookie they ate they could add 5 minutes to the player of their choice's marathon time. The contestant with the best time would win $10,000!

Tara finished with the best time at 2:24:19; Sione 2:25:57; Helen 2:49:19; Aubrey 2:53:02; Cathy 3:15:21; Mike 3:19:38 Laura 3:24:00; Filipe 3:24:05; Kristin 3:43:45; Ron didn’t finish but he did complete 4 miles. With him having a bad knee, I was proud of him for running that far.

Once everyone returned to the ranch, Alison informed them of their half-marathon times and announced the winner. Tara would have won but Helen ate a cookie in her honor. Sweet, huh? So Sione won the 10 grand. I told you... Tara is a machine! The woman is something else!

The Weigh-In: Alison said that it was team against team once again and that the team percentage of weight-loss would determine the winner and send the losing team to the elimination room.

Black Team: Mike lost 8lbs; Laura lost 6lbs; Tara lost 2lbs; Sione lost 4lbs; Filipe lost 7lbs; Helen lost 7lbs.

Blue Team: Aubrey lost 5lbs; Ron lost 10lbs; Kristin gained 1lb; Cathy lost 1lb which sent the blue team back to a very familiar place - the elimination room.

The blue team discussed who they thought should go home and Cathy told everyone she wanted to be the one voted off. So the blue team complied with her wishes and sent her home.

Cathy Skell, a 48 year old title sales closing agent from Shiocton, Wisconsin, started The Biggest Loser weighing 293 pounds.

When she left the ranch, she weighed 241 pounds. At the filming of her "Where Are They Now?" video, Cathy weighed 215 pounds, for a total weight loss of 78 pounds!

Following is the transcript of Cathy's "Where Are They Now?" video:

"When I came to The Biggest Loser ranch, I weighed in at 293 pounds. Today I weigh 215 pounds.

My biggest challenge at home at first was adjusting to my schedule.

I love to work out in the morning because there are no excuses for me to get to that gym.

It's a good feeling to walk out of that gym, and you go to work and you know that you got that work out in and you feel great for the rest of the day.

I have pictures and I have clothes to remind me of where I was. I don't want to be there again.

They say you switch one addiction to another. And I went from alcohol to food. America, I have a new addiction... I love to spin!

I mean, I go to spin class. I look forward to the day I can ride my bike to Kristin's house, you know? Okay, she lives 10 miles from me. That's going to be wonderful. I look forward to that day. I introduced my daughters to it. It's wonderful to see what this has done for my daughter Carrie, my daughter Stephanie. I have the best family support. My husband's been awesome. My daughters are fantastic. Sometimes my daughter, Carrie, she will beat me to the gym.

Carrie: When my mom and sister came home for a week, I can't help but be inspired. The results are amazing. I did not think that I was able to run on a treadmill. And now I am running 4 to 5 miles at a time. Stephanie: Since my mom has left for The Biggest Loser ranch, I have lost about 15 pounds already. Carrie: I've lost 48 pounds.

I'm so proud of my daughters. I mean, anybody who even attempts to make a change like this, you have to be proud of them.

You know, it's a lot of fun. And it's like, why did it take me being on The Biggest Loser to try taking on these additional classes and stuff like that?

Seeing a change in the family means everything in the world.

I just keep thinking... when I'm done with this, how powerful I'm going to be. Because I'm going to be strong emotionally and physically.

It doesn't get much better than that."

-- Cathy Skell

Thanks for reading!

Laura

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Mandi Kramer Is Not The Biggest Loser

For reasons unknown, the producers of The Biggest Loser left us hanging - not knowing whether or not Mike lost enough weight to keep one member from each team from being sent home. Thankfully for both teams, Mike lost 11 pounds for a 102 pound total loss!

The black team won a challenge (surprise) and their reward was 24 hours of luxury. To say they all had a good time is an understatement. They partied like it was '1999'! They all got massages and the girls got pampered with manicures and pedicures. In addition to eating healthy foods, they feasted on mashed potatoes, chicken fingers and french fries. Then to top it off, they started drinking shots of tequila! Adding insult to injury, Helen enjoyed a cigarette.

The black team's trainer Jillian Michaels

When they got back to the ranch and met with their trainer, Jillian - she was furious! Nostrils flaring she said, "The second you leave you smoke? You get wasted?" she said, raising questions about what they've really learned on the ranch if they crumbled the first time they were tempted in the 'real world.'

"What the (bleep) am I here for? Why should I care if you don't care?" asked Jillian, who said she has been lying awake at night, fretting about the fate of her players, only to see them throw it all away.

Then Filipe flipped out and started yelling at Jillian. He was upset because she hadn't spend any one-on-one time with him. He said, "The last workout you didn't want to work with me! The last workout you didn't! You worked everybody! You worked everybody! I was on that treadmill 2-1/2 hours wondering, when I was going to get my turn! When was I going to get my turn! And you didn't! You didn't!" Then he stormed out, followed by his cousin Sione, and they ran to Bob and said they wanted him to be their daddy (I mean trainer) again. I don't know about you but I can't stand whiners. You can catch the tirade here.

At the weigh in, I expected the black team to lose, due to their day of luxury but they still pulled it out and the blue team had to go into the elimination room... again. Shockingly, Mandi gained 2 pounds at the weigh in. The blue team discussed amongst each other who they thought should go home and unanimously, Ron, Cathy, and Kristin said they believed Mandi should go home. Aubrey, asked everyone to vote instead for her to go home and let Mandi stay on the ranch. During the vote, however, Mandi sacrificed herself. "I can do it at home and she can't," Mandi said as her sister put her head down on the elimination table and sobbed. "It's time for me to be the big sister."

Mandi Kramer, a 30 year old cosmetologist from Boise, Idaho, started The Biggest Loser weighing 263 pounds. By the time she left the ranch, she weighed 197 pounds, for a total of 66 pounds lost. At the filming of her "Where Are They Now?" video, she had lost 18 more pounds, for a total of 84 pounds. Doesn't she look great?

Following is the transcript from Mandi's "Where Are They Now?" video:

"Before my experience with The Biggest Loser, I didn't know what my life was going to be like. Seeing myself unhappy and seeing my kids not really getting a hundred percent out of life. I thought that's what it was going to be like.

And now I see it so much clearer and I see my kids being successful and I see my husband and I being happy.

Since coming home, my biggest challenge was really trying to reconnect with my husband. It was really hard for him to see me gone for that long. I mean we've never been apart that long. He was not there for the biggest change in my life. And that's been hard for him.

When I first got home, it was kind of hard for Remington and Dustin to get into the groove of what the new mommy was going to be like. I am beginning to change they way that they feel about how they're going to live their life. And now that I'm home and I'm healthier and I'm more fit, I'm getting them out there and they're being more fit and just my self confidence really has started to bloom.

I'm proud of my decision to sacrifice myself for Aubrey. I know now being home that I can do this at home. And I think she needs to find out who she really is. And I think that's going to be great for her. To be able to experience that there without me.

Before coming to the ranch, playing with my boys wasn't an option. I would sit on the couch and tell them to go have fun and let me sit here and be lazy and watch TV.

Now, we go for walks, they run with me, we go to the gym together. And I can take them to the park and actually be active and have fun with them all day. I love it!

I never pictured me being an excellent mom. I never pictured me being an excellent wife. I never thought it was possible. I thought I was reaching for something that wasn't possible. And now, that changed. It's so much more than I could ever dream of."

-- Mandi Kramer

Thanks for reading!

Laura

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Humiliation, Triumph and a Cute Chef

If you missed The Biggest Loser last night, here's a quick synopsis of what happened:

1.) Chef Rocco Dispirito challenged the black and blue teams to compete to see who could make the healthiest burger, pizza, and burrito. The teams were told that they would be judged on calorie and fat content but stressed the food had to also taste good. The blue team made the best pizza but the black team won Rocco over with their burger and burrito. Well, actually, Rocco didn't like either one but since the black team's burrito had less calories, they won. For their prize, the black team won a dinner cooked by Rocco and Laura picked the fortune cookie that gave her an extra vote at elimination.

2.) The blue team traveled to 24 Hour Fitness to do an Everlast Shadow Box workout with six-time world boxing champ, Sugar Ray Leonard. It was so cool! Aubrey, who used to be an amateur boxer, was very excited to meet Sugar Ray. Now 52 years old, Sugar Ray, explained to the blue team that even though he no longer fights, he continues to train as a fighter. He likes it because it is a full body workout. Sugar Ray gave them the acronym POWER... Prepare, Overcome, Win Every Round!

3.) Dr. Huzienga dropped by the gym to pay the contestants a visit. He anointed Mike and Tara, king and queen of major weight loss records. Mike lost 134 pounds of fat in 3 months, which has never been done in Biggest Loser history, while Tara achieved 29% weight loss in 3 months! The doctor applauded Mandi on how well she did on her treadmill test. The first time 31 year old, Mandi did the test (upon arriving at the ranch), she scored at the level of a fit 69 year old woman. Her current treadmill test was off the charts and he informed her she was in superb condition. The doctor was pleased that Ron now needed less insulin and has finally started to gain some muscle.

4.) While working out with Jillian, Sione fell and hurt his ankle. Luckily it turned out to be a level one sprain.

5.) The black and blue teams went to LA Food Bank for their second competition. They were told the first team to assemble and load 150 kits would win free groceries for a year, be featured in a Cheerios advertising campaign, and receive letters from home. Surprise, surprise... the black team won! Mike gave his free grocery prize to Aubrey since he felt like she could use it more (she has five kids and Mike is eighteen and single). What a sweetie!

6.) And now for the drama. Jillian humilated Laura in front of her team by asking everyone who they thought was the weakest link. One by one, they all said "Laura". Jillian maintained that the team perceives Laura as the weakest link because Laura doesn't believe in herself and therefore, projects that image. With tears streaming, Laura said, "What she did to me was probably worse than someone calling me fat to my face or making fun of me." Later, during their little sit-down talk, Jillian asked Laura why she wanted to lose weight. Laura said all she wanted was love from her friends and family. Jillian told her she wanted love but has no love for herself. Jillian went on to tell Laura that she thought she was capable, strong, and a really good person, and said that's why it infuriates her to see Laura give up. You can watch some of the drama here.

Week 9 Weigh-in:

Biggest Loser host, Alison, explained that they would not be weighing against each other this time but as a group. If their combined weight loss totaled over 77 pounds, they would all get immunity but if they lost 77 pounds or less, one member from each team would be eliminated.

BLUE
Kristin: 270 - 9 pound loss/90 pounds total
Cathy: 246 - 3 pound loss /47 pounds total
Ron: 343 - 6 pound loss/87 pounds total
Aubrey: 203 - 8 pound loss/46 pounds total
Mandi: 195 - 8 pound loss/68 pounds total

BLACK
Tara: 200 - 11 pound loss/94 pounds total
Laura: 226 - 7 pound loss/59 pounds total
Sione: 283 - 3 pound loss/89 pounds total
Filipe: 275 - 8 pound loss/89 pounds total
Helen: 193 - 5 pound loss/64 pounds total
Mike: ????????????????????????????

That's right... they left us hanging. Tune in next Tuesday night to see if Mike lost 10 pounds and saved everyone for another week or if he fell short and someone from each team had to go home.

Thanks for reading!

Laura

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Monday, March 2, 2009

6 Diet Tips from 'Biggest Loser' Nutritionist

Can you reverse aging with food? More and more research suggests that what we eat is linked to how long we live.

Cheryl Forberg, RD, resident nutritionist on The Biggest Loser, sets eating guidelines to help the contestants get healthy.

"What works best for weight loss helps slow the aging process as well," says Forberg, an expert in anti-aging nutrition. Read her top science-based tips to turn back the clock.

Salmon

1. Have a Daily Dose of Omega-3s

"I like to call them the anti-aging fat," say Forberg. Getting the recommended amount can help lower cholesterol, keep cells functioning properly, and combat inflammation, which reduces your risk of cancer, stroke, and heart attack. Flaxseed, walnuts, and some leafy greens contain omega-3s, but seafood is the best source. Research published in the December 2008 Journal of Nutrition found that DHA, an omega-3 found in cold-water, fatty fish, helps keep aging brains healthy.

Add it: Have two 3-ounce servings of salmon, herring, lake trout, or other fatty fish a week; and a daily serving of ground flaxseed, walnuts, soybean oil, spinach, or kale.

2. Eat Antioxidants Every 4 Hours

These nutrients slow the aging process by protecting our cells from harmful free radicals. But some, such as vitamin C, are water soluble. "That means they only remain in our body for 4 to 6 hours, so you have to replenish regularly," explains Forberg. Vibrantly colored fruits and vegetables are loaded with these disease-fighting substances.

Add it: Have a fruit or veggie at every meal and snack--and aim for three to five different colors a day.

Chickpeas

3. Double Your Fiber

It may help protect against cancer and can keep blood sugar levels steady and promote heart health. In fact, according to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, every additional 10 g of dietary fiber consumed daily reduces the risk of death from coronary heart disease by 17%. The daily recommendation is 25 to 35 g per day; most Americans eat half or less.

Add it: Boost your intake with star sources: cooked lentils (8 g per 1/2 cup), cooked chickpeas (6 g per 1/2 cup), barley (16 g per 1/2 cup), apples (4 g in one medium), and raspberries (8 g per cup).

Almost Empty Plate

4. Stop Before You're Full

Centenarians in Okinawa, Japan, practice this eating ritual; they also consistently consume a lower-calorie diet - which researchers say is a key component to longevity. Eating slowly can automatically help control calories:

Fix it: The key is to stop when you're satisfied, not stuffed, says Forberg.

Nuts

5. Eat Enough Healthy Fats

The good-for-you variety - like monounsaturated fatty acids - can lower bad LDL cholesterol, raise cardio-protective HDL cholesterol, and decrease your risk of atherosclerosis. Plus, studies suggest that a higher intake of these fats may also contribute to longer life expectancy. Ideally, you should get about 25% of your daily calories (or 44 g based on a 1,600-calorie diet) from healthy fats.

Add it: Healthy fats include 1/4 cup of pistachios (7 g), 1/4 cup of almonds (11 g), 1 tablespoon of olive oil (10 g) or 1/4 cup of avocado (3.5 g).

Salad with Chicken

6. Pack Protein Into Every Meal

Protein provides essential building blocks for the daily repair of nearly every single cell in your body. Getting enough is critical to your health and vitality, especially as you get older, when cellular damage can become more frequent. Aim to get 30% of your daily calories (or 120 g based on a 1,600-calorie diet) from lean protein.

Add it: Good sources of protein include skinless white meat from chicken, pork, or turkey (about 21 g per 3 ounces), fat-free milk (8 g per cup), egg whites (7 g for two), and beans (about 8 g per 1/2 cup).

Watch Forberg’s video demonstrating the importance of an antioxidant-rich diet.

Get more weight loss tips and try new recipes from The Biggest Loser!

Source: here

Related Post: The Biggest Loser Nutritionist Talks Straight About Weight Loss

Thanks for reading!

Laura

My Other Websites: The Experts Agree On Something. Finally. | Are Your Vitamins Safe? | Affiliate Link

Pages

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Guess Who's 2 Years Old Today?

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Aubrey Cheney Is Not The Biggest Loser

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Cathy Skell Is Not The Biggest Loser

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Mandi Kramer Is Not The Biggest Loser

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Humiliation, Triumph and a Cute Chef

Monday, March 2, 2009

6 Diet Tips from 'Biggest Loser' Nutritionist