1 Minute at each station. After completing all five exercises rest for 2 minutes. Repeat three times.
I upped the ante today by giving each mooser a benchmark number of reps for each exercise to reach. I told them to beat one of their scores so we wouldn't have to do a fourth round. They all came through.
Then we did Push up ladders- two sides, while you are resting you are in the push up position (on toes), you will go down when I say, and come up when I say. And we will alternate reps, so one side will do one rep, then hold while the other side does a rep. Then we go to two reps, and so on all the way up to 5 reps each side.
There was a penalty for not staying in plank position, so we did even more: Sprints- the winning team got their choice of Prograde Supplement they wanted. Congrats Lisa and Erica.
I got another video of the action but it wouldn't upload. I'll try again later.
Nutrition Tip of the Day
Creating a supportive environment:
Create a supportive environment at home by disposing or having someone else hide all unsupportive foods. Get your family and friends involved in the lifestyle change you are embracing so that you create a support system to avoid weak moments.
If you have unsupportive food choices in sight it is only a matter of time before they win the mind game and get eaten. If unsupportive food choices are not visible or are out of the house, when your will is weak, you will turn to other activities or end up eating a supportive food.
They are truly ready for almost anything I will throw at them. Today I was in a 'mood' so I upped the ante. The result...phenomenal.
Squats Step ups Bike Burpees
30 seconds of work 90 second recovery for ten rounds. In the 30/90 intervals during the rest period walk around with high steps for the entire rest (this is called active rest).
Then we finished with 30/60 intervals (sixty seconds rest). I gave the girls benchmark reps to hit with the step ups, squats, and burpees...I wanted them Moving!
And they didn't disappoint.
Here's a video of the action:
Nutrition Tip of the Day:
Five foods to place into your menu asap:
Fish- high in protein and omega 3 fatty acids- lots of health benefits tied to fish Broccoli- high in calcium and other vitamins and minerals, plus a great source of fiber Spinach- same reasons for broccoli, get them into your plan Almonds- very high in healthy fats and an antioxidant, Raw Almonds are the best choices Berries- Huge in antioxidant properties, low in carbs and high in fiber. Loaded with vitamins and minerals
This workout is originally called Four Eyes, but I think I might change the name to Double Vision, just sounds a little cooler:)
Today the Biggest MOOsers did a tough workout but pressed through to finish in fine fashion. We even did some extra Farmer's Carries at the end (video at the end of this post).
Four Rounds of High Pull 30 seconds Push ups 30 seconds High Pull 30 seconds Push ups 30 seconds
No rest in between exercises or rounds, do four rounds continuously
Four Rounds of Goblet Squats 30 seconds (butt to the bench) Hill Climbers 30 seconds High Knees 30 seconds Hill Climbers 30 seconds
Four Rounds of Lunges 30 seconds Push Press 30 seconds
Nutrition Tip of the Day:
Grocery Shopping Tips: Stay on the outside aisles of the store to get the healthiest food options Go prepared- have a shopping list and 'shop with your head down' so you avoid the tempting 10 for 10 deals Don't go hungry. This will increase your chance of making unsupportive food choices Try to limit the amount of foods you buy to have labels on them. If a food has a label that usually means it contains something that isn't obvious to the consumer, so the more foods without labels you have, the better.
Ripped out some cardio intervals this morning, very similar to last Thursday with some small changes in exercises:
Band Punches Kettlebell Swings Burpees Bike
Each station is 30 seconds and recover for 90 seconds the first ten rounds, then recover for 60 seconds the last ten rounds.
Lots of improvement with sustainability throughout the workout today. No nausea or runs to the bathroom, good stuff. Solid nutrition is starting to take over!
Nutrition Tip of the Day
Creating supportive meals. Supportive meals means having a lean protein and a fibrous carb every time you eat. A fibrous carb would be fruit or vegetable (lower carbohydrate options). If you stick to this rule you will get tons of vitamins and minerals, keep your calories down, and create a fat burning machine in your metabolism.
And one more thing, Tonia is back from her trip, so here is her picture: Contestant #5:
She had her workout in her typical bootcamp class tonight. The workouts won't be the challenging part for her, it will be the food:) Welcome Tonia.
Back at it again today with a 'fun' game of Baseball
Complete as many 'runs' or rounds for your team as you can in 10 minutes
1st Base- Burpees x 10 2nd Base- Squats x 10 3rd Base- Wood Chops x 10 each side Home- Push ups x 10
We played two ten minute games. Then, we finished with a circuit of four exercises each 30 seconds long. No rest between.
High Pull Wall Sits Planks Push Press
We went for 10 consecutive minutes, Great Effort!
Here is a clip from todays action:
Nutrition Tip of the Day
Pre and Post Workout Meals
These 'meals' are vital to getting the most out of your workout. The preworkout meal preps your body with the energy necessary to sustain a high level of energy throughout the workout. It should consist of mostly carbs with some protein (yogurt or fruit with cottage cheese is a good choice). This should be eaten an hour to an hour and a half prior to workout.
Your post workout aids greatly in recovery and should be eaten within an hour after your workout. The best post workout meal is in liquid form like a protein shake as it absorbs much quicker than solid food. The post workout meal should consist of mostly protein with some carbs as carbs are the carrier of protein to the muscle to aid in recovery and regeneration.
Lack of these two important meals compromises the results from your workout. Don't skip them.
Cardio Day for the Biggest MOOsers. But this ain't no stroll in the park. We do cardio Ben's Bootcamp Style; with Interval Training. Which happens to be the most effective fat loss cardio training on the planet.
Here is a video of a little bit of the action:
Cardio Intervals:
Bike
Step ups
Kettlebell Swings
High Knees
Perform each exercise for 30 seconds then rest for 90 seconds. Repeat for 10 rounds. 30 Seconds is as fast as you can go and the 90 seconds is recovery/rest.
Second perform 30 seconds of work then 60 seconds of rest in the second part of the workout. Today we completed 10 rounds here also.
I got some slack from the participants because I didn't post the warm up and cool down exercises AND I miss counted the amount of wall sits and planks they did. Let me assure you they busted tail from beginning to end:)
Nutrition Tip of the Day:
Thermic Effect Revisited
The following information was drawn from Alwyn Cosgroves Blog.Alwyn Cosgrove is the world leader in fat loss.
The thermic effect of food (TEF)- or thermogenic effect - is a term used to describe the energy expended by our bodies in order to consume (bite, chew and swallow) and process (digest, transport, metabolize and store) food.
For most people this total number typically accounts for about 7-10% of calories consumed based on the Standard American Diet (SAD....)
Breaking it down ...Protein foods typically have a TEF of 25 -30%. Carbohydrate foods require about 5-10%. Fruits are around 15% Cruciferous vegetables are around 30% and fats are somewhere between 0 and 3%.
So you can see where I'm going with this ... if you just exchanged 100 calories of carbs for 100 calories of protein -- you'd actually in effect - burn off another 20-25 calories. If you swapped 100 calories of fat for 100 calories of vegetables -- you'd eat up an extra 27-30 calories. So let's say you are the typical person eating a highly processed, low fiber, low protein diet. You eat about 2500 calories and burn about 7% of those calories.
2500 - (7% of 2500) = 2325 calories absorbed
But then you switch to a higher protein diet, low in refined carbs and very high in whole foods, vegetables and fruits. You could easily increase the thermogenic effect.
2500 - (16% of 2500) = 2100 calories
That would mean you'd burn an extra 225 calories by doing nothing! For most people that's the equivalent of about 20-25 mins on a treadmill!
Small changes add up to big differences in the long term.
First Workout of many for the Biggest MOOsers. Today we did a workout called 30:30. Here are the details (I hope to have video up tomorrow):
Each station you will perform that exercise 30 seconds three times getting as many reps as you can each time. After completing all three sets, write down your reps so that you have one number for that exercise. Rotate to the next exercise and repeat the process. Here are the exercises we did:
Push ups Squat Press Rows Kettlebell Swings
After completion of that you now must go through all the reps of ALL the exercises you just did in the quickest time possible.
Part 2: Elliptical
30 seconds of Hill Climbers 30 seconds Rest 30 seconds High Knees 30 seconds Rest 30 seconds Jumping Jacks 30 seconds Rest
Repeat twice
Finished with two rounds of 30 second planks and 30 second Wall Sits
Nutrition Tip of the Day: Water Intake is vital to overall health and fat loss. You must take in at LEAST 1/2 your bodyweight in ounces every day to satisfy the body's need for water.
Day one is always scary and this one was no different.
But all the contestants were brave and stuck through the pain of...MEASUREMENTS and BEFORE PICTURES.
We did have one contestant who was on a pre scheduled trip, but she will be joining us for the rest.
Here are four of the Biggest MOOser contestants and their before pictures:
Contestant #1: Christine R.
Contestant #2: Erica P.
Contestant #3: Lisa C.
And Contestant #4: The Wild Card: Missy F.
There will no doubt be some serious changes in these pictures over the course of the next 12-16 weeks. Their workouts start on Thursday at 7am sharp, and nutrition has already begun. Stay up to date here by checking in on this blog for workouts and nutritional breakthroughs and to see how our contestants are doing.
Their journey starts today, and they will never be the same again.
Thank you to all who voted for the four finalists for the Biggest MOOser. We had over 2600 total votes!
The voting was so close that we had to make a last minute adjustment and actually take five people. If you didn't hear on the radio this morning here are the five finalists for the Biggest MOOser:
Contestant #1: Christine R. Contestant #2: Erica P. Contestant #3: Tonia G. Contestant #4: Lisa C. Contestant #5: WILD CARD- Missy F.
Congratulations again to all who were semifinalists, we hope you will be able to follow along with us and use the blog posts for your own pursuit of your goals. Next week I hope to have pictures and more detail on the MOOsers first week!
Ok, we have narrowed it down to 8. I gotta tell ya it was very hard as I was up until past midnight last night making the final choices.
You are all more than worthy of participating in this event. Even though those who were not chosen, please follow along on this blog as I intend on posting a lot of helpful information that can benefit you despite the fact you may not be participating in this transformation contest.
You ready to hear the semifinalists stories?
Your job is to choose the top four you believe have the most powerful reason to participate in this program. You can only vote once (but vote for the top four) so make it count. You have one week from today (Friday the 6th of February) to vote as we will stop all voting next Friday. On the right hand side of this page you will see a poll where you can vote. I've included the questions we asked so you can see their responses.
Ok, here we go.
Contestant #1
How long have you struggled with your weight? Give details such as other programs you have tried, emotional struggles you have had, and social struggles also apply. Use as much detail as possible here.
I have struggled with my weight since puberty. I was a scrawny little kid until about 10 or 11 when things started to change. And since then there has been no going back. As a teenager I was always ‘chunky’ and of course constantly teased about it. It wasn’t until after I was a bit older and was married that I became extremely overweight like I am now.
I have done all kinds of different diets. At one point in time I was seeing a nutritionist, but never really took that seriously, but I was only 20 at the time. I have taken the diet pills, done the starvation thing, of course, none of that worked. Several years ago I started doing Weight Watchers. I did it for only about a month and a half when I discovered that I was pregnant, and they do not allow pregnant women in Weight Watchers, no matter how overweight.
I vowed to go back after my pregnancy, but have not. My daughter is now 2 years old! I am about the same weight now as I was when I gave birth to her, if not a few pounds more.
Why do you have to lose the weight? I HAVE to lose this weight because I am 29 years old and I still have my whole life ahead of me. Diabetes runs rampant in my family to include my father, an aunt, 2 uncles and grandparents. Both on my paternal and maternal sides. I HAVE to lose the weight because I live with Multiple Sclerosis. If I end up in a wheelchair one day, it is going to be impossible for someone to care for me.
I HAVE to lose the weight because I also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome that causes me to not ovulate. It is a syndrome that either causes weight gain or weight gain causes it. It is unknown which came first. How I had my first child was a miracle in itself.
I really want to give her a sibling, and that is not going to happen with the way that my body is right now. Most importantly, I HAVE to lose the weight because I have a loving husband and precious daughter that need me and want me to be here and to be healthy.
Why is this important to you? Why isn’t it? I have so many ways to answer this question. First of all- I am so incredibly uncomfortable in my skin. I need to be outside playing with my daughter in the snow. I need to go on rides with her at the fair. I need to be comfortable taking her swimming in the summer. I need to be able to do the things with her that she deserves to have her mother do with her. I need to be around for her. I need to teach her how to take care of herself so she doesn't end up just like me and most of the women in my family.
I need my husband to stop worrying about me dying within the next 20 years. I need to grow old with him. I don’t want to die a young death because of complications of my weight. We want to have another child. I need to get healthy before that can happen. I am always conscience of if there is enough room for me when we go places. I am scared to travel on airplanes because I don’t want to be the person that they require another seat for.
I avoid going places and doing things because of the size of my body. This is important to me because I am sick of feeling lethargic. I want to feel as young as I am! I want to go shopping in any store, not just the ones that have a plus section or being forced to shop online for clothes that fit me. This is important to me because I believe in good old fashioned hard work and not gastric bypass. This is important to me because I was never taught how to take care of my body and I need to be taught. I need to have my butt kicked!
How will you utilize your new knowledge and your new body? If I am given this opportunity, I would share all I know with everyone around me. I would teach all who wanted to be taught. I would be so ecstatic to have a new body, I can’t even remember what it was like to move around easily. I would enjoy my new body to the fullest extent. I would use it to inspire those who want to achieve the same goal. I would be more active, and have the energy to do the things I want and need to do. I might even throw on something sexy!
What are you willing to do in order to succeed? Everything and ANYTHING!!! I am very competitive!
What are you not willing to do? I am not willing to pose in a bikini at anytime! (Well, I would consider it after an extreme amount of weight loss.)
How will you celebrate your results? I think the first thing I would do to celebrate my results would be take my daughter somewhere that we could run, play, jump and move our bodies the way I have always wanted to. Then I would go out and buy a whole new wardrobe!
There is a good chance that there will be a moment of truth whether you will press on despite the perceived unbearable obstacles. How can we be sure that if we select you, you will be one who will not fold under the pressure? Once I commit to something, I am commited to the fullest extent. I know that it will suck. It will hurt, it will burn and I will get angry and frustrated. I NEED someone to kick my butt. I need others to compete against. There will be no turning back for me. I will not fold, I will not give in, I will not give up!
Is there anything else we should know that will help us determine if you would be a great choice to participate in this transformation contest? If you allowed me to participate in this program, it would change my life. It would change the outlook of my life and it would touch so many other's lives. Not only would it touch the lives of my husband and daughter, it would touch the lives of many of my realatives who also struggle with weight loss, I would inspire, educate, and enliven the whole world around me!
Contestant #2
How long have you struggled with your weight? Give details such as other programs you have tried, emotional struggles you have had, and social struggles also apply. Use as much detail as possible here. I was always a little chunky. By third grade I was wearing a bra which was a B-cup and was harassed incessantly for that. By the time I left grade schoola and entered into High School, playing sports and running I had lost the "baby fat" my father said I had. I was lifting weights had dropped to my lowest weight of all time - 145 pounds...I was competing in gymnastics and doing well....when out of no where, a knee injury which I tore every tendon, ligament and the cartilige out of my knee.
For almost two and a half years I went through several surgeries, months of physical therapy and ballooned to almost 200 pounds....rather high for a person only five foot one...In college, I began working out again, but kept re-injuring my knee and went through more surjeries...todate I have had 6 arthoscopic surgeries and a complete tendon replacement leaving me with weakend muscles and at times have not been able to walk because of the pain. After college, I entered the work force and relied on co-worker for the motivation needed to loose weight, which only left me more depressed and even unable to fit in the small desk at work which was designed to fit the 100 pound co-workers I had. I have battled depression, suicidal tendancies and various other issues until recently.
Now that I am rapidly approaching 30, I have decided to take are of myself and not to rely on others. I have been working out regorously for about six months...and following every diet plan I can think of, but have only lost 6 pounds...I currently weight 206 pounds.
Why do you have to lose the weight?
I have a family of obese people. My mother, at age 49 had a heart attack, my aunt is now diabetic and battling gout and galbladder problems, my grandmother who passed away in 1998 was so large that for the last five years of her life she could not walk up the stairs to her house and also both my uncles have had hear attacks before the age of 40.
If I don't do something now, I am affraid that I will never have the opportunity to watch my nieces and nephews grow up. I can't exercise my dogs adequately as I am too out of shape to do this. and I can't just sit by and allow myself to die...
Why is this important to you?
I want to live and be a contributing member to society. At my size/weight it is difficult to walk up stairs not to mention help an elderly woman wask up the stairs.
How will you utilize your new knowledge and your new body?
Upon completion of boot camp, I would like to be able to work with children. When I look at the class photo for my 8 year old nephew I see 16 children....12 of whom look like they are at least 16 because of their size. He talks about trying to play tag with his classmates, but he is never it because none of the heavier kids can catch them. I would like to work with these children to help teach them how to get out of the cycle. as well as their parents on how to help their kids...
What are you willing to do in order to succeed?
ANYTHING! I am ready and willing to do exactly what I am told...even if it appears to kill me it will make me stronger...
What are you not willing to do?
Gastric Bypass - Though my physician has told me to look into this, I dont think this is a good effective longterm solution!
How will you celebrate your results?
I would have a huge banner printed with my before /afeter and hitch it to my car.....
There is a good chance that there will be a moment of truth whether you will press on despite the perceived unbearable obstacles. How can we be sure that if we select you, you will be one who will not fold under the pressure?
I have overcome many obstacles in my life including at age 14 after several knee surgeries, being told by age 20 I wouldnt' be able to walk...instead...at age 22 I hiked the grand canyon...I have overcame everything put before me except my weight...I think I am a determined and can do anything
Is there anything else we should know that will help us determine if you would be a great choice to participate in this transformation contest?
I am positive and can impact others decisions with their body...
Contestant #3
How long have you struggled with your weight? Give details such as other programs you have tried, emotional struggles you have had, and social struggles also apply. Use as much detail as possible here.
I have struggled with my weight since I was about 11 or 12. I have hypochondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, and when I was 10 I had surgery on my knees (not to mention the numerous other surgeries I've had before that). But this one surgery affected me because after I had it, and I was done recovering, I couldnt do as much as i could before without pain. I began taking motrin and other pain killers, which i still take, to alleviate the pain.
Throughout junior high and into high school i began to gain weight because i couldnt go out and play sports and depression made me gain weight. In junior high and high school the only sports i could do were cheerleading and junior varsity tennis. I cannot run, walking hurts, and so does pretty much everything else that is strenuous. My sophomore year of high school my aunt said she was going to take me to Weight Watchers to lose weight. I did really good and from October to June i had lost 28 pounds. I felt good, looked better and was happy.
Then, my best friend was killed in a car accident and depression hit again. I didnt go to Weight Watchers anymore, and i ate, a lot. I continued to struggle with my weight and I continuted to gain weight. It has become a never ending battle since then. I can't enjoy shopping because some stores do not even carry my size and besides the problems with my height, pants just dont ever fit right. I've gone through periods of time where i have only worn sweatpants and sweatshirts because i couldnt fit into anything else.
I am not happy with myself and being depressed doesnt help. I eat, then i get depressed because i gain weight, then i eat again. Its a huge struggle in my life.
Why do you have to lose the weight?
Because I do not want to end up in a wheelchair by the time I'm 40. I am almost 21 and my doctors have already told me that they would like to do hip and knee replacements, but they dont want to do it now. They have told me the best thing for me to do is lose weight. It is also a risk for me to be overweight because diabetes runs in my family. If losing weight means losing pain, then I have to do it.
Why is this important to you?
It is important because everyone deserves to be happy. I was most happy that year i lost 28 pounds, and I am happy now, but I could do so much more and be way happier if i could only lose the weight that is holding me down.
How will you utilize your new knowledge and your new body?
If i can lose weight, that means most of my pain will end. If this happens, then i will be able to be more active and do much more and not have to sit out or stay home because i'm afraid it will hurt. By having a new body, I will take care to avoid putting myself back in this much pain.
What are you willing to do in order to succeed?
I am willing to change my eating habits, exercise as much as my body will let me, and listen to advice from those who are also struggling. Losing weight alone is hard, but a team effort can make things easier. If that means success, then that is what will be done.
What are you not willing to do?
I am not willing to be in pain. I am in pain most of the time and i have learned what my limits are; if something hurts and I say i cant do it, I usually am not lying. I know the difference between a good burn from exercising, and what it feels like to have my knee lock up.
How will you celebrate your results?
I will walk around in my bikini for days on end..No, i would probably do some well-deserved shopping, buying clothes i never could before. I will be more outgoing and just have more fun, without the pain..
There is a good chance that there will be a moment of truth whether you will press on despite the perceived unbearable obstacles. How can we be sure that if we select you, you will be one who will not fold under the pressure?
I know my limits. Having been in this body for 20 years I know what hurts (a good exercise burn) and what is a no good pain (the kind that takes my breath away and makes me cry). I have gotten to know what i can and cant do, and I do not like to give up easily.
Is there anything else we should know that will help us determine if you would be a great choice to participate in this transformation contest?
I have a great personality, Im funny, smart, and I just like to have fun and be happy. My self-confidence is low because of my weight, and in the past, when i was smaller, i had sooo much more confidence. If my weight goes down, my confidence goes up and that is something i would do anything to get back.
Contestant #4
How long have you struggled with your weight? Give details such as other programs you have tried, emotional struggles you have had, and social struggles also apply. Use as much detail as possible here.
I have struggled with my weight pretty much all my life. I have never been really skinny…healthy - yes...thin no. I have tried just about every fad diet, pill, powder, and bar that is out there - but nothing ever really worked and I could never keep with the program. I always felt guilty and almost ashamed when I would take pills - I know what it takes to loose weight and get it in shape - I just can't seem to take the plunge and stick with it.
I think my #1 problem is that I am an emotional eater - when life hands me lemons I make lemon meringue pie!!
Why do you have to lose the weight?
I have to lose the weight for a couple reasons - the biggest is how close diabetes runs in my family. I have watched my mother struggle each and every day for the past eight years - taking her blood sugar, injecting insulin, being the slave of her pump. It is nothing I want to do and I know that changing my eating habits and getting healthy again will put me on the right path to making sure I don't have to go thru what she is.
The second reason is for me. I hate the way I feel in my clothes and I barely even recognize the person I see in the mirror....since when did jeans and a baggy sweatshirt become my friends? I am tired of hiding in my clothes and not wearing them. I hate that I hate to have my picture taken - I'm ashamed that I have let myself get like this. And on a completely vain related reason - I am planning my 10 year High School reunion and I don't even want to go looking the way I look and feeling the way I feel.
Why is this important to you?
This is important to me because of not only everything that I have listed above, but also because I have PCOS - a disorder that not only makes me more prone to heart disease, high cholesterol, and diabetes but it also makes getting pregnant difficult. I know I was born to be a mom and the thought of having troubles having a family makes me sick.
How will you utilize your new knowledge and your new body?
I will use my new knowledge to inspire my sister (who struggles with her weight) to lose weight and to teach my mom about eating habits.
What are you willing to do in order to succeed?
I am willing to do whatever it takes. What I love about this is that there is someone to hold be accountable, which is exactly what I need.
What are you not willing to do?
Gee, I don't know step on a scale in a sports bra and shorts on national tv like they do on the show. Seriously, if chosen to do this - I can't think of anything I wouldn't do.
How will you celebrate your results?
Oh I don't know - but you can be that there will be a new wardrobe in order!!
There is a good chance that there will be a moment of truth whether you will press on despite the perceived unbearable obstacles. How can we be sure that if we select you, you will be one who will not fold under the pressure?
This is something I want on so many levels - If chosen I won't give up on this journey to become the biggest mooser!!
Is there anything else we should know that will help us determine if you would be a great choice to participate in this transformation contest?
Not that I can think of, I am looking forward to the possible opportunity - I think this is just what I need. It isn't even about prizes - it is about the hard kick in the ass that I need to get my life together!!
Contestant #5
How long have you struggled with your weight? Give details such as other programs you have tried, emotional struggles you have had, and social struggles also apply. Use as much detail as possible here.
My struggles with weight started when I was 17 years old. My mom had died the year before. My younger brother and sister and I were sent to live with an aunt, the only person who would take all three of us, our mom’s only wish. It wasn’t a happy time, we felt we were basically a pay check for my aunt.
When a larger pay check opportunity came up for her, it required a room at her house. She chose to send my brother to live with his father and my sister to a family that had been friends with our mom. Regardless of my mom's wishes or ours. That is when I turned to food. It became my friend when I was lonely and my comfort when I was sad and in pain. I was in my 20’s when I started to be happy again, my brother and sister were now living with me and we were a family again...life was good. Until I finally looked in the mirror and saw what I had become. I saw the effect of all those years of comfort eating.
I decided it was time to do something about it, but I really had no idea what to do. I tried so many diets: Atkins, Weight Watchers, low calorie, cabbage soup diet – the list goes on. They worked, I’d lose some weight, but I never felt good and I always gained it back. My sister died unexpectedly and the cycle has started to repeat itself. It’s been six months and I’ve decided I’m not going down that road again. This time I want to learn how to eat and exercise, I want to change my life.
Why do you have to lose the weight?
I have to lose weight to be healthy and to live a full life. My mom died from cancer when she was 36 and my sister died from a pulmonary embolism caused by a blood clot when she was 25, her death certificate also lists obesity as a contributing factor. I don’t want to die young, at least not because of my health that I can prevent.
Why is this important to you?
There are so many reasons that losing weight and learning to eat healthy are important to me. I want to live a long, healthy life; I want to be happy; I want to have energy; I want to be comfortable in a crowd and not feel like the fat person that everyone is looking at; I want to go to the beach and not wear a t-shirt over my bathing suit; I want to wear cute clothes; I want to be proud of myself and my accomplishments; I want to stand in front of the mirror naked and say “damn, I’m hot!;” and mostly I want to be around to tell my niece all about the mother she didn’t have the chance to know.
How will you utilize your new knowledge and your new body?
This was a tough question for me, and not just because I had to look up the definition of utilize in the dictionary. I definitely plan to take everything that I learn and apply it to my life. If I’m a chosen four and when I succeed I will know that I can accomplish anything I work hard for. I’ll make the right food choices, I’ll see the results of exercise and continue with it.
Every time I see Deveney and what she has accomplished it encourages me and makes me want to change my life. I want people to look at me someday and be encouraged by me.
What are you willing to do in order to succeed?
In order to succeed, one huge thing that I will do is ask for help and support...not something I’m use to doing. I’ll accept the help and support that is offered...also something I’m not use to doing. I’m willing to step out of my comfort zone and listen to those who know what I can do and those who encourage and support. I’m willing to make the choices I know are the right choices and I’m willing to ask questions and learn everything I can. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win big!
What are you not willing to do?
I’m sitting here trying to think about what I wouldn’t be willing to do and I can’t think of much that I wouldn't do to succeed. I would never hurt another person or discourage another person. I trust that anything I’m taught or asked to do is for my benefit.
How will you celebrate your results?
When I succeed I’m going to celebrate with peanut butter pie – just kidding! Inside I’ll be celebrating with happiness and pride, outside, along with beaming pride and happiness, I’ll celebrate with new clothes – I’m going shopping, I’m showing off what I learned and worked hard for.
Then I’m going to go to my sister’s grave and I’m going to tell her that I accomplished what she and I spent years trying to do (she was my Weight Watcher’s buddy – all three times we tried it). I'm going to encourage other people who struggle with weight and show them that they too can succeed.
There is a good chance that there will be a moment of truth whether you will press on despite the perceived unbearable obstacles. How can we be sure that if we select you, you will be one who will not fold under the pressure?
You can be sure that I won’t fold under the pressure because I know what an incredible honor being chosen would be. I won’t fold because I wouldn’t want to waste an opportunity that someone else could have had. I won’t fold because I know that I have the desire to succeed. I quit smoking years ago, it was hard and yes there were times when I wanted to give in, but more so, I wanted to quit and I pushed through the hard times and I succeeded. I can do that again.
I’ve lived through tragedy and heartbreak. I could have given up on life, it would have been easy to, but I wanted to survive and I am. You can be sure that I won’t fold under the pressure because I want to do this!
Is there anything else we should know that will help us determine if you would be a great choice to participate in this transformation contest?
I think that I would be a great choice for this contest because I will work very hard and I will be another success story!! I don't want to say that this is my last hope, because I'd never give up hope, but this is my opportunity to not have to spend years trying diet after diet. Thank you for your consideration.
Contestant #6
How long have you struggled with your weight? Give details such as other programs you have tried, emotional struggles you have had, and social struggles also apply. Use as much detail as possible here.
Most of my teenage years, I now have man boobs and it is quite embarrasing, I love to swim, but will not take my shirt off. I'm too embarrassed. My self esteem is low and I'm depressed. My mother tries to help me, but I need more than she can give me. I can't stop myself from eating. I can't eat in moderation. I tell my mother that the things kids say to me don't bother me, but they anger me. Kids are mean.
Why do you have to lose the weight?
My BMI is 38 plus, I weigh 320lbs am 6'4 and am only 17 years old
Why is this important to you?
My uncle died a year ago, he was obese and died alone because of his heart, he was too big. My father has high blood pressure and high cholesterol and is on medication for this.
How will you utilize your new knowledge and your new body?
To help change my mind and how I eat, not being depressed all the time.
What are you willing to do in order to succeed?
My personnel best
What are you not willing to do?
Nothing I can think of. Of course something that I would get hurt at
How will you celebrate your results?
Take my mom out and start running with her. She has tried to get me to run with her over the past year, but I haven't.
There is a good chance that there will be a moment of truth whether you will press on despite the perceived unbearable obstacles. How can we be sure that if we select you, you will be one who will not fold under the pressure?
My mom will help with the encouragement. If she also gets picked that would help.
Contestant #7
How long have you struggled with your weight? Give details such as other programs you have tried, emotional struggles you have had, and social struggles also apply. Use as much detail as possible here.
I've been overweight pretty much my whole adult life. It started when I hit puberty and it hasn't stopped since! Everyone knows that kids can be cruel, but PEOPLE can be cruel! I've been called every name in the book and then some! You try to let it roll off your shoulders, but a little bit stays with you every time.
Eventually you just don't want to go anywhere and be "seen like this". There has to be a breaking point. I've reached that point. I'm sick of being overweight, not being happy with myself. I've tried every single program out there - pills, shakes, weight watchers (on my own). You name it, I've tried it!!
I want to be able to sleep without being dependant on my sleep apnea machine. I want to be able to walk up a flight of stairs and not get winded. I want to put my clothes on and not worry that I look/feel like a big blob. When is enough enough?? Now, right now. It's time right now to do something about it. Change my life forever.
Why do you have to lose the weight?
I want to get healthy. It's that plain and simple. I have sleep apnea, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I'm also on the edge of having type 2 diabetes. My husband tells me every single day that I'm beautiful. I want to finally FEEL beautiful! I want to be able to keep up with my 4 year old neice! I want to be able to keep up with my other neice when she starts running around. I want to be able to keep up with any children that I have.
Why is this important to you?
I need to get healthy if I want to live. I have so many medical problems that go with being overweight that I'm basically a walking time bomb. I could have a heart attack or stroke at any time! I'm only 31 years old! That scares the hell out of me. I have so much more to do in this life.
I don't have any kids and I would really love to have some. For me to be pregnant at this size is a really huge risk. It could very well kill me. To have children is a lifelong dream for me. To have my weight holding me back from that dream is absolutely unacceptable. It's time to make a change, and get my life in order.
How will you utilize your new knowledge and your new body?
I will use my story to try to inspire others to get up and get out. To do something about their weight, and make their life what it should be.
What are you willing to do in order to succeed?
I am willing to do just about anything. I mean it. I will do what needs to be done. I will follow whatever diet you want me to follow. I will pour my blood, sweat, tears and soul into losing this weight.
What are you not willing to do?
I'm not willing to give up. I'm not willing to let this weight beat me down anymore. I'm not willing to fail. I will succeed.
How will you celebrate your results?
I'll have a really big party with all my friends and family. We'll dance the night away. Then the next morning, I'll get up and keep working on losing more weight until I reach my ultimate goal.
There is a good chance that there will be a moment of truth whether you will press on despite the perceived unbearable obstacles. How can we be sure that if we select you, you will be one who will not fold under the pressure?
I will not fold. I have a LOT of people that care about me and will keep me motivated! My husband is my biggest motivator! He can be quite the drill sargent, even when I don't want to hear it! His family all lives close by and they are all VERY supportive. I also work with an AMAZING bunch of women who are very motivating and supportive! My family lives a little further away, but they will jump on the bandwagon and kick my tuckas if I even THINK about giving up!
Is there anything else we should know that will help us determine if you would be a great choice to participate in this transformation contest?
I know that you'll get a LOT of people that want or need this. Please consider that I'm one of those people that really REALLY needs this. I've tried and failed and I'm sick of failing. It's my time right now to succeed.
Contestant #8
How long have you struggled with your weight? Give details such as other programs you have tried, emotional struggles you have had, and social struggles also apply. Use as much detail as possible here.
I am sick of being the "fat girl" in the room. It seems my whole life I have been that girl and I have struggled with my weight my entire life and it is a never ending battle but I WANT and NEED to change this. I have tried Weigth Watchers 4 times and it works but I just can't stick with it as I need to incorporate exercise. About 2 years ago I lost 20 lbs but have gained 15 back. I am depressed, I HATE mirrors, I try to make good decisions and then I feel like I need a reward so I sabotage myself! It's disgusting that I put myself through this process.
I've cried, I've gotten mad, try to get positive and change and then have an out of control downward spiral. I have declined invitations to go out with friends or even to weddings as I don't want people to see me. I am embarassed of the way I look and that is so sad. I actually declined to be in a friend's wedding from college because I didn't want to be the "biggest" bridesmaid. I am also an emotional eater. I see how overweight I am, then what do I do, I turn to food to make me feel better. It's sad. I need to change my life.
They say it's all about inner beauty. Yes that's nice but I want to Look beautiful outside too! I love the person I am but want to change the person I see in the mirror. When I exercise, I am so proud of myself and that in turn helps me make better food choices. My wedding is coming up in September and I refuse to be the fat bride. I am ready and willing to do what it takes to make my life better and change my body. HELP ME CHANGE MY LIFE 92 MOO and Ben's Boot Camp! PLEASE!!!!!
Why do you have to lose the weight?
I have to lose the weight as my family on both sides have health problems. I have seen my parents battle their weight my entire life. I want to be healthy to be around for my children down the road. I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT FOR MY HEALTH!
Why is this important to you?
If I were to win the 4 Free months of Ben's Boot Camp, I WOULD lose weight. It is important to me to lose the weight for many reasons. Primarily, I want to feel good about me inside and out. I want to walk in a room and not feel like everyone is staring at me saying to themselves, wow she's a big girl.
This is important to me because I am getting married in September and I am starting that new chapter of my life. I want to be that old couple that sits on their porch when we're 80 and at the rate I'm at now, I don't think I'll be there with him. Why is this important to me? Because I want to live the best life I can.
How will you utilize your new knowledge and your new body?
If I win this challenge, I will have to utilize my knowledge every single day to maintain my new body and self. It is a daily challenge. If others ask and are willing to listen, I would share with them my story and help others the way that BBC (Ben's Boot Camp) helped me. I want to motivate others to be healthy, fit and live their best life too!
What are you willing to do in order to succeed?
Anything within reason. Like Deveney, I don't think I could do one pushup but by the end, I hope to do 68 like her! I will work my butt off (hopefully literally). I like to sweat and compete and I will be competing with the old me to get to the new me. I CAN AND WILL DO THIS IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY! PLEASE PICK ME!
What are you not willing to do?
Wear Spandex!!!! Yuck! That will be my goal for the last class of BBC! WEARING SPANDEX!
How will you celebrate your results?
I will probably be the happiest girl around. I have always wanted to take part in walk /run to raise money for cancer awareness but haven't be able to because I'm too overweight. I would LOVE TO RUN in fund raiser for one of those events! Also, maybe I'll wear the dress of my dreams or a bathing suit on my honey moon, without a sarong or towel wrapped around my body!
There is a good chance that there will be a moment of truth whether you will press on despite the perceived unbearable obstacles. How can we be sure that if we select you, you will be one who will not fold under the pressure?
I'm a survivor in many ways. I WILL DO THIS. YOU WILL NOT REGRET SELECTING ME! I will overcome any obstacles and be 150% devoted to your program. PLEASE SELECT ME!!!!!!
Is there anything else we should know that will help us determine if you would be a great choice to participate in this transformation contest?
I NEED to participate in this transformation contest!I am at my breaking point! I want to be a good role model for my younger cousins and everyone for that matter. I want people to see me succeed and I want to succeed! I want to me that girl who one the biggest mooser for ME. I want to be proud of who I am!
I want to motivate others and myself to be a healthier, happier person. My hope is after BBC, when I walk in a room people say to themselves, wow she looks good. I want to feel confident. Please 92 Moo and Ben's Boot Camp, please select me. I promise I will not dissapoint you or me!
Growing up overweight and teased relentlessly, I made a vow to help others who may have experienced the same. I found a love for training and training hard. I specialize in conditioning people and athletes (fat loss is a secondary benefit).
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