A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle : A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Renee Wilson Is Not The Biggest Loser

Although Renee Wilson will not win The Biggest Loser title, she accomplished quite a bit while on the show. Throughout this season, I have found myself growing more and more fond of Renee and hated to see her go home.

The 46-year-old event manager from Dallas, TX, started The Biggest Loser weighing 267 pounds (see picture to the left) and wearing size 22 clothes. Eleven weeks later and 72 pounds lighter, Renee left the show weighing 195 pounds! I will upload Renee's after picture as soon as it is available on The Biggest Loser website. I watched her "Where Are They Now?" video tonight and she looks fantastic.

After being home for two months, Renee lost an additional 23 pounds and at the filming of her "Where Are They Now?" video, she weighed 172 pounds and was wearing a size 8! Renee's goal is to be wearing a size 6 at the show's finale.

It was fun watching tonight's show because the five contestants all got a makeover in New York City and also got to appear on The Tyra Banks Show.

At the weigh-in, Renee lost 4 pounds (2.01% loss). Unfortunately, it wasn't enough and she dropped below the yellow line. Ed lost the least amount of weight - 3 pounds (1.19% loss) and also dropped below the yellow line. Heba voted for Renee to go home and Michelle voted for Ed to go home. Vicki, as the swing voter, tipped the scales in Ed's favor and sent Renee home.

Even though I don't like Vicki, I admired her loyalty to the blue team. She would've been a better game player to send Ed home since he is by far the biggest threat to win The Biggest Loser title. By voting for Renee to be sent home, she sealed her fate as either the third place finisher or the person to be sent home next week.

Next week's show is the final show prior to the finale. If you get a chance, tune in because America will be calling in their votes to decide who the third and final player will be in the finale.

Following is Renee's "Where Are They Now?" video transcript:

Before The Biggest Loser I had a hard time loving myself. I had a hard time looking in the mirror and loving the person I saw.

I've been away from the ranch for two months now and I've lost a total of 95 pounds.

Now that I've accomplished so much in losing weight, I feel like I have the self confidence that I've never had before.

I wanted to share my experiences with people so I've been given the opportunity to do some public speaking. (Video shows Michelle giving a speech.)

And on top of that, I've also been able to lead a fitness group at my work. (Video shows Michelle leading a workout session.)

And to top it off, today is my birthday! (Video shows someone putting a birthday cake in front of Michelle with the numbers '95' on top.

Michelle's husband, Roderick, to Michelle: "Okay, so the candles represent the amount of weight you've lost and not your age." Roderick to the interviewer: "To me, I've got like almost like a new wife - same loving person, very beautiful but now the physical aspect is so dynamic."

The Biggest Loser didn't just change my life, it gave me my life back.

And for the first time on my birthday, I can't even think of another thing I could wish for.

--Renee Wilson

If interested, you can watch Renee and Michelle's profile video here. You can also watch Renee's "Where Are They Now?" video below or by clicking here.

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Miss England Too Fat For Catwalk

Curvy Laura Coleman started her career as a skinny size 8 model.

However, opting for a healthier figure, is said to have ruined her catwalk and magazine career.

The 22-year-old blonde has gone up a dress size to a perfect 10 and now is being shunned by modeling agencies for being too fat.

Coleman said, “I really think the curvy girl should be promoted more as a positive image in the media. But the agencies seemed to have a problem with me when I wasn’t skinny any more.”

Eating disorder specialist Emmy Gilbert added: “The fashion world endorses an ideal which can be unattainable or, if achieved, highly dangerous.”

Laura is set to take part in The Miss World pageant in Johannesburg, South Africa, December 13th.

Source: here

Related Article:

Many Normal-Weight Teens Feel Fat

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Amy Cremen Is Not The Biggest Loser

We went out to eat last night, at a new restaurant in town called Old Chicago. The place was packed! We had to wait around thirty minutes for a table. I know that isn't a terribly long wait but when you've got a toddler it sure is! We got home around 8:15 p.m. After giving Brady a bath and putting him to bed, I was only able to catch the last 20 minutes of The Biggest Loser.

By the time I tuned in, everyone was casting their votes. It ended up being a tie vote (Heba, Ed, and Vicky voted for Amy to go home and Renee, Michelle, and Amy voted for Heba to go home) and since Amy lost the least amount of weight this week (5 pounds) she was sent home.

Amy Cremen is a 27-year-old cosmetology student from Auburn Hills, Michigan. Amy and her mom, Shellay were my favorite contestants this season. They are now both out of the running for the $250,000 grand prize but are still eligible to win the at-home prize of $100,000.

Amy started The Biggest Loser weighing 239 pounds and wearing size 22 clothes. Ten weeks later (and 66 pounds lighter), Amy left the ranch weighing 173 pounds. At the filming of Amy's "Where Are They Now" video, she was wearing size 8 clothes. Amy's goal is to weigh 125 pounds at the show's finale.

Following is an excerpt of an article I read online about Amy Cremen.

They (Amy and her mom, Shellay) threw themselves into the competition, working out for six to eight hours a day under the supervision of trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. "Our first day in the gym was a shock," Cremen recalls. "I couldn't even hold myself up for a 10-second wall squat." During that brutal first week, Cremen felt like quitting. "But I remembered that I was there for a reason, so I continued to give it my all," she says. Before long, she could tolerate the workouts and was amazed when she started looking forward to them. "Now I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I finish one," she says.

With her favorite vices--Oreos, Mountain Dew, and fast food--forbidden at the ranch, Cremen learned to count calories (she was limited to about 1,200 a day, says Cheryl Forberg, R.D., the show's nutritionist) and to cook healthy meals. "One of my favorites is lean ground turkey, brown rice, and salsa. It's easy, and one cup has only about 200 calories," Cremen says. "I've learned that there is life outside of fast food."

Since returning home, Cremen has been working out for two to four hours per day, including one hour of cardio. "Spinning is by far my favorite exercise," she says. She and Shellay, who lost more than 27 pounds, also work out three times a week with their personal trainer.

Do you worry about gaining back some of the lost pounds?
Maintaining is the easy part! I’m committed to building my body up instead of tearing it down. I still love to eat. But now I count every calorie and try to get as much satisfaction as I can without going over 1,200 per day. I have a philosophy: If I can’t taste it, I don’t waste it. I won’t put cheese on a sandwich if it’s not going to really affect the flavor.

Do you still do grueling workouts?
I go to the gym at least five days a week, and I hike or swim outside once a week. That’s my relaxing time. I’ll never, ever, ever take three days off from the gym. I went to the gym the other day and ran for only 20 minutes. But I still went to the gym.

What’s the best workout for fast results?
Whenever Bob and Jillian thought someone on the show was in trouble, I noticed they’d put them on the stairmill. I do 20 to 30 minutes on that, then switch to the rowing machine for 10 more to keep from getting bored.

How do you stick with it day in and day out? Any advice?
If you start making excuses not to exercise, that’s a reason to change your routine—it’s not a reason to stop working out. Even trainers have trainers, so consider investing in one. Healthy people choose to be healthy. They set themselves up to win.

Source: here

Following is Amy's "Where Are They Now?" video transcript:

When I started on the Biggest Loser campus, I was a size 22 and now I'm a size 8.

Now that I'm home, Michigan State University has been supporting me by giving me use of all of their athletic trainers. Plus, my mom and I are going to do this change together.

I think when you have a really good support system, it helps a lot. But the best part is how good I feel about myself and how confident I am to do things the old Amy would've never done... like singing in front of a whole lot of people. (Video shows Amy singing The Star Spangled Banner at a sporting event.)

Now I can just go out there and show the world what I've got.

-- Amy Cremen

If interested, you can watch Amy and Shellay's profile video here. You can also watch Amy's "Where Are They Now?" video here.

Related Articles:

Coleen Skeabeck Is Not The Biggest Loser

Brady Vilcan Is Not The Biggest Loser

Phillip Parham Is Not The Biggest Loser

Shellay Cremen Is Not The Biggest Loser

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Man drops 140 pounds in 11 months to join Marines

Ulysses Milana, of Lewiston, lost 140 lbs., down from 330, to accomplish his goal of enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. Milana lost 20 pounds per month over the past year by changing his eating habits, going to the gym and giving up beer.

Can you say INSPIRING? Wow, this guy is something else.

Army and Navy recruiters took one look at 330-pound Ulysses Milana, in December 2007, and told him to forget about joining. "You've got to lose weight," Milana remembers them saying.

But Marine recruiters were willing to help 23-year-old Milana by developing a workout regimen.

"You can sit there and preach and preach, but if you're not willing to help, then it doesn't lead you to success," Staff Sgt. George Monteith said. "If I say, 'Go lose weight and I'll see you in a year,' then what kind of help have I offered to make that happen?"

Eleven months later, Milana was 140 pounds lighter as he boarded a plane last week, headed for Parris Island, S.C., to begin boot camp.

It wasn't easy, Milana said, but he managed to slim down through exercise, healthier eating habits and giving up beer.

Milana said he always wanted to follow in his family's footsteps by serving his country. His wife, Latoya, also comes from a military family.

A former culinary student, Milana said it was a challenge to give up favorites like pizza and hot wings, but cracking open a cold beer after work was perhaps the toughest guilty pleasure to abandon.

"It was really hard. You see all your friends drinking beer, and you're like, 'Oh, man, I want one,'" he said. But his determination kept him on track, and he would head for the gym or don a head lamp and go out for a run.

The story of Milana's 140 pound weight loss has become a sensation. He's receiving fan mail from around the globe. In Maine, his wife, Latoya, finds her phone flooded with offers for movies, documentaries and even a weight-loss product endorsement. Her husband's MySpace inbox overflows with nearly 200 messages and friend requests.

Since Milana is only allowed to contact family via regular mail during the grueling two months of boot camp, Latoya said her husband isn't even aware of the national stir his story caused since he left.

"He has no idea, really," Latoya Milana said, adding that she was awaiting a letter from her husband with his contact information. "

Since Milana's story ran last Monday, Nov. 17, on the front page of the Sun Journal, staff at the paper and the family have received e-mails, phone calls and requests from everyone from fellow Marines to television producers wanting to touch base with the young man they say inspired them.

Latoya responded to each e-mail sent to her husband on his MySpace page. She points out that no two are alike and she wanted to reply personally to people who took time to thank Milana for his inspiration.

Given that Milana has no contact with the outside world at this point, Latoya wonders how he will react when he learns about the publicity he's gained, and about the movie offers. She said her husband, whom she has known for eight years, is one of the most private people she knows. Latoya also stressed that her husband lost the weight to realize his dream of joining the armed forces, not to gain fame and fortune.

"He likes to help people and he likes to inspire people, and I'm not even sure he realizes how much he did that," Latoya said. "I'm proud. I'm very, very proud that my husband was able to inspire so many people."

Sources: The Seattle Times and SunJournal.com

Related Articles:

Brady Vilcan Is Not The Biggest Loser (but he has lost 100 lbs!)

Phillip Parham Is Not The Biggest Loser (but he has lost 106 lbs!)

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Nine Years Ago Today

Yup, he's a goofball - but he's all mine.

Today, we celebrated nine years of wonderful wedded bliss.

What did we do, you ask?

Well, we started out the day by dropping on our three blogs. Then we finished decorating the inside of the house for Christmas, while Paul worked on a blog post about his beloved ECU winning their division championship Saturday.

Next, we went outside to put up the Christmas lights. I'm sure the neighbors think we're nuts but they've thought that for years. I know Thanksgiving isn't here yet, but there's only 32 days until Christmas! Can you tell Christmas is my favorite holiday?

Anyway, three hours later we finished. By then, everyone was hungry. We needed to pick up a couple things from Lowe's to finish the outside, so we piled in the car and headed out. Dylan, Brady, and I waited in the car while Paul ran into Lowe's. When he came back, we headed to Subway for a romantic anniversary dinner with the kids. Paul and I split a footlong turkey sub. I told you it was romantic!

We originally planned on going out for a nice romantic dinner, and possibly seeing a movie but getting the house decorated for Christmas was more of a priority to me. My extended family is coming to our house for Thanksgiving and I wanted everything to look festive. So in other words, I got what I wanted for my anniversary.

Paul says it took him many years but he's finally got me trained! Yeah, whatever. I love you, honey!

Laura