Special to BiggestLoserClub.com
Well, here we go, I still cannot believe that it is week two of a new season. It seems like just yesterday that Mom and I were on the ranch. Every week on the ranch brings the good and the bad.
The second week is definitely a little easier, mostly because we had at least that first week to get somewhat situated. We at least realized that Bob and Jill were committed to make each new day harder than the previous. That no matter how sore we were, we would survive another day.
We knew that every day we would continue to have to ice new parts of our bodies and that we would face new challenges be it a temptation, challenge, or Bob and Jillian in the gym. Yes, typically week two does not have the results on the scale that the first week does, but I’m here to tell you, it’s just as Bob said, that our bodies are in shock because each week we are push harder than the week before.
I remember the first week I lost 19 pounds and the second week, although there was a bit more of a routine, and I was able to push myself harder and felt more comfortable staying with in my calories budget, I only lost 3 pounds. Although in Biggest Loser terms that might not feel like a big number, a 3-pound weight loss in one week is incredible. I promised myself that I would celebrate every pound I lost. I know I beat myself up for every pound gained. So I was going to celebrate every one on the way down. :)
After the first elimination there is definitely a shift in the energy on the ranch. REALITY HITS. You realize that each week someone is going home and that someone could be you. Every person that steps foot on the Biggest Loser ranch NEEDS to be there. I remember thinking that mom and I were going to fall below the line that first week. There was a bit of a rumor floating around that the other teams had decided that the Pink team (mom and I) and the Purple team (Maggie and Jenn) were going to be the two teams that everyone thought would fall below and if that was the case they were going to send Pink home. Apparently some of the other teams didn’t like Mom’s personality. Luckily they didn’t get that option. Mom and I not only did not fall below but we ended up with the second highest percentage of weight loss.
Ironically enough, the Green team (Lynn and Jenni) was the first team to be sent home during season 5, as well. I felt bad because Jenni really wanted to stay but Lynn basically asked the group to send them home. I was really close with Jenni in that first week because both of us had our parents with us, and we were both struggling about how to support yet push our parents at the same time.
Emotions Surfacing for Michelle
I really related to Michelle as we saw her start to open up and acknowledge some of her feelings and emotions in regards to her mother and the divorce of her parents. I was glad to see that she is having the courage to dive in and really deal with some of the issues that might be causing her to hold on to resentments and feelings of being unworthy and abandoned that all too often come as a product of divorce.
I know for me, years I unconsciously tried to fill voids in my life with food. Once that’s no longer there, you are forced to deal with some of the emotions that cause you to overeat in the first place. That definitely seems like what Michelle is working through now.
I was glad to see Jerry was feeling better. I know that Jerry is there for Coleen but I think he now realizes how dire it is for him to get healthy so that he can continue to be there for her. I think that although Coleen may continue to have to participate in challenges by herself, seeing her dad feeling better will allow her to concentrate on herself. The only way for everyone on the ranch to truly make changes for themselves is to be able to take the support from their partners but also release from them and themselves from the responsibility of their loved ones. By regaining control of themselves they will be able to actually love and support their partners more. I know that this is probably the most challenging part, the understanding and knowing that in order to truly give to others, you have to be able to give to yourself first.
Speaking of Coleen and Jerry, let’s talk a bit about the temptation…… REALLY?!!!! I can’t believe anyone bet on the temptation first of all. No amount of money is worth risking your chances to stay on the Biggest Loser Ranch. Secondly, why Coleen would risk the health of her father and her chances to stay on the ranch is beyond me. I hope she learned her lesson because next time she might not be so lucky as to get to stay. I would never have risked the gift and opportunity of being on the ranch.
Rocco’s Recipes
Rocco’s back! I have to tell you this man is truly into trying to come up with new ways to try and make the dishes we love in a calorie budget we can handle. One of my favorite things since being on The Biggest Loser is finding new ways to make the stuff I love. I love Mexican food. So now I make tacos with corn tortillas, ground turkey and top them with cabbage, pico de gallo, sliced avocado (easier way to count calories) and salsa. I serve it with a black bean and quinoa side. Yummy! Makes me want tacos right now!
I never used to cook before I arrived on the ranch. I hope that Amy takes advantage of her years worth of groceries and starts exploring the kitchen more. I liked the way Rocco took the contestants that don’t usually cook and put them in the kitchen. I use to be intimidated at the thought of cooking because I thought I needed to learn how and I never learned how because my Mom rarely had time to. What I realized is that cooking is about experimenting, so I chose to have fun with it rather than being intimidated by it. The worst-case scenario is if it doesn’t work out, I can try something new.
As for the weigh-in, I know that LT was a taster in the challenge as opposed to a preparer. I hope he didn’t taste too much and that was what may have lead to his weight gain. I was completely surprised to see him gain weight but I was proud and believed him when he said he was going to return as our at home winner. I hope he does it, good luck LT.
Ali Vincent, Season 5 Biggest Loser winner
