From Biggest Loser 5 winner, Ali Vincent and BiggestLoserclub.com
On the ranch everyone who is up for elimination has to pack all their bags. If they are the one chosen to go home, they are not allowed to return to the living quarters--it is a horrible feeling. Even though I was the season 5 Biggest Loser, don't forget that my mom and I were eliminated in the fourth week of our season before I came back to the ranch later.
What really sucks is although it’s not over till it’s over, you know, walking up to the elimination room, who is more than likely going home. You know, by the way, that the others around you have a lighter feeling to them. I remember when we were walking to elimination how some of the teams were actually joking around and laughing. Or how some people barely pack anything, because they know that, although they are up for elimination, they were safe.
In these last couple of episodes, I would have hated being both Amy C. and Amy P. waiting to see if their loved ones were going to return to the room or not. Or being Shellay and wanting to give Amy one last hug after the reality of the exit interview hit, and she realized she was really leaving the ranch.
Facing Fear
I liked that Bob and Jill took their teams off ranch to do something different. One important part of really changing our lives is finding fun and exciting things to do that involve being active and also teach us something, like the self defense course that Bob's team tried. They got a workout but they also learned how to protect themselves.
And then Jill with the ropes course! I don’t know if any of you have ever done one, but they are amazing! (We should get the Biggest Loser Club to put together weekend where we all get together and really talk about our goals and then do activities like a ropes course, that would be fun.) Ropes courses tend to be really exhausting because you have to face your fears. Yes, there are actual fears like Coleen's fear of heights, but it’s also confronting the fears that prevent us from having EVERYTHING we ever wanted in our lives. There is power in recognizing fear and doing it anyway; it’s liberating to acknowledge it but not let it stop you.
Have you ever seen those t-shirts out there that say “NO FEAR”? Well, my mom Bette Sue used to say they should read “KNOW FEAR” because it’s then that dreams happen. I personally think that’s it, when you have the courage to tell the truth about what you are really afraid of.
I wasn’t ever afraid of working hard in the gym and spending all the time it took to prepare and track my calories or having to decline certain invitations that didn’t support my goal. I was afraid that if I really did reach my weight-loss goal and all the things in my life that I thought I didn’t have because of my weight still didn’t happen, what would that mean? You see, although my weight is what I felt held me back in my life, it was also what protected me and what got to be my excuse for not having the relationships in my life that honor me. I mean, how could I have that, when I didn’t honor myself?
Digging Deep
So in the process of losing and letting go of my weight/protection I needed to tell the truth. I looked at my past and my present and painted the picture of my future. By digging deep I was able to acknowledge the times in my life that I was really proud of. In doing that I had to also acknowledge times that I wasn’t.
It wasn’t easy to admit that maybe it was my fault that a relationship didn’t work or that I wasn’t promoted because of my attitude, not my image. It wasn’t easy, but it was liberating. I realized that because a lot of times in my life I felt like the “victim” (if you will), there was no room to change the situation. But once I dug deep and told the truth, I realized I wasn’t a victim, and I was able to acknowledge and forgive myself for my role and let go of it. I was carrying around years of pain and feelings of being “less than,” and I didn’t need to anymore. I realized that I was a strong woman, and I am capable of creating my destiny, that I choose.
Can I just say APPLAUSE to Renee for really just sticking with it finding her focus and pace, I watched her and I thought…… she can win this ( the Biggest Loser, that is J) And good job to Coleen on 8 pounds, you go girl!
--Ali
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