I think that the first thing that I thought after watching this weeks show was how cruel people can be, whether it is consciously or unconsciously. When Sunny and I were working out at her gym in Frisco, TX and she was reminded of a time when she went to that gym to try to lose weight and a group of girls were pointing and laughing at her, it just made me so sad. People don’t realize how damaging that is on a person especially someone that might be going to a gym for the first time in hopes to change a behavior and are met with that negative energy. I can totally understand when overweight people are so nervous about going into a gym atmosphere. They feel like people are staring at them and judging them. Well I’m here to tell you that, yes, I’m sure there are those people out there but on a whole, fitness people really do welcome someone that is going in for the first time so PLEASE do not let that stop you if you are nervous or struggling about going to a gym for the first time….JUST go in there and go into that class or just jump on a piece of cardio equipment and know that it will all be okay. I loved that Sunny and I were there working it out HARD in that place. People were just staring at her in awe of what she was able to do. I was just so happy to be a part of that with her.

Now let’s talk about the BBQ place. I know how hard it is to eat healthy in the south, but it can be done. You just have to make a few adjustments to the menu. Stay away from all the bread and fried foods and lean toward the veggies and lean choices of meat. Did you like seeing me on that mechanical bull??? I have to say that it was actually fun to do that but I was not happy about it at first and my hand HURT from gripping on so tightly!!! The only other thing that I was left with after watching that episode was the feeling John had and really finally beginning to express them. Here is a man that has been in control of his journey since the first day and now all of a sudden he had to relinquish that control and it was very hard for someone like him. There comes a time in life that you have to begin to trust other people and when you do that so many other doors open. I was proud of him that day and I was really proud of Sunny. She really did step it up for her, her team and her family. It was a fun week and I gotta say……Don’t mess with Texas!!!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!!!! Let me just start by saying that Shawn Merriman is “THE MAN”!!! The fact that he came in to help me with that grueling last chance workout was so amazing. I thought it was great how he just jumped right in and, at first, he was nervous about their abilities so when he saw me yelling and screaming to push them harder the beast in him was released. I haven’t had that much fun working out my team since the days of Jillian Michaels (don’t get me started about that. I am missing her BIG TIME. Are you?)

Okay let’s talk a little more about the episode. Sometimes, and I’m just being honest, I think the challenges are silly and sometimes annoying. Don’t tell anybody I said that but this challenge was so much fun and it made so much sense. I loved being able to show people how certain exercises will burn more calories than others and at the end of the day you can see that all that hard work that you do in the gym really does BURN CALORIES!! I was really proud of my team that day and the fact that I was gonna give that MVP to Antone was the obvious choice, but when I thought about it for that split second I knew that it had to be Jennifer aka Jiggly Butt that had to take that honor. I was so proud of that girl during the challenge because she was working so hard and remember, she walked into that gym ON CRUTCHES!!! Are you kidding me??? That is a true athlete. She overcame her shortcomings and found a new path. That to me is one of the biggest lessons of last night’s episode. There is a way to work out and stay on your healthy lifestyle even if life puts an obstacle in your way. With Jennifer it was her stress fracture so instead of rolling over and saying that she couldn’t do anything, we found a new plan of attack and what an attack that was. That girl burned mad calories in that challenge and she blew up the scale in the weigh in.

The Black Team is definitely a force to be reckoned with and last night was no different. This team has come into their own and they are no longer going to settle for mediocrity. Antone is really coming around and to see him step it up for NFL week, even though it was definitely a humbling experience for him was great. Imagine, it wasn’t that long ago he would have been the football star to come in and work the contestants out. Now he is a contestant getting trained by the elite athlete. I think in the big picture it was just the motivation that he needed in week 3. He saw a glimpse into his future and he wants it again. I loved when we were doing that hard last chance workout and I asked him how he was doing and he said he loved it. That was exactly the answer I was looking for. Also, how about the Black Team victorious again at the weigh in. We pulled out some more amazing numbers. I love my team!!

So now for my final thought on the episode…..Don’t let obstacles in life hold you back from pursuing whatever it is that you want out of life. If you have an injury that is holding you back, find a new and effective way to workout. Get your diet ON POINT!! Take the steering wheel on the car of your life and drive it in the direction that YOU want. Never accept “no” or “I can’t” as an answer and, by all means, do whatever is in your power to change your direction if you don’t like where you are going. You can do it, what ever “IT” is if you just believe that you can and let NOTHING stand in your way…xoxo