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

How about that MORNING SONG!!! I gotta tell you, when I found out that John, who I LOVE, ate 37 donuts to be able to have the power to pick when The Black Team would have access to the gym and he picked 5AM, I was DYING!!! If you think for one second that it was “tv time”, meaning that we really shot it later than 5AM, it was truly that time of the morning. I remember my alarm being set for something like 3:30 to be able to get to the ranch on time. I was dying but I decided on that drive to work that I would make the best of it. John wanted his team to work out the first shift and I was not going to hold back and I DID NOT!! Those workouts were crazy. I seriously got possessed by some morning spirit that wanted to work them out like a maniac. I ended up having a blast and I think my team did too, with the exception of Antone, for that moment that he went ballistic. Can you imagine having someone just push and push and push you until you finally get to that kind of breaking point. I really find success when you are able to break all the walls down in any situation and just “get real”. So many of us put on a brave face, façade, or coat of armor when starting out their day and I believe by doing that you miss out on so much the day has to offer. We try to be something to people that we are not and you don’t really live your best life. So I say get angry, show people the real side of you, whatever that is, and I guarantee that your life will never be dull and your growth will be aplenty.

Now let’s talk about John eating all those donuts. You know that I hate that kind of stuff on our show because I don’t think that it really teaches you anything. I don’t think you will find yourself in a situation where you are asked to eat a bunch of stuff to gain an advantage in your life. The only way I could look at this was that here is a man that needs to be in control in his life and he chose to do this because he didn’t want anyone to have power over his destiny. He wanted to be able to make his own decisions and that is something that I can relate to. People come into my house and they have lost all control and when I’m teaching them how to regain it and then all of a sudden a fork in the road happens and you have to decide what to do, I have always said that the only bad decision is not making a decision. John decided to make a decision at that very moment and that is something that I respect. The thing I love about John is his dedication to taking care of himself and what he needs. More people that I come in contact with have lost that and it’s a hard road back but it can be done.

You know how I always love to give you a challenge when I write these blogs and well, here it goes… When you are faced with a challenge or difficult decision to be made and you find yourself “on the fence”, make that decision on how it can benefit you and don’t second guess it. Whatever it is, as long as you are taking care of yourself, will be the right decision and the real challenge is to NOT SECOND GUESS YOURSELF!! One final note. How about how hard my Black Team worked!! Those guys were so focused and dialed in that week. I teach people to just do what you can do in the course of a day and everything will all work out. Try to make the right decision 80% of the time and you will always come out ahead. Love you guys…xoxox

Well here we go with another Season of The Biggest Loser. Can you believe that we are on Season 12??!!! I remember the first day driving to work thinking about how weird it was going to be without Jillian there. Ask anybody that knows me, I’m not a big fan of change so, needless to say, I was a little worried. So I show up to work and we are in the middle of a flat desert area with military choppers and a whole new batch of people and all I could say to myself was, “keep your focus on whatever team you get and everything else will work out”, so that is exactly how I approached this season. I really wanted to be the leader of the Black Team because it just seemed right. It was paying homage to my girl and plus, practically everything that I own is black, grey, or navy so I had plenty of clothes.

When that day started and I knew that the teams had to run a mile in the desert I just didn’t want anybody to go down, and they didn’t, and I got the “Middle Aged” group and loved them immediately. Antone and John were my kind of guys, just big and strong. I LOVE THOSE TWO GUYS!! I thought that Jennifer was going to be a handful but I was pleasantly surprised at her work ethic and Sunny could cry at the drop of the hat but she was southern so I loved her. I really got a good feeling from this group and I was very excited to show America that age is nothing but a number. Do older people have to work harder to get the same results as the younger people? Yep. Was that no longer gonna be an excuse to not do anything? You are damn right. I think that this season is going to inspire our audience in a whole new way because Battle of the Ages is gonna show the seniors out there that it is never too late and hopefully get the young people off the couch and away from their computers and start gaining control of their lives early on. There are so many positive messages with this format and I’m really excited that you guys have started this journey with all of us.

How about that moment with Antone on the ground outside? How many of us can relate to that? All of a sudden you reach a point in your life when you can no longer deny where it is you are – emotionally, physically, and spiritually. That is exactly what happened to him in that moment. He was on the ground and came to that realization and it was so honest and raw. That is how you make real and lasting changes. You’ve gotta give yourself a really good look in the mirror and make that assessment and I promise you, when you do that, no matter how bad it is, it will only get better because it was at that moment when you looked yourself in the eye and was honest with yourself, that the change will start to happen. I promise you that it will get better if you just take that first step and I’m gonna be right here for you…..Big Love to all of you out there…xoxoxo

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