Tonight’s Dinner and The Biggest Loser

Got a quick, easy and great tasting recipe you can make for tonight…more on that in a minute!

I was reading the other day that the TV show “The Biggest Loser” is looking for one or two new trainers for the upcoming season. They are expecting to be inundated with thousands of portfolios and tapes from trainers looking to get on the show.

As you know, I am a “Biggest Loser” junkie. Not necessarily a fan, but I do enjoy watching the show. I enjoy watching people accomplish what they never thought possible. It intrigues me to watch Bob and Jillian (the trainers) interact with their team members and search for what will drive each individual closer to their goals. Some of the challenges are really cool. The reveal at the end of each show where you see how much progress each voted off contestant has made since leaving the “ranch”. I just have fun watching.

As I mentioned previously, they are looking for a couple additional trainers. Some of you have even been so kind to say that I should go for it, send in a tape and audition for the show. I am humbled and flattered, and I have to admit it crossed my mind. What better platform to get the message out?

But therein lies the problem; I would not be allowed to get Nancy and my message out. While the show is fun, we have a few fundamental disagreements with the methodology.

First and foremost, it is not realistic for the VAST majority of the population.

Odds are you are not going to be sequestered on a private ranch with other totally like minded individuals 24 hours a day.

You are not going to be able to train 8 hours a day.

You are not going to have someone do your shopping and stock your fridge for you.

You are not going to have someone looking over your shoulder every hour of every day making sure you don’t do something that will compromise your weight loss.

And you are not going to average 7-12 pounds of weight loss for 12 weeks.

And you know what? That’s OK!

Because when it comes down to it, it’s not just losing the “weight” that’s important. I can point to thousands of people that lose weight at one time (or more) in their life. And I can point to just as many that gained it back (and more) once they stopped “dieting”.

In fact, many of the contestants on the show have done that very thing! They may have “learned” how to lose weight in the little bubble they were put in, but once they got back into everyday, routine, “normal” life, they were not equipped any better than when they first got there. Yes, some have kept the weight off – very few from the research I have done.

You know I don’t like the word “can’t” – but I am going to break my own rule…

You can’t tell people that it’s ok to eat “100 calorie packs”, because while the portions are controlled on the show, who says I can’t eat a whole box when I get home? 100 calories of junk is still 100 calorie of junk!

You can’t expect a mom with 5 kids to go home and be able to train 7 or 8 hours a day in order to maintain her weight loss.

However you can…

Expect to get hit with the every day stresses of life.

Expect your boss, or your kids, or your husband to drive you nuts once in awhile.

Expect to be tempted to resort to poor choices when things seem out of control – so called “comfort food”.

BUT….

You also CAN take the small steps you need to every day to help you achieve consistent AND permanent weight loss.

Ok Mr. Trainer, you are asking – what do you know anyway? What do you know about being overweight, stressed, and life seemingly spinning out of control?

Fair enough – why don’t we ask this guy instead:

or how about him?

What if I told you this guy topped the scales at 270+ pounds, had a 46″ waistline, couldn’t walk up the stairs without getting out of breath, had high blood pressure,  problems randomly passing out, and a whole list of other fun stuff?

Why would I listen to him, you say? Why, he’s worse off than I am!

What if I told you this same guy now weight 188 lbs with a 34″ waistline, has normal blood pressure, the heart rate of a triathlete, normal blood sugar, and has (this is important) kept it off for over 5 years?

What if I told you the tools that he used to achieve this are available to you, absolutely free?

Would you take advantage of them, or would you find another reason why not?

Here’s the tools, go on and get them, I’ll wait:  Weight Loss Success Toolpak

Ok, now here’s that recipe I promised. It is absolutely delicious and great for you!

Roasted Red Pepper Chicken and Avocado Salad (4 Servings)
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
1 tsp.lemon juice
1 bag(10oz.) torn romaine lettuce (about10cups)
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 medium tomato,cut into wedges
1 small cucumber, sliced
¼ medium Vidalia onion,chopped
½ cup Red Pepper
½ cup Light or Fat-free Italian Dressing
¼ cup Parmesan Cheese

Directions:
Toss avocados with lemon juice in large salad bowl. Add lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions; mix lightly. Add dressing; toss to coat. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Let me know what you think!

Oh and if you see the guy in the pictures, say hi for me! 🙂

Make It Happen!
Dean