Well everyone, I’m back for another exciting episode of “Weight Loss”.  Since my last post, I would love to proudly announce that I have stuck to all of the guidelines I set forth in my new New Year’s Eve Resolutions: no fast food, no soda, no alcohol, only 5 burger patties, and working out more often.  I haven’t stepped inside a fast food joint, nor touched any alcohol, or sipped any soda since the 24th of March, and boy do I feel…well, good actually.  I’ve been eating smaller meals more often, so I’m not really all that hungry, although sometimes a hunger pang does hit me.  I haven’t missed alcohol or soda at all, thankfully.  And my wallet is certainly happier from me eating at home instead of eating out all the time.  So, what negatives have I been seeing from my new, healthier lifestyle? Well, once in a while I do get quite hungry, which is hard to ignore.  A tall glass of water will help for a short while, but eventually you have to eat something.  For someone like me, it’s going to be a battle for a while as my stomach will actually start to shrink in size to adapt to the smaller portions that I’m eating, and it will be a sort of uncomfortable time of adjustment.  But, a banana or some baby carrots go a long way, as well as all the water you can drink (I love that 0 Calorie substance).  Combine that with more exercise, including walking to school or to the movies instead of driving, and I’m already seeing the results. 

One drastic measure that I did take is that I weigh myself EVERY DAY.  Although a lot of people will tell you that weighing yourself every day isn’t really a good idea, since your weight will fluctuate a lot from day to day, I’ve found that on the days that my weight is lower than the day before, I give myself a little fist pump of joy and say to myself, “Self, you’re on the right track, keep it up.” On those days that my weight is higher than the day before, I find myself doubling my efforts and being extra conscious of what I eat and how much exercise I get.  All of this combined has allowed me to lose 10 pounds in this time frame.  For me to lose 10 pounds in about 2 weeks is remarkable, and should be an inspiration to all of you reading my blogs that if even I can do it, surely you can do even better.  The negative side to that is that I also gained 10 pounds from mid-February to March 24th, so the hard work I’ve done has simply put me back to square one.  However, the fact remains that I am 10 pounds lighter than I was two weeks ago, and that’s something to be proud of. 

Now, I can’t guarantee that my weight loss will continue in this trend or at this rate, but I will put a personal guarantee that I will continue to lose weight.  As I said in my previous blog, what’s past is past, and serves now only as a reminder of the time that I wasted.  If I can lose 10 pounds in two weeks, then I should be done closer to 220, instead of at 262lbs.  But here I am, working hard towards a goal, and I hope that those of you who had given up on yourselves, who said it was too hard, have renewed their passion to lead a healthier life and can use my example of the possibilities that exist, if only we choose to accept them.  I have faith that you can lose the weight as I have.  However, only you can put in the work and determination to succeed.  Do it, and be better for it.  Until next time, here’s to living healthy!

Posted in Nathanael Mulder | COMMENT ON THIS BLOG

As a full time worker, mother and wife, it’s easy to make sure I’m never caught without ample nutrition.  Biggest Loser Protein is a great way to fuel up in a hurry for those of us on the go.   Thanks so much to Biggest Loser Protein for providing samples for the Super Cooper Race!  In addition to supporting a great cause for families of children with heart defects, they supplied us with the needed fuel to run our 5K.  I truly can’t thank you enough.  I tell everyone how great this product is and how it’s become one of the staples of my new healthy lifestyle. 

Sincerely,
Vicky Vilcan, BL6

Posted in The Biggest Loser | 1 Comment

Did you know the tricep is the largest muscle in your arm? It’s also the biggest problem area for many women. If you’ve found yourself covering them up in hot weather, it’s time to unveil those soon-to-be fabulous arms!   Here are some great tips to help you get killer triceps just in time to go sleeveless this spring and summer.

Let’s start with The Skull Crusher. The name might be intimidating, but essentially it’s a tricep extension done while lying down.  This exercise can easily be done at home if you have a barbell or weight available.  If you’ve got a bench, great. If not, just lie down with your feet firmly on the floor.  The weight should be up behind the top of your head with your arms slightly tilted.  Lower the weight slowly down past your forehead then back up again.  To maximize your results, hold the weight a little longer before finishing.

Our next exercise is the one arm tricep. You’ll need a dumbbell for this one. Make sure the weight is comfortable for you in the beginning. Don’t worry if it seems easy at first – it’ll soon get harder!  Take one dumbbell and hold it over your head with one arm extended.  Your elbows should be steady and close to your head.  Lower the dumbbell slowly behind your head and hold for one second before returning to the starting position.  Once you’ve finished the set, alternate arms. 

Tricep kickbacks are another great way to tone and tighten your triceps.  You can do these by bending over a firm, level surface, placing your hand on the surface and holding a dumbbell hanging straight down.  If there’s no surface nearby, just bend over slightly, keeping your back straight. (See photo below). While keeping your elbow steady, press the weight backward slowly just until your forearm is parallel to the floor.  If done properly you should feel your tricep muscle contract.  Lower the weight to the starting position.

Remember to stretch your triceps before starting your routine and after each exercise. You’ll be glad you did!

Depending on whether you’re at a beginning or advanced level, you should do 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps. Some trainers will tell you to repeat the weight movement until you can’t do any more reps.  And don’t forget to drink your Designer Whey protein!  Whey Protein wastes no time in delivering what your body needs – Designer Whey’s special blend of amino acids support lean muscle recovery and growth.

As with any exercise program, consult your doctor or a professional trainer before starting a new workout program.

Difficulty Rating (On a 1-5 Scale, 1 being a piece-a-cake): 3-4, depending on how intense you workout

Stay tuned next week for another amazing workout move!

Here’s to killer triceps,
Designer Whey

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This past Saturday was so much fun at the Biggest Loser casting call in my home town of Mesa, Arizona.  There were approximately 700 hopeful contestants that stood in line, some for hours waiting to get their opportunity to be on the Biggest Loser.  I remember being in that line over 2 years ago and I also remember how scared I was.  I new that regardless of the outcome I was going to start doing things differently.  I mean come on, typically over 200,000 people try out for the show each season and usually only 20 lucky contestants get chosen for each season.  That means that over 199,980 hopefuls are left to figure things out on their own.

The best way to get things changed around in the right direction is to gather knowledge, get a support team, and start where you can.  You did not gain unwanted weight overnight and you surely won’t be losing over night either.  I remember talking to a lady who came over to me at the Biggest Loser protein booth at the HiHealth store in the mall and her sharing with me how this was the 5th season she had tried out for the show.  My heart sank as she continued to share with me that she felt like this would be her last time to line up for the casting call, she felt as if the stars were aligned in her favor.  I agreed with her that this would be her last casting call and as she her eyes lit up and she asked me “really? you really believe it?”  I said “yes because no matter what happens you must choose you”.  She promised herself in front of me that no matter what the outcome of the casting selection she was going to start on her journey of a healthier lifestyle.  I shared with her some quick get started tips as well as gave her some samples of the Biggest Loser protein 2Go packs, I love them because they are easy and convenient so they prevent you from ever having an excuse that you are not prepared

I’ll will be at the LA Biggest Loser casting call encouraging those in line, signing autographs, taking pictures and handing out Biggest Loser protein samples.  So whether you are trying out for the show or just want to say hi, come on by.

See you soon,
Ali

www.alivincent.com

Posted in Ali Vincent | COMMENT ON THIS BLOG

Any internal battle has its shares of ups and downs, peaks and valleys, successes and failures. And the battle of the bulge is no exception. Last week we were able to report a great Wednesday weigh in. Today was a bit of a different story. We were flat, didn’t gain, but didn’t lose. Even after playing by “most” of the rules, the number on the scale didn’t budge.

So cue the quote of the week.  This one doesn’t come from any famous orator or sports personality but from a high school football coach from Vienna, Virginia. I had just gotten embarrassed on the football field by what I consider to be a very superior athlete. Or so that’s the way I’m recounting the story. It happened in front of many family members and friends so it was quite a bad thing.

As I sat on the bench trying to recover, Coach Mike Weaver came over and said, “Son, life is a series of disappointments, and how we handle them determines our success or failure as human beings. Forget what just happened and play football.” That would have been easier done if I hadn’t gotten benched for the remainder of the season. But as we continue all our personal battles, those are really words to live by.

It has been widely said that the best thing an athlete can have is a bad memory. Competitive sports are actually a series of failures. A Hall of Fame baseball player could have failed twice in every three times at bat. A Hall of Fame quarterback generally failed half the time he threw the football. The real champion is the one who forgets the failures, and moves on to the next play.

So lets all forget this weeks weigh in. (assuming yours was bad as well, but we hope not!) And move on to the next play. It is still in our control to take in the right amount of protein, get the right amount of exercise and drink the right amount of water. Here’s to positive thinking and better results next week.

- John Roberts

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Many of us here at Designer Whey are big fans of Dr. Oz. We admire his passion and commitment for helping people live their best lives everyday. Dr. Oz is a huge advocate of daily stretching first thing in the morning. Specifically, he does a 7-10 minute yoga routine every morning that although simple to do, has great benefits that last all day long.

When recently asked about his morning routine, Dr. Oz replied:

“I get up about a quarter to six. I always do a morning yoga stretch that’s about seven minutes long. There’s a reason why it’s seven minutes long: because it’s hard to admit to yourself that your life is so out of control that you can’t carve out even seven minutes in the morning.”

Dr. Oz was then asked if he had to offer only three health tips, what would they be? He replied:

“If I had to cut it down to three, the first thing I’d say is to have some stretching routine that you do every day. Yoga happens to be my favorite because there’s some muscle-building elements to it as well, and it can be cardiovascular, but the stretch is the important part.”

We salute you Dr. Oz, and thank you for keeping us inspired! We are dedicating the Sun Salutation - our move of the week - to you!

Surya Namaskar, the Sun Salutation, is a series of 12 postures performed in a single, graceful flow. Each movement is coordinated with the breath. Inhale as you extend or stretch, and exhale as you fold or contract. The Sun Salutation builds strength and increases flexibility.

There are so many benefits of the Sun Salutation. Here are just a few:

• Strengthens abdominal muscles
• Promotes healthy digestion
• Detoxifies the body
• Gets oxygen flowing through the blood
• Improves memory
• Promotes better sleep and helps relieve anxiety
• Regulates the thyroid gland
• Improves overall flexibility
• Tones and strengthens muscles

For those of you who don’t know how to do the Sun Salutation, we recommend taking a yoga class or getting a yoga DVD. For anyone skeptical about yoga or even intimidated, you’ll be happy to know that yoga is a highly-touted component to a successful exercise regimen. It complements cardio and weight training by helping muscles stay flexible. It’s very common these days to see all types of people in yoga classes. From world-class athletes to stay-at-home moms, everyone is reaping the benefits of yoga.

Once you have several classes under your belt, you’ll have what it takes to do the Sun Salutation. Dr. Oz recommends doing it first thing in the morning every day. Even on days when you think you have no time for yoga, try and do at least one or two rounds of the Sun Salutation. Remember, seven minutes is all it takes. You’ll feel the difference and will enjoy better vitality and energy all day long.

Difficulty Rating (On a 1-5 Scale, 1 being a piece-a-cake), we give the Sun Salutation a 4 because this move requires upper body strength and flexibility. If you don’t have either, don’t worry…you’ll get strong and flexible in no time!

Stay tuned next week for another amazing workout move!

Yours in great health,
Designer Whey

Posted in DESIGNER WHEY Healthy Minute | COMMENT ON THIS BLOG

Well, my friends and fellow weight-watchers and weight-(hopefully)-losers, I’ve been gone for a couple of weeks and return to you now to get a look-see at how everyone is doing.  So, if you haven’t weighed yourself in the last day or so, go do it quick and come on back, because we’re going to talk about some stuff today.

Back already? Wow, sounds like you have lost a little weight, and turned up the speed knob a couple clicks.  If so, good on you.  If not, well, don’t feel so bad just yet.  It’s now the 12th week of the year.  We are officially into spring, the weather is finally warming up for some of you, and the rain has finally subsided in beautiful southern California for those of us lucky enough to live down here.  The real question at hand is: how much weight have you lost?  By some doctor’s recommendations, you shouldn’t lose more than 1 pound per week.  I’ve been known to lose as many as 10 in a week, though I was working EXTREMELY hard during that week.  I have always felt safe and comfortable with about 10 pounds a month, or 2.5 pounds a week on average.  I think it’s a do-able amount without straining yourself or requiring some sort of extreme workout regiment and diet regiment and taking off of work regiment.  So how much have you lost? 12 pounds? 20? Perhaps an exceptional 30 pounds, putting you in a category of healthy feelings and vibrant energy that you thought you’d never get back?  For your sake, I hope so.  And I’ve had some requests to show an update on how much weight I’ve lost.  Well, I have to regretfully inform you that I haven’t lost any weight.  Although, at the beginning of my blogging, I had started to lose a few pounds, I quickly plateaued, and then I got busy with other things (like excuses) and soon realized that I wasn’t working out at all.  I had stopped all of my dieting, had stopped all of my exercising, all my swimming, my rock climbing, everything.  I barely noticed at first.  I would sit down to watch a TV show or two before my workout, and several hours would pass before I realized that I hadn’t worked out at all.  Then the excuses would come, like “Well, it’s too late tonight to workout, oh well.”  Then the fast food would start showing up in my hand.  Burger King’s $1 double-cheeseburgers are really tasty, and cheap, and super convenient for me since I go to school right next to a Burger King.  But for the $5-6 dollars I’d spend on burgers fries and a drink, I could have walked an extra 100 yards to the Subway and spent the same amount of money on a foot long sub.  Why didn’t I? Honestly, I forgot that the Subway was that close.  Did I repent immediately when I remembered? Nope, I just stuck with my “Well, I’m already here” mentality, like a fool.  Late nights of working and studying would drag into early mornings at school, and soon I’d find myself with that “all-important” 42oz Coke at 9am or earlier, to keep me awake during my class.  Now, I’m not a coffee drinker, or those probably would have been better, but the best thing for me would have been some solid sleep and a little better time-management on my part.  So now where do I sit? I’m just as overweight as I was before, but with 12 weeks of the year wasted already.  Had I worked hard and given A LOT less excuses, I too could be down 20-30 pounds already, without a problem.  But I didn’t.  And I’m still fat.

So now comes the next step.  Because there’s always a next step.  For those of you that have met your weight loss goals, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!  Seriously, I know you feel better, and I know how proud you are of yourself.  Think for a moment how great that feeling is, and how you felt when you made your resolution to finally lose that weight.  Now take that, and use it positively to continue that healthy lifestyle you’ve begun to develop.  Keep working out, keep eating healthy.  And reward yourself! Give yourself some ice cream, maybe some super-greasy pizza, and enjoy.  Don’t turn that into a habit, but with moderation very, very little food is all that bad for you.  1 or 2 slices of greasy pizza might look bad on a calorie chart, but with your metabolism up and your workouts regular, and with the new-found glory of your victory, you are welcome to that.  But like I said, this is not an everyday thing.  This is 1 victory lap, not a whole victory race backwards to where you came from.  You are a changed person, remember that.  For those of us that didn’t succeed?  Well, for those people that are losing weight at the rate that they were hoping for, you are succeeding.  Present tense.  So keep at it, because you should be dialed in now to how things are working for you.  You will succeed.  For those that aren’t losing as much weight as they wanted to, but have still lost weight and are still losing weight, you also are doing well.  Yes, it’s become more difficult that you perhaps originally imagined, but that doesn’t mean you should quit.  If everyone quit every time things got hard, then we wouldn’t even be cooking our food over a fire, much less have the wonderful technological advances that we have.  So keep at it, because if your weight is going in the right direction, then you’re still winning.  Just because you’re not beating your opponent by a lot, doesn’t mean that 1 point won’t win the game.  Winning is winning. And if you’re lighter now than you were on January 1, then you’re winning.  Unless you’re goal was to gain weight, in which case I have no idea why you’re reading my blog.

And for those of us, myself I mean, that didn’t lose ANY weight.  Not 1 pound.  Possibly even gained weight.  Well, I hereby declare this day to be your New Year’s Eve.  This very moment that you are reading this, it has just become New Year’s Eve.  So think, real quick, what you want your new year’s resolution to be.  We all know what we’re thinking.  We really do want to lose our weight, but we lost our way.  That’s why it’s a new beginning, all over again.  Those 12 weeks we lost? Forget them, because they’re gone.  Actually, remember them vividly.  Because they’re gone, and we didn’t lose the weight we promised ourselves we would lose.  So enjoy some champagne or some beers tonight.  Enjoy a slice or two of greasy pizza.  Because starting tomorrow is a new dawn, a new day, and I want to feel good.  So here is my pledge to you, inspired by my good friend Jessi.  I will celebrate a late Lent starting tomorrow: from now on, for the next 40 days, I will eat a maximum of 5 burger patties a week (compared with my normal 4-16 a day).  So that’s 2 double-cheeseburgers a week with a single thrown in for good effect.  I will not consume any alcohol.  I will not consume any Soda.  I will workout 4 times per week (I had originally vowed to do 3, but no more laziness for me).  And I will not watch TV until I have done my workout, and my school homework.  <—That also allows me to get a little more sleep.  So, if you want to hold me to my Resolution, feel free.  Anyone who requests it will get my personal email address, my cell phone number, whatever you want so you can tell me to say no to the junk and yes to the gym.  My friend   Jessi is always “bugging” me to work out, eat less, drink less alcohol and soda, and all-in-all live a healthier life.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we all had friends that cared that much about us?  She just wants me to be around for as long as possible, and I aim to be around.  Life is too much fun to lose it early simply because I refused to take care of myself.  So here goes, World.  I’m doing to lose this weight this time.  Hard workouts, weak workouts, whatever, so long as I’m exercising.  Decent diet of mostly just NOT fast/junk food, and more veggies and fruits and perhaps a little less meat.  I won’t go vegetarian because I love meat too much.  But eating as much beef as I do just isn’t healthy.  I’m going to do this.  And if anyone wants a personal motivational coach, I’m more than willing to be him.  Let’s do it, world.  Let’s get healthy.

Posted in Nathanael Mulder | 1 Comment

This is part 5 of helpful tips and methods on “defeating the Itis” pertaining to the daily fitness routines that many go through.

One thing that I found was extremely helpful when trying to find that extra nudge to get into the gym on a daily basis was focusing on my eating habits. I mentioned this briefly, earlier in this series of blogs, but I would like to focus in on it a little more. For me sticking to an eating schedule, so to speak, makes a world of difference in maintaining that ongoing fitness drive. Like I have mentioned previously I have found that for my daily schedule and lifestyle, going to the gym during my lunch break seems to work best for me. With that being said, I have come up with an “eating plan” that aids my daily motivation process, concerning me finding my way into the gym. The main goal of this eating plan is to make sure that I have enough energy to keep me going through the day, but also to make sure that I am hungry enough for the gym. Meaning that I eat just enough to keep me going but not enough to put me over the edge and transform compulsion into sluggishness. A personal example will hopefully better illustrate what I am talking about.

I take my lunch break right before the 6 hour mark because I work in California and I am HR friendly with our crazy labor laws. I get in around 7:30a to the office, so I usually take off for lunch around 1:15-1:30p. Since I spend my lunch at the gym I have to make sure that I am properly giving my body the nutrition that it needs. To do this, I will eat a heavier snack around 10:30a, with a second cup of coffee. It is just heavy enough to give me the boost I need that will fuel me through my lunch break at the gym, but not heavy enough, to make me full when I am ready to go to the gym. Because lets face it, being full is a huge deterrent to getting your butt in the gym. If you don’t give yourself enough time to digest you end up feeling like you are trying to run a 5k after a Thanksgiving meal, which by the way is not cool (damn Turkey Trot). Then when I am done at the gym I come back to work with about 10 min to spare before my hour break ends and I scarf down my lunch and a protein shake and Walla like “hulkamania” magic I feel ripped, fueled and wrestle – wrestle the cooperate world of course. This is what I call my extra inspiration. It’s not much but honestly when I started to do this I began to feel its effects immediately. When lunch time rolled around I was ready with full force to hit the gym. I wasn’t lacking energy and I was bogged down with a full stomach, I was in perfect condition to go.

So the key here really, and to most things in life, is trying to find that balance. No matter what time you go to the gym, try and create some sort of comprehensive digestive schedule to allow yourself and your body to receive the full energy that it needs. Like I said before it doesn’t seem like much of a thing to focus on, but if you are struggling to find that enthusiastic groove that sticks, every little thing counts. Not to mention, it’s always good to throw something new in the mix, if the old routine is beginning to weigh you down. These are simply the opinions of a guy who has opinions about anything and everything, take it or leave it as you will.

Posted in Lucas Hart | COMMENT ON THIS BLOG

Well Friends,

I know you cried this week watching The Biggest Loser. Holy cow! Sam is getting so buffed! That boy is a success already. Cheryl’s where they are now segment was incredible! Kayaking looks fun! I hope I get the same opportunity. I did go to the casting call in Detroit this past weekend and it was an incredible experience. I realized standing in line that there was over a million pounds of excess weight in that line. They will let everyone know by April 15^th if you get a call by then or if you don’t get a call you will know if you get to be on the show or not.

I have a question. Does not our government see the desperateness and the need to make changes in the way we live in this country through these casting calls? Incredible pain and stories in that line for a chance to change is sad.  Insurance companies will pay 10 grand plus for bypass surgery. How about 5 grand for sending someone to a place set up like the biggest loser ranch? A place where there are the doctors, psychologist, trainers, team support and equipment to get people like me on the right path? Noooooo lets pay thousands extra for prescriptions, surgery and recovery… Insurance will not pay for these services believe me I checked and like me, many obese people do not have the extra funds to gather together a team to help themselves.

Friends you know I have been working on me for a long time. My daughter and I decided to not eat after 7:30 at night…seems like an easy thing to do. It’s been hard! I am a night muncher and I have to catch myself all the time. I guess that is good being aware of how many times I reach to munch on something. Of course my daughter is happy to pipe up and say something… MOM! We are not suppose to eat after 7:30, why you looking in the frig?…lol… dang…caught again…so  that is good to have a partner watching my back.

The other thing I am considering is getting a stability ball and put it at my desk. Bob Harper does it, the casting director do it so follow those who are fit and healthy! My weight loss has been inconsistent, I realize that but one thing that is consistent is Designer Whey Protein Powders. They are the best. Designer Whey took the time to create a FREE diet plan as well. All we have to do is follow it, add exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Seems so simple…maybe it is. Maybe, we make it difficult. Back at it friends…if anything…never give up!

Camille

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The only tough thing about living in San Diego is that’s it’s ALWAYS bikini season. Perfect weather year ‘round makes it a dire necessity to stay in decent shape. And let’s face it, everyone wants to look good in their jeans. One of my favorite moves to keep the junk out of my trunk is the Sumo Squat. It’s an easy move to master (did I mention how much I hate lunges???) and really effective. Here’s an easy to follow “how to” on the Sumo Squat.

OK…here goes…the Sumo Squat is pretty much the same as a regular squat, except your legs need to be in a much wider stance with your toes pointed slightly outward. Your feet should be further apart than shoulder width.

Keeping your core tight and your chest high, pretend that you’re sitting way back in a chair. Sit back until your thighs are parallel to the floor, coming back up as your push through your heels. I like to do 3 sets of 8-12 reps, 3-4 times each week.

I love the Sumo Squat because it works your glutes and thighs, especially the inner thighs. If you want to really rev up your results, hold one 10lb weight in your hands between your thighs, or a 5-8 lb weight in each hand. To make it even harder, hold the squat slightly longer before coming up. Don’t forget to breath! It’s best to inhale on the way down and exhale on the way up. 

Difficulty Rating (On a 1-5 Scale, 1 being a piece-a-cake): 3

Stay tuned next week for another amazing workout move!

Happy Squatting,

Designer Whey 

Posted in DESIGNER WHEY Healthy Minute | COMMENT ON THIS BLOG