Hello again!! I have been out of the blogging loop for a while, but for good or bad I’m back Since the events of last week in Japan my thoughts have turned to how grateful I am for my health, family and the safety I take for granted every day. For a while I have been a bit preoccupied with losing the last 20lbs and now I find myself so grateful for the healthy progress I have made and less concerned with my future perfect body.  With the risk of sounding somber I would like you to take your loved ones in your arms tonight and tell them how grateful you are to have them in your life. Life is so precious and fleeting and truly at the end of the day our greatest blessings are our health and our loved ones.

On a separate, but important note I have taken the events in Japan as a good reminder to be prepared in the event of an emergency here. As I was researching things I should include in my families 72 hour emergency kits I thought how easy it is to add Biggest Loser Protein Bars and Protein 2Go® packs as a quick and healthy addition to our home or cars emergency kits. I know my kids love them and during an emergency I know they will be getting the nutrition they need.

Enjoy your week and remember whats important!

Burgandy

Burgandy Keel received free product in exchange for her blog.

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Wow what an amazing weekend I had in LA at the Biggest Loser casting call. Each time I go to one I am reminded of how I felt when I got up around 3:30AM on August 11, 2007. You see that was the morning of the casting call I went to in Mesa, AZ to try out for the Biggest Loser. I remember being so tired, nervous and excited all at the same time. Casting call started at 10 am but they were allowing people to start lining up at 5am. My mom and I had planned to be there before anyone, we wanted to be the first in line. I remember pulling into the parking lot and seeing others pull in too, I knew they were there for the call based on their size, I immediately wanted to run to get there first. As it turned out we ended up being 11th in line.

During the next 5 hours as we waited for the process to begin my mom got to everyone in line whether they wanted to meet her or not She would tease and say it’s August 11th and we are 11th in line, you might as well go home they are going to choose us. As silly as that was that really was where it all began for us. People started showing up more and more closer to 10 am when the call was suppose to start. The casting people started getting there and setting up around 9 am. By that time my mom and I had found out from the others in line that we needed pictures to attach with our applications, we had no idea. So mom ran (well not literally) to the store to purchase a Polaroid camera and grab us something to eat. On one level we were so ready and the other so unprepared, we had no idea what we were doing or what we were getting in to.

It all started getting really real as the casting people started shifting us inside the Mesa Art Center where the casting was taking place. They had a camera crew going through and interviewing different people in line. Some of the other people in line had been through the casting process before and had almost like little skits prepared, lots had matching shirts and there was mom and I essentially clueless. I remember feeling already defeated a bit when the camera crew walked right pass us to talk to the sisters behind us to interview them. My defenses and insecurities immediately came up, I felt like crying. Why did they want to talk to them? What was better about them than mom and I? Is it because we didn’t have matching shirts? So much was going through my head, I couldn’t believe I was standing in a line for a TV show called the Biggest LOSER! I promised myself that no matter what happened I was going to do something once and for all about my weight. I was tired of feeling bad about myself and how I was showing up in life.

Now we all know that I did in fact make it on to season 5 of the Biggest Loser where I became the first female ever to win the show. What you might not know is that over 200,000 people each season try out to be on the show and approximately only 20 lucky individuals get chosen. As grateful as I am that I had the opportunity to be on the show REALITY is everyday of the rest of my life. So please let today be the first day you choose you and take back the power in your life. If the Biggest Loser inspires you then this season win with them from home. Get to know your resources! Go online to find workout classes, groups, routines. Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about what you should be eating and what supplements might be good for you. And when you are at the health food store or vitamin shop and you are confused what protein you should get, look for my face

This is an interview I did with Adam from Season 10 of the Biggest Loser and some footage from the casting call where I handed out Biggest Loser Protein Bars and 2Go packs, I hope you enjoy it!

Until next time xo,
Ali

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Through my time on the Biggest Loser, I have realized exactly how important diet and exercise are to having a high quality of life. Believe me, the difference in my life now as compared to this time last year are night and day. The Biggest Loser Protein shakes and bars really help me to get through my workouts. They taste fantastic. My two sons love the protein shakes. I have to make 2 shakes every morning now because they got used to drinking some of my shakes, and I was not getting all the protein I needed. So now, I make 2 shakes and share them with my boys. I also really love the vanilla almond protein bars. They are so easy to take with me on the road now when I travel doing motivational speaking engagements and appearances. I can pull one out on a airplane and have a great snack, instead of having to eat peanuts or pretzels. It really helps me to keep my diet in check while I am on the road all over the country.

Patrick House has received free product in exchange for his blog.

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Years ago Billy Graham, the pastor to the presidents, was asked, “out of all translations of the Bible available, which one would you say was the best?”  Billy answered with a clever remark that has stuck with me.  What he said was “whichever one you will read.”  I think that we should look at our exercise in the same way.  There are thousands of ways for us to get exercise and thousands of plans and products out there to pick from and everyone is always trying to find which ones are the most effective and best.  The best exercise program, plan, sport … out there is the one you will have fun and like to do.  So find the thing that you have fun doing and THAT will be the best and most effective exercise for you.

Note:  Corey Pinkerton received free product in exchange for his blog.

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1) Your Diet Promises Overnight Results

Normal, healthy weight loss should be 1-2 pounds each week.  Any more and you risk losing muscle.  And we want to keep as much muscle as possible because it looks good and burns the most calories.

Did you know? Reducing calories by 3500-7000 calories a week will result in safe weight loss of 1-2 lbs. Tracking your daily food intake is a good way to see how many calories you’re getting everyday. Can you ditch 500 excess calories? How about holding the mayo for starters?

2) You’re Eating Fewer Than 1,200 Calories A Day

Calorie deprivation causes your body to go into starvation mode and your metabolism slows to a crawl.

Eating too few calories can be the start of a vicious cycle. When you cut your calories so low that your metabolism slows, you’ll stop losing weight. You’ll become frustrated that your efforts are not paying off. Frustrating diets usually  lead to quitting and gaining  back anything you lost.

Eat as many calorie permitting small meals during the day as possible to keep your metabolism working at its peak.

 3) You’re Required to Eat the Same Thing Daily

If your diet restricts you to one type of food (e.g., whole fruit, cabbage, etc), you risk depriving your body of important nutrients. Plus, it’s boring! Even if you have crazy willpower, getting bored with your daily diet can cause you to cheat, and cheat BIG.  

Here’s a helpful tip: plan your food the night before. Don’t deprive yourself of your favorite foods but keep the portions in check within your calorie range.

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I am making a conscious effort to be more positive about myself and how well I am doing when it comes to improving myself.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am unfailingly positive and encouraging towards just about anyone and any situation, but I have never been good at extending that same courtesy to myself.

Yesterday I bought a Valentine’s present for someone special and the bag that it came in had all kinds of inspirational messages on it. I normally roll my eyes at stuff like this, but there was one that really caught my eye: “The conscious mind can only hold one thought at a time, choose a positive thought.”  The sales person could have swung the bag and hit me in the face since that hit me so profoundly. I continually preach the value of positive self talk and really need to start living it when it comes to myself.

So, that being said, I have not been perfect with my goals. However I am down 7 lbs from the start of the year which represents about a 4% reduction in Jake. I think that it would be more, but I can tell that I am building some muscle as well. Both good things and I can see a difference and can totally feel it too.

Here are several of the things that I have found helpful:
- Sharing my goal with as many people as possible. This helps me to at least feel like other people are watching me and does help with positive peer pressure.
- No french fries! They are my downfall and I have gone french fry free since before Christmas.
- Keep work outs interesting. I am learning to enjoy running, but have found that I enjoy trail running much more than on the street.

I have yet to come up with answers for the following:
- How to stay on track when my routine gets messed up. The last two weeks my company moved which meant lots of physical labor but my eating and meal tracking went to crap.
- Staying motivated when I get a little depressed. I suffer from depression and anxiety and can see that my problems are somewhat cyclical. It is harder to exercise and stay on track when I am down.

Hopefully this next month will be as successful as January has been.

NOTE: Jake received free products in exchange for his blog

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Why is it that cravings for certain foods grab a hold of us and won’t let go till a run through the drive through has been completed? Last week I was craving a big juicy burger! I don’t mean a kids meal burger I mean one that you have to disconnect your jaw to bite into. This insatiable craving really shocked me because I’m not much of a red meat person. However, I’m happy to report that I didn’t give in, instead I thought about why I wanted something so out of the ordinary. Then it occurred to me that I must not be getting enough protein. I have been trying to eat less and move more and I think my body was screaming for tools to repair and build my muscles. I decided to try adding a scoop of Biggest Loser Protein first thing in the morning. I added 50 calories 17 g chocolate powder with a tbs of peanut butter to my oatmeal. After a few days I noticed I wasn’t drooling at the big burger commercials any more!

Food cravings are our bodies sometimes annoying way of helping us get the nutrients we need. If we listen carefully and don’t get distracted with the rush of giving into temptation we can still meet our fitness goals. Now I need to figure out what my body needs when I must eat a wonton

Have a wonderful week! 
Burgandy

Burgandy Keel received free product in exchange for her blog.

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I’m not a huge fan of Gyms.  I would much rather be outside soaking in the beauty of mother earth.  I know that some people would prefer the gym over battling with bugs, animals, and the weather but that is just not me.   Although I don’t really like them, I do find myself joining the gym rats on their electronic wheels every now and then.   But when I have my choice I am the mountain lion conquering the world outside of the cages, taking on whatever nature can throw at me.  One of my secrets to staying energized and having fun while I’m out is having a snack with me to keep my body fueled.  The biggest loser protein products are so quick and easy, they are what I usually reach for as I’m running out the door to conquer the world.

Note:  Corey Pinkerton received free product in exchange for his blog.

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Note: Burgandy Keel has received free product in exchange for her blog.

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My favorite Biggest Loser Protein Product is the All Natural Protein Bar with Fiber. I love the Vanilla Almond Bars. They are so easy to grab quick, on the go, and throw into my gym bag to have after my workout. I am training now for my second marathon, The Boston Marathon, in April, and having energy to finish my long workouts is key to my success. The Biggest Loser Protein Bar really helps to curb my hunger in between meals, and give me that boost of energy to make it through the rest of the day. If there is one thing thats always in my gym bag, it the Biggest Loser Protein bar.

All Natural Biggest Loser protein bars

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