Who’s making your decisions?

Have you ever felt out of control? Lately I tell you I feel like I’m not getting it all together as if I can’t get anything right. I was talking to a friend and we were talking about the different pressures we put on ourselves that are often unattainable and then we never get a chance to celebrate or be done or take a break. Lately I have felt as if a teenager has been making my decision’s and trust me when I say I wasn’t the most pleasant teenager. I was that “WHATEVER” teenager and that is how I’ve been feeling lately and honestly it’s not ok, not anymore.

I realized that at different points in my life when I have felt uncomfortable or alone or scared or nervous or sad or out of control or even just bored I have let that teenager inside me that wanted to be noticed make decisions for me or shall I say sabotage me. Well there is nothing I can do about my past but I can stop the cycle and do something different. I refuse to let my insecurities sabotage me.

I have been at this point in my life many times before and I’m sure I’ll be here many times again I just hope that each time I catch myself a little faster than the time before and as long as I do that I will continue to win. As I continued the conversation with my friend and tried to pinpoint why I might be sabotaging myself, I realized that I need some new goals, I need to break it done to basics!

I need to rest my weekly plans and get focused on some specific goals that I am achieving each and every week so I can feel proud of my accomplishments. I realized that a lot of my “whatever’s” as of lately is because I haven’t been feeling the greatest about my self, about my body. I have been feeling weak, out of control and soft. I realized that I was experiencing what probably many others are feeling at this time of year…. I’m dreading swimsuit season!!!! I don’t feel as strong as I have in recent years years so I took a look at that and to tell you the truth there were some obvious voids in my routine that will help me feel better with just the simplest of tweaks.

So my swimsuit ready routine is going to be focusing on building more muscle, I want to hit it hard and really start to see all the definition that I love again. When I am able to see the definition in my body I truly feel BEAUTIFUL, with that having my definition which is strength and confidence. There are some transitions in my life right now and I want to feel prepared to address them head on. Hit me up on the Biggest Loser Protein  FaceBook page and tell me what kind of strength training programs and ideas you have as well as any new shake recipes for summer protein shakes! I’m trying CrossFit and just bought the TRX system so I’ll let you know how it’s going.

Till next time,

Ali xo

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The month of May is filled with many reasons to celebrate from Mothers Day to Memorial Day..and my birthday somewhere in the middle! :)
 
This month I want to celebrate, give thanks to and honor someone very special in my life. The Biggest Loser show brought us together and through the magic of the casting process and a little help from the internet, a bond was created that holds strong to this day!
 
I met Joeinne after her brother, Captain Tom, had attended and received a “call back” interview for Season 10 of the Biggest Loser…I attended the same casting call and received a “call back” interview also.  The casting call turnout was huge-3000 people…just trying to put into perspective how amazing it was ! We stood maybe a dozen people away from each other in line that day but it wasn’t until after the casting call that we all met!
 
Through the social networking process and our love of all things Biggest Loser and the desire to become healthy, Joeinne and I met via the internet! Joeinne was on a crusade to help get her brother, Captain Tom, on the show since he was well over 300 lbs and heart disease runs in their family.
 
Over the next several months friendships blossomed, our families all got together …Captain Tom took us for a sail on his boat, an authentic Sternwheeler! With season 11 Biggest Loser casting call now fast approaching, Captain Tom and I decided to apply for a spot on the show as a team! Joeinne had recently lost 125 lbs and was doing well with maintaining her weight loss. She not only was rooting for her brother to get on the show but was rooting for me now, too..I often told her that she was our “cheerleader” !  She was and is so much more then that though, she once drove over 400 miles just to help me make my casting video! She was and is our rock through this whole process!
 
In the end when neither Captain Tom or I were selected for Season 11,  there was Joeinne once again encouraging us to stay strong. She feels that we can lose weight and get healthy on our own. Her positive energy never ends and is quite infectious as well!
 
Three months ago Captain Tom and I attended the Season 12 Biggest Loser casting call. Joeinne was helping to attend to every little detail and cheering us on as usual! Joeinne had been so focused on being there for both her brother and I that she hadn’t noticed that she had gained back 36 lbs!  She had once weighed 320 lbs and gotten down to 187.
 
Joeinne noticed she wasn’t feeling as energetic as usual, so she visited her Doctor for a check up. One month after the Season 12 Biggest Loser casting call, she found herself in Double Bypass Open Heart surgery to correct a severely clogged artery.  She had also suffered a mild heart attack as well.
 
Almost 6 weeks post surgery, Joeinne is healing and looking forward to getting back on track with eating healthy. She has begun walking to stay fit. 

I can’t think of a nicer person that I have ever met in my life as Joeinne. When my family and I visited Joeinne and Captain Tom in their hometown for the first time, it was as if we had stepped back in time to a story book fairy tale….it was enchanting and beautiful….just like Joeinne!

Sometimes we want to help others so much and in doing so, we lose sight of ourselves. Keeping ourselves in focus helps us to be able to keep doing what makes us happiest, like helping others.  I’m sending Joeinne a “get well/care package”…not flowers, not candy….but, something that will help her get healthy ….a basket of ‘Biggest Loser Protein Products!’  She knows it on the way and couldn’t be any more excited!
 
Have a wonderful May everyone! See you back here in June!
Stephenie

Stephenie received free product in return for her blog.

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Wow everybody! What an amazing journey its been since my time on The Biggest Loser! Between being a full time husband, a daddy to 3 amazing kids,  a full time pastor, and traveling the country telling my story to any and everybody, its hard to get the nutritional aspect on lock.  I love how The Biggest Loser Protein products keep me so in check with my nutritional goals!  A lot of people think that The Biggest Loser Protein Powder is a magical weight loss powder you add to some milk or some water but you would be wrong! It starts in your head! Having a great workout plan, a great nutritional plan and incorporating The Biggest Loser Protein is the right way to balance out your life! It is an amazing tool to help you on your weight loss or weight maintaining journey, however, your best tool is a having a great plan.  Remember to sit down and plan out your meal times and your snack times.  Also, remember to add some time  for working out or working up a sweat, and remember to add some you time in there to balance out the equation. I believe in you, believe in yourself.  I am currently in Owasso Oklahoma training for a few half marathons, some 5K’s and a 10K.  Its always good to work toward a goal.   So, be sure to set yourself a goal!

Do good work, find me on facebook and tell me all about your amazing lives with The Biggest Loser Protein.

Sean Algaier received free product in exchange for his blog.

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:  ”After an Intense work out, when I feel quenched and drained of energy I grab a packet of PROTEIN*2GO out of my gym bag and mix it with my water or when I work out at home I put 1-2 cups of ice in a blender add a packet of Lemon or Red Raspberry PROTEIN*2GO and blend it with 8oz. of water for a quick pick me up, and to help in the rebuilding process of my muscles! It’s a great refreshing Frosty!

Frado Dinten received Free product in exchnage for his blog.

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Well folks, it’s been three months since the finale.  Life after the Biggest Loser is indeed difficult.  I really found myself going through the process of the show, but now I need to get on with my next stage of life. 

            My schedule has been crazy!  I’ve been traveling to some beautiful (and warm) parts of the country to lend a helping hand to those in need.  It’s hard to cook for myself when I am on the road, so keeping around Biggest Loser protein bars really helps me fight hunger between meals and in a healthy manner.  I honestly don’t know what I would do without them.

            Another facet of my life that I have been working on is muscle gain.  I actually got a little TOO skinny for the finale.  I was actually told I had to GAIN twenty pounds.  Never thought I would hear those words in my life.  When I got home from California, I went back to what I loved doing, lifting weights.  As much as doing cardio was essential to my weight loss, weights are what I truly enjoyed.  Now in order to get bigger muscle wise and not go up waist wise, I had to look for a good source of protein post workout.  That is were Protein Blitz came in.  60g of protein per servings with very low carbs, plus 8g of leucine and 16g of BCAA’s for recovery? That is a hit in my book.  I have gotten my arms up to 18″, hoping to get to 20″ by the season 11 finale.  My chest is popping as well and I feel like a million bucks.  Still a 36″ waist too!

            As this crazy journey of life continues I hope to inspire many others out there that you can overcome any obstacles.  Follow me on twitter @BLMark and feel free to leave me a message on facebook at Mark Pinhasovich Biggest Loser!

Mark Pinhasovich received product in exchange for his blog.

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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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Designer Whey is excited to welcome Nick Ferroni to our team of bloggers. Nick’s goal is to be an example to everyone he comes across, especially his students. He teaches them that it is never to early to establish a healthy lifestyle. He shows them what to eat and doesn’t just tell them what they shouldn’t.  Most importantly, he wants to help educate the body and mind of everyone he meets.

Nick left a soap opera and turned down numerous entertainment opportunities to become a high school History Teacher. He still acts and writes and will be hosting two TV shows, and recently sold two shows and a feature film. Not only does Nick educate the hearts and minds of his students and involve them in his professional endeavors in the entertainment industry, he trains them at the gym and shows them how to lead a healthy lifestyles. He keeps Designer Whey products in his desk specifically for his students, who are very proactive about their health and often involved in sports. In an urban school where students often fall through the cracks, Nick gives his heart and soul to his students, and even helps assist former students with college tuition and gym memberships. He will also be doing two feature films this spring, both which he involved two of his former students in. He is also in the process of developing a “Nutrition Survival Guide” for high school students in order to help them make healthy choices in school cafeterias.

Note: Nick receives free Designer Whey 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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