The Biggest Loser began today with a twist. The trainers were to spend a week with the Biggest Loser families, eating what they eat and doing what they do in terms of exercise and all.
Needless to say, it followed the tried and tested formula which channels 7, 9 and 10 often rely on in terms of exaggeration and shock value i.e., showing all manner of consumption of copious volumes of food (surprise surprise mainly carb!) eaten and no exercise apart from going to the fridge and back.One female trainer threw up in the toilet and the other ended her night in tears at the sheer abuse of human body!
The reason why this program interests me is not so much because it is a reality program but more because losing weight is my mission and something that I have always aimed at and lost over the years. I try and see how far the contestants are pushed and probably to match my level of desperation to theirs. Perhaps in a morbid way it is comforting to see others face what I face and seeing they are bigger than me gives me hope that I may be able to give it a try yet again!
I have opened a couple of blogs and this time like yet another new beginning this is my third blog and hopefully my last one in terms of health related blog. So what am I working with?
- I am 41 years old in March
- 5.3 in height
- I weigh just under120 kilos
- I have an ankle injury which bothers me when I am tired and I tend to trip on it when tired
- I am currently 2 weeks away from giving birth to my first child
- I have gestational diabetes
- My baby will be born under a C-Section which means rest until my stitches heal
Probably sounds grim doesnt it? The positive news is that I have been exercising pretty hard over the last 3 years and have been getting better at it. I could eat better than I do but I di eat better than a lot of people and although this is no measure, I know what I need to control and where I can improve my chances of being healthy. I understand and accept that diets do not work and this is a lifetime thing and will never give up. I have made my peace with that and accept that this is the reality in my life. What has been encouraging during the term of my pregnancy is that I have not gained more than 7 kilos since the entire term of my pregnancy. I am proud of that and my doctor is amazed and happy with it. I believe this weight gain has been mainly because I have learned to eat better and made small changes over the course of the last 3 years. I have not dieted during the pregnancy and have even given up writing in my trusty food diary during this period. I have begun to enjoy healthy food and find that when I do not eat well I feel sick like the trainers did and actually throw up or have indigestion through the night. I include enough fibre in my daily food, do not suffer from constipation (which every pregnant woman I know or have read about has from time to time), have had my blood pressure under control for most of my pregnancy bar one occasion, no varicose veins and have been able to work right up until 2 weeks ago.
I will not make sweeping statements like I will win but neither will I start by saying that I will fail. I will just take each day at a time once baby is born. Until then I will try and continue to eat healthy, read up as much as I can on health, think about goals, strategies, rest, think positive - in short, build up my arsenal. On my team I have my husband who has never given up on me. He believes in me and supports me regardless of any form of judgement. He will experiment with healthy recipes, variety of foods to keep me engaged in the cause each time and does not glare or give me the proverbial stare if I do reach out for that extra piece of bread or cookie. He tells me how much he loves me and how beautiful he thinks I am every day even though I tell him to stop. He is my biggest supporter and although I am doing it for me, I am also doing it for us - so I can live longer with him and our child, enjoy going to the beach, cycling, playing with baby, travelling, wear jeans and who knows down the line dare to dream about lingerie!!!
But no dreams now - not because I dont want them but moreso because I have not had the time to think of what will happen during the course of my journey in terms of reward. For now it is just enough for me to say:
"I now declare the games open!"
The amazing race
