The Smallest Loser

Mike recently informed me that I need some new material. [i'm boring. i get it.] He said I need to blog about things other than Ella, and more than once a week. He suggested I tell you about things I learned on Live with Kelly & Michael, or on Kathie Lee & Hoda. But really, I'm not sure that's blog-worthy. One day it might be, but not today. I will, however, start to give you a little more material. You might not be interested... so stop reading! I might be opinionated... sorry [not sorry]! How about some editorials, opinions, recipes, outings... here we go! [computer, don't crash on me again...]

I'm going to start by giving you my two cents about last night's finale of The Biggest Loser.  Maybe you watch the show or maybe you don't, but here's what went down. The finalists came out and showed off their new bods, then they each weighed in. The winner is the person with the highest percentage of weight loss. Well this season's winner was a lady named Rachel. She's 24 years old, 5'4", and started the show at 260 pounds. After her time on the show and then a few months at home, she lost a whopping 155 pounds! That's right, she now weights 105 pounds. 

via

According to magazines, she looks great! I have to admit, she does look great. But when I saw her in action, I realized that she was quite thin. While the goal of The Biggest Loser is for these participants to lose their extra weight, it's also to get healthy. Her new BMI of 18 is [according to the CDC] considered underweight. Sure, she wins $250,000 and looks like the magazines' idyllic 24-year-old. But I have to wonder how she did it. Did she develop an eating disorder? I hope not. I hope she's working out and eating a healthy diet.

While thinking about this result, I can't help but compare myself to Rachel. We're around the same age. We both love food. We're both overweight. At the end of my pregnancy, I was creeping my way up to 200 pounds. Now, four months later, I'm still struggling to get the pounds off. I'm still overweight. But I'm doing it the healthy way. I try to exercise several times a week, I eat pretty healthy foods, and I even enjoy my dessert. 

On the show, they lose 5 to 10 pounds per week. Could I do that? Heck no. Could I get down to 105 pounds? Heck no. And if I did, I'm sure there are plenty of people who would tell me that I don't look healthy. Aren't friends and family supposed to keep you in check? Mine would. Where were hers?

I do want to be supportive. She's getting her life back. She's getting healthy [i think]. She can probably do more things than she could 155 pounds ago. So to Rachel -- good for you. That's a huge feat. But please, be healthy about it.

While we're at it... As far as my progress goes, I have lost 12 pounds since the last time I checked in. I'm only 5 pounds above my heaviest, 12 pounds above pre-baby, and 18 pounds from my goal weight. I'm getting there, slowly but surely. And I'm doing it in a healthy, enjoyable way.