The Biggest Loser Season 8 & How It Affects You

476 pounds. 57+% Body Fat. Real Age:30 Biological Age:45. Type 2 diabetes. 245 pounds at the age of 14. Not being able to walk a mile, having to be carried across the finish line at a 27:47 minute mile. Then passing out and having to be medi flighted to the hospital. Not being able to fit into your desk at college. Afraid of not being able to see your children grow up. Being so overweight that you can not have a child. If this is sad and depressing, then it's having it's desired affect.
THIS is the TRUE state of America now. We are getting bigger and bigger, more unhealthy as a people, every single day. Our CHILDREN are bigger, unhealthy, sedentary, and facing childhood obesity at rates that are incomprehensible. Bob said it best "These contestants are the biggest we've ever had. And it's because WE are getting bigger."
I am a personal trainer who takes a great interest in the welfare of all of my clients. I do this because it is my passion. I have been there. I was the girl sitting on the end of the bed crying because none of my clothes fit, and those that did, only made me feel self conscience and out of place. I was the girl who wanted to wear the cute clothes and have the cute guy say hi to me. I was that kid in class that felt awkward. I was the girl who tried to cover up in long t-shirts and shorts at the beach. I felt fat, worthless. I was lonely and sad. Is this what some of our children are facing? Do you feel like this? Are you sick & tired of being sick and tired?
We are always looking for the quick fix: "Lose 30 pounds in 2 weeks while you sleep!" "Take this pill and lose up to 100 pounds!" "Breathe your way to a slimmer you!" "Eat all you want and lose weight!" We try all the gimmick diets: Grapefruit Diet, Run-and-hide-from-carbs Diet, Chicken Soup diet, EAT LIKE A BIRD DIET (uuhhggg!!) I am sorry to have to tell you, but none of these things actually work. And NONE of them are safe. And worst of all, if by some miracle of god you actually LOSE weight on these things, as soon as you start eating again, you'll gain all the weight PLUS some back. But then, you already know that don't you? You already know that the only way to lose weight & keep it off; to get fit and healthy; to be energized and improve your quality of life; is to adopt a healthy LIFESTYLE. That means incorporating exercise and healthy eating habits into your everyday life. You'll set a great example for your family and cut your risks for many diseases and conditions.
Get a Certified Trainer (shameless promotion!). Get in the gym. GET MOVING. Lift weights (yes...u too ladies. You won't look like Ronnie Williams! You'll be non jiggly! Except where you wanna jiggle!) Eat right. You know that a Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit, fried potatoes and coffee isn't the ideal breakfast. Don't say "Okay. I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow turns into another tomorrow and another, and then all of sudden tomorrow turns into Monday because you don't to start in the middle of the week. (I never really understood that reasoning....). Make a commitment and do it NOW!
You need help getting starting? NO WORRIES. Call me. Text me. Facebook me. Go to my website. I can help you. PLUS...(drum roll please!!) BOOT CAMP is coming!!!! More details are on my site. So make a commitment NOW. Register on my site and sign up for Boot Camp. That will get you started right! $30 a week and you pick the three days/time slots that work for you! All information is listed on the site. AND you do not have to wait for boot camp. Call, text, Facebook me and we can get you going before that! We can do it NOW!
Remember the first paragraph of this blog? My goal is to help as many people as possible AVOID that or stop it. If you need help, or you need the motivation or you need to accomplish your health and fitness goals; if you can Decide & Commit, then I can help you succeed. The time is now. Don't wait.
Yours in Health and Wellness,
Karen Williams-deCastro~CPT
www.icufitpt.com

As I sit here and read over quite a few emails that I have gotten, I have discovered the #1 reason for not working out is "I just don't have time!".I am here to tell you, YES YOU DO!
According to the American Council of exercise (ACE), just as you make time to take a shower or brush your teeth, exercise should be a part of what you do every day, and it has to be for your own good.
First hand, it is an "excuse", not a reason. Especially as women, we take time to take care of everything and everyone else: kids, homes, spouses, chores, friends, family, and, in most cases, a full time job as well. My question is: What are you doing for YOURSELF? And will it improve the quality of you life?
I am a mother of twin 13 yr old boys. I am a wife. A friend. An aunt. A daughter. A sister. A confidant. A full time personal trainer. I hold a full time job outside of the home. I conduct skin care classes outside of the home. I operate several in home businesses, including that of a Beachbody Coach. I still workout 4-6 days a week. Is it easy? NO! Absolutely not. But I know that exercise is going to give me more energy throughout the day to do all the things I need to do. There are soo many benefits to exercise, that I could probably write a book about it. But I'm only going to list a few:

• Reduces the risk of premature death.
• Improves your mood.
• Combats chronic diseases such as heart disease, which is the leading killer of woman, & osteoporosis.
• Reduce the risk of developing colon cancer and breast cancer .
• Reduce the risk of developing diabetes
• Helps manage your weight. Notice I said HELPS. You still have to eat a healthy diet, full of lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
• Boosts your energy level.
• Promotes better sleep.
• Can help put the spark back into your sex life. Are YOU often too tired for sex or feel outta shape and "fat"? Who wants to be intimate with their significant other when you feel that way?*Can help promote closer family units. You can make fitness a part of your life. Get the kids out from the front of the television, video games and the computer,and get them off of the couch! Go to the park or the pool. Go outside and throw the ball around or for a family bike ride.
• Reduce high blood pressure or the risk of developing it.
• Build and maintain healthy muscles, bones, and joints .
• Enhanced work, recreation, and sport performance.
• Improved digestion.
• Alleviates menstrual cramps.
• Makes body more agile.
• Enhances immune system.
• Improves liver functioning.
• Increases speed of muscle contraction and reaction time.
• Increases metabolic rate.
• Enhances coordination and balance.
• Improves posture.
• Eases and possibly eliminates back problems and pain.
• Makes the body use calories more efficiently.
• Improves body composition.
• Increases body density.

And the list goes on and on. I want to make sure that you are here to see the children grow up, live out your life with your friends and family, enjoy the time that you have. Exercise will help you do that. Not to mention the natural high that you get and the sense of accomplishment from completing a work out.

Okay Karen. That's great. I get it. I need to workout. BUT WHEN?!?!?! Here are some suggestions:

1. Wake up an hour earlier. This is what I do. I get up at 5 (sometimes 4 if I have an early client)because no one is up at my house until 630 or 7.
2. How important is that television show that you are watching? Skip it. I have a friend who watches the news all day long! Why? It's depressing! Skip a news cast and catch it later. Or, TIVO IT!
3. Can not under any circumstances misses your show? Okay. During the commercials, do jumping jacks, jump rope, jog in place. During the show, do arm curls, lunges, squats, in front of the TV.
4. DVD workouts. Can't make it to the gym? Workout DVDs will help you with that. I, personally, do Turbo Jam, P90X, Power 90, Hip Hop Abs, Yoga Booty Ballet, and numerous other Beachbody programs. Having a variety of programs is key for me. I can match my workout with my mood if I need too. Click HERE to see these and other programs.
5. SNEAK it in! Take the stairs. Park further away.
6. Get the family involved. After dinner, why not take everyone on a brisk bike ride or walk?
7. Workout on your lunch break. Worried you won't have time to eat? Try shakes. My meal on the run is a Shakeology shake with Sunrise Orange Crystal Light. I bought a shaker cup from GNC that has a cup that screws on the the bottom of the shaker cup and a frozen wand that's inserted into the center to keep it cold. I put a scoop of the Greenberry Shakeology in the cup and fill the shaker with 8 oz of cold water and 2 oz of Sunrise, with the frozen wand in the center. When I am ready for a meal or a snack, I unscrew the cap, dump the powder into the shaker, shake it up and enjoy. Your options for shake ideas can be endless if you have a Magic Bullet! Click HERE for Shakeology information.
8. Girls night out? Make it a boot camp at a local facility or gather them together for a workout in your home.
9. Get a Personal Trainer. Even if its only a small amount of 30 minute sessions. A good Personal Trainer will help you make the most of your time to get the bigger benefits. Yes. An hour session is better, but if time/money is an issue, a 1/2 hour session is way better than doing nothing. Plus, you are more likely to make the time when you are paying for it. Same thing for a gym membership. If you live from Kendall-Islamorada, click HERE to register on my Certified Personal Training website.
10. Enlist the help of TRUSTED friends and family. Can they take over some of your load? Maybe watch the kids for an hour or so?
11. What are you doing that you don't need to do? Are you still cleaning your teenagers room or doing their laundry? Why? My 13 year olds do their own laundry, clean their own rooms, clean their own bathroom, wash their own dishes and sweep floors, can cook eggs, toast and oatmeal, and can make themselves one hell of a turkey sandwich on whole wheat! Am I taking away from them being a kid. No. Part of my job as their parent is to teach them responsibility and skills to care for themselves. Next, we'll be moving on the preparing chicken and fish!
12. Make it a priority. Schedule it like you schedule everything else.
13. Make it routine. Make exercise a habit. And make it as enjoyable as possible.
14. Use kids practice time. While the kids are at soccer, football, dance practice, or whatever the sport may be, walk, jog, do walking lunges, squats. It's practice. You don't need to be there disrupting them or hanging out. Get Moving!!!
15. Take a hard look at yourself and decide. Make a commitment to do it and get it done!
16. Join an online gym, for Free! Lets workout together and keep each other accountable! Click HERE and join my SuperGym for free. add workout buddies and more!

If you can make time to do all the things that you do, could you not take 30 minutes to an hour, everyday, for yourself? There are 168 hours in a week. With everything that you do, don't you deserve 7 of them?

In health and wellness,

Karen