I am currently at the Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge in Utah. I will blog when I get back, the days here are really packed with many things that keep me busy. We begin the day at 6am and by the time we are finished with all of the workouts I am beat. I have come to find this is a place for me to reflect on where I have been and where I am going. Perfect timing.
This resort has been a 100% amazing experience thus far. The food (1,200 calories/day) is really awesome. Every single meal has left me satisifed and surprised at the same time.
When we began filming the Discovery Health Show in August 2009, I was 368 lbs, as many of you know. When we finished filming in November I was 328. I came here close to the weight where I was at in November. I will keep you all posted.
Acess Hollywood was here yesterday with Maria Menounos. We all think it is going to be a great segment. It should air next Tuesday, I will keep you posted.
I figured I would update everyone as we have more info on where to read and see Erik this week….as it stands now, “Confessions of a Reality Show Loser” is premiering on The Discovery Health Network on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 9:00 pm. It will air again on Thursday at midnight, and Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 1:00 and 6:00 pm.
Posted by Erik Chopin on December 16, 2009 under Site News | Comments
Thank you to each and every one of you for the overwhelming support and inspiration since the “Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now?” show aired a few weeks ago. I have heard from many who have even lost as much as I did and have gained it all back…and even better yet, lost it all again and kept it off. I have heard from young and old, fit and struggling, and believe that every story I learn has helped me understand this process so much better than before.
My 1-hr documentry premiere will be airing on Discovery Health Channel on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 9:00 pm. The title of the show is “Confessions of a Reality Star Loser”.
For the many who have asked, yes, I am still doing motivational speaking engagements around the US throughout 2010 even though I am focusing on my weigh-in May 25, 2010. I wanted to take this opportunity to let all those interested that I have several dates still available, you can reach me at contact@erikchopin.com.
Keep the emails and comments coming. They have been an invaluable support to me.
I have to admit, I didn’t think that Erik’s 214lbs weight loss would be broken, 5 seasons later, and it was shattered. Both Rudy and Danny lost more than that in less time. It took Erik 8 months to lose 214 lbs and acoording to Danny on The Today Show this morning the entire process took 6 1/2 months. WOW. I know what it took for Erik to get that weight off, so I commend them for pushing even further than they thought they would ever be able to go.
The finale brought back a lot of memories for me. When you are going thru something so surreal its sometimes hard to take it all in. Perhaps since the big boys were in the finals it really brought me back to a place where we were not so long ago, and its still surreal. It also brings up another item. Erik has agreed to step on the big scale at the Season 9 finale in May 2010. It’s happening all over again in some ways. The amount of strength it takes to get to the finale this time will take more than an incentive of $250K. I worry that because of the “finish line” sort of speak that Erik will again get this weight off and not learn how to maintain it long term. For anyone that thinks Erik is the only one that gained it “all back” after the show they need to think about how many contestants were not shown on the Where Are They Now special. Erik was very brave to share his story and more inspiring to many this time around, having lost and regained, which any of us that have struggled with weight at any point in our lives understand first hand.
We are in the process of working on finalizing our diet and exercise plans to share with all of you. Our launch is going to be January 2010.
Erik is working on his blog about the Where Are They Now show he filmed in October and aired in November. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to post them and he will answer as honestly as he possibly can.
When I woke up the other morning and heard that it was supposed to rain the next few days I began to feel that depressed feeling I get every time winter comes. Its dark, its cold, and like today always raining. You know the kind of day you wish you could crawl back into bed, but never can. I decided to do something different about it. I guess you could say I used the baby as a good excuse, for the first time, but I decided to take him to the gym with me and let him play with the kids there instead of watching me fold laundry, clean the house or Facebook. He loved it and so did I. When we came home we both had lunch – together – something I usually don’t do for myself and he took a nap which gave me even more “me” time, and when you have three kids that equals “quiet time”.
Every single day is another challenge for me. To balance motherhood is still an ever changing challenge, as well as my diet and exercise. It’s never easy, but sometimes harder than others. I try to do everything I have in order to keep the kids, a house and a husband happy. Not necessarily in that order all the time, but its a challenge to put me on the list sort of speak. My weight goes up and down and it doesn’t always depend on whether I am happy or stressed, it happens easily.
Yet again I became emotional while working out. Many of you who know me, know that happens often and I share that openly with you, as those of you have told me it happens to you too. I never can quite figure out why I get so emotional, and it may or may not be because of one thing or another at the time, it changes, accomplishment, guilt, etc. I say sometimes the sweat pouring down my face is cleansing of everything. Almost like tears.
I decided today to start sharing my challenges and accomplishments as well with all of you. As a mother, wife, and friend I sometimes have a moment to appreciate so many of you inspire me to be who I am today.
We all have so many things to be thankful for. So many chances at a new beginning. Everything always works out. Negativity gets you no where.
Crazy fad diets are all the rage, right? People fall for them like a largemouth bass. They’re easy. They’re easy to track, and easy to execute (in theory). But do they really work?
If anything, people who go on these crash diets are probably more likely to wind up gaining weight. Why? They get frustrated when weight loss isn’t working as quickly as they think it should, so they give up. Or, they get so desperate for that double-quarter-pounder that they finally give in.
We’re human. We have urges. In our case, that urge is delicious food. So why are we killing ourselves to keep that food from going in our stomachs? Is it that bad?
Sure. It is – if you eat it every day. We’ve all heard the stories of people who sued McDonald’s because they ate there seven times a day and got fat. But not everybody that eats at McDonald’s is obese and unhealthy.
The key is moderation. That doesn’t mean having a day every week where you can pig out. It means allowing yourself a little treat. Those couple cookies won’t make you fat. Those forty cookies will. That double-quarter-pounder won’t kill you, but it will if you eat it for lunch and dinner.
The beauty in moderation is that, if you eat healthy all the time, those few little treats will taste extra delicious, and you’re not depriving yourself of them. That means you will build a little more willpower and determination. It’s that kind of momentum that you need to keep going. Work a little moderation into your diet – enjoy your life while you save it!
2- The Air Diet: The Air Diet of the Institute for Psychoactive Research doesn’t require you to avoid any foods or change your current diet or exercise habits-you just breathe. Instead of focusing on what you eat or how much you eat, you focus on breathing. The idea is that if you practice rhythmical breathing, then you breathe more air. The more air you breathe, the more weight you lose. The best part is that you can do this anytime, anywhere-while driving, laying in bed, working, walking, having sex, and so on. Allrighty then!
Okay, so some of these are pretty funny, like the Air Diet here or “The Weight Loss Cure They Don’t Want You To Know About”, but the sad fact behind this is that people believe in this crap.
Look, I’m putting together a diet plan right now, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it: it’s going to be hard. It’s going to involve healthy food and exercise. That’s it. But that’s what true weight loss is – it’s a lifestyle change that is hard.
What you can do with a diet and exercise plan is make it best for you: include delicious foods that will be good for you but also good. Or make sure your exercise activities are things that you’ll want to do on a regular basis and maybe even enjoy them.
Stop looking for that magic key. It doesn’t exist. If you want a better life, you have to earn it. Stop drinking the urine of pregnant women or eating tapeworms. Make the change yourself.
One-third of the subjects were placed on a low-fat diet and prescribed 30 minutes of exercise per day. Another third were placed on the diabetes drug, Metformin. The final third had no intervention whatsoever – diet or exercise.
The people on the diet and exercise regimen lost an average of 15 pounds during the first year with many of them reaching the predetermined goal of 7% total body weight loss. During the seven year study, this group gained an average of 10 pounds back but they continued to have the lowest rate of diabetes.
After 3 years of the study, researchers found that the diabetes rate among the participants in the diet and exercise group dropped 58% while it dropped only 38% in the group placed on Metformin when they were compared to the group that had no intervention.
Those are some great numbers. I was diagnosed with diabetes when I first went on the show, but after I lost my weight the first time, guess what? Those problems and complications all went away.
I think people should understand that weight loss and a healthy lifestyle is better than drugs for just about anything, not just diabetes. If you are active and healthy, you’re going to feel better. Let’s stop medicating ourselves so much! We have a choice! YOU have a choice!
"I told people from the beginning that ‘If I’m doing this, I’m going to win,’ " she said. "I set my mind to it."
That’s the biggest hurdle, isn’t it? If you go into it thinking, This isn’t going to work, I’ll be right back where I started, guess what? It won’t work, and you’ll be right back where you started. The mind is an extremely powerful tool – it can help you, and it can hurt you. Put it to good use and keep yourself going. Tell yourself you WILL lose that weight!
Web site Twitip recently posted a great look at 10 ways to use Twitter for weight loss. It’s not just about tweeting what you’re eating, but using different services that allow you to plan your eating and workouts, as well as read inspiration and laughs from other tweeters. It’s a very interesting read, and a good strategy if you’re looking to change it up!
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