Eat Run Play

Did you know that The Biggest Loser has a higher success rate for relationships than The Bachelor/The Bachelorette? And not just by a little! Why I believe that’s the case is because on The Biggest Loser, these people are sharing their whole selves! They have laid out their insecurities, their skeletons, and they are ready and open to change. When two people enter a relationship with everything already out on the table, they grow in a love that is based on true character, honesty and openness. Their biggest insecurity and struggle in life is already known and most importantly, accepted.

Guess what? It’s not only on The Biggest Loser that this happens. Love connections are happening all the time at The Biggest Loser Resort as well. Rob shared with me his story of meeting his girlfriend Stephanie earlier this summer.

Stephanie and I met at the Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge in August of this year. I guess it all started on a Sunday night when everyone met each other in the dining room in Malibu for the first time. Our group clicked right away from day one me, Steph, and a few other friends, Kim, Kim, Michelle, and Josh were inseparable.

I, of course, was the only one in the group with experience at the Fitness Ridge because I had been there in June. So after we all met we went to hang out by the hot tub for some laughs and to get to know each other better. At first I was not interested in Steph, I was into another guest at the time, but Steph tried hard to get my attention and by Wednesday it was hook line and sinker for the two of us.

We were in the same group for all our classes. I always push myself to the top of every class I go to. I am a very hard worker and I have lost over 200 lbs so far in my journey! It was nice to have Steph right by my side. The only time we didn’t see each other was during the hikes because we were in different hiking groups.

We got closer and closer as the week went by and it was getting harder for us because I was leaving and she was staying another two weeks. I wish I could have stayed but I had to get back for a training.

It’s been four months now and we are still going strong! It’s a bit of a struggle sometimes because I live in Florida and she lives in New Haven, CT. But we see each other as much as we can and skype each other a lot.

I am grateful to Fitness Ridge for not only helping me on my own transformation of losing over 200 lbs so far, but for introducing me to my beautiful girlfriend!

It is so fun to watch these romances blossom at the resorts. It’s also neat to see couples that have been so caught up in their own busy lives for so many years finally have time together and fall in love all over again. Who knew that love could grow so much in a place of sweat, workout clothes, crazy hair and no makeup? That’s when you know it’s real.

The holiday season means everything PUMPKINflavored for me! We all have a particular food, maybe multiple foods, that we know we can only get one time a year and look forward to its debut, only to be sad to see it go after just a short while. Whether it be one of your relative’s dishes at a holiday gathering or a seasonal offering at your favorite restaurant, the short-lived experience is just what we imagined throughout the year.

am with nothing in my life to change the free will and ability.

So he decided for some reason my husband and me a list of the kitchen “challenges.” This list was crab, something with Portobello mushrooms and baklava. I was surprised by the nature of the list. With the exception of the crab cakes were the other two things I had never heard before, to view or to eat at all! I’ve seen some recipes baklava and decided not really need a large dish with this delicious dessert at our house. I searched my Google Reader and I found these muffins and immediately decided to make this recipe alternates.

Honestly, I never had baklava, so I was not sure what to expect. I did not know what was going to taste the flavors. Admittedly, this is not and is not in baklava pastry crust, but John said that the flavors nail. I am pleased to report that flew from our home, and John was not the only one to eat! These were decadent and sweet, with a light texture and a nut muffin inside. Perfect, I’ll try again.

(The composition of this photo is meh, but I wanted to see how impressive the interior, so ignore the court is messy and just look at open-mouthed to the delicious nut muffin mix)

Ingredients:

Filling:
2:01 cup chopped walnuts
3:01 cup sugar
1 1 / 2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons melted butter

Muffins
4:03 Cup whole wheat flour
Cake flour 03.04
2 teaspoons baking powder
2.1 teaspoon baking powder
4:01 cup sugar
4.1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
2.1 teaspoon cinnamon

Topping:
3 tablespoons honey + A touch of cinnamon

Getting There:

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Mix filling ingredients in medium bowl and set aside.

Mix add flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, cinnamon and salt in large bowl. Mix the butter, butter and egg in medium bowl. Make a well in crowds to the dry ingredients and liquid ingredients in it. Carefully, with a fork.

Covering a 12 muffins with paper. Fill each third of the way the dough, cover with a spoonful of filling, then cover with more dough. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. When the muffins from the oven, transfer to cool completely each brush with honey mixture, then on a wire rack.

Many of us can be difficult to foods we have never tried before accepting. We can be alerted by the unusual food, willing to try new foods, or a very short list of the foods we eat are. How to overcome this? What is the best way to try to improve our acceptance of new foods, so that we can increase diversity in our food?

Really. This week was even worse than the last. Here is my entry in the register Wednesday:

He went on the morning of Day 28 course.

Once again I find myself in the situation looked at the mess in my house and looked at my unfinished projects and stared at my guitar and thought, "I do". And then sit on my ass.

Specifically, the conversation is as follows:

"I really have to wash dishes and clothes." Interior moaning and groaning. "I'm not going to wash clothes. Maybe I'll share my blanket ugly." Internal moaning and groaning. "I really can not do until you click on cleanup. I'll miss my first email." Rest of the day on the computer while thinking, "I was not the dishes …"

I need a hit, that's what I need.

And I'm right, too. I need a hit. I there. Today, I am raising. I do not like to slack a week long, but on the condition of the place, believe me, it is necessary. I'm beginning to like Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout feel. But do not give up! Yes, I cried. Internally, anyway. I just read another blog that talked about the fact that people really believe what they do. Studies have been carried out apparently to prove it. So, here goes … all together … Do not hesitate to Will. They say that every day. So they should be starting.

For those of you spending the evening in, be sure to tune into tonight’s episode of “The Biggest Loser”. Here’s why…


On tonight’s special Valentine’s Day episode, one player from each team goes home making use of their trainer, one other contestants compete for letters from home, and viewers have a possiblity to win an all-expense paid trip for 2 (2) to The Largest Loser Resort.  Yes, that’s right, tune in and you and your someone, or BFF, can win a free of charge visit to BLR! 


Tonight, viewers get yourself a possiblity to win amazing “Biggest Loser” prizes in a very sweepstakes celebrating the United States Postal Service’s new Heart Health Forever stamp.  Host Alison Sweeney surprises contestants with the news that for Valentine’s week, trainers Bob and Dolvett get to select one person on each with their teams to go home, as well as the two people sent home is gonna be the only ones whose weight counts at this week’s weigh-in. But the greater surprise is the very fact that Bob and Dolvett will probably be going hom with them, leaving the contestants with the ranch to visit it alone without their trainers. 


Meanwhile, back on the ranch, the red and black teams compete in a grueling beach challenge along with the team that finishes first receives letters at home featuring the USPS new Heart Healthy Forever stamp (pictured below).

What Caused the Setpoint to Change?

We have two criteria to narrow our search for the cause of modern fat gain:

1. It has to be new to the human environment
2. It has to cause leptin resistance or otherwise disturb the setpoint

Although I believe that exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle, it probably can’t explain the increase in fat mass in modern nations. I’ve written about that here and here. There are various other possible explanations, such as industrial pollutants, a lack of sleep and psychological stress, which may play a role. But I feel that diet is likely to be the primary cause. When you’re drinking 20 oz Cokes, bisphenol-A contamination is the least of your worries.

In the last post, I described two mechanisms that may contribute to elevating the body fat set point by causing leptin resistance: inflammation in the hypothalamus, and impaired leptin transport into the brain due to elevated triglycerides. After more reading and discussing it with my mentor, I’ve decided that the triglyceride hypothesis is on shaky ground*. Nevertheless, it is consistent with certain observations:

• Fibrate drugs that lower triglycerides can lower fat mass in rodents and humans
• Low-carbohydrate diets are effective for fat loss and lower triglycerides
• Fructose can cause leptin resistance in rodents and it elevates triglycerides (1)
• Fish oil reduces triglycerides. Some but not all studies have shown that fish oil aids fat loss (2)

Inflammation in the hypothalamus, with accompanying resistance to leptin signaling, has been reported in a number of animal studies of diet-induced obesity. I feel it’s likely to occur in humans as well, although the dietary causes are probably different for humans. The hypothalamus is the primary site where leptin acts to regulate fat mass (3). Importantly, preventing inflammation in the brain prevents leptin resistance and obesity in diet-induced obese mice (3.1). The hypothalamus is likely to be the most important site of action. Research is underway on this.

The Role of Digestive Health

What causes inflammation in the hypothalamus? One of the most interesting hypotheses is that increased intestinal permeability allows inflammatory substances to cross into the circulation from the gut, irritating a number of tissues including the hypothalamus.

Dr. Remy Burcelin and his group have spearheaded this research. They’ve shown that high-fat diets cause obesity in mice, and that they also increase the level of an inflammatory substance called lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the blood. LPS is produced by gram-negative bacteria in the gut and is one of the main factors that activates the immune system during an infection. Antibiotics that kill gram-negative bacteria in the gut prevent the negative consequences of high-fat feeding in mice.

Burcelin’s group showed that infusing LPS into mice on a low-fat chow diet causes them to become obese and insulin resistant just like high-fat fed mice (4). Furthermore, adding 10% of the soluble fiber oligofructose to the high-fat diet prevented the increase in intestinal permeability and also largely prevented the body fat gain and insulin resistance from high-fat feeding (5). Oligofructose is food for friendly gut bacteria and ends up being converted to butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids in the colon. This results in lower intestinal permeability to toxins such as LPS. This is particularly interesting because oligofructose supplements cause fat loss in humans (6).

A recent study showed that blood LPS levels are correlated with body fat, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, and insulin resistance in humans (7). However, a separate study didn’t come to the same conclusion (8). The discrepancy may be due to the fact that LPS isn’t the only inflammatory substance to cross the gut lining– other substances may also be involved. Anything in the blood that shouldn’t be there is potentially inflammatory.

Overall, I think gut dysfunction probably plays a major role in obesity and other modern metabolic problems. Insufficient dietary fiber, micronutrient deficiencies, excessive gut irritating substances such as gluten, abnormal bacterial growth due to refined carbohydrates (particularly sugar), and omega-6:3 imbalance may all contribute to abnormal gut bacteria and increased gut permeability.

The Role of Fatty Acids and Micronutrients

Any time a disease involves inflammation, the first thing that comes to my mind is the balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fats. The modern Western diet is heavily weighted toward omega-6, which are the precursors to some very inflammatory substances (as well as a few that are anti-inflammatory). These substances are essential for health in the correct amounts, but they need to be balanced with omega-3 to prevent excessive and uncontrolled inflammatory responses. Animal models have repeatedly shown that omega-3 deficiency contributes to the fat gain and insulin resistance they develop when fed high-fat diets (9, 10, 11).

As a matter of fact, most of the papers claiming “saturated fat causes this or that in rodents” are actually studying omega-3 deficiency. The “saturated fats” that are typically used in high-fat rodent diets are refined fats from conventionally raised animals, which are very low in omega-3. If you add a bit of omega-3 to these diets, suddenly they don’t cause the same metabolic problems, and are generally superior to refined seed oils, even in rodents (12, 13).

I believe that micronutrient deficiency also plays a role. Inadequate vitamin and mineral status can contribute to inflammation and weight gain. Obese people typically show deficiencies in several vitamins and minerals. The problem is that we don’t know whether the deficiencies caused the obesity or vice versa. Refined carbohydrates and refined oils are the worst offenders because they’re almost completely devoid of micronutrients.

Vitamin D in particular plays an important role in immune responses (including inflammation), and also appears to influence body fat mass. Vitamin D status is associated with body fat and insulin sensitivity in humans (14, 15, 16). More convincingly, genetic differences in the vitamin D receptor gene are also associated with body fat mass (17, 18), and vitamin D intake predicts future fat gain (19).

Exiting the Niche

I believe that we have strayed too far from our species’ ecological niche, and our health is suffering. One manifestation of that is body fat gain. Many factors probably contribute, but I believe that diet is the most important. A diet heavy in nutrient-poor refined carbohydrates and industrial omega-6 oils, high in gut irritating substances such as gluten and sugar, and a lack of direct sunlight, have caused us to lose the robust digestion and good micronutrient status that characterized our distant ancestors. I believe that one consequence has been the dysregulation of the system that maintains the fat mass “setpoint”. This has resulted in an increase in body fat in 20th century affluent nations, and other cultures eating our industrial food products.

In the next post, I’ll discuss my thoughts on how to reset the body fat setpoint.

* The ratio of leptin in the serum to leptin in the brain is diminished in obesity, but given that serum leptin is very high in the obese, the absolute level of leptin in the brain is typically not lower than a lean person. Leptin is transported into the brain by a transport mechanism that saturates when serum leptin is not that much higher than the normal level for a lean person. Therefore, the fact that the ratio of serum to brain leptin is higher in the obese does not necessarily reflect a defect in transport, but rather the fact that the mechanism that transports leptin is already at full capacity.

Today we introduce the newest addition to your family, the Biggest Loser Resort NIAGARA.  As wonderful individuals Resorts, this destination features a uniquely beautiful environment which is ideal for a lifetime transformation.  Nestled in Java Center Western New York on the pristine 300-acre retreat at the Beaver Hallow Conference Center, just 30 minutes through the famed Niagara Falls, BLR NIAGARA will give you the same award-winning, results-oriented program you’ve come can be expected at our popular locations in Malibu, California and Ivins, Utah.  This location will better accomodate our guests traveling in the Northeast US and Eastern Canada.  


We are thrilled to finally be for the East Coast! 


Click here to look at our feature on WGRZ NBC 2 morning news. 


To celebrate our newest Resort we are providing four (4) lucky local Western New Yorkers the possiblity to win a single (1) week remain at BLR NIAGARA.  


To enter, email your :60 (second) video telling us your individual story about why you wish to lose weight and/or be more healthy.  You are able to upload your video on the  Biggest Loser Resort- Niagara Contest page.  Ten people can become finalists, only four will win.  Full contest rules may be found here.

The Biggest Loser Resort Ambassadors Jessica Limpert, Ramon Medeiros and Ada Wong celebrate the opening of BLR NIAGARA.