The Kid Blender:  A Single Mom’s Attempt to Find Joy in an Unexpected Life
February 8, 2012 – 8:00 am | 2 Comments

In this series of blogs, the “Kid Blenders,” I will be addressing our challenges, trying to blend our two families together. The names of the children will be changed to spare the easily embarrassed. And let me be upfront about this: I’m no clinical expert. I’m just a single mom trying to figure life out as I go. But knowing that there are around 14 million single parents out there…I’m guessing that I’m not alone in this venture.

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Home » Humor

Biggest Loser Boot Camp – Week Three (and counting!)

Submitted by on April 18, 2008 – 12:36 amNo Comment

One of the most invaluable lessons I have learned through the Biggest Loser Boot Camp is that visualization with a specific goal in mind is imperative when losing weight.

For some, they are training for a triathlon.

For others, they want to summit a 14er.

For many, it is fitting back into their skinny jeans.

For me, it is losing my baby weight so I can get pregnant and gain it all back again.

(Please excuse me while I bang my head against the wall.)

But without further ado, my weekly weight loss total is: 5 pounds. My three-week total is now 9 pounds!

There are a couple of things that I attribute to my successful week:

1) Robyn’s intense workouts at Front Range Adventure Boot Camp. Every day is different and fun. Sometimes it is scaling Red Rocks. Others involve a high-energy game of four square, dodge ball or basketball. But the common denominator is they always involve a perfect mix of cardio and strength training. Oh, and they always kick my butt.

2) Through The Biggest Loser Club, I have had an epiphany: I have been paying attention to the wrong thing. My past weight-loss attempts were focused on what I was eating. BLBC is teaching me to focus on why I am eating it, which gets to the real heart of the problem.

I have journaled what I am eating before. It really didn’t help me other than serve as a blaring reminder that maybe I should not have eaten that entire batch of cookie dough. But in BLBC we take it a step further and write down the emotions we are feeling before and after we ate. I am discovering patterns and feelings I never knew existed.

Following the meeting, a few of us stayed around to discuss mind-numbing profundities such as our husbands’ OCD tendencies. One’s cleaning obsession led him to Pledge his large home’s hardwood floor. Another washes his car three times a day and paces in front of his washer and dryer until his clothes are clean.

When it was my turn, I was stumped, secretly wishing my hubby had at least one cleaning obsession. Until I remembered that he is the cleanest man in American and often showers 2-3 times a day (though it is often to relieve his sore rheumatic joints).

When I arrived home, I relayed our conversation.

“You told them I shower that much?”
“I sure did!”
“Well, if it is any consolation to you, I rarely use soap.”

Long pause of consideration.

“Actually it’s not but thanks for sharing….”

*******************************************************

What are your inspirations to lose weight or stay healthy? Congrats to Kate G. who just posted yesterday that she is back down to her pre-pregnancy weight! Drop me a note to let me know if you would like to join us on Fridays for our weekly weigh-in!





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  • Richelle F says:

    Wow, good job!

  • Lisa says:

    Five pounds in one week? That is great! This program is really working for you!

  • Lisa says:

    Oh, and my motivation is to fit back into my slinky black dress!

  • Karen Jones says:

    Wow, that IS great! You have inspired me to get my butt into gear and get into shape! I’m not in the area, though so I will have to find another alternative!

  • Eva says:

    Wow, great work! I have a friend who was debating joining and I am on the edge of joining myself. I’ll be watching!

  • yvonne says:

    Wow–good for you. My motivation is our upcoming family reunion in HAWAII ; )

    Maybe I need to re-think WHY I just ate ALL those cookies.

  • chel says:

    My motivation right now is a week on the beach in Mexico in exactly 2 months… I keep thinking to myself every time I jog… “jog a little further… you’ll be in a swimsuit in front of people soon!!”
    I want to look good…. as I will be seeing some family that I haven’t seen in 7 years!

    You have done awesome! Way to go girlie. You are one hot mama!

  • Frumpy Luv says:

    Five pounds in one week is so awesome!!!! Congrats!!

    My motivation is that with my last pregnancy (my third child) I was told several times during the last few weeks of the pregnancy that I should have a tubal ligation as the same time as the c-section because of all the of problems I have while pregnant. But that so did not feel like the right thing for us (and nothing you should ever discuss with a hospitalized woman 35 weeks pregnant!!!).

    I am determined that if I can get as fit and healthy as I can that we can have all of the children we want (I am psycho enough to want 5!!) Maybe we’ll still only be able to have one more, but I want to know that I did everything I could in this endeavor. So … I have five more pounds until I lose all the weight I gained with my last child, then I have to work on the weight I kept on after my first two …. A long battle, but worth it.

    So glad to hear you are doing well and succeeding in your program!! It is so good to track what you eat and mostly see why you eat –I have been figuring that out as well. Very interesting.

    (http://williamandjanell.blogspot.com)

  • Lisa says:

    Good for you, Amber! I managed to get to the bike path to walk twice this week. Although, four square sounds much more funner!

  • Candace says:

    Five pounds in one week? I think I ate that in one sitting last week. :-) Seriously though I think it is great what you are doing!

  • Candace says:

    Also, did you watch Ali best the boys in Biggest Loser!!!!!?????

  • Kristen says:

    How wonderful for you! I soooo need to start this as well. And as usual, I love the conversations with you husband….

  • aubrey says:

    nice job, amber! i think analyzing why you eat certain things and how you feel before and after is brilliant. ..and four square sounds like SO much fun!

  • Dana says:

    Where oh where do you get your motivation? I mean, I have to actually tell myself to go to the gym more than 1 million times before actually get my ass there. You are awesome, girl. Great job.

    And so glad for Jamie, too!

  • elasticwaistbandlady says:

    My uncle is a retires Army sergeant. It’s not uncommon for him to shower 2-3 times a day in addition to organizing the spice rack alphabetically and hand-scrubbing the kitchen floor even though his wife keeps the house pretty clean.

    That kind of man would drive me insane.

  • elasticwaistbandlady says:

    Ooooh, and congratulations on your loss of poundage!

    I may start talking to the things I eat to ask what’s eating ME that I need to turn to eating THEM for comfort.

  • Thanks everyone for your support! That’s exactly why I’m doing it!

  • 4 what it's worth says:

    We have the Biggest Loser club at our school. It has been so motivating to have others with me along the waistline frontline. We exercise everyday at 4 pm and our staff luncheons and meetings are catered to with the losers in mind.
    Sadly, now given my current health condition ( and a loss of 21 pounds in 3 weeks…no, do not do this protocol) I can no longer participate. But, I am still championing the gals and guys and we are still sharing recipes, stories, grocery finds and of course the occasional celebration into new sizes.
    Keep going….that’s the best advice yet. Just keep going.

  • Allie says:

    Great job Amber! Keep up the good work in your journey to lose weight. I think that journaling and/or writing down what you eat and the frame of mind that you are in can be so enlightening, and scary …. if you were in my mind to see what was happening. :)

    And I think that you are lucky that Jamie at least has some form of OCD …. my is completely challenged and has no habits that contribute to our household other than to drive me around the bend. :)

  • Liz says:

    I’m in a moms running group, training to run the cherry creek sneak. The 5K, not the 5 miles. And I also am hoping to lose that first-baby 10 pounds so that I can get pregnant soon. Next pregnancy, I swear, I won’t let my muscles waste away. : )

    stapletonians.blogspot.com

  • Heidi says:

    Awesome job Amber. And big congrats to your hubster, too. It is a big move but he’s excited and that’s really important.

    Best of luck :)

    Heidi

  • Jody says:

    Great job!!! Keep up all the hard work girl!

    http://milehighmommy.blogspot.com

  • Jungle Mama says:

    Congrats on the awesome numbers! And tell that man of yours that as long as he keeps using his deoderant you’ll allow him to be conservative on the soap :D

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