The Fear of Gaining the Weight Back

Erik Chopin is a man that people called an inspiration. Eric appeared on the third season of ‘The Biggest Loser.’ His starting weight was at 407 pounds and he managed to lose 214 pounds. After the cameras stopped rolling and he was out of the eye of expectations, he gained the weight back. He weighs around 350 pounds.

I read his story today and also the comments. One person stated a shocking statistic, 95% of dieters gain their weight back. This is shocking to me. How can a person gain all their weight back? Why didn’t they stop it?

It’s an unknown, a scary unknown, to our future. When we lose weight we want to say it’s a permanent change but how can we never know? Look at Oprah. Girl has money to pay for professional trainers and chefs. Yet, she is not rail-thin.

I can’t do it. I cannot compare other people’s weight loss journeys to mine.

Here is some good news. The statistic of 95% of dieters regain their weight is a lie. Actually the statistics is lower for people who lose weight on their own terms.

The contestants on ‘The Biggest Loser’ workout for 4+ hours while eating a strict 1,000 calories diet. Is this practical in the real world? NOPE!

I can hear sweet brown saying, “Ain’t nobody got time for that.”

We have jobs, families, and even sleep to maintain. We need a TV show that shows how to lose weight in a particle world. And no, I am not talking about arm workouts with the office chair.

For those who lost over 100 pounds and gained it back, I am sorry. For those who lost it and are worried about gaining it back, you are not alone.

We are community, we are family, and we need to stay strong.

~LaRell

New Years Resolution

It is a new year and it can be the year for change. Most people attempt weight loss as their resolutions. You would think I put it down as mine for 2012 but I did not. I actually wanted to succeed because most resolutions fail.

We get so energized for a new start that we rely on ourselves to have this insane boost of energy everyday. Well, that motivation slowly dies and days at the gym become fewer and fewer while trips to fast food joints increase.

I wish I had a brilliant idea to avoid this mis-step we take on our resolutions. Maybe, we can try to have mini resolutions. Set our goals for 3-4 month long. Then, we can taste the finish line. We can renew our goals then so its something fresh through the seasons.

lets say we have 4 months to lose 20 pounds. Does that sound reasonable? or go to the gym at least 3 times a week. 

Making extreme goals can be unrealistic especially for a weight loss number on the scale. How about we take better lifestyle choices. Eat an apple a day at work or eat veggies as snacks. Once a week eat a salad for dinner. We could limit our soda intake to one a day or none.

What are your thoughts? Can we actually live a better lifestyle? (The answer is YES!)

Believe in yourself and the change will appear.

Tell me your New Years Resolution. I would love to help in any way I can think of. I love you all and wish you a great holiday. 

Stay tuned for more

Chimo,

LaRell

For most of us on Thanksgiving, we did NOT prepare the food. How can we eat right when the food is so wrong? The scavenger hunt of the healthy food at the buffet table!

Most veggies on Thanksgiving are prepared in a lot of fat, ton of sodium and don’t get me started on the grease. We can’t control what is in front of our face. However, we can control the amount of food that enters our body. It is all about portion control.

Remember, it is still NOvember. Its okay to say YES to some things but even it out with a NO! If you had a slice of pie on first serving then skip it on the second.

Wait in between rounds. (Trust me your stomach will appreciate it). Walk around and enjoy company. When you have a conversation, you forget to stuff your face. It is scientifically proven by Dr. Reynolds.

I made a video from our Thanksgiving banquet. I went around the potlucks and decided if it is a YAY or NAY to eat. Then, I show you guys what the perfect thanksgiving plate should look like.

End of Jocktober

Jocktober was a success and a failure. However, I look on the bright side, therefore, through the fails, I see improvements. Lets talk about the WINS.

1. Roller coaster

I finally fit in the roller coaster seat without feeling embarrassed. I conquered a fear of mine.

2. Gym Challenge

I pushed myself harder than ever in the gym. One week I ran for a total of 21 miles. I wanted to puke after some runs but I still accomplished something I thought I never could do.

Fails!

1. my diet

haha, I wanted to do a week eating solely fruits and veggies. #Fail… BUT, my takeaway is that I need to eat more fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Lately, for my snack at work, I eat apples. I brought in carrots and dip for a snack today. I am taking a right step, away from processed food.

2. I am still plateauing!

Yup, no weight loss. Probably weight gain because my diet was off due to a whole cheat week.

To help with the plateau, I ordered Green Coffee beans off of Groupon. These beans have helped clinical trial patients lose 15% of their body fat without diet or exercise. I heard about this on The View and it was also on Dr. Oz. I am not relying on the green coffee beans to lose weight but just jump start the fat burning process.

I will have more on the miracle workers once I start using them.

~NOVEMBER CHALLENGE~

I thought of this in the shower today. Yes, I had to tell you this :)

Anyways, This month starts the holiday period when we binge on sweets and carbs. Well, we can’t always say no. SOOO.. I came up with a plan to fulfill our sweets and still be on a diet. It is a 50 / 50 plan. Every time sweets are in front of you, you will eat or not eat. It will go back and forth. Therefore, if I passed on the cake yesterday, then I can have a thin slice of apple pie today. Get it? it is better to alternate your yes then to binge by saying ‘YES’ all the time. Try it! I bet you will notice how little weight you will gain over the fat gaining season.

Love you all,

LaRell

Dentist Day

Okay, so I haven’t been to the dentist in 5 years. My braces were removed the summer before college and I never returned, until today. I know, I am horrible. What makes it worst is that I did not have the best oral hygiene growing up. Literally, every cleaning turned into, “We found another cavity.” I have had my fair share of cavities growing up.

So I walk in today feeling nervous because I don’t know what to expect. The last year or so I have been doing a BETTER job at brushing my teeth daily. I had positive thoughts that I was only coming in for a cleaning… NOPE!

The Dentist workers (I dont know their actual job roles, Ortho-hygienist Enthusiasts???) forced me to take an X-Ray of my teeth. When that X-Ray hit the black light board my heart dropped. 

Holes, Holes-Holes…HOLES holes, Holey holes!  My teeth looked like the landscape from the Shia Labeouf movie, Holes. I had like over 15 cavities or “dental repairs.” Some were bad, but a lot were small gaps. 

I felt horrible. I wanted to just crawl in a dark-cold place and just meditate of how much of a failure I have become. I blame my fat self. I blame the 3 dollar southern style chicken meals at McDonalds. I blame Tacobell. I blame the Arnold Palmers at Sonic. But mostly, I blame myself for allowing all of that food to enter my body.

After hours of drilling, sawing, numbing, poking, gargling, spitting, and cleaning, my top left side is repaired. I have to come in later to do the top right and another to do the bottom. 

When the assistant was cleaning up the station she asked me if I drink soft-drinks. I responded with a No. She was shocked and thought I was lying to her. She then went down the line of asking if I drank, coffee, tea, Gatorade and I denied the intake. She said she couldn’t believe that I only drank water. (before I continue, remember I have not been to the dentist in 5 years. I have spent 4 of those years drinking all the bad stuff but lately I have been clean)

For Proof I showed her a picture of what I looked like a year ago. She was stunned and she immediately sought after her phone. She showed me a picture of herself at a bigger state and we shared a genuine moment. 

When former fatties come together or share stories, it is like an indescribable power that overtakes you. You share this special bond with a complete stranger. One moment I hate her because she is causing so much pain in my life, or mouth, and the next we are almost tearing up because of the fight to stay healthy.

That moment, that special moment, I really wish I had given her my information. I wish I had a business card or just a simple card that had the information to this blog so that we can stay in touch. 

I am going to ask you, my readers a very simple question. Do you think I should carry cards with my blog information? It will be a simple way for people to have access to the link. Write your opinions or simply email me at LReynolds@wdbj7.com

If you have any topics or questions that you want me to discuss please send them over to my email.

~LaRell

Always Look To The Future

I Look at the picture above and think how crazy my life has turned in the last year. Now, before I start, I have to say I didnt start my weight loss / transformation until October so it hasn’t been a year yet. 

Continuing on, last year at this time I was unemployed, eating my feelings and pretty much miserable because I was unemployed. I had a life decision to pursue the news industry or go into the entertainment industry. I was leaning more to entertainment and had plans to move to Los Angeles. The picture was taken at the Newseum in Washington, Dc. My visit there reignited my love for news.

Fast Forward to today and I am living the best of both worlds. I work at a news station while writing entertainment blogs. My health is like AMAZING! Considering how unhealthy I was just a year ago, it is so surreal to look in the mirror or stare at new pics. 

This post may not be all about weight loss or fitness but its a reminder that we should not box ourselves. You can do anything if you put your mind into it. this could mean weight loss, or a new career, or even a move to a different environment. You are the change in you and you can change who you are. Nothing will stop you unless you let yourself stop you. 

Ignite. Empower. Dare… yourself to achieve your dreams

~LaRell

I am a Soda Addict

Hi, my name is LaRell and I have an addiction to soda.

It started when I was a young lad. I needed to drink some kind of bubbly refreshment with every meal. That need for soda at every meal expedited my now, former, obesity.

I tried to stop. But, I failed. The summer before college I tried to lose weight to make an impression on my new colleagues. I did so well. I lasted a WHOLE semester without a taste of soda.

Then, horror hit on a cold, eery day in January. I was on my drive back to school with a buddy. We must have ate some bad food because we… got… FOOD POISONING!!

Now, I will spare the deetz on the disaster of my food poisoning, but I will share that my body regrets that meal. Due to my “illness” I was ordered to sip ginger ale… SODA!!! But I couldn’t do that because I cut soda out of my diet.

I had to… I needed to… to survive.

From that point forward the addiction swept me from under my feet and I started guzzling down Sprites like it was the end of the world. Yes, I did mention Sprite, I am a part of the unfortunate demographic statistic / stereotype.

Skip a few years later…

Its June of 2011 and I sitting back drinking a nice cold one (soda) watching ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ with my MOMsicles. It’s Vegas Week and we are watching dancers get creamed by executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe on the telly. There is this dancer, her name was Natasha. She had a personality for days and she instantly became the fan favorite. Of course we wanted her to make it through Vegas Week.

Tragedy struck for Natasha; after practicing for a routine, she fell ill. Rushed to the ER, Natasha received news that she has diabetes. DIABETES!!! Homegirl was only 18 and weighed way less than me.

I immediately put down my drink and swore off soda from then on.

1 year later, I am going strong with no soda. It is sometimes weird to put my order in at a restaurant and just say ‘water’. Its even weirder that the Natasha moment was when I first began to change my diet. Granted, I substituted soda for sugary ‘Arnold Palmers’ and ate like I was on a cruise ship every day.

So in a weird way, thank you TV for changing my life.

~LaRell