The new season of The Biggest Loser will premiere next Tuesday. I've never watched a complete season of the show but I think I will tune in for this one. It looks exciting since they have changed it up a little by adding 3 teams, one being led by Jillian Michaels who was one of the original personal trainers on the show.
There have been some huge weight loss successes on the show in the past and I'm sure this season will be no different. Lots of drama, frustration, and success. Watching the preview has got me really interested in watching the entire season. You can watch a preview clip below:
http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/video/#mea=146786
I caught the repeat of the documentary for last year's Ironman competition last weekend and it got me interested in the sport. A triathlon is no joke and the competitors are in amazing shape. They have extreme endurance and stamina. The following is what the next 2007 Ironman World Championship will consist of:
- 2.4 mile swim
- 112 mile bike ride
- 26.2 mile run
Talk about pushing your body to the limit! Not only do you have to be in great physical shape but you have to deal with the elements. The heat experienced on a run through the trail in Kona, Hawaii can bring a runner to their knees. I'll be looking forward to catching the next Ironman on tv.
The Ford Ironman World Championship will be taking place in Kona, Hawaii on October 13, 2007.
On Monday a new reality show will air on ABC called "Fat March." The show is based around 12 overweight contestants who will walk from Boston to Washington DC (over 570 miles.) They are also competing for a prize pool of 1.2 million dollars. I could walk that far for that much money! All joking aside, the goal of the show is for the contestants to shed pounds and hopefully adopt a healthier lifestyle.
They will also be monitored by two fitness trainers. If you're wondering what they will be eating, here is what the press release states:
As for their diet during the trip, the contestants eat five small meals each day, a combination of all natural whole grains, lean poultry, fresh vegetables and fruits. [Source: ABC.com]
This fat march reminds me of a Steve Vaught's walk across America. His journey is called: The Fat Man Walking.
Most recently, TLC has been airing the documentary titled "The Man Whose Arms Exploded". They have aired it several times in the past. It is a documentary which focuses on steroid abuse and focuses primarily on Gregg Valentino, a bodybuilder whose claim to fame is having the largest arms in the world. The highlight of Gregg's story is that he didn't take the proper precautions to prevent infections when injecting steroids into his body. He ultimately came down with an infection in his right bicep and tried to drain his arm using the same needles he already used for injecting steroids.
After his failed attempt (which is all shown in the documentary) he ends up in the emergency room. His arm was saved but is now smaller in size in his bicep. Steroid abuse has been talked about for a long time but what is even scarier is the use of synthol (also SEO: Site Enhancement Oil.) This oil is injected right into the muscle to give the appearance of being larger than it really is. If you've ever seen someone who has abused synthol, their muscles appear very puffy and balloon like. SEO is not a steroid but does its own damage if injected into a major blood vessel. It could cause heart strokes and brain damage.
Gregg Valentino is a prime example of someone who has taken their appearance too far. There is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best unless it begins to damage your health. Many people who take their physical appearance to the extreme suffer from body dysmorphic disorder.
If you watch the Discovery Channel then you've probably have at least heard of Bear Grylls. He is the star of the show "Man vs. Wild." Bear is a born survivor and in each episode, he is dropped off in the middle of nowhere with only the clothes on his back, a knife, and sometimes a piece of flint. His mission is to survive by building shelter and hunting for food. Surviving in the wild takes tremendous strength and stamina, which Bear definitely has as you watch him climb mountains and trees.
He is in excellent shape and I was curious to know what exactly he does to stay fit. I came across a Q & A page on Discovery.com:
Q. I was wondering how you keep your body is such great shape. What is your workout routine, or what types of exercises do you do?
A. I try to work out six days a week … I run one day (with the dog in the hills!), and then do circuit training the next, with a yoga session once a week as well. I try to eat really healthily, too, with hardly any dairy or meat or fish most of the time -- except weekends and when in survival mode!
As you can see, he stays very active. Circuit training is a great way to burn fat. He seems to be somewhat vegetarian. If you watch the show, you know that he eats just about anything in the wild from sheep eyeballs to live snakes. Pretty disgusting, but like he said, he's in survival mode!
