The TV Chick

The Biggest Loser is getting quite intense lately, and almost down to the final 4 who go to the finale. With the competition so fierce, contestants will do just about anything to get ahead. Last week, there was a temptation challenge, and Koli ate around 4,000 calories just so he could be the only vote in the elimination room. When it came down to it, Sunshine and Vicky fell below the yellow line. Sunshine had been there much longer than Vicky had (even though she had spent some time at home as well), and despite what Koli said to Vicky, I think his vote reflected his ties to Sunshine. I was sad to see Vicky go. She was great, and I was so happy she had the chance to return to the ranch. I recently had the chance to participate in a conference call with Vicky, where she talked about Koli’s accusations, what the big differences are between home and the ranch, and what he proudest moment was on the ranch.

Well I’m sorry to be talking to you but it’s still good for me because people are really curious, especially about what the reason that Koli gave you for, for choosing to send you home instead of, I’m sorry my brain is freezing this morning, instead of keeping you. So can you talk a little bit, I mean because, I mean and also when we were watching the show they did show times when it didn’t look like you were working out…really hard in the gym. Was that editing or?
You know what, it is, it is a show and everything that is seen on TV is wrapped in a pretty bow so you can, they can edit it whatever way they’d like. But I know that I worked hard, you know, and we all take breaks and if you would’ve looked at the other people, you know, when we were all working out everybody stops to get water, everybody stops to take a break and so if I did that then I do apologize. But you know, I would say that I worked really hard and I have no regrets, none at all. As far as Koli is concerned, he had to make his decision and like he said before he went in there he said I have to make it for myself. And there’s a lot of other things that I think played into his decision, but I believe that he eliminated me because I was the biggest threat, and he knew how hard I worked, you know. But he had to give, he had to give an explanation of why he was voting me off and so to say that I needed to kick it into another gear like basically saying that I didn’t work hard wasn’t true, but I mean it is a game and so the game was played.

And do you feel that maybe you were at a disadvantage because you started the game at home and you came back to the ranch later?
You know what there’s no excuses. I was given this opportunity and I’m so grateful for it and you know, I was thrown in late in the game, I felt like I was a single coming into a couples game. But I knew that coming in and I knew that there were twists and turns associated with the show and I believe that no matter when I came in I was going to give my, my best, so it didn’t really matter to me when I was in, I was just grateful to have the opportunity.

Out of your whole experience in the Biggest Loser Ranch what would you say was your proudest moment?
I think my proudest moment was when I woke up at the ranch, I mean you know I started my journey at home so I was waking up in my own bed every day. So when I got a chance to wake up at the ranch and to actually be in it and to say that I was doing it you know, I was losing weight. And when I woke up and I was not the 350 pound girl that I used to be, you know, before I started I used to wake up every morning and tell myself, okay today is the day. And when I was able to wake up at the ranch and tell myself, you know what, today is the day that you are actually 90 pounds lighter, you are actually 70 pounds lighter, you know, that, those were the moments that I truly remember and that I truly appreciate.

Well do you think it was harder for you to leave the ranch knowing kind of the experience that you had, because you had such a different road to getting there than pretty much anyone else on the show?
Right. No. You know when it was my time to go I felt like that’s exactly what it was is my time. It was nothing I could do about it and I just knew that from then on I would have to, you know, continue my journey at home. And it wasn’t a – it was a bittersweet moment because – it was bitter because obviously I was leaving and I didn’t get the time or the – yeah, the time that I would have liked on the show. But the time that I had was priceless, so I really appreciated it but I knew that I could do it at home because I had already been there.

I wanted to know, since you were on the ranch and at home sort of almost an equal amount of time what the big differences were between both places.
I actually was only on the ranch one month, well TV time about one month probably a little over one month, but the difference was at home I had a great support system, I was able to vent. And I think you know what, I think emotionally the difference is so drastic. Because when I went in there like there were already alliances formed, there were already friendships, there were already bonds and I was coming in as this person, as wildcard that was shaking things up and that, you know, was throwing like a wrench in everybody’s plans. So it was kind of like there was nobody I could talk to and really open up to and express my feelings, you know, because it is a process that involves you physically, mentally and emotionally. So I mean not being able to vent and let out everything I think was the major difference, you know, at home I do have people that I know love and trust me without the game play aspect. So I mean that was the biggest difference.

That makes sense. And I wanted to know what the most important lesson you learned on the ranch that you took home with you.
I think the most important lesson that I took home was when Jillian told me that you have to find the why of what, what you’re doing, you know, why are you like this. Why do you want to change your life? Why are you trying to make a difference and make a change? And that is the most important reason because it doesn’t matter how after that. So if you find out the why then the how does it, it won’t matter, if you know why I want to be at the finish line then it doesn’t matter what it takes or how you have to get there, you just know that I have to be at the finish line. So I think that was the most important thing I took away to, to just stay focused and just to know you know, that, that I’m here for a reason and once I found that reason I was able to continue and push so I can get to where I want to be.

So I’m just wondering what is the biggest challenge being home and being away from the ranch for you as far as like diet and exercise?
The biggest challenge I think right now is everybody wants a piece of you, you know, your friends, your family, people that don’t know you that have seen the show, everybody wants a piece so you have to learn really how to juggle like everything you’re doing. And plus, I mean you have – you had a life before this, so everything that you had prior to the show is now back in your plans and in your day-to-day routine. So I think just being able to balance everything that’s going on plus you know, the new stuff that you want to do that now you have an avenue to do I think working with that is just, it’s time management. In a few words it’s time management is really the hardest thing to do, you know because we still have the finale so we still have to workout and also take into consideration that we have so much other stuff, you know, in our life that’s going on.

And also could you tell me what your current weight and height is and how far away from your goal you are?
My current weight is 130, I mean 230, 230, I’m sorry. I weigh 230 pounds and I am about 40, 45 pounds off my weight goal for the finale, so I definitely have to, I mean I’ve been kicking into another gear I just have to finish.

Now I want to know what did Dr. (H) reveal to you about know your number because we didn’t see that.
Oh right, right, we didn’t. Okay so he told me I think I started out at age 45, which is crazy because I’m actually 22, but that’s more than double what I, what I actually am as far as age. And he told me that my risk of getting breast cancer, because you know my mother had breast cancer, was like double the average woman’s chance. So I was definitely headed towards breast cancer, I was headed towards heart attack and stroke because it does run in my family. Diabetes, I was borderline diabetic so you know, I was definitely on the verge of being ill because of my weight. And when I talked to Dr. (H) she told me that all those things that I had struggled with as far as you know, my health issues went they were definitely better, practically gone, you know, I went from age 44 to I think age 28. So I’m still a couple of years off but I’m still a couple of pounds off my goal, so I think when I’m done, I know when I’m done that I’ll be exactly in the tip-top of health and shape. Excellent. And although you worked out really hard why do you think you only lost one pound?

And although you worked out really hard why do you think you only lost one pound?
Honestly because at the time I was eating 1200 calories, which sounds like oh my gosh, like normal and, but for my body and how much muscle mass I have, because I have the highest amount of muscle of any woman on the show, I’m very muscular and so to feed muscle you need more food. And with the stress of everything going on, and just everything in general that was happening on the ranch it, it just, my body just went into I guess survival mode is what, what most people will call it. Because I definitely knew when I stepped on the scale I was like I’m going to be a eight, I’m going to, and then when I saw a one I was definitely taken aback, I didn’t expect that at all. So I think with the stress factor and just the, the running around factor and also me not eating as many calories probably as I should have played a major part.

So you mentioned how you basically almost, you know, almost went back in time…in terms about your age, how you feel and stuff. Do you feel the difference? How do you remember feeling as a 45-year-old compared to now a 28-year-old?
You know what it’s crazy because I think the thing that all of us started out feeling was okay, like I’m good. (Unintelligible) I’m good, I’m in – I’m in the best health, I’m not in the best health but I have weight to lose but I’m healthy, you know I think all of us pretty much felt that way. And one thing I could say about it if I could say anything is that you don’t realize how bad you feel until you start feeling better. So you know, I feel great. I have energy. I’m able to run. And people ask me, you know you run a lot. I’m like I run because I can run not because I just, you know love to at this point, I mean hopefully I’ll get to that point but I love to run because I can run now and that’s something I couldn’t do before. And so just those little milestones you feel, your confidence is much higher and you know, you feel great about who you are genuinely, you know. Because I think for so long I was like oh I’m the pretty big girl, but I think right now I feel like I am genuinely happy with who I am and that, that’s the most beautiful thing about the experience.

And now how have you taken the lessons that you’ve learned and applied them to your home life?
Oh yes definitely. When I came back to the ranch and, I mean when I came back home the things that I eat, even the way I dealt with food because I did struggle with a food addiction. And people you know, don’t look at food addiction as a real (addiction) because you have to eat to survive, you have to eat. So to have to be able to have the substance of your abuse in your life every day it’s, you know, still have to deal with it is, is definitely, is definitely a struggle but at the same time like I have a grasp on it now. So you know, that’s what I would say.

Your mom looks amazing.
Yes she does.

So I’m wondering what kind of stuff has she talked to you about working out at home and what have you taught her from what you learned on the ranch?

My mom when I came back she was just in just another gear, and even, even not ever being on the ranch she was able to do it and conquer her battle. And I think more than anything, more than what she has said to me is what I’ve seen her do and I’ve seen her go and push past. And I’m so proud of her, she’s done so much stuff that she’s never done in her life and I think that keeps me motivated, you know, to know that my mom, you know, can do all this stuff. Not to mention that everybody thinks she’s my sister, so I need to look better than her so people can start thinking she’s my mom again. So I think that that, that definitely is a motivation, and for me just because I was able to be on the ranch and learn so many things like about sodium and about, you know, about you know, about keeping it lean and green towards the end of the day, like just the small things I can teach her but I mean basically when I came back she had it together. So I mean we both encourage each other and that’s what we do for each other, you know, more than just the knowledge, we help each other to stay strong and to stay focused.

What are some of the other things you enjoy doing together now, exercise-wise or shopping or anything?
Me and my mom we like to watch movies together, when we do have a bit of free time me and my mom we just, we just watch movies. We’ll sit there and that’s the kind of thing we do together because it’s, it’s something where it’s not so much strenuous activity, we can just sit there and enjoy ourselves. You know, because we’re always in the gym and we’re always running around and doing something so when we do have time to actually be together and do something that we like we choose to go and see a movie or watch a movie at home.

And what are you eating when you’re watching those movies?
Carrots. Carrots and hummus or bell peppers and hummus, something like that, like a light little snack, no more popcorn with tons of butter.

So I wanted to talk to you a little bit about you know, I (know you can’t) talk about your experience at the ranch but what is the thing now you have been home now, what is the thing that you feel like you miss most about the ranch?
What do I miss most about the ranch? You know I miss getting up every day and somebody telling me my schedule. I knew everything that we were going to do pretty much throughout the day. I do miss challenges. I do miss the challenges because they you know, it gives you something to look forward to and it does give you a challenge, you know, in your day-to-day life, which you, you don’t usually you know the day-to-day you know, mundane stuff you kind of do every day. And so you know, when they threw those challenges at us they definitely shook things up and it pushed you even farther than like the exercise pushed you, and pushed you to, you know, want to be the best. And when you’re with so many people that are pushing so hard and you’re able to still rise I think that, that is what I miss about the ranch, you know, if I can get a couple of challenges every day or every week that would be great.

Sure. That makes, that makes a lot of sense. And but you know, and since you have had the experience of, of being home, losing weight and then returning to the ranch, you know, do you feel like in some ways that you are at more of an advantageous position because you have a lot of the contestants now who only know what it’s like to lose weight on the ranch, and whereas you kind of had both?
Yeah. I definitely – I definitely felt that, I definitely felt not more of an advantage but more kind of like safer, you know, I felt safe in knowing that when I went home that I was going to be successful because I’ve done it before, you know. And it wasn’t a thing like oh they can’t do it, I can do it, it’s I can do it period, you know what I mean? And so I was, I was sure in the fact when I went home that I was still going to still be able to continue, you know I definitely wasn’t going to say something like you know, well I can do this and I knew that I couldn’t. So I knew no matter what it took, even if I hadn’t been on the ranch, you know, just like the other people have been on the ranch the whole time but you know, even when they get home I mean you have to, it’s swim or sink at this point. So I think everybody’s doing well, but I did feel like I knew what I was going to do, exactly what I was going to do and hit the ground running when I came home.

I was wondering if you could just walk us through a typical day in the life of you trying to, you said time management is really hard. And so can you tell us exactly, you know, when you wake up what you’re doing, what your regimen is and kind of when you’re eating as well?
Yes. Okay, I get up in the mornings about oh, 7:00 and I fix myself a smoothie and probably a piece of fruit and maybe a egg white omelet, something like that. You know I keep it – I’m keeping it pretty low carb right now, lean, a little meat, the lean meats when I do eat them then after that I hit the gym. I hit the gym for about two hours and go hard, I mean seriously like running a mile, sprints, uphill, there’s so much stuff that I mean jumping on blocks, anything, any, anything running stairs whatever, you know, good cardio, just intense, intense workout for at least two hours in the morning. And then I go home and I drink another, like another protein shake to keep me, you know, with my fueled. And then after that I have a bit of a break in between workouts and then I go workout again. But in between the breaks I’m either like resting to rejuvenate my body or I’m on the StreetStrider or you know walking or still moving around throughout the day then at the end of the day I go and workout another two or three hours at night, you know, and push it really hard then. And then I try to get as much sleep as possible in the evening.

And what is something that you’ve been able to do that you haven’t done before or that you’re really looking forward, and not necessarily something like in, not like running a mile or something…but like something that just in the day-to-day life that you realized that you just couldn’t do or…?
My favorite thing to do, and I know it sounds so little and so what, but I love to cross my legs, and I said this from the beginning I want to cross my legs in a pair of Louis Vuittons at the finale, like that’s my thing, like I really, really do. Because I mean to cross your legs, yes that’s – that’s beautiful but it’s just to like put the icing or the cherry on top with the pair of Louis Vuittons like I would love that so much. So I think, but crossing my legs definitely is my favorite thing to do, it’s so beautiful I think and so I just like doing it.

Oh. And are you going to treat yourself to those shoes and…?
I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m working on that now, I would love to have those at the finale, I really would.

Now what was your biggest temptation during the first challenge with all the food?
Oh hot wings. That’s easy, when I walked in there and I was like, the breads, the carbs, the cookies, but when I got to the hot wings I was like, oh no! I , this is not, this is not happening. So I said, okay I’ve been on the ranch here three weeks, I’m going to eat a hot wing. So I ate one hot wing and then I let that be it, and but it, it showed me like how far I’ve come because I used to want to eat ten, you know, and I used to, I used to feel like I couldn’t help myself. So just to be able to eat one, even though I did eat one, it was like controlled and it was like okay you’ve come so far, you know, because I didn’t crave it afterwards, I didn’t have to have another one, it was like I was satisfied in that one. So definitely the hot wings without a doubt.

But you kept returning to the room, were you, were you just testing yourself?
No I was hungry. I was trying to eat like, I was trying to eat like throughout the day but as little, little calories as I could. So I think, I mean I did pretty good, I ate celery sticks, I ate, what else did I eat, vegetables and I don’t think I ate, I don’t think I ate any carbs, I ate a little piece of salmon at the end, you know because it was dinner time. But other than that I really kept it light so it, I guess it didn’t matter how many times I went in because I was just trying to not starve.

Now when you’re working out at home now do you avoid the treadmill?
No. No bring it, bring it. I, that’s another thing I learned on the ranch, you know, you have to, you have to face the beast, you know. You have to, you have to go for it and you have to hit it head on and it’s not fun. But you know what the thing is that if you keep going and you, you hit it head on, I mean that first encounter is the hardest hit, you know, and after that it gets easier and it gets better and eventually you will defeat it. So I think, you know now I don’t like the treadmill but I’m after it, I’m after it definitely.

Does it remind you of Jillian?
No. The little, little ninjas remind me of Jillian.

Are you still upset by Koli’s comments about the intensity of your workout?
You know no. Like I said it’s my story and to stay there means I wouldn’t be progressing and so no. I mean it is what it is his opinion and I don’t agree with it so I don’t have to stay there so no.

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