Knock Out the Fat Blog

Check out my progress!

Yannick — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:00:00 -0400

kotf has me in trouble with my costume designer!!

Caprice — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:19:00 -0400

i'm in rehearsals for an opera at the moment and had a fitting about 10 days ago...after being measured by the costumer about 2 1/2 weeks before that...and, well, needless to say, nothing fits. i warned the costumer that I'd most likely be dropping inches, but who can predict these things?! i'm swimming in the costume to the point of tripping over the skirt (which was sliding down my hips...), and i think it will be held together by safety pins by the end of the show's run!!

still, i'm pretty excited to have this "problem", tripping onstage and all...

Time for a birthday party...but I don't want to "cheat"!! :)

Caprice — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:21:00 -0400

So, tomorrow is the big day -- we're having a birthday party for my daughter, who turned ONE YEAR OLD last week(!!!!!!). We've been madly (and I do mean *madly*) trying to get our apartment in order, because even though we've been in our new digs for about 6 weeks, the pace of our unpacking efforts has been glacial at best -- Erik has been extremely busy with work (rehearsals for two operas at the same time, ack!), plus I've also been in rehearsals for my first post-partum opera production. In the midst of all this craziness, it has definitely been more difficult than ever to find my "me" time, so I've had to get a little creative...for example, when I'm out doing errands, I always try to take the long way so that I can sneak in 5 or 10 extra minutes of walking per errand. After the party tomorrow, life will get a little less hectic, and I can concentrate more on practicing & memorizing my music...and I can hopefully even find time for the mommy & me yoga class I've been eyeing at the local YMCA/YWCA!!

But first, I have to survive the party tomorrow. Don't worry -- my hubby and I have already decided that healthy is the way to go with the party menu...it's going to be one big G-Broil/360 Grill fest for our guests!! Frida is going to have a grand ol time with her turkey burger, and yes, of course, she'll also have cake (which I'll be baking first thing tomorrow morning - but I promise not to sample the goods....well, maybe just a teeny bite ). Speaking of baking, though, I had to actually unpack two more kitchen boxes tonight to find our baking pans -- we haven't even used the oven since we moved into our new apartment, because everything we cook is on the Foreman Grill!! That may not sound crazy to some of you, but for those of you who know me, you know that almost every single dinner I made involved baking something (chicken, pork chops, etc.). Wow, has life changed....and I must say, it's feeling really good.

Happy birthday, baby girl!!

It is good to be healthy and back to myself!!!

Troy — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:32:00 -0400

So things have been going well as usual. I did have a two week span where I was SOOOOOO busy and just could not get my schedule in order. It was tough to get to the gym but I still management to get exercise in and still play soccer (I have some footage of it so get excited!!!) I just can not believe that I have lost so much weight and keep going. It is awesome and the thing I love most about it is that I am also gaining muscle. I can see the weight I am lifting getting heavier and heavier every week and I am starting to see some definition in places there has not been for a while! I can run longer now as well and it was really evident to me when playing soccer. Some of you may have remembered one of my last blogs about how none of my clothes fit me.

Well I still didnt want to spend money on new clothes so I decided to go through the bags of old stuff that I "grew" out of. I am a pack rat so all my clothes from freshmen year are in those bags. I found some really nice clothes in there but its not like they would actually fit right?? NO THEY ALL FIT!!!!

It was awesome timing the fact that when I went back to visit my college everyone I saw kept asking me if we were back in freshmen year because I make them feel like it.

I couldnt be happier and just want to continue working hard and being heathly.

THERE IS NO DOUBT I WILL CONTINUE THIS LIFESTYLE AFTER THE COMPETITION!!

Cardio Queen

Yannick — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 07:50:00 -0400

The weather in VA has been beautiful! Since it's been in the 80's, I've opted to walk/run EVERYWHERE! I drive my car only for highway travel. I see the difference. I go to the gym, but I definitely prefer the fresh air. I have been homesick and running seems to clear my mind and put me in a happy place. I had to put all of my size 12 clothes in bins and buy 10s and a few 8s! I was soooooooooo Excited!!! I can''t wait to my family sees me in November!

To gym or not to gym

The Trainers — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:24:00 -0400

Derek makes a great point: if you don't think you will like going to gym, you are probably right. WAY too much money is spent in this country on gym memberships that no one ever uses. And the gyms thrive on it. They don't want you to show up. If every single member showed up at the gym, they would be completely overwhelmed. (I have often thought about developing a grass roots campaign-- "Use Your Gym Membership Day"-- if only to shock the management of these places into caring.) The national retention rate for gym members always hovers around 40%. It seems like such a great idea-- join the gym and you will be fit by association! And it lasts a few weeks. But if it doesn't inspire you, the excitement will wear off pretty quickly and then it is simply a monthly charge on your credit card.

If you are thinking of joining a gym, here are few tips to make sure its a good investment:

visit the gym a few times, particularly at times of the day when you think you would be going. This will give you a very clear idea about how busy it gets.
talk to some of the members and see if they enjoy the experience. Is it crowded? Is it clean? Would they rejoin if they had to?
If you do decide to join, go in with a couple of friends-- you're more likely to receive a discount on the membership if you are part of a group. Also, go in before January 1st. Around New Year's, most gyms know people are going to be eager to join. In early November, you are more likely to get a better deal on the membership.
Always ask if you can have extra months tacked on to the membership. Remember, they don't think you are actually going to go, so what do they care if they give you a couple of extra months.
Make sure that the gym has equipment and activities that you enjoy. If it filled with treadmills, but you HATE treadmills, it is probably not money well spent.

Rock on.

Walking on Sunshine, and don't it feel Good!

Derek — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:33:00 -0400

Today I got up pretty early and took a walk. I hate the dreadfull saturday Gym. It's always very busy and you end up waiting for at least an hours to get on any equipment. I did say at the begining of this journey that I would't join a Gym and then a couple weeks later I did. Well honestly I wish that I hadn't. I have done pretty good not doing so and with my job I havn't been as frequent as I want to. I am waiting for the new Gym to be completed just around the corner from where I live. That will be so FABULOUS!

It has also been a terrific ride for me on this journey and I believe that with only two more weigh ins I will continue this active life well into my years to come. No excuse, but if I don't win this competition Next month, then after my surgery is over and I can really build that muscle around my mid section, the entire World better WATCH OUT , because Derek is going to have that washboard stomach, Scar and All.

I am off now to enjoy the outdoors and my weekend Off.

The Circle of Life

Derek — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:10:00 -0400

Its truly amazing how our everyday lives just seem rotate on a pinwheel of situations. I just woke up from this dream I was in for the last two years. It was a great dream that I will briefly share with you all.

I helped this friend out because she needed help and we spent two long years together , laughing , crying, healing and protecting. Living our everyday lives and catching up at the end of the day , sharing all that had came our way. We met each others friends and some we even parted with due to crazy situations. At the end of the dream we each looked into the mirror in front of us and said its time to go our separate ways and even a few tears were shed but we each knew that the time had come for us to LIVE OUR LIVES APART. When I woke up from this dream I infact looked around and my dream was a reality. I wish you well my friend and thank you for our time together. Lets stay friends and when this Competition draws to a close lets celebrate like Rock Stars.

I have moved my apartment around and now created a Zen Like area where I can meditate and reflect. I also picked up some Yoga tapes and will begin classes on Yoga very soon. This is all the Circle of Life and Wow is it powerful.

I look So High School!

Yannick — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:08:00 -0400

I am the size I was in high school!

I LOVE my body!

I still have curves, minus some bulge. It's a wonderful feeling. At my high school reunion, I plan to be smaller than I was when I graduated.

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!

What a Present!

Derek — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:10:00 -0400

Happy Birthday to Me. Today is my birthday and since I am doing so well with this journey, I deserve to celebrate my achievement and blessings that the past year has given me. I joined some friends today and reflected on LIFE. Yes I had some chocolate cake , thank you Jesse, and a couple of cocktails but had to send the remaining cake back home with Jesse because I am still on a mission to continue this healthy lifestyle and come December Win this Challenge.

I am now off to some ME TIME. I am going to take a long walk and reflect on a few things. Thank you all again for following me on this journey and wish everyone out there a truly blessed day.

EIGHT MILES of HELL

Yannick — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:57:00 -0400

I had the bright idea of doing a run/walk around my town. I've never ventured around my new neighborhood. I got lost and ended going 8 MILES!!! My bum was sooooooooooooooo sore! I did not know that your bum could get sore from walking and running.

Oh the Sickness

The Trainers — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:12:00 -0400

Troy-- You have to watch that "working through it" thing. I did that one spring a number of years ago-- I had a little cold and a friend wanted me to be in his exercise video. I figured no problem and ended up working out on and off for a whole weekend. By the middle of the following week, I had a triple infection-- lung, throat and sinus. Good times. Back off for a little while, let your mom make you some soup and let yourself get better. Sure, you may lose a couple of pounds by getting horribly ill (The Devil Wears Prada- "I'm one stomach virus away from my goal weight") but it is totally not worth it.

I have been recommending to everyone I know that they use a Neti Pot through this cold season. If you are not sure what it is, go to youtube and search it. They have many demonstration videos that are worth the price of admission. But it is effective. Very effective and I swear by it.

Get better soon and rock on!!

Been sick and really busy...

Troy — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:54:00 -0400

So I haven't been able to blog for a week because I have been once again... so very busy and I figure at least I am still getting to the gym and eating right! I mentioned I am in a soccer league now and its awesome. I can't even tell you how much I love playing sports again and what a workout it is. I even go to the gym that day before the games too so that means I am getting to good workouts in one day. Makes me feel good to know I am working hard. Eating on time and on a schedule has still be difficult but I have been having my salads and grilled chicken. About the sickness... It has been holding me back and it has been making it hard to keep my energy up. I have been trying to have do everything right, workout hard but when you are coughing up a lung, it doesn't look good in the gym, but I have still been going!

I want to point again to other people who are trying to lose weight that it is hard and it may seem impossible but you can do it! I can not even describe how great I feel being back to myself and I still have a ways to go but being more in shape and active and having more energy is amazing. It feels so good to be comfortable in my skin. When you see people and old friends telling you that you look great and back to yourself too.... it feels that much better!

Anyone can do it... Just commit yourself to it and it is okay if you trip and stumble... it is natural and I know all of us have but we still keep pushing

One Two Three Snap!

Derek — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:11:00 -0400

Hey Hey Hey Whats going On? Just a simple update on whats going on with me. Its been a fun week since I last caught you all up. I seem to have found a good spot in my life to just reflect on feeling GOOD. I went to visit Michael and Lawson and was able to get some one on one personal training. I walked over the Brooklyn Bridge and was that an experience. The rain was falling but it was quite romantic in a way. mmmmmmmmmmmm.
To the staff at Guru Gym, in Brooklyn's Dumbo district, I would like to thank you for understanding my inexperience in a Gym and coaching me to a better understanding of what my body can do physically. I sweated like a true competitor and for an hour or so I forgot about everything else. People ask me everyday," how and I doing this and not gaining weight?" , I tell them ," Its easy asOne TwoThree Snap! " simply read every caloric package before you buy it and remember what you put in your body is your own fault.

Here Today Gone Tomorrow

Derek — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:50:00 -0400

Just waking up to a new day. I can tell that the weather is changing and so am I. It's time to put the workout clothes on and Dance. A viewer out there suggested I put on the music and Dance. Its great having some time off and my roommate is gone to work, I can just get naked and dance to my hearts desire. It may not be a good visual to those on the other side of the window but i feel good about the new body I am shrinking into. I know that because I do have a Hernia , surgery will have to happen here soon. Thank God, I have no pain and discomfort but seeing that bulge on my stomach has kept me from doing the crunches. It's Okay with me since the love handles are leaving and my thighs are shrinking.
I tried to not buy any new clothes but ended up going window shopping the other day. I use to wear a 42 waist and now .......a SEXY 36 waist...HALALUHA !!
I know the weight is good to lose but you all know that muscle weighs. I am at total loss to who is actually winning this competition. LADIES AND GENTS OUT THERE IN WEB WORLD I JUST WANT TO SAY ..."THIS IS REALLY A REALITY SHOW " MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM