Thursday, May 26, 2011

Bob Harper's Ultimate Cardio Body (Winner)

Well this winner announcement for the Bob Harper's Ultimate Cardio Body giveaway has been a long time coming and I am sorry for the long delay.  Life got in the way and I forgot to pick the winner before now.  I spend most of my time on my 26.2 Quest running blog and as of late I have been neglecting this blog unfortunately.  I am sorry for those that entered that have given up on me because of the lack of a follow up post, but on to the winner.

The giveaway was for a copy of Bob Harper's Ultimate Cardio Body DVD.  I entered the number of entries in random.org and the winner was chosen.  The lucky winner was Audrey from Aud's Odds.

Audrey, please send your mailing address to info@2big.org and I will get the DVD in the mail to you as soon as possible.

Tim Wilson - blog.2big.org

Monday, April 11, 2011

Bob Harper's Ultimate Cardio Body (Giveaway)

If you know anything about me you will know that my cardio of choice is running.  Something else you may not know is that I have never been a fan of workout videos.  I am sure you are asking the obvious question now - what am I doing reviewing and giving away Bob Harper's Ultimate Cardio Body?

Bob Harper, as everyone knows, has made quite a name for himself as one of the trainers on The Biggest Loser.  While I don't personally like everything they do on The Biggest Loser, Bob has gained my respect as someone that knows what he is talking about when it comes to fitness and weight loss through watching him. Based on that respect I was interested in taking a look at The Ultimate Cardio Body.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Get Real And Stop Dieting - Book Giveaway!

We all know there are many books published all the time about dieting, and most of them in my opinion are not worth the paper they are written on.  Most diet books tell you what you have to do to lose weight and in many cases there is some extreme steps that need to be taken or strict rules to follow.  I won't even get into the books that are just pushing a product.

Get Real And Stop Dieting is not one of those books.  The author, Brett Blumenthal, is a WELCOA-Certified wellness expert and AFAA-Certified fitness instructor.  I am not sure about you, but I am happy to see someone other than a doctor writing a book like this.  The doctors are usually the ones that seem to have the books like I mentioned above.... not that I am opposed to doctors mind you :)

I have not had a chance to read the entire book yet, but from what I have read so far I have found it to be an easy read and really just about the basics that will seem like common sense when you read it.  The problem is that even though a lot of it is common sense we tend to forget about these or think they are too easy.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Do You Use Protein Supplements?

I am a strong believer in Protein Supplements when it comes to both running, lifting, and workouts of any type that deplete or tear up my muscles.  In the research I have done over the years I have come to the personal conclusion that Protein Supplements are for more than just getting big muscles and make the use of them a regular part of my routine.

I have used plenty of different brands and kinds of Protein Supplements over the years, some that I have liked, and some that were so disgusting that I took them back were I bought them and demanded my money back.  I was using a brand that I have been very happy with lately, when I was contacted on behalf of BSN Suppliments with an opportunity to try their SYNTHA-6™ Product.

Monday, February 21, 2011

The Controversial Shot For Weight Loss: Miracle or Hype? The HCG Diet

On today's show Dr. Oz investigates the truth behind HCG – a weight loss plan that combines the use of a hormone found only in pregnant women and a severely restricted diet.  Dr. Sherri Emma, dieters Michelle (Parsippany, NJ), Kimberly (El Cajon, CA) and Nichole (Clearfield, UT), HCG dieters Mary Jo (Holmdel, NJ), Lisa (Rumson, NJ), Nina, Dr. Gary Arbuckle, Dr. Caroline Apovian, obesity researcher, Keri Gans, nutritionist and dangerous supplements researcher Dr. Pieter Cohen, Dr. Sanjeev Patel weigh in the pros and cons of this controversial diet.

More than a million women walk around with an undiagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm. Could you be one of them? With Assistant of the Day Debbie (Brooklyn, NY) and Rena Law of Lifeline Screenings, Dr. Oz reveals what you can do today to prevent this ticking time bomb in your torso. You’ve heard these health rules before but are they really valid?

Friday, February 18, 2011

Fit People Know Monday is Never Coming

Narcotics are the scourge of the poverty class.  Alcohol is a killer of the working class.  Self-delusion is the addiction of the middle class.  While fat people delude themselves into believing they can continue starting over on Monday and eventually succeed, critical thinkers recognize this common psychological trap.  The core belief is, “I can eat the same and get different results.”

Fit people force themselves to grow up emotionally and take control of their minds and bodies.  A fat person on a diet who is only semi-committed to success is no different than a school kid who refuses to concentrate on his or her homework, or a child who goes kicking and screaming at the first sign of having to exert self-control.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

How to Tell a Friend, “You Need to Lose Weight”

A few days ago I wrote about a question I asked of the individuals from the second episode of Heavy on A&E.  The Livestream Q&A took place following the second episode on January 24th.

The question I asked was "What do you feel is the best way for friends or family to approach someone that is extremely obese concerning their health so they do not feel attacked, but rather understand it is out of love and care for them?"  If you would like to see how they answered that question you can visit my previous post called A&E's Heavy Q&A - My Question Answered.

Imagine my surprise when just about a week ago I was pitched the following article from Structure House.  I am not sure that I completely agree with their Refer-A-Friend online tool, but they share some good thoughts and tips and are trying to attack something that I obviously think is an important issue that needs dealt with.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

A&E's Heavy Q&A - My Question Answered

A few weeks ago following the second episode of Heavy on A&E, Rickywayne McCartney and Jessica Murphy appeared live with expert trainers Britny Fowler and David Richardson and the series Executive Producer Jonathan Nowzaradan.

This was a live streaming video Q&A session that I was lucky enough to be asked to submit a question for.  It didn't take me long to come up with a question as it was something that I had wondered about for some time.  I was pleasantly surprised how they reacted to my question.

"What do you feel is the best way for friends or family to approach someone that is extremely obese concerning their health so they do not feel attacked, but rather understand it is out of love and care for them?"

Sunday, January 23, 2011

A&E's Heavy - Rickywayne and Jessica

The second episode of Heavy featuring Rickywayne who started out at 555 lbs and 28 year old Jessica will be airing tomorrow night on A&E at 10/9 central and is another must see episode.  Tomorrow night there is a special feature immediately following the playing of this episode that you will not want to miss.  More information about the live "Fanchat" can be found at the bottom of this post.

Rickywayne who is only 35 and already weighing in at well over 500 lbs blames himself for his mom's death and continued his obsession and dependence on food to help deal with the issues he was avoiding rather then dealing with them.  Though his issues with food were magnified during this time, they actually started when he was in fifth grade.  He got very creative coming up with ways to get more food like eating his bagged lunch on his way to school leaving open the option to get another lunch when the time came.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Heavy - Series Premiere Tonight on A&E

A&E has a new series out premiering tonight called Heavy.  As popular as "The Biggest Loser" is and has been I think after watching just one episode that this is a much better approach to show what it really is like to be overweight, and what it really takes to make the lifestyle change that it is going to take if these individuals really want to change their lives for the better.

HEAVY - A&E’s docudrama Heavy follows twenty-two individuals facing extreme life-threatening health consequences as a result of their obesity. The one-hour series follows two participants per episode documenting their incredible transformations during a six month treatment program. read more

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Winner of Mind Over Fat Matters

If you haven't read about the book "Mind Over Fat Matters" from Dr. Lavinia Rodriguez yet you need to stop by my earlier giveaway post and read a little bit more about it and maybe pick up your own copy!.  For right now though we are going to give one lucky winner their own copy of this book.

The winner of the book is David H. from Running Because I Can.  David, please contact me at info@2big.org with your mailing address and I will ship it right out.

Everybody, stay tuned and make sure you subscribe one of the ways below to make sure you are aware of any further giveaways and to just help me along the way.  I do have another book I will be giving away in the next few days so don't delay and subscribe today!

Tim Wilson - blog.2big.org

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Need to Get on Board!

I have been doing much better over the past couple weeks but I don't feel like I am completely where I need to be, I am not completely on board yet and it is evident.  I need to get myself back completely on board like I was when I first lost this weight 4 years ago.  I know what I need to do, I just can't get where I need to be for some reason.

I have multiple plans that I have put in motion one of them obviously being running.  I have also started some core workouts using the Thrive90 Fitness program from Fit Marriage.  The only thing I need to get on track with is my eating.  It seems to be the one thing that I have always had the most difficulty with.  Eating healthy, and stopping when my body has had enough.

I hope you will join me as I take on this battle once again.  Even though my goal is not the 90 lbs I lost in 2007, but rather just to drop 15-20 lbs and tighten up in areas that have never been what I have wanted them to be.

Let me know where you are at and what plans you have in store.  How are you doing two weeks into the new year?

If you haven't entered already you still have a little time.  Stop by and enter to win the book "Mind Over Fat Matters"

Tim Wilson - blog.2big.org

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Get Fired up about Fitness this Winter - Book Giveaway!

The Holiday Season is behind us and so are all the parties, food, food, and even more food.  Very few people have the self discipline to eat healthy while they are socializing with family and friends, especially over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.  How did you do? Did you overdo this past Holiday Season like so many other people did?  Are you now in the same place as many others trying to look at ways to eat better, become more active, and shed some of those extra few pounds?

Sure I lost 90 lbs a few years ago, and sure I have run two marathons and now run nearly every day, but I too find myself eating more than I should at times, and eating foods that I shouldn't be putting in my body.  I don't do resolutions, but as I start training for my next marathon I want to start eating better, both the types of food I eat and how much I eat.

As I train for my next marathon I will be outside a lot over the winter months, and if you are going to make the commitment to be more active, however that may look for you, you will probably also be getting outside more over the winter months.  For those of you in the warmer climates this doesn't apply too well, but for those of us that have temperatures that drop down below 50 on a regular basis Dr. Lavinia Rodriguez from www.fatmatters.com has some great tips to get you out the door and to help you stay active when the weather tells you to stay inside:



Hibernating is just for the bears. When we’re cold, we tend to want to just curl up with a blanket and relax. The season is filled with some of the best-tasting snacks, from eggnog and chili to cookies and chocolate. But these comfort foods can quickly result in a bit of a winter bulge. As soon as the winter coats and sweaters come off, you’ll wish you had showed more restraint.

 “Exercising in the cold weather not only burns fat while you’re exercising,” encourages Dr. Rodriguez, “it also motivates you to be active instead of being a couch potato. Keep in mind that every opportunity to move should be capitalized on. Even something as simple as going to the mall to shop for gifts can be exercise. Finding ways to fit exercise into your daily life is key!”

Turn up your internal heater. The long (well, not really so long) walk from the car to the gym seems almost unbearable in the blustery winter winds. And the thought of changing clothes in the chilly gym locker room, accompanied by the presence of running shorts, is almost too much to stomach.

“Don’t forget that exercise actually warms you up,” explains Dr. Rodriguez. “Think of your red cheeks and glistening forehead as an indicator that your body temperature is rising. Being inactive will only perpetuate the chilliness of the season.”

Maintain a glass-half-full mentality. In the dead of winter, the sunny days of summer may seem ages away. But soon enough you’ll be packing shorts and bathing suits for long, hot vacations. Just think about how much slimmer you’ll be when the weather warms up if you maintain a healthy lifestyle all year long. You’ll be beach body-ready long before Memorial Day.

“Summer is a big motivator for slimming down,” says Dr. Rodriguez, “but don’t wait to start slimming down in the summer months! Winter is actually a great time to experiment at the gym with new workout routines. Most people tend to quit working out in the cold weather, so take advantage of all the classes and equipment that’s usually reserved.”

Walk it out (snow boots optional!). If you take a trip to the mall or even a brisk walk around the neighborhood, don’t forget that every step counts. Yes, while going to the gym and engaging in rigorous exercise is great, it’s not always feasible. Start keeping count of your steps with a pedometer and challenge yourself to be more active. Ask for a pedometer this holiday season or even sneak and buy one for yourself!

“Wearing a pedometer motivates you to take more steps daily,” says Dr. Rodriguez. “Set a goal and gradually increase your steps to 10,000 per day if possible. Turning exercise into an enjoyable part of your day will greatly increase your odds of living a healthy lifestyle all year long.”

Welcome the winter wonderland. Think of all the fun winter activities you used to do as a kid—sledding, skiing, and ice skating, just to name a few. Who says you have to stop enjoying winter just because you’re an adult? Plan a weekend ski trip with your girlfriends or go caroling in your neighborhood. The options are endless for winter fun.

“Winter has a lot of special activities that you’re not able to do year-round,” says Dr. Rodriguez. “Think of all the winter traditions you can start or continue with your family and friends just by finding ways to have fun outside. If you’re having fun, it’s like you’re not exercising.”

“Motivating yourself in the winter is as simple as embracing the colder temperatures and using them to your advantage,” advises Dr. Rodriguez. “The key is to find fun and easy ways to stop the weather and shorter days of the season from being a deterrent to your healthy lifestyle.”

About the Author:
Dr. Lavinia Rodriguez is a clinical psychologist and an expert trained in treating eating issues and weight problems. For more than 30 years, she has observed how people set themselves up for failure through unrealistic diets and exercise programs, as well as through buying into out-and-out scams designed to take advantage of individuals who seriously want to improve their health and lives. She is concerned about people being misled regarding the most effective ways to lose and manage weight over a lifetime.  

Over the years, Dr. Rodriguez has treated many people, has written articles on the subjects of eating disorders in particular and weight loss in general, and has written a book titled Mind Over Fat Matters: Conquering Psychological Barriers to Weight Management.

The Giveaway:
I was contacted and sent two of Dr. Lavinia Rodriguez's book Mind Over Fat Matters, one of which I am going to give you a chance to win.  It is very easy to win and here is all you have to do to enter:

To enter:
Leave any comment.
For additional entries:
Tweet about this giveaway linking to: http://bit.ly/winmofm and mentioning @2big in the tweet (2 entries!)
Share this giveaway on Facebook linking to http://bit.ly/winmofm (2 entries)
*Leave comments here to let me know you either tweeted of shared it (leave two comments each)

The giveaway will run until January 14th at which time I will randomly select from all entries.  Since I will be shipping this book myself I can only ship to the US, sorry for any inconvenience.

Tim Wilson - blog.2big.org