The Biggest Loser's Get-Slim Lesson of the Week: Exercise isn't the only way to lose weight
"You're going to pray for your combat instructors when I'm done with you." - Jillian
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The contestants had to battle--literally--to lose weight this week. They trained with the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, where they got the full military treatment: crack-of-dawn wakeup calls, mess hall meals and grueling physical therapy (PT, to non-civilians).
"You think Bob and Jillian are tough; you ain't seen nothing," one of the sergeants warned. Indeed, the Marines shared Jillian's penchant for yelling in the contestants' faces and quippy one-liners (Marine to Anna when she complained she couldn't breathe: "You can breathe because you're telling me you can't breathe.").
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The challenge this week was a brutal three-mile obstacle course. The blue team won and was rewarded with phone calls home. The black team's Elizabeth passed out mid-race, but her team helped her and they finished the challenge together. The entire week was a lesson in teamwork, and every contestant was proud because they came together and pushed themselves.
So with all the hardcore, military-grade workouts you'd expect major weight loss, right? Wrong! This was the worst weigh-in yet. Most contestants only lost two to four pounds, and some even gained--Frado put on four pounds!
The black team had the lowest total percentage of weight loss and sent Anna home (she lost another 80 pounds on her own after she left the show; go girl!). Everyone saw Anna's departure coming so it was relatively drama-free, but the overall poor showing was truly shocking. Jillian attributed it to lack of sleep, a change in eating habits and surging stress hormones. So despite the intense exercise, their bodies were out of whack from all the other lifestyle changes they had undergone.
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The lesson for you: Regular exercise and a healthy diet are important components of a weight loss plan, but don't forget other lifestyle factors such as managing stress (stress hormones like cortisol have been linked to belly fat gain) and getting enough sleep--research has shown that women who get five or fewer hours of rest a night are one third more likely to gain 33 pounds over 16 years than those who sleep seven hours. So there you have it: the perfect excuse to schedule a massage for yourself and crawl into bed a little earlier!
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Photo Credit: nbc.com
