Watching the Biggest Loser last night, I shed a few tears.  It gets me every time I see families reuniting, the look on the kids’ faces as they see their mom or dad again. And the speeches, well don’t get me started again…

Am I just a sap? Probably, but I’m okay with that.

Liz’s speech about taking care of everyone else but always putting herself last really resonated with me as a mom.  I saw the women in the audience nodding their heads while Liz spoke.  Because of course this is a common problem among us moms.  It is so easy for us to push ourselves down to the bottom our daily to do list…or even falling off entirely.  I thought back to the times when I’ve eaten the kids’ leftovers as my “lunch”, the times I’ve given up a workout so the kids can have a play date, and well, you know what I mean, because we all do it, don’t we? Our children, after all, mean the world to us!

I, for one, have finally realized that putting my health first (gasp) means that I have the energy to be a better mom and that I’ll be a happier and more calm mom as well.  Not to mention the kicker…my husband and I are the primary role models for our children. If we don’t take care of ourselves, how do we teach our children to take care of themselves? So perhaps we shouldn’t look at it like we are being selfish by taking care of ourselves, but rather that we are giving the gift of health to our children instead.

Gosh and it only took me most of a decade to learn this!

Moving on to the weigh in…I can’t believe it. Double digit weight loss again!  Amazing and inspirational, of course. But I wonder how the average viewer who is following along at home (like Liz, who sat and watched while eating ice cream) feels when they only lose a pound or two, or – gasp – gains over the course of a week?  Most of us don’t have the option of leaving our families to lost weight and get fitter for months at a time. I hope people don’t get discouraged, because weight loss and fitness is a lifelong journey, not a week long goal.

Let’s see…what else did I want to say…? Right. The product placement.  Am I the only one irritated by the blatant product promotion during the show? Or am I just being grumpy because I skipped eating ice cream while I watched? 

Still, those two little gripes pale in comparison to the good the show does when it comes to drawing attention to the need to make a true commitment to being healthy and fit.  Cheers and applause for that!

Finally, down to the nitty gritty.  What did you think of the challenge? Would you have pulled yourself over a canyon from 200 feet in the air? (Gosh, I had flashbacks to my recent adventure Zip Trekking…this looked way scarier! …but, I could have done it I think.)

Were you surprised by Rebecca getting voted off?  How did you feel about that? Was she the right pick?

Hit me up, let me know your thoughts in the comments.

~courtesy of DietsinReview, by Brandi

She’s back! And smaller than ever. Last season Ruby Gettinger stormed onto the Style Network reality stage and stole the hearts of America. Ruby began last season weighing nearly 500 pounds, and chronicled her more than 100-pound weight loss in a candid weekly reality program. July 5, Ruby returns for her second season weighing less than 350 pounds, the smallest she’s ever been as an adult.

The first season introduced us to this darling Savannah, Geogia resident whose weight had gotten so out of control she was told she’d die if she didn’t make some dramatic changes. The docu-series follows Ruby’s daily life, introduces us to family and friends, and shows how Ruby is slowly but surely making those important life-saving changes. Not only does Ruby works with a crack team of doctors, nutritionists, and trainers to help her better understand how to manage a healthy lifestyle, but she also works with a therapist to confront the deep issues that have prevented Ruby from making these changes.

Season two opens on a tragic event, as Ruby must deal with the sudden death of her father. The first true test of her new self, it’s with determination and her constant support network that Ruby’s able to persevere and not let this event keep her from crossing below the 350 pound mark. Former flame Denny returns and treats Ruby to a Rascal Flatts concert, a trip that sends her back to Savannah more determined than ever.

Prepare to meet an all-new Ruby and one ready to take on exciting new experiences this season. They might be things that many of us take for granted, but in season two we’ll see Ruby ride a bike for the first time in decades, visit the gynecologist, shop for new clothes and even participate in a breast cancer walk.

If you’re ready to make some big changes in your life just like Ruby, then join Ruby’s Walk Across America. It’s her way of helping Americans take those all important first steps toward a healthier life. In fact, you can join Ruby in two Walk Across America events this summer, and walk alongside the Style Network sweetheart.

• July 11 in Los Angeles: 10a, rain or shine! Oceanfront, adjacent to Santa Monica Pier
• July 18 in St. Louis: 10a, rain or shine! Kiener Plaza at the corner of Market & Broadway

Ruby continues to inspire a nation in the season two premiere July 5 at 8 p.m. et/pt

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