Hi everyone,
I’m just going to say it: I love Phil. I love his heart. I love how he cherishes every moment at Camp Biggest Loser. You can see it, how he just soaks up everything he’s given and how having people like Shannan support him and respect him is doing wonders. I just want to give him a hug.
It was wonderful to see him speaking up about the bullying he experienced as a child. It must have been truly traumatic and, as adults, we shouldn’t underestimate how these moments have affected our lives. I’m sure finally being able to talk about it and acknowledge it was a huge thing for him, just as going to Camp Biggest Loser must have been daunting for him... I mean, it really is a lot like high school.
All this is just my way of saying that I’m glad Phil wasn’t voted out on Monday. Yes, it was a silly move for those playing the game to leave the grey team in (the twins were obviously less of a threat) but “The Firm” followed the rules of their alliance and I have a lot of respect for that.
The alliance
I remember in Series 3 when the Blue Team was reduced to three – Kirsten, Sam and me. We made a pact to stick together to ensure that none of us would get voted off and ultimately it was the three of us standing up there at the Finale. The reason we were successful was mostly due to the fact that we were always the first in the gym in the morning and the last to leave at night, and we were totally focused on our diets. We made a decision: we couldn’t control the game but we could control our food and exercise. It’s a bit like life; all you can control is what you can do for yourself.
Of course we voted as a team whenever elimination rolled round but that wasn’t about the game, it was about the bonds we’d formed (Kirsten and I knew we couldn’t compete with Sam’s 18-year-old metabolism). It was about our word, and three Blues standing up and making Shannan proud.
So even though I thought it was stupid to vote off the twins, I also felt a great respect for the others in the alliance and the rules they followed. It might be a game but you’ve got to do what’s right for your soul. That’s what you live with at the end of the day.
One last word about the alliance... if I could pop back into Camp Biggest Loser I’d like to give big Shannon some words of advice: Just get in the gym. Stop worrying about the others and remember why you are there.
The visits
I have to admit, I’m feeling a little jealous. Last week, the Waratahs, and this week Matt Shirvington! All these hunky men! All we had was Shannan – gorgeous as he is – but because he tortured us I didn’t think he was too hunky for very long.
Seriously, it’s not just the fact that this group is being visited by these incredibly fit and well-known athletes, it’s that they are getting so many visits. You don’t know how sensational it is to actually see someone new! From the moment we’re told we’re on the show we go into lockdown, and we’re pretty much grounded until we leave the house. We can’t talk to our family or anyone. The only contact we have is with the other contestants and the producers and camera crew, but sometimes you forget they are even around, so a special visit from someone like Anthony Mundine is a moment of absolute joy... to actually talk to someone different...
I was one of the visitors the contestants had last week. Walking in and meeting them was a surreal moment for me. I remember when eight former contestants from Series 1 and 2 inspired me when I was in the house, and to be able to do the same... wow. It’s something I cherish. I feel honoured by my experience on The Biggest Loser and I guess it’s important to me to be able to pass on a little of that experience. If I can show just one person that this is achievable and maintainable, that’s all I can hope for.
It’s also really important to me to show that my experience didn’t just stop at Finale. I continued to lose weight and maintain that loss. I’ve changed my life in so many ways. It really is possible.
Believe in yourself.
Ali
Video highlight
If you missed any episodes you can catch up on The Biggest Loser TV show. As I said, it was a little surreal to visit Camp Biggest Loser. You can see my visit below...