Is being kidnapped by the Commando a good reward for winning a 21km race? It looks as though the jury’s still out for winner Phil and his runner-up buddy Joe but for me the answer would be a loud yes – and not just because he is hot!
The boys may have to hack five weeks of Commando-style intensive training in the Northern Territory but they won’t have to contend with the hard knocks of The Biggest Loser – Temptation, Challenges and Elimination.
An amazing prize it may be, but life in the desert has the potential to unsettle both contenders. Change can really affect the mind, which we all know is the most powerful tool.
I think we’ve seen the results of the change already, when at the Sunday night weigh-in Phil was shown to have gained 4.9kg.
I have no doubt Phil will come back with a vengeance this week but I do feel for him. I never gained weight during my journey but I did have a tiny loss of 700g in my final week and I was shattered. I know gaining weight could take the wind from Phil’s sails but I think he will use it as positive motivation. I think we will see some impressive numbers from him next week.
It just proves how important your food intake is: these guys have had sensational training by the Commando so it must be Phil’s diet that has let him down.
In the words of the Commando, “It’s not just about training and food, it’s about discipline.”
I certainly would never underestimate the positive impact the Commando can have. He knows how to strip off the weight, break you down and rebuild you into a machine. He’s been a part of the show since Series 2 and has trained the winners of Series 2 and 4. Will he train the Series 5 winner as well? I certainly think young Joe is a strong contender.
The power of setting goals
Speaking of winners, the contestants were lucky enough to meet with seven-time world surfing champion Layne Beachley and get some surfing lessons. She’s such an inspiring, amazing woman.
What she said about setting goals really hit home to me. She highlighted the importance of continually setting new goals, both for the long term and the short term, to keep motivated.
It doesn’t have to be one big goal; it can be as simple as attending a ball, fitting into a pair of skinny jeans, or competing in a fun run. Your goal can keep changing but the key point is having a focus, setting a goal that works for you, ensuring you reach it and then setting some more.
I've just set a new goal for myself: to lose the couple of kilos I gained on a recent trip to Vietnam and get back to my happy weight of 60kg. My action plan? I'll be training five days a week for up to an hour each time.
With food, I'll keep The Biggest Loser Meal Replacement Bars handy so that I don’t risk skipping meals. I love the Meal Replacement Soups at lunch and I'll have high-protein dinners with lots of vegies.
Caitlin bites the dust
As predicted, 'The Firm’ alliance couldn’t control the game completely and at Monday night’s Elimination Caitlin’s time was up. I was watching Elimination with my mum who was sobbing and complaining that it wasn’t fair that Caitlin, The Biggest Loser Australia’s biggest-ever female contestant, had to go as she needed to be there more than mum-of-two Lisa. I disagree!
At this point in time all of these contestants know exactly what they need to do. They know what to eat and how to train. We’re now at the business end of the game, when the excitement really begins!
So who’s my tip for winning Series 5? At the beginning of the show I picked Lisa, and I still do.
Video highlight
Training with the Commando is serious stuff at the best of times, but this clip shows just how hard Phil and Joe really had to work to cope with the harsh conditions of the Northern Territory.