"Belive I, Be It" By: Ali Vincent (2/100)

The book that I had originally intended on reading second wasn't shipped by Amazon.com in a timely matter. So, I went out in search of another to fill my time. I'm not entirely sure what made me choose this biography versus the others I had to choose from (which at the used book store I went to was completely random). Basically, it looked appropriate because lately I've been watching a show called HEAVY. It's like a cross between INTERVENTION and the BIGGEST LOSER. People have a significant amount of weight to loose and the 45 minute show profiles their transformation in six months. Ali Vincent, by the way, was the first female winner of the BIGGEST LOSER (maybe that information would have been helpful before? Or maybe you already recognized the name?)

What gets me about these books is that the producers are blaming people's significant weight gain because of something more then just a liking for fatting food. It's always something like "I had a terrible childhood" or "I lost my son/mom/grandma/boyfriend". I started to question if this was the case with everyone... I mean, is every single person who has weight to lose in that position because they fill their bodies with food instead of self-worth?

Does this also mean that thinner people are happier?

I'm not sold, but that seems to be the trend in a professional (and of course skinny people) mind. For example, I don't think my weight gain is 100% because I've had a lot of hard times... but it probably contributed. I'd say it's about 50% hard times, 10% craving for bad foods, 30% not knowing the right choices, and another 10% of lack-of-motivation.

--Quotes from book:

+page 128 "Remember, when weight loss becomes a goal in your life, eating right and exercising are just two pieces of the puzzle. Figuring out why you've put on extra weight is the hardest part."
+page 3 "Because behind weight gain are the larger hurts and questions that have to be explored, probed, and understood before weight loss and maintenance is a possibility."

This book was still motivation to figure out why I don't take better care of myself. I suppose the basic answer is that I have been stretched thin in all that I've gone through in the recent history and haven't been able to commit myself completely to either myself or the other people that I'm responsible for. I have decided (or at least now committed to) taking care of me first so that I can be better for the people around me.

This book was about Ali's journey on the biggest loser and how this place taught them to "reinvent themselves" and began to see their lives in terms of "before the ranch and after the ranch". It sounds very life changing and secretly I envied her journey. I do admire her for not taking it for granted. She took all the help that was offered and changed it into something monumentus. At one point she talked about people who are trying out over and over for a spot on the show, but really people have the ability to change themselves.

While the trainers and food are provided on the show, it's the contestants themselves that make the changes. Ali is definitely a "winner" in my mind, not only because she won the BIGGEST LOSER but she won her life back. Another quote that I identified with was, "I'd been just kind of letting life happen to me -- I didn't feel worthy of wanting anything more." (page 4)

Ali, I hear you. Sometimes I want to DO something versus letting it happen and not feeling up the challenge of making change happen.

Another quote -- "Chicken exits are self-sabotage. They give you a false explanation for why you don't have something you want." (page 109) So, in other words there is never an excuse to not do something you want. So if I want to be thin and happy "not having time" and "not having the right foods" aren't going to work. I have the ability to make change happen.

one more, "I was the one who was putting myself in a box. The liberating part of my journey was the realization that if I could put myself in there, I also had the power to let myself out. I held the key to that box."

So, really this book turned out to be motivational and inspiring to me. I'm glad I choose it and I now want to watch the BIGGEST LOSER in terms of life changing stories versus fat people losing weight (please don't tell me I'm the only one who was guilty of thinking so simply?)

I think there will be more inspirational biographies in the future :)