You know the theme song for The Biggest Loser?

Well, if I could sing I’d sing it for you right now but I’ll spare you the pain and just remind you the chorus goes…

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

So, today I’m going to ask you just that. What have you done lately to make you feel proud of yourself?

I’ll go first.

Chad Waterbury launched a contest at the beginning of 2011 challenging participants to do push ups, chin ups, and body weight lunges everyday in addition to their normal workouts for the first 6 months of the year.

The reps for each exercise match the number of days that have passed since the beginning of the year. So, for example, after my workout yesterday, January 25th, I did 25 push ups, 25 chins (broken into several sets), and 25 lunges on each leg, today I’ll do 26, and I bet you can guess how many I’ll do on the 27th.

I did not officially enter the contest so I will not be eligible to see my name in lights or win the money up for grabs. I am doing it simply to challenge myself. And you know what? Just doing a little extra everyday has made a difference in my workouts and has made me a little more disciplined with what I’m eating. And that makes me feel proud. Ask me again on day 100 and I might be cursing instead of singing…but for now I’ll just keep my chin up.

Now it’s your turn to weigh in.

What have you done lately to make you feel proud?

Now I really must go get ready for my last chance workout!

My Dad makes THE BEST popcorn.

When I was little, I remember watching my Dad in the kitchen whipping up a batch of stove top popcorn and waiting patiently for him to fill up our  bowls. His bowl could feed 5,000 and my bowl was big enough for a cricket’s lunch…but who’s complaining?

Last week a bag of locally produced popcorn was added to my Consumer Supported Agriculture (CSA) grocery bag. Get this…I can’t remember the last time I’ve had popcorn and I know for sure that I have never made popcorn on the stove in my entire life.

But, I figured it out.

I hopped into the Fitness & Spice test kitchen, tossed a towel over my shoulder (like my Dad does), threw about a tablespoon of olive oil and 1/4 cup of popcorn in a pan, covered it with a lid, and glided it over the hot burner for a few minutes. My first batch was topped with good ole sea salt and it was almost as good as Dad’s, only this time I had the entire bowl for myself.

The next day I experimented with a top coat of Pam Olive Oil Spray, Parmesan cheese, and a dash of Tabasco Sauce—we don’t call this site Fitness & Spice for nothing!

When watching the Biggest Loser grand finale, I topped my popcorn with (wait. for. it.) RANCH seasoning.

And last night I was craving something sweet so I called Carrie and we came up with…

Chocolate & Peanut Butter Popcorn (Sorta)

• Step 1: Pop a batch of popcorn
• Step 2: In a shaker combine a tablespoon or two of chocolate protein powder and powdered peanut butter (PB2) along with a packet or two of stevia
• Step 3: Lightly coat popcorn with butter flavor Pam
• Step 4: Sprinkle chocolate and peanut butter mixture all over the popcorn

Was it perfect? Not quite.

Did it taste like Crunch ‘n Munch or Cracker Jacks? No, whey.

Did I eat the entire bowl? Guilty!

Would I make it again? Don’t mind if I do!

What’s your favorite popcorn topping?

Now I really must go hit the gym before I say something corny!

I love watching the Biggest Loser. It’s full of ups and downs, sweat and tears, drama and triumphs, commercials and more commercials. That being said (and all in good fun)…

Here are a few things I’ve learned from watching the Biggest Loser:

• Bob can solve any problem with a Ziploc bag and a stick of Extra Sugar Free Gum
• The only reason why Jillian never loses her voice is because she drinks a lot of Brita filtered water
• The more the contestants cry the more water weight they lose before stepping on the scale. But then again…
• Johnson & Johnson should be a sponsor next season so there will be NO MORE TEARS!
• If this personal training gig doesn’t work out, Jillian has a great career ahead of her as a Biggest Loser psychologist
• Getting a bodybugg at 24 Hour Fitness does not require a prescription
• If you’re going to get kicked off the ranch get kicked off before they make you run the marathon
• It takes exactly 1 hour and 55 commercials to weigh 2 contestants

What have you learned from watching this commercial, I mean, reality TV show?

Now I really must go hop on my StreetStrider and go meet Shay at Subway!