Loser's Back!

Because I'm an trainer, because I'm an eater, because I'm a sentimental fool...I do love a new season of The Biggest Loser.

Or maybe it's just because I'm a loser.

But last night's was everything I love: tough workouts, serious whining, a new twist on the same ol' excuses (blaming divorce and Hurricane Katrina for your weight gain?) and contestants falling from still-moving machines.

Oh, and lots and lots of crying. So very much crying. But let's be honest; I'd cry too if I were on a 1,200-calorie/day diet.

Anyway, it's an entertaining, very teamwork-oriented season so far and, while I'll probably be fast-fowarding through 90 percent of each episode's fluff, it's always nice to see people get healthy the old fashioned way...through exercise, calorie counting, and a gazillion-dollar production budget (did the trainers really have to arrive by individual helicopters?!).

Back here at our ranch, we've had our own diet and exercise drama. I've hurt my back, possibly from overdoing it, but more likely from underdoing back exercises.

So I looked very much the part of an "oh, my baaaack!" old woman in Ben's lunchroom on Monday. I had no idea the strength required to be a lunch lady, hauling 100 lbs. of coleslaw to be distributed in 1/4 cup servings. 

Ben got a kick out of having us there though, possibly just to help open his banana; Roman walked the aisles flirting with the older ladies (the women of K-8); and I just can't get enough of the uniformed, please-and-thank-you'ing kids. 

Then, as I smothered Ben with kisses (he'll still allow it, so you bet I'll do it!) his friend Braden asked, "Are you Ben's mom?" Well, I should hope so.

I'll be back at it next week to dish up another delicacy ("taco burger" says the menu. Did I miss a merger?). In the meantime, I need to get back into lunch lady shape, so I'm off to fix my back the old fashioned way: stretching, Advil, whining and wine-ing.