I woke up early this morning (well, I ways already awake!) to workout with Bob Harper of Biggest Loser fame!! I walked the half mile to the hotel and was greeted with a Quaker yoga mat. I thought we were going to be doing yoga! [Hello sock tan!]
Everyone else had their shoes on, so I knew something was fishy. Turns out it was a bootcamp with Bob! Should’ve worn my high impact sports bra instead of my yoga outfit ; )
The workout ended up being pretty low key – but we did a large number of squats and pushups so that I felt pretty great at the end!
Bob was fantastic. I just love male fitness leaders. They have this "no bull" attitude that really challenges me. Bob was also hilarious!
But I finally squeezed in between squealing women to get a quick snapshot!
Afterwards, we headed to a Q&A breakfast with Bob. The whole event was put on by QUAKER! Quaker is our headline sponsor of the Healthy Living Summit, so I was excited to see the team and be involved in this event. Two weeks to go until more blog excitement!
I had a bowl of oats with fruit, raisins and granola
Milk for protein and coffee to drink (which I didn’t finish – just not feelin it anymore!)
Bob’s Q&A was fun to listen to, but I kept having to bite my tongue on advice from my own mouth! Someone asked him about fish oil supplements and I shouted out "eat sardines" and he said they are indeed super healthy but he would never eat them.
Shame on you Bob – give ‘em a try!!!
I’m back in my room to shower and get ready for the day. I didn’t eat that much at breakfast (only about half of it) so I might need a second breakfast snack in a little bit. I’ve been munching on Oatmeal Squares before and after my workout!
{ 92 comments… read them below or add one }
OH MY GOSH! You have a picture with Bob Harper!!?? Talk about celebrity status
I love Bob. As much as I am not a fan of such rapid weight loss on the Biggest Loser, it is so great to see the people on the show realize their own capabilities.
Sounds like your BlogHer experience is a lot better then mine was. Sadly, the BlogHer Food one was not that great. It was a lot of information, but now as much of the good stuff. Oh well…I hope you have a great day!
I LOVE Bob Harper, what fun! I laughed at the “shame on him” comment. I ate sardines on pizza, not sure if that negates the health benefit, but they weren’t bad, something you just need to acquire a taste for.
Cute patoootie!
I have his “Yoga for the Warrior” dvd and it is TOUGH. I always thought Bob was the nice one but boy can he push you!
I just got a copy of that DVD today!
Here’s my review of it – it kicked my butt! http://wannabeathlete.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/yoga-for-the-warrior/ Can’t wait to hear what you think of it. You’ve got a lot more yoga classes under your belt than I do.
That is definitely one of the better yoga DVD’s out there. It’s not flaky and a good variety of moves. It’s an hour long which is good if you have the time. But even just doing 15 or 20 minute segments is good when you can.
I haven’t done it in forever though! Also – Bob looks so different with this hair “longer”!
I like Bob’s Yoga for the Warrier DVD! It’s not super “zen” or anything, but I figure if I’m in my family room and not in a studio I’m really not getting the spirtual aspect anyway (usually my kids are running around me)! And the side angle to reverse warrior sequence gets me every time!
Well, Bob’s a vegan so of course he’s not going to eat sardines. Don’t think that’s work shaming him for though. Just like you don’t want to be judged, don’t judge him!
Oh I didn’t know that – I thought he was just a scaredy cat. He’s off the hook then!
Pun intended?
If that’s true, he wouldn’t be taking fish oil supplements either would he?
Kath said someone asked him about fish oil supplements, not that he said he takes them. He has been vegan for about a year so I doubt he currently takes fish oil supplements.
He was actually talking about the effect the fish oil supplements had on HIM, so it only made sense to me that he ate fish..
You can get vegetarian alternatives to fish oil like flaxseed oils. Or fish oils that have no added ‘crappy’ ingredients…
But I don’t see anything wrong with Kath’s suggestion. Bob has only been vegan for a year. At one time he ate fish and honestly everyone changes. He may again in the future. Who knows!
Ohhhh can’t believe you got to meet Bob, super jealous
I’m sure he is pretty different in real life then on the show
Too funny about it turning into boot camp
Oh….wow!!!! Super cool!!! I’m glad you were able to get a picture with him. What a great way to start the day!!!
I’d love him as a trainer, too.
What a fuuun morning! Bob’s such a cutie – I loved watching him on The Biggest Loser!
Oh Kath….that is amazing, Bob is super sweet! I had the pleasure of meeting him at a book signing in GA, and he signed, talked, and took the time for photos, he’s the best, a beautiful soul! What a morning!
Wow that’s so awesome that you got to workout with him!!! I dream of being able to do that
Good for you for standing up for your beliefs though! I know it’s tough when someone around me is always talking about eating a low-fat diet. I’ve learned to bite my tongue and not lecture them about the awesomeness that is healthy fats!!!
So jealous…love Bob! I’m pretty sure he’s vegan so that may be why he said he wouldn’t eat sardines.
That’s so cool! I’m with Bob on the sardines though.
I’m so jealous you met Bob! He seems so awesome on The Biggest Loser!!!
i don’t find most celebs intimidating but celeb trainers FRIGHTEN me
I love bob! I’m so jealous right now! Is he as cool in person as he seems on tv? Enjoy the rest of blogher!
I have a sock tan too!!! I call mine MONKEY FEET though
Mine are from lots and lots of tennis
What is your favorite snack to take with you when you travel?
How fun! I love the no shit attitude, too.
Isn’t it like nails on a chalk board sometimes when you hear non RD’s giving nutrition advice and not being able to pipe up???
Sometimes “non-RD’s” have something helpful to contribute, as well. And sometimes RD advice is dated and inaccurate. I’ve had plenty of both experiences.
I agree, Lynn, especially because some RDs know very little about supplements. (Of course, I work in the supplement industry, so it’s a lot easier to stay up to date on those things
Soo coool that you got to workout with Bob!!
That’s so neat to do a workout with Bob! Sounds like he is quite the motivator. Enjoy the rest of the day’s activities!
Very cool! I agree with the men instructors. For some reason even hardcore women instructors don’t motivate me like a hardcore guy one.
PS-I love that you screamed out eat sardines, haha!
You seriously shouted out “eat sardines” in the middle of a Q&A (with a vegan, no less)? Sorry girl, but that was rude. If I had been there I would have been pissed that another audience member was interrupting.
I didn’t know, but fair enough
Ditto to this–I think shouting over people is rude anyway, but wow. At least bacon isn’t healthy, so no risk of you shouting to eat it at a Jewish personal trainer…
Bob may be vegan but it would be pretty short-sighted if his recommendations were only applicable to vegans. And anyways, great personal trainer that he may be, since he’s not a registered dietitian Kath would actually be better suited to answer any nutrition questions!
FYI, Monica interviewed Bob and he reported having two cans of tuna fish yesterday. I’m not sure what that’s about, but it seems he’s more on the flexible side of the vegan spectrum.
There’s a big difference between an amusing side comment at a casual conference and a know-it-all trying to talk over the speaker at a more formal event. We weren’t there to know what the atmosphere was like or how it was received, but I bet most of us don’t come read this blog because we think Kath’s rude! lighten up.
I love this comment, occula…and it looks pretty casual with the photo of Bob slouched in a chair with a leg crossed.
I’m a Biggest Loser fan…love Bob! That is so awesome you got to meet him!
I’m a pretty adventurous eater but for some reason sardines scare me – any ways to encourage trying them for the first time?
Have you watched my sardine friendly video? It should be on the videos page
HOw cool. What a great way to start the weekend right!
When I teach fitness classes, I try to channel that attitude—no flaking out, ya know?! People come to get worked, not just to fiddle around. Hah
haha what a cool and fun “coinkidink” Kath!! Yeahh that’s what I love about most male fitness trainers (never had one but seen them on t.v. and stuff) b/c they go all out.
Wow so awesome you met Bob! I love him! And he’s a cutie too
I just adore Bob!! What an amazing person!! I bet you’re having an amazing time!!
Sooo envious! What a cool experience
I am so jealous you got to meet Bob! Love him!
http://www.thehoppepad.blogspot.com
I LOVE Bob!!!! I’m a fan of the Biggest Loser and he’s always got the best attitude! Although I haven’t tried any of his workout videos yet; I only have Jillian’s Yoga Video and 30 day Shred. Would you recommend Bob’s workout?
I haven’t tried the DVD yet, but the workout this morning squeezed a LOT into 30 minutes
What a great start to the day!
Wow…what a fun filled day you’ve had!! I really like Bob when I watch BL and I do have a couple of his DVD’s…one is with a kettle bell….all very tough! LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!!! I hope you write a book one day….I’m envious of your RD degree. I think it would have been something I would have enjoyed persuing in my “younger” days.
Well, I have no idea who that dude is – which is why I’m probably more excited at your sock tan!!! I don’t feel so alone now! I felt like a right doof at the swimming pool today, with my killer sock + shorts tanline combo :p
Hope you’re having fun!
I think the sardine suggestion was a good one. I personally turned my nose up at them until last fall when you made the sardine video. Now it’s two tins of brisling sardines in olive oil a week for me instead of supplements. I credit you with my increased Omega-3 intake. I was always into canned tuna and salmon, but you seriously did get me over the sardine “phobia”, so thanks, and I hope your not rude (in my opinion) suggestion got through to people.
Bob is vegan, I’m pretty sure.
So glad to hear you like them now!
So jealous! I hope to make it to one of Bob’s boot camps someday, enjoy the rest of your time there!
Oh man, what I would do for a Quaker yoga mat…
It combines my two favorite things ever–oatmeal and yoga!
I don’t watch the show anymore, but Bob always seemed so nice and efficient. Confession- I’d rather work out with him that Jillian
Oh wow! so jealous….he is such a cutie!!
He’s a hottie! The Q&A sounds really interesting, I would have loved to listen to that!
Meh, stuff happens during the excitement of a Q&A with a celeb. I am sure Bob realized you didn’t know he is a vegan. And your shout out didn’t sound rude to me (that kind of stuff happens at big conferences all the time) it just sounded enthusiastic.
Have fun at the rest of the conference!
Thanks!
*Like*
Wow that’s pretty awesome you met Bob and that he challenged everyone. The looks on everyone’s faces are pure excitement from meeting him + a great workout was had. That’s great!
So glad you’re enjoying your time out here, Kath
Bob! haha luckyy! oat squares = love! I cannot get enough of them
I think it’s cool that you threw you two cents into the ring! I’m way too shy to shout in a group like that.*
About the sardine stuff: Personally, it seems like it was an atmosphere where it wouldn’t be all that inappropriate to shout out stuff. Granted, I wasn’t there, but from the pictures and description, it doesn’t seem inappropriate.
That being said, some people don’t eat fish (for various reasons) or just plain don’t like sardines. And that should be OK. To each their own!
In addition, I don’t think that sardines are a perfect solution to dietary needs, as they contain PCBs, mercury, and other contaminants. Although some sources indicate that sardines have lower mercury concentrations than most other fish, they often have above average concentrations of neurotoxins/endocrine disruptors because they’re a relatively fatty fish (see Environmental Working Group for more info). While perhaps this is not a concern for everyone, it certainly is for some, and that should of course be respected and recognized. Having studied environmental contaminants in grad school, I am generally somewhat concerned when foods are dubbed “health foods” or dietary solutions without adequate attention to long-term health and environmental risks.
Can you provide a link to the neurotoxin disruptor concern? I haven’t heard that before.
There are concerns in almost every industry – such as non-organic pesticide-sprayed produce too. I don’t think that’s a reason not to recommend something. I don’t think sardines are a “health food” but a real food, and I’d wonder if fish oil supplements are more unknown in risk on diet than a whole fish that comes with protein, calcium, vitamin D, satiety and flavor.
Here is a brief write-up from the Environmental Working Group: http://www.ewg.org/news/women-and-kids-should-strictly-limit-fish-experts
In this article, it suggests that women and children should limit their sardine (and a few other types of fish) consumption to once per month.
It is widely accepted that PCBs, which are pollutants and carcinogens, accumulate in fatty fishes, such as in sardines, or in the fat on cuts of salmon. A lot of sources suggest cutting the fattiest parts off a piece of salmon, for example…
Also, there is evidence that sardines often have high concentrations of PBDEs, which are also endocrine disruptors/neurotoxins. In a 2008 study, scientists found that the high end of the range of PBDE concentrations in sardines exceeded that of all other tested foods, including various meats and other fish such as salmon. (Costa et al. 2008 article entitled “Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants: environmental contamination, human body burden and potential adverse health effects”)
Anyway, I’m not here to suggest that you or anyone else should NOT eat sardines, but I do think it’s important to recognize that there are known risks associated with them (and yes, many other foods and household products, too!) It seems like you, Kath, and many other readers here are quite interested in environmental contamination and avoiding adverse health impacts, so that’s why I felt compelled to bring it up.
About fish oil: I don’t know much about it, and I agree that there are likely unknown risks, as there are with most things. I just don’t think that sardines are necessarily any better because they are a “real food.” Unfortunately, real foods sometimes come with just as serious risks as some supplements or processed products. Effects of neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors have been widely documented, and some even think that they may be at work in the recent obesity epidemic. Because we as humans have changed the environment so much, it’s now changing us through our food, products, etc. By this I mean that our bodies and the way they function are biologically changed – for better or worse – because of contaminants such as PCBs, etc.
Thanks for being willing to discuss!
Thanks for the information – I’ll have to….digest it (
) later!
I hope you do digest it later and make a post about it. I generally don’t believe health articles from the internet unless from a highly citable source. As an RD you are, so I hope you address this.
Wait, what are these conferences for/from? Great Harvest?
And ‘great’ isn’t how I’d say push-ups make me feel… I squeeze out a measly ten and am gasping like a fish out of water (so much for upper body strength!)
Thank goodness I discovered a tasty protein shake (reviewed here: http://livinglearningeating.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/youbar-product-review/), I’ll have to start chugging that and hitting those dumbbells, hahaha
I’m at the BlogHer conference…
Wow, congratulations!
Ahh, it would be so fun having him teach a class!!
I must admit I am not a fan of Bob Harper. I use to think he taught all these great ideals about eating healthy and working out the right way, but now he is a spokesman of some sort of weight loss supplement, which cannot be healthy or natural. I wish he would stick to his guns about the correct way to lose weight and eat healthy rather than find the appeal of money and fame worth compromising.
On a separate note, the conference looks like a blast!
And on another note, for the responses saying that Bob Harper is a vegan so he would not eat sardines, he also would not eat fish oil! Neither are vegan products.
Great working out with you today, and nice to FINALLY meet you!
I’m so jealous of your workout with Bob and pretty much DYING that you’re all here is this is going on 30 minutes away from my house. What am I doing? Ahh! Thanks for the updates!
Bob’s veg! Better than smelly sardines
He said he ate tuna twice the day before!!
I used to really like Bob but JUST saw a commercial for “weight loss supplements.” I am so disappointed. People don’t need those to lose weight. He’s influential in the weight loss community and shouldn’t be advocating something like that. Definitely lost some respect for him.
I do not know if I could actually palate sardines.
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Bahahaha! I love your sardine comment! I’m with you on that one, particularly as you then get calcium from the bones too!
That sounds like the perfect morning- I would love to get my butt kicked, wait sorry i mean trained, by Bob!
Wow…JEALOUS here! That looks like a great event!
I only have two words…
SO JEALOUS!
What a great way to start the day. Okay that was a few more words, but I’ve never been good at keeping things short : )
ZOMG. I love Bob Harper. I don’t think jealousy accurately describes how I feel right now. haha. Have you ever tried is Warrior Yoga dvd? It’s great!
How cool! I love Bob… and would love to work out with him. That’s awesome. I admire him (and Jillian) for all they have done for health/wellness/exercise.
(But I didn’t know about the weight-loss supplement – that IS disappointing).
As for sardines… thanks to you, I have two cans (smoked and not – both from TJs) sitting in my pantry. However, thanks to my “chicken-ness” (ha), I’ve had them for a few months, and am still loathe to try them! I don’t really know why – I guess it’s just a mental thing… I’ll get there eventually.
~
EAT THEM!!