Thanks to Molly from Yoplait,
i had the privilege of having a phone interview with Alison Sweeney, an
actress from the days of our lives and the host for the biggest loser.  She’s also the author of the mommy diet, and a mother of two young kids. 
I got nervous the day before when I was coming up with what questions to
ask her but with the help of you readers and friends, i was able to ask her many
good questions(I asked every single question asked by all of you!).  So thank you for your
input everyone! 

Here is the interview with Alison Sweeney.

It’s hard to balance because
attention is needed in so many different directions, so it’s a learning experience.
 I would say the key is planning ahead and making clear choices in my
schedule.  Like taking sneakers with
me to work so that on my way home after work, I go work out, and there’s
no excuse so it gets done.  I bring healthy snacks with me to work so
when times like today, someone brought red velvet cupcakes for everyone at
work. I almost had one but then I remembered I had red velvet cupcake
flavored Yoplait so I ate that instead. It tastes like red velvet cupcakes so I
was satisfied eating that and that simple choice saved me a few hundred
calories.  

Grill fajitas, or a healthy
stir fry.

Yoplait light!  It’s tasty, I know the exact calories I’m
taking, I can take it on the go, and it gives me the satisfying, dessert
feeling.

I go through phases, right now
it’s boston crème pie.  Last month was
red velvet cupcake.

A combination
of everything.  I do 4-5 days of cardio, I
do spin classes, I run, I also do strength training, yoga, so a little bit of
everything.

I did a lot of soul searching.  I asked myself questions like, why did you do
this?  Why are you here today?  You
and your big mouth and telling everyone about the marathon!     I
had to pep talk with myself on what’s important to me and why I wanted this
goal.  I said to myself, wait a
second, you already ran 21 miles, you only have 4 more miles left.  Also, the volunteers cheering my name,  and rooting for me helped me a lot.

I’ve been feeling fit
for a couple of years, but after the marathon my muscles are more lean and
toned, I have more of a runner’s body, and I feel stronger. 

So many are pulling us in all directions
at all times and we feel the weight on our shoulder, so it’s hard to make time
for yourself, but it’s so important to make time for yourself.  Working
out gives you more energy, helps you to have positive energy and better mood,
so that is my advice, to work out.

The idea of taking the
opportunity that comes in my way.  I live
in a motto of don’t have any regrets so even if I have 10 opportunities all in
one week, I’d rather have tried to make it all work and fail then to miss a
chance and regret.  Life is full of once in a lifetime things so take it
before it goes away.

When they smile or laugh. 

Times when it’s not fun, when I
have to discipline her and work on her manners, when it’s not smooth
going.  Being a working mom, it’s hard to come home when they’re cranky
and you have to deal with it, and you cannot wait until the next day.

It’s hard being in this
industry, in the fashion industry, but we do it to ourselves, like the saying
men invented high heels but it’s the women that wear them.  We choose to wear high heels.  I think we should teach our  daughters  and take on themselves what they take from
magazines, like great inspirations and what the magazine has to offer, like
from the Shape magazine, learn good tips, how to live a healthier lifestyle but
not get down on yourself because you don’t look like them. 

Setting realistic goals for
yourself.  It begins and ends with having confidence and  making healthy choices.  Once I started
having a healthy lifestyle and seeing the changes in my body that I worked hard
for, I feel confident and have a healthy body image because I did it, I worked
hard for it, it’s not the best body in the world, but it’s mine and I worked
hard for it.  It’s taken me 35 years to come
to this feeling, I was not as confident when I was 22.

For me, it ’s not a hurdle,
it’s a lifelong commitment.  I stopped
looking at it like I want to get to x lbs. and I’ll be happy, but I have to
realize I can be happy today.  Today for
lunch, I’ll eat healthy and feel good today.  It became more attainable
after thinking like that, and then the body followed.

I do work out with Bob and
Jillette, I train with the contestants a lot.

Of course.  I feel the
same emotion audiences feel when they watch.  I try to be a friend and
root for them equally but it’s such an opportunity for them so what gets me
under the skin is when they don’t make the most out of the opportunity that’s
been presented to them. 

No, the producers have never
talked to me about weight, ever.  They believe in healthy living and being
a good role model, and we live what we talk about, which is  balanced living. 

It allows me to meet fans who
have been inspired by the show.  That is
my favorite thing, I get so touched.

Buddy lost 100 lbs. and that
number was meaningful because that’s the number he’s lost since his daughter
had died.  Weight loss was an awakening experience and a success for him
and the point in turning the new chapter in his life.  He’s a wonderful
person and to celebrate with him and be there for him was such a special moment
for me.

They all have been inspiring to
me but if I had to choose, it would be Hannah and Olivia from season 11. 
They’re just amazing woman, they made tough choices, to save their lives, to
make a change for the people around them and they were wonderful.  They continue to live healthy after the show,
working really hard and enjoying it.  They still took the time to enjoy
every journey and process of the show.