Work Out – Cycle 2 – Reunion! “Jackie gone wild!”

It’s not over yet. We have one more week of this show with the reunion! The show was structured around a Q&A format with the host asking Jackie and the gang questions submitted by viewers through the Bravo website.

Q and A session begins

What are those things around the trainers necks? Microphones. Duh.

What’s in the protein shake?  

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Work Out – Cycle 2 – Episode 8 – Recap – “Jackie is very pleased with herself”

We pick back up with the trainers grieving Doug’s passing, and decide to have a memorial bike ride in honor of Doug, and Jackie tries to inspire the crew.

The bike ride is significant because Doug was passionate about bike riding, a spin instructor and had participated in numerous benefit bike rides.

The trainers get to the beach and sit around a bonfire reminiscing about Doug and how much he had impacted them. Each of them speak about how caring a person he was, and the legacy he will leave. Peeler reads the group a list of Doug’s “principles to live by” and the trainers feel that they have been able to come to terms with what has happened.

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Work Out – Cycle 2 – Episode 7 – Recap – “Turn ‘em and Burn ‘em”

Last week, Jackie resolves to go home to visit her father’s grave and bond with her mom. 

Jackie is talking about going back to Ohio to visit her mom and we revisit Cycle 1 with the issues the 2 have.  Erin will be going with her. Rebecca got dissed?

Jackie is checking up on the trainers at Sky Lab and she tells that Peeler he is in charge when she is gone, in front of Rebecca.  Rebecca was confused. Dissed again. 

Jesse is excited to train a male model, Gage Weston (at Sky Lab or Sky Sport.) Gage says he doesn’t do much cardio and Jesse proclaims that he’s the “cardio king!” He comes off as a different member of royalty.  It turns out that Gage Weston is a male erotic model, and Jesse gets all flustered.  After he gets over being flustered, he goes directly into an awkward groin stretch. 

Rebecca questions why Jackie left Peeler in charge.  Rebecca is a little bit bummed, Jackie explains that she couldn’t because it would look bad.  Guess that’s the reason why don’t date subordinates, because if she should have been left in charge, you just screwed her over.

Jesse is at lunch with Gage and they are talking about his stint in Iraq.  They discussed challenges that gay people had in the military.  Then they move on to discussing how Gage wouldn’t do it again, but Jesse says his brother is proud of having served.

Erin is going with Jackie visit her mom.  Jackie explains how she feels that she is reverting back to childhood as soon as she goes home.

Erin meets Jackie’s family. Jackie’s mom talks about how they used to have a great relationship, how she was sad when Jackie moved to Cali, and how your daughter can be your best friend.  An old picture of Jackie; she used to look like Kristi McNichol.  Now she looks more like Scarlet Johannson.

Peeler is excited that he’s in charge.  He’s checking up on the other trainers.  Erika is a little peeved that Peeler is in charge because last time, she was left in charge, and he was the person who gave her the hardest time.  He says that he enjoys his “reign of power. Terror.

Jackie and Erin make it back to her mom’s house and have breakfast.  Jackie is going to her old school to speak to a bunch of students.  She’s scared, but she doesn’t allow fear to control over her.

The trainers are in Jackie’s office; Peeler is sitting at her desk.  They start talking about their Sky Lab clients.  Andre’s client, Kiki, has been slacking off.  Peeler understands that she has school, but says that everyone can make time.  I know a lot of people who would dispute this.  I guess it maybe depends on how bad you want it. 

Back to Ohio, talking about how the fact that Jackie grew up in Ohio formed her drive.  She admits she was suspended once in high school.  The person who Jackie was in high school was a pretender, an actor. Jackie was a terrible student, but she spent the last 20 years of her life telling people she was an honor student. Hard to keep that lie going when they show your grades on TV.

Peeler is checking in on Doug, how his kidneys are doing.  Doug says that he’ll be out in 2 or 3 days. 

Jackie tells the kids no matter what you do in junior high and high school, you always have the chance to reinvent yourself.  Jackie does the Q & A, the kids ask some easy questions about getting out of Ohio, nothing too upsetting.

Jackie is excited that her mom is around to see the media frenzy around her, and all the kids asking her for her autograph.  It makes you happy to see other people appreciate your child. 

Gregg is in the gym with his client.  In walks in Zen with her new guy Jason to show off.  Gregg thought it was a little bit tacky for her to come in there like that.  Gregg is pretty pissed.  Deep breaths.  Is it just me, or do girls seem to do that a lot.  Think that it is okay to parade the new BF around…

Jackie decides that she wants to visit her dad’s gravesite.  She realizes she never mourned her dad’s passing; she shut down. Erin nods and listens.   It’s always all about Jackie. 

Peeler’s turn to run the boot camp with the Sky Labbers – the top gun workout; he turned ‘em and burned ‘em.  Peeler is loving being in charge.  Peeler’s work outs really look like they kick ass.

Jacke and her mom are at her father’s grave.  Mom explained what the funeral was like.  How now he’s all alone.  Of course, Jackie brings it back to how she hopes that she has people to visit her. 

This does turn out to be a bonding moment for Jackie and Mom, as Jackie understands her a little bit better and sees how they are more similar than she thought.  Mom explains that it could have been a stressful pregnancy that contributed to Jackie being a lesbian.  This impresses Jackie that her mom admits she could have been born this way. 

It’s the next morning – Jackie has revisited her childhood, her high school, her dad’s grave, feels like she has matured 10 years.  She has another 10 years to go for her mentality to catch up with her real age.  That’s not bad, I think I have 11 years to go.   She says goodbye to her mom and heads to the airport.

Back at the gym and Peeler hangs up the phone, looking pretty forlorn.  The gang has the Sky Lab meeting, and Peeler breaks down and starts explaining how Doug is really sick; his infection has returned, is in ICU, and probably won’t make it.  Peeler completely loses it and says nothing matters; all the trainers start breaking down. 

Work Out – Cycle 2 – Episode 6 – Recap – “Jackie swallows her rage!”

A lot of different things happen in this episode.  However, no HLA.  We (I) also learn that there are probably another two episodes before the finale. 

We pick back up with the crying session from last week.

Laurie is talking about her dad, and how he committed suicide after he killed her step mom. Jackie feels a real bond with Laurie since both of their fathers committed suicide.  

All the trainers are shocked by both Laurie and Jackie’s stories. 

Jackie’s takeaway is to allow yourself to be yourself and be vulnerable.  Love fest. I’m almost throwing up already, and it is only 5 minutes into the show.

You don’t know who someone else is until you connect with them.  Everyone is fighting to better themselves.  Healing. Take care. Honor.  Sky Lab is going to go to another level now that the trainers understand the clients.  The crowd cheers.  Silently.

This is all bigger than the trainers’ petty disagreements with each other

Back in the gym.

Jesse is talking to the camera, Rebecca is sitting on Jackie’s lap in her office (Okay, mild HLA)  Jesse regrets saying what he thought to Rebecca and now wants to bury the hatchet.

New day.  Jesse apologizes to Rebecca.  Blames it on his personal life.””  What he said to Rebecca was out of line.  He is trying to hold on to Jackie and he is jealous. Both Jackie and Rebecca deserve to be happy.   Jesse promises never to attack Rebecca again. (Damn, the water fight was the best part of this season.)  Rebecca says it takes a big “person” to admit that.  She really emphasized “person.”.

A “celebrity look alike agency” calls Jackie about Erika since he heard she looked like Angelina Jolie.  Jesse says that Jackie looks like Scarlett Johansson’s older sister, or her body guard.

Meaghan, Erika’s Sky Lab client, who hurt her knee, is late for her session with Erika.  Erika is frustrated with her.  This is the client who works for Star Magazine or something like that.  At first, Meaghan looks like she is smirking as Erika sort of scolds her.  Then she starts crying and says how high pressure her job is. Being a starf***** is soooo tiring and pressure filled.  Forget about those jobs where you have other people’s lives or hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, writing about other people is the s***. 

This episode progresses to Jackie’s clothing line.

April Han, clothing designer, comes in to talk to Jackie about the clothing line, LIFT.  Jackie has teamed with a crack team of clothing manufacturers and a retailer named Paiva. 

Jackie is waiting for samples to show to Paiva. 

Commercial

Erika is in to talk to Jackie, who starts telling her bout the celebrity look alike site.  Jackie explains it is about Angelina Jolie, Erika says I don’t think I look like her at all, Jackie says I don’t either.  I don’t either, but she’s still gorgeous.

Jackie says she loves taking clients to the grocery store, and there the Sky Lab clients are.  They are all confused about apples.  Tidbit, when you lower the fat, you need to increase flavor, often using sugar, which is why non-fat cheese is bad.  Clients are more confused bout food than training!

Jackie taunts the clients by walking them through the candy aisle. 

Another tidbit. Nothing snacky at night, even if it’s sugar free.  This is to instill discipline in them.  Looking at the Sky Lab clients, you know they lack discipline.

Back to the painful fashion story line.  I will explain why it is so painful later.  Jackie finally receives clothing samples from her manufacturer, and everything is wrong. 

Jackie wants to “blow someone’s brains out.”  “**** what’s the matter with people.”  The editors dropped the ball by leaving that line in for this week’s episode. 

Paiva calls to check in.  Buyers are excited, Jackie tries to cover and lies about how her line and visit will be so special.

Commercial

Peeler is with Floyd, trying to “bring sexy back.”  Are people still allowed to say that?     Floyd looks like he is going to pass out from the work out.  Peeler says no breaks. Go go go.  Looks like a great workout.  Floyd’s initial goal was to drop from 240 to 185.  Floyd is moved to tears because Peeler tells him he is proud of his work.  Wait, so he is paying for a trainer, and actually working hard during his session.  His trainer says he is proud of him, and so now he wants to cry.  

Jackie is talking to Rebecca as she packs to go to Paiva.  Rebecca had come over “to say goodbye.”  They wonder about Doug. 

Erika is meeting the celebrity look alike agency.  Apparently, in international commercials, they use people who resemble the famous.  They do her makeup.  Then a Brad Pitt look alike walks in, and then, and only then, does she realizes how cheesy this is.  Zen comes to visit.  Actually, Erika actually kind of does look like Angelina Jolie when she does that thing with her face.  They squeeze her breasts together. 

Back to Jackie, who is PISSED and at her meeting with Paiva.  Her best friend Erin is with her. I wonder if they are getting it on as well.  

Commercial

We’re back with Meaghan and Erika.  This time, Meaghan is going to get her dress from some guy who was on Project Runway (shameless cross promotion). Meaghan tries on a dress.  They say it’s a size 4.  They SAY.  

Back to Jackie again, who is talking bout how her manufacturer had let her down.  Jackie is PISSED, again.  She can barely contain her anger.  She says it is all wrong.  The manufacturer says her vision is good, but it’s not retail.  Jackie has to “swallow her rage.”

We move on to the presentation with the Paiva people, and Jackie starts trying to sell her clothing line as something you can wear out and about and also at the gym.  In fact, she says you can “Go to lunch straight from the gym, or to cocktails from the gym.”  So this is where I have an issue with her business idea.  If you’ve just worked out, it would be pretty gross to go out in your sweaty, smelly work out clothes.  That’s just wrong, and coming from me, someone who does battle with certain, ahem, hygiene related issues, that says a lot!!  Paiva mentions something along the lines of, maybe stopping at a store or a coffee shop after the gym.  Clearly, even they don’t want to go out in their sweaty gym clothes.

Commercial

We have a short scene with Dr. Shirlie with Jackie talking about wanting to go home and mourn her father.  Set up for next week, when it looks like we learn the truth about Doug.

Work Out – Cycle 2 – Episode 5 – Recap – “You’re the poster girl for drama! You’re the poster girl for hooker!”

Last week, the group finds out about Doug’s illness. Rebecca has no problem with Jesse, “except he’s schizophrenic.”

We start off the show with Peeler blowing off steam as he is pretty upset about what’s happened to Doug, and how much he means to him.  Doug has helped mold him, and he’s glad that he’s getting better.

Sky Lab is Jackie’s biggest challenge and the trainers are distracted.  Peeler mentions that his client has been away 18 days.  Jackie is upset that the trainers are not training with the Sky Labbers enough.  She thinks that the trainers are lying, so she does some fact checking with the clients.  Jackie is pissed at both the trainers and the clients.

After the phone calls, she goes to cool off out of the gym.  Jackie went to do yoga with Dhyana, a yoga instructor.  She couldn’t concentrate because of all the stimuli around her.  You know, the fish, birds, fountains, and Dhyana. 

Yoga is just not for Jackie.  She couldn’t look within to find her quiet place because of Sky Lab. Jackie is still fired up after yoga, and says that there will be boot camp in the morning.

Jackie runs the boot camp and is an unforgiving hardass on the Sky Labbers.  They aren’t getting in enough of their sessions, and the trainers are 50% to blame.  Time for a weigh in. half way through the Sky Lab program. 

Rita gained 6 pounds

Kiki gained 6 pounds

Carol lost 1.5 pounds

Dina lost 1 pound

Amy lost 2 pounds

Tess gained 15 pounds – she breaks down.  This freaks Jackie out.  Guess who’s to blame!?  Her trainer, Gregg! 

 It’s just as important that the diet is as well thought out as their workouts. Jackie reads their eating diaries and doesn’t believe them. 

Tess admits to cheating over New Year’s Eve.  She asks, how many people gain 15 pounds in a month?  Gregg says that she is reshaping her body, and that she is gaining muscle and this contributed to her weight gain.  15 pounds of muscle in a month. Wow.

Gregg questions the decision for the weigh in at this point because the Sky Labbers are lifting.  Jackie says that her trainers have to do it her way or things just aren’t going to work.  She “almost fired” Peeler in Cycle 1 because of a difference in training philosophies. 

Commercial

Jackie has a trainer meeting to get them back into the game and hear her message.  She explains what happened with the Sky Lab clients, and how Tess is destroyed.  Jackie explains that there are no excuses for the clients, so there will be no excuses for the trainers,

Rebecca says that they needed to hear that to kick it into gear. 

Jackie decides to organize a retreat with the Sky Lab clients and the trainers.  When she asks them to bring it to the table, they do, so Jackie is confident.

Laurie, Doug’s former trainee, is now training with Jackie, who Laurie says is tough (no doubt).  Jackie says Laurie brings a lot of “therapy” into the session. 

Rebecca and Jackie go out on a romantic date, and start talking about acronyms.  I think they are a little confused and Jackie asks, is it anachronism?  In any case, Rebecca is DFW, Down For Anything. Gee, there’s a shocker.

Rebecca starts pumping Jackie for Tiffany info.  Though she keeps maintaining that she is not possessive.  Jackie says they can go back to her place and have some dessert there. Pimp!

For some odd reason, we cut back to the gym for a 30 second scene with Zen’s client Carol, who comes 56 miles to see her.  They see each other minimum 5x a week.  Food, shopping, and snowboarding are Carol’s favorite things. 

Jackie and Rebecca are back at her place, and are actually having fondue with sugar free chocolate.  Rebecca starts talking about how things just are not that romantic.  The smoke alarm goes off, as obviously neither of them is very good at making fondue. 

They grab some champagne and move to the couch, but before they sit, they compare heights, and Jackie says, you’re almost as tall as me. Rebecca says “I can go down,” Jackie says, “those are the magic words.”  The two head to bed to “watch a movie.  Rebecca says it was time to take the relationship to the next level, since up until now, sexual attraction with Jackie has been like French Fries, compared to sexual attraction with men, which has been like steak.  French Fries, Steak, Fondue. Damn I’m hungry now.

Commercial

Jackie is surprising the trainers with a retreat to Lake Arrowhead, and surprise, the Sky Lab clients are coming too.  The gang is in the van and talking about Doug and how he is doing.

Rebecca feels Jackie up.  Some mad tension between Jackie, Rebecca and Jesse in the van. Things are going to heat up!

Jackie decides to take the group ice skating.  Peeler proclaims he is the champion of falling down.  Erika, on camera, starts laughing that Jackie fell down and almost broke something.  She seemed to think that it was really funny.  Must be pent up resentment since she was Jackie’s pet two trainers ago.

Ericka, Peeler, and Jesse are at the bar and gossiping about Jackie and Rebecca when Rebecca walks in and hears.  She and Jesse exchange a few words, nothing too serious. 

We move to the dinner table, where Jesse accuses Rebecca of taking advantage of Jackie’s vulnerability, and that she is taking advantage to advance her career.  Peeler tries to tell them to calm down. There Peeler goes being all mature again.  Rebecca calls Jesse a poster girl for drama.  He calls her a poster girl for hooker, and a slut.  Rebecca throws a glass or water all over Jesse.  This has got to be one of the funniest catfights ever!

Neither of them will leave.  Jackie arrives at dinner.  Jesse and Rebecca both tattle on each other. 

After dinner, Rebecca came back up with Jackie to her room.  Jackie tells Rebecca that she won’t let Jesse get away with it. 

Commercial

At breakfast the next day Tiffany calls Jackie.   Rebecca gets all bothered by the phone call. Jackie talks about how difficult it is juggling her girls. She’s a player, looks like she is doing a banging job.

The clients arrive and go for a snow walk with their trainers. . 

Next we are at the lodge and Jackie brings in a therapist to talk with the trainers and clients about eating disorders.  She wants to discuss why people use food for emotional reasons. 

The therapist says that people with eating disorders often are kind, caring people when it comes to others, but not so with themselves.  They need to start looking at themselves like they would someone else, to treat themselves better. 

Carol tells her story, cries.  Tess tells her story, cries. She lost her job and then her brother sort of disowned her. Wow that is pretty whack.

Commercial  

Laurie tells her story, cries.  She’s always been the fat girl. Her dad committed suicide.  All these things have contributed to her using food for emotional reasons.  Jackie confides that her dad committed suicide also.  All the trainers are moved to tears. 

Next Week

Jackie starts flipping out about her clothing line. 

Work Out – Cycle 2 – Episode 4 – Recap – “Are we talking furniture, or are we talking sex?”

Last week, we left off with the Work Out crew at Sushi Dan. Rebecca and Jackie had just “come out” to the group, and the sh*t was hitting the fan.

We pick back up with Jackie and Rebecca making out. Jesse is commenting on how grossed out he is by the whole thing. Jesse decides to take off, as he was super upset that he didn’t know anything about this.

Erika comes to Jesse’s defense, and says that he is sensitive, while Rebecca tells the camera that he needs to suck it up, in not so many words.

Brian explains why Jesse was upset. Jackie points out that Jesse has always had a problem with Rebecca. I never picked up on that before.

Peeler comments that they aren’t judging, and they are just having a hard time absorbing it all. He compares it to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. Jackie’s response? “Furniture, I thought we were talking about sex.” Is it just me, or does Peeler get unfair crap most of the time? He usually is on point.

Tiffany walks in to the restaurant, and plants one on Jackie. Oh snap, catfight on tap. Tiffany scoots in next to Jackie. Rebecca asks Tiffany to move so she isn’t so squished. At this point, Jackie starts ignoring Rebecca and only plays with Tiffany. Rebecca is clearly super jealous at this point, especially when Jackie tells her to stop eating off of her plate. Ouch!

Erika says its time to go because she feels that Rebecca must be uncomfortable. Nice of her, considering that she is supposed to be “the bitch.” They all get ready to go except for Jackie and Rebecca. Andre makes some comments that offend Jackie, who says it’s because he is jealous, since Rebecca and Tiffany are supposedly heterosexual, but she can get in their pants and he can’t. When they leave, Andre says to Zen, “are you gonna be next?” That is what I said last week when Zen was in her nightie.

Jackie and Tiffany are talking first about Andre and then Rebecca. We find out that Jackie and Tiffany had had a hot, torrid affair for 5 months (this was while Jackie was with Mimi). In Episode 2 they had mentioned dating, but never said it was for that long.

Jackie says that Tiffany has gotten much better at sex, (Let’s guess what’s for dessert). and that she has changed; she is more masculine, and Jackie digs that. She also claims that she is normally such a sexual aggressor and now Tiffany is stepping it up a bit more.

Yes, they go back to Jackie’s drink champagne, make out on the couch, and then Jackie suggests they go to her bed. Damn Jackie got serious game!

Commercial

Jackie is in therapy, talking about how she feels in control and over Mimi. Dr. Sheryl prompts her to talk about her current dating life. Jackie says she is dating two people right now. Dr. Sheryl points out that both people Jackie is dating should know. Jackie owns up about dating one of her trainers, and seems to not need to talk about it that much, and acts like everything she is doing is completely on the up and up.

Meanwhile, the guys are talking about Jackie and Rebecca and the sushi night. Gregg points out that probably the worst thing was how Tiffany came to meet them while Jackie and Rebecca had just started defending their “love” for each other to the gang.

Jesse and Jackie start talking in her office. Jesse says that she can’t make out in public bathrooms anymore. Jackie counters that all the guys had too many problems, especially Andre. Jesse says that lesbians can’t casually date.

We jump to Peeler and Andre talking about the situation and how it isn’t ethical for the boss to date one of the employees.

Jackie tells the camera that trainers date trainers, trainers date clients, so why can’t she date who she wants. Methinks Jackie doth protest too much.

Jackie walks in on Peeler and Andre, and starts discussing the issue with them. Andre owns up to being jealous, and they have a lighthearted conversation. Doug points out this is just “gym drama,” ending the issue, for now. Jackie says that in her pool, her fish are hotter and she will always get them more easily than Andre will. That is because Jackie is a man-eating, no, woman-eating shark, and she will prey upon all the impressionable, curious, heterosexual chicks out there. successful, attractive woman.

Peeler is working out with his client, Floyd, at Sky Lab. We then find out that Doug’s birthday is the next day, and once you hit 40, you really feel it (he’s turning 44).

Cheo, Doug’s ex-partner is back at the gym to work out with Doug. He had kidney failure and needs to get in shape before his transplant. Some sappy stuff between Doug and Cheo. Where did it go wrong, etc. Sorry, not much detail here.

Creepily and ominously, Cheo tells the camera that Doug Blasdell’s parents didn’t live past 43, and that is Doug’s age now.

Commercial

Rebecca walks in to Jackie’s office and asks about Tiffany; she says that Jackie omits details. Jackie claims that she feels bad that she might have inadvertently hurt Rebecca’s feelings. Rebecca claims that she doesn’t really feel jealous, but Jackie sees through it. They make plans to hang out on Thursday night. (Will Jackie flake on Rebecca?)

Jesse comes up to Rebecca and says that some of his clients are lesbians (he has the Sky Lab lesbian couple as clients), and that she shouldn’t casually date one of them. Rebecca finds this inappropriate, I find it hysterical. Jesse then goes to train his clients (they really are lesbians) and refers to himself as the “lesbian whisperer.”

We go to Doug’s 44^th party, a joint party with Erika (don’t know how old she is). Rebecca comes dressed up, but without any underwear. Jackie calls it “understated sexiness,” and that she taught Rebecca everything she knows. Erika shows up late, to her own party, which was low key, not like their last outings. Very slow, makes me want to drink, heavily, for them.

Commercial

Andre is working out with his client Kiki. She’s doing well, but just has a problem with Jackie’s meal plan. She ate two Eggo waffles instead of Jackie’s morning protein shake. (Which is a delicious concotion of whey protein, liquid amino acids, Mega Green powder, Flax seed oil, mixed berries, and milk).

Doug is with his friend Cheo a the hospital. We get to see some medical procedure that I won’t go into detail about. Arteries, blood, needles, oh my!

Doug is sitting through the procedure, and starts looking woozy, dizzy. Cheo says he is dehydrated.

We cut back to Sky Sport and Spa, and Erika walks in to train a client, and tells Rebecca that the crack is back (Crack is Whack!!) Erika’s client is Megan, who wants to fit in a dress by the Oscars. Erika is training her and tells her that consistency is key, and that she is doing a workout (peripheral heart action) that quickly shifts the focus between the upper and lower body. Would be interesting to learn more about this type of workout. I think it keeps your heart rate consistent while working out different parts of the body.

Jackie hasn’t seen Doug since his birthday party. The trainers are standing around and realize that nobody has seen him.

Commercial

Doug hasn’t trained anyone at Sky Sport for a week, and none of the trainers have seen him since the party. Jackie gets a call from Cheo. She feels numb, wants to walk away, but she can’t because she has to stay strong for her trainers.

The trainers gather, and Jackie informs them that right around his birthday, Doug got a really bad flu. He was so dehydrated that his kidney shut down. The doctors put him into a drug induced coma, and he developed a really bad infection. However, he is out of the coma and recovering. At this point, Jackie is saying that she thinks he will be out of the hospital in a week or two.

Next week. Another team building session, with Rebecca throwing a glass of water at Jesse. I guess there really is tension between them. Drama!

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Work Out – Cycle 2 – Episode 3 – Recap – “What’s going on between Jackie and Rebecca?”

Show kicks off with clips from last week, and Rebecca and Jackie. Andre points out that he “notice[s] something is going between Rebecca and Jackie.”

Peeler is explaining to Doug what happened the night before, since he looks up to him as a father figure. Peeler tells him about his anger management problems as a youngster, and the night before brought everything back. Peeler used to say that he and Jackie were a lot alike, but he realizes that they aren’t, he is way too emotional.

Peeler approaches Jackie to discuss the night before. They sort of make up and agree to move on. No HDA yet.

Sky Lab clients meet for a bootcamp. Not quite the bootcamp from episode one, but these people wouldn’t be Sky Lab clients if they could do that bootcamp.

Jackie gets upset when one client, Lori, gives up on a bridge with two seconds to go. She feels that Doug is the perfect match for Lori since he is like a therapist. Jackie tells the clients to “feel free to jump on then treadmill” after they finish the bootcamp.

Tess is working out with Gregg, they talk about how difficult it is to rehabilitate from a knee injury. Gregg says it is “going to be fascinating to watch her grow.”

Rebecca and Jackie are hanging out at her place. Jackie puts her foot up on her and asks her to take her shoe off. Rebecca decides she likes the champagne that she is drinking, which is dry, and what Rebecca hates dry, normally. Jackie implies that Rebecca is changing her tastes. Wink wink.

They decide to wash Jackie’s stinky dogs. I think they are about to get wet.

We are back at the gym with Zen and Gregg. Gregg asks her to come with him somewhere this week. Zen gets giddy, and thinks he is asking him on a date. It turns out, it is a date, a court date. Apparently, some Asians showed up at a house party (damn those Asians!), and Gregg got into it with one of them.

He isn’t going to court with a lawyer, but wants Zen to come for moral support. Zen realizes that Gregg is not making a logical decision by assuming that he is going to win since the other guy “looks worse.” (Because you hit him). The other guy called him a derogatory name, but Gregg did resort to physical violence, which Zen explains to him, is something he should be concerned about.

Commercial

Jackie is back at therapy, and explains to her therapist that she is 100% done with Mimi (Yay!). Jackie now knows better what she wants. The therapist suggests Jackie get social, so she plans a slumber party. (HLA coming up!!)

Lori shows up to work out with Doug, who wants to help her enjoy working out. Lori’s goal is to be living a healthy life by the time she turns 30. Her ideal goal is to lose 110 pounds. She remembers how her dad would tell her that no man wants to marry a fat girl, and this was when she was 6 years old. Lori starts tearing up while she is talking to Doug. Lori is excited about working out with Doug and motivated.

Zen is also a comedian (who knew). She is going to be performing stand up at the Laugh Factory and is telling her fellow trainers about her show.

Jackie invites Jessie into her office to discuss the diet for Sky Lab. Jessie is a chef and is going to be in charge of wonderful lean organic meals for the Sky Lab clients.

Tiffany, a girl that Jackie dated on a break with Mimi a few years earlier, stops by. Jackie is optimistic about what could happen with Tiffany.

The two go to the batting cages on a date. Jackie wasn’t doing too well, while Tiffany was on the outside of the cage cheerleading. Jackie gets flustered and explains that she hates sucking on at things. Tiffany, on the other hand, seemed to have no problem handling the balls. After all, Jackie was the only woman she had ever been with.

Gregg is on his way to court alone.

Commercial

Sky Lab clients are having a crash course in healthy cooking with Jesse. The Jackie breakfast is a protein shake every morning of mixed frozen berries, mega green powder, flax seed oil, liquid amino acids and whey protein. MMMM

Slumber party time! Rebecca walks out in a racy, see through nightgown that her grandma used to wear. (I hope a long, long time ago).

A woman shows up for a sex thing where she shows them lotions, gels, toys. Jackie says that Rebecca is on her team, and Rebecca says that she is on the fence. Zen tries on a very short nighty, and Jackie comments that she is seeing Zen in a whole new light. (Is Zen gonna be next?).

Uhm, Jackie and Rebecca go into the bathroom to rub some lotion on their unmentionables. Erika doesn’t know what’s going on between Jackie and Rebecca.

Commercial

Zen and Gregg have an awkward talk about his court case. He won, most of the charges were dismissed, but he did get a hit for disturbing the peace.

Zen is performing at the Laugh Factory, and picks on the rest of our crew. As exciting as Zen’s performance was, all the trainers began to notice just how close Jackie and Rebecca are. Erika still doesn’t know what’s going on between Jackie and Rebecca.

After the show, the group goes to a Japanese restaurant. [Borderline HDA but not really] The trainers call Jackie and Rebecca out on what is going on between them and how they seem to be acting like girlfriends. Jesse leads the onslaught of questioning the two lady lovers. Jackie and Rebecca think it is a jealousy issue. Erika still doesn’t know what’s going on between Jackie and Rebecca.

Commercial

Jackie and Rebecca have walked away from the table. Jackie didn’t realize that the rest of the group was going to flip out so hardcore. Their issue is largely that it would be unprofessional since Jackie is the boss.

Rebecca and Jackie start making out. Zen goes over and sees them, when they start going full on.

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Work Out – Cycle 2 – Episode 2 – Recap – “Opening her door to Rebecca”

We pick up this week’s episode with the Jackie/Mimi train wreck/therapy session. Mimi had left the room, and the therapist asks Jackie why she is still in it. Jackie realizes she is punishing herself by staying in it. Mimi comes back in, more bitching. The therapist points out that they must be miserable. Jackie (finally) realizes that she is “at her end.” (Thank you thank you thank you. Please do NOT bring Mimi back on the show)

Sky Lab is the new priority. The objective is to teach overweight clients to eat right, cook right, exercise, and rehabilitate emotionally.

Jackie interviews several potential clients and tries to get to the heart of the weight issues before assigning them to trainers in order to see if they qualify for Sky Lab (still a bit confused as to what exactly Sky Lab is. If it is her new branch, why do the same trainers work there? Or do they all work there and not Sky Sport anymore?)

Tess from last season is one of the potential clients. She was making incredible strides and lost more than 20 pounds of fat in season 1. Then, misfortune struck and Tess hurt her knee, and gained all the weight back over the past 6 months. Jackie is super emotionally invested in Tess’ progress.

Each client goes then goes through hydrostatic weighing to measure their body fat. They jump in a tank of water, inhale 3 times, and exhale as they go under. This is supposed to be the most reliable method to measure body fat. This is pretty cool. I’ve only had my body fat tested with calpers.

We come back to the gym to set up some more Doug/Jesse drama. They are each working out with clients, and Jesse takes his outside to get further away from Doug. Peeler starts to make fun of Jesse. Oh snap! Beef in da gym!

Jackie eventually says something to Jesse about making up with Doug. We’ll see.

Some time is spent devoted to Jackie working out D-List comedian Kathy Griffin. Zzzzz

Jackie is on the phone with best friend Erin, confirming the breakup. Jackie is more relieved than sad. At the end of the therapy session, we are only left to assume they end things.

Rebecca shows up at Jackie’s pad. Jackie is “opening her door to Rebecca,” and taking her to a lesbian bar. Rebecca admits that she’s hooked up with a girl. Rebecca tells Jackie about her hookup and says she didn’t know what she was doing. Jackie sure wishes she had been there.

Jackie admits her first time with a guy and first time with a girl both happened when she was 13. Rebecca tells her she was a “secret slut.” What a bonding moment between the two.

They finally go out, and Rebecca says this is her integration into the lesbian world. All these lesbians keep coming up to Jackie. “Lesbians runneth amuck.” Rebecca says to Jackie, you know you want to do me. Jackie denies.

Commercial

The trainers are having a meeting about Sky Lab, and Jackie assigns each trainer a new client. Their job is to act as both a therapist AND a trainer. Even though they are certified as only trainers. Still, it is good to be able to talk to your trainer on that type of level. Trainers who do that are usually better trainers. But how close is too close?

After assigning them to clients, Jackie tells them it is their turn to have their body fat tested. They aren’t happy, but they do it. And of course, Peeler “could not wait to see “Jesse’s fat ass in the water…to set him right.”

Jackie explains that 65% of Americans have over 30% body fat.

The optimal range for women is 13-19%, and for men it is 5-15%. Here are the results:

Erika 13.4%

Rebecca 13.1%

Zen 18.2%

Gregg 10.1%

Andre 10.6%

Doug 10.4%

Peeler 8.6%

Jesse 21.3%

Jackie first digs at Peeler and tells him she is shocked that he hast he lowest body fat. She is even more shocked by Jesse’s results, and that his body fat is higher than the women’s.

Joanna Krupa (model) comes to work out with Peeler. She notices that as she gets older she needs to work out. Peeler says that even when you are at the top of your game, you have things you want to improve. His training is a “dynamic workout and weight training regimen.” It looks good. Peeler says he is the best trainer, ever. Open challenge?

Victoria Fuller, playmate, comes in to workout with Rebecca. She just had a baby and needs to drop 20 pounds. Rebecca tells her about her night out with Jackie. Victoria tells her she dated a girl for 4 months. Rebecca keeps asking questions, Victoria doesn’t seem to want to answer.

Commercial

Jakcie is throwing a party for her trainers at her now house in the Hollywood hills. Rebecca says she is going to start dating Jackie so that she can sleep in her bed. (since it comfortable and King Size)

Andre and Peeler walk in with a bucket of beers.

Jesse tells us that nobody parties harder than trainers. If you give them a bottle, good lord. They spend all week concentrating on fitness and eating, that when given the chance to let loose on the weekend, they go all out. I subscribe to that school of thought.

They do shots, and shots, and shots. Some tall Russian chick is all over Jackie. Jesse and Doug make up. Now, this is a party.

Jackie starts talking about someone training her. Peeler gets cocky and says that she will never be the same if she works out with him. Uh oh.

HDA – Jackie starts going off and puts Peeler in his place. Says that he has a job because of her. He is riding the coattails of her and her empire. Oh snap!

Commercial

Peeler says don’t make me feel like crap in front of people he doesn’t know to Andre about Jackie in the bathroom. He then works in his “hands of Michelangelo” line. Peeler walks out of the party. Doug tries to get him to come back.

Jackie does a shot in honor of Peeler and says “may he grow up.”

Rebecca and Jackie start getting all flirty to end the show.

At the beginning of Cycle 1, Erika was Jackie’s “best friend.” At the end of the Cycle and beginning of Cycle 2, it was Jesse. Now she is moving on to Rebecca. She sure does go through her trainers fast!

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Work Out – Cycle 2 – Episode 1 – Recap – “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re full of sh*t!”

The new season of Work Out is upon us, and opens with a surprising message: Dedicated in loving memory to Doug Blasdell.

Apparently, Doug, the oldest trainer on the show, passed away earlier this year due to a severe illness, after the filming of this season.

Jackie Warner starts talking about how her life has changed since Cycle 1. Mimi is still in her life, and they are trying to work things out. Sky Sports was a roaring success, and now she is about to open a new branch, Sky Lab.

We then get some snippets of the trainers talking about themselves and each other. Here are some of the highlights!

- Gregg – The New Guy. Dated Zen.

- Rebecca (was she really this hot on the Amazing Race?) – Loves to spank other chicks, has a great ass.

- Erika – Walks the walk, Talks the talk. That bitchy friend you love to have.

- Brian Peeler – Can create a masterpiece out of anything, like Michelangelo, only he probably doesn’t know who Michelangelo is, according to Jesse.

- Jesse – The Favorite, Jackie’s bitch, and he likes to eat, and cook, and eat, and eat.

- Andre -The Military Guy

- Doug – The gay brother Peeler never had.

- Zen – She mentions that her parents were not flower children

After we get the refresher on who these trainers are, we cut back to Jackie, who is starting a new branch, Sky Labs. Jackie doesn’t like how the trainers let the success of last season get to their heads, so to put them back in their place, she organizes a Beach Boot camp. She orders them to take their shirts off, but Jesse doesn’t want to because he is “gay fat.” (I wonder if that is different from normal fat because he sure just looked fat to me).

The trainers start whining, Jesse points out that Jackie doesn’t ever do the boot camps herself (is he still the favorite?), and Rebecca, jokingly, calls her a whore (we ain’t seen nothing yet).

Erika comes up with some crazy exercise. Peeler complains that it is too complicated.

All of the trainers, except for Zen and Erika, give up and go get water. Jackie taunts them after Zen and Erika finish the complicated exercise, saying those two girls could do it, and nobody else could. Jackie does point out that they would never let their clients just give up and walk away.

Cut to clips from last season of bickering between Jackie and Mimi, culminating with Mimi hurling glass at a bar at Jackie, Rebecca, and Mrs. Peeler.

I bet you thought it was all over then! Guess what, it’s not, as Mimi and Jackie are trying to work things out. Jackie admits that Mimi is her “personal addiction.”

After the commercial break, we get an insight into what is happening in the gym between the trainers and clients. (Sort of)

Gregg is working out client Daniel, who is trying to get bigger and eating 4,000 calories a day. He says he is eating a lot of chicken and eggs, and Gregg tells him that eggs are his best friend. Daniel started off at 141 pounds, as Gregg puts it, “your average frat boy.” Frat boys are scrawny?

We get the scoop on Zen and Gregg; she says he is too young for her at 23.

Ellie K., a radio talk show host, is training with Jesse. They seem to love each other and friends outside of the gym, partaking in fast food binges.

Jackie is giving Jesse a hard time for getting fat, because he should be a representative of Sky Sports and Sky Lab (I wondered if it really mattered in “Fat Trainer”). Ellie K. is with them and keeps telling Jackie about all the crap she sees Jesse eat.

Doug’s former partner of 14 years comes in to work out with him. He is trying to get back into shape before his kidney transplant. Eerie that his friend is very sick then Doug gets sick after the season airs.

Commercial.

Erika walks in to train client Beverly, who drives down from Vegas every weekend (an 8 hour drive) to train. (No doubt Erika is hot, but she couldn’t find anyone closer?) She can relate to Beverly because they both have had eating disorders. Beverly is happy she found someone who she can relate to, which prompts Erika to say, “they say, when the student is ready the teacher will appear.”

Doug and Jesse are talking, separately, about how they each had been interviewed after Cycle 1, and had said things about each other. Doug called him Jack from Will and Grace. Jesse said some mean things about Doug to the papers. (I smell a catfight!)

Jesse is Jackie’s best friend in the gym. They start talking about how Doug and Jesse don’t get along, then the conversation turns to Mimi and their lack of communication. They go to a hairdresser, where Jesse gets his nostrils waxed. (OMFG are you crazy?!)

High Drama Alert (HDA) The crew goes to some Gay/Lesbian function. Jackie gets a hotel room for them to chill at and knock back a few cocktails. Peeler, the mischievous little rascal, stirs the pot and asks if there is still a Jesse-Doug beef.

Doug explains to the camera he meant what he said as a compliment, that Jack was his favorite character on his favorite show, Will and Grace. (Hehe) Cut back to the room, and Jesse is a little trashed and keeps going off on Doug.

Commercial. More arguing. Jesse can’t forgive just yet. Rebecca points out that it is Jesse’s limitations that he can’t accept apologies. (Thank god that is over)

(HDA) Jackie and Mimi go to couple’s counseling. They start cracking up when therapist asks why they are at therapy. First she asks about fighting, then sex. It kind of seems like Mimi is a little tipsy. The two have it out, start yelling at each other, blaming each other. Every time Jackie tries to say something, Mimi says “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re full of shit.” The therapist says they have awful communication (shocker) and doesn’t know why they are together. Mimi walks out.

From the looks of the previews for the upcoming shows, it looks like Mimi won’t be back. Jackie starts hooking up with Rebecca?! and it looks like we are set for a whole heaping more of HDA alongside our HLA.

Takeaways for the FitFiends

- Eggs are your best friend.

- Trainers need to set an example for their clients.

- Finding the right trainer for you is extremely important to achieve goals. Not all trainers necessarily can relate to you or work you out the way you need.

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Work Out is back!

I must admit, that I watched Season 1 of “Work Out” on Bravo last fall. I am always a little embarrassed to admit it, but it turns out that most people I know, especially ones into fitness, also watched it.

What exactly is the show about? It is about Jackie Warner, the owner of Sky Sport and Spa in LA, and her travails in building her brand and gym, which seems to focus on one-on-one personal training. When I first heard about the show, I (naively) thought, oh sweet, I’ll probably see a reality show that really cuts into some serious fitness and personal training issues. Boy, was I wrong. The only thing that really stuck that I had never consciously thought about before was that one should never go grocery shopping when hungry.

Did I pick up any other workout related tips/ideas? Not really. Some of the episodes contained some emotional tales of weight loss from regular people (who I am surprised would be able to even afford personal training sessions at an upscale one-on-one personal training facility), and even some celebrities, like Jodie Watley.

Another theme involved the interactions between the Jackie and her trainers, and especially whether or not they were good enough to work for her. I do remember Jackie coming out on the floor to correct a trainer in the middle of a session with a client. I don’t remember exactly what it was, but I remember thinking something like, wow, 1) your “elite” trainers do not know how to show a client how to do a simple tricep pushdown?! And 2) you would actually go and point this out in front of someone who is probably paying a buttload a session.

Even though the show was soft on fitness, it certainly was heavy on drama. What ended up being the most entertaining part of the show was Jackie’s relationship with her girlfriend, Mimi. This is probably the thing that kept people coming back to watch; there was always the potential for some hot lesbian action, and always the certainty of glass shattering catfights!

According to the previews for Season 2, which is set to launch in March, Jackie and Mimi appear to be trying to work things out, and Jackie goes out and hires a new trainer, and trainers Rebecca and Peeler are still rebelling against Jackie’s law. Do I hope that they will delve deeper into the fitness aspect of the show? Undoubtedly. Do I think they will? Of course not, but hey, I’ll be watching.