Just about Special Forces Vips

Another week, another episode of Special Forces VIPS. I still don't understand why I look forward to this every week, even though this is the only show that can make my blood pressure skyrocket. I don't expect this week to be any different, so I'm preparing myself with a cup of chamomile tea and a few breathing exercises to relieve the pressure. Erik would probably say that I shouldn't be so dramatic, but luckily he's not here. Are you watching episode 4 (or: day 156 in Special Forces land)?

1. Fabrizio stumbling like Bambi on ice after he indicates he can't walk anymore and simply gets sent away with a ‘we don't do business with cramps’ is all I need to know about the intensity of this episode. This isn't going to be good.

2. WHAT?! Liza is giving up? No! I mean, I probably should have been carried home after the first warm-up on day 1, but I had really hoped she would stick it out a bit longer.

3. The whole: having to pack your backpack to haul it up a mountain after you've stopped wouldn't be for me either. I'm going home, Eer, good luck with that bag. Love!

4. Is it just me or is Erik suddenly allowed to be there? Maybe it's the fatherly speech he gives Liza or maybe I've developed some sort of Stockholm syndrome over the past weeks, but whatever it is: my blood pressure is suddenly rising for a completely different reason.

5. Okay, never mind. Why does this man want to raise the pressure at all times? Enough is enough, Erik! Would you like a cup of chamomile tea?

6. Did I expect to cry during this show? No. Did that happen anyway? Absolutely. Jorien saying that no one looks at her when she's struggling and that she's never told she's doing well? Tears streaming down. You're doing fantastic, girl, hats off.

7. Haha, Denzel with his ‘I keep the overview by handing it over’ strongly reminds me of myself trying to explain to my history teacher what I actually contributed to a group project.

8. This made me laugh out loud: they sleep on planks, have to carry bags weighing 25 kilos each, drag a heavy net around for no reason all day, are thrown into cold water day in and day out, and have to do ridiculous things at great heights, but Koen thinks the plain yogurt is the pinnacle of poverty.

9. Fortunately, according to us, our little sunshine Erik is getting dirtier and colder than ever before. Then that plain yogurt doesn't seem so bad, I think.

10. Okay, I've made up my mind: I need this man as a life coach. There's nothing that will get those extra five kilos off faster than a firm: ‘you need to live disciplined now, or you'll have problems’, combined with that stern look.

11. Although his ‘the limits of human capability are only fully reached at the loss of consciousness’ speech would give me flashbacks to how I felt when my gym teacher only asked me if I could possibly grace the lesson with my presence a bit more than once a month. The horror.

12. Sorry, but did I just hear that self-pity is a non-helpful emotion? I've been running solely on self-pity and Pinot Grigio for years. Does this make me a medical miracle?

13. I identify most with Fabrizio this episode. I also don't look good, am pale, have a broken car, and no money for gas. Fabriz, how do you bounce back from this? Teach me your ways.

14. Haha, I'm cracking up over Koen's glove saga. First, they weren't allowed to lie on the heater according to Jorien, now they're being thrown into a ravine again. It's not a good day for Koen and his gear.

15. Today, I'm most proud of Fabrizio, and I really hope he continues. Although I'm also the type who always hopes that the contestants in Miljoenenjacht play until the last suitcase, while we all know I would skip out of the studio hopping after the second bid. Oh well, we'll see.

Anyway, it was another fantastic episode and I'm exhausted just from watching it. Special Forces VIPS wouldn't be Special Forces VIPS if the pressure wasn't raised even more in the next episode, so I'm going to Google blood pressure-lowering life hacks this week before I become the first contestant ever to give up from the couch. See you next week!