Biggest Loser is back! :(
Ryan70286
Posts: 122 Member
Another season of Biggest Loser. I don't agree with how they portray the weight loss journey.
1. It's unrealistic for majority of people to workout 4, 5, or 6 hours a day.
2. Not healthy to lose that much weight so fast.
3. I hate when they show the contestants throwing up and whine and complain when they are working out.
Tell me what do you think about this show. Do you watch it and enjoy it or not?
1. It's unrealistic for majority of people to workout 4, 5, or 6 hours a day.
2. Not healthy to lose that much weight so fast.
3. I hate when they show the contestants throwing up and whine and complain when they are working out.
Tell me what do you think about this show. Do you watch it and enjoy it or not?
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Replies
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It's a terrible show. Fat people killing themselves for hours in the gym while some psychologist wannabe PT screams in their face and goads fat people to air their dirty laundry and mental issues on television for our entertainment.
The weigh-in is ok. The lack of focus on diet, and the hyper focus on working out your body and your 'issues' is an annoying and tiresome spectacle.0 -
I love it for entertainment value... sue me lol0
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It's sick. A lot of contestants end up worse off than when they went in mentally. Eating disorders, body dysmorphia, knowing the public is watching and waiting for the weight to come back...I've read the horror stories of the behind-the-scenes. You can't talk to your family. You can't be alone in your room. You don't drink and work out for six hours just to drop water weight for the big weigh in. Wanting to leave and asserting as much, but being told by producers about how lucky you are to be there, how people would kill to be in your shoes, how many people are dying from their obesity and you're going to be such an inspiration for them all while being immensely miserable for the public's pleasure.
Those people don't understand what good and healthy habits are. They just do what they're told until it's over.0 -
I find it motivating in a way.
18 months or so ago, I was going to the gym a couple times a week and the treadmills had TVs on them so I'd watch The Biggest Loser while walking on the treadmill. But I'd watch some of them in their challenges running on their treadmills, while I plodded along in a walk, and I got to thinking that if they can run, I can at least pick up the pace. And after a while ... if they can run, I should be able to as well.
But I do think that there needs to be more emphasis on diet. Maybe challenges to produce a day's worth of nutritious meals as close to a 1200 cal total as possible or something.0 -
True. Good thought!0
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I'll take the $40,000 and then build a cool home gym along with a new fridge!
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Then don't watch it...0
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But I do think that there needs to be more emphasis on diet. Maybe challenges to produce a day's worth of nutritious meals as close to a 1200 cal total as possible or something.
I believe one of the seasons I watched they actually did do this. Still, 1200 is way too low for people who are so overweight and doing so much exercise
Not going to lie, I do enjoy watching the show. Well, at least I did - Jillian was my favorite part and she's gone now. I find it entertaining, and it can be motivating and inspiring at times. That being said, it should not be taken as realistic in any way. I read an interview with one of the contestants where they said there would often be 3-4 weeks between the "weekly" weigh ins. And when they show a contestant crying and then getting right back at it, often the person would have actually been crying for like an hour and they just cut all of that out. It's television, not real life.
Basically, don't take it seriously, and don't take it as an example of good health, but it can be okay to watch in my opinion.0 -
Its horrible, just another excuse to exploit fat people
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I found it really inspiring and it helped to get me on track a decade ago when I just couldn't get started. I was only 20# overweight and was having trouble but here were people grossly obese who were able to lose tons of weight with exercise and dieting. It motivated me for years and helped keep my yo-yo at 20# not 40 or 80 pounds.0
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I haven't watched today's episode (have it on record)... but I find it motivating in some ways. I don't like the throwing up parts, nor the yelling/belittling, but I do like seeing the results they get, especially after rough weeks. Now yeah, some people could go to extremes with it, but let's face it, it's a reality show - meaning, in real life people don't typically HAVE 4-6 hours a day to work out (and even if they did, they likely wouldn't do it anyway) - nor is it smart to without supervision. (Remember, these people have a big crew of medical personnel etc. hiding behind the cameras to make sure everyone's ok).
No, I don't think it's anything people should use to encourage eating disorders or anything like that - but I do think it can be motivational to actually see results, and I love seeing the transformations as the weeks go on.
Whether you're a biggest loser fan or not - there is a book called "Where did all the fat go"? by the Dr. on the show (Probably not spelling it right, but it's Dr. Huizenga?)
I've read it several times to keep motivated when I need it too - he explains the ins and outs of the show/weight loss, the truths of it, and how real people can actually lose weight at home - without killing yourself, and without starving yourself. He even admits that some of the weeks aren't actual weeks but longer, and also that when they did the "at home" group (Don't recall how many seasons ago, but it was when they did the States editions) - that most of them lost just as much weight if not more, being at home and doing 1.5-2 hours a day, than the ones on the show working out 2-3 times that. (Far less injuries obviously holding them back because they weren't killing themselves).
The book is good, even funny at parts. (I bought it on Amazon - not pushing anything here, just a fun/good read with practical information ANYONE can use)
Sorry for rambling lol - but in short, yeah, I like the show for the motivation / transformation more towards the end AND I admit, I like some of the stories - as someone who has gone through stuff that some on the show have had to deal with like the loss of a child, I can relate very personally - to see how they cope with issues can be helpful. Not always mind you, but sometimes.
For me, it's on record... I watch it when I need to catch up on my ironing LOL0 -
Lourdesong wrote: »It's a terrible show. Fat people killing themselves for hours in the gym while some psychologist wannabe PT screams in their face and goads fat people to air their dirty laundry and mental issues on television for our entertainment.
The weigh-in is ok. The lack of focus on diet, and the hyper focus on working out your body and your 'issues' is an annoying and tiresome spectacle.
They actually do focus a lot on diet - just not on screen unfortunately, that's where they do need to improve (rather than the annoying jenny-o sponsor spots...) That does drive me nuts.0 -
Tooooo much forced crying just for TV ratings0
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I let the shows stack on DVR and watch when I'm having one of those "this sucks, hate this" days when exercising. I tell myself that at least no one is screaming at me and I'm losing without that insanity.
It puzzles me how those people can exercise the way they do. I understand their motivation but don't understand their endurance.0 -
The working out part, I don't like. It's not motivational to me. I don't want to be yelled at and screamed at and called names and talked to like crap for entertainment. I find their stories inspirational. That's why I watch it. I can care less about the working out part. I grow to love the contestants as individual human beings. Their journeys and stories. As they are losing the weight and some of them break down in tears, I cry as well. It's a nice show besides the fact that most of them gain back the weight because hey we're going at such a high intensity that once revise cameras cut off, there is no Jill and Bob. Or whomever is on the show now.0
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susan100df wrote: »I understand their motivation but don't understand their endurance.
I'm a long distance cyclist (who eased up on the long distance cycling and gained a bit of weight which is what brought me here), so I do understand the endurance. I also understand that it is a matter of building up to it.
Just keep increasing the distance, and all of a sudden what you thought was a long distance before becomes a short training ride.
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cobainbuzz wrote: »Its horrible, just another excuse to exploit fat people
yup its vile0 -
I love to see the before and afters. I agree a more in depth focus on nutrition would be good.
All in all I enjoy it...0 -
When I first changed my lifestyle around 7 years ago, I started by logging everything I ate, running and watching all the seasons of the biggest looser I could find. There was a lot of fast forwarding through the emotional talks which didn't really inspire me, but I loved seeing the transformations. Definitely motivated me, even if I know the format is not the way to a permanent healthy weight loss.0
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Used to love that show. The Bob/Jillian friendly rivalry, the workouts, challenges, Jillian. I could see they were making the contestants very uncomfortable, but just figured, hey they've sat on a couch for years, gained 100+ lbs of excess fat, they would be uncomfortable no matter what they're doing. It actually inspired me to workout for longer, since I figured if they could workout for six hours, I could for two.
The info on basically abuse of the contestants kind of took the wind out of my sails a bit. But more importantly, I watched one of the Jillian returns seasons/episodes and I'm just like - is this how a woman does her job, she's coming across as just completely unprofessional and a bit crazy. She's explained why she felt she had to be so confrontational (no idea how long you have each contestant, so you have a make a hell of an impression to get them to understand their situation, learn as much as possible and change their life). Ultimately the show has been on for many, many seasons. Perhaps realistically, it used to be just what I needed at one point, and now, maybe not so much0 -
It's a "diet" program with about the same success rate as most diets.............10%. That's why only about 20 or so BL alumni are ever shown when there's been well over 250 contestants. Even previous winners have regained a significant amount of weight.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition 0 -
It's a reality show made for entertainment purposes, not for educational purposes. No need to read too much into it. All reality and game shows dramatize and misrepresent. I don't think people are that stupid. Most know it's a show of extremes, and that trying to replicate what is done would be unrealistic. Some people derive value from the show despite of its issues, be it entertainment, motivation...etc, otherwise it wouldn't have been this successful at holding an audience for this many seasons.
Personally, I find reality shows boring and the drama makes me roll my eyes. I do sometimes watch the odd episode when it's on and I have nothing else to do.0 -
Lourdesong wrote: »It's a terrible show. Fat people killing themselves for hours in the gym while some psychologist wannabe PT screams in their face and goads fat people to air their dirty laundry and mental issues on television for our entertainment.
The weigh-in is ok. The lack of focus on diet, and the hyper focus on working out your body and your 'issues' is an annoying and tiresome spectacle.
Totally agree with you. They need to focus more on diet.0 -
susan100df wrote: »I let the shows stack on DVR and watch when I'm having one of those "this sucks, hate this" days when exercising. I tell myself that at least no one is screaming at me and I'm losing without that insanity.
It puzzles me how those people can exercise the way they do. I understand their motivation but don't understand their endurance.
Not saying that the exercise routines on that show are right or realistic - but re: the bold, most people who've never been through an actual, real life boot camp type experience (I'm talking military-style, not the "boot camp" fitness classes) don't realize that their limits are far beyond what they thought. When somebody is up in your face screaming at you and pushing you harder (and you don't have an easy way to just quit and walk out), most people are capable of a lot more than they thought possible, and a lot more than they've ever done. Not that you don't suffer in the process, but you learn a lot about yourself in that kind of environment.
With that said, I'm not a fan of the show. They're not teaching sustainable weight loss habits and they focus too much on the drama, emotion and petty conflicts (like most reality shows do). It's more like a fat people freak show.0 -
endlessloser wrote: »Lourdesong wrote: »It's a terrible show. Fat people killing themselves for hours in the gym while some psychologist wannabe PT screams in their face and goads fat people to air their dirty laundry and mental issues on television for our entertainment.
The weigh-in is ok. The lack of focus on diet, and the hyper focus on working out your body and your 'issues' is an annoying and tiresome spectacle.
They actually do focus a lot on diet - just not on screen unfortunately, that's where they do need to improve (rather than the annoying jenny-o sponsor spots...) That does drive me nuts.
Why is it not on screen? I could watch an episode or two that solely focus on diet and nutrition. Don't they have like 24 episode per season?0 -
For being a so called "reality show", it is the complete opposite of what real life is.
4-6 hours of exercising
1200 caloric diet per day
medical staff 24/7
trainers everyday0 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »I don't think people are that stupid.
You have way more faith in humanity than I do
I watched a few episodes in the past, but I just couldn't get into it, its bogus and dramatic and unrealistic in my opinion.
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1200 isn't unrealistic. To get a 500 calorie deficit and maintain a lb per week loss, I'm on 1200!0
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The constant exercise isn't something you could do if you had other things to do - namely work. But the diet is a healthy one.0
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PetiteInProgress wrote: »1200 isn't unrealistic. To get a 500 calorie deficit and maintain a lb per week loss, I'm on 1200!
See, when you are on a 1200 calorie diet and burn 200 more through exercise, if you don't eat them back (to a total of 1400 calories which is very highly recommended) you are pushing it, but it's still relatively fine. Now when you are at a 1500 calorie deficit, AND burning at least 1200 calories a day without eating them back, that's basically like not eating at all. A 1200 diet in this case is anything but healthy.
Actually I remember seeing a study done on biggest loser contestants that shows an extreme metabolic adaptation to where they were burning 500 calories less in average than they should have been at their new weight despite maintaining a good muscle mass. This kind of extreme adaptation is only seen in starving people, which biggest loser contestants practically were because their calorie intake did not account for the amount of exercise they do.0
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