Welcome to Debate Club! Please be aware that this is a space for respectful debate, and that your ideas will be challenged here. Please remember to critique the argument, not the author.
Biggest loser?
Replies
-
The Biggest Loser boils down to this:
If people did it on their own at home, they'd be diagnosed with an eating disorder.20 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »I'm very confused by this thread...how did it get into muscle vs fat?
As to the OP, I think the show is dangerous and probably sets up a lot of viewers for unrealistic expectations or worse, copycatting. They basically starve the contestants and make them do incessant amounts of exercise...not good at all.
1) Because I am an idiot, and can't read LOL
2) Yes, the way they have these people lose weight is insane IMO . I know a girl right now that is only eating about 800 calories a day and exercising a lot. She is 5'7 and about 40 lbs overweight. I keep telling her there is no good reason that I know of to stress herself out like this but she wont listen. She's even said to me "Well thats how they do it on those TV shows"1 -
Carlos_421 wrote: »Saying that one substance is heavier than another is simply the common way of communicating that it is more dense because, given equal volumes, the more dense substance will weigh more.
Seriously, if you say "muscle is more dense than fat" and I say "muscle weighs more than fat," the fact is that we both mean the same thing and everyone understands what we're communicating.
The pointless argument over symantics on this issue makes me stabby.
It's not like people are spreading derp and woo by using the common vernacular. They're simply stating a fact but doing so in such a way that leaves an unspoken assumption (equal volumes) yet that everyone understands.
I could not agree more.
No one thinks a lb of something has a different weight than a lb of something else. The same volume is implied when weights are compared (for other than specific objects/people).
The reason "muscle weighs more than fat" is often a silly thing to say is that there's no reason to think you put on a lb or 2 of muscle in a short period of time (like a week), and people suggest that this is a possibility (usually from some mild cardio and at 1200 calories) all the time. Those people are wrong, but I'm sure they aren't confused about 1 lb=1 lb.3 -
Oh, back to topic -- I think BL is dangerous for the contestants (as many others have said) and exploitative (although the contestants choose this, for the weight loss and chance at the cash) with all the focus on the personal tragedy stuff. As with the focus on extreme exercise, the show apparently doesn't think an educational approach about weight loss would be entertaining enough (and they are probably right when it comes to ratings).
I think the worst thing is probably the unreal expectations about how fast weight loss should be.5 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »Saying that one substance is heavier than another is simply the common way of communicating that it is more dense because, given equal volumes, the more dense substance will weigh more.
Seriously, if you say "muscle is more dense than fat" and I say "muscle weighs more than fat," the fact is that we both mean the same thing and everyone understands what we're communicating.
The pointless argument over symantics on this issue makes me stabby.
It's not like people are spreading derp and woo by using the common vernacular. They're simply stating a fact but doing so in such a way that leaves an unspoken assumption (equal volumes) yet that everyone understands.
I could not agree more.
No one thinks a lb of something has a different weight than a lb of something else. The same volume is implied when weights are compared (for other than specific objects/people).
The reason "muscle weighs more than fat" is often a silly thing to say is that there's no reason to think you put on a lb or 2 of muscle in a short period of time (like a week), and people suggest that this is a possibility (usually from some mild cardio and at 1200 calories) all the time. Those people are wrong, but I'm sure they aren't confused about 1 lb=1 lb.
Agreed. I roll my eyes when someone posts "help! I started drinking lemon water and taking walks but I'm not losing weight!" And derpers start with their "that's because you're putting on muscle which weighs more than fat!"
But to me that seems like a misunderstanding about how muscle is built.
I think that's where the misinformation should be called out but unfortunately the only argument anyone posts is "no, it's just more dense!" *eye roll*7 -
MissusMoon wrote: »RaeBeeBaby wrote: »MissusMoon wrote: »What they do on the show? I think people are going to die. I think it's surprising they haven't.
You think people are going to die on the show? Or just die in general because they are morbidly obese?
Die because of the ridiculous level of exercise they are put through. Everything about the program is unsustainable.
I know they are being monitored by medical , but I always wonder how these people don't go into rhabdomyolysis.3 -
Wickedfaery73 wrote: »diannethegeek wrote: »Wickedfaery73 wrote: »Muscle does not weigh more than fat. I wish people would quit saying that. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound fat. Weight = gravity's pull, Volume = space occupied
Muscle does not take up less space than fat. I wish people would quit saying that. A cubic inch of muscle weighs less than a cubic inch of fat. Weight = gravity's pull, Volume = space occupied
Your statement is looking at it from the POV of volume or size and when said like that is correct but when people say "a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat" it's just not correct. They are 2 different concepts
Unless I am missing something, If i am please explain it to this stupid old lady OK?
They weight the same. Muscle has more mass per surface area.1 -
mommarnurse wrote: »MissusMoon wrote: »RaeBeeBaby wrote: »MissusMoon wrote: »What they do on the show? I think people are going to die. I think it's surprising they haven't.
You think people are going to die on the show? Or just die in general because they are morbidly obese?
Die because of the ridiculous level of exercise they are put through. Everything about the program is unsustainable.
I know they are being monitored by medical , but I always wonder how these people don't go into rhabdomyolysis.
Since rhabdomyolysis can have a genetic predisposition and it can be tested for with a dipstick in urine, it would not surprise me if contestants were tested prior the show for it. This would at least minimise the risk.0 -
mommarnurse wrote: »MissusMoon wrote: »RaeBeeBaby wrote: »MissusMoon wrote: »What they do on the show? I think people are going to die. I think it's surprising they haven't.
You think people are going to die on the show? Or just die in general because they are morbidly obese?
Die because of the ridiculous level of exercise they are put through. Everything about the program is unsustainable.
I know they are being monitored by medical , but I always wonder how these people don't go into rhabdomyolysis.
Since rhabdomyolysis can have a genetic predisposition and it can be tested for with a dipstick in urine, it would not surprise me if contestants were tested prior the show for it. This would at least minimise the risk.
The problem is that they shame and guilt people who are pulled or told to slow down by the medical team. I recall at least one contestant having a stress fracture and basically being called lazy because she couldn't run as hard/fast as the others.6 -
The show makes me cringe.6
-
I used to feel motivated watching it, but I prefer extreme makeover now--mostly because the catty competitiveness and the artificial nature of the "week" sets unrealistic expectations.0
-
Carlos_421 wrote: »The Biggest Loser boils down to this:
If people did it on their own at home, they'd be diagnosed with an eating disorder.
an exercise disorder actually, exercise bulimia. Their food intake isn't ridiculous, but the exercise is.2 -
mommarnurse wrote: »
They weight the same. Muscle has more mass per surface area.
oh gawd, now you're bringing shape into it as well.0 -
Carlos_421 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »Saying that one substance is heavier than another is simply the common way of communicating that it is more dense because, given equal volumes, the more dense substance will weigh more.
Seriously, if you say "muscle is more dense than fat" and I say "muscle weighs more than fat," the fact is that we both mean the same thing and everyone understands what we're communicating.
The pointless argument over symantics on this issue makes me stabby.
It's not like people are spreading derp and woo by using the common vernacular. They're simply stating a fact but doing so in such a way that leaves an unspoken assumption (equal volumes) yet that everyone understands.
I could not agree more.
No one thinks a lb of something has a different weight than a lb of something else. The same volume is implied when weights are compared (for other than specific objects/people).
The reason "muscle weighs more than fat" is often a silly thing to say is that there's no reason to think you put on a lb or 2 of muscle in a short period of time (like a week), and people suggest that this is a possibility (usually from some mild cardio and at 1200 calories) all the time. Those people are wrong, but I'm sure they aren't confused about 1 lb=1 lb.
Agreed. I roll my eyes when someone posts "help! I started drinking lemon water and taking walks but I'm not losing weight!" And derpers start with their "that's because you're putting on muscle which weighs more than fat!"
But to me that seems like a misunderstanding about how muscle is built.
I think that's where the misinformation should be called out but unfortunately the only argument anyone posts is "no, it's just more dense!" *eye roll*
drinking lemon in water makes me feel hungrier and hungrier.......
0 -
Carlos_421 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »Saying that one substance is heavier than another is simply the common way of communicating that it is more dense because, given equal volumes, the more dense substance will weigh more.
Seriously, if you say "muscle is more dense than fat" and I say "muscle weighs more than fat," the fact is that we both mean the same thing and everyone understands what we're communicating.
The pointless argument over symantics on this issue makes me stabby.
It's not like people are spreading derp and woo by using the common vernacular. They're simply stating a fact but doing so in such a way that leaves an unspoken assumption (equal volumes) yet that everyone understands.
I could not agree more.
No one thinks a lb of something has a different weight than a lb of something else. The same volume is implied when weights are compared (for other than specific objects/people).
The reason "muscle weighs more than fat" is often a silly thing to say is that there's no reason to think you put on a lb or 2 of muscle in a short period of time (like a week), and people suggest that this is a possibility (usually from some mild cardio and at 1200 calories) all the time. Those people are wrong, but I'm sure they aren't confused about 1 lb=1 lb.
Agreed. I roll my eyes when someone posts "help! I started drinking lemon water and taking walks but I'm not losing weight!" And derpers start with their "that's because you're putting on muscle which weighs more than fat!"
But to me that seems like a misunderstanding about how muscle is built.
I think that's where the misinformation should be called out but unfortunately the only argument anyone posts is "no, it's just more dense!" *eye roll*
drinking lemon in water makes me feel hungrier and hungrier.......
That's because your muscles are growing so rapidly.
(Kidding, of course!)6 -
There's too much agreement in this debate.
I like the show, but I accept it for what it is. It's not really a show about weight loss as much as it is a show about desperation. It's an absurd contest, but it's interesting. It kind of reminds me of that Schwarzenegger movie, Running Man.5 -
There's too much agreement in this debate.
I like the show, but I accept it for what it is. It's not really a show about weight loss as much as it is a show about desperation. It's an absurd contest, but it's interesting. It kind of reminds me of that Schwarzenegger movie, Running Man.
That reminds me of the arnie quote from the movie sabotage. He tells the fat cop and the skinny cop "you cant talk to me like that you dumb *kitten*. Look at you with your 48% body fat and you ,you scrawny *kitten*".
LOL gotta love Arnie0 -
There's too much agreement in this debate.
I like the show, but I accept it for what it is. It's not really a show about weight loss as much as it is a show about desperation. It's an absurd contest, but it's interesting. It kind of reminds me of that Schwarzenegger movie, Running Man.
I would love to see someone stab one of the trainers *cough*Jillian*cough* in the back with a pen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ93RLxHcjI1 -
Am I the only one who actually likes the show? The only thing that bugs me is when they make those obese people RUN on treadmills (And there's always one who falls off!) Why put such stress on their joints when they could get just as good a workout on an elliptical with low/no impact?
People say it's too hard and unsustainable. Well, they have nothing else to do all day so working out 4-6 hrs a day for a few months is not unreasonable. Construction workers and other hard manual laborers work all day long for years don't they?
I don't see what's wrong with exercising hard for a few months in the luxury of the BL camp and learn how to implement lifestyle changes for the long term. Once they've lost majority of the weight at BL, they wouldn't need to workout so hard and would be able to maintain with an hour or so of daily exercise like most lean folks do. The problem of course is that most are regaining the weight because they didn't learn anything and went back to bad habits of overeating and not exercising.1 -
Traveler120 wrote: »Am I the only one who actually likes the show? The only thing that bugs me is when they make those obese people RUN on treadmills (And there's always one who falls off!) Why put such stress on their joints when they could get just as good a workout on an elliptical with low/no impact?
People say it's too hard and unsustainable. Well, they have nothing else to do all day so working out 4-6 hrs a day for a few months is not unreasonable. Construction workers and other hard manual laborers work all day long for years don't they?
I don't see what's wrong with exercising hard for a few months in the luxury of the BL camp and learn how to implement lifestyle changes for the long term. Once they've lost majority of the weight at BL, they wouldn't need to workout so hard and would be able to maintain with an hour or so of daily exercise like most lean folks do. The problem of course is that most are regaining the weight because they didn't learn anything and went back to bad habits of overeating and not exercising.
Constructions workers do work hard all day every day but not at that level of intensity where they're out of breath and getting sick.
Construction workers also eat more.9
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 392.9K Introduce Yourself
- 43.7K Getting Started
- 260.1K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.8K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 415 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.9K Motivation and Support
- 7.9K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.6K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.5K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions