Thoughts on the biggest loser?
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bullying? lol everything is bullying these days. a lot of these contestants are on deaths door. anything that can get them motivated is a good thing.
^^so true! Also, I love your picture lol0 -
They pick overweight people who have never exercised or even walked. Ones who have never tried. Makes for a better show when they cry and barf. :ohwell:
If any of us who have worked out before and are use to it, tried out, they would never pick us, cos we would be too boring! :laugh:
This year they have an Olympic weightlifter and a former competitive swimmer. It's not the first time they've had a top athlete on the show.
No one is made to do anything. It's a competition where people are trying to win a lot of money. It's not a health camp, and barely any (no?) reality shows provide follow up support to their contestants. The BL doesn't owe the contestants long lasting weight loss any more than the Bachelor owes them couples therapy. The failure rates for many who lose weight over the long-term are not great, so it's not like the contestants on the BL are unusual in gaining weight back.
I wouldn't do it, but I can't think of any reality show I would do. People are making choices, and they are doing it for their own self-serving purposes. I don't find it humiliating, but that's because I see it as a game show/competition, not a documentary.
Kai was so unhappy she dropped out the second week-oh no, she didn't. She competed until the bitter end and won a prize. She participated in alliances and game playing. (People do drop out, and I respect them for realizing something isn't for them. It's not for everyone.)0 -
It's weight loss competition featuring adults that chose to go through with it for a chance to win money. It's a "reality" show that people can chose to watch or not watch. I find it more interesting than The Bachelor or Survivor so I watch it.
Do I expect to have the same results outside of the ranch in my life? No. Do I think that the kind of weight loss they promote is for everyone? No. Is it for some people? Yes. Does it make me cringe, scream, think "WTF?" sometimes? Yes. Do other shows have the same effect? Yes. Do I think there are worse shows on TV? You bet.
Again were talking about people that made a choice to do this. No one put a gun to their head and said, "Audition for this show. Continue on with this show." These people had a choice and they chose this. Going into something like this you should expect the unexpected. Most things in life aren't as they seem and this should be thought of with the same regard. In the end it's a TV show and it's about money for everyone involved.
And that's what I think of The Biggest Loser.0 -
Bunch of losers if you ask me! Literally0
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I love the show, but this years first two episodes are not grabbing me as of yet0
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bullying? lol everything is bullying these days. a lot of these contestants are on deaths door. anything that can get them motivated is a good thing.
^^so true! Also, I love your picture lol
^^Agreed^^
The whiners, complainers, and liars on the show motivated me to actually DO something about my weight, so I wouldn't be one of them. I LOVE the show. I even considered paying to be on the ranch. My husband was not ok with that. LOL. The last 2 seasons haven't been all that great, though...and I do overlook the product promotions. Key lime pie flavored gum, with artificial sweetener, is NOT going to curb my sweet tooth. I'm also not in complete agreement about the low cal/low fat approach. Eating MORE fat helped me lose weight, because I stopped being ravenously hungry while dieting. Other than that, I love it.0 -
http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/
^^This sounds absolutely plausible, though. It's publicity and ratings. I met Mark and Chisolm Cornelison from a couple of seasons back, and they seemed to be pretty thankful for getting to be on the show, even though Mark quit, based on principle, at the end. They conducted a several week fitness and nutrition workshop at the church where Mark was/is a youth minister. I loved it!
So, yeah. I think you'll hear various perspectives on this. I imagine that there's truth in both sides, like any other debatable topic.0 -
I watch it with the same trainwreck mentality that i watch most reality shows.
We made it usefull though. Every time there's a product placement, everyone has to do 15 burpees.0 -
I'm torn on the show. I don't watch it because it bothers me, but I've seen a few episodes. It really gets to me because I don't like the public weigh-ins, getting kicked off for not losing fast enough, the super intense workouts, the way it appears contestants don't receive on-going support after leaving the show, etc. BUT, that is the encouragement, embarrassment, and pushing that some people need to lose the weight. I'm truly believe in whatever works for you and keeps you healthy is the best, but........... I couldn't do it.
Agreed...0 -
It's weight loss competition featuring adults that chose to go through with it for a chance to win money. It's a "reality" show that people can chose to watch or not watch. I find it more interesting than The Bachelor or Survivor so I watch it.
Do I expect to have the same results outside of the ranch in my life? No. Do I think that the kind of weight loss they promote is for everyone? No. Is it for some people? Yes. Does it make me cringe, scream, think "WTF?" sometimes? Yes. Do other shows have the same effect? Yes. Do I think there are worse shows on TV? You bet.
Again were talking about people that made a choice to do this. No one put a gun to their head and said, "Audition for this show. Continue on with this show." These people had a choice and they chose this. Going into something like this you should expect the unexpected. Most things in life aren't as they seem and this should be thought of with the same regard. In the end it's a TV show and it's about money for everyone involved.
And that's what I think of The Biggest Loser.
Well put also...0 -
Great for ratings, great for entertainment, not so great on how to lose weight realistically. And believe it or not, of the prior contestants on the show, 90% of them have regained a significant amount (30% or more of what they lost) back on. Just like other quick fix diets.
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
It's unrealistic, misleading and possibly dangerous...and I never miss an episode!0
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Unrealistic, but motivational.0
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I used to watch it with a bowl of ice cream in hand...
I enjoyed it actually.0 -
Never heard of it.
I assume it reality tv or a game show?0 -
never watch it and never will0
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I think the show is dangerous and borders on bullying.
No one needs to exercise that hard to be healthy. A solid workout shouldn't make you vomit. And the challenges that play mind-game with contestants (like eat as many cupcakes as you can, and get an advantage!) are no way to learn healthy habits.
I would love to see the show pulled from the air. It is not entertainment and it is not healthy.
Wow. We have a term for that in my language: schadenfreude. It means feeling good when watching another person suffer. To me, that's what all american reality tv is. I cannot stand watching people scream and argue. I suspect that if what you say is true regarding the show - I have only seen small snippets - then its not something we should all get behind.0 -
I like watching clips of the workouts and the challenges. I wish someone would be tough on me like that. I hate all the emotional stuff though. I'm not a touchy feely type of person.0
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I have seen the show a few times and agree that the losses on a weekly basis are completely unrealistic. I had a chance to meet with a former contestant and she said flat out that there is no follow up after the show and that there are behind the scene games that are played such as drinking a few gallons of water just before a weigh in to distort actual loss. While it is interesting to see how people change themselves over the show, I am not a huge fan.0
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I saw a promo for this season where everyone was wearing shirts with their weight on them, and that's why I don't watch it. I think focusing that much on weight loss and not on health is a huge disconnect, and reinforces the idea that a lower weight always equals better health.0
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I think you are missing the point.I think the show is dangerous and borders on bullying.
No one needs to exercise that hard to be healthy. A solid workout shouldn't make you vomit. And the challenges that play mind-game with contestants (like eat as many cupcakes as you can, and get an advantage!) are no way to learn healthy habits.
I would love to see the show pulled from the air. It is not entertainment and it is not healthy.
People do not vomit because they are being bulled, they vomit because the grand prize.0 -
I don't bellieve there is any bullying on the show.. Encouragement yes.
Lets be honest, if you don't looose any weight, guess who is going home.0 -
I enjoy BL. I enjoy the competitions, getting to the root of why one may be unhealthy or obese, and it gave me a visual that if that person can do it at their size/weight, i know I can do it. I like the show! i like Jillian (who has struggled with weight issues) The fact that Jillian stuggled with weight issues and has overcome it, lets me know it can be done (not just her but others in my life that I have seen and are doing the thing). Also, i'm not looking to lose 12lbs in a week. Ii just want to lose and get healthy and because I am an athelete...i dont mind the crazy coach yelling to get you pumped or hyped.. so get your motivation and lets get it!!!!!.
So that's my thoughts take it or leave.. enjoy your day!.0 -
I love it! Its so motivating and i just love seeing people lose weight... That show usually makes me cry lol. They might not be losing it the best way, but they are learning how to be more healthy than they were!
really...
http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/0 -
I'd make a completely off-the-cuff wager that more than half the people who come to this site, and others like it, and rant that they're "ONLY" losing 1 - 2 pounds a week get their expectations from The Biggest Loser and similar fonts of unrealistic expectations. People seem to think that, despite the fact that it took them years of an unhealthy relationship with food to finally get to a point where they needed to make a change, they should be able to achieve their goal weight within, oh, about 17 days, give or take. The Biggest Loser encourages this mentality.0
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Like everything else it's best taken with a grain of salt. I watch it, don't know that enjoy is the right word, at the very least I am intrigued. The ONLY time I wanted to be a contestant was when Anna Kournikova, just because she's hot.
It motivated me to get off my *kitten*. But I also use my brain as a free thinker and know I'm not going to lose weight the way they do because it is unhealthy and I don't have 150 pounds to lose.
As long as people take it for what it is and are able to sort out the good from the garbage I don't see the big deal.
And to those posting the links to Kai Hubbard's "interview," just stop. That is ONE persons version of a 15 season long show. She didn't win, she's bitter.0 -
I was about to make a new thread asking this very thing, and searched first instead. I had never seen this show, heard of it? Yes. Seen it? No. Not until this season. I haven't seen any "bullying" but it has really confused me. I mean, what I have seen time and time again on this board is losing more than 2 lbs a week isn't the best thing, or the safest. Then I watch this show and see them lost I think up to 20lbs on one ep. HOW can they lose so much in one week?? Sometimes its only 3lbs but many times its been 6+. How are those results reached, and how is it safe?
At first it motivated me, and now, it borders on motivation and depressing, because it is so hard just to lose 1lb, let alone 20lbs.0 -
I like it for the "before and afters". That's all.
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It encourages an all or nothing mentality and a focus on losing as much scale weight as possible in the shortest time. This is about the worst mentality to have for long term success at fat loss, and also likely to lead to people pursuing unhealthy methods to lose fat. There's enough of the quick fix mentality out there already, this show just encourages more of it. Additionally, people who lose fat the healthy way can be (and are) discouraged when they don't see big losses on the scale. 1-2lb a week fat loss is ideal for long term success, yet people who watch that show and lose that much in a week think they've failed miserably. That's the main issue I have with it. Plus all the allegations from former contestants about them being encouraged to do unhealthy things like dehydrating themselves for weigh-ins, carry on exercising after the doctor advised them it wasn't safe, and general mistreatment of the contestants.0
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I was about to make a new thread asking this very thing, and searched first instead. I had never seen this show, heard of it? Yes. Seen it? No. Not until this season. I haven't seen any "bullying" but it has really confused me. I mean, what I have seen time and time again on this board is losing more than 2 lbs a week isn't the best thing, or the safest. Then I watch this show and see them lost I think up to 20lbs on one ep. HOW can they lose so much in one week?? Sometimes its only 3lbs but many times its been 6+. How are those results reached, and how is it safe?
At first it motivated me, and now, it borders on motivation and depressing, because it is so hard just to lose 1lb, let alone 20lbs.
That's exactly why I have a problem with it. Firstly, the big losses you see are not in just one week, a "week" on the show is actually quite a bit longer than a week, plus contestants are encouraged to do unhealthy things like dehydrating for the weigh in, so they see the big scale weight losses. And a lot of that will be water, not fat. You can see big losses in scale weight by deliberately depleting yourself of glycogen and dehydrating yourself, but it'll be mainly water and the amount of actual fat you lose will be no more than someone who lost 1-2lb the healthy way.
Focus on losing fat, pure fat, nothing but fat, and that changes the whole game. What's a 6lb weight loss worth, if 4lb of it is water? If you go about it the healthy way, i.e. sensible deficit, exercise, sustainable lifestyle changes, you might see only 1lb a week weight loss, maybe even less than that, but if what you're losing is pure fat and it's not going to come back because you can maintain the lifestyle that's making you lose fat slowly, then does it really matter that it's only 0.5-1lb on the scale each week?0
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