The Biggest Loser Diet - thoughts?

DawniesLife

So, after wondering what kind of diet they follow on the Biggest Loser, I decided I would do a little searching and came across this:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/biggest-loser-diet

Thought others may find it interesting as well. It sort of laughs in starvation modes face so to say, because many aren't getting 1200 calories a day, especially not net calories a day.

Any thoughts?

agoessli

Hmmm....I am very interested to see what people think too!

Fat2FitChick

That sounds ok but it seems to restrictive for me. I'll stick to what I'm doing now. Seems to be working like a charm and I get to eat all day and can have more when I exercise. I like this way better but for those that wanna try it, more power to you!

mislove68

I know that Jillian's diet on her website you dont eat your exercise calories either. My Aunt joined her site.

Amarylis13

well, I may not be super knowledgeable about this, but I would think that weight lost through starvation is not necessarily weight that will stay off. When I got out of the hospital and couldn't eat anything, I lost 25 pounds in 2 weeks... gained it and more right back once I could eat normally again.

They're just looking for the sensational effect on the show, maybe not as concerned about the people's health and welfare. Unless they learn afterward how to maintain that weight loss, I'd bet it won't last.

live2smyle

I just read the whole thing and saw this.....American Dietetic Association spokesperson Amy Jamieson-Petonic, MEd, RD, also endorses the plan -- as long as you consume at least 1,200 calories daily. "It is not recommended to consume fewer than 1,200 calories a day because it is difficult to obtain the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients needed for daily activities," she says.

I wonder how many people are not going to catch that paragraph in this article

agoessli

I know that it everyone says you should eat your exercise calories and I love having a few extra calories to eat when I exercise but on my new elliptical....I burn over 1,000 in my 30 minute workout so....I was really nervous about what to do because I simply cannot eat the amount of healthy food I would need to to eat back all of those calories so....maybe I will be ok as long as I am reaching the goal BEFORE the exercise calories are added???

agoessli

which at my weight and goal is 1490

I know that it everyone says you should eat your exercise calories and I love having a few extra calories to eat when I exercise but on my new elliptical....I burn over 1,000 in my 30 minute workout so....I was really nervous about what to do because I simply cannot eat the amount of healthy food I would need to to eat back all of those calories so....maybe I will be ok as long as I am reaching the goal BEFORE the exercise calories are added???

DawniesLife

well, I may not be super knowledgeable about this, but I would think that weight lost through starvation is not necessarily weight that will stay off. When I got out of the hospital and couldn't eat anything, I lost 25 pounds in 2 weeks... gained it and more right back once I could eat normally again.

They're just looking for the sensational effect on the show, maybe not as concerned about the people's health and welfare. Unless they learn afterward how to maintain that weight loss, I'd bet it won't last.

Did you actually read the article? Or are you just guessing it is a starvation diet? It is backed by top dietitians with proven success... As stated in the article.. And starvation mode and starving yourself are completely different. And anyone that loses a huge amount of weight, or any amount of weight and then goes back to their old eating habits is going to gain the weight back. That happens on any diet! As mentioned in the article there are resources how to maintain once you hit the point you need to maintain... You just do a different equation of how many calories to eat..

Amarylis13

I thought eating your exercise calories was more like a treat, not a recommendation. I think that's the point of exercising, to burn more calories than you take in... if you eat them all back, it seems to me a lot of work for nothing.??

DawniesLife

I just read the whole thing and saw this.....American Dietetic Association spokesperson Amy Jamieson-Petonic, MEd, RD, also endorses the plan -- as long as you consume at least 1,200 calories daily. "It is not recommended to consume fewer than 1,200 calories a day because it is difficult to obtain the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients needed for daily activities," she says.

I wonder how many people are not going to catch that paragraph in this article

People tend to skip portions of articles, that is a good point. Personally, I'm not going to consume less than 1200 calories a day, but the article also says that most people that think they are eating less calories the lower point of the calorie plan, are usually eating closer to the 1200 calories a day in reality anyway. But there is also no mention of eating back those exercise calories, your encouraged to exercise while on this plan as well.

Tuckersn

I know that it everyone says you should eat your exercise calories and I love having a few extra calories to eat when I exercise but on my new elliptical....I burn over 1,000 in my 30 minute workout so....I was really nervous about what to do because I simply cannot eat the amount of healthy food I would need to to eat back all of those calories so....maybe I will be ok as long as I am reaching the goal BEFORE the exercise calories are added???

I would be suspicious of a piece of exercise equipment that told me I burned 1,000 calories in 30 minutes. That is an outrageous amount of calories in 30 minutes. Might wanna cross check that with a heart rate monitor . . . just a thought. =0)

If a diet was extremely restrictive . . . I wouldn't last on it. Slow and steady, I know I'll lose it. That said, I don't have 100 + lbs to lose . . . so I really wouldn't know how to advise in that situation.

RoniDoll

I know that it everyone says you should eat your exercise calories and I love having a few extra calories to eat when I exercise but on my new elliptical....I burn over 1,000 in my 30 minute workout so....I was really nervous about what to do because I simply cannot eat the amount of healthy food I would need to to eat back all of those calories so....maybe I will be ok as long as I am reaching the goal BEFORE the exercise calories are added???

Thats what I do... I work out at the end of the day and I burn 1000 calories. There is no way i can eat all of my calories back (I wouldnt want to anyway) befor bed. Its working fr me and the weight is staying off even when I splurg =]

DawniesLife

I thought eating your exercise calories was more like a treat, not a recommendation. I think that's the point of exercising, to burn more calories than you take in... if you eat them all back, it seems to me a lot of work for nothing.??

Actually a lot of people say you should eat all of some of your exercise calories back, because your net calories can go too low causing "starvation mode". Many people say that if you for example eat 1300 calories in a day, but exercise off lets say 700 calories in that day then your net calories is only 600 calories. Of course there are a million variables for this.

Angierae75

My rule of thumb is that I never go below 1200 calories per day, taking exercise into account. So if I eat 1700 calories but burn off 300, that puts me at 1400 and I don't eat the exercise.

But if I only eat 1400 and I burn 400 at exercise, I'll eat another 200 to put me back up to 1200.

shaunshaikh

What you have to consider about the Biggest Loser contestants is that it their metabolic rate could be slowed to the point where 700 net calories a day would be maintaining weight... but they are burning SO MANY calories through exercise I'm sure they run a NET -1,000 or more per day. Think about it. If you are eating 1,000 calories a day and exercising for 3,000 calories a day -- who cares what your BMR is? You're going to lose weight.

You also need to consider that since these people are so obese they can do things like that. The people who are closer to their goal weight still only lose 0, 1, 2, 3 pounds per week because they run into the same obstacles everybody else does when they get closer to their goal weight. And that is with a lifestyle that is 100% dedicated to weight loss.

DawniesLife

I would be suspicious of a piece of exercise equipment that told me I burned 1,000 calories in 30 minutes. That is an outrageous amount of calories in 30 minutes. Might wanna cross check that with a heart rate monitor . . . just a thought. =0)

If a diet was extremely restrictive . . . I wouldn't last on it. Slow and steady, I know I'll lose it. That said, I don't have 100 + lbs to lose . . . so I really wouldn't know how to advise in that situation.

I am going to have to second the possibility of the 1,000 calories in 30 minutes, it does sound quite high.

And that is a good point as well, those without a great deal to lose, may not need a diet like this, that is for sure, I know I have 60 pounds left to lose, possibly more after I get to that goal. Keep in mind not everyone on the biggest loser has always had 100+ pounds to lose either. I just watched season 1 that had a girl that weighed in the 160's and another in the 170's, I thought that was strange!

meggonkgonk

Can some one explain to my why, WHY, so many people are intent on starvation mode not existing? Do you all WANT to eat substantially less than is nutritionally recommended. I don't understand why you would want to survive on 1000 or 500 calories a day, when if you just have the slightest modicum of patience you can eat healthy, balanced and nutritionally sound meals, keep living your lives (ie socializing with others - a meal out, a drink here or there) and not beating yourself up the first time you want cookies or ice cream and still lose constistently? Why are there 86546547332145 posts a day about "can I avoid starvation mode" or "starvation mode is bogus". Let's just say there's not a ton of research backing it up or a bajillion other posts a day of people who are eating 700-800 cals a day and not losing. Let's just say for arguements sake, starvation and starvation mode were made up by fairies that wanted you to lose weight more slowly. I still don't get WHY anyone would want to go through life eating this little!!!!! Your bodies work freaking hard just keeping your heart beating, why make it harder? Haven't we abused out bodies enough letting them get overweight with careless feeding in the first place? Why does everyone seek the answer in malnutrition?!

agoessli- you need to eat the majority of those calories back because 1000 is a HUGE burn (make sure this is correct - it sounds like a lot in a 1/2 hour to me) and if you eat 1490, and burn off 1000, you are only leaving 490 calories for a body that plain old needs more to operate. Try to plan bigger meals earlier in the day so that you only have a dinner and/or snack sized portion left after your workout, rather than trying to eat it all right after you are done.

DawniesLife

What you have to consider about the Biggest Loser contestants is that it their metabolic rate could be slowed to the point where 700 net calories a day would be maintaining weight... but they are burning SO MANY calories through exercise I'm sure they run a NET -1,000 or more per day. Think about it. If you are eating 1,000 calories a day and exercising for 3,000 calories a day -- who cares what your BMR is? You're going to lose weight.

You also need to consider that since these people are so obese they can do things like that. The people who are closer to their goal weight still only lose 0, 1, 2, 3 pounds per week because they run into the same obstacles everybody else does when they get closer to their goal weight. And that is with a lifestyle that is 100% dedicated to weight loss.

Is the beginning statement based on facts? If so please elaborate. But that is true, the BMR on the actual show is a bit different considering how much they actually do exercise wise, and if you read the article you would see the contestants are on a lower calorie diet than those at home....

Jd_jaquez

Funny that's exactly what I thought when I read this... If it's true I need one of these... since busting my butt doing the 30 day shred with Jillian michaels all 3 levels back to back only gets me to burn about 500 according to my hrm and it runs for a good hour... so how is this 30 minute elliptical making you burn 1000 cals? Send me the brand :-)

I know that it everyone says you should eat your exercise calories and I love having a few extra calories to eat when I exercise but on my new elliptical....I burn over 1,000 in my 30 minute workout so....I was really nervous about what to do because I simply cannot eat the amount of healthy food I would need to to eat back all of those calories so....maybe I will be ok as long as I am reaching the goal BEFORE the exercise calories are added???

I would be suspicious of a piece of exercise equipment that told me I burned 1,000 calories in 30 minutes. That is an outrageous amount of calories in 30 minutes. Might wanna cross check that with a heart rate monitor . . . just a thought. =0)

If a diet was extremely restrictive . . . I wouldn't last on it. Slow and steady, I know I'll lose it. That said, I don't have 100 + lbs to lose . . . so I really wouldn't know how to advise in that situation.

crystal_sapphire

of course they aren't getting healthy to MFP standards

it's a reality tv show. love watching it but i watch it for what it is - entertainment. all the shows about weight loss have them eating under 1200 net cals per day.

They aren't healthy and I will post this link again from a former contestant :

http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/

DawniesLife

of course they aren't getting healthy to MFP standards

it's a reality tv show. love watching it but i watch it for what it is - entertainment. all the shows about weight loss have them eating under 1200 net cals per day.

They aren't healthy and I will post this link again from a former contestant :

http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/

Okay, I see where you are coming from here, but did you honestly read the article? Because the diet on the show and the diet at home are different just an FYI if you did not read the article...

sarahliftsUP

I know that it everyone says you should eat your exercise calories and I love having a few extra calories to eat when I exercise but on my new elliptical....I burn over 1,000 in my 30 minute workout so....I was really nervous about what to do because I simply cannot eat the amount of healthy food I would need to to eat back all of those calories so....maybe I will be ok as long as I am reaching the goal BEFORE the exercise calories are added???

Are you sure it's over 1000 calories in 30 minutes? If this is going off of the machine then I wouldn't trust it. Unless you are doing some HIIT on the elliptical then yes.. but if not I'd get a HRM just to make sure of how many calories you are burning.

crystal_sapphire

of course they aren't getting healthy to MFP standards

it's a reality tv show. love watching it but i watch it for what it is - entertainment. all the shows about weight loss have them eating under 1200 net cals per day.

They aren't healthy and I will post this link again from a former contestant :

http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/

Okay, I see where you are coming from here, but did you honestly read the article? Because the diet on the show and the diet at home are different just an FYI if you did not read the article...

I read it. Honestly, I'm just going to back out of this thread because I want to say something but I would rather not have this turn into a huge insulting thread.

btw i suggest getting a HRM because there is no way you're burning 1000 cals in a 1/2 hour.

llkilgore

The folks over at livestrong.com expect you to eat back your exercise calories, but are willing to give you a lower quota to begin with. Pre-exercise, they calculate that I need to eat 932 cal/day to lose 1.5 lb a week or 1,182 cal/day for 1 lb a week. I tried to set it for 2 lb a week and was told to choose a more realistic goal. MFP set me at 1200 cal/day

For the last couple of weeks I've used 932 cal/day as my net calorie minimum and 1200 cal/day as the maximum.

gingermim

Thanks for sharing that was interesting.

DawniesLife

The folks over at livestrong.com expect you to eat back your exercise calories, but are willing to give you a lower quota to begin with. Pre-exercise, they calculate that I need to eat 932 cal/day to lose 1.5 lb a week or 1,182 cal/day for 1 lb a week. I tried to set it for 2 lb a week and was told to choose a more realistic goal. MFP set me at 1200 cal/day

For the last couple of weeks I've used 932 cal/day as my net calorie minimum and 1200 cal/day as the maximum.

Thanks for the information.

scagneti

Can some one explain to my why, WHY, so many people are intent on starvation mode not existing? Do you all WANT to eat substantially less than is nutritionally recommended. I don't understand why you would want to survive on 1000 or 500 calories a day, when if you just have the slightest modicum of patience you can eat healthy, balanced and nutritionally sound meals, keep living your lives (ie socializing with others - a meal out, a drink here or there) and not beating yourself up the first time you want cookies or ice cream and still lose constistently? Why are there 86546547332145 posts a day about "can I avoid starvation mode" or "starvation mode is bogus". Let's just say there's not a ton of research backing it up or a bajillion other posts a day of people who are eating 700-800 cals a day and not losing. Let's just say for arguements sake, starvation and starvation mode were made up by fairies that wanted you to lose weight more slowly. I still don't get WHY anyone would want to go through life eating this little!!!!! Your bodies work freaking hard just keeping your heart beating, why make it harder? Haven't we abused out bodies enough letting them get overweight with careless feeding in the first place? Why does everyone seek the answer in malnutrition?!

I don't understand either. I've lost around 40 lbs eating pretty much what I want, just slightly less of it (still taking in 1600-1800 calories a day) and I don't see how if I lost it a month faster (or an extra 3-5 pounds by now) by starving myself and making myself miserable, that I'd be any better off than what I'm doing. I'm doing a plan that I'm going to live on for the rest of my life (and I'm LOVING exercise, which really surprised me!) and can't fathom how anyone can think that their body needs the same amount of fuel a day it does doing practically nothing versus a day that it apparently burns almost the daily intake of food in a half an hour. It just doesn't make any sense at all to me.

I grew up in the 80s watching my mother and sisters starve themselves (even though none of them weighed more than 130 pounds) a few times a year when they had trouble buttoning up their pants, only to go through the very same process over and over again. Others might want to spend the rest of their lives yo-yoing, but not me. I'm worth doing this right.

busygirl1

I would be suspicious of a piece of exercise equipment that told me I burned 1,000 calories in 30 minutes. That is an outrageous amount of calories in 30 minutes. Might wanna cross check that with a heart rate monitor . . . just a thought. =0)

That was my thought also, perhaps it needs to be calibrated. It would be crap to be working your *kitten* off and eating back even half those calories when I doubt you are actually burning anywhere near half those calories in the first place. good luck x

superwmn

I think it sounds like a solid meal plan. I really like the foods they encourage (lean protein/veg/fruit/whole grains/other).

I'm not crazy about the 'current weight times 7 or 6' formula for determining daily calories. That would have me at 924 calories/day and I would not last long on that. Not falling below 1200 calories is supported in the article, but that formula would not allow someone of my weight to stay at or above 1200 calories.

So I'm all for the foods they recommend but not crazy about the amount of calories.

Charmagne

Jwpawlowski

Another thing to keep in mind is that the 1050 calories that the Biggest Loser diet calculated was for a 150lb person as stated in the article. For the actual biggest losers on the show, many are 300+ pounds, and for them, the recommended calorie intake was listed as 2100 calories as was also stated in the article. As a 300lb person loses weight, they will need to gradually adjust their caloric intake to keep getting results as their BMR gets smaller from being less of a person. I think that since nobody on the show gets to 150lbs until the very end, they probably just cut them off at 1200 calories at that point. In other words, the formula they use is more applicable to the heavier people as they have more weight too lose, more calories to play around with, and less of a chance of slowing their metabolism, while the formula may not be specifically design to calculate caloric intake for those who are closer to or within a healthy weight range.