Biggest Loser, Yay or Ney?

So my good friend and I where throwing around the idea of going to the casting calls for BL. My question to you all, would you ever consider doing it? Pro's and Con's? Not just to the casting call but if they actually picked you would you be willing to go in front of America and the world to see the good and bad of you?

Replies

  • fishergreen
    fishergreen Posts: 109 Member
    I couldn't do it because I couldn't be away from my husband and kids for that long.
  • stfuriada
    stfuriada Posts: 445 Member
    If I had that much to lose, I would.
  • senyosmom
    senyosmom Posts: 613 Member
    Do YOU - if you are up for it then I say go for it. You know, the whole world sees you at your worst.... but they also get to see you at your best in the end :)
  • kaji13
    kaji13 Posts: 172 Member
    No way! However, my friends and I held our own little Biggest Loser competition. We did it for three months, and gave prizes to the top loser at the end of each month. We each bought two $5 gift cards and one $25 gift card (prizes for first 2 months and final "big" prize...we're poor hahaha) There were 8 of us doing it, so that's $280 in potential prize money, plus we had the support and accountability of our friends doing it with you. It was great! Very good natured, we'd get together once a month for the prizes and go on a walk together and eat a healthy dinner. We set up a googledoc where one person input the data (only the percentages were shown in case anyone was self-conscious) and sent in a picture of the scale with their weigh-in to that person on Monday mornings.

    I highly recommend doing something like this! We had to disqualify one person from winning a prize though, because he was going about it in such an unhealthy way. We only encouraged HEALTHY weight loss!

    And, I'm pleased to say, I won the big prize :D
  • montana_girl
    montana_girl Posts: 1,403 Member
    Good question!

    For me, personally, I probably wouldn't do it. Mainly because I am not a competive person so the challenges (especially when it got to individuals) would be tough for me. And I also don't like confrontation.... and there seems to be a lot of that in the house. Though I'm sure most of is staged or taken out of context.

    But I do think it's one of those "once in a lifetime" opportunities. So I probably would have at least gone to the casting call just to see what it was all about. :tongue:
  • Darlingir
    Darlingir Posts: 437
    NEVER
  • BlooQKazoo
    BlooQKazoo Posts: 56
    Nay.

    First of all, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXoKe5QvCrk

    It's Kai, who won BL one season. She gained a lot of weight back because the BL life is just not sustainable in the long run.

    They exercise six hours a day (who really has time for that?!), they're constantly dehydrated (on purpose), and several contestants talk about having developed eating disorders.

    You can do it on your own. That's what MFP is about. Thousands of people on this site have lost serious poundage through diet and exercise, and they did it in a way that still allows them to live like normal people with jobs and responsibilities. It just takes dedication.
  • Jo2926
    Jo2926 Posts: 489 Member
    I think the first question is:

    Why are you considering this?

    The answer to that has to be the starting point for advice.
  • kcharles22
    kcharles22 Posts: 13 Member
    Just the thought of stepping on a scale almost naked every week would make me not do it.
  • Ruthy420
    Ruthy420 Posts: 41 Member
    I WOULD, IF I HAD ALOT TO LOOSE. WHAT A BETTER MOTIVATOR THEN MONEY? PLUS YOU GET TO LOOSE WEIGHT IN RETURN!
  • Leesa22
    Leesa22 Posts: 73 Member
    Thanks all for the replies, I was just curious. All of you have valid points, thanks to everyone who responded. I have alot more things to think about, just wanted a sounding board and you all did a great job.
    BTW it would NOT be for the money but to get healthy once and for all. Thanks again for your responses.
  • carld256
    carld256 Posts: 855 Member
    If I was 400 pounds I probably would. It would at least be a chance to get a bunch of weight off in a hurry. But, I'd go in with my eyes open knowing I couldn't go back to eating like I used to once it was done. Seriously, I'd rather be at 200 lbs and trying not to gain than be at 400 lbs trying to lose.

    When else will you ever get a chance to work full time with fitness experts, dieticians, and a support group?
  • jodazary
    jodazary Posts: 144 Member
    in a heartbeat
  • vade43113
    vade43113 Posts: 836 Member
    not on my life.... there is no way I would ever go on that show. The show is a joke, the exercising they do is for hours on end... And the biggest loser, isn't based on anything... the amount of weight you lose, what if the person weighs less than contestant Z They are kicked out because they would have to be come anorexic to stay in the comp... not healthy!!!
  • vade43113
    vade43113 Posts: 836 Member
    When else will you ever get a chance to work full time with fitness experts, dieticians, and a support group?

    What classifies as a fitness expert? a certification... read the next one to see my opinion... no offense to people who are Doctor's, Dieticians or Fitness experts....

    Dieticians go to college, Doctors do too, and still you will have two different ones arguing over right and wrong

    Support group, Here....
  • swoollen1
    swoollen1 Posts: 1
    I'm considering driving up to Chicago for the casting call too. I printed my application today and need to decide if I want to make the trip or apply and send a video. I'm better under pressure, so the actual call might work better for me. I've wanted to go to the ranch since the show started, and now that my kids are older and I'm single now I have the freedom to do that. I looked into paying to go to one of the ranches recently, but its very expensive for very few weeks.

    It's not about the money for me, and I'm not a hugely competative person - but do get fired up when challenged. I would just love to have the opportunity to eat, sleep, and breathe fitness and nutrition to learn the right way to do things and have the forced discipline long enough to lose a lot of weight and find out how to keep it off by completely changing the way I live.

    It's definitely a personal choice and a personal committment that only you can know if you're ready to make. For me, I am ready.
  • minkakross
    minkakross Posts: 687 Member
    No way, I wouldn't want to be away from my little ones nor could I afford to miss that much work.
  • Leesa22
    Leesa22 Posts: 73 Member
    I'm considering driving up to Chicago for the casting call too. I printed my application today and need to decide if I want to make the trip or apply and send a video. I'm better under pressure, so the actual call might work better for me. I've wanted to go to the ranch since the show started, and now that my kids are older and I'm single now I have the freedom to do that. I looked into paying to go to one of the ranches recently, but its very expensive for very few weeks.

    It's not about the money for me, and I'm not a hugely competative person - but do get fired up when challenged. I would just love to have the opportunity to eat, sleep, and breathe fitness and nutrition to learn the right way to do things and have the forced discipline long enough to lose a lot of weight and find out how to keep it off by completely changing the way I live.

    It's definitely a personal choice and a personal committment that only you can know if you're ready to make. For me, I am ready.
    Best wishes to you if you go and ironically,Chicago is the one I would do too.
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    No for me--I wouldn't be willing to be away from work and home that long, and I wouldn't be willing to consent to editing and some of the ridiculousness. I love the show--but from a distance. You'd have to consider being forever associated with the show if you got on it as well as that association being controlled in part by an editor. You'd have a loss of privacy, including over your medical problems. If that stuff doesn't bother you, I'd also ask your family how they would feel. The BL loves to pull out family drama, and sometimes I feel bad for the family members who get their business splashed without consenting to be on the show.
  • Dad_of_3
    Dad_of_3 Posts: 517 Member
    In my opinion, The Biggest Loser is the biggest exploiter of obese people on the air today. Making people show their fat bodies in the most shameful fashion possible, the emotional vultures and voyeurs on that show have now shame. I do not allow that show in my home. And EMWE is not much better.

    No way I'd go on the show.
  • AbbsyBabbsy
    AbbsyBabbsy Posts: 184 Member
    I would. But I don't think I'm big enough anymore. The contestants on the show have gotten bigger and bigger with each year.
  • sonniedee
    sonniedee Posts: 26
    If I had a lot to lose, and could be away from work that long, I would do it in a hearbeat! Yes, there's drama...it's a "reality" show. That's what we Americans thrive on, obviously. And no, it's not a lifestyle you can sustain when you get home...you can't work out all day long when you aren't on the ranch. However, you CAN learn how to workout the right way and can apply that when you get home. You CAN learn how to eat properly and can apply that when you get home. AND there's the possibility of bringing home some cash. If you can handle the drama, the loss of privacy, and the time away from home, I say GO FOR IT! What do you have to lose, but weight? :happy:
  • kaitiebeth89
    kaitiebeth89 Posts: 52 Member
    I would do it if I wasn't so shy, I couldn't stand up there on the scales in just my bra and shorts for all America to see! Plus I have lost enough weight now that I wouldn't meet the requirements anyways. I love the show though. It's always worth a shot to try to get on if you really want to!
  • jenbk2
    jenbk2 Posts: 614 Member
    I totally would do it- but I could never leave my boys for that amount of time. Also they do not accept Type 1 diabetics.
  • shannashannabobana
    shannashannabobana Posts: 625 Member
    I need to lose a fair bit, but the women on there my height tend to weight more than I do so it's probably a moot point. (also, have zero interest in being on a reality show and judged by the world!)

    I do have a friend that went to the camp/ranch thing, and he's lost a fair bit of weight.
    The Biggest Loser is the biggest exploiter of obese people on the air today
    I do think this is true at times, I know I was massively turned off the first time I saw any of BL on tv they had the contestants moving food with their mouths or something. I did watch a few seasons ago and enjoyed it, though, so maybe it grows on you. It occasionally inspired me to get on the treadmill!