The Biggest Loser

just think of her diet before the show. it's falling off her because she is finally healthy... besides she probably needs to lose 130 + pounds- she will slow down with loss and plateau like the rest of us... it's all relative!

These contestants work out all day - that is their job. If you worked out for 6-8 hours a day, you'd probably drop weight that quick too. And, unfortunately, a lot of them don't maintain. It's all about a full lifestyle change and a lot of people can't cope with changing their life and eating habits that drastically.

I just watched it last night for the first time this season and they had the contestants working 8 hours by volunteering at the local food bank and teaching the contestants how it is going to be once they get back to working and then having to fit in a workout before or after work. I think they are trying to make it as close to real life as possible for them.

Losing weight that fast probably isnt the best but it probably doesnt harm them as they were very obese with a lot of health conditions before starting the show.

I enjoy where the doctor shows their health improvement numbers, they have so much to lose that every pound is giving them better health advantages. No, they can't keep it up at that rate forever but it is a good jump start for most. I follow Shay from last season on Twitter, that girl is doing great at home, she was given the incentive at the end of last season by Subway to lose more weight by the finalle in May and they will pay her $1000.00 for each pound she loses. From what I read she is doing great and has become a huge inspiration., can't wait to see her. Not all contestants stick with their new lifestyle, it is hard, but it is so good to see those that do succeed.

That article that was referenced is amusing. It clearly points to an often unstated fact - all too often we look for excuses to not get in shape and put in the extra work. I'm not saying anyone in this thread is guilty of it (only close self-examination can answer that!). But I know I was guilty of it for a long time, and it was sad when I realized what I was doing.

It was SO much easier to say, "geez, I wouldn't want to work out any harder, might 'overtrain'". Ha! I'm doing 90+ minutes of intense workout a day now, 6 days a week (Saturdays are typically 3 hours - as I train for an adventure race), and I have yet to overtrain - though I eat right, and get the sleep necessary. Back to the article - Yes, the summer heat is hot, and yes they work out after vomiting - well so what! We all need to get off our butts, and hit it hard. I'd rather see people experience dehydration and excessively rapid weight loss rather than becoming overweight burdens on the health care system and dealing with every disease associated with obesity out there. I look back, and agree that what I'm doing today is more challenging than laying on the couch and looking for excuses, but the rewards and return on my investment are simply immeasurable.

This is coming from a guy who went through 6 months of chemo and high dose prednisone treatments for a kidney disease. If I can do it, so can you - if you avoid the excuses and truly want it. Now go workout.

Well, I've lost 227 pounds since this last July, I've done it healthy and I plan to keep losing and to keep it off! A big part of it has to do with how much you have to lose, how far are you willing to push yourself? I've checked in with my doc along they way who is very impressed with my numbers and health.

227 pounds? That's just flat out rocks. And I agree with your post - you've got to want it. Am I way off base, or do too many people literally look for excuses (don't get me wrong, I don't think people do it consciously, at least I didn't)?

Well, I've lost 227 pounds since this last July, I've done it healthy and I plan to keep losing and to keep it off! A big part of it has to do with how much you have to lose, how far are you willing to push yourself? I've checked in with my doc along they way who is very impressed with my numbers and health.

227 pounds? That's just flat out rocks. And I agree with your post - you've got to want it. Am I way off base, or do too many people literally look for excuses (don't get me wrong, I don't think people do it consciously, at least I didn't)?

Yes, I do believe people get caught up in the he said she said, I read this article, well I read that article... did you hear what Susy did last week sort of thing. That really lays a cover over what we really want, or think we need. Our bodies are capable of so much more than we give them credit for. It's do-able. If you want it - go get it!

SugarHi, you are, as always, a fabulous inspiration. Hawkeye, I haven't read your posts before and you are too. The reason I'm here is to read messages like yours and stop whining like a baby and get up and move my butt. (can I say butt here?) I know I let how I feel dictate waaaayy too many of my choices, so thanks for the blunt truth.
Karin

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Our bodies are capable of so much more than we give them credit for. It's do-able. If you want it - go get it!
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I think this is so true.

Sugar Hi :Your weight loss is fantastic! congratulations!

SugarHi, you are, as always, a fabulous inspiration. Hawkeye, I haven't read your posts before and you are too. The reason I'm here is to read messages like yours and stop whining like a baby and get up and move my butt. (can I say butt here?) I know I let how I feel dictate waaaayy too many of my choices, so thanks for the blunt truth.
Karin

When I was 40 pounds overweight, I was where you were. If it felt better to lay around, I found a way to justify it. Sounds like you "get it" which is the toughest thing - next thing is you'll get addicted to the high of working out. Best of luck, and if I can help one person get off their butts each day, it makes me feel great!

I used to really love watching the show but unfortunately now some of the contestants have come forward and told some of the ridiculous and very dangerous methods that are used to get some of those big numbers, expecially for the final weigh in. Two that I have seen interviews from say that before the weigh in they basically starved themselves and dehydrated themselves to the point where one contestant was actually urinating blood. He went on to say that by doing this he lost 31 extra pounds for the weigh in but gained in back within a week or two.

Julie one of the previous contestants later admitted that the weight she had gotten to by the end of the show would only be maintainable with a diet of I think it was less than 1200 calories and 7 days a week of 4-6 hour workouts. She ended up regaining a little weight on purpose so that she could maintain it.

I just feel that some of the contestants are there for the money first and the health second and to me that is setting some of them up for failure.

These are the "facts" we rely on to stay in ruts? Simple facts show this is NOT TRUE. If you were on a 1200 calorie a day diet, and worked out moderately for averaging 5 hours a day, for 7 days a week (1200 calories in less 650 cals per hour x 5 hours = 3250 calories a day less BMR, let's keep it convervative at 1200) equals a weekly deficit of almost 7 pounds! This is a prima facie falsehood. These are the EXACT things we need to get educated about.

Let's just say this was a superbeing and they did work out averaging 5 hours a day. SCIENCE and FACTS show that she could eat 4450 calories PER DAY to maintain the weight loss. Yes, BMR + Additional Exercise would equal 4450.

Being fit is NOT bad! If you get there in a hurry, it might be tough on you and your body, but making excuses and staying overweight is worse!!! Educate yourself with facts - not what someone else that doesn't like working out said!

I used to really love watching the show but unfortunately now some of the contestants have come forward and told some of the ridiculous and very dangerous methods that are used to get some of those big numbers, expecially for the final weigh in. Two that I have seen interviews from say that before the weigh in they basically starved themselves and dehydrated themselves to the point where one contestant was actually urinating blood. He went on to say that by doing this he lost 31 extra pounds for the weigh in but gained in back within a week or two.

Julie one of the previous contestants later admitted that the weight she had gotten to by the end of the show would only be maintainable with a diet of I think it was less than 1200 calories and 7 days a week of 4-6 hour workouts. She ended up regaining a little weight on purpose so that she could maintain it.

I just feel that some of the contestants are there for the money first and the health second and to me that is setting some of them up for failure.

These are the "facts" we rely on to stay in ruts? Simple facts show this is NOT TRUE. If you were on a 1200 calorie a day diet, and worked out moderately for averaging 5 hours a day, for 7 days a week (1200 calories in less 650 cals per hour x 5 hours = 3250 calories a day less BMR, let's keep it convervative at 1200) equals a weekly deficit of almost 7 pounds! This is a prima facie falsehood. These are the EXACT things we need to get educated about.

Let's just say this was a superbeing and they did work out averaging 5 hours a day. SCIENCE and FACTS show that she could eat 4450 calories PER DAY to maintain the weight loss. Yes, BMR + Additional Exercise would equal 4450.

Being fit is NOT bad! If you get there in a hurry, it might be tough on you and your body, but making excuses and staying overweight is worse!!! Educate yourself with facts - not what someone else that doesn't like working out said!

Ok I really don't know if you took this the wrong way or not. When I spoke about Julie she was speaking honestly about what she was having to do for her own well being. She gained a little yes but was still healthy and I can't blame her for not wanting to do everthing she had to do to maintain the lower weight because she has kids a job a family ect.

As for your last comment if that was directed toward me then you are way wrong if you you think it applies to me. and I would appreciate you not direct a comment to me not even knowing me or having an understanding of what I do in my day to day life.

That article that was referenced is amusing. It clearly points to an often unstated fact - all too often we look for excuses to not get in shape and put in the extra work. I'm not saying anyone in this thread is guilty of it (only close self-examination can answer that!). But I know I was guilty of it for a long time, and it was sad when I realized what I was doing.

It was SO much easier to say, "geez, I wouldn't want to work out any harder, might 'overtrain'". Ha! I'm doing 90+ minutes of intense workout a day now, 6 days a week (Saturdays are typically 3 hours - as I train for an adventure race), and I have yet to overtrain - though I eat right, and get the sleep necessary. Back to the article - Yes, the summer heat is hot, and yes they work out after vomiting - well so what! We all need to get off our butts, and hit it hard. I'd rather see people experience dehydration and excessively rapid weight loss rather than becoming overweight burdens on the health care system and dealing with every disease associated with obesity out there. I look back, and agree that what I'm doing today is more challenging than laying on the couch and looking for excuses, but the rewards and return on my investment are simply immeasurable.

This is coming from a guy who went through 6 months of chemo and high dose prednisone treatments for a kidney disease. If I can do it, so can you - if you avoid the excuses and truly want it. Now go workout.

This is well said!
I have a friend who is always asking me if I want to go out to eat with her. The whole time she complains that she is eating high fat high calorie meals, but she never does anything about it. I stopped going out to eat with her and now when she asks I say that I can't go to eat but I am going for a walk if she wants to hang out we can walk together. She has yet to go walking with me but one of these days, once she is ready, I'll be here for her. It really is about making the choice and doing it. Yes it is hard, yes I want a cheese burger, but I want to be healthy more.

Sometimes you need to pick the less of two evils. I think that The Biggest Loser shows people who have all but given up to hold on and work hard for themselves. If your choice is lose fast vs staying fat and dying young I would make the change 100 times over!

I used to really love watching the show but unfortunately now some of the contestants have come forward and told some of the ridiculous and very dangerous methods that are used to get some of those big numbers, expecially for the final weigh in. Two that I have seen interviews from say that before the weigh in they basically starved themselves and dehydrated themselves to the point where one contestant was actually urinating blood. He went on to say that by doing this he lost 31 extra pounds for the weigh in but gained in back within a week or two.

Julie one of the previous contestants later admitted that the weight she had gotten to by the end of the show would only be maintainable with a diet of I think it was less than 1200 calories and 7 days a week of 4-6 hour workouts. She ended up regaining a little weight on purpose so that she could maintain it.

I just feel that some of the contestants are there for the money first and the health second and to me that is setting some of them up for failure.

These are the "facts" we rely on to stay in ruts? Simple facts show this is NOT TRUE. If you were on a 1200 calorie a day diet, and worked out moderately for averaging 5 hours a day, for 7 days a week (1200 calories in less 650 cals per hour x 5 hours = 3250 calories a day less BMR, let's keep it convervative at 1200) equals a weekly deficit of almost 7 pounds! This is a prima facie falsehood. These are the EXACT things we need to get educated about.

Let's just say this was a superbeing and they did work out averaging 5 hours a day. SCIENCE and FACTS show that she could eat 4450 calories PER DAY to maintain the weight loss. Yes, BMR + Additional Exercise would equal 4450.

Being fit is NOT bad! If you get there in a hurry, it might be tough on you and your body, but making excuses and staying overweight is worse!!! Educate yourself with facts - not what someone else that doesn't like working out said!

Ok I really don't know if you took this the wrong way or not. When I spoke about Julie she was speaking honestly about what she was having to do for her own well being. She gained a little yes but was still healthy and I can't blame her for not wanting to do everthing she had to do to maintain the lower weight because she has kids a job a family ect.

As for your last comment if that was directed toward me then you are way wrong if you you think it applies to me. and I would appreciate you not direct a comment to me not even knowing me or having an understanding of what I do in my day to day life.

The point wasn't to 'direct' anything at anybody - it's to stop the ideas that float around so easy that aren't true. No matter what "Julie" (not sure who she even said is) said, it isn't true and has no logical basis. And if someone thinks they'll need to workout 5 hours a day on a 1200 calorie diet to maintain their fitness once they get there, I guarantee it WILL keep someone from even trying. And that's not the right thing to do.

My comments aren't directed to hurt anyone, but they are intended to stop people from putting things out there that have no basis on science and could keep someone from even trying to reach their goal.

I was going by Julie's interview she did on the season finale of the Biggest Loser that showed where past contestants from previous shows were at in their weightloss. She was unable to maintain because the weight was to low for her, not in her opinio but her doctors opinion and I was just stating that while the numbers are large in the show sometimes it is not realistic for them in real life. The fact that that she gained a little weight and was still in the haelthy range, but could maintain it for the rest of her life does not mean she did not like exercise or want to make excuses.

The reason I got irritated at your last comment was because you quoted my post and and said educate yourself with the facts.. not what someone else that doesn't like working out said, which directs it toward me and makes an assumption about someone that is simply an opinion.

No, it's not my opinion, and it wasn't the idea of healthy weight that bothers me. It's the FACTS that get me irritated. i.e. working out 7 days a week for 5 hours and a 1200 calorie diet to maintain a weight. This is simply not true. And if someone out there just starting out reads that, and believes it, who would want to be fit!? I know I wouldn't.

It's untrue statements like that which give people the excuses I refer to - and they don't need additional reasons not to get off the couch. So, yes, if someone quotes the numbers above, they do need to get educated on how the body and weight loss works. Now, to keep from being a hypocrite, I'm done with this banter, and I'm going to get on my bike and ride, and ride, and ride...

I love the show. It gives me motivation and inspiration. I know some of the methods are sketchy and I know Im smart enough not to buy into those methods.

I do credit the show for motivating me to start exercising again. Watching these people work out so hard makes me more determined to get off my butt and get moving. I dont profess to exercise 6-8 hours a day and I dont think Id ever do that, but I went from no exercise to building up to 1hr. a day and most of that came only after watching this program.