How does Biggest Loser do it?
hula808
Posts: 172 Member
5% body weight in 2 weeks. I wonder what their calorie intake is VS their exercise calorie burn is. Fat/ soium.carbs/ protein?
I dont know how they consistently drop large numbers? If I cut my calories too low, I dont lose a thing even if I up my exercise. ITs a fine balancing game for me...so I wonder how they do it?
And what about the women with the TOM, I cant seem to lose an ounce no matter what I do during that time....just trying to figure it out...anyone have any ideas? And they were at home last episode so its not the trainers and/or cooks....I need to know ; ) lol
I dont know how they consistently drop large numbers? If I cut my calories too low, I dont lose a thing even if I up my exercise. ITs a fine balancing game for me...so I wonder how they do it?
And what about the women with the TOM, I cant seem to lose an ounce no matter what I do during that time....just trying to figure it out...anyone have any ideas? And they were at home last episode so its not the trainers and/or cooks....I need to know ; ) lol
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Replies
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It's not real life.
A week on TV is not always actually a week.
They do have customised calorie goals. I have seen 1200-1500 mentioned for different people.
They Workout as much as 6 hours a day.
They put on weight before the programme starts.
They dehydrate in special suits before the weigh in to reduce water weight. They also sometimes wear more clothes during workout to sweat more. They then take them off for the cameras.
They often put weight back on afterwards0 -
What you see on The Biggest Loser is actually very unhealthy and dangerous weight loss, and yeah they do typically gain it back.0
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They slipped up last week with the 5% because they tried to let us believe it was a one week time period but Joe said a couple times that he'd been home for 2 weeks. They eat VLCD, workout 6 hrs a day with trainers and some of them do more on their own and dehydrate themselves for the weigh ins. It's not healthy and it isn't something any normal person would or should do.0
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It's not real life.
A week on TV is not always actually a week.
They do have customised calorie goals. I have seen 1200-1500 mentioned for different people.
They Workout as much as 6 hours a day.
They put on weight before the programme starts.
They dehydrate in special suits before the weigh in to reduce water weight. They also sometimes wear more clothes during workout to sweat more. They then take them off for the cameras.
They often put weight back on afterwards
^^^this.
Reality TV doesn't really mean it's reality.0 -
It's reality TV, which is not real at all..0
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yup.It's not real life.
A week on TV is not always actually a week.
They do have customised calorie goals. I have seen 1200-1500 mentioned for different people.
They Workout as much as 6 hours a day.
They put on weight before the programme starts.
They dehydrate in special suits before the weigh in to reduce water weight. They also sometimes wear more clothes during workout to sweat more. They then take them off for the cameras.
They often put weight back on afterwards
^^^this.
Reality TV doesn't really mean it's reality.0 -
Um.. they burn thousands more calories than they take in, their entire existence is centered around weight loss while they're on the show. They're not working or living a normal life, they restrict their calorie intake very strictly every single day.
I'm sure there's things they do that you never actually see on TV. I read somewhere that they intentionally dehydrate themselves before WI to see as large of a number as possible.
Like PP said, their "weeks" are not even weeks, sometimes they're over 10 days.
Don't compare yourself to their ridiculous standards, you simply cannot lose like they do and it's silly to even think you could.
Also, I thought Allison said last night they were home for 2 weeks? I didn't catch they were claiming they were home for only one.0 -
I love the Biggest Loser in that it can inspire people to change their lives, show them change IS possible through hard work.
The unfortunate downside to the show is that it gives people unrealistic expectations in terms of how quickly they should expect to see change. Unless they have a personal nutritionist working with them at every meal, stocking their fridges/pantries, and can work out 6 hours a day, they can't expect these types of results in such a short period of time.0 -
It's not real life.
A week on TV is not always actually a week.
They do have customised calorie goals. I have seen 1200-1500 mentioned for different people.
They Workout as much as 6 hours a day.
They put on weight before the programme starts.
They dehydrate in special suits before the weigh in to reduce water weight. They also sometimes wear more clothes during workout to sweat more. They then take them off for the cameras.
They often put weight back on afterwards
^^^this.
Reality TV doesn't really mean it's reality.
Qouting again for truth!0 -
If you all had to worry about everyday was eating 'healthy' foods and working out...My guess is in one week you'd also be down as much as them.
I don't think all of the contestants subscribe to the same methods such as dehydrating themselves etc, but there are some that do, and some that have been very honest about it. There is one contestant in particular that I can think of that gained all the weight back and then some... And we're talking like 200lbs worth. They paid him to lose it again.
Just live your best life and make your best choices and I figure, don't worry about the people on biggest loser!0 -
My daughter and I watched it last night. The guy in the restaurant whose eyes practically came out of his sockets when he saw the food his friends were eating, then picking on everything they ate and how many calories were in it. I wouldn't have invited him to eat dinner with me. I might be dieting but I don't pick on what other people eat! As far as being inspiring, I find the people on here MORE inspiring!0
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Jillian said in one of her recent podcasts that she burns 7000 cals a day with her male contestants and 5000 cals a day with her female contestants. She also said she sets their calorie intake at 1200. That's a massive deficit, and most of her contestants DO keep the weight off. They all wear thermal-monitoring armbands that track every calorie burned. It's TV so there's lots of money for those kinds of things!
When the body is morbidly obese, it's healthier to take the weight off fast than to let the weight stay there and keep doing harm to the person.0 -
last nights episode was more than a week. One of the contestants made a comment about exercising on her own when she was at home for TWO weeks. 5 % bf in two weeks is very hard, but doable..... 5% at their weights in one week is next to impossible.0
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It is true that their week on TV isn't always an exact week. However, it is true more often than not. Also, they did the 5% loss over two weeks at home. Now if I didn't have a job or a family, I too could spend 4-6 hours a day in a gym with a modified caloric intake that forced my body to drop at that rate. There is nothing 'unhealthy' about it and many contestants do maintain their healthy lifestyle.
Ultimately, it's making sure you realize you are a food addict. Period. It's harder than being an alcoholic because you can't avoid food. To keep these lifestyles people have to rebuild their every day with healthy food and exercise always as their number one priority. It would also do them some good to attend OA meetings (oa.org) to help them with their food addiction.
Reality TV is never 100% real however, as it has been stated here. But you can still strive for a good number. Just not their numbers. Hope is there!!!0 -
it's just completely ridiculous and so unhealthy!! Sorry but no one can convince me that it's healthy what they do on that show. Yes it's amazing to watch them transform, but seriously???? Long term??? No way!0
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Im aware its not healthy or realistic , this is just general conversation, no need to lecture on the health risks...just was wondering f anyone knew how they do it so consistently.
They were home for 2 weeks and even if it wasnt exactly 2 weeks maybe 2.5 weeks, the losses are consistently high. If you dehydrate yourself before every weigh in, it wouldn't really change the loss. If I dehydrate 5lbs of fluid from my body this week and do it again next week, then the following week etc..., the total weight loss would be relatively consistent.
Anyways this is just meant for light conversation based on curiosity, no hard core stats, lectures, preaching, etc... needed : )0 -
I like watching the show, but it is unrealistic because they workout 6+ hours per day. As that woman said, "Ain't nobody got time for that" haha0
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I was just wondering the same thing!!!!!!! Especially some of the females... I get so "stuck" sometimes around 170-180... And they fact they just skip over them completely pisses me off!! Haha0
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I would prefer a reality show where mom with 2 young kids needs to go to work, clean the house, walk the dog AND lose weight.. sort of a normal way of life for most people. I don't enjoy watching people sweat on exercise bikes 3 hours a day and not doing anything else, that is not real and it is also kjndof boring.
Why noone ever makes real weight loss reality? Even if it was scripted, it would be much more interesting than just training and salad eating imho.0 -
I think your probably going to need some pretty boy/girl gym type to patronise/bully/taunt you whilst you spin for all your worth on an exercise bike, perhaps some dramatic music can accompany this to help shift those pounds.
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I would prefer a reality show where mom with 2 young kids needs to go to work, clean the house, walk the dog AND lose weight.. sort of a normal way of life for most people. I don't enjoy watching people sweat on exercise bikes 3 hours a day and not doing anything else, that is not real and it is also kjndof boring.
Why noone ever makes real weight loss reality? Even if it was scripted, it would be much more interesting than just training and salad eating imho.
The "Extreme Weight Loss Makeover Edition" is probably the closest. They lose a lot in one year. For three months, the trainer lives with them, and they don't have to work or anything. The rest of the year they have to live their everyday lives and lose weight. One guy was homeless for awhile and still managed to lose a lot of weight.0 -
Start with the biggest people that have the biggest margin for error to see success.
But even doing it right with their time available can see huge results.
350 lb 40 yr male, 70 inches, 55% bf.
BMR is already 1930.
Do 900 min of walking a week.
600 min of cardio more vigorous than walking weekly.
600 min of weight lifting weekly. 4 x split routine.
So 35 hrs of exercise in a week.
TDEE - 5030.
You could eat 3200 calories daily, and still have a deficit of 36%, or 1800 calories, or 3.6 lbs of weight loss weekly.
Count the initial water weight, huge drop in initial weight.0 -
BUMP!!
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Last night's episode, they had actually been home for 2 weeks. Not sure what their food regimen is - of course at the end of the show the statement appears saying they're caloric intake is monitored by medical person, etc.
But you have to remember these people have taken leave of absences from work - even when they were home for 2 weeks so they have time to work out for 6 hours a day which we can't do in real life!0 -
In case no one has posted it:
http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/0 -
It's not real life.
A week on TV is not always actually a week.
They do have customised calorie goals. I have seen 1200-1500 mentioned for different people.
They Workout as much as 6 hours a day.
They put on weight before the programme starts.
They dehydrate in special suits before the weigh in to reduce water weight. They also sometimes wear more clothes during workout to sweat more. They then take them off for the cameras.
They often put weight back on afterwards
^^^this.
Reality TV doesn't really mean it's reality.
This.
No one should be comparing themselves to the biggest loser nor should they be thinking that is how you should be losing weight. They are not the healthiest in the world when they are on the show for the reasons mentioned above.
The main issue with the biggest loser is that I believe it promotes unhealthy views of weight loss for the average person. Sure, it is reality TV but in reality TV the producers show what they want and leave out a lot of the important behind the scenes things.0 -
I think there are quite a few people (professionals) who would disagree with you. Losing a couple pounds a week is still losing compared to the large #s they pull on the show and a lot of the benefit comes from the exercise itself not just the results.When the body is morbidly obese, it's healthier to take the weight off fast than to let the weight stay there and keep doing harm to the person.0 -
Not to mention the staff of doctors, massage therapists, chiropractic that are on staff... The ice bath and whirlpool soaks we don't necessarily get. The chefs preparing their meals properly with the RIGHT fats and healthy seasonings that it takes a while to master on your own. They are taken out of their day to day lives, you heard Dani talk last night about how hard it was going to be when the show is over, with working two jobs to fit in her workouts, food prep, and try to have a new found social life!!
IT'S NOT REALITY... REALITY = stress makes weight loss harder and we're all stressed out!! Use the show to say, "Good for them!" But I actually believe they've done a great job with the "Challenge America" program by coaching REAL LIFE activities, just GET OUT THERE AND MOVE, and WATCH WHAT YOU EAT... Bob, Jillian AND Dolvett have mentioned several times how frustrating it is that the contestants aren't happy unless they drop huge numbers, yet in the "real world" those (small to them) numbers would be OUTSTANDING results!!
No matter what, those contestants work their butts off, deserve their losses, and I hope they all go home and continue to push their comfort zones as athletes!! So if you want it.... GO GET IT YOURSELF!!0 -
I would prefer a reality show where mom with 2 young kids needs to go to work, clean the house, walk the dog AND lose weight.. sort of a normal way of life for most people. I don't enjoy watching people sweat on exercise bikes 3 hours a day and not doing anything else, that is not real and it is also kjndof boring.
Why noone ever makes real weight loss reality? Even if it was scripted, it would be much more interesting than just training and salad eating imho.
There was a show just like this here (New Zealand) a few years ago. It was called "DownSize Me" and it went for a couple seasons. Unfortunately, I can't find it anywhere online to watch : ( It was pretty good though, and they did just that, took normal people, and they gave them the tools etc to do it themselves. Some of the dialogue was hideously scripted and faked, but the general premise was good.
It was like, hey, you don't have the time or money to go to the gym? Here - make a circuit workout in your backyard!
It focused heaps more on health, like diabetes risk and fitness and so forth, than just weight. They'd lose anywhere from 5-12 kg over 12 weeks - so much more realistic!0 -
working out for 8 hours a day having someone screaming at you and then having a break down and crying like a B___ to dramatic music...0
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