Biggest Looser - motivating or not?

2

Replies

  • turkeyhunter60
    turkeyhunter60 Posts: 319 Member
    It is motivating for me. Lots of times I find myself picking up my hand weights, or doing extra crunches or planks while watching the show, even though I have been to "boot camp" that day already. However, it IS unrealistic as 98% of us don't have the time or luxury of 24/7 10-12 weeks of only concentrating on fitness. There ARE jobs, kids, and other activities that go on.
  • jess6741
    jess6741 Posts: 107 Member
    I love the Biggest Loser. It's a show not real life so it doesn't upset me that I can't drop crazy numbers. However, I am really biased because I love Jillian. I attribute a large amount of my weight loss to her. I do her dvds 5 or 6 days a week.
  • wendybird5
    wendybird5 Posts: 577 Member
    I found it motivating, but not for the weight loss. Obviously if I could spend months sequestered away with my own personal trainer and all the time in the world to workout and all my food being bought for me, then, yes, I'd have done as well as they did, but it's not realistic at all. I did get some good workout tips and some food ideas though, which is always helpful.

    What did motivate me more was hearing their stories about how they got all that weight in the first place, all the things they were feeling and going through. I didn't feel quite so alone and watching them deal with those issues helped me work on my own. Sort of like private group therapy.

    And I know people complain that the trainers are mean, but for some people like me it helps to have someone else push me and call me on my bs when I slacking off. It doesn't work for everyone though so I get why some people don't like it.
  • bpotts44
    bpotts44 Posts: 1,066 Member
    I was watching the biggest looser recently - and seeing the 10 lb drops the women are logging in right now kind of made me feel ****ty about my weight loss. Now I realize that is sort of stupid because they are probably training 7 days a week 6 hours a day sort of deal - but it kind of worked on me a bit to see it. It isn't like they are doing something easy to get the weight off etc...but I was so demotivated after that. Did my workouts and did my food but felt a bit off.

    Back on my game today though...but found that result very interesting.

    NSV: Ran my personal best of my 5KM track time - 32 minutes (and even better my feet didn't hurt - plantar faciitis, my asthma was cooperating and wasn't feeling sluggish!

    Screw that show. If they cared about helping they would show what their diet plans are and how much lbm they are losing.
  • wendybird5
    wendybird5 Posts: 577 Member
    http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/

    Read this. It completely disturbed me.

    Thanks for sharing!
  • Jamcnair
    Jamcnair Posts: 586 Member
    I enjoy watching and it usually makes me want to get up and work hard too
  • icimani
    icimani Posts: 1,454 Member
    Nope.

    - I don't like seeing the contestants being berated all the time - there are better ways to motivate people
    - I don't think it's a healthy way to lose weight
    - I don't think they're being taught sustainable habits


    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/25/biggest-loser-contestants_n_370538.html

    http://www.today.com/id/40423712/site/todayshow/ns/today-entertainment/t/biggest-loser-where-are-they-now/
  • cryswest57
    cryswest57 Posts: 141 Member
    http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/

    Read this. It completely disturbed me.

    Thanks for sharing!

    I read it yesterday, and I still feel sick to my stomach about it. I pray this still isn't going on.
  • peckish_pomegranate
    peckish_pomegranate Posts: 242 Member
    Biggest Loser is disgusting and exploitative. They CHILDREN on there for pete's sake. I have no respect for Jillian Michaels because of it, and I won't buy any of her products.
  • RingSize8
    RingSize8 Posts: 175 Member
    I watch the show off an on, but have watched a lot this season. Typically, I don't find it motivational, or the opposite, I just think it's interesting. That being said, I had a lot of issues with the last episode (I think this is why I generally watch the beginning of the season and not the end), where they were back home. All of them seemed stressed out of their minds when put in a real life situation like eating out at a restaurant. One of the contestants literally said "this is the hardest moment of my life". Ordering dinner is the hardest moment of your life? Failure. When I saw that, all the contestants acting like they couldn't function while eating out, I was pretty disappointed. If they are not going to teach these people how to exist in the real world, of course they aren't going to be successful long term. If you can't comfortably sit down in a restaurant and order a meal, you're not living in reality, so I guess reality TV here is a misnomer here. That aspect of last weeks show just really bugged me, because I've generally enjoyed the show this season. I get that these people have been on deeply calorie restricted diets since being on the ranch (a term I hate using because it makes the contestants sound like they're farm animals), but that isn't going to last forever, nor should it. If the show isn't going to teach them how to realistically live beyond it's very sheltered environment, then it's basically wasting their time. Which, if you believe what people say about the contestants putting all their weight back on, is fairly accurate.
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    I don't find the biggest loser motivating at all. It is unrealistic and their trainers have endorsed some pretty stupid things that any good trainer wouldn't want their name one (Jillian Michaels cleanse and detox pills for example).

    The show doesn't promote healthy weight loss or proper eating and exercise. These people are forced to workout for hours a day. Their weeks are not 7 days long.. but longer. They get dehydrated before weigh ins. I really don't know why this show is still around.
  • CrazyTrackLady
    CrazyTrackLady Posts: 1,337 Member
    I've often wondered if any of those folks have ever had a heart attack while in between filming episodes. Sure, there is a doctor on staff, but I feel they are pushed too hard too quickly in. I also think that many morbidly obese people probably watch that show and decide they're going to go to drastic measures too in order to lose weight.
  • jenifr818
    jenifr818 Posts: 805 Member
    Biggest Loser is disgusting and exploitative. They CHILDREN on there for pete's sake. I have no respect for Jillian Michaels because of it, and I won't buy any of her products.

    I normally agree that the show is very exploitative, but I will give them credit, they have done very well with the kids this season. They are not weighed in, are not subject to nearly the same treatment as the adults (I don't think any of the trainers have raised their voices to the kids once, and for good reason. Can you imagine the national outrage if those kids were yelled or sworn at?), and the emphasis for them is on fun activities and sports to get fit, not just a number on a scale. I hope if they continue to bring minors on the show that they continue in that fashion.
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,788 Member
    I used to like it. It's just a overdramatized caricature of it's original concept.
  • _Tara_R
    _Tara_R Posts: 688 Member
    I love Biggest Loser! I find it very motivating. :)
  • crazybookworm
    crazybookworm Posts: 779 Member
    http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/

    Read this. It completely disturbed me.

    Thanks for sharing this. Very interesting!
  • Guamybear
    Guamybear Posts: 1,061 Member
    this is the first year I have watched and can't say those ladies that weigh less than I do look any skinnier than I do.. I think they drop the weight to fast and have lost a lot of lean body mass.
  • Rhonnie
    Rhonnie Posts: 506 Member
    It motivates me because if someone can work out that hard that weights twice my weight then so can I. It is also great so see where people lose the weight, the progression different body types go through. I don't get caught up in the numbers they drop every week, I know that is not realistic.
  • beckyboop712
    beckyboop712 Posts: 383 Member
    Well that kind of depends on the day. This past Monday, I had already done my run in the morning so I was watching happily, wolfing down thin mints (and still managed to stay in under my calorie goal). Last week however, I missed my Monday run so in the middle of it all, I started doing jumping jacks, and created my newest profile pic which is my current weight and my goal (or rather, where I was 5 years ago and want to get back to).
  • x3na1401
    x3na1401 Posts: 277 Member
    It makes me hungry
  • GingerBiscuit_19
    GingerBiscuit_19 Posts: 75 Member
    I do like biggest loser, but I do wonder whether they manage to keep it off though once they go back to normal lives?
  • dewsmom78
    dewsmom78 Posts: 498 Member
    This year I think it is interesting that the one guys brother has lost 95 lbs at home- when he lost only 8 lbs more. Is it worth dealing with Jillian screaming in your face. I thought she was horrible this season- guess that is why she lost all the contestants except 1.

    I like the show but Jillian annoys the crap out of me. I even hit the MUTE button during the 30 Day Shred DVD so I dont' have to listen to her. :laugh:
  • lessofkimberly
    lessofkimberly Posts: 98 Member
    I enjoy the biggest loser because the trainers often have great tips. I like watching how they train and sometimes try to emulate what they do when I go to the gym. But reality is, my asthma...I have had it since I was about 10 doesnt always cooperate and sometimes turning the knob up on the treadmill to 5 or 6 makes me have to reach for my inhalor. I just dont understand how those people who have medical issues dont die on set. You have to listen to your body and a trainer screaming at you isnt going to change the fact that I have asthma. Anyway. It is also not reality for most people to dedicate 7 days a week 8 hours a day to exercise, gym and physical activity, so to drop 10 pounds is just not going to happen for me. I am happy when I drop point 5 pounds. LOL Take it all in stride. A loss is a loss no matter how fast it comes off. Keep plugging away.
  • blondemom1979
    blondemom1979 Posts: 64 Member
    I think it can be unrealistic and discouraging at times..
    This^^ plus how on earth can it be healthy to take obese people and work them so hard, its a wonder no one has had a heart attack! If that Jillian Micheals spoke to me the way she speaks to some of the contestants I would be flipping her up the gym not the tractor tire :D
  • celebrity328
    celebrity328 Posts: 377 Member
    What really gets my panties in a knot is this: What exactly am I learning by watching the show? They never say what nutrition/how they are eating. They exercise for hours a day, Personal trainers, doctors, and other professionals monitoring them everyday. You never find out if the weight loss is LBM or actual weight. To me the show is just a form of product placement and unrealistic weight loss that can not be maintained in the real world. I also dont like the attitude of how the BLer is saving their lives and if they leave the ranch they will fail or not be able to lose the weight, its almost border line abusive imo!
  • hampstenj
    hampstenj Posts: 85 Member
    I do like biggest loser, but I do wonder whether they manage to keep it off though once they go back to normal lives?

    some of them have, some of them have gained a lot of it back actually...

    I wish they would give us more of the nutrition advice that they give the contestants, Yeah they exercise for hours at the ranch, but are highly supervised with doctors and other trainers as well, if you ask me a lot of the weight loss is water, but when you see Joe's twin brother losing that much at home it is inspiring that you don't need to go to the ranch to get healthier... that's just my feeling.. I watch it weekly though, it HAS helped me in getting started in my journey but it's not that big of a motivation to me.. I get enough of that from my MFP friends :happy:
  • MightyDomo
    MightyDomo Posts: 1,265 Member
    I don't find it motiviating but I do find it entertaining.
  • becky6m
    becky6m Posts: 108 Member
    I watched it for the first time ever this week. (a lot of my MFP buddies watch so i gave it a try) seeing those numbers upset me. I couldn't believe they have been on the ranch for 9 weeks and some have lost 110+ pounds????? Made me wonder why I get excited about 2lbs loss in a week. LOL. I probably wont watch it again, but I feel ya.
  • DaBigChief
    DaBigChief Posts: 146
    It inspires me...even though,like most things we see on tv, is unrealistic in our everyday life. It's still exciting to see people making a positive change in their life.
  • LaurenVamp
    LaurenVamp Posts: 74 Member
    http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/
    http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/16/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-2-of-3/
    http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/23/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-3-of-3/



    Read the above interviews from a former finalist and I promise you won't feel "sh**y" anymore.

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