Thoughts on the biggest loser?

311Phil
311Phil Posts: 397
in Chit-Chat
Just curious to see what everyone thinks of the show.
«13

Replies

  • mrsamanda86
    mrsamanda86 Posts: 869 Member
    I love it because I enjoy the heck out of Jillian. It definitely isn't realistic and probably gives some people unrealistic expectations when losing weight, but whatever. That's their issue. I love competitive type reality tv so yeah...Plus Dolvett and Bob are very pretty to look at :)
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    It's a terrible, damaging show.

    http://www.bodylovewellness.com/2010/06/09/kai-hibbard-biggest-loser-finalist-part-1-of-3/
  • TattedInStilettos
    TattedInStilettos Posts: 332 Member
    I want to be a contestant...
  • nimbi
    nimbi Posts: 27
    I wouldn't be surprised if they killed a contestant one day.
  • xmysterix
    xmysterix Posts: 114 Member
    I think the people on that show need a lot of therapy before anything else.

    Also, I used to manage some sideshow performers and it reminds me of what freakshows used to be a long time ago, exploitation and ridicule under the guise of entertainment.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I think the show is dangerous and borders on bullying.

    No one needs to exercise that hard to be healthy. A solid workout shouldn't make you vomit. And the challenges that play mind-game with contestants (like eat as many cupcakes as you can, and get an advantage!) are no way to learn healthy habits.

    I would love to see the show pulled from the air. It is not entertainment and it is not healthy.
  • Anita_hoar12345
    Anita_hoar12345 Posts: 82
    the cookbooks have nice recipes
    They don't need to be so mean to the people on the show. I used to watch it all the time when it first started but I don't like when they are yelling at people who are trying their best to lose weight.
  • candiceh3
    candiceh3 Posts: 379 Member
    Awful awful awful show. Unhealthy to the max.
  • graceire
    graceire Posts: 323 Member
    Hate it.
  • GradatimFerociter
    GradatimFerociter Posts: 296 Member
    I do watch it, but I'm not under and illusions regarding the nature of the results. It is more about seeing people training - I find it gently motivating. I'm sure the show does sell the myth that there is a simple panacea for our sadness, our insecurities and the things in our lives we wish were different (that panacea being drastic, swift weight loss). At the end of the day though everyone has a right to make their own decisions and nobody is forced to go on the show. It is probably exploitative and it is potentially dangerous but in the age of the internet people are able to equip themselves with as much or as little knowledge as they want so if knowing adults want to take the opportunities afforded them by participation in the show - such as they are - I probably think they should be allowed to do so.

    This all being said, I would obviously favour greater transparency and regulation.
  • kiwidrop
    kiwidrop Posts: 222 Member
    I'm torn on the show. I don't watch it because it bothers me, but I've seen a few episodes. It really gets to me because I don't like the public weigh-ins, getting kicked off for not losing fast enough, the super intense workouts, the way it appears contestants don't receive on-going support after leaving the show, etc. BUT, that is the encouragement, embarrassment, and pushing that some people need to lose the weight. I'm truly believe in whatever works for you and keeps you healthy is the best, but........... I couldn't do it.
  • baldzach
    baldzach Posts: 1,841 Member
    I watch it for workout / exercise ideas. :)
  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    There is worse trash on tv that is for sure.. reality tv is by far the dumbest form of entertainment on tv. I just find it funny when people join this site and quit when they find out they don't lose 10 lbs in a week.
  • Victoria2448
    Victoria2448 Posts: 559 Member
    I think the show is dangerous and borders on bullying.

    No one needs to exercise that hard to be healthy. A solid workout shouldn't make you vomit. And the challenges that play mind-game with contestants (like eat as many cupcakes as you can, and get an advantage!) are no way to learn healthy habits.

    I would love to see the show pulled from the air. It is not entertainment and it is not healthy.

    I agree!
  • djshari
    djshari Posts: 513 Member
    I dislike it - and reality shows like it in the sense that they take 30 minutes of footage and drag it out to 45. The moments leading up to weigh ins or dramatic moments consist of filler shots of people's faces and dramatic music and then JUST before something happens they cut to commercial. Then after the commercial they show the last 2-3 minutes of footage before getting to the point. I find it incredibly annoying even when watching on Netflix where there are no commercials.

    Also the unrealistic side of it that people above have already pointed out.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    seen one episode didnt like it. Hated the way it sets up the expectations, hated the way it was like everything else in media a quick fix to a long term problem.

    I like the way BBC does this type of programming. My favorite shows are Secret Eater and Supersize vs. superskinny
  • krisiepoo
    krisiepoo Posts: 710 Member
    I think if it helps a single person make a change in their life it's worth it. Sometimes it takes shows like this (no matter how unrealistic) for someone to say, hey! if that person is as big as I am and they can do that, so can I!

    I don't watch it, but only because I'm in school at night while working during the day so even if I had a DVR I wouldn't have the time :)
  • Brige2269
    Brige2269 Posts: 354 Member
    They pick overweight people who have never exercised or even walked. Ones who have never tried. Makes for a better show when they cry and barf. :ohwell:

    If any of us who have worked out before and are use to it, tried out, they would never pick us, cos we would be too boring! :laugh:
  • taylorwaylor
    taylorwaylor Posts: 417 Member
    I love it! Its so motivating and i just love seeing people lose weight... That show usually makes me cry lol. They might not be losing it the best way, but they are learning how to be more healthy than they were!
  • T_Roc
    T_Roc Posts: 65 Member
    no problem with it
  • Dancing_Laeti
    Dancing_Laeti Posts: 752 Member
    It's a terrible, damaging show.

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

    This is one of the most shocking things I've ever read I think.
    Thanks for sharing and giving me (us?) something to think about.
  • ash8184
    ash8184 Posts: 701 Member
    My bariatric surgeon HATES the show for a lot of reasons, but one thing he pointed out that I guess I didn't even realize is the play on "the biggest loser". How can someone who is overweight feel good enough about themselves to try to lose weight if they think so negatively of themselves?

    I think it's inspirational, but unrealistic. If your job is to get/stay in shape, it's realistic. If you have a real, paying job (most of us do), you can't spend 6+ hours in the gym every day. Then, when contestants finish, they have a really hard time maintaining.

    If you watch Ali Vincent's show, she talks about how much she has gained since she left. I think it would be great to see the show taper the contestants in to a sustainable lifestyle at the end of the show instead of showing them at their very peak, knowing they're going to gain 20, 30, 40+lbs back when they get back to real life.
  • Jessica1173
    Jessica1173 Posts: 62 Member
    Just curious to see what everyone thinks of the show.

    I really like the new season. It is much better than last season and the season before. It actually seems to be inspiring again. I am not a fan of Jillian but I really like the cast, Allison, Dolvett, and Bob.

    As far as the results, more people who are on the Biggest Loser maintain their weight than those who just lose it on their own.

    I don't think working out 4-6 hours a day and eating a small amount of calories is any more unhealthy than overeating and not getting much exercise at all. I don't think the biggest loser lifestyle is actually that unhealthy to do on the show with support from medical doctors and an emergency response team. They do push the contestants a little too hard in the beginning on the show but after a while it seems okay. If they broke in the contestants a little more gently I could not really critique what they are doing. The other problem I have is that I think they should keep all of the contestants all season. I don't like voting people off when they are just trying to get healthy. I think they can support the contestants with food and boarding costs during the show. I know that is idealistic but I would like it better if they did this.
  • heylookitsval
    heylookitsval Posts: 1,141 Member
    It's unrealistic and filled with blatant product placements.
  • RunWinterGarden
    RunWinterGarden Posts: 428 Member
    I love it and I'm very happy that they moved it down to an hour this season, much less crying.
  • tmm_0127
    tmm_0127 Posts: 545 Member
    I find it really entertaining and I -love- seeing the progress people make, it motivates me to keep going.

    I realize there's a lot more to the show than most people know, and the conditions aren't exactly great... but I still love it. >_>
  • Cindyinpg
    Cindyinpg Posts: 3,902 Member
    It's a terrible, damaging show.

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

    This is one of the most shocking things I've ever read I think.
    Thanks for sharing and giving me (us?) something to think about.
    Kai is a sore loser. She clearly enjoyed every minute of being on a reality tv show, then it takes her seven years (?) to speak up about how awful of an experience it was. Sorry, I'm not buying it. There are many other contestants, more famous than her, who only speak well of the experience.
  • KokowithaK
    KokowithaK Posts: 88 Member
    It's a terrible, damaging show.

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

    Thank you for sharing! I've never been a fan of reality TV (anyone remember Bridalplasty???) but this just goes on to show just how poisonous it really is. The people on that show are bullied and made to believe their self worth is based on numbers on a scale. It's brainwashing.
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
    bullying? lol everything is bullying these days. a lot of these contestants are on deaths door. anything that can get them motivated is a good thing.
  • jeansuza
    jeansuza Posts: 148 Member
    I hate it. Too humiliating and too much bullying. It is a show and as such, the goal is not really to help people but to make money by reaching an ever larger audience and selling commercial time. I am against this exploitation of people that suffer from the same problem I have even if they volunteered. After years of buying products and paying specialists and getting no results in the long term, I promised myself never to make someone "fat" with my "bacon"...

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