ABC's Extreme Weight Loss

I definitely agree. They are showing real people with real lives. Its more relatable cuz lets face it. We dont all have the income to be at workout camps 8 hours a day.

I guess I'm going to be the oddball here and say I don't like the show for 2 reasons:

1. SEVERELY unrealistic and dangerous weight loss goals. 100+ pounds in 3 months? And if they fall a couple pounds short of the goal its treated like a failure? Really???

2. The constant crying. All the time. I realize things get emotional sometimes but damn. Every second of the last show was constant blubbering (Bruce I think?) And yes I know he had traumatic events as a kid. But you know what , so did I and lots of other people but they aren't blubbering messes every day. Grow the hell up. Seriously. He's a grown man. I found it to be very annoying and distracting from the purpose of the show.

Okay now everyone can get angry with me! :laugh:

Love this show!!

LOL! Rays_Wife, I'm not angry at'cha but I think it's funny that you mentioned the Bruce Pticher episode since that particular episode has become a major source of inspiration for me since it first aired a week and a half ago. Yes, I think losing over 100 lbs in three months is a major feat and wonder about the tactics used to achieve that. But I also noticed that they slow the weight loss goals as they get closer to their ideal weight, that there is plenty of medical staff on hand if an issue comes up (Bruce mentioned that he had weekly therapy sessions, was encouraged to stop exercising when he had a concussion, and saw a doctor when he experienced problems) and think that having 100 extra pounds on one's body might be just as hard on it as losing it in 3 months. Just like the behind-the-scenes medical aspects of the show is glazed over, so are the diets but that is because the show is geared to be more inspirational than informative. I like the show since it makes me feel good to see others achieve their goals & is a reminder that we can all achieve our goals, even those that may seem impossible, as well.

Most episodes are pleasant to watch but don't inspire me like the Bruce Pitcher episode did. The episode speaks volumes about the beauty of forgiveness, the strength in vulnerability, and the power of positive thinking and self-love. You might see Bruce as being a blubberer, but I saw him as being strong enough to expose his weaknesses so that he can get help and finally let it go. And since he such a positive person and a strong motivator of others, I doubt he cries all the time and am sure that the episode just highlighted his most emotional moments.

Bruce's transformation made me realize that so many of us hide behind something (whether it be fat, sarcasm, cockiness, refusal to participate in activities, intolerance for others, or something else) out of fear of exposing our own fears, weaknesses and vulnerabilities to others. When we do this too much, we put ourselves in danger of being suffocated or even crushed by the walls that we built. Bruce was hiding behind food and eating and, at 382 pounds, was slowly killing himself with his own weight. There IS power in breaking down those walls, facing and embracing our fears and opening ourselves up to others and to new experiences.

For those of you who haven't watched it, you can see it here and let us know what you think: http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-weight-loss/episode-guide/season-04/404-bruce

I Love this show.. Far more than BL

Bruce's Episode was probably my favorite ever for this show.

I like that they are learning for the first portion, then are sent home to do it while living their lives. I also LOVE the fact that should I miss an Episode I am not playing catch up because it is one person a week and not a running saga of shows.

I think it is important to show the Abuse or other reasons why they gained the weight. I am sure others who have had similar situations can relate and possibly put them on the right path to taking care of themselves.

If I had a choice I would choose Chris/Heidi Powell to train with in a heartbeat,. I love Jillian Michaels also but the Powell's seem so much more down to earth. I follow them both on Facebook and they post real life stuff about them and their 4 adorable kiddos. As well as your normal motivational stuff.

I have mixed feelings about the show. I have lost over 200 pounds and maintained a healthy weight for over a year now. I think the show can serve as a motivation for some people. It is tons better than the Biggest Loser. Chris seems genuine and has some good tips. On the one hand, here are a few issues that I have with the show.

1. Losing weight too fast.
I think the goals are too unrealistic. When a person fails to meet the "goal" even by a few pounds, Chris asks "What happened?" Hey, if you lost 90 pounds in 90 days, that is awesome. Keep up the good work. Be positive.

2. Extreme workouts.
I think some of the workouts are too extreme, especially in the first three months. There are serious injuries on the show that could be avoided. The way Chris kept pushing the one-armed kid who fell off the bike seemed cruel. At first, start slow with walking or swimming and light weight training. Then work your way up to more intense workouts.

3. Skin removal surgery.
If you lose weight over a longer period of time and don't lose the weight so fast, there is less need for skin removal surgery. Also, most reputable plastic surgeons will want the person who is having skin removal surgery to maintain their goal weight for at least six months. I lost over 200 pounds over about 2 years and have minimal loose skin.

4. Fat shaming/inconsistent weigh-ins.
The producers show people with their shirts off on the first weigh-ins but they don't show the contestants with their shirt off in the final weigh in. This is a form of fat shaming that I think is not healthy. Be consistent on whether the shirt comes off for weigh-ins. I would say keep the shirt on for all weigh-ins but fat shaming helps ratings I guess.

5. Focus more in diet/nutrition.
I wish the show would focus more on the diet and what the people are eating. Weight loss is more about nutrition than exercise. I think exercise is more important with maintaining a healthy weight. I worked out 2-4 hours a day when I was losing weight but I know that nutrition and portion control are what really counts. You can work out 4 hours a day but still not lose any weight if you still eat too much. I liked the one episode where Chris ate McDonald's for breakfast and got sick. I would like to see food and exercise journals on the show's website.

I really like Chris Powell. I have a couple of his books and "On Demand" his show when I need inspiration to get my fat butt to the gym. Extreme Weight Loss is a great show IMHO. No one gets voted off. I hate Biggest Loser because of the voting off issue. It seemed the people who need to stay in the program/on the show the most are the ones who get the boot.

Normally I hate reality shows with the white hot intensity of a thousand suns. The commercials for any of the "Housewives" shows makes me want to barf. Some folks say that the EWL is fake - but how does that affect you? Even if it is fake, seeing the amazing transformation of an individual physically and emotionally is inspiring. Sure the weight loss is intense and there is skin removal surgery involved; however, it seems that the participants needed to do something radical at that point in their lives.

Not sure if anyone watched last night, but that was a my buddy from high school on there. Pretty cool.