Biggest Loser is back! :(

It's a terrible show. Fat people killing themselves for hours in the gym while some psychologist wannabe PT screams in their face and goads fat people to air their dirty laundry and mental issues on television for our entertainment.

The weigh-in is ok. The lack of focus on diet, and the hyper focus on working out your body and your 'issues' is an annoying and tiresome spectacle.

It's sick. A lot of contestants end up worse off than when they went in mentally. Eating disorders, body dysmorphia, knowing the public is watching and waiting for the weight to come back...I've read the horror stories of the behind-the-scenes. You can't talk to your family. You can't be alone in your room. You don't drink and work out for six hours just to drop water weight for the big weigh in. Wanting to leave and asserting as much, but being told by producers about how lucky you are to be there, how people would kill to be in your shoes, how many people are dying from their obesity and you're going to be such an inspiration for them all while being immensely miserable for the public's pleasure.

Those people don't understand what good and healthy habits are. They just do what they're told until it's over.

True. Good thought!

Its horrible, just another excuse to exploit fat people

I haven't watched today's episode (have it on record)... but I find it motivating in some ways. I don't like the throwing up parts, nor the yelling/belittling, but I do like seeing the results they get, especially after rough weeks. Now yeah, some people could go to extremes with it, but let's face it, it's a reality show - meaning, in real life people don't typically HAVE 4-6 hours a day to work out (and even if they did, they likely wouldn't do it anyway) - nor is it smart to without supervision. (Remember, these people have a big crew of medical personnel etc. hiding behind the cameras to make sure everyone's ok).

No, I don't think it's anything people should use to encourage eating disorders or anything like that - but I do think it can be motivational to actually see results, and I love seeing the transformations as the weeks go on.

Whether you're a biggest loser fan or not - there is a book called "Where did all the fat go"? by the Dr. on the show (Probably not spelling it right, but it's Dr. Huizenga?)

I've read it several times to keep motivated when I need it too - he explains the ins and outs of the show/weight loss, the truths of it, and how real people can actually lose weight at home - without killing yourself, and without starving yourself. He even admits that some of the weeks aren't actual weeks but longer, and also that when they did the "at home" group (Don't recall how many seasons ago, but it was when they did the States editions) - that most of them lost just as much weight if not more, being at home and doing 1.5-2 hours a day, than the ones on the show working out 2-3 times that. (Far less injuries obviously holding them back because they weren't killing themselves).

The book is good, even funny at parts. (I bought it on Amazon - not pushing anything here, just a fun/good read with practical information ANYONE can use)

Sorry for rambling lol - but in short, yeah, I like the show for the motivation / transformation more towards the end AND I admit, I like some of the stories - as someone who has gone through stuff that some on the show have had to deal with like the loss of a child, I can relate very personally - to see how they cope with issues can be helpful. Not always mind you, but sometimes.

For me, it's on record... I watch it when I need to catch up on my ironing LOL

Tooooo much forced crying just for TV ratings

The working out part, I don't like. It's not motivational to me. I don't want to be yelled at and screamed at and called names and talked to like crap for entertainment. I find their stories inspirational. That's why I watch it. I can care less about the working out part. I grow to love the contestants as individual human beings. Their journeys and stories. As they are losing the weight and some of them break down in tears, I cry as well. It's a nice show besides the fact that most of them gain back the weight because hey we're going at such a high intensity that once revise cameras cut off, there is no Jill and Bob. Or whomever is on the show now.

When I first changed my lifestyle around 7 years ago, I started by logging everything I ate, running and watching all the seasons of the biggest looser I could find. There was a lot of fast forwarding through the emotional talks which didn't really inspire me, but I loved seeing the transformations. Definitely motivated me, even if I know the format is not the way to a permanent healthy weight loss.

It's a "diet" program with about the same success rate as most diets.............10%. That's why only about 20 or so BL alumni are ever shown when there's been well over 250 contestants. Even previous winners have regained a significant amount of weight.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I don't think people are that stupid.

You have way more faith in humanity than I do

I watched a few episodes in the past, but I just couldn't get into it, its bogus and dramatic and unrealistic in my opinion.

The constant exercise isn't something you could do if you had other things to do - namely work. But the diet is a healthy one.