Welcome to Debate Club! Please be aware that this is a space for respectful debate, and that your ideas will be challenged here. Please remember to critique the argument, not the author.
Biggest loser?
Replies
-
It's really a weight loss drama. The whole touchy feely "how did I get like this" with Bob is aggravating too. They ended up there due to *kitten* decision making. I actually enjoy the first few episodes where they are falling out and/or puking. It reminds me of basic training!
I do give them full props for signing up and trying though.
Why I make bad decisions regarding food has to be solved or all of this is for nothing as I will go right back to where I started.
Shouldn't be afraid of touchy feely. It can be helpful in many situations.1 -
It's really a weight loss drama. The whole touchy feely "how did I get like this" with Bob is aggravating too. They ended up there due to *kitten* decision making. I actually enjoy the first few episodes where they are falling out and/or puking. It reminds me of basic training!
I do give them full props for signing up and trying though.
Why I make bad decisions regarding food has to be solved or all of this is for nothing as I will go right back to where I started.
Shouldn't be afraid of touchy feely. It can be helpful in many situations.
It doesn't follow that knowing "why" you make poor decisions will make it that you'll start making good decisions.
Most of the "why's" that are trotted out have no logical connection to their behavior anyway, and strikes me as exploitative - Getting sad people to dish and blubber and air their dirty laundry on air for our amusement.1 -
Lourdesong wrote: »It's really a weight loss drama. The whole touchy feely "how did I get like this" with Bob is aggravating too. They ended up there due to *kitten* decision making. I actually enjoy the first few episodes where they are falling out and/or puking. It reminds me of basic training!
I do give them full props for signing up and trying though.
Why I make bad decisions regarding food has to be solved or all of this is for nothing as I will go right back to where I started.
Shouldn't be afraid of touchy feely. It can be helpful in many situations.
It doesn't follow that knowing "why" you make poor decisions will make it that you'll start making good decisions.
Most of the "why's" that are trotted out have no logical connection to their behavior anyway, and strikes me as exploitative - Getting sad people to dish and blubber and air their dirty laundry on air for our amusement.
I agree that the show exploits the people's emotions for amusement. It doesn't amuse me though.0 -
pixiestick wrote: »I used to feel motivated watching it, but I prefer extreme makeover now--mostly because the catty competitiveness and the artificial nature of the "week" sets unrealistic expectations.
That show isn't much better. They have had participants come out and talk about being put on VLCD's and dehydrating for weigh ins at the urging of producers. The Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover are actually created and produced by the same person.
Exactly. It's all ratings & money. And that Chris Powell seriously makes my skin crawl.
1 -
Has anyone read the recent study on these people post-loss? They all (but 1 person) gained back all they lost, and now have lowered metabolism Permanently!!! ..a double whammy…they are NOT burning 400-800 calories for the same excercise and calories as an average non-fat person, so they are now trapped for LIFE having to stick to low calories, and heavy excercise.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/health/biggest-loser-weight-loss.html?_r=1
http://www.dietdoctor.com/biggest-loser-fail-ketogenic-weight-loss-study-success
Seems the body fights hard to stay at the weight it was….that BL show is a short term dangle of diet success to desperate people who are willing to be shamed and puke their guts out in front of a camera.
I've learned many of the reality shows..like home remodel shows are a total acting job, the poor home owners hand over $100K and much of it goes to staging sets and paying the show's production expenses, the work is shoddy, and if you notice the show people are "perfect" and always charming and witty in speech, real people don't speak or act like that. (the behind the scenes folks-carpenters, etc. never say much, it is very scripted.)
1 -
Though I strongly believe in a free press, there are some shows that need warning labels. TBL is one of them. "This show abuses desparate human animals. It is not recommended to anyone with compassion."4
-
vivmom2014 wrote: »pixiestick wrote: »I used to feel motivated watching it, but I prefer extreme makeover now--mostly because the catty competitiveness and the artificial nature of the "week" sets unrealistic expectations.
That show isn't much better. They have had participants come out and talk about being put on VLCD's and dehydrating for weigh ins at the urging of producers. The Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover are actually created and produced by the same person.
Exactly. It's all ratings & money. And that Chris Powell seriously makes my skin crawl.
Love that guy! He's so energetic. Love how he jumps up on the stage at the finale, and also the fact that he seems to do all the races with his trainees - the ones on TV anyway hehehe0 -
KETOGENICGURL wrote: »Has anyone read the recent study on these people post-loss? They all (but 1 person) gained back all they lost, and now have lowered metabolism Permanently!!! ..a double whammy…they are NOT burning 400-800 calories for the same excercise and calories as an average non-fat person, so they are now trapped for LIFE having to stick to low calories, and heavy excercise.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/health/biggest-loser-weight-loss.html?_r=1
http://www.dietdoctor.com/biggest-loser-fail-ketogenic-weight-loss-study-success
Seems the body fights hard to stay at the weight it was….that BL show is a short term dangle of diet success to desperate people who are willing to be shamed and puke their guts out in front of a camera.
I've learned many of the reality shows..like home remodel shows are a total acting job, the poor home owners hand over $100K and much of it goes to staging sets and paying the show's production expenses, the work is shoddy, and if you notice the show people are "perfect" and always charming and witty in speech, real people don't speak or act like that. (the behind the scenes folks-carpenters, etc. never say much, it is very scripted.)
Sigh.3 -
MissusMoon wrote: »
Sigh.
Is there a reason you're sighing? Is there another thread devoted to this somewhere that I can't find? I'm new here and have also had the study on my mind, and can't believe it was only mentioned once in this thread.0 -
Scientifically, when weighing something versus something else, it's usually to determine density. So one compares equal VOLUME of materials against each other. So yes muscle does weigh more than fat.Wickedfaery73 wrote: »Muscle does not weigh more than fat. I wish people would quit saying that. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound fat. Weight = gravity's pull, Volume = space occupied
What sense does it make to compare a pound/kg against another pound/kg if trying to determine 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
1 -
I think you meant a cubic inch of muscle weighs MORE than a cubic inch of fat. I know you can't edit it anymore, diannethegeek.diannethegeek wrote: »Wickedfaery73 wrote: »Muscle does not weigh more than fat. I wish people would quit saying that. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound fat. Weight = gravity's pull, Volume = space occupied
Muscle does not take up less space than fat. I wish people would quit saying that. A cubic inch of muscle weighs less than a cubic inch of fat. Weight = gravity's pull, Volume = space occupied
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 1 -
I'm betting some do on the first workout. But, then again they likely edit that out.mommarnurse wrote: »MissusMoon wrote: »RaeBeeBaby wrote: »MissusMoon wrote: »What they do on the show? I think people are going to die. I think it's surprising they haven't.
You think people are going to die on the show? Or just die in general because they are morbidly obese?
Die because of the ridiculous level of exercise they are put through. Everything about the program is unsustainable.
I know they are being monitored by medical , but I always wonder how these people don't go into rhabdomyolysis.
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 0 -
I always wonder why do a marathon? Heck even many FIT people (like myself) would have a hard time. It's all for ratings.Traveler120 wrote: »Am I the only one who actually likes the show? The only thing that bugs me is when they make those obese people RUN on treadmills (And there's always one who falls off!) Why put such stress on their joints when they could get just as good a workout on an elliptical with low/no impact?
Well yes it is because when they go back to the real world, they aren't going to workout 4-6 hours a day. And I the majority of manual labor workers aren't obese to start with. If there is one, they are usually the supervisor telling everyone what to do.People say it's too hard and unsustainable. Well, they have nothing else to do all day so working out 4-6 hrs a day for a few months is not unreasonable. Construction workers and other hard manual laborers work all day long for years don't they?
That's the irony. What they learn is SO EXTREME and a complete 180 from what they were before, that it's unlikely they will revert to that lifestyle. Being taught that fast food, processed food is evil is disingenuous because it's likely the food they ate to get obese in the first place. The first time they re engage in that food again, do you think that they feel good about it after all the BS the BL tells them about it? So what happens? The mentality of failure and of course the likely attitude of "why bother". That's how it is with ALL diets and why the failure rate still is 90%.I don't see what's wrong with exercising hard for a few months in the luxury of the BL camp and learn how to implement lifestyle changes for the long term. Once they've lost majority of the weight at BL, they wouldn't need to workout so hard and would be able to maintain with an hour or so of daily exercise like most lean folks do. The problem of course is that most are regaining the weight because they didn't learn anything and went back to bad habits of overeating and not exercising.
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 4 -
MissusMoon wrote: »
Sigh.
Is there a reason you're sighing? Is there another thread devoted to this somewhere that I can't find? I'm new here and have also had the study on my mind, and can't believe it was only mentioned once in this thread.
Yes, there are dozens of articles and this has been discussed quite a bit. I understand you're new and my sigh wasn't a personal attack on you.
Here's just one: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10383563/dont-let-the-biggest-loser-article-be-an-excuse0 -
MissusMoon wrote: »MissusMoon wrote: »
Sigh.
Is there a reason you're sighing? Is there another thread devoted to this somewhere that I can't find? I'm new here and have also had the study on my mind, and can't believe it was only mentioned once in this thread.
Yes, there are dozens of articles and this has been discussed quite a bit. I understand you're new and my sigh wasn't a personal attack on you.
Here's just one: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10383563/dont-let-the-biggest-loser-article-be-an-excuse
Thank you very much- I didn't make that original post, I was just curious!1 -
I've been really surprised at just how much talk that article generated here and how people seemed worried about it, as the information isn't new (there were reports about the same thing back in 2009 and at various times since then), and -- more significantly -- the BL-style weight loss doesn't seem applicable to most people.1
-
Some contestants have kept the weight off!! It's a competition! The contestants know what they are getting themselves into when they sign up for the show! I myself am struggling to keep my weight off after losing 27 pounds I've gained some back but I'm fighting daily... For the 3rd time n the last 3 years of losing it!! And they get the proper nutrition and exercise information to keep the weight off. No one puts the food in their mouths to make them gain the weight back... They like us have to make healthier choices... Yes everything is hard quick or maybe unhealthy but the state some of them were living in were way worse! So u die from eating not from working out and learning a new eating lifestyle!1
-
That's because after dropping to normal weight levels they don't NEED to do that much exercise to maintain the weight loss. I used to exercise a lot more (in volume and intensity) when I was losing. Now, I only need 1hr/day of moderate intensity to maintain.Traveler120 wrote: »Am I the only one who actually likes the show? The only thing that bugs me is when they make those obese people RUN on treadmills (And there's always one who falls off!) Why put such stress on their joints when they could get just as good a workout on an elliptical with low/no impact?
Well yes it is because when they go back to the real world, they aren't going to workout 4-6 hours a day.People say it's too hard and unsustainable. Well, they have nothing else to do all day so working out 4-6 hrs a day for a few months is not unreasonable. Construction workers and other hard manual laborers work all day long for years don't they?
So, a high volume of exercise is certainly sustainable in the short term duration of the show because the purpose is to lose massive weights quickly. It's a perfectly good strategy that anyone can implement. Just because you can't do it forever doesn't mean you shouldn't do it all for a short time. It's like saying you shouldn't cut calories to 1200 for x months because it's unsustainable for the long term. Of course you can, you'll lose weight faster and then when you increase the calories, you'll either lose slower or maintain.0 -
KETOGENICGURL wrote: »Has anyone read the recent study on these people post-loss? They all (but 1 person) gained back all they lost, and now have lowered metabolism Permanently!!! ..a double whammy…they are NOT burning 400-800 calories for the same excercise and calories as an average non-fat person, so they are now trapped for LIFE having to stick to low calories, and heavy excercise.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/health/biggest-loser-weight-loss.html?_r=1
http://www.dietdoctor.com/biggest-loser-fail-ketogenic-weight-loss-study-success
Seems the body fights hard to stay at the weight it was….that BL show is a short term dangle of diet success to desperate people who are willing to be shamed and puke their guts out in front of a camera.
I've learned many of the reality shows..like home remodel shows are a total acting job, the poor home owners hand over $100K and much of it goes to staging sets and paying the show's production expenses, the work is shoddy, and if you notice the show people are "perfect" and always charming and witty in speech, real people don't speak or act like that. (the behind the scenes folks-carpenters, etc. never say much, it is very scripted.)
Um no. This article is complete bs. I'll explain. The guy did destroy his metabolism by losing so much weight so quickly but the article said if he eats more than 800 calories a day he will gain weight? As soon as i read that i knew it was total bs. First of all google other articles on the same study and you will see they said if he eats more than 800 LESS than the average resting metabolic rate for a man of his size (assuming 190 lbs at his lowest) he will gain weight. Well that is a big difference (average metabolic rate for 190 pound man of his age is around 1800 calories give or take. So 1800 minus 800 is 1000 calories not 800 calories. Also when you look at the total daily energy expenditure of a sedetary male of 190 pounds it is not 1800 it more like 2150 calories. So 2150 minus 800 is 1350 calories. So the guy burns approximately 1350 calories at sedetary level of activity even if his metabolism never recovered and he stayed 190 pounds. So if he excercised and burned 1000 calories a day everday he could eat 2350 calories a day and stay the same weight. That is hard but not unachievable. This article is terribly misleading especially since it is about one of the most extreme cases in history and even this guy could maintain his weight. Just gives people an excuse to regain weight.2 -
Many of the contestants kept the weight off, but many more fell back into their unhealthy habits. Its easy to lose weight while being secluded from real life duties and get to exercise 6-8 hours a day, but things get difficult when you're thrown back into real life. As for ruining their metabolism? The guy said he has to eat 800 calories to maintain his weight? I'd like to see what he's eating and if he's actually exercising. There was mention that his friends drink beer and don't gain weight, but if he drinks beer he gains 20lbs...well then, sorry, don't drink beer.
I'm actually enjoying a "fitness show" called Strong. They're focusing on bodyfat percentage and dress sizes for their female contestants.1 -
I think you meant a cubic inch of muscle weighs MORE than a cubic inch of fat. I know you can't edit it anymore, diannethegeek.diannethegeek wrote: »Wickedfaery73 wrote: »Muscle does not weigh more than fat. I wish people would quit saying that. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound fat. Weight = gravity's pull, Volume = space occupied
Muscle does not take up less space than fat. I wish people would quit saying that. A cubic inch of muscle weighs less than a cubic inch of fat. Weight = gravity's pull, Volume = space occupied
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
I did and noticed it just after the edit period had passed almost two weeks ago. Since no one had commented on it and it seemed to get my point across even with the typo, I figured it was best to leave it uncommented on. Seems I'll never stop being surprised by how tenacious people are here.0 -
It fosters the notion that weight loss and health are contests, and you have to do unhealthy things to win (meaning, attain the goals that the TV show producers think will sell advertising). Life isn't a reality show.
I consider it a weekly dose of evil B.S., but probably no more so than the constant quack diet loss programs, food fads, "magic" shakes, and TV "doctors" people constantly recommend in this forum.1 -
Read this:
http://nypost.com/2015/01/18/contestant-reveals-the-brutal-secrets-of-the-biggest-loser/
It's really over-edited to make a lot of contestants look like 'fat' whiny losers - many have permanent injuries from over-straining their morbidly obese bodies too far, and some even get other eating disorders from the weird regime and constant fat shaming and 'you're lucky to be here maggot, now cry then throw up for the cameras!' regime they are put through. Disgusting television.1 -
Here's an excerpt:
“One contestant had a torn calf muscle and bursitis in her knees,” Hibbard says. “The doctor told her, ‘You need to rest.’ She said, ‘Production told me I can’t rest.’ At one point after that, production ordered her to run, and she said, ‘I can’t.’ She was seriously injured. But they edited her to make her look lazy and bitchy and combative.”2 -
SizeTenByTeatime wrote: »Here's an excerpt:
“One contestant had a torn calf muscle and bursitis in her knees,” Hibbard says. “The doctor told her, ‘You need to rest.’ She said, ‘Production told me I can’t rest.’ At one point after that, production ordered her to run, and she said, ‘I can’t.’ She was seriously injured. But they edited her to make her look lazy and bitchy and combative.”
That's despicable.0 -
MissusMoon wrote: »
Sigh.
Is there a reason you're sighing? Is there another thread devoted to this somewhere that I can't find? I'm new here and have also had the study on my mind, and can't believe it was only mentioned once in this thread.
It's only permanent if they died......they haven't died so therefore they CANNOT say permanent.0 -
I believe the article shows the true prejudice we have in this country regarding the obese. It is interesting to note that usually an anorexic will be treated with empathy and concern but an obese person is seen as slothful, lazy and lacks willpower. The conversation needs to change in this country. As a society we have a food disorder which makes it very difficult to help the younger girls and women overcome poor body image. I found the article to show the total disregard for anyone who is fat treating them as a side show. What is most disgraceful is these trainers going along with it and using sub human language and bullying human beings to eat less than 800 calories a day. The show should not be renewed. I never watched it because I found it distasteful on many levels.2
-
I watched the early seasons, when it wasn't an hour long commercial for Planet Fitness, Subway, or whatever other product they're pushing these days. You also notice that the early seasons didn't have the extreme amounts of weight being lost every week either. I thought things were changing when they brought in Dolvett and Bob discovered weights, but it got worse.0
-
thefuzz1290 wrote: »Many of the contestants kept the weight off, but many more fell back into their unhealthy habits. Its easy to lose weight while being secluded from real life duties and get to exercise 6-8 hours a day, but things get difficult when you're thrown back into real life. As for ruining their metabolism? The guy said he has to eat 800 calories to maintain his weight? I'd like to see what he's eating and if he's actually exercising. There was mention that his friends drink beer and don't gain weight, but if he drinks beer he gains 20lbs...well then, sorry, don't drink beer.
I'm actually enjoying a "fitness show" called Strong. They're focusing on bodyfat percentage and dress sizes for their female contestants.
yes but they too dont tell us how much the contestants are eating, like if its low calorie or not. not to mention it says they lost X amount of fat and dress size and gained X amount of muscle,how are the gauging the muscle being built? they also dont say how much exercise they are doing per day either.not to mention those who lost and left the show had a trainer for the next year as well. whats going to happen when that year is up? wonder if they will gain it back or not. are the results they show from the year after having the trainer? or is it from just the time on the show?0 -
Yah biggest loser is nuts. In my opinion they should do it max half the rate at which the winners do. Like 2 to 3 hours of excercise a day and eat like max 2000 calories0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions