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Fat/Fit shows
Replies
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BurlzGettingFit wrote: »SiegfriedXXL wrote: »Here's my stock answer:
In my opinion, it's a modern-day freakshow. I don't mean that to be unkind to the people involved in it, but that's the purpose of the people who make and produce these kinds of reality TV.
In today's freakshows you're not supposed to gape like yokels at the people on exhibit. That's so early 20th century. Instead you're supposed to be moved to pity, or outrage, or whatever emotion the producers wish to foster.
In my opinion, of course.
^^This^^ So much this. It takes a serious national problem and turns it into a spectacle to gawk at and shore up the esteem of viewers but assuages their conscience by saying "Look, we're helping these folks lose weight by heaping abuse on them in an unrealistic situation and system that they'll be unable to maintain once they leave us."
You can't place all the blame on the creators and producers though. Those people sign on and after how many years of the shows being on television now know what they're getting themselves into.
I thought that comment was placing most of the blame on the people watching.
Watchers motivate advertisers, who fund and energize creators and producers, which results in more of this manipulated, unrealistic, unhealthful, voyeuristically-slanted nonsense being available for viewers. Even if the participants sign on with full knowledge - people will do anything for money, judging from the scope of reality shows in general - I'm not an enthusiast.
At first, I watched 'Biggest Loser' when it was first on, until I heard how the participants were being manipulated and used, and understood what a bad example the show was for average people. We see folks posting here regularly who think they're losing weight "so slowly" at 2-3 pounds a week, and think they have to starve themselves and exercise like maniacs, or they're failures.
So wrong, in so many ways. But JMO. I'd rather spend my time on something positive or productive.
Well, in all fairness, I think this is a cultural phenomenon and many people share the credit. In order to make a reality show like those we are discussing, you need:
- (Willing) participants
- Producers
- Networks
- Viewers
If you lack any of these things, you don't have a show. I think that these contributors share culpability, but some get more of the blame than others. The stars of the show get some blame, but they may be people in dire circumstances in need of the money or the help to lose weight. The viewers also get some of the blame - if there weren't an appetite for these kinds of shows, they wouldn't get made. Personally I think that much of the blame lies with the producers and the network, though. They are the ones with the most invested in it, and they are the ones who actually do the work to make the show. They most actively chose to be involved with these kinds of shows as their career, when they could have chosen to do something else.
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I watch My 600 lb Life more as a cautionary tale. As much as I love food, and hate working out, I could absolutely see myself getting there. Watching it and seeing how difficult their lives are reminds me why I need to keep trying.2
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Big fan of this one: http://www.aetv.com/shows/fit-to-fat-to-fit
Trainers stuff their faces for a month so they can lose weight with their clients.
Eagerly awaiting Season 2.2 -
jennypapage wrote: »I LOVE watching my 600 lb life! It drives me nuts though when the people think the surgery will do everything for them and they don't have to make an effort. I wish in one episode Dr. N would have the person lose 50 lbs (like usual) for the surgery but then say another 50, and another and so on. I yell at the screen a lot when the people say "I can't lose weight" I'm like "you just lost like 50lbs!!!"
i always wonder why none of these people ever back down from the surgery after they lose those 50lbs before the surgery. Obviously they can do it, with the surgery done they will still have to follow a miserable diet for the rest of their lives,possible surgery complications, and regaining the weight is always a big possibility.So, when they see that they can lose weight if they stick with it, and they can move a bit easier,why not postpone the surgery and try on their own? Unless there are people,but they don't air the episodes.
I'll guarantee there are some.
However, most are so focused on the goal of getting to surgery that I bet they don't even consider that they might be able to manage without. At the point they're heavy enough to be on the show they'd be pretty well conditioned (and with good reason) to think that there's no other option.0 -
menotyou56 wrote: »My wife and I are My 600lbs Life junkies. It's like Scared Straight for us LOL. I always pull for the folks and then get pissed at them when they fudge the diet. Then I look in the mirror and say, well what about you, hmm??I LOVE watching my 600 lb life! It drives me nuts though when the people think the surgery will do everything for them and they don't have to make an effort. I wish in one episode Dr. N would have the person lose 50 lbs (like usual) for the surgery but then say another 50, and another and so on. I yell at the screen a lot when the people say "I can't lose weight" I'm like "you just lost like 50lbs!!!"
i could literally binge (haha) on my 600-lb. life. while i do this with all people, i like to see where people gain their weight and it's interesting to me to see those who have smaller legs but giant stomachs and vice versa. ANYWAY... also genuinely interested in their backstories and their struggles/progress throughout it all. it's maddening to see those whom are in total denial about following their diet; i get invested and really want them to succeed! ooooh then there was that crazy one with the twins!
ss vs ss is only entertaining to me when they're in the food clinic eating each other's meals and insulting each other. otherwise, feel like once you've seen one, you've seen them all. dr. christian is nice to watch, though.1 -
I think there's gotta be a special place in hell for people who make money by exploiting the misery of other human beings.6
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Here's my stock answer:
In my opinion, it's a modern-day freakshow. I don't mean that to be unkind to the people involved in it, but that's the purpose of the people who make and produce these kinds of reality TV.
In today's freakshows you're not supposed to gape like yokels at the people on exhibit. That's so early 20th century. Instead you're supposed to be moved to pity, or outrage, or whatever emotion the producers wish to foster.
In my opinion, of course.
Hear Hear!
Spot on observation. These shows are an extension of Jerry Springer - celebration of mediocrity/suffering.1 -
My. two cents, not real world.0
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I liked Supersize vs SuperSkinny when they had that food tube thing and spent more time in the clinic. it was always interesting to see each participant deal with the portions. Secret Eaters was fascinating as well.
I liked Fit to Fat to Fit.
I watched BL the first season but didn't watch after that. I did watch a couple seasons of Extreme Weightloss. I've seen some episodes of Heavy and 600 Pound Life. I don't like that show with Whitney because I find her to be annoying.
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I really like the extreme makeover with the trainer Chris Powell. He seems so genuine and shows that through hard work it is possible. He doesn't just focus on the weight loss side, but also looks at their emotional needs too and helps his clients heal at the same time.
I've watched a lot my 600 pound life-. I don't think it really pushes me to work out, but it's nice to watch it give more freedom to those who continue to lose weight. But it does bug me when the individual complains that they're not losing any weight, yet they haven't changed their old life style at all.2 -
I don't mind those shows, if the person is trying to lose weight.
However, I don't like the show with the girl who was glamourizing her obesity. I think it's called my big fat fabulous life or something like that. I never watched it and saw commercials. She said she was average weight til college and gained a lot. I just don't think that's healthy and at times wondered if she gained weight in order to DO the show and get famous off of her weight gain. But who knows. Either way I don't like that show and I don't like any show that tries to make being overweight or obese look good. It's not good for any body no matter if they got that way by eating too much or were born that way. It's just not healthy for that individual.0 -
jennypapage wrote: »i always wonder why none of these people ever back down from the surgery after they lose those 50lbs before the surgery. Obviously they can do it, with the surgery done they will still have to follow a miserable diet for the rest of their lives,possible surgery complications, and regaining the weight is always a big possibility.So, when they see that they can lose weight if they stick with it, and they can move a bit easier,why not postpone the surgery and try on their own? Unless there are people,but they don't air the episodes.
I've wondered that same thing!!! If they had the will power to lose that 50 lbs or so in order to do the weight loss surgery then why can't they continue to lose weight on their own. I think a lot of it is in the individual's mind that they think they can't do it when in fact they can do it and they prove it by losing that 50 lbs or so.
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perkymommy wrote: »I don't mind those shows, if the person is trying to lose weight.
However, I don't like the show with the girl who was glamourizing her obesity. I think it's called my big fat fabulous life or something like that. I never watched it and saw commercials. She said she was average weight til college and gained a lot. I just don't think that's healthy and at times wondered if she gained weight in order to DO the show and get famous off of her weight gain. But who knows. Either way I don't like that show and I don't like any show that tries to make being overweight or obese look good. It's not good for any body no matter if they got that way by eating too much or were born that way. It's just not healthy for that individual.
Having watched her show (all of it), she makes being super morbidly obese look anything but fabulous. So far we have seen her unable to ride a bicycle, unable to stand up on level ground on a pair of skis, unable to dance an entire song, unable to walk in a parade, unable to shave her own legs, unable to stay on her feet for an entire baseball game, unable to complete a dance marathon without having to go to the emergency room, unable to pick up a bottle of shampoo without throwing out her back, unable to perform even basic dance moves, unable to fit into a Mazda Miata (they had to put the top down), unable to walk a 5K in under an hour, and unable to fit in an airplane seat.
I'm sure there's been more that I've forgotten, and I'm still rather angry at her, TLC and the stable that actually let her sit on a horse. It's cruel to the horse, since that horse was around 1000 lbs (based on breed) and should never carry more than 20% of its own weight including rider and tack on its back.6 -
All these shows are terrible, brain-sucking fluff. But every overweight person who claims to only eat 1200 calories per day (99% of Tumblr, IOW) should watch Secret Eaters. It could be enlightening.5
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perkymommy wrote: »I don't mind those shows, if the person is trying to lose weight.
However, I don't like the show with the girl who was glamourizing her obesity. I think it's called my big fat fabulous life or something like that. I never watched it and saw commercials. She said she was average weight til college and gained a lot. I just don't think that's healthy and at times wondered if she gained weight in order to DO the show and get famous off of her weight gain. But who knows. Either way I don't like that show and I don't like any show that tries to make being overweight or obese look good. It's not good for any body no matter if they got that way by eating too much or were born that way. It's just not healthy for that individual.
She originally got famous from videos she posted on YouTube of her dancing. She was the same size before she got her show. I liked her at first. She seemed motivated, worked hard, showed how great she could dance etc. but the next few seasons she whines all the time, everything is everyone else's fault, and she is almost a completely different person.2 -
perkymommy wrote: »I don't mind those shows, if the person is trying to lose weight.
However, I don't like the show with the girl who was glamourizing her obesity. I think it's called my big fat fabulous life or something like that. I never watched it and saw commercials. She said she was average weight til college and gained a lot. I just don't think that's healthy and at times wondered if she gained weight in order to DO the show and get famous off of her weight gain. But who knows. Either way I don't like that show and I don't like any show that tries to make being overweight or obese look good. It's not good for any body no matter if they got that way by eating too much or were born that way. It's just not healthy for that individual.
She originally got famous from videos she posted on YouTube of her dancing. She was the same size before she got her show. I liked her at first. She seemed motivated, worked hard, showed how great she could dance etc. but the next few seasons she whines all the time, everything is everyone else's fault, and she is almost a completely different person.
Even in the original video it is not a single continuous dance. It cuts every few seconds to her in a different place at a different time. She simply doesn't have the stamina to sustain that kind of effort without extreme difficulty, as is very evident in the recent video with Caleb Marshall. She's red faced and exhausted less than three minutes in, although his regular backup dances and he have plenty of pep left.
As far as her dancing being great, it's not. She has very limited moves that she can even try to do, and her general routines look like watered down Zumba. The times she has tried to do actual forms of dance she has done very poorly, and most if not all of her public performances have clearly been arranged by TLC. The museum of dance, the parade, the belly dancing at the restaurant and the ballroom competition were all examples of her not dancing well, and also were very obvious setups by TLC.0 -
I've seen a very steady decline in her motivation, stamina, and confidence the last few years for sure. In the beginning, she seemed like, "I am who I am. I'm trying to better myself, but I'm going to love myself in the meantime, and nothing will hold me back from trying new things or doing what I enjoy". Now it's more like, "I can't do anything because I'm fat. No one loves me because I'm fat. I can't do ______ because I'm fat, etc." She's even said she's happy at her weight and doesn't want to lose it and she loves being fat. That's not a good message for people who are watching her for inspiration. That really irritated me.1
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I am much more inspired by shows like American Ninja Warriors & Spartan Ultimate Team Challenge. These (seem) to be regular people with regular jobs that have a passion for be in the best possible shape. I love to see the physical challenges and it makes we work out more and harder when I hit the gym.4
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What's your opinion on shows like Biggest Loser, My 600lbs Life, Super Sized vs Super Skinny?
Does it help motivate you? Is it discouraging? Neither? Super curious what other people think of these shows
I find them motivating, the subject is weight health after all. I also find they give little useful knowledge, they focus on being sensational rather than informative.0 -
Here's my stock answer:
In my opinion, it's a modern-day freakshow. I don't mean that to be unkind to the people involved in it, but that's the purpose of the people who make and produce these kinds of reality TV.
In today's freakshows you're not supposed to gape like yokels at the people on exhibit. That's so early 20th century. Instead you're supposed to be moved to pity, or outrage, or whatever emotion the producers wish to foster.
In my opinion, of course.
Thank you for this insight. It explains perfectly why I loathe most "reality TV".2 -
I liked the biggest loser when it first came out because at least the appearance was that they worked hard at changing their life .
My 600 pound life - I am sorry but eww cant do it
My Fabulous Life ? Are you kidding me ? I couldn't watch an episode. It seems like she was trying to imply that her weight wasn't an issue but she seemed pretty miserable about everything to me and it was so phony
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My first dive into real, sustained weight loss can be almost directly attributed to the first season of the Biggest Loser. The contestants were more..."normally" overweight (I believe one of the female contestants started at 175 or so) and I got moving. At age 29 I was the fittest I'd been in my life, and stayed really close until I got pregnant (with twins! leading to bed rest and premature delivery and PPD and and and) on my 33rd birthday.
Reading about the aftermath for the contestants though...heartbreaking. The stuff I've learned about fat memory, etc...wow. The bit about fat memory is also really disheartening, especially since I just turned 40 and am trying to get back at it now.0 -
Twinmamamarion wrote: »My first dive into real, sustained weight loss can be almost directly attributed to the first season of the Biggest Loser. The contestants were more..."normally" overweight (I believe one of the female contestants started at 175 or so) and I got moving. At age 29 I was the fittest I'd been in my life, and stayed really close until I got pregnant (with twins! leading to bed rest and premature delivery and PPD and and and) on my 33rd birthday.
Reading about the aftermath for the contestants though...heartbreaking. The stuff I've learned about fat memory, etc...wow. The bit about fat memory is also really disheartening, especially since I just turned 40 and am trying to get back at it now.
"Fat memory"?0 -
TeacupsAndToning wrote: »heiliskrimsli wrote: »Twinmamamarion wrote: »My first dive into real, sustained weight loss can be almost directly attributed to the first season of the Biggest Loser. The contestants were more..."normally" overweight (I believe one of the female contestants started at 175 or so) and I got moving. At age 29 I was the fittest I'd been in my life, and stayed really close until I got pregnant (with twins! leading to bed rest and premature delivery and PPD and and and) on my 33rd birthday.
Reading about the aftermath for the contestants though...heartbreaking. The stuff I've learned about fat memory, etc...wow. The bit about fat memory is also really disheartening, especially since I just turned 40 and am trying to get back at it now.
"Fat memory"?
I googled it quickly and I guess if you've been overweight your body has a higher number of fat cells so it's easier to once again store fat in them if you overeat...?
I have no idea.
The number of fat cells you have is pretty well solidified by the end of your teenage years. How full of actual fat they are can and does change.0 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »I think there's gotta be a special place in hell for people who make money by exploiting the misery of other human beings.
The fourth circle.
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