Re-watching Biggest Loser after losing 20 lbs; It's so toxic.
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Posts: 16 Member
For a reason I can no longer remember I've been rewatching episodes of Biggest Loser this weekend. I was obsessed with this show when I was at my fattest. It was one of those things I would watch and use as an excuse for why I wasn't losing weight despite eating healthy and vegan, because I could never exercise like that. But I still loved the show, and thought that was what it would take to lose weight.
Now, watching episodes of untrained people being pushed to exercise until they collapse or puke, all while having abuse screamed at them? And the only nutritional advice that get's repeated is "Eat Subways". And it is so toxic. No wonder they all ended up gaining weight again after the show with how it doesn't seem like they learn anything to bring into thir real lives.
And Jillian Michaels is the worst.
Now, watching episodes of untrained people being pushed to exercise until they collapse or puke, all while having abuse screamed at them? And the only nutritional advice that get's repeated is "Eat Subways". And it is so toxic. No wonder they all ended up gaining weight again after the show with how it doesn't seem like they learn anything to bring into thir real lives.
And Jillian Michaels is the worst.
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Replies
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Participating on the MFP forums has ruined Biggest Loser for me.
Also Stephen King's "Thinner".12 -
kshama2001 wrote: »Participating on the MFP forums has ruined Biggest Loser for me.
Also Stephen King's "Thinner".
😂0 -
The saddest part of it all is the follow-up The Big Fat Truth, where they talk to Biggest Loser contestants who gained it all back. It's like these poor people are just continuing cannon fodder for an entertainment spectacle, like some bizarre show in the Roman Colosseum or the Hunger Games.
The problem with any diet that you can't maintain is that you won't maintain it. A person with a history of obesity is going to regain the weight unless they've learned and internalized new behaviors while dieting.28 -
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The problem with any diet that you can't maintain is that you won't maintain it. A person with a history of obesity is going to regain the weight unless they've learned and internalized new behaviors while dieting.
It’s heartbreaking to see in real life too. A relative had a gastric sleeve operation 2 years ago and lost 170lb. Everyone was delighted for her and amazed at how quickly the weight came off, but I was scared for her. It was so drastic for someone who hadn’t tried other ways to lose weight first. She said she’d tried but couldn’t say how. Seeing her only eat a few spoonfuls and then being stuffed was weird. She wouldn’t join family occasions at restaurants for obvious reasons but in the last 8 or so months she has and the portions slowly got bigger and now she’s gained 60lb. I spoke to her about it recently and she said she doesn’t know how to eat healthy as she didn’t have to and she lost the weight even though she was eating jam tart - because it was only a bite of jam tart. Now she eats 4 jam tarts. I keep telling her she can have jam tart as long as it’s weighed, logged and in her calorie allowance.
Added to this is her emotional issues (heck we’re all emotional) and she was an emotional eater to get obese, but she didn’t attend her post op counselling sessions or nutrition classes as ‘I’m losing weight so don’t need them’. She said I was the reason she recently had a full on binge til she vomited as she’d seen how good I looked 3 sizes down. I wish she’d never had the op and had worked hard at losing the weight instead.50 -
@wannabeskinnycat That is so incredibly sad. It is also a very teachable moment. Thanks for sharing.5
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@wannabeskinnycat thank you for sharing that story. A lot of times we forget how ingrained our eating patterns are. I also need to be reminded that eating well needs to be a conscious decision for those of us who struggle with emotional eating.5 -
Hi @LyndaBSS & @KadenStrength, she used to say she was obese because she was depressed but she was still depressed at her lowest weight. She knows she needs to see someone about her mental health but it’s easier to push it aside and carry on making bad decisions
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I feel her pain. I suffer from anxiety and severe depression. It can be overwhelming at times. I have to say though, that being here for 6 weeks, my symptoms for both have lessened.24
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I’m currently eating well and losing weight and a friend who often crash diets told me I’d gain it all back because she always does. I told her she needs to create new eating habits so she doesn’t and she legit didn’t understand what I meant9
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The sad truth is that over 80% of people who lose weight gain the weight back within 5 years, no matter how they lost the weight. Some gain even more than they lost. None of us are immune. Learning new eating habits and following them for your lifetime isn’t easy for anyone. It takes diligence and perseverance.
Getting back to OP. I agree. It’s a demeaning and bullying show, but most reality shows are.17 -
I didn't care for the way they stood them up there like livestock. I've spent my share of time at livestock sales, auctions and rodeos. There was nothing about those presentations that would bolster self-esteem. I found all of it incredibly deflating and depressing including the rebound weight gain stats. The format was a flop.
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Losing 40# over a year doesn’t make for great TV, but it’s a much better “reality”20
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Just saw a commercial for Biggest Loser. The show is coming back in 2020.0
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missysippy930 wrote: »The sad truth is that over 80% of people who lose weight gain the weight back within 5 years, no matter how they lost the weight. Some gain even more than they lost. None of us are immune. Learning new eating habits and following them for your lifetime isn’t easy for anyone. It takes diligence and perseverance.
Getting back to OP. I agree. It’s a demeaning and bullying show, but most reality shows are.
Yes ma'am... most people are unwilling to give up the pleasures of the palate..4 -
missysippy930 wrote: »The sad truth is that over 80% of people who lose weight gain the weight back within 5 years, no matter how they lost the weight. Some gain even more than they lost. None of us are immune. Learning new eating habits and following them for your lifetime isn’t easy for anyone. It takes diligence and perseverance.
Getting back to OP. I agree. It’s a demeaning and bullying show, but most reality shows are.
I thought it was 80 percent never make it to goal of the 20 percent that do 15 percent will gain it back.
I never saw the show. I don't watch much reality tv and even without ever seeing the show I always kind of knew it was fat exploitation.5 -
psychod787 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »The sad truth is that over 80% of people who lose weight gain the weight back within 5 years, no matter how they lost the weight. Some gain even more than they lost. None of us are immune. Learning new eating habits and following them for your lifetime isn’t easy for anyone. It takes diligence and perseverance.
Getting back to OP. I agree. It’s a demeaning and bullying show, but most reality shows are.
Yes ma'am... most people are unwilling to give up the pleasures of the palate..
I would argue it's not that simple (I mean, we have to eat).
Plus, one of the horrible messages about eating healthy is that it has to be boring, bland, and lackluster. '
Also not saying there shouldn't be accountability and people need to make good choices. But it's easy to be fooled into thinking something is healthy (or not).
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Just saw a commercial for Biggest Loser. The show is coming back in 2020.
Oh no
I hope they've revamped it with more emphasis on education and maintenance. It could be a great motivator to reach people who don't think they can lose the weight. It probably wouldn't have the same ratings though...5 -
kenyonhaff wrote: »psychod787 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »The sad truth is that over 80% of people who lose weight gain the weight back within 5 years, no matter how they lost the weight. Some gain even more than they lost. None of us are immune. Learning new eating habits and following them for your lifetime isn’t easy for anyone. It takes diligence and perseverance.
Getting back to OP. I agree. It’s a demeaning and bullying show, but most reality shows are.
Yes ma'am... most people are unwilling to give up the pleasures of the palate..
I would argue it's not that simple (I mean, we have to eat).
Plus, one of the horrible messages about eating healthy is that it has to be boring, bland, and lackluster. '
Also not saying there shouldn't be accountability and people need to make good choices. But it's easy to be fooled into thinking something is healthy (or not).
Agreed, though simple, homemade food can be both healthier and satisfying. It's all a matter of prospective. Yes ,it is that easy.3 -
Yep. I have always thought it was a sick, sad TV show. When I was at my heaviest - and now after losing almost 140 lb. It's disgusting to me the way the people are treated.3
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Agreed, though simple, homemade food can be both healthier and satisfying. It's all a matter of prospective. Yes ,it is that easy.[/quote]
A little off the topic here but responding to this quote, I’m back to losing again, and having less processed or fast food. It is amazing how much more satisfied i am since I’ve limited that. But I had to leave it off a while to appreciate the difference.9 -
psychod787 wrote: »kenyonhaff wrote: »psychod787 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »The sad truth is that over 80% of people who lose weight gain the weight back within 5 years, no matter how they lost the weight. Some gain even more than they lost. None of us are immune. Learning new eating habits and following them for your lifetime isn’t easy for anyone. It takes diligence and perseverance.
Getting back to OP. I agree. It’s a demeaning and bullying show, but most reality shows are.
Yes ma'am... most people are unwilling to give up the pleasures of the palate..
I would argue it's not that simple (I mean, we have to eat).
Plus, one of the horrible messages about eating healthy is that it has to be boring, bland, and lackluster. '
Also not saying there shouldn't be accountability and people need to make good choices. But it's easy to be fooled into thinking something is healthy (or not).
Agreed, though simple, homemade food can be both healthier and satisfying. It's all a matter of prospective. Yes ,it is that easy.
There's nothing easy about it. Calling it easy usually comes from a place of privilege and is diminishing of all those who struggle immensely.9 -
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psychod787 wrote: »kenyonhaff wrote: »psychod787 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »The sad truth is that over 80% of people who lose weight gain the weight back within 5 years, no matter how they lost the weight. Some gain even more than they lost. None of us are immune. Learning new eating habits and following them for your lifetime isn’t easy for anyone. It takes diligence and perseverance.
Getting back to OP. I agree. It’s a demeaning and bullying show, but most reality shows are.
Yes ma'am... most people are unwilling to give up the pleasures of the palate..
I would argue it's not that simple (I mean, we have to eat).
Plus, one of the horrible messages about eating healthy is that it has to be boring, bland, and lackluster. '
Also not saying there shouldn't be accountability and people need to make good choices. But it's easy to be fooled into thinking something is healthy (or not).
Agreed, though simple, homemade food can be both healthier and satisfying. It's all a matter of prospective. Yes ,it is that easy.
There's nothing easy about it. Calling it easy usually comes from a place of privilege and is diminishing of all those who struggle immensely.
1st... you don't know a damn thing about me and what I have lived. 2nd..... we make decisions every day that directly and indirectly effect how we live. One cant always help what they are born into, but one can TRY and better ones self... 3rd... from n=1 experience... the first to usually try and point out "privilege"... usually come from it.....18 -
psychod787 wrote: »kenyonhaff wrote: »psychod787 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »The sad truth is that over 80% of people who lose weight gain the weight back within 5 years, no matter how they lost the weight. Some gain even more than they lost. None of us are immune. Learning new eating habits and following them for your lifetime isn’t easy for anyone. It takes diligence and perseverance.
Getting back to OP. I agree. It’s a demeaning and bullying show, but most reality shows are.
Yes ma'am... most people are unwilling to give up the pleasures of the palate..
I would argue it's not that simple (I mean, we have to eat).
Plus, one of the horrible messages about eating healthy is that it has to be boring, bland, and lackluster. '
Also not saying there shouldn't be accountability and people need to make good choices. But it's easy to be fooled into thinking something is healthy (or not).
Agreed, though simple, homemade food can be both healthier and satisfying. It's all a matter of prospective. Yes ,it is that easy.
There's nothing easy about it. Calling it easy usually comes from a place of privilege and is diminishing of all those who struggle immensely.
Oh... I am guessing you were born in a western affluent country? Lol yeah... that's a privilege unto itself.... remember that... I'm out...2 -
I hate that this show sets unrealistic expectations. You would think it would be obvious that this show is not going to be an example for the average person but I can’t even count the number of times I have talked to people who watch this show, are intelligent people otherwise, but feel that they should realistically be able to lose 10-20 lbs a week because they see that on tv. Then, when they don’t see a huge jump in the scale, they get discouraged and give up.12
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psychod787 wrote: »kenyonhaff wrote: »psychod787 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »The sad truth is that over 80% of people who lose weight gain the weight back within 5 years, no matter how they lost the weight. Some gain even more than they lost. None of us are immune. Learning new eating habits and following them for your lifetime isn’t easy for anyone. It takes diligence and perseverance.
Getting back to OP. I agree. It’s a demeaning and bullying show, but most reality shows are.
Yes ma'am... most people are unwilling to give up the pleasures of the palate..
I would argue it's not that simple (I mean, we have to eat).
Plus, one of the horrible messages about eating healthy is that it has to be boring, bland, and lackluster. '
Also not saying there shouldn't be accountability and people need to make good choices. But it's easy to be fooled into thinking something is healthy (or not).
Agreed, though simple, homemade food can be both healthier and satisfying. It's all a matter of prospective. Yes ,it is that easy.
There's nothing easy about it. Calling it easy usually comes from a place of privilege and is diminishing of all those who struggle immensely.
I think it's simple (CICO - very basic maths) but not easy (emotions, personal experience and general life struggles get in the way)18 -
psychod787 wrote: »kenyonhaff wrote: »psychod787 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »The sad truth is that over 80% of people who lose weight gain the weight back within 5 years, no matter how they lost the weight. Some gain even more than they lost. None of us are immune. Learning new eating habits and following them for your lifetime isn’t easy for anyone. It takes diligence and perseverance.
Getting back to OP. I agree. It’s a demeaning and bullying show, but most reality shows are.
Yes ma'am... most people are unwilling to give up the pleasures of the palate..
I would argue it's not that simple (I mean, we have to eat).
Plus, one of the horrible messages about eating healthy is that it has to be boring, bland, and lackluster. '
Also not saying there shouldn't be accountability and people need to make good choices. But it's easy to be fooled into thinking something is healthy (or not).
Agreed, though simple, homemade food can be both healthier and satisfying. It's all a matter of prospective. Yes ,it is that easy.
There's nothing easy about it. Calling it easy usually comes from a place of privilege and is diminishing of all those who struggle immensely.
In my life I have seen people struggle. In fact I have been there. Not knowing how the Bills are going to get paid. In the USA, we have SOME social safety nets. I am not saying it is much most times. Some family's get $150 US to feed 5 people. Though, we humans have brains that are nothing but a giant calculators. We are always running complex equations on cost vs benefit analysis. Human nature is to do as little as possible for the greatest possible gain. That includes food. One can make cheap homemade food for very little. Though, it requires effort. It goes against our nature. I can make a simple meal for less than $1 us a person. Or, I could go to McDonalds and get a super tasty $1 burger. I have little issues with people getting a hand up in life, but am completely against letting fast food chains and convenience stores take EBT.2 -
I just hated how everybody and their brother started doing BL challenges IRL.
A. It was just annoying to witness
B. It set up unrealistic expectations and then disappointment in the normal people who participated
C. It encouraged really bad ideas. Fad diets, under eating, unsustainable conditions, etc.
My husband’s fire dept did this, what the organizers didn’t know was there was a side bet. The winners would celebrate their win by participating in one of those eating challenges put on by a local bar. (2lb burger is consumed with 22 fries and 2 oz. soup in under 22 minutes).
I just shook my head at the whole thing.
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