When I first came across this program, it was being made in the USA only at the time, I started a thread on it in "another place".
i was convinced that it would be just another "exploitation TV fad" consisting of "Let's laugh at the fat people", and that contestants would suffer and possibley damage themselves, or die even, from competition need to lose weight to win prizes.
The "journey" the contestants go down, the changes they make, the past life events and choices they have made which they have to face up to, and the advice on exercise, diet, and self respect that the program gives out are fantastic.
Any other fans out there?
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
I love to see what can be done with determination.
I do worry about some of the 'tasks' they get the 'Fatties" to perform.
I would never thought in a million years that any of them would have been up for a marathon in only 3 months worth of training. I wish someone would train me that way. (Though I do enjoy earning money more than I enjoy exercising.)
Not that I'm doubting you, but I'd like to see if that is confirmed anywhere.
It's prescription only medicine in Aus, so they'd have to have a very friendly doctor.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
I loved the whole break them down until there is nowhere else to go but up. I was in tears for many of the tales when they recounted how they ended up getting to the size they did. They are some of the bravest people I know There is no way in hell I would ever appear in my undies in front of a national audience, let alone being the size they were. More power to them for it.
And ... if they inspire anyone to take a move in the right direction for regaining their health, then BRAVO!
Sure, if I could make losing weight my full time job, have trainers on demand, a chef, a hotel, etc, I could do pretty damn well also. But I have to fit weight loss into the real world, not fantasy island. The show completely misses that point. The fast changes also don't hold with many of the contestants once they have to go back to the real world (nor do those types of changes work with many people). Some of them have gained back a lot of the weight. And as someone with life long weight issues I know the hardest part isn't losing, its keeping it off.
To the extent it motivates people to live healthier fitter lives, terrific. To the extent it creates completely unrealistic expectations and ends up actually being more detrimental, I find it very frustrating and in the end, I'm not a fan.
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
I'm not much for reality TV in general, but have watched many episodes of Biggest Loser (it was one of my friend Linda's fav shows while she was 'hospicing') and I found it inspiring - primarily the courage of the contestants to go in front of such a huge audience and be honest about weight and eating issues.
I agree it's probably got to be a hell of a lot easier to work on weight loss and fitness when you are doing it full-time with a personal trainer, a support group & a controlled environment. However, Biggest Loser put out a great book for 'regular' people with meal plans, exercise plans, etc. that my sis has been using and she's found it to be really helpful.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
I'm happy for the winner but what about those that didn't make the cut?
Recently I have been part of an "experiment' put on by UAMS. No Drugs.
I started at 180 I'm now at 160 I don't care about losing anymore weight but I may have to get to 155.
I was in a VERRRY tight 36 now I'm in a comfortable 34 wouldn't mind being back in a 32 (thus the extra 5# unless I can just tone out the inches).
Did this in 8 weeks. Started with a 1500 cal/42 fat grams/day with 30 min walking.
Now I'm doing 1300 cal/21 fat grams/day still walking ( splurge some during the weekend so I increase my activity during the week).
Portion & exercise were a great part of it.
However right now I'm just on week 9 of a 16 month program we'll see...
Keld, what height are you mate? (I take it the weight is in pounds?)
These guys make the show for me;
With years of physical and mental training under his belt, the Commando is one seriously experienced fitness expert. He has served with the Australian Special Forces, where he was a Counter Terrorism Team Commander. Having spent ten years training soldiers for Special Forces missions, the Commando definitely knows how to whip the Biggest Losers into shape and it’s not always pleasant! After all, this is a man whose personal motto is “No excuses”.
In her practice in Sydney, Janella works with people with various health issues, from cancer to eating disorders. Her combination of naturopathy, nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine and kinesiology provides a holistic approach to health and diet.
In 2004 he was awarded the Medal of the Australian Academy of Science, an honour that had only been given three times and the Royal College of Physicians of Glasgow made him a Fellow. In 2006 he was given a Doctorate of Medicine Hon Causa by the University of Sydney during its medical school’s 150th anniversary.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Guinevere wrote:Sure, if I could make losing weight my full time job, have trainers on demand, a chef, a hotel, etc, I could do pretty damn well also.
I often look longingly at the contestants and wish I had the opportunity to be trained up as they are being trained. How fit would I be?
I realise the whole premise is totally unrealistic and I realise that many going through the processes will stack on the weight once they return to 'normality' ... but I still love it.
