Biggest Loser: Not for Me.

Ah, the Biggest Loser. I love it because it is one of the few reality shows that actually embodies real people struggling with real problems (except maybe for Flavor of Love or Charm School -- also very true to life ;) It also reaches millions of Americans and possibly inspires them to lose weight, as well. I'm certainly down with any sort of inspiration to those in need.

But alas, the Biggest Loser does have flaws. A lot of them, actually. If I got paid $5 for every time a client asked me why he or she wasn't losing 20 lbs a week with their diet and exercise plan, I'd be filthy rich (as rich as one of those "trainers" on the show). Here is what I tell them, in a nutshell:

1) The contestants on the Biggest Loser are first and foremost motivated by money. Period. You can argue all day ("They want to lose the weight, see how they cry and push themselves?"). Bull. They are crying because there is a crap-ton of money on the line, and I'd sure be crying too if I only lost 20 lbs and not the 25 lbs needed to push my team into victory and make me immune to elimination. Do you think Joe-Shmo would be upset at losing 20 lbs in one week? Come on.

2) The contestants have no other commitments OTHER than to lose weight. They don't have to go to work. They don't have to take care of their children. They don't drive by a KFC, McDonald's, or Dairy Queen on the way home from picking up their kids from school, while they shout from the backseat about wanting a Happy Meal. Their job while on the show is to lose weight, period.

3)They work out ALL DAY LONG. Like, 6-8 hours a day. With a trainer. You figure that with their size, they are burning roughly 500 calories per hour, 7 hours a day = 3500 calories (1 pound).

4) They work with a Registered Dietitian (ahem) and are under Physician supervision. Why? They are on a very restricted diet, restricted fluids, are obese and often with medical implications (such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease).

I think this exerpt from an article I found, which includes phone interviews from several past contestants (link is displayed at bottom of exerpt ) explains my point pretty well:

But while the message of the show is inspiring, it is also unrealistic. The Biggest Loser achieves rapid transformations—contestants often drop more than 9 kg in a week—through calorie restriction, endless exercise and no small amount of dehydration that occurs behind the scenes. Ryan Benson, 38, an actor who works for a DVD distributor in Los Angeles, lost 55 kg to win the first season in January 2005 but says he regained 14.5 kg within five days simply by drinking water. Matt Hoover, 31, a motivational speaker based in Seattle, had a 7-kg rebound within a day of winning Season 2. Last season's runner-up, Kai Hibbard, 28, an aerobics instructor in Alaska who says she spent the night before her final weigh-in hopping in and out of a sauna for six hours, consumed only sugar-free Jell-O for several days and wolfed down asparagus, which is a natural diuretic. "It's amazing the things you learn in a weight-loss competition," she says.


Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1626795_1627112_1626456,00.html%20#ixzz1YiAEg200

 

Do you want to lose weight like the contestants in the Biggest Loser? Great. Just quit your job,convince your primary physician to move in with you, and hire me 24 hours a day. You'll eat the bare minimum, work out tirelessly, and drink as little as possible. Then, when it's over, you're body will slowly adapt back to a healthy weight.

 

Or, you can choose to skip the BS and lose weight the natural and healthy way. Not sure where to start? I'd be happy to help you along the road to a healthy lifestyle; one where you are actually content with your diet and look forward to exercise. One where you feel energized and ready to take on the day. Just shoot me an email at rachel@stepupfns.com if you are ready to embark on the first day of the rest of your life.