Winner or Loser
Hello everyone!
Recently in the news there has been A LOT of talk about the TV show the Biggest Loser. It seems some of the contestants came forward and “told all” regarding the safety of the show and what really goes on. If you want to read it, you can go here to read the first tell all. More contestants came forward after that, and you can read those here. To sum it up in case you don’t feel like reading it, all of the contestants (16 seasons worth) have pretty much gained the weight back and then some. They accused the show of starving them, working out insane hours up to 8 hours a day, and making them workout with injuries.
Now, what I’m about to say is my opinion. I obviously haven’t been on the show, been backstage, or have witnessed what really went on. As a fan of the Biggest Loser for years (love me some Jillian Michaels) I definitely have mixed emotions about the allegations.
For starters, this show is PURE entertainment. Sure you can find some inspiration in there, after all Jillian Michaels was one of the reasons I started lifting! For the most part though you know you are watching a television show and losing 30 pounds in a week is super unrealistic.
Regarding losing that much weight that fast, ANYONE that knows anything about fitness realizes it is near impossible to lose that much weight without going to drastic measures. Obviously as a spectator I know they are probably putting the contestants on an extremely low calorie diet, low carb, and exercising until their feet bleed. I’ve gone through a bikini prep and trying to transform your body so quickly means less food and more gym time.
So is this healthy? Absolutely not. But the producers cram it down our throats that they are making these people healthy. They are not. When you see your body change so rapidly you keep going, it gets away from you, and then you are set up for failure. As soon as the contestants go home, most of the time they go either back to their old ways or they CONTINUE a healthy lifestyle just not working out 8 hours a day. Boom, you are going to gain it back. I’ve been there. I’ve restricted way back in the day and then decided to make the jump to eating a normal amount of calories again. I put on 30 pounds in the blink of an eye. Metabolic damage folks, it’s an evil thing.
No to mention those huge shifts in weight! Back and forth, back and forth. It’s not good for you. If the show is going to continue I think they need to place an emphasis on REVERSE DIETING. Just like the bodybuilding world. Obviously they know these people cannot keep this up at home, so if they show them how to work their calories back in from an extreme low, they might have more of a chance.
Or maybe the show just needs to go away all together. Not sure. What are your thoughts?
XOXO With a Cherry On Top,
-Minnie
poriliana
Hello Minnie, new follower to your blog here 🙂
I just read about this and frankly, it didn’t surprise me. This tv show is pure entertainment. The diet and workouts look ridiculously extreme. No one could possibly keep this up after they leave the show.
On the other hand, if they showed a normal weight loss and diet program, it wouldn’t be as entertaining. It would be too sloooow! A healthy lifestyle is for life, but it takes time.. It would be too boring for people to watch. ha ha, so I don’t know how they would possibly film this for tv.
Katie
Hi Poriliana! Thanks for reading 🙂
I agree 100%. Yes, it’s a TV show, so if they lost it like the normal person does who would watch it? I just think maybe they need a disclaimer up every episode!
Janessa
I love watching the Biggest Loser but I think they are going to have to make a change going forward. I think people at home sometimes get an unreal idea of what type of weight they should/could lose by dieting and exercising. On the other hand, some people get real inspiration out of it even knowing those pounds aren’t going to come off that fast. I know some of the first bad articles on it came out last year and since then it seems like last seasons contestants have been doing better. I wonder if they implemented anything new for their contestants after those articles came out?? I follow a few of those people on social media and they seem to be working out, staying fit and being involved in a lot of stuff. I just wonder if they received more assistance from the Biggest Loser into transitioning back to their daily lives.
Katie
It’s definitely true. Like I said, yes you can find some inspiration in there but for the most part it’s false hope. Especially for people that have never worked out before. “Oh they lost 20 lbs I can too”. When they don’t I’m assuming many would give up. I follow a lot of the contestants on instagram too!
Chelsea @ Raw N' Toned
I agree. Although I watch the show, I don’t agree with what they are doing at all. I feel bad for the contestants, and that they don’t know what they are doing. I do believe that the trainers are trying to do a good thing for these people, I just feel that they go about it all wrong. No one should ever lose that much weight in such a short amount of time. It isn’t healthy for anyone. I do wonder about those website sources though. They remind me a lot of the gossip magazines, and you never know what is true when it comes to those.
Katie
I agree with you Chelsea. The trainers hearts are in the right place. I mean they got into fitness for a reason. To help others. But again, they are now “celeb trainers” and getting that fat paycheck so I’m sure they do what the show tells them to.
amyt
I’m with ya..I have mixed feelings – basically I’m not shocked really…I mean like you said X amount of lbs in one week….right – we all know what it takes. I may sound harsh….but these people are grown ups – they I’m sure signed waviers – it’s TV … of course it’s for show. Not saying it doesn’t inspire – I like it to an extent …and while I’m watching, I’m like yehhhhh I want to do ‘this’ – but I’ve been lifting for years now, and I know what it takes. Not saying I agree with what they are doing – but they are holding up their end, again to a extent … these folks are losing weight…it’s a contest who can lose the fastest in X amount of time. Sorry to say – but you’re coming out now and you’re crying about it….um no……. sorry – you agreed to the terms and conditions…they cannot MAKE you do it. I don’t blame the trainers…they are doing their jobs….and I think their hearts are in the right place..they do want to inspire and help these people. I’m not trying to be mean and I’m not saying I totally agree with the show…but it’s a show – and I don’t feel sorry for them. Mean or not….facts are facts.
Tamara
I’m a novice, as in I’m just researching all this and I haven’t even started. I think one of my biggest fears is that if I can’t keep it up, I will gain all my weight back etc. I do realize there has to be a lifestyle change. I just wonder if there is a way to progressively look better over time, slowly, systematically, without going to extremes. I haven’t made the commitment yet. I want to be fit and look great, but I think I’d like to know what the bottom line is. Such as a hard and fast rule like “workout 4x a week, and don’t exceed x-number of calories, and protein with every meal, and eating every 3 hours.” Do YOU have a bottom-line “minimum” that you do to maintain? When you’re not getting competition-ready, what is your “normal?” Not even sure if I worded any of this right.