Bottom Line: This is an inspirational show.
If you don’t get motivated by seeing the transformations that happen on this show, there’s something wrong with you.
This season, it’s family couples.
Trainer Bob got 4 married couples, and trainer Jillian got 4 parent-child couples.
After one week, here are the ASTOUNDING results:
| Team | Couple Type | Pounds Lost | Combined Body Fat % Lost | |
| Yellow | Father–Daughter | 17 | 10 | 4.51 |
| Orange | Husband-Wife | 17 | 12 | 4.61 |
| Green | Husband-Wife | 19 | 9 | 4.99 |
| Pink | Mother-Daughter | 14 | 17 | 6.09 |
| Grey | Father-Son | 24 | 18 | 6.26 |
| Purple | Mother-Daughter | 12 | 17 | 6.37 |
| Red | Husband-Wife | 23 | 16 | 6.96 |
| Brown | Husband-Wife | 28 | 19 | 7.67 |
Did you see those numbers??? Did you see how many pounds the contestants lost in ONE WEEK?!?!? The least amount was 9 pounds, and the most, 28 pounds!!
I think this just goes to show how fast a person can change when they put some REAL effort in. Obviously these people take several months off from their jobs, and leave their families so they can do nothing but work with trainers and watch what they eat. SURE, that’s not reasonable for the average person, but it is important to realize that sometimes (especially for people this overweight) a big change in ones lifestyle is what’s necessary to achieve a goal.
I believe that when your health is concerned, a few sacrifices are worth it!
My point is just that IT IS POSSIBLE. There’s no need to lie to yourself and make excuses. Bob and Julian aren’t going to listen to old wives’ tales about thyroid problems. They’re going to kick your ass around the gym, and you’re going to lose weight.
Rebecca, over at her blog Balanced Health and Nutrition has an interesting idea by coming up with a workout you can do while watching The Biggest Loser! I think that it is a perfect idea because the best way to motivate yourself is to watch others make phenomenal positive changes.
Speaking of motivation, let’s check out some before and after pics of past seasons:
Season 5 winner - Ali
Season 4 winner - Bill (check out the guns)
Holly (or Posh Spice?)
Dan... (I don't know how that happened)
Jay (bye bye man boobs!)
Got Motivation?
As difficult as it was for each of those people to accomplish what they did, I have zero doubt that if you asked each of them whether the effort was worth it, the answer would be “yes”. I have several clients who’ve lost over 50 and a few who’ve lost over 100 pounds and it has changed their lives dramatically.
For people who are just taking the first step or considering doing so, the task can seem daunting, but if you keep the end in mind, and just take things one day at a time, the kind of results shown above can be achieved by just about anyone.
Those transformations are unreal!
If I didn’t know better, I would assume that those transformation weren’t achieved by hard work, but by Photoshop.
However, I still have my suspicions about Dan.
I think it’s a little unrealistic, even for a Biggest Loser contestant, to transform himself into an exact clone of a major television star.
Anyway, I hope that more people watch this season of the Biggest Loser and actually use it as a launching pad for their own transformation.
Good post as always Bloggy – Thumbs Up
Well, it is very unrealistic that someone could expect the same kind of transformation as these guys, but technically it’s not impossible. I read an article about the show, and it said that the contestants exercised from four to six hours a day. So yes, for the average person with a job and a life, it’s not possible. But I have no doubt that these people’s transformations are absolutely real, however possibly dangerous.
Here’s an article about it:
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2008/Oct/06/is-tvs-the-biggest-loser-realistic/
I’m not knocking these people’s accomplishments, because they are amazing. But I don’t watch the Biggest Loser (I don’t watch a whole lot of reality tv), and I don’t really take inspiration from them, because, as you said:
“Obviously these people take several months off from their jobs, and leave their families so they can do nothing but work with trainers and watch what they eat.”
Exactly. I’m never going to be able to devote months solely to losing weight, or have trainers and nutritionists standing over me watching my every move. The situations are too different for me to put myself into their shoes.
Brit,
It’s understandable to feel that way about the show. It would be hard to translate what they do – to our own lives.
However, if you really watch the show, they actually incorporate all kinds of healthy eating tips, meal ideas, quick workout options, and just pure motivation for anyone that’s open to them.
Of course you would never be able to devote months solely to losing weight. If you just think about it being black and white like that, and that there is no way that you can benefit at all from stories like these, then there may be a mental road block that you need to overcome.
The Biggest Loser is a very focused and concentrated training program. Yes they are losing tons of weight in a short amount of time, but they are also learning lessons for healthy living that they will (hopefully) continue for the rest of their lives. These lessons can be learned by anyone that wants to learn them. You don’t have to be on a TV show.
Just hearing them talk about how they’ve never felt like they have ever truly been themselves because they’ve been trapped in a fat body, is tear jerking.
You may not be able to devote months to losing weight, but you may be able to devote your life to making positive changes. You can devote a few minutes a day to getting your heart pumping and your muscles working. You can devote a few minutes a day thinking about, planning, and preparing your next meal.
Baby steps. Baby steps.
If you think it is daunting, it will be daunting.
If you think it’s impossible to make changes like them, then it will be.
I also watch this show and think it’s amazing what they accomplish, but I still have a lot of problems with how it’s set up. I know it’s basically a game show, so you have to accept the game play aspects, but I wish the way the people were eliminated was a little bit more fair – the people who tend to lose the most get eliminated as soon as they have one bad week (because their fellow contestants want to eliminate the biggest threats to win at the end). I wish they’d just eliminate the people with the lowest weight loss overall, instead of voting people off (one of the best reality shows on TV, The Amazing Race, is fair like this – last one in is eliminated). I’d also like it better if they maybe used a combination of weekly weight loss and total weight loss, so that people who were very successfull overall wouldn’t get eliminated for one bad week.
And despite the fact that a woman did win the last season, it’s still, overall, very unfair to the women. Weight loss is of course not impossible for women (despite what many FA people think), but it does tend to go more slowly for women than for men, for a variety of reasons. So competing against men in a competition where you’re basically trying to lose weight as quickly as possible will never be completely fair.
Also, I really don’t think they spend enough time focusing on meal planning and what exactly these people are and/or should be eating. They focus way more on the exercising, and while that’s certainly very important, it’s not the only part of the equation, particularly given that regular people can’t spend five hours a day working out.
And one other thing to keep in mind regarding those first-week numbers. From what I’ve heard, the contestants usually water-load before the initial weigh-in, so the starting weights tend to be artificially inflated, making the first-week numbers also inflated (granted, I haven’t watched last night’s episode yet, so I’m just talking generally here). I’m sure they did lose a significant amount of weight, but probably not nearly as much as those numbers indicate. Most of them will probably lose only half that next week. (I’ve also heard that the time lines are sometimes distorted – i.e., they say it’s a “week”, but that’s not always true – sometimes it’s actually more or less than a week. I believe the weeks surrounding the Australia trip last season had this issue. I have no idea if that might be the case here, but anything’s possible.)
“I think this just goes to show how fast a person can change when they put some REAL effort in.”
Well said! This show really demonstrates how people really can change. obviously it takes hard work, patience, determination, etc… but it IS possible. Thanks for the info.
Sam,
You said “I wish the way the people were eliminated was a little bit more fair – the people who tend to lose the most get eliminated as soon as they have one bad week (because their fellow contestants want to eliminate the biggest threats to win at the end). I wish they’d just eliminate the people with the lowest weight loss overall, instead of voting people off”
Although I totally see your point… I think the way they vote also has benefits. It allows the “weaker” players who need a little bit more support to stick around longer. The ultimate goal of the show is not really the money….its supposed to be the weight loss. The goal is to change their life for the better and improve their quality of life. One could argue that the stronger players will have an easier time maintaining this healthy lifestyle (and the weight loss) once they are voted off than those individuals who struggle every week.
Hey Sam. As far as the eliminations on the show, I’ve had similar thoughts about it, but I agree with what Lucy said.
You may be right about the women having a harder time competing, but really I think Ali winning is proof that it’s possible. Some guys last season lost just unbelievable fat, and she still won.
I have suspected a little about the water-loading before the first weigh-in. However, I think it would be tough to drink more than a half gallon right before and not feel like spewing. And a gallon of water only weighs 8.3 pounds.
Although I admire the will power it takes to accomplish this level of weight loss, I really don’t like encouraging people to dive in and lose weight at this rate.
I think the pressure to lose weight at an accelerated rate encourages unhealthy weight loss behaviors, and fails to establish the ones that lead to permanent weight loss.
Remember, I’m coming at it from the perspective of a guy that runs a “fat spouse” website.
Often overweight spouses see these herculean efforts and think that weight loss is impossible for them and their mere “human” will power.
Good diet and exercise routines are often started with small steps, literally. Many people, who I have dealt with, through my website, began their exercise routines with a simple walk around the block.
These humble beginnings ended with a fit person who is planning meals and working out in full resistance and cardio routines a year or two later.
IMO, this is the kind of “loser” that keeps it off and had laid the groundwork for a lifetime of fitness.
Check out my post on “science behind the biggest loser diet”. I have met the dietitian for the biggest loser and I attended a professional education session about the program and the ranch. They say that there is often more than one week between weigh ins. Also, it is typical to lose a lot of weight quickly – referred to as “water weight” due to release of stored glycogen, which holds a lot of water.
Science Behind “The Biggest Loser” Diet
Maybe I do have a mental block or something, because I don’t really find the stories tear jerking. I watched a little bit of the season premier (gotta love hulu.com!) and just kind of rolled my eyes a little. I guess I’ve become a cynic at the ripe old age of 23. ;-P
And, God, Jillian. Part of the reason I turned it off is because I can’t stand that woman. If she ever yelled and physically abused me like that, I think I’d end up punching her.
Brit,
I don’t think that Jillian’s training style works for everyone (one women last season changed to Bob) but for others it is exactly what they need. They need someone to yell at them and keep them in check when are coming up with 1001 different reasons why they dont/cant work out anymore!
Lucy–yeah, I guess. That style just grates on me so much. I can totally understand the need for someone to nag you when you’re slacking–heck, I could probably use someone like that! But I also think it can be done without all the verbal abuse and hitting.
Brit, you probably watched the first part of the first episode, where they introduce them, and tell us their stories.
Yeah, I skipped that part. I really don’t care who these people are. I roll my eyes when the show gets all dramatic.
I was talking more about later on in the season when they are really noticing the physical changes they are going through, and realizing the way it makes them feel, and how powerful their bodies can be, and how they should have changed their habits years ago.
About Jillian, yeah she’s tough! But I’ll bet you every one of the people that she trains is forever thankful though, no matter how much they hate her yelling at them at the time.
McB,
Ha. Glad I’m not the only one who rolls their eyes at the melodrama.
Yeah, I’m sure they are thankful after it is over. I just think that it could be done somehow without all the yelling and abuse. I don’t think her way would work for me.
In all fairness our willpower has never been tested like it is now. For a very long time in human history most people were just trying not to starve and only a few could afford to be fat. Thats why it was looked apon as attractive. Food is EVERYWHERE and easily attainable all year round. I am not saying that people should take no responsibility but I dont think it really falls under willpower so much as common sense. People are lacking in common sense now. Many of us posses a childlike attitude of the gimmies on steroids. You cant stop me from stuffing my face damnit. I guess its some small measure of power in a world where individuals have little. You have power over yourself and thats about it. Im not talking about working for the “man” or government conspiricies but the sheer fact that we live together by the billions. The individual cannot really have much power in that kind of situation.
As for the biggest loser I have some thoughts on that since you guys brought it up:
I have never seen this show before today so if I am wrong about or misunderstanding the rules of the “game” please correct me. It seems to be set up like this:
Couples/pairs of people that are of various sizes/weights complete the same tasks and eat the same meals throughout a week and are then weighed in a humilating fashion. The two teams that have lost the least amount of weight are in danger of being sent hope based on the outcome of a vote.
Seems like a simple enough system but it makes you wonder what the real intention of this show is. I can already see several flaws in this system. It seems like they are on purpose getting rid of the people who are making progress and keeping the most out of shapers.
1. if all of these people are at different weights and different fitness levels doesnt this automatically set up the more “fit” of the pairs for failure? They would be working less to finish the same goal as a more obese person and therefore will not burn as many calories. The fatter you are the more quickly you lose weight at first. Weight loss becomes harder not easier the closer you get to your goal. You have to put forth more effort even if it isnt as painful as working out after so many years of sedentary lifestyles.
2. There are different kinds of obese. I saw lots of fluffy and pure fat bodies and I saw a few that were fat but still compact and seemed to have the faintest bit of natural muscle tone *some people are built more athetically then others even if they are overweight*. So wouldnt this mean that they may be building muscle and actually getting in better shape instead of just shedding the massive amounts of water weight a person can carry? (specifically if they are eating a high sodium diet and drinking lots of soda)
3. The weighing system is not good. I gain about 10 pounds in water weight each month during my period. Do you think they bothered to factor that in? Especially the teams that are two women? I know that water weight excuse is overused but Im talking about simple numbers. There wasnt SO much of a difference between the people elimated and those that stayed if you factor that in.
4. It seems like an awful thing to do to send the elimiated people home. If the goal is really to motivate people to lose weight then shouldnt they allow everyone to stay and complete the whole program but make it so they cannot win the big prize? I can only imagine how horrible the elimiated pairs must feel especially if they are actually making the most progress off all *see above*. They would probably go home and think that they failed and stop their exercising/dieting. Real weight loss isnt just about numbers, its about overall actual health and muscle tone.
Yeah I know its a reality tv show therefore completely scripted and fake. I know its not meant to be fair but still. It really irks me because I can see a real value in this type of show for weight loss. Competition gets people motivated even when all else fails.
so yeah… what do you all think?
Cherie,
You are slightly off on the rules for the game. First, none of the players complete all the same tasks and eat the same meals throughout a week. Their workouts and mealplans are tailored towards each individual. For instance, a device on each players arm tracks the amount of calories s/he burns each day and their meals are changed accordingly. The program is very individualized so that each player has the best chances to lose weight.
And now to address some of your specific points…
1) the actual competitions are the same for each individual, but their workouts are not. The trainers will make sure that the individuals who are more fit will train at higher levels. Once again, the workouts are very individualized and you could actually argue that it would be easier for the fitter people to lose weight because they have an easier time pushing themselves.
4) The individuals who get sent home might temporarily upset, but they are still competing. All the teams that get sent home can still win a prize at the end of the season. The 3 finalists compete for a large sum of money (I think its $250 000) and the other players that were sent home compete for a smaller prize (i think its around $100 000). this means that they still have motivation to lose weight because they still have the chance to lose alot of money.
However, I think that most competitors who have spent some time on the ranch would continue their weight loss even without being rewarded a big prize. On the ranch they have learned so much about living a healthy lifestyle… and I think it would be very difficult for them to just give up. It seems like a lot of their attitudes towards food and exercise have been changed drastically. They do not see soda and pizza as dietary options anymore, and cannot imagine not being active…
thats not nearly as bad as I thought then. I only caught the part where they were on the treadmill together and walking up that hill. I saw the weigh in and some touchy feely segments and of course the beginning speel.
I will always be skeptical when it comes to any kind of reality tv *well maybe not survivorman les stroud is kick ass*.
I am glad you cleared that up for me but I do disagree with you on one thing. I do not think a week or two is enough to keep a person from falling back into old habits. I bet they are dreaming of *insert fav treat* and will have one as soon as they leave. Im not being judgemental in saying that the first thing I did after leaving bootcamp is eat a whole half pint of ice cream.
Hi cherie, you said:
I agree very much with your first paragraph.
As far as the rest, Lucy pretty much cleared up what I was going to say about the show.
There has been some debate about how contestants get eliminated. Some have said that the lowest overall fat % losers should go up for a vote, not the lowest of that week.
Something Lucy didn’t say is that about half way through the season, the couples are split up and are on their own. They are then only weighed individually, and voted off the same way.
Remember though, that it is first a reality show, then a contest, then a show about people losing weight. I really don’t think it is scripted or fake.
Hi there guys how months did jay suffer before he loose his manboobs? and what exercise did he do?because i don’t have a chance to see their show … please somebody answer my question Thanks….
Holy crap… weight loss??? just eat lots of greens. lets all eat an alkaline diet.. its shuld help – got this from christopher guerriera.