Fitness and Health Shows v. Surgery shows

[TryToKeepUp]

After watching biggest loser for over a year now I've found that I've actually started applying some diet and exercise tips from shows like this such as celebrity fit club. Then I think about all the people watching the Swan and Xtreme makeover, and I just think about what kind of mentality that's reinforcing . . ." the only way to be beautiful is to go under the knife. Change your outsides, never mind your insides."
What do you think which type of show do you prefer? Why?

[Zen]

Neither.
But I do like cartoons :)

[michelem]

Well, I'm not sure if this show qualifies as a "Fitness and Health Show," but yesterday I came across a show in the Discovery Channel called something to the effect of "Riding the Tour de France: Livin' the Dream." Anyway, it chronicled two average-joe amateur cyclists who got the opportunity to train for 6-7 weeks and then ride one of the mountain stages of the Tour de France. Anyway, very inspiring, especially since one of the guys was only commuting about 12 miles a day, 3 days a week when he started. Here's his blog: http://adamletour.blogspot.com

Anyway, I categorize this as a "Fitness and Health Show" because these guys had to increase their level of fitness and health in order to be able to do this ride. While only one completed the entire stage, both increased their fitness levels immensely over the 6-7 weeks time. Very cool.

[Pedal Wench]

HATE the surgery shows, love the fitness and health shows -- especially fun to watch from the trainer.

[TryToKeepUp]

See I think that's cool, but i don't think that ear pinning an rhinoplasty is the way to go on the road to self improvement. I had this conversation with some other people who watch those other shows and they contend that the people have solved there emotional and dietary issues. I just highly doubt it- when they're getting their facial proportions changed. Don't get me wrong i understand burn victims and trauma sufferers of that kind wanting reconstructive surgery- but i just think surgery for vanity leave you worse off in the end.


Well, I'm not sure if this show qualifies as a "Fitness and Health Show," but yesterday I came across a show in the Discovery Channel called something to the effect of "Riding the Tour de France: Livin' the Dream." Anyway, it chronicled two average-joe amateur cyclists who got the opportunity to train for 6-7 weeks and then ride one of the mountain stages of the Tour de France. Anyway, very inspiring, especially since one of the guys was only commuting about 12 miles a day, 3 days a week when he started. Here's his blog: http://adamletour.blogspot.com

Anyway, I categorize this as a "Fitness and Health Show" because these guys had to increase their level of fitness and health in order to be able to do this ride. While only one completed the entire stage, both increased their fitness levels immensely over the 6-7 weeks time. Very cool.

[Eden]

Well, here goes.... I may offend someone... but I think that weight loss surgery is taking the easy way out. Basically those people are saying I can't exercise any willpower or control over myself, so I'm going to have it surgically implanted... I don't regularly watch biggest loser, etc, (though there was as show called Honey Were Killing the Kids, that focused on changing kids/families eating and exercise habits while they are still young that I found to be quite interesting) but I do think that those shows set a really good example of what is possible when a person really wants to change their life. Even really heavy people have proven that weight loss is possible without resorting to surgery.

Yes, the people on those shows get support unlike anything most people have access to, but they have to do it all themselves in the end. They have to control what they are eating and they have to do the exercise. There's no doubt its hard work and they have to have a lot of commitment to keep going.

I've heard that many of the gastric bypass patients end up back at high weights in a few years (the stomach *can* be re-expanded slowly to the point that the person can again overeat.... and I heard about one guy (he was on NPR) who figured out he could "cheat" by drinking full fat latte drinks..). Because they never had to learn better eating habits or exercise habits they just end up going back. I know that some people who lose weight just through dieting end up heavy again too, but I'd be curious to know which group (surgery vs intensive diet/exercise program) has better long term success. I'd also be curious to the long term health implications of the surgery vs diet/exercise.... the surgery has some side effects (possible vitamin deficiencies, etc) and it may be promoting thinness over fitness - so I'd be curious to see how healthy the people from each group without considering how thin they are.

[Biciclista]

I don't watch any of those shows. I try to exercise as much as i can and eat reasonable portions of food.
I have noticed that as I get older i get hungrier :confused: for no good reason.

I agree with Eden.

[kjay]

I like BOTH types of shows because I like to be informed about both. I used to watch Extreme Makeover but can no longer find it on TV. It was wonderful to see how happy these people were when their so-called faults were corrected. I love to see happy people!

[emily_in_nc]

I used to watch Extreme Makeover but can no longer find it on TV. It was wonderful to see how happy these people were when their so-called faults were corrected. I love to see happy people!

I admit I used to watch and enjoy Extreme Makeover, but I also really like The Biggest Loser. I positively cheered at the TV when all the contestants came out looking so slender and fit on the finale. They overcame amazing odds and really did change their lives and health.

As for Extreme Makeover, it's been off the air (new episodes at least) for several years, kjay, which is why you haven't found it. Extreme Makeover Home Edition had better ratings, so ABC stuck with that one and dropped the other show. I guess you and me were the only ones watching! I liked the happy endings, too, though I'm not a big fan of surgery solving problems; in some cases (like a woman with a huge nose or horrible teeth or whatever), it really does make a difference in a person's perceived quality of life.

[Eden]

OK a little fortuitous channel surfing here and I came across a weight loss show... the woman's husband just confessed to sabotaging her weight loss surgery (she had it and is now back up to 240 lbs) because when she was getting thinner she was starting to get attention from other men.... so he was intentionally bringing bad foods into the house and getting her to eat them. WOW, that's scary. This time she's going the diet and exercise route. Same scary jealous husband though...

[redrhodie]

In general, I don't like reality shows, but there's a series of shows about a weightloss hospital that deals with the super obese that I find compelling. I think it's called "Inside Brookhaven"? Something like that. Anyway, it's made me cry every time I've watched it. It's really heartbreaking. These are people who are too heavy for weight loss surgery, too heavy often to even get out of bed.

I don't know why I like that one more than the ones where they lose 200 lbs and win a million dollars. I guess it's just more honest. You sometimes see the real person, not just the body, and it's really painful, but it makes me understand a little bit how hard it must be to suffer like they do.

[short cut sally]

I like watching the biggest loser shows, as it gives me different ideas about exercise and how it affects the different parts of the body. I find it interesting, along with the food content aspect of it.
I might get bashed for this comment but am only stating the truth here. I work at a hospital, and you would not believe the amount of people that have had gastric bypass with in the last few years. Some of these persons where not that overweight, and all spectrums of age involved. NOT one of these persons ever exercised, their excuse was "I just can't lose weight". As they ate subs, tons of junk food, and pizza. After bypass surgery, what do you think they still eat? Chips, soda, candy, and donuts. They very seldom eat healthy meals, mainly processed stuff. I agree, there was no dietary counseling involved, I asked these people. I lost weight on my own, over 2 years of grueling hours of exercise, but I accomplished it all by myself, no pills or surgery. Moderation of food and exercise are the 2 greatest componants of weightloss.

[RoadRaven]

OK a little fortuitous channel surfing here and I came across a weight loss show... the woman's husband just confessed to sabotaging her weight loss surgery (she had it and is now back up to 240 lbs) because when she was getting thinner she was starting to get attention from other men.... so he was intentionally bringing bad foods into the house and getting her to eat them. WOW, that's scary. This time she's going the diet and exercise route. Same scary jealous husband though...

Wow, Eden... that's fascinating... I wonder if she has taken advice on how to reassure him she still "loves him best" and if he is taking counseling for his possesiveness???

I have two acquaintances where weight loss has resulted in relationship-end. One of each gender... and in both cases, the weight-loser played up too much to the new-found attention, and the partner couldn't cope with the extra attention being given to their lighter mate. Very sad.

I have seen a few relationships break up when "she" changes in other ways too (and therefore the relationship changes)... every year there are marriage break-ups where our (adult) students change in their socio-political thinking as well as self-perception - and as someone standing on the outside of those relationships it sometimes appears that it is him who can't cope with the change and won't grow with the partner.

[deedolce]

I really do enjoy the Biggest Loser shows. It shows how hard it is to work at it, shows the increased (hopefully) determination in the contestants, and I LOVE clicking through the before and after shots. They're really beaming with health and pride!

I do get distressed at the increased bulk of children where I teach and on my co-workers. One just had gastric bypass, she's around 60. And I see some of my younger co-workers heading towards the same thing! They're still in their mid 30's, and I know too well how their metabolism will be slowing down to make it even harder all too soon. One of them used to walk, and lost almost 100 pounds two years ago! When my girlfriend tried to get her to join in the walking they do after work, she declined, and said she'd have to work up to it, because now she can't take very many steps at all without having to catch her breath! And yes, she's even bigger than she was before. It's really sad. :(

[KSH]

I watch ALL of them. I love them all.

I also watch tons of tacky reality TV shows. :)

While I don't think weight loss surgery solves everything, it certainly is useful for some people. But yes, I agree with the idea that it doesn't fix what is MENTALLY driving that person to over eat. And they can in fact stretch their stomach and end up extremely obese again. All too often they have this false sense of security... that they will never get fat again... which is wrong.

One show that I have been watching is Ruby. Look it up, it's on the WE (www.wetv.com) channel. Really great show. It's a lady who is extremely obese (just got down to 390 pounds on the show), who has employed a team of people to help her lose weight. She has a psychiatrist, a personal trainer, a nutritionalist and a Dr. She is learning why she over eats and is using a team to support her through the weight loss.

I love watching the Biggest Loser, but it kind of sets the normal person at home up for failure. Meaning... they see these people on TV losing 5-10-15 pounds in a week. When the person at home doesn't lose weight like that (and they won't)... then they probably get discouraged. The people on that show are at a "camp" and workout for HOURS each day. The show doesn't emphasize this enough, in my opinion.

So I watch ALL the shows. I like see both sides of the coin.

I also think as a society we can't turn a blind eye to what is going on out there. Some day, we will have lowered mortality rate, because we are killing ourselves with food. That day is soon. When you have teenagers who are 400 pounds (plus), that day has come. Very sad stuff.

[Pedal Wench]

Reportedly, it was a rejected contestant's sister who committed suicide.

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/extreme-makeover-sued-for-suicide-of-canceled-candidate-sister-1004611.php

[Pedal Wench]

No worries -- it's still tragic, but changes the impact of the show.

I do have problems with the number of youngsters going for gastric bypass. They just haven't lived long enough to have tried exercise or diet. Plus, I strongly feel that they don't have the maturity needed to stick to the strict diet that must follow after the surgery. At that age, if they haven't been able to stick to a weightloss diet, how can they be expected to follow the post-surgery diet?

I also don't think they have the foresight to commit to a lifelong restrictive diet. I know that to fuel the type of riding I'm doing in my 40's, I need to be able to eat. Lots. When I was 18, there is no way I could have imagined I would be an endurance cyclist in 20 years.

[Tweet]

I saw a story about a bedridden beriatric once, who lost a lot of weight. He said one day he was in bed watching an aerobics show and just go so frustrated that he started clapping with the the instructor and that was the the first brick in his yellow brick road.

I definitely don't prefer plastic surgery shows unless its reconstructive surgery.


In general, I don't like reality shows, but there's a series of shows about a weightloss hospital that deals with the super obese that I find compelling. I think it's called "Inside Brookhaven"? Something like that. Anyway, it's made me cry every time I've watched it. It's really heartbreaking. These are people who are too heavy for weight loss surgery, too heavy often to even get out of bed.

I don't know why I like that one more than the ones where they lose 200 lbs and win a million dollars. I guess it's just more honest. You sometimes see the real person, not just the body, and it's really painful, but it makes me understand a little bit how hard it must be to suffer like they do.

[Pedal Wench]

I watched a little bit of the Brookhaven shows this weekend. Very sobering.

Many, many of the patients order takeout food to be delivered to the clinic. One patient gained 300 pounds while there. They also only exercise three times a week. I just wanted to scream at the screen!

[Trek420]

Has anyone seen this article?

www.bicycling.com/newyou/slide29.html

[Tuckervill]

That was cool. Thanks for sharing it!

Karen

[Trek420]

Inspiring movie of one of the featured riders:

http://video.bicycling.com/video/stacisjourney-mov

[kjay]

Thanks, Trek, for posting the link to this excellent information. It's greatly appreciated!

[Eden]

One of the original people in the printed article was a racer from around here. I never would have guessed she'd been nearly 300 lbs at one point.

[bikerHen]

I feel the need to "weigh" in here. I never watch reality shows, and rarely even watch TV, cause there seems to be nothing on but reality shows. Anyway as a semi heavy weight I am compelled to come to the defense of fat people.

Too many "thin" people think us fatties just sit around eating and feeling sorry for ourselves. But for me and I'm sure others that's not true. I know I have eating issues, but I also have a body that's very good at storing fat. I have been working hard at better eating and it is paid off. But even the slightest backslide to my old way of eating and I gain weight. And I'm talking about having a couple extra slices of bread and a few chips with lunch, not eating a carton of ice cream. It amazes me how pro food this country is. We really can get by on a lot less food. But we are bombarded with the message to eat more and more. It's disgusting. No wonder there are so many fat people.

I've logged over 4500 miles this year on my bike, go to the gym three times a week and lately have been spending a lot of time behind a snow shovel. I am losing weight but only about a pound a week. It's hard to come in and have a bowl of cottage cheese with a banana for lunch when I've been out shoveling snow all morning.

Maybe I'm just a little cranky with the 60" of snow we've had fall in the last two weeks. Or maybe it's because I've had no cookies, cakes or candy since September. Anyway, not jumping on anyone toes, just saying it's not that easy for everyone to be thin.

And now that the plow has just come and plowed out the street, I'll be going out to dig out the driveway, AGAIN! bikerHen

[Di bear]

I go outside and play with my friends. I'm not a fan of reality tv.

[ReadMyMind]

I always roll my eyes when a new diet challenge show pops up but i end up watching them all regardless lol. There's new ones this week..diettribe is on lifetime starting tonight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv3OqEhpQls has the therapist from celeb fit club and there's also the national body challenge on the discovery channel. Both look entertaining.

[divadump]

I was over weight, then one day I got a bike, and now I just ride every where i can. I think my childhood affinity for biking really inspired my new lifestyle.

I did actually happen to watch that show diet tribe last night by the way. I think its crazy how all those women began indulging and over eating together, but it makes sense. What did you think of it ?

[badger]

I like to see people actually sweat their way to being healthier. But having said that, some of the people getting extremem makeovers did have some serious aesthetic challenges. It wasn't so much about weight, but how they thought the world perceived them.

I can kind of relate and attest to that. When I was small, I was given tetracycline for vague illness that the doctors couldn't really identify (in retrospect it was psychological trauma that should've been treated by a mental health practioner, but that's another story). That stained my developing adult teeth horribly and my having other health issues I ended up with severely darkly stained, small teeth. I had huge gaps between my teeth, and when I was 18, i begged my parents for veneers.

It changed my world drastically. But, as the years went by, the dental technology developed in leaps and bounds. While my veneers were far better than my natural teeth, they still were bluey/grey and quite obviously fake.

So, when I was 35, I shelled out $10,000 (yes, $10K) to have laser gum surgery to increase the length of my teeth and 8 brand new, very realistic veneers. If it changed my world before, this was being catupulted to another galaxy!

Having been in a situation where I was dealt a bad card in the aesthetics department, I can appreciate how much your self esteem changes when you look better because you feel better, too.

On another note, I'm curious how many of those contestants on the Biggest Loser actually kept their weight off??