Biggest Loser aka Biggest LIAR!!

[Running Mommy]

I don't know why this bugs me so much, but I'm in a bit of a BUNDLE right now!!
A week ago on the biggest loser a guy was kicked off and claimed he was training for an Ironman, but his distances were WAY off, so that chapped me a bit. I'm all for FACT CHECKING!! An ironman is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run. Not an 80 mile bike ride as claimed!

So this last week the guy that got the boot claimed to have run a local marathon. They showed him running with his wife, crossing the finish line, and taking pics with their finishers medals all happy and cheerful- complete with cheering family...
The problem is a van picked them up around the 17 mile mark and drove them about three miles to get them closer to the finish!!!
So they CHEATED!!
Yeah it probably had something to do with "production schedules", but THEY DIDNT RUN A MARATHON!! So they shouldnt be CLAIMING to have run one!!
Oh- and in the wifes apology she states that they are a religious family!! Sheesh!! I don't care, there is NO WAY I would go along with a lie like that!
You either ran 26.2 miles, at which point you can claim to have completed a marathon, or you did not. You ran 23 miles- great accomplishment, but NOT a marathon!!
Oh- and it gets better... the clock behind them clearly clocked them at 5:53, and the show claimed they did it in 3:53!
arrghhhh i hate being DUPED!
Tell the TRUTH! He attempted to run the marathon, but in reality would have gone over the 6 hour time limit for that race. So he would not have made it. Just tell us that he tried but came up short! There is no shame in that.
sheesh!!

[ilima]

It's too bad the show has to lie like that. While I don't watch the show, I know people are inspired by it. Why not have the contestants choose realistic distances. From fatty to half ironman or half marathon is still pretty darn impressive!

When people start telling me how 'religious' they are, I take that as code for "I've done some sleazy things but I'd like you to look past them for no good reason."

[alpinerabbit]

Oh- and in the wifes apology she states that they are a religious family!!

How on earth. Well, only in America (ok... only on american TV, I grant you that one)


When people start telling me how 'religious' they are, I take that as code for "I've done some sleazy things but I'd like you to look past them for no good reason."

One of the things that made me abhor mainstream christianity.

[VeloVT]

Lame. :(

[Zen]

There is certainly no shame in failure.
The only way to guarantee %100 success is to never try.

This is especially heinous in light of the audience I would think they are trying to inspire.

[Tri Girl]

I don't watch that show, so I didn't know about this. Despicable!!!! :mad: There's no shame at all in trying and not accomplishing a goal. I fail all the time at things, and that's OK. They shouldn't exaggerate their accomplishments- you either did it or you didn't. I'd be impressed if he ran a half, he doesn't have to lie about the full (either marathon or IM).

[RolliePollie]

Oh- and it gets better... the clock behind them clearly clocked them at 5:53, and the show claimed they did it in 3:53!
arrghhhh i hate being DUPED!


I am so glad you posted this! When I saw the 3:53, I thought NO WAY IN HECK did he run that in 3:53! And now to find out he didn't even really finish. What is the point of lying about this?!?!

Last season, there was a contestant who was supposedly in a size 10. She went on and on and on about being a size 10. I'm looking at her on the screen going there is NO WAY she is in a size 10. I think she was like 5'3" and 170 lbs. at that point. So why lie about it? I don't understand.

If they are trying to inspire people to lose weight and exercise, the least they can do is be honest about it.

[Running Mommy]

I guess the other runners threw a fit so the race organizers didn't give them an official time. From what I've heard it caused quite a scene at the race. The other runners were not pleased to see them parading around with medals that they did not earn!

[sundial]

Oh- and it gets better... the clock behind them clearly clocked them at 5:53, and the show claimed they did it in 3:53!
arrghhhh i hate being DUPED!

It's sad really. We're in a period in which people are looking for a source of inspiration and to learn that yet another person isn't being forthright is very, very disappointing to say the least. :(

[Tuckervill]

I am so glad you posted this! When I saw the 3:53, I thought NO WAY IN HECK did he run that in 3:53! And now to find out he didn't even really finish. What is the point of lying about this?!?!

Last season, there was a contestant who was supposedly in a size 10. She went on and on and on about being a size 10. I'm looking at her on the screen going there is NO WAY she is in a size 10. I think she was like 5'3" and 170 lbs. at that point. So why lie about it? I don't understand.

If they are trying to inspire people to lose weight and exercise, the least they can do is be honest about it.

I am 5'3-1/2" and weigh between 165-170, and I wear a size 10. Just FYI.

Karen

[michelem]

FYI

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/02/danes-marathon.html

[Zen]

I am 5'3-1/2" and weigh between 165-170, and I wear a size 10. Just FYI.



5'2, 140 size 12
It depends where you shop

[RolliePollie]

I am 5'3-1/2" and weigh between 165-170, and I wear a size 10. Just FYI.

Karen


Oh sorry...no offense. My mother is 5'3" and wears a size 10 at 135 lbs., so I was thinking there is no way she'd be a 10 at 170. And I'm 5'6" and if I weighed 170, I'd be in a size 12 or 14. I guess it's stupid of me to base my thinking on just a couple of person's size and shape. I should know better...you just can't guess a person's size or their weight. I still don't believe the contestant was in a size 10 though. You're right Zen...there is a huge difference in sizing between brands. I have one pair of size 6 jeans that fit me, but I am not a size 6!

Anyway, I still think Biggest Loser exaggerates if not downright lies. The marathon lie is inexcusable.

[greycoral]

Last season, there was a contestant who was supposedly in a size 10. She went on and on and on about being a size 10. I'm looking at her on the screen going there is NO WAY she is in a size 10. I think she was like 5'3" and 170 lbs. at that point. So why lie about it? I don't understand.

If they are trying to inspire people to lose weight and exercise, the least they can do is be honest about it.


I am 5'3-1/2" and weigh between 165-170, and I wear a size 10. Just FYI.

Karen

I'm exactly the same as Tuckervill. It's not that far fetched. I am not curvy at all though, no hips, no butt lol.

[Selkie]

Doesn't the show's title say it all, in more than one way?

[OakLeaf]

If this were the biggest inaccuracy on TV, they're welcome to it IMO.

I'm a lot more worried about the more serious things they misrepresent.

[Tri Girl]

You mean like that working out for 7 hours a day 7 days a week and not being exposed to eating in the real world? I'd probably do a much better job in an isolated environment like they have. Trying to do it while working full time and doing all the things you have to do on a day to day basis is a whole different ball game, huh? That show just isn't my favorite anyway- especially now.:(

Isn't it funny how every body is so different? I'm 5'3" 160 and I wear a size 14. When I was 135 I wore a size 6. Funny! :)

[short cut sally]

I don't enjoy watching those shows, although my riding partner really enjoys them. I was given a sour taste when I watched something similiar last year or so. A husband and wife were losing weight, they had a trainer to help them with everything. They "completed a marathon". He swam 500 yards I think, with the floaty board as he got tired, the wife biked 12 miles flat and the trainer completed the 3 mile run. THEY were credited for completing a "marathon" and they were telling everyone they just completed a marathon. NOT in my book...last time i watched one of those "reality" shows. Yes, wife and hubby lost weight which was great, and they completed some goals, but it wasn't reality...ok, its just mho..

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Doesn't the show's title say it all, in more than one way?

Yeah, makes me really glad I haven't watched tv in 11 years. :)

[Selkie]

Yeah, makes me really glad I haven't watched tv in 11 years. :)

Aside from news and "The Closer," I'm right there with you.

[katluvr]

I admit it...I watch it!
I am amazed at the weight loss...but wonder how many keep it off. (again, they work out home many hours? what do they eat? and how much rest do they really get!)

I do think it "inspires some". Last years winner was "kicked off early, then got to come back and won the whole thing. Meaning she really lost the weight OFF the show. Yeah, she probably got a gym membership and trainer for free.

I a few episodes ago they were "locked out" of the gym. So they had to work outside. They all whined and worried they would not lose weight by not having the gym. One trainer "hated" it, too. It was a shame they did not show how to enjoy sports or other things in the real world and enjoy the great outdoors.

As for the marathon falsified---yes, I am very upset about that. Sometimes you are just not ready for that distance. So show him doing a 5K or 10K or even 1/2. And "cheaters never win"--he'll gain the weight back fer sure!

[GLC1968]

My H and I were a little confused too. When they stated the distances, we both went HUH? That's a half-ironman and we were ready to chalk it up to a mistake (I laugh when people talk about being a bike racer after riding an MS150...they aren't liars...they just use different terminology), but when they said they did a marathon in 3:53? I was a bit surprised - and to hear that they drove part of the way? That rots, plain and simple.



Last season, there was a contestant who was supposedly in a size 10. She went on and on and on about being a size 10. I'm looking at her on the screen going there is NO WAY she is in a size 10. I think she was like 5'3" and 170 lbs. at that point. So why lie about it? I don't understand.


I'm 5'4" and 170 lbs and I easily wear a size 10 dress. Actually, I have a dress that's an 8 that I can still wear too. It all depends on the shape of the person, the clothing and the brands you are buying.

[Wahine]

I have to saw that I gave up on television and the media a long time ago and here's part of why...

I was involved in a made for TV athletic event that was 7 separate events with a point system etc. All of the athletes were hand picked for the show based on an athletic profile but I'm sure also looks, lifestyle. They wanted to make the people involved interesting. So they had us all do individual interviews and fill out forms with information about ourselves. When the show finally came out they commentators took a bunch of my background information and twisted it to make it more extreme and interesting to the public. The even added completely false stuff. In addition, I was injured during the first event and had to get 17 stitches, according to the announcers I was nearly dead and had to get 35 stitches. They twisted the interviews around to make people fit into certain stereotypes... one girl was type cast as the footloose and fancy free climber living out of her RV. In reality she was b*tchy, grumpy and a very poor sport.

Producers do all kinds of cr@p to get ratings and viewers. I am not at all surprised by the falsifications.

I don't watch TV anymore for news or anything "real". I watch the occasional episode of The Office for a good laugh. That's all it is... fictional entertainment, doesn't matter what program you're talking about.

[Crankin]

I have seen bits of the show, mostly because it is on opposite my favorite show (NCIS). Now, I have class on Tuesday nights, so I rarely get home before it's over. But I did see the bit about them "finishing" the marathon. And I remember distinctly saying to my husband that something seemed funny about that time.
And anyone who says they are "religious" when they are discussing something like this (a lie) makes me well, feel not very charitable.

[tulip]

I'm 5'4" and 170 lbs and I easily wear a size 10 dress. Actually, I have a dress that's an 8 that I can still wear too. It all depends on the shape of the person, the clothing and the brands you are buying.

Yes, it completely depends. I'm 5'6" and for most of my adult life until a couple of years ago I weighed around 145. I was between a 10 and 12.

[michelem]

FWIW on the sizing issue, I am approximately the same height and weight I was in high school (eons ago!), definitely larger measurement-wise. Way back then, I wore a size five. Today, I wear a size 00 (double zero -- what kind of ridiculous size is that???). Give me a break. This is a marketing ploy, plain and simple. They call it "vanity sizing," hoping that women will want to buy more if they can fit into a smaller number. Sigh . . . it works the opposite for me because it is so difficult for me to find anything that fits!

[emily_in_nc]

What michelem said -- I wore a 6 or 7 all the way through high school and college. Now, at the same weight, I wear a 2, sometimes even a 0. Size inflation for sure. Sure, it's nice to wear a "tiny" size, but frustrating when you never know what size to buy, since some stores are much more prone to size inflation than others....higher end stores are the most prone to this, it seems, so their customers will feel good about themselves.

[michelem]

If this were the biggest inaccuracy on TV, they're welcome to it IMO.


Still not that big of a deal in the scope of things, but this really reminds me of the recent inaccuracy of the gal swimming the Atlantic:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hpmuG7NykAmHlJ-V4_0W6pbtQrNgD967CGLG0

later redacted:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hpmuG7NykAmHlJ-V4_0W6pbtQrNgD967CGLG0

It's tough to believe anything these days . . .

[roadie gal]

We watched the Biggest Loser religiously for the first 2 seasons. At that time it was about losing the weight and not game playing. It was truly inspiring to see those people, who were desperately overweight, losing it.

Now so much of the show is about the game and winning the money. The ones with immunity will drink water before the weigh in so it looks like they haven't lost as much to give them insurance for the next week. (For those who don't watch, the percentage that you lose each week determines who gets thrown off. The week that you have immunity - you get it by winning a challenge - you don't have to worry about how much you've lost because you're not going home. If you drink water, you weigh more. So the next week you're starting off higher than you would have without the water and it looks like you've lost more at the weigh in.) I can't even watch the show anymore. I do check the "before and after" pictures online. But I can't watch the drama and the cheating.