Maybe I'm just a skeptic....

[nscrbug]

(Warning: Biggest Loser rant) But I simply have a hard time believing that ANY of those BL contestants can run 10 or 12mph on a treadmill...even if it's for less than a minute. I'm not saying that it's completely impossible...but I do think it is highly unlikely. Last Tuesday's episode showed the black team on the treadmills with Jillian barking out orders as usual. She told them to go up to 12mph. Ummmm, really?!? C'mon, now. NONE of them looked like they were running even close to 12mph. I'm just not buying it. You can't convince me that Kourtney (who was 258lbs at the time) was sprinting at 12mph...I just don't believe it. They never once actually showed the display on any of the treadmills reading 12mph, and I could tell simply by looking at the turnover rate of their feet hitting the belt...that they weren't doing 12mph. Maybe 8...possibly 9, but 12 or even 10??? No way. I run nearly everyday and have been for a long time and I have trouble keeping a 7.5mph pace (and I'm 154lbs), for just 1 minute. I observe very seasoned and conditioned runners at my gym running on the treadmill at 10mph and trust me...they are hauling some major a$$. They literally look like they are going to fly off the back of the treadmill at any given moment...and we're talking about serious runners here. The other thing that really bugs me, is that the show is giving off the perception that any sedentary, obese person out there can just hop on a treadmill and expect to be running full-out sprints at 10 or 12mph in a few short weeks. When in reality, that just is not going to happen...at least not without some injuries.

So am I way off-base here in being the only one who thinks that TBL is embellishing those treadmill speeds to up the drama factor of the show? Or are there others out there that feel the same way as me? Just curious....

[Tri Girl]

I'm with you. When I was 120 lbs and a pretty fast runner, the most I could do at 10mph on the treadmill was 1 min. And I was hauling!!!! Maybe she was telling them to do 12 min. miles- you know- 5 mph?:rolleyes:
I don't think they can do it. I'm not saying never- just not for one minute. And even if they could- that would seem to be a bit too much stress to put on their bodies I would think.

I think lots of things they do on that show are a bit over-the-top. I've never been a huge fan of the show in general, tho, so I might not be the best person to give my opinion. ;)

[Crankin]

I have an issue with having very obese people start out doing a run that is long, in hot weather, on the very first day. When people are vomiting, fainting, and having to be taken away in an ambulance, that is not the right thing for either the participants or the viewers. It gives the false impression that is what you have to do right away, to lose weight. I find it hard to believe that there are medical people who go along with it.
I am a skeptic, too.

[malkin]

They need a speech-language pathologist on that show to help the trainers deal with voice problems.

(I'm available!)

I saw the part of the show you are talking about and I wondered if it might be some random numerical scale rather than mph.

[Susan]

Maybe that, or they have a km/h scale. 12 km/h is still fast, but not as unlikely as 12 mph would be.

I noticed that she didn't mention "mph".

[malkin]

There are days when I feel like 12 mph is pretty fast on my bike!

[Tri Girl]

There are days when I feel like 12 mph is pretty fast on my bike!

Isn't that the truth! :p

[nscrbug]

There are days when I feel like 12 mph is pretty fast on my bike!

HA!!! Ditto here!!

[Catrin]

There are days when I feel like 12 mph is pretty fast on my bike!

Same here :o

I have never seen the show, and from what I've heard about it I never will. If they really do expect people who are starting in that kind of shape to put forth the kind of effort I've had described to me at the very beginning - that is just irresponsible and asking for someone to get injured just to get good ratings. I think it would also discourage someone at home from doing anything at all if they think they have to start at that level of effort.

[malkin]

And I despise Jillian. She starts yelling, and those poor people struggle and take it. It's wrong!


If it is any consolation, Jillian's voice sounds like she's got big trouble.

[Tri Girl]

When I first became active about 8 years ago, if I thought I had to start out at that level, I never would have taken that first step into the gym- and I wasn't nearly as heavy or out of shape as they appear to be.
I wonder if the show encourages people to get moving, or intimidates them?

Have you ever watched the AMC show Heavy? I've seen previews, but have never watched it. It seems like it does a better job of being realistic about life changes, not just short-term huge weight loss (but I don't know- I've never actually seen it).

[ultraviolet]

Odd timing. I actually just saw this episode this afternoon with some friends.

For what it's worth, they were doing 20 second sprints. And it seemed like only a couple of them were doing it at a "12", a couple of people were standing still on the treadmill, and more than one ended up grabbing the handrails and windmilling their legs for a few strides. Given all of that, I don't find it impossible to believe.

I do think that the show's producers apply of a lot of creative editing to get the storylines and "drama" that they want, but that's true of all reality television. *shrug* Just my two cents.

[trista]

I used to love that show and I don't watch it at all anymore. Mostly because I can't stand the in-episode commercials; it's beyond product placement, they stage product-promotion conversations and it is so phony. Plus I don't like the tactics... their method doesn't work, as evidenced by the many, many BL contestants who gain all the weight back after the season ends. I also dislike the new trainers... too much punching and yelling. Although I don't really like Jillian & Bob either. It just seems like they are more interested in selling products than actually being trainers.

I agree they were not running 12 mph. Maybe 12 min miles. No possible way it was 12 mph.

[badger]

I don't bother with that show anymore, too. It used to be inspiring how the contestants slimmed down after they went home, but everything's just been overplayed. It's much like Survivor; the first few seasons were interesting, but they just keep getting nastier, more drama-loving people to one up the season before.

TBL just keep getting bigger and bigger people and, unfortunately for me, the novelty's worn off and I'm no longer interested in watching it.

[indysteel]

When I first became active about 8 years ago, if I thought I had to start out at that level, I never would have taken that first step into the gym- and I wasn't nearly as heavy or out of shape as they appear to be.
I wonder if the show encourages people to get moving, or intimidates them?

Have you ever watched the AMC show Heavy? I've seen previews, but have never watched it. It seems like it does a better job of being realistic about life changes, not just short-term huge weight loss (but I don't know- I've never actually seen it).

I've watched several episodes of Heavy. I like it far better than TBL. It follows two people per episode, and you really get some insight into their lives. They spend the first month of their journey at a facilty where they work with personal trainers, dieticians and therapists. The workouts look hard, but they do seem to more geared to their size and conditions. After that month, they are sent home, where they continue to work with a trainer. If they struggle at home (and many do), they return to the facility. At the end of six months, they graduate witha final weigh in. There have been some extraordinary results. The show really focuses more on the emotional aspects of their journey. What led them to be obese in the first place, what issues they need to confront to recover, and what changes need to be made in their family dynamic to be successful. Many of them have obsese partners, children and extended families. I think the show tries not to be as exploitave as TBL, but it IS still reality tv.

[emily_in_nc]

I've watched several episodes of Heavy. I like it far better than TBL. It follows two people per episode, and you really get some insight into their lives. They spend the first month of their journey at a facilty where they work with personal trainers, dieticians and therapists. The workouts look hard, but they do seem to more geared to their size and conditions. After that month, they are sent home, where they continue to work with a trainer. If they struggle at home (and many do), they return to the facility. At the end of six months, they graduate witha final weigh in. There have been some extraordinary results. The show really focuses more on the emotional aspects of their journey. What led them to be obese in the first place, what issues they need to confront to recover, and what changes need to be made in their family dynamic to be successful. Many of them have obsese partners, children and extended families. I think the show tries not to be as exploitave as TBL, but it IS still reality tv.

+1 -- I think "Heavy" is far more realistic, thoughtful, and "deep" than TBL. Instead of it being all about competition and a "game", it seems to be about people making real changes in their lives, in more than just diet and exercise. It's well done and often very touching and/or heart-wrenching.

Monday nights at 10pm (EST) on A&E, for any who are interested.

[indysteel]

+1 -- I think "Heavy" is far more realistic, thoughtful, and "deep" than TBL. Instead of it being all about competition and a "game", it seems to be about people making real changes in their lives, in more than just diet and exercise. It's well done and often very touching and/or heart-wrenching.

Monday nights at 10pm (EST) on A&E, for any who are interested.

The last one I saw really got me. The woman who shaved her head was just so brave in my book. I loved her. I cheered for her when she finally realized that she was worth putting first for a change. I hope she's still doing well; she looked fantastic.

[zoom-zoom]

I agree they were not running 12 mph. Maybe 12 min miles. No possible way it was 12 mph.

12mph is top speed on many treadmills. I know quite a few age group and small race award-winners who struggle to run that pace for more than a few miles--and these are super-fit individuals. I call major BS. This is what it looks like:
YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNIKyL0eYGs)

[malkin]

Huh?

You lost me here:)


She sounds like she has chronically abused her voice, which despite the popular appeal of hoarse vocal quality as 'sexy' it really isn't healthy. Vocal abuse can lead to vocal nodules or in some cases laryngeal cancer. It isn't pretty.

[Tri Girl]

AMC ooops- I meant A&E. I do that ALL the time.:rolleyes:
I will record Heavy tomorrow and watch it. I've been intrigued. I think dealing with the emotions is FAR more important than just creating new habits because if you don't deal with that- you're not going to be able to sustain any permanent changes and it's too easy to fall back into old habits IMO (says the woman who went to therapy and didn't like uncovering things so stopped going :rolleyes:).

[malkin]

I re-read the earlier threads just now and see that you are a speech pathologist.

How does one abuse their voice? Practicing the 'command' voice where they lose their voice, then get it back in a deeper, and scratchier, version of what they used to have?

It can lead to cancer? OMG!

Yes.
On all counts.

The cancer connection is not well established, especially in comparison to the big obvious cancer risks like tobacco use.

Cancer aside, imagine Jillian as a trainer in a noisy gym---but aphonic, that is, completely unable to make a sound from her voice! Bummer!

But straining pitch up or down, or pushing volume or simple over use can cause damage. It really isn't surprising when you remember that the vocal folds are really pretty tiny little bits of tissue performing a remarkable function.

More info here: http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/voice.htm

[indysteel]

I'm in the middle of the latest episode of Heavy (I can get it on demand), and the format is slightly different. Different facility; different trainers, and they're spending an extended period at the facility. I have to say I don't like it as well. I think the longer they're "quarantined, the harder it will be to extend these changes to their real life. Plus, I think it just makes viewers feel like "well, I can't afford that; it's not realistic.".

Maybe it's just a one-off. I'll have to see what next week's show is like. It's not that the changes ruin the show; I just don't like it as well.

[malkin]

I always wonder what the people eat and what else they do.

We see them for about an hour each week, and they work out and eat fiber cereal and processed turkey, but it doesn't seem any more real than an episode of the Brady Bunch.

I'd love to go and spend six weeks at "the ranch," wouldn't you? Maybe a bunch of us could go; we'd ride bikes and swim and work out and go for hikes and ignore the trainers and make great food and have a ton of fun. (We might have to smuggle in the beer.)

I'd even weigh in with the rest of 'em, and I'd be sad when I had to go home, but only because it was fun there.

[channlluv]

I'd love to spend six weeks at that ranch, but I wouldn't want to have people shouting at me to run faster. The rest of it's like a spa or summer camp.

And hey, 12mph is my average speed on the bike. Ha!

Maybe Jillian meant crank the effort up to 12, like Spinal Tap cranks it to 11.

Roxy

[Susan]

I'd love to go and spend six weeks at "the ranch," wouldn't you? Maybe a bunch of us could go; we'd ride bikes and swim and work out and go for hikes and ignore the trainers and make great food and have a ton of fun. (We might have to smuggle in the beer.)

I'd even weigh in with the rest of 'em, and I'd be sad when I had to go home, but only because it was fun there.


I would love to do that :) maybe we should ask ;)
My husband and I are always so envious of the great training facilities they have on TBL. (I would even take the trainers.)

To be honest, I always love to watch the show. I know it's just reality TV, not realistic and sometimes stupid. Still I love to see the "Last chance workout", sweating contestants, screaming trainers while I work out at home.
It has been motivating for me when I first started out to see that you can get moving no matter how heavy you are. Of course I was never nearly as heavy as the contestants and I see that it's dubious if someone so heavy should be working out that hard. Also, it takes me about a year to lose the weight some of the contestants seem to lose in one week.
But we are all grown up and know that it's "just TV and not real" :p

[Zenn]

I have never watched an entire season of BL but there is one that stands out in my head. It was the first episode where the contestants had to play for their place. It was all couples. They were all put on exercise bikes and had to pedal 42 miles. Both bikes (per couple) contributed to the distance - so not 42 miles per person, it was 42 miles per couple. But even still!!! That is a flipping long way for the mobidly obese! Ask me i know!

I am obese and am trying flipping hard to lose it. This month i have completed two 65km cycle races and it was HARD GOING but i did it. But i have been cycling for 8 months and i spin 4x per week. And Jillian thinks its ok to put people of that size onto bikes and pedal 42 miles? It is absurd. And downright dangerous as far as i am concerned.

Jillian is a complete fraud. She now has shakes and diet pills out there on the market. Various other supplements too. Whilst i may be morbidly obese myself (260lbs), there is NO quick fix nor is there a replacement for good exercise and good food. Yet she comes out with all this quick fix stuff? Whatever is the woman thinking? She is starting to do more harm than good as far as i am concerned.

Eat clean, exercise and stay off the pills and crap should be the message she sends out, not all this other gungho rubbish.

Grrrrrrrrr......

[Susan]

The sad thing about the TBL trainers is that they absolutely know what they are talking about, and when you look at things contestants are eating they seem to learn how to eat clean and healthy. Then there are those product placements that promote products that aren't clean AT ALL and sell them to overweight people watching the show.
Jillians weight loss book Master you Metabolism makes complete sense to me and IS about eating clean and working out etc. She seems to take this really serious. And still she sells that crap you described.

I know it's about the money. But there is a huge conflict of interests between promoting a clean healthy lifestyle and selling shakes and diet pills and the advertisement of breakfast cereals, fastfood and chewing gum etc.

[zoom-zoom]

Don't forget about that guy who ran the marathon and cheated, either. BL had him hop into a van and skip several miles of the course, dumping him out close to the finish. I've never watched the show, but that story pretty much killed any degree of validity they ever hoped to have, IMO.

[emily_in_nc]

The last one I saw really got me. The woman who shaved her head was just so brave in my book. I loved her. I cheered for her when she finally realized that she was worth putting first for a change. I hope she's still doing well; she looked fantastic.

She was awesome! She brought tears to my eyes. That's what I like about this show. It's not strategy and alliances, as TBL can be at times, it's stories of human beings trying to improve themselves in a variety of ways, along with their bodies. Even though I am very fortunate that I am not overweight, I still find this show inspiring, as we all have areas of our lives that need work.

[TsPoet]

haven't seen the show - but are you sure it isn't 12 min miles? = 5 mph? That's my trot on a treadmill speed. that is also the units my treadmill reads.

[zoom-zoom]

haven't seen the show - but are you sure it isn't 12 min miles? = 5 mph? That's my trot on a treadmill speed. that is also the units my treadmill reads.

This is what I suspect, as well. BIG dif. between 12 min/mi. and 12mph. When I first started running my miles were 12-13 min/mile...and I wasn't more than 15#s overweight. This seems a WAY more likely scenario.

[malkin]

Maybe Jillian meant crank the effort up to 12, like Spinal Tap cranks it to 11.


Good one!