The Biggest Loser - Opinions?

[Tri Girl]

I watch it, too, but know it's changed since it's inception. It was more about the lifestyle changes and learning how to live healthier in the beginning, but I feel it's gotten way more "commercial" and out to sell merchandise/items lately. Might be just me, but it seems like they're trying to find heavier people and push them harder (bigger, faster, more).
I can't wait for the special tonight. It is inspiring to see people change their lives. As someone who lost 35 lbs with WW only to gain it all back plus 5- I feel their pain. It was so incredibly difficult for me to go from "dieting to lose" to "eating to maintain." I can't imagine trying to keep 100+ pounds off.

[Crankin]

I've only seen a few of these shows because the first hour is on against my favorite show (NCIS).
But, I agree with everyone who said that the work outs seem a bit over strenuous for that population, given their history of inactivity and medical issues. I did see the first show this season and when that person fainted and had to be taken away in an ambulance, I thought about what kind of message it sent to the general public. It goes against everything I learned when I was training to be a fitness instructor. Aren't they afraid of the liability issues?
The show seems to be doing some things right, like addressing the emotional aspects of eating, but really, who has 8 hours a day to exercise.
Get those people on a bike!

[NoNo]

They alluded to this season's first episode in the article, but I think it served as a wake-up call about how out-of-shape a lot of people are, not that they're pushing them too far. It was a mile, no one said they had to run it. Just walk a mile. I bet if you asked any of those people before they started, they'd say "Oh, I could walk a mile!" It sounds so simple. But then you got the reality of how bad a condition they were in. I hear my dad say things like that all the time, and then he's sucking wind after going up a flight of stairs. Maybe that was the wake-up some people needed to say "Gee, maybe things aren't as rosy as I like to think they are".

[badger]

like everyone else, I've also wondered what happened to the previous contestants. I've tried to look them up before, and there's not much info out there on them so I just assumed they all gained back their weight.

It's all hunky dory when you're at the ranch and you get all the time in the world to work out and get support on food and stuff, but when you're back to your real life, it must be more difficult to maintain their weight loss.

[GLC1968]

I have a mild obsession with the show. I didn't watch it for the first few seasons, but then one day, I saw an episode and I was hooked. I even plan my own workout/training schedule so that I have a rest day on Tuesdays so that I can watch 'guilt free'!

I get annoyed at the game playing, but I understand why they do it. And I agree that they should show more of the background information that they get about nutrition and training. Yes, it's not glamourous and yes this is a TV show first and foremost, but clearly these people are getting way more information and help than they show on TV.

And I was reading a commentary by one of the contestants about why they push them so hard. It's basically to remove a stereotype - that fat people can't exercise. They purposely push these people as hard as they do to 1) show the world that if THEY can do it, so can everyone else and 2) to show the contestants that they can do it. This guy was saying that prior to being on the show, he had NO idea what he was capable of and he really needed Jillian (I think he worked with Jillian) to show him that he was. I thought that was pretty telling.

Presumably, they screen the hell out of the contestants prior to signing them up. Yes, they want heavy people, but I would bet money that they make sure that no one is going to be a danger to themselves right off the bat.

While the show has it's faults, I figure that if I find it inspiring and I'm only a little overweight and still active...what could it do for others who are more sedentary than me? Hopefully, it gets them off the couch...product placement or not.

[PinkBike]

I've watched every season. I don't like the accelerated product plugging during the episodes. I think NBC must have pushed that - 30 Rock parodied it last year. I mean do Bob and Jillian actually chew Extra Sugar Free Gum, it's shameless.

Anyway, I watched last night's "where are they now," and the thing that really struck me was that wierd Dr. H. said in order for these people to keep the weight off they'd have to exercise 1.5 to 2 hours a day 4-5 days a week for the rest of their lives.

Talk about disheartening. I can see them totally giving up, I think I probably would. I mean Eric looked SO GOOD when he won, and he put it all back on.

But I was so sad for Matt(?) who missed his Ironman Finishing Qualifier by 3 minutes.

I'll keep watching it though.

[Grog]

Anyway, I watched last night's "where are they now," and the thing that really struck me was that wierd Dr. H. said in order for these people to keep the weight off they'd have to exercise 1.5 to 2 hours a day 4-5 days a week for the rest of their lives.

Talk about disheartening. I can see them totally giving up, I think I probably would. I mean Eric looked SO GOOD when he won, and he put it all back on.

Personally I find it rather realistic than weird or disheartening. Or even: nice! I enjoy moving my body in the outdoors, using my own strength to go places and do things. Personally I "exercise" about 90 minutes a day getting to and from work (hilly commute on my bike), plus walking around (sometimes several kilometers a day) and running. I don't have a weight problem, but certainly having an active lifestyle has helped.

There are shifting guidelines in the world of health-related exercise, but recently I've often heard 1-hour a day, 6 days a week for regular adults, to say nothing of people with a hard time keeping weight off...