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.