The Biggest Loser - Opinions?

[OakLeaf]

You look great, abejita! (ScaldedCat too, if she comes back...)

I was just reading this in a waiting room last night. It's a pretty condensed summary, but basically, it says that the neurochemical basis for physical, calorie-deprived hunger, and for "psychologically" based "cravings," is pretty much identical. You really have to engage your mind, step back and analyze what your body is asking for, because your body is asking for it in almost exactly the same way in either case.

"Only eat when you're hungry" doesn't work for someone who hasn't done this analysis and learned to listen very, very closely to their body, because we ARE hungry when we're trying to stuff emotions by smothering them in food, or something similar. And then there's the other part of the equation, that some people can eat in a disordered fashion and stay slender, and other people can eat exactly the same way and gain.

Nothing made it clearer to me than when I was on a medication that caused weight gain. I didn't realize it was the medication that made me gain. But when I went off it, within four months I'd lost the 20# I'd gained on the med. No change in appetite. No change in eating habits. No change in activity. Nothing but a chemical change in my metabolism caused, in this case, by a single added substance.

[abejita]

Great article Oakleaf. This paragraph stood out to me:

Food, like sex, is associated with pleasure. This is nature’s way of encouraging us to eat. The feel-good aspect of food is one important cause of overeating. The link between the brain’s reward mechanism and overeating is something that scientists are still trying to figure out.

I think that another interesting aspect that the article didn't touch on is that so much of the processed food is engineered to trigger the pleasure center in your brain. Somebody asked how those people didn't know that they were eating so poorly. I am sure at some level they do, but those foods are engineered in a lab to trigger the same parts of your brain as drugs. People literally get addicted to junk food. It can be as hard a habit to kick as smoking, drinking or other drugs. I am thankful everyday that that wasn't a battle that I ever had to fight.

[Pedal Wench]

Wow, Mary and Scalded Cat - great transformations!!!!

I'm loving the talk about image too. I've never been really heavy - heaviest was 135 at 5'4", but in my mind, well, I am. Actually, I'm not that much different weight-wise now, but the difference between an exercising 135 and a sit-on-the-sofa-drinking-martinis 135 is huge. Like others, there's a photo that makes me cringe. And for anyone struggling with the scale - it's tricky. One time at 135, I was a size 10. And now, that 135 is a size 4. However, I think that's why I can relate so much to people's struggle - in my head, it's my struggle too. In my head, I'm about 5'9" and 175. That's what I see in the mirror. I just laugh when people say something about me being short, or thin. I just don't see - or feel it.

[limewave]

A few weeks ago I went to a specialty clothing shop. The clerk greeted me at the door and directed me to the "Small" section after doing a quick once-over. So weird! I used to wear a size 26.

[GLC1968]

It can be as hard a habit to kick as smoking, drinking or other drugs.

In some ways, I'd say it's even harder because you cannot abstain from all food like you can from smoking, drinking or drugs. No matter how dependent you are on food, you still have to keep eating it to survive. Abstinence is impossible.

[abejita]

Yea, it is not like you can just not have it in the house or stay away from people who eat...

[limewave]

Yea, it is not like you can just not have it in the house or stay away from people who eat...

Or the people who push food on you! Or feel the need to make a comment on what I'm eating. I HATE THAT.

[Becky]

Or the people who push food on you! Or feel the need to make a comment on what I'm eating. I HATE THAT.

Don't forget the ones who criticize when you do have a little treat....

[Tri Girl]

Don't forget the ones who criticize when you do have a little treat....

I *hate* that. "Are you still on WW?" Yes, I am, dangit- I'm just having a treat! It's like when people make comments to me about "did you ride" on really crappy, snowy days when they know good and well that I didn't.