Yes, I admit I am watching TBL this season, but as I watch I become more and more horrified at the unhealthy - and ultimately unsustainable - tactics.  No one with a life/ job/ spouse/ kids can possibly maintain 6-hour daily workouts.  I would LOVE to see Discovery Channel or some other egghead network do a long-term weight loss show, following people who commit to a realistic and healthy weight loss program.  Save up footage and give us a documentary after three years or something.  Start to address and deconstruct the "instant gratification" mentality in this country!!

I never miss it!  I hoping for much less drama this year and more of an emphasis on information.  I was impressed with the show this week because they talked more about nutrition in general.  What to eat, calories in, calories out.  I also liked the challenge change instead of just giving out immunity.   There was such controversy last year over immunity and how people used that as an excuse to not lose weight.

I agree, I watched it for one or two seasons until I looked at The Biggest Loser book.  Not only is the amount of exercise they do unrealistic, but the diet is near starvation.  I'm 5'3" and 120 lbs and could not survive on the minuscule portions that these much larger people are eating.  It's no wonder many of them put the weight back on once they leave the show.

I think what everyone has to remember is that TBL is a reality show - no matter what!  Totally unrealistic workouts (for the everyday average person) and ridiculously small portions of food - definitely aids their accelerted weight loss.  I love watching the show for one thing and one thing only - it reminds me of what my goals are and to just keep going!   The show does give really good tips and for that I have learned alot!

Once we all set our minds to what our goals are - nothing can stop us!!

I love the show and find it inspiring.  The point isn't that everyone has to work out 6 hours a day and eat miniscule amounts of food.  The point is that some people realize they have gone way too far and need help.  This is a chance for them to jump start themselves as well as to inspire others along the way.  Remember that from early on, some contestants get sent home and they DO have to continue working at it while juggling family and work and life.  Most of them do so.  They just needed something to jerk them out of their unhealthy ruts and thinking.  There are many people who see the show and think, "I can do that."  People know that they won't be able to work out 6 hours a day.  They don't think, "Oh well, guess I can't lose weight, then."  They realize it can come off a little at a time if they just get moving and start healthy eating habits. 

I say bravo! 

Here in Canada, we have a show called X-weighted.  It's on a Canadian channel called Slice (the videos are available on the Slice website - www.slice.ca but I'm not sure if the content can be watched outside of Canada).  The contestants make a 6 month goal and have to adjust their lifestyle (including kids, jobs, home life, etc) in order to reach their goal.  It's not overly dramatic like most American shows are.  (I don't think I can stand American TV anymore - it just DRIPS with drama and emotions... lets get real people!!!)

Sometimes the people win, sometimes they don't.  But it's real.  Most do end up acheiving their goal, and it's absolutely amazing to see a real six month transformation!

My favourite part is that most of the contestants are from western Canada, and are usually from Alberta or British Columbia, so I get excited when I see places I know on TV.  :D

Other programs on a similar theme are The Last 10 Pounds Boot Camp, and Bulging Brides.  Both are exclusively filmed in Vancouver, and the personal trainer, Tommy Europe, is one HOT TICKET (and pretty funny too)!  Makes just watching worthwhile...  ;)

And it's not a fake lifestyle like TBL - NO ONE can work out that long every day and still have kids and cook dinner and have a relationship with their significant other.  All of these shows are about balancing healthy living and eating with a regular lifestyle... not living in a gym complex with food provided for you.

No, after accompaning a friend attending an open casting session for Biggest Loser I could care less about the show.  It preys on obese people and makes millions off the contestants who are able to keep their weight down.  You are locked in to the producers for life, also the show is staged on eliminations..... it is all about the cold hard cash biggest loser makes off obese people.  Same as the 34 billion dollar a year the diet corporations make off hopeful, despaired humans.

Wake up America!  Biggest Loser doesn't film 24/7, they cut and edit only what they want you, the viewers to see.  Look at all the Biggest Loser products for you to spend your money on.  Meanwhile they are laughing all the way to the bank.

What kind of society are we that makes a person who has lost weight a national hero?  We have plenty of heros in Afganistan right now defending your way of life.

If you eat when you are not hungry then it's a mind/emotional thing.  You will never lose weight if you do not address your psyche as to why you are eating when you are not hungry. 

Yes, I am watching this season.  I felt bad when Allie went home and her Mom still had junk food around...who does that?

I am proud of her that she kept going though despite not having support at home

I watch TBL when I happen to run into while surfing through the channels. I am 38 years old, 5ft 2in tall and weighing in at 158. Five weeks ago I decided to do something abou it. I am diligently counting calories and exercise 7 hours a week through the course of four days. I do everything from cardio to pilates, weight lifting to yoga. Slowly I have watched myself take shape and the workouts are becoming easier for me. TBL is just more motivation for me and I will take it where I can get it. I understand the frustration from Slimshoppin. My husband has served his country for the last 18 years of his life. Reality is what it is. Heros come in all shapes and sizes. Without the war, we would not have heros coming home from Iraq. Without doctors we would not have life saving miracles. And lets face it, without Americans becoming more and more obese we would not have Jillian Michaels and the HEROS that have helped to make her rich and successful.

I record it and then watch it on the treadmill. I find it motivating to know that everyone must exercise daily and have a healthy lifestyle so that we don't become over weight. I don't know how they work as hard as they do on that show, I am kind of fit and not sure I could handle it. I fastforward thru the boring, dramatic parts and love to see the amazing results. I think if they can do it, then I can maintain my weight.

I think the reality is that TBL isn't for everyone, but if it motivates some to make changes in their lives then it is worth it.  Sure,  I wish there were more variety of weight loss shows, but this one gives me motivation to know that if they can do it, so can I.

I agree with cbenvy! 

A TRUE reality show about people who are going through every day struggles while trying to get to their healthiest lifestyle!

Original Post by: cbenevy

Yes, I admit I am watching TBL this season, but as I watch I become more and more horrified at the unhealthy - and ultimately unsustainable - tactics.  No one with a life/ job/ spouse/ kids can possibly maintain 6-hour daily workouts.  I would LOVE to see Discovery Channel or some other egghead network do a long-term weight loss show, following people who commit to a realistic and healthy weight loss program.  Save up footage and give us a documentary after three years or something.  Start to address and deconstruct the "instant gratification" mentality in this country!!

"I would LOVE to see Discovery Channel or some other egghead network do a long-term weight loss show, following people who commit to a realistic and healthy weight loss program. "

We already have that cbenevy - it's call Calorie Count!  I joined the CC Biggest Losser Challenge #16 in August and really find it interesting and motivating to "meet" and read how fellow teammates and contestants meet their objectives and weekly challenges, or if they miss, they pick themselves up and start again.  These are real people dealing with family, kids, work, heartbreaks, etc. supporting each other. Nobody gets "eliminated" or "voted off the island".

Yeay Calorie Count!

caloriecounter16 - where is this CC Biggest Loser Comp?  I would like to join :)

I too am a huge fan of TBL! :) It's probably my favorite show out there. I favor the opinion that while it's a tv show with drama, etc. - it also IS the contestants' job for the time being to get healthy and obviously at a faster rate, as it's a 'reality show'. Though they also must learn, when sent home (whether eliminated or some point on the show) how to adapt what they've learned on the show to really making those tactics work sensibly in their 'everyday' lives.  Thus, the show is that 'jumpstart' for them.

Overall, if these people, or so many of Americans (obese or not) followed a regular diet/exercise program, didn't allow the massive portion sizes in restaurants, fast food places, etc. deter them or allow the negatives of life to get to them....then they (many Americans) would all be much better off, right? and America wouldn't need such agressive 'fire under your butt' ways to get them going.  Though, while 'agressive' for the show's purpose, it also translates into general inspiration. TBL, imo, promotes more how 'everyday' people can find time/ways to exercise and eat right, no matter their lifestyle and to keep at it. Then at the same time relaying an  even deeper message of how to tackle the internal reasons for how one got overweight/obese in the first place and all while motivating to keep up the healthy lifestyle.  Those messages are really what TBL is about...exercise/eating right and being able to face your internal demons to stay healthy....not just about the reality tv aspects. :)

Ideas like year+ long documentaries are great too...but that's a different take is all. 

TBL, imo, is more of a motivational/'fire under your butt' inspiration to get the healthy lifestyle started and tools for how to better the life of oneself as well as how to 'pay it forward' to families, friends and communities. :)

:)

I agree that this show is completely unrealistic.  The show can get discouraging when you see people losing 30 lb in ONE WEEK and it takes you several months to see that kind of weight loss.  I think it can definitely be inspiring when you just focus on the health information you can get from the show, but I think sometimes the show can do more damage than good if viewers don't constantly remind themselves of what healthy weight loss looks like. 

Touche slimshoppin (posted Sep 30, 2010 05:13 PM)! 

Original Post by: shanlouise

caloriecounter16 - where is this CC Biggest Loser Comp?  I would like to join :)

Go to the Community Tab (to the right of the My Account Tab); select Overview.

You will see the "Hot Forum Topics" listed there.  Click on "Games and Challenges"

This will take yo the the Games and Challenges page. 2nd down is the group I belong to:Biggest Loser Challenge Part 16. It started in August and goes for 8 weeks.  It is closed for new members, but I see that 2 groups below is a notice for an "October Weight Loss Challenge" which is still accepting sign ups as well as "Roll Call October 2010 - Exercise Challenge" and the "4th Quarter 2010 Challenge" - which are also accepting new members.  There is also a forum for someone who just wants to make one small change a week.

Just one warning - don't sign up for too many challenges at once - just pick one you can stick with.

If you want a Biggest Loser Challenge - keep coming back to this page (Games and Challenges) and keep an eye out for the next "Biggest Loser Challenge".  It seems that eventually, someone wants to run one.  These seem to come up pretty regularly.  You could may be ask the moderators if there is one planned and when.  If you want, you can maybe do some smaller challenges, while you wait for that one.

Good luck to you, and don't let the up coming holiday season knock you off course!

I have never been impressed with this show.  Unrealistic expectations and results coupled with the public humiliation atmosphere make it very distasteful to me.   

I agree with the comments above that The Biggest Loser sets out unrealistic exercise goals. I have bought Jillian's tapes "Last Chance Workout" and I have found that they start to make my knees hurt so bad it's almost impossible to stick with them. I love Jillian but the tape confirms what I suspected after watching teh show: that the contestants are trading their joint health for the sake of losing pounds too quickly. There's just no way that a 400 pound man or women should be jumping up and down on normal human knees. I prefer to watch the Canadian show "slice" and also to follow the health plans on natural health websites like collectivewizdom. Their link is

http://www.collectivewizdom.com and I just find that they focus on long-term health in a way that makes sense for people who are seriously overweight. Same for www.slice.ca

My God, do we have to sacrifice our knees and ankles to lose weight. That's my 2 cents, anyway.