the biggest loser show is that healthy

i am courious what other individuals think of in regards to the hit tv show the biggest loser. how do they do it and can losing that much weight over a short period of time be healthy. people drop numbers like 20 pounds in a week and i find it mind boggling.
i go to the gym 5 days a week and i stay within my proper calorie count and i am dropping small amounts per week WHATS THE DEAL! am i doing it properly or does this show give mixed messages.

I'm not sure, because I have always wondered this myself.  But, I think I read somewhere that there is a lot of dehydration on that show and not-so-practical ways of weight lost (think of that last workout they do before getting on the scale... and they may not eat before weighing... you never know).

I think it is a great show because the people on there really do deserve a chance at change to feel better about themselves, and if that is what works, than more power to them.  A lot of them keep up very healthy lifestyles afterwards, so it can't be too out there. 

I think there are a couple of reasons these people can generate such a significant weight loss.  First of all, it is much easier to lose weight when you are extremely overweight as many of the contestants are.  Also, all they do, all day, every day, is try to lose weight!  They aren't going to work for 8 hrs a day, and cooking dinner for their family when they get home, etc.  They are exercising.  It's one of the things that I really don't like about that show.  It's just not realistic enough for me.  And I think it sets people up to have unrealistic expectations.  But that might just be my opinion.

I'm always amazed the contestants don't go into cadiac arrest what with going from sitting around eating cakes to working out all day.

I personally don't think that the methods on TBL are the best to produce long-term results for normal people.  Most people don't have the time and/or discipline to keep up such strenuous workout regimes long-term, and for regular people, there should not be the huge RUSH to get to a healthy weight.  Steady, but slower weight loss is more likely to lead to long-term success.

 That being said, I do think TBL is a great development because it DOES show that diet and exercise can help even very heavy people achieve a healthy body weight.  It gives obese people hope and inspiration that they can do it too.  I know it was an inspiration for me. Before TBL, the only thing on TV showing people losing lots of weight were infomercial scams and fad diets, so I think TBL is a BIG step in the right direction and am glad for its success.  I just hope people realize it's a contest and that their own regimen needn't (shouldn't) be so extreme.

Like everything else on TV I think it's taken to the extreme. These people have no idea what to eat or what to do and then they go to the other extreme.

I also read the article in Time about some of the unhealthy practices. A few of the past contestants have admitted that they couldn't keep up what they looked like in the finale. They did dehydrate themselves for the weigh-ins and who can work out for 4 hours a day? That said, there is a good percentage of them who took what they learned and have stayed at a healthy weight.

I like watching the show because I find it keeps me motivated to be healthy. Also, in the last season they did address the issue of not eating enough and it stalling weight loss which is good for people (especially those on here eating under1200) to see what really happens. It's also good to see that sometimes when you do everything right, you may not see results.

 

Original Post by angelyna:

Like everything else on TV I think it's taken to the extreme. These people have no idea what to eat or what to do and then they go to the other extreme.

I also read the article in Time about some of the unhealthy practices. A few of the past contestants have admitted that they couldn't keep up what they looked like in the finale. They did dehydrate themselves for the weigh-ins and who can work out for 4 hours a day? That said, there is a good percentage of them who took what they learned and have stayed at a healthy weight.

I like watching the show because I find it keeps me motivated to be healthy. Also, in the last season they did address the issue of not eating enough and it stalling weight loss which is good for people (especially those on here eating under1200) to see what really happens. It's also good to see that sometimes when you do everything right, you may not see results.

Yeah, I think reasonably intelligent people realize that this is a contest and that this is really not the best way for the average person to approach weight loss.  Heck, if I was on the show, I'd eat a LOT less, dehydrate, you name it, because the cash is a major motivation, not to mention all the PR hay - If you won, you could open your own gym and be guaranteed an instant clientele - or it could help enormously with any number of other careers as well.  Not quite the lottery, but definitely worth a little reckless dieting.

I do hope that not too many people get discouraged when their results don't happen as fast. But I do enjoy the show.  I'm overseas and can't get it on TV - I have been thinking about downloading torrents of the new season.  Do you think it's worth downloading?  Is it pretty good this year?

One of the things I really like about the show are the workout DVDs it has produced. My favorite is the first one with Bob Harper. The cardio kicks my ass, and the sculpt and tone is great! And Bob is so cute and funny. Also because I've seen the show so much, when I watch the DVD and see the contestants working out its like I'm working out with people I know!

what a great and extremely inspirational show :-)...yes, everything they do to lose weight on there is 100% supervised and done in a completely healthy manner....what you must remember is weight loss is proportional to the amount that one weighs...most of those people start of morbidly obese and therefore are going to lose more than if it were just some average person trying to drop 10 pounds they picked up over the holidays....their exercise routines are also extremely rigorous, and it is amazing how they force and motivate themselves to do something even average sized people would have difficulty doing

Overall I do think the show is a good thing, because it showcases a major problem in north america, that being obesity.  And I think seeing other people face their demons and defeat them encourages others to do the same. 

That said, I think it may be wise to include some kind of disclaimer..because the drastic change these people endure should be supervised by healthcare professionals, like it is on the show.  Or maybe at the end just put an asterisk and then the words "results not typical", like in every diet product add ever.

TBL is great entertainment, but it's not particularly informative.  you really can't learn anything from it.  and all the product placement and cross marketing is starting to drive me nuts - the show if fueling a whole industry.

i actually think it might be discouraging to people who are severely obese.  it would be easy to get the sense that it's impossible to lose weight withou jillian michaels screaming at you.

I love seeing those big numbers come up and I know that it is not realistic to expect that from my weightloss.  It is amazing what they accomplish.  Kay was a true inspiration.  She should have won last year.

my favourite thing about the show, now, is jillian doing therapy.  i love the way she beats people down all day long so that when she says something nice, they dissolve.

i'm not even being sarcastic.  when she had her little heart-to-heart with neill a couple of weeks ago, i actually cried.

No, it's not healthy -- that's why the show employs 4 doctors to monitor the contestants closely .  Good insights in this New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/fashion/18L oser.html ;

First up I love the show. What I find fascinating is  how much fear is an issue for people when it comes to weight loss. Fear of failure, of working out. But I wish they would show more about their diets too. What are they really eating each week?

Thank you for the link tgpish. I do want more information on what the heck they're actually doing.

 Meanwhile this season. I'm pulling for the 53 year old funky mama, Betty Sue.

I have never been a fan of this show for many of the reasons that you all address........BUT, this show has inspired our family and a few friends to Make some serious lifestyle changes with the incentive of health and $$$$$$$.  Whomever loses the most % of weight in 8 weeks takes the $500.00 pot. 

 It has made us all accountable for our habits as we all weigh in once a week.  What an education process this has been as many of us were athletes that have fallen into terrible habits over the years and have let us overweight! 

 Here's to Healthy LifeStyle Changes.  For many of us, this is simply diet and exercise.  WHAT A CONCEPT!  

I just started watching the show this season.  I will also say it's the ONLY thing (other than football) that I watch.

I know that since I don't have someone providing my food and the option to do nothing but rigorous work-outs everyday that I won't loose that much weight weekly.  I am just as overweight as those contestants (need to loose 60+#'s).  I see them in their struggles and it encorages me so much. It's a weekly dose of encouragement!

I have picked up a lot of pointers from the show.  I do wish they would focus more on the foods that they prescribe. I think that is the hardest part of a "health conscious" life-style. (At least for me.)

ok, I watched last nights show.  They sent everyone home and they had to eat and exercise on their own.  Please tell me how the men on the blue team lost the weight that they lost?  13 pounds in ONE week?!?  They have to be doing something drastic, but what? 

I think they stuck to their exercise and diet.  They exercise A LOT!

Most of the sources I have read state that the body can really only healthily process 1-2 pounds of fat per week. I'm not sure how these people are losing it, but it seems to me that it would be a lot healthier and more sensible for those of us not on reality TV to take it slower.