Re: Biggest Loser Update

[Guest guest]

I also watched the 'Biggest Loser Update' last night. I was especially intrigued

by the story of one 'loser' who regain most of the weight he lost on the show.

After the show he stopped doing the intense exercise training which the show

promotes to lose weight. He also started bringing 'bad' foods into his house.

Those 2 differences point out why intense restriction and exercise don't keep

weight off long term.

'Biggest Loser' constantly teaches its participants that there are 'good' and

'bad' foods. So they never learn how to normally eat (in moderate quantities)

the foods which they overate while they gained weight. The show also does not

teach its participants a normal, day-to-day exercise method which will keep them

active, but not make exercise the focal point of their lives. Some show

participants who keep their weight off manage to find a middle ground between

intense exercise and no exercise at all. Others exercise much more, perhaps

believing that they must exercise off excess calories from any 'bad' foods they

consume.

I wish those kind of weight loss shows would teach people how to listen to and

obey their hunger/fullness sensations, rather than use intense exercise and food

restriction for quick (but not always permanent) weight loss. However, the

exercise gyms and diet food industries wouldn't profit from weight loss shows

which teach intuitive eating.

SUE

>

> i did watch parts of biggest loser update last night & it seems to me that

being on tv when losing a great deal of weight must put some people in that 5%

of success category. they had updates on 40 (i think) past contestants & with

the exception of one, these people were continuing to keep their weight off. i

think it has a lot to do with the fact that many of them have become trainers

(personal or group). back in the early 80s i lost 60 lbs on a low cal diet and

with the exception of about 10 lbs, i kept it off for about 10 years. the way i

did it was by teaching aerobics classes. as soon as i gave that up the weight

started to creep back on & it was a rollercoaster of dieting after that. i

still exercise but i think being in the spotlight back then ( & much younger)

must have made me more conscious or something.

> any one else see the show? what did you think?

>

[Guest guest]

Sue,

I enjoyed reading your post. I'm not surprised that contestant gained back the weight, and I don't want to wish anyone ill, but I bet once the spotlight is off those people, more of them will eventually regain weight.

Laurie

Subject: Re: Biggest Loser UpdateTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 11:55 AM

I also watched the 'Biggest Loser Update' last night. I was especially intrigued by the story of one 'loser' who regain most of the weight he lost on the show. After the show he stopped doing the intense exercise training which the show promotes to lose weight. He also started bringing 'bad' foods into his house. Those 2 differences point out why intense restriction and exercise don't keep weight off long term.