Re: The Biggest Loser

[Guest guest]

I love the show.. but wish they didn't kick people off! I want them all to

stay and lose the weight. I was shocked at the 22lbs in one week... But was

secretly happy they were JUST LIKE ME in week 2!

Suzie

>

> Have any of you been watching that show " The Biggest Loser? " Were you

> shocked by some of the weight losses the first week? 22 lbs. in one week?

I

> didn't even know that was humanly possible. This week's show sure put it

in

> perspective, didn't it?

>

> Do you think there's anything to be learned from that show? Do you agree

> with the teams who both think that the smallest person on the team is

least

> likely to lose a significant amount compared to the others? I really

wonder.

> Seems like a smaller overwieght person might be able to get healthy faster

> and thereby work harder and shed just as many lbs., maybe more, if

> metabolism plays a part.

>

> Just curious what some of you might have thought . . .

>

> Cindi

[Guest guest]

I've seen both episodes. I used to be a WW leader eons ago and between what

I learned from observing people and my own experiences here's my take on the

show. These are generalizations and there are always exceptions but most of

the time they will prove to be true.

With all things equal men lose faster than women. Ask any woman who has

started a weightloss program with her husband ! I've seen men get on the

scale and lose over 20lbs the first week.

Heavier people lose more weight in any given time than thinner people. The

fact is that it takes more effort for a heavier person to do the same task

as a thinner person therefore they burn more calories to accomplish it and

loose a greater amount of weight.

Younger people lose more weight in a given time than older people. As we

get older our metabolism slows down and even when you get the old furnace

rev ved up with lots of great WW food you may not lose as much as a younger

person. Of course there are a lot of variables on this point and you may be

the exception but it is gererally true

The second week blahs were predictable because of the work-outs. Just

because you work out harder doesn't mean you'll lose more weight. In a

rigorous work out like they are doing on the show you build muscle. You are

burning fat at the same time and becoming more fit but muscle is heavier

than fat so it's possible to actually gain weight if you work out hard like

they are in the show. Of course that doesn't mean that you shouldn't

exercise because becoming healthy is part of why we're here.

They are comparing apples to oranges and we haven't even talked about women

and their hormones LOL ! I will be surprised if the last 2 people aren't

male and they will probably be under 40. I don't think that the young man

who is over 400 lbs will make it either. I think that the whole thing is

too much for him and he is so overwhelmed that I don't see him getting in

gear in time to win

All I can say is that it's fun to watch but I wouldn't hire either one of

those trainers LOL !.

Ginny

260-186-129

Goal for 2004 380 Pages

Completed 485

The Biggest Loser

>

> Have any of you been watching that show " The Biggest Loser? " Were you

> shocked by some of the weight losses the first week? 22 lbs. in one week?

I

> didn't even know that was humanly possible. This week's show sure put it

in

> perspective, didn't it?

>

> Do you think there's anything to be learned from that show? Do you agree

> with the teams who both think that the smallest person on the team is

least

> likely to lose a significant amount compared to the others? I really

wonder.

> Seems like a smaller overwieght person might be able to get healthy faster

> and thereby work harder and shed just as many lbs., maybe more, if

> metabolism plays a part.

>

> Just curious what some of you might have thought . . .

>

> Cindi

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I absolutely think the show is exploitive, cruel to the participants,

and damaging to the public. Should we not be out to educate people?

1. They do not, obviously, EDUCATE people about what to expect with

weight loss. A large loss is " normal " (to some extent) the first week,

but after that you should expect 1-2 pounds. This is a healthy rate.

2. It is unfair to pit people against each other in weight loss. There

is so much that is out of your control. You and I can start at the

exact same weight, eat the same food, exercise the same amount of

time, and live the same lifestyle and I might still lose weight faster

than you. In fact, I might cheat and STILL lose weight faster than

you. Fair? Nope, but then it isn't a matter of fair. Our bodies all

work differently.

3. The PTs are working them WAY too hard. At one point one of the

women said her HR was up to 186 and he wouldn't let her quit. While I

will agree that we are ALL capable of way more than we probably do,

physically, to take a person who is morbidly obese and FORCE them to

continue to work when their HR is that high can be extremely

dangerous. What's the point? Get healthy or get ratings?

4. The way they all looked as they got off the scales last week

literally made me tear up. We all know what an emotional issue weight

loss is, and yet they are intentionally mentally torturing people. The

nastiness and back biting is disgusting. The guy who mocked Lizzeth

last week was absolutely horrible. NBC basically strips people down to

their core and exposes them, then lets them pick at each other like

buzzards at a rotting zebra carcass. What is this, some sort of weight

loss Lord of the Flies?

5. The woman PT is too thin. If you can see your hip bones, you do not

have enough body fat for functioning as a normal woman. She is a bad

role model.

6. Caroline Rhea is a VERY poor spokeswoman! When I was sick last year

and had to be forced to watch daytime TV in the hospital, she was

always bragging about how she went off her diet. She is obviously

overweight. How DARE she tell them, " Well you'd better do better next

week! " Excuse me pot...this is kettle, you're black. The host should

be someone who is fit, or is at least openly and SUCCESSFULLY losing

weight. I just wanted to kick her in her more than ample behind last

week.

The show literally sickens me. People's vulnerabilities should not be

entertainment. Hey, I like reality TV as much as the next guy...maybe

more. But this one, I'm sorry. It's cruel.

[Guest guest]

Tory Klementsen, MCP A+ said:

>

> I absolutely think the show is exploitive, cruel to the participants,

> and damaging to the public. Should we not be out to educate people?

<snip>

Tory,

Thanks for sharing your comments. I agree with you 100%. My wife and I

caught the second episode of this show, and I was sickened by the

competitiveness and the lack of knowledge, and especially by the fact that

they have to vote people off. Weight loss is an incredibly emotion-laden

issue in the United States, and to be told that you have to get off the

show because you probably won't lose enough weight can't possibly be

helpful in any way.

It's just another low in how far network executives will sink in order to

get ratings.

--

Sláinte,

S. Crawford (AIM: Buffalo2K)

http://www.mossroot.com http://www.stonegoose.com/catseyeview

" We live as though the world were how it should be,

to show it what it can be. "

-- " Angel " , Season 4 ep. 1

[Guest guest]

Cindi,

I watched the second one and was mortified. WHY don't they educate

these people instead of setting them up for failure. It seems

voyeuristic, at best. It doesn't even make sense to mix them up as they

do. It's comparing apples and oranges.

It's a tried and true no-brainer in our house: if my husband I

competed for weight loss, he would win. He's a man, 6'2 " , I am a 5'3 "

post-menopausal woman. The playing field is not even. It would

discourage the heck out of me to compete with him: he cheats regularly

and still loses more weight faster than me!

The Biggest Loser

Have any of you been watching that show " The Biggest Loser? " Were you

shocked by some of the weight losses the first week? 22 lbs. in one

week? I

didn't even know that was humanly possible. This week's show sure put it

in

perspective, didn't it?

Do you think there's anything to be learned from that show? Do you agree

with the teams who both think that the smallest person on the team is

least

likely to lose a significant amount compared to the others? I really

wonder.

Seems like a smaller overwieght person might be able to get healthy

faster

and thereby work harder and shed just as many lbs., maybe more, if

metabolism plays a part.

Just curious what some of you might have thought . . .

Cindi

[Guest guest]

There is also a celebrity weight loss reality show coming out, I think...

can't remember what network though.

Re: The Biggest Loser

Yes, they do tempt them. To be honest, that doesn't bother me so much.

They come out for a meal and there are all sorts of choices; good and

bad (calorie and fat-wise). They have to make appropriate choices.

Sometimes some of them will choose to have a few slices of bacon along

with something lower in calories. I guess it doesn't bother me because

at least in a way that's realistic and teaching them to learn to deal

with temptation. Too many people (we read it all the time) blame the

food, the situation (holiday, birthday, etc.), the company (mother,

spouse), and everything else under the sun rather than say " Wow,

there's something there that I love to eat and I really really want

it, but I'm an adult and I don't HAVE to eat it. I'm going to choose

not to. "

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm new here but just wanted to say something that I think might be

overlooked in the discussion of this show. The Biggest Loser isn't an

educational show, it's not a show that's meant to even really help the people on

it. It's on purely for entertainment and to try to draw in big ratings like all

of these reality shows. It's an illusion that they really care about the people

on it or the public other than for ratings so you can't take it as anything more

than another Survivor or Apprentice.

However, having said that, I like the show, and not for it's entertainment

value, but because those contestants are really trying to change their lives and

that alone motivates me. I think the show has done a good job of letting us see

inside of these people a little and I've learned things just from that.

Lastly, about getting rid of the smallest person. Looking at it from purely a

show business perspective, if they do the show again, you would think that

they'd need to have everyone the same weight to avoid a repeat of them kicking

the thinner people off. But on Survivor, they used to kick the old people off

first and after the first couple of seasons, that changed. I think if this show

continues, it will change for the thinner people too and they will see that

thinner doesn't always mean the slower loser.

Anyway, it's nice to be apart of this group, I am really enjoying how supportive

you all are to each other.

Barbra