I'm posting this in a couple of forums because I think it's a really good article about the Biggest Loser.


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Life as the Biggest Loser
Thursday, May. 31, 2007 By JULIE RAWE

Forget Survivor and The Amazing Race and all the other reality shows that feature generally good-looking, generally physically fit people running around doing generally silly things. In our nation of overstuffed couch potatoes, The Biggest Loser hits closer to real reality by combining the TV genre's outlandishness and greed with the more mundane goal of shedding unwanted pounds. With its $250,000 grand prize and dramatic stories of weight loss, the show is a natural for the nation's chubby, if not huddled, masses yearning to breathe free without having to unbutton their pants after a meal. More than 100,000 people applied to be on the show's fourth season, now in production, and more than 5 million have had their diets assessed on the show's biggestloserclub.com

But while the message of the show is inspiring, it is also unrealistic. The Biggest Loser achieves rapid transformations--contestants often drop more than 20 lbs. in a week--through calorie restriction, endless exercise and no small amount of dehydration that occurs behind the scenes. Ryan Benson, 38, an actor who works for a DVD distributor in Los Angeles, lost 122 lbs. to win the first season in January 2005 but says he regained 32 lbs. within five days simply by drinking water. Matt Hoover, 31, a motivational speaker based in Seattle, had a 15-lb. rebound within a day of winning Season 2. Last season's runner-up, Kai Hibbard, 28, an aerobics instructor in Alaska who says she spent the night before her final weigh-in hopping in and out of a sauna for six hours, consumed only sugar-free Jell-O for several days and wolfed down asparagus, which is a natural diuretic. "It's amazing the things you learn in a weight-loss competition," she says.

The show tries to prevent unhealthy behavior by making contestants keep food journals (to make sure they're not starving themselves) and threatening penalties if tests show they are too dehydrated (although an executive producer says no violations have been uncovered yet). But like the $55 billion U.S. diet industry, The Biggest Loser places the bulk of its emphasis on shedding pounds rather than maintaining the loss. After all, a show called The Biggest Maintainer wouldn't have nearly the same zing. Contestants learn how to make healthy choices, but total-immersion exercise accounts for most of the weight loss. And it's not as hard to work out for four or more hours a day when urged on by professional trainers. It's also easier to resist high-calorie temptations when the cameras are rolling. Two and a half years after Benson's final weigh-in at 208 lbs., the new dad has slipped out of the spotlight and into old habits. "No one sees me get an apple pie in the drive-through," says Benson, whose weight now hovers at around 300 lbs.

Still, by keeping those last 30 lbs. off for more than a year, he's something of a rarity. The National Weight Control Registry, which tracks the habits of some 5,000 successful maintainers, cites a study showing only a fifth of dieters with a history of obesity sustain a loss of 10% of their body weight for a year or more. "The best predictor of the ones who are not going to regain are the ones who are doing the most physical activity," says Dr. Holly Wyatt, an obesity expert at the University of Colorado. She says most registrants exercise, on average, at least an hour a day.

Who has time for that? Kelly Minner, for one. The first-season runner-up dropped from 242 lbs. to 163 lbs. by the finale and now weighs 140 lbs. A school administrator in Bethlehem, Pa., Minner, 31, says she works out from one to four hours a day, six days a week. She exercises while watching TV--and did so throughout our phone interview. For motivation, she keeps a souvenir from the show in her office: a life-size photo of her old fat self. Other winners share this strategy. Hoover, who has gained 53 lbs. since November 2005, sees his cardboard cutout every day in his garage. Last season's winner, Erik Chopin, 37, who owns a deli in North Babylon, N.Y., and since December has put on 22 of the 214 lbs. he lost, keeps a photo on his fridge taken when he weighed 407 lbs.

The Biggest Loser added a more realistic component last season when 36 of its 50 contestants competed from home sans trainer. "They really got none of the bells and whistles," says the show's physician, Dr. Robert Huizenga. Well, almost none: they were still eligible to be tapped for the main show, and the at-home winner got $50,000. If the producers proceed with plans for a reunion episode this fall, it will be interesting to see how the contestants have fared since they went off camera and stopped racing for a cash reward.

I'm not surprised to hear that many of the 'losers' have rebounded to close to their former weights. It's unfortunate for them, but as the article says, the show is about losing weight, not keeping it off. It's funny the things that come out in these kinds of articles - the show always seems to push the idea that their contestants are only losing weight through 'healthy eating' and exercise. I didn't realize living on sugar free Jello and dehydrating yourself counted as healthy weight loss It'll be interesting to see if this article has any impact on the sale of TBL exercise videos and weight loss books!

It is surprising to me, the show makes it seem they are learning to eat right. I joined their website for about a month but canceled soon after. It has nothing compared to CK

jamie

Adrienne's June Challenge: - 12156 burned
Start weight: 270
Current: 268
Goal: 200

I am not surprised by the extremes these folks are going through to lose weight. It scares me about the damage they are doing to their bodies !

I am a boxing fan and boxers often do the dehydration thing to "make weight" for the class they are boxing in. They often display their "Weigh in weight" that qualifies them along with ther actual weight that day...there can easily be ten pounds difference ! All of that is simply dehydration !!

OMG i did not know this. Thanx for sharing


(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´
¸.´¸.*¨) ¸.*¨)
(¸.´ (¸.´ .´ ¸¸.¨¯`. Jessimika...

~My success tomorrow depends on my choices TODAY!~

SW:219 CW:203.5 GW:147

Mini Goal: 200 by 6/19

Wow, that's amazing. I'm surprised some of these contestants even came out with the truth. Maybe they don't see anything wrong with it? I, personally, would rather stay overweight than put my body through starvation and dehydration.

I'm thirsty just reading that article! I couldn't do it - I drink at least a gallon of water per day. I'd rather be happy and sloshy drinking my water than being dehydrated!

Last Edited: 4:25pm PDT, June 18th 2007

After all, a show called The Biggest Maintainer wouldn't have nearly the same zing. Okay, I gotta admit that this made me giggle because it's soooooo true. But then I got to thinkin'-- wouldn't it be cool if they did add a prize, at least a small one, for the contestant from each season who's most successful at the 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year marks? I'll bet you that some of the folks who got voted off because they were losing "too slow" would be in line for the long-term prizes.

I never really watched it much after the first season, but there was one scene that really stuck with me. A bunch of guys were sitting around in the kitchen talking about how worried they were that they wouldn't be able to resist temptation in the "real world." They were talking about how hard it would be to drive past the doughnut shop, especially, and how much they missed pastries and desserts.

On the table between them, not more than 10 inches from any of their faces, was a HUGE basket of muffins, cinnamon rolls, danishes, and all that stuff. They were totally ignoring it. It wasn't fake; they sincerely didn't even notice that it was there. The producers that first season were big into "temptation" and teasing the contestants by having all their very favorite foods all over the house... and as far as I recall, not one of them ever caved. To me, that was a very convincing sign that it's not about will power. Fat people aren't fat because they can't resist temptation.

SW=184, Maintained @ 130 for 2 years, New goal=120ish

we have a former biggest loser contestant on CK (newbie)--she still looks good, maybe she will chime in...sorry I don't remember her ID.

Katrina
Fat Boy 5K March 31, 2007--43:26
Epilepsy Foundation 5K April 21, 2007-40:50
DS River Road Run 5K April 28, 2007--39:50

SW: 260.5 7/2/06
CW: 204.6 6/4/07

The rest of the articles in that section in Time were really good as well. There was a whole series on weight and eating. The really funny one was from the writer who decided to try the maple syrup diet.


Susan
hockeyfan7

"Do I like that food enough to wear it?"

I always wondered how these people were losing 15 + pounds in one or two weeks. That was so shocking. Then I read that they take saunas and don't drink anything so that they are dehydrated for weigh ins and it sounded bad.


*Claire
SW: 192
CW: 144
GW: 125

48 lbs. dropped.....only 19 lbs. to go!

Weight Loss Goals
139lbs. by July 1st
130lbs. by August 31st
125lbs. by September 30th
Toned & Firm by New Year's Eve!

Anarie,

I'll bet those contestants were noticing all those goodies around them. One thing the article mentioned and it makes alot of sense is that when cameras are focused on you, you're less likely to "indulge" .

seriously. would you even think of taking a muffin fully knowing that everyone in America would be watching you chow down on that muffin ? Shoot no.... if I were one of those contestants, I would have ignored it too.

As the article said about Erik, once the cameras weren't rolling... he felt it was okay to eat a piece of apple pie.

Yeah, having those cameras contantly on you is good incentive for staying away from the treats.

Oh yeah and then there is the chance to win $250,000 too. better incentive to stay away from the muffins.

I agree though. I'd like to see a prize for the people who kept the weight off too.

This does not surprise me. There is a big difference between playing a game and changing your life.
Thanks for sharing.

Elly
HW 178 ish
53.5 pounds to go.
GW 115

Wow! Very interesting article - I've been an avid watcher of the show, had no idea how they got such big numbers! I don't feel so bad! I thought I should be losing bigger numbers.

~Angela~
Living Life in 4-Part Harmony!
Bass singer, Sweet Adelines - Singing is exercise!!
3yrs on prednisone - DONE 5/2/07!
CK SW 12/05:240
Post-Prednisone SW 5/07:259
CW:248.5
GW:175
0/20 Goal - 20lb by reunion 8/5
RTC 3/16

I always felt everything about the show was unrealistic and that's why I stopped watching. From the amount of weight people were losing to the amount of exercise they were doing it made me feel de-motivated rather than motivated. After all, why couldn't I do that? Hmm, perhaps quit my day job, have no other responsibilities, hire a trainer and a chef? Anyway, thank you for the article. It confirmed what I already believed about the show.

Grace W

I am absolutely determined to succeed

if music be the food of love, play on

HW (4/15/07) 305 SW /w CK (5/1/07) 297 CW 289

The issue that I have with the show is that it sends the message that losing anything less than 5lbs in a week is a failure without telling the truth about how the contestants are reaching those goals.

Lori

The issue that I have with the show is that it sends the message that losing anything less than 5lbs in a week is a failure without telling the truth about how the contestants are reaching those goals.

Thank you, Lori. That has always been my stance as well. I noticed a trend here on CK, as BL got bigger and more popular, for people to post frustration because they 'only' lost 1-2 pounds a week. What they didn't realize is that we here on CK are the norm, and the people on BL are the exceptions to the rule. It was sad, and hard to convince them that 1-2 pounds was a GOOD thing. But how can you get excited by it when you have a weekly reminder that someone else is losing ten times that?.

I also think that more should be mentioned about weight loss. Pretty much everyone I know who is losing weight focuses on the process, and never thinks about what they're going to do when they get there. Maintenance is far harder than losing, in my opinion. And there is very little support out there for those of us who are living with the struggle day after day. Maybe I'll volunteer to let NBC come live with me for 6 months. No THAT would be some reality TV.


"I have met my hero, and she is me."

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?' "
- Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian

Wow. Interesting.

I WONDERED HOW ANYONE COULD LOSE 20 LBS/WEEK! I'LL STICK TO SLOW & STEADY, THANKS. HEALTHY EATING, HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS, HEALTHY EXERCISE. DOES ANYONE ELSE THINK SOME OF THE EXERCISES THESE MASSIVELY OBESE PEOPLE DO ARE POSSIBLY DANGEROUS FOR THEIR JOINTS? I.E. RUNNING UP MULTIPLE FLIGHTS OF STADIUM STAIRS...I KNOW WHEN U DRAG AROUND 200 EXTRA LBS YOUR CENTER OF GRAVITY ISN'T WHAT IT SHOULD BE NORMALLY? DO THE DRS WHO EXAMINE THEM ON THIS SHOW REALLY AGREE IT'S SAFE FOR THEM TO BE DOING THIS TYPE OF THING AT FIRST, ESPECIALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW? SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE FAT PEOPLE ABUSE IN ORDER TO ENTERTAIN THE MASSES. WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?

I'm so glad people are starting to realize this. I know firsthand (to a lesser degree) bc whenever you have to be in front of the camera or have a photoshoot, most people will learn with a bit of experience that anything you eat or drink the night before through the morning will affect how you are the next day (especially on camera). That's why most models/celebrities/fitness models won't eat/drink anything that will make them retain water the night before, and the morning of will drink some sort of diuretic to flush out some of the fluids to make the face and body look less puffy and more defined.

Pearl

Yay...losing inches!

Chest: 37" to 34.5" now
Waist: 28" to 23.5" now
Hips: 36.5" to 34" now
Thighs: 22" to 19" now
Arms: 12" to 9.5" now

"There's no point of being an individual if you have to fit into a mold." (my own)

I was wondering about how well these people were doing long term. Yes, initially some of these people dropped quicker because the eating healthier and major exercise was a shock to their systems. But yeah, after the dust settles you still have to struggle with this the rest of their lives. With money not being a motive any longer it is harder to stay focused. Plus, these people, even if not motivated solely by money still have to get back to regular lives, familiy outings, work and other obstacles. I do feel for them though!
Lose all that just to gain it back again! I do agree with Anarie they should have them reevaluated every so many months to see how they are doing.

JULES

According to the NBC website for The Biggest Loser - Catch Up With Past Winners!

The Biggest Loser - Where Are They Now?

Tuesday - September 4, 2007 8/7c

Let's see if they show both the good and the bad.

Lori

Lori - thanks for sharing the information on the Sept. 4th program. I've got my calendar marked to watch.

I've been a fan of the biggest loser program, but it's interesting to read on some of the things that went on in the background. It's unfortunate -- that the show isn't that all out that's it shows to the viewers. I watched season 1 and 2 every week and looked forward to the show. Now, if there is a season 3 -- I don't think I'm that much interested in wasting an hour of my time in watching it. The show should promote a maintenance program for the biggest losers -- and that the winning prize should not be granted to the contestant until after the one year anniversay of the weight loss. At least these winners aren't so much focused on losing the weight -- but keeping it off for 12 months there after. With exercise programs, and a healthy diet tracking record such as CK. If a contestant can lose the weight and keep it off a year there after -- in my mind that what makes "The Biggest Loser".

Last Edited: 1:01pm PDT, June 30th 2007

As a struggling maintainer (who does exercise at least an hour a day, but who also gets her hands trapped in the bags of nuts too often ) I can attest that the losing seemed much easier than the keeping-it-off. Losing even 1-2 pounds a week is more motivating that simply hoping you won't have gained.

But it is so easy to manipulate the scale for those kinds of challenges! We had an exercise and weight-loss challenge at my school, and before the initial weigh-in I drank about a gallon of water. Before the final weigh-in I cut sodium, water, and did an hour of exercise in sweats. I managed to show a loss of almost 10 lbs when in reality I had maintained my weight exactly. (yes, yes, I'm a cheating cheater ) (my team didn't win for weight-loss, though - we DID win a prize for exercise minutes, and THOSE I was absolutely accurate about, erring on the side of underestimating)


Sarah

Hi
I know about the weight loss thing, at one time I was 150 and over the years crept up to a 304 max. You can gain weight easy and getting it off isn't . I've been dieting a long time and realize the need for exercise and lifestyle change. I've lost 95 lbs this time and have alot of excess skin. What happened to the extra skin that all these people have they never mention that. I know after losing 95 lbs I have it so you would think that after losing 214 Erik would have it!
How come people assume you look like that right away! Even if I exercised as much as they did I still have extra skin.

Not everyone has extra skin although it is more likely for the Biggest Losers. I previously lost 94lbs and did not have extra skin that was of any concern.

It has to do with your age, how fast you lost the weight, how long you had it on etc.

I do remember some of them had surgery for the extra skin.

Lori


"It happened because you forgot to put the love for yourself first" Oprah April 2007

I must confess that I really enjoy the show. I also thought the contestants were learning and practicing a healthy way to live.

I also watched the Biggest Loser and wondered how they lost all their weight and what I was doing wrong. I also joined their online club and after 4 days I joined CK because I like the support better. It has taken a lot of years of yo yo dieting and this is the first time I actually am paying attention to my health. My husband started dieting about a month ago because he was pre-diabetic and to help him out I figured I would eat the same as him. He has lost 20 pounds and he is no longer pre-diabetic. Hopefully paying attention to what I am eating will last me a lifetime. I never realized how many carbs I was eating. I am a vegetarian and still am not eating enough protein.

sue

Here is an update on many of the contestants.

http://www.realitywanted.net/tag/biggest-loser


Lori


"It happened because you forgot to put the love for yourself first" Oprah April 2007

Bumping this article back up. it's a good read.