Diabetes Community

----->"They're used to consuming around 3000 calories a day, but on the show consume about 1500 calories a day." As he says, "few people are really in a position to cut their calories by 1500 a day, but that's what these people are able to do."

Bizarre. The last part of my post did not show up.

I did the same as the quote -prolly ate 3000 calories a day and cut it down to 1200 - 1500. I lost 90 pounds in a year. I walked but did not do the 3 hours of hard workout.

I eat very differently now and the change is permanent. When I look at something fried or fatty or otherwise high calorie, I see myself as I used to look. Takes care of the munchies right there. I crave those things less now.

As someone who was pretty close to the contestants on The Biggest Loser 28 years ago (405 lbs), there are several aspects of the show I don't like. The worst is the inappropriate exercise for dramatic purposes. My first day of exercise was a planned walk around the block. I made it 60 feet to my driveway before I was too tired to continue. I slowly increased the distance & it became easier as the weight came off. I spent two years getting down to 183 - much longer than contestants on The Biggest Loser.

I also don't approve of the humiliation aspect (also for dramatization and sensationalism). Obese people don't need to be humiliated & embarassed more than they already are.....even if they agree to it.

I have watched every season of The Biggest Loser and was inspired to work on my own journey, in part, because of the show. In January 2009 I made yet another New Year's resolution to lose weight and get healthy. I joined Curves and worked on my diet. As of today, January 6, 2010 I have lost 120 pounds!! I didn't go on a "diet", been there and bounced up and down too many times. Rather, I went on a lifestyle change and have eliminated many of the foods that got me over 300 pounds to begin with. Now, I wouldn't dream of missing a day of working out, even if I can't make the gym, I have a mini trampoline and stability ball at home. And, good sneakers for those long walks.

I personally would like to see more information on the diet the contestants follow. But, I see them using a lot of convenience foods that I avoid due to sodium and chemicals in them. I tend to stay with more natural vegetables and fruits.

I can tell you though, that when I was over 300 pounds, I couldn't even face the scale at first. Literally stood with my back to it. There is no way in heck or elsewhere, that I could have or would have taken off my top down to a sports bra.

Pam

I see that all we've written on this posting has been sent to a WebMD topic for people to click on, that was e-mailed to me, and I'm sure to many others. Be sure not to put your name or e-mail addresses into your comments. I guess it makes me feel uncomfortable, even though I know that anything we write can be used this way. Many will be helped, but remember the things you read are just that person's own experiences and each of us experience things much differently.

Dear Dr. Dansinger, I enjoy the show Biggest Loser and find it inspirational. When I first heard of the show I thought it was insipid and embarrassing, and would be a waste of my time. However I started watching last spring and found that I enjoyed seeing the contestants change their lives, their looks and their dreams. I wanted each contestant to succeed, and felt badly for any who had to leave the show. Some, perhaps many people, need to have a "boot camp" experience to get with a program, and learn on a higher level how to perform in a particular arena. I went through a "boot camp" experience in my administrative training in the Hawaii department of education. That particular program turns out school administrators to a certain standard. We really internalized how we should perform. The "boot camp" experience works in a number of areas, weight loss included. And, as with any program, you are going to find people that later fall back totally, or in a more reasonable move, adapt the learning/training to how they function in their personality. This particular piece is what is needed by the Biggest Loser contestants; how to turn this intense training to meet their own particular life style. What I would like to see, on the show, are some other weight loss strategies that the contestants are being taught, for example: journaling their daily food intake; self forgiveness when they make a poor food choice because that cake tastes so good; how to incorporate foods they like into daily food choices, and still stay within a normal caloric intake; how to make an exercise plan for when they return home and are no longer competing. That last example would be very beneficial to all. Before contestants leave, help them make a plan on how to function when no longer playing the game. When they get home they don't need to exercise to the extent they did on the show, because that isn't realistic. Also, these people need ongoing support in the form of being accountable to someone. Perhaps fund their membership to something like Weight Watcher's, where they would report every week to weigh in, and develop a support group. Checking in with the ex-contestants at the end of each tv season isn't enough for some people, they need weekly accountability. Maybe when they agree to come on the show, they sign a contract that they will attend weekly weigh ins at Weight Watcher's or some place like that, for the following 2 years, paid for by Biggest Loser. I really like this show. It inspires me to continue on my weight loss journey, which is much slower and is not as long as the contestants', but if they can lose many pounds, I can lose my lesser amount.

I really enjoy watching The Biggest Loser except for all the crying, that is annoying. It is encouraging me to exercise more, I wish I could have the weekly results as the contestants do, but I guess the slow results will be more beneficial for the long haul. It has taken me 9 months to lose 45 pounds, as to them losing that in two weeks. That is the discouraging part, I workout everyday for 1 to 2 hours and really watch what I eat. Then I just have to realize that they have a major support team and get months off from any stressful job or area of their life (must be nice). I still have a ways to go but I am determined, and I love to exercise especially to the Cardio Biggest Loser DVD. I was shocked as to seeing the one guy gain all his weight back, makes you wonder if he needed counseling as to why he eats?

The show inspires me. I have over 100 lbs to lose and get down about it a lot. This show helps me see that if I got off my couch I could exercise - I've always thought I was too heavy to do treadmill or some of the exercise machines and could only walk which gets boring sometimes. Keep up the good work - I appreciate the nutrition information shared too - could do more of that - detailing what their food plan is. Thanks!

Dr. Dansinger;

I've thought about your pro-or-con invitation for a day or so and tried to figure out what it is about the show that bothers me.

Please don't think that I dislike it entirely. I do think that it can offer hope and education for some people. And it's always nice to see people happy about their accomplishments.

I realize what it is that bothers me about the show, though.

-- I don't consider it a "reality show," because there's little reality in it. The contestants are put in a very unrealistic setting and are expected to accomplish unrealistic (that is, "real world") things.

-- I don't like the competitive situation. I'm sure that every contestant believes, when he/she starts that they will be "the best," do "the best," and win, because they're determined to do absolutely everything in their power to so. As someone else mentioned, everyone loses weight differently -- and even differently at different times -- so, for people to try to make their bodies do better than someone else's body -- and being a failure if they don't/can't no matter how "good' they've been -- is cruel.

-- Those involved with this show -- especially the health professionals -- are cruel to put the contestants in this situation, knowing that they are almost certainly going to leave the unrealistic situation and regain the weight, because each entrant is convinced that THEY won't be one of those who regain weight.

-- When the contestant goes home and does regain the weight, he/she is a failure yet again -- something that overweight people are way too familiar with.

I'm not criticizing your motives or the comments you've made in your posts. I think that in your entries here you've shown compassion and insight -- certainly much more than readers who criticize overweight people.

I thought that maybe you and some of the other readers might like to read the blog entry at the site posted below. Like you, this doctor has an "insider's" point of view that could be very helpful and comforting to those struggling with weight. And some of the responses to his entry are quite good, too.

scienceblogs.com/whitecoatunderground/2010/01/just_get_un-fat_already.php

To those who show little tolerance for overweight people, I would remind them of the proverb: Kindness is never wasted.

YumaMamaLama

I am a big fan of The Biggest Loser. Yes i know that the participants lose a lot of weight very quickly, which I have been taught is NOT the way to lose, because it is too hard to keep the weight off. When I began losing weight I weighed 250. I now weigh 210-215. I have done this naturally. Watching The Biggest Loser gives me incentive to keep up with my exercise program. I wish that the program would show more detail about the diet part of the show. It is very hard for me to tell what would be a good diet to have. I am a Type II diabetic. I try to eat right, more fruits and veggies, whole grains, etc, but more help with that area would be nice. Can you help me? I would really appreciate some one on one help. Thank you

Blacksheep I'm sure you will get many answers to the good diet question. My personal breakthrough was to keep eating healthy but reduce the PORTION SIZE, and therefore the total calories for the day, especially for those food high in calories and carbs -- the grains, breads, pastas, cereals, and deserts. Fill up first on the bulky veggies and you won't be hungry!

Yuma, I'm on the same plane as you. I was pondering the question for a bit. I watch it between other programs. As it nears the end of the show, I'll tune in to see what's going on and who is voted off the show. It's mostly because I don't need to lose weight and find it hard to relate to those who struggle with obesity. Don't get me wrong. I do empathize with those who do struggle with it.

In regard to your last point, one of the consultants on the show (the "Where are They Now" viewing) did say that once a contestant is that obese and then loses the weight, they will continually have to workout and eat as they did on the show. Not as many hours, but at least an hour and half a day, seven days a week. They need to keep that metabolism going in order not to gain any weight back. These contestants are back to their family, their jobs, etc. and need to put in time to maintain that weight loss and make no excuses. It has to be hard going back to reality.

Hi Dr. D, I love this show, and yes it is unrealistic for the "normal viewers", but it does inspire me and I have used several suggestions from this show to change my life style. I do get frustrated when the contestants let money take over their overall goals. Even though some of the reasons they eat are their own reasons, it does fit a lot of us. I guess it makes me think about things, I would never have thought about and if it pertains to me, I think about ways to change my thoughts and reasonings without making excuses for myself.

It is a reality show and that's the reality of the people losing so much weight so fast and most of them gaining it back, but I believe lives have been saved and that makes the show well worth it.

My thoughts are that even though they are not living in reality while on the show, the ones who gain it back were there for the money and did not take what they learned and used it.

Even though I have changed my life style, I eat what ever I want, (even a steak or French fries if someone else buys it) I just learned how to make it fit into my life style change with portion control, and the amount of calories I allow myself. I believe this show has proven that you can do anything you want to. I have dropped 4 pant sizes since Sept. 9th 2009.

So yes this show has helped me, although it did not motivate me, my own health is what motivated me.

snow

I have to say I love the show! I look forward to seeing it every season. I look at it as a motivator, this year me and my husband will start our own losing weight story. It will start next month. I have always watched the show but not my husband. I was watching it on the net and my husband sat beside me and got sucked into the show it was great. He is going to school to become a police officer so it is important for him to get in shape and my reason is my health. But watching the show with my husband is great and helps us get geared up to becoming healthy so yes plz keep the show going!

I have to say as a person over weight I always thought it looked wrong to put people threw so much and be so tuff on them. but being so over weight I have to say yes it is tuff so have someone so hard on you during your work out but I need that. I someone was all nice and sweet I would run over them or talok my way out of things. So I need that extra push that says get off your ass and lets lose some weight! help motivate you, sounds mean but it does help. Surely i'm not the only one that thinks this way?