Reality - The Biggest Loser Fansite Forums

muppet · #1 (**permalink**) 04-25-2007, 04:44 PM

I find it ironic that many of us are here because of mutual interest in a reality show, that isn't real at all. We are all real -- we are fighting the real battle. And I think most of us here know the reality, and the truth of losing weight. Deep down, we know it's not a contest, or a game.
It's tough -- and it can be very lonely. It's also frustrating and discouraging. So many who start on this journey quit before they get to where they want to be.
I know I will always be on this journey. Not because I'll never get to where I want to be, but because even when I do, it won't be over. There's no getting off, or being done.
The Biggest Loser is fun, can be inspiring, but it's light on actual information. And it's getting heavy on the drama of the 'game', which is a turn off for me. I'm sure I'll watch next season, and will enjoy it, but I don't think it will play any part in my own personal weight loss journey.
I get sick of referring to it as that, but that is what it is.... a journey... a never ending one. And that shouldn't make you feel discouraged-- it should be empowering. Because we all do have the power to do this, and to change our lives.
The progress I've made is nothing impressive to anyone else. But I'm still proud of myself for what I've done, and for the fact that I'm not ever going to quit trying. I do not want to go back to the way I was. I want to take control of my health. I've made some good changes, and there are many more I can make.
So here's to all the real 'reality' stars! Keep up the good work, if you're having success - hang in there if you're in a slump, - and come on back, if you've been away for awhile and thought you needed a break from all this.

Sandi · #2 (**permalink**) 04-25-2007, 07:10 PM

Great post Carol!

Missy · #3 (**permalink**) 04-25-2007, 08:58 PM

I couldn't agree with you more. So many people fall into these traps where they think they can diet for 4 months before the summer starts and make all this progress so they look good in a bathing suit. This is not the case. Carol is right when she says it takes a lot of hard work, patience and dedication. This IS a lifelong committment to be healthy. You can't pick and choose certain times of the year or certain life events in which you think you should be healthy for/look good for. So many people are only focused on the way they look, and that is really sad. They don't see the bigger picture and see that changing their lifestyle permanantly is key to living a long healthy life. You can be skinny and be unhealthy the same as you can be big and healthy. My trainer has told me in the past that I was a lot stronger and had a better cardiovascular system than a lot of his "skinny" clients. And how many skinny people do you know that eat whatever they want and don't gain a pound? Maybe so...but they are probably still not as healthy as I am since I eat proper. They pick the wrong foods. I pick the right ones.

Losing weight shouldn't be about superficialities....it should be about feeling good about yourself, putting yourself up for challenges, and living longer.

FrugalSue · #4 (**permalink**) 04-25-2007, 09:37 PM

I totally agree with these posts. For me, the decision to become a healthier person is very much like my decision to quit drinking 17+ years ago. It's not something I'm going to do for a while and then stop when I feel or look a little better. It's One Day at a Time, for the rest of my life. And, hopefully, my life will be longer and more fulfilling because of what I'm doing to become healthier. I'm not on a "diet" and I don't plan to ever be on one again. I am, however, becoming more and more health-conscious and I'm making better decisions as I learn more.

I like "Biggest Loser" because it's entertaining and motivating, but I wouldn't want to try to lose weight the way those people do on the show. I don't want to have to quit working and be away from my family and go to a ranch to work out hours and hours every day. I want to go on living my life as it is, but incorporate smarter choices into my everyday life. I've lost about 30 pounds in six months without having to be obsessive or compulsive about it, so my approach is working well.

jane76 · #5 (**permalink**) 04-26-2007, 05:45 PM

im sorry but i find it very inspiring,i get really motivated,seeing people who are a lot bigger than me get down to a lot slimmer than me,i always think if they can do it so can i,everyone has their own opinion and thats how i feel about the show,thats why im goin miss it,been after dvds everywhere off the show but cant find any that will play on my dvd player (as im in the uk)

FrugalSue · #6 (**permalink**) 04-26-2007, 07:05 PM

Hi Jane,

No need to apologize that you find the TV show inspiring...nor are any of us in disagreement with that!

I think we all agree that Biggest Loser is inspiring. That's what got all of us here to this forum in the first place. But I think Muppet's point in starting this discussion thread is that losing weight takes a lot more information and intelligent decision-making than what they show on Biggest Loser, which is essentially a game show.

Obviously there must be a lot more going on behind the scenes that they don't show us on the TV show. For instance, they don't have much information about what they're actually eating as part of their weight loss. Last season especially, most of the information about foods were virtually advertisements! ("Eat Sugar-Free Jello!" etc.)

Also, to make the show entertaining, they concentrate on the game aspects of it--you know, people talking about their strategy, why they're voting certain people off, how they're going to slack off on the week they have immunity and then work hard the following week, stuff like that. Plus, they distill many days and sometimes even weeks and months down into little one-hour segments for TV...so that's not like the day-to-day reality of losing weight at all.

We don't vote anybody off here! LOL! We're all in it for the long haul, and it's not a game. Our strategy is daily commitment to better health. We don't get commercial breaks, weeks of free training and free nutritional food at a luxurious ranch, or the $250,000 at the end!

I think probably the biggest contribution Biggest Loser has made to viewers is that it is an inspirational starting point. But to actually lose weight, it takes so much more than inspiration, and that's the reality that we're talking about here. And, as Missy says, more important than the actual weight loss is the better health that comes out of exercising and eating right. For me, Biggest Loser was like a compass that pointed in the right direction, but I had to leave the show way behind to actually make progress in that direction.

Sue

muppet · #7 (**permalink**) 04-26-2007, 07:09 PM

Thanks for the comments. I do have a question, about the upper right hand corner of our posts. What is the 'thanks' stuff? I'm looked around the site, and I'm not finding an explanation of what it means, or how you thank someone. I'm probably just not looking in the right place! So... any info to help?

And Jane - you don't need to apologize for finding the show inspiring. There's nothing wrong with that, and it does show that it is possible. But my point, and I think most others too, is that it's not realistic. Most people aren't going to drop 20 + pounds in a week, like they do on the show. Most people can't workout the hours that they do on the show... most people can't think about losing weight 24/7, as we all have to deal with the realities of work, home, family , friends, etc.

I really do like the show, and love seeing the dramatic changes. I was more impressed by what the 'at home' contestants did, and by what they all did on their own, after leaving the ranch though. And if you look around, you'll see many many success stories by 'real' people, living real lives.

Anyway, I appreciate the feedback. I'm glad I'm not alone in this!

Sandi · #8 (**permalink**) 04-27-2007, 10:38 AM

When someone starts a thread, there is a small icon next to quote that says thanks, if you like the new thread you can "thank" the person. It is only for whoever starts the thread, not just to individual posts. I just noticed it the other day...............not sure when it was implimented.

muppet · #9 (**permalink**) 04-27-2007, 03:33 PM

Thanks Sandi. I looked all over for some kind of 'thanks' button, but never saw one. I guess I never looked at any of the original posts, just replies. And I didn't see it on this thread, since I started it.
And Sue and I seemed to have posted simultaneously! And she is exactly right about the show. I still really like it, but it isn't very realistic, and it's not really very helpful either, except to show us that is can be done! And it also shows us that is takes a lot of hard work. Can't argue with that!