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Tough Love, Not Torture: My Take on The Biggest Loser
Blog | January 27, 2015
Recently a contestant from the weight loss reality series ‘The Biggest Loser’ revealed some ugly secrets about the show. In an interview with the New York Post, Kai Hibbard detailed some alarming and dangerous methods the show used to essentially force such drastic weight loss on the contestants. This includes intense marathon workout sessions of up to five or six hours, severe calorie restriction and a constant barrage of demeaning putdowns from some of the trainers masquerading as motivation.
Hibbard also claims that much of the food provided on the show was essentially lacking in any nutritional value. Most of the food came from sponsors of the show and basically amounted to an avalanche of processed foods.
Malnourishment, fatigue alongside a list of injuries were also witnessed by Hibbard during her time on the show. Contestants suffered from torn muscles, hormonal changes due to severe calorie restriction even an instance of potential kidney failure. Yikes!
I think it’s safe to say that ‘The Biggest Loser’ is no longer about encouraging health, fitness and longevity. It may have started out the way, but now it seems to only be about money and ratings.
One of the reasons why my dear friend Jillian Michaels left the show was her growing philosophical disagreement with the producers and overall disenchantment with the show’s direction. One contestant’s extreme weight loss in particular proved too much for Jillian. Rachel Fredrickson actually appeared sick and anorexic on the show’s finale in 2014.
The tactics used on the show to force weight loss in obese individuals are nothing short of insane, in my opinion. I’m all about tough love, but I’m not about torture. If true, the methods used on ‘The Biggest Loser’ are diametrically opposed to what the Zgym stands for. Drastic weight loss from marathon workout sessions and severe calorie restriction is a recipe for disaster. Not just physically either. It also takes a terrible toll on one’s mental and emotional wellbeing. Fitness and wellbeing takes effort, hard work and resilience, but it should also feel good and enrich our lives. Struggling and striving towards our fitness goals should be a positive path and the difficulties we face should be challenges that encourage us to grow not break us down into pieces.
Private Member |
Applause Zuzka! A tough comment that shows your tough love! Thanks!
Private Member |
pilot butte, saskatchewan, canada
Amen
Private Member |
santa cruz, ca
Very, very well stated. I thhink you have the best, most balanced approach out there, Zuzka. Thank you for sharing your expertise and truly caring about your audience.
Private Member |
I think that sustainable, long term weight loss doesn’t sell on TV because most people WANT to believe that there is a quick fix or a magic pill. I lost about 60 pounds over the course of some years and when people asked me how I did it, they were actually disappointed when I told them (eat reasonably, work out). Because most hope that there is this one magic solution with wich they do not need to put in their own effort or work. They sit there and wait all their lives while thinking that the reasonable approach would take them “too long” or be too hard.
Private Member |
I totally agree. This is an excellent blog post. I believe what you say is true – that Jillian Michael’s fitness philosophy was very much in conflict with what the the biggest loser was/is becoming and she just couldn’t be a part of it anymore. Mental fitness, body awareness and yes a consistent exercise routine and a clean diet will all promote weight loss — but only if people can figure out what put them so far off track in the first place. Some segments appear to show the trainers addressing this — but then they will make them look at a buffet of horrible foods and ask them to play a game of eating all of the crap just for immunity (and of course, ratings). It’s not a great show anymore, unfortunately.
Private Member |
It’s funny because I was inspired to lose weight after watching the show “I used to be fat” where some teenagers lost 50 to 100 lbs over one summer. Their results were mind blowing. I was like wow then I should easily lose 50lbs in one YEAR? I went online and found some calculators that recommended how many calories per day to lose weight, I bought a heart rate monitor and exercised 3 times per week, and indeed 1 year later I lost 50lbs 😀 but looking back at some of the pressure they put on these kids, now I’m glad I had the luxury of time and nobody yelling at me!
Private Member |
ohio
I absolutely love your philosophy on health and fitness! I will always be a supporter of you! Thank you for what you promote!