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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 |
mtl, qc, canada
Good post Z!
Private Member |
naples, fl, usa
Zuzka. I could not agree more. I have been reading again (lol)! Elem does not work long term!!! (Eat less exercise more). People must find balance ! (I call it my center). Xoxox dibsie
Private Member |
seattle, washington
It’s like Dr. Oz. He started out being rational and sane and in short order became an alarmist extremest on many fronts Television doesn’t support healthy methods to weight loss they take to long and require patience, dedication and sanity. These things don’t sell cars or soap!!!
Private Member |
Yep!
Private Member |
These shows & fad diets are quick fixes.Nobody can sustain these quick fixes once they are over.You’re going to pack on the pounds quickly & gain even more.It’s a lifetime change,it’s about changing the way you eat, eating a healthy clean diet & daily exercise,all done gradually,so it’s not a shock to the body.
Private Member |
new fairfield, ct
I totally agree with you .. they are too extreme on what they show on tv, can’t imagine what is happening behind the scenes.
Private Member |
The Biggest Loser is the worst idea ever. It’s great that people want to lose fat and get in shape but the drastic measures those poor people have to go to is extremely dangerous. Not to mention they have starved for so long that when it’s all over they just gain all the weight back because they aren’t taught proper portion control. It seems they really aren’t even taught anything about nutrition in general. Only how to kill yourself, literally.
Private Member |
Yes I agree with all of you warriors!!!! The very first time that I tried to watch the show I actually couldn’t, it was so upsetting to me to see how the poor people were treated , talked to like they were animals, they actually were called big cows and other horrible names. Watching them work out so hard it was upsetting I wanted to workout for them and help them, actually made me cry how mean they were to them . Shows as that are degreting to society, I’m sure by the time the show ended most of them suffered emotionally n physically, I can go on and on 🙁
Private Member |
Unfortunately it looks like healthy, sustainable weight loss doesn’t make for good tv. Great post, Z. I love that you’re friends with Jillian Michaels, too. I’ve always been a fan of hers and loved the podcasts. Your ZGym is fantastic and doable for anyone at any age and fitness level. 🙂
Private Member |
These shows forget that wellness is something only achieved by the balance of mind ,body and soul. If you break someones soul with constant barrage of insults,tutoring the mind with unrealistic expectations and strip the body from nutrients that is not wellness. I am happy the contestant spoke up about this issue and I hope people are receptive and no longer support the show by watching it.
Private Member |
The Biggest Loser is absolute bullshit. I tried long ago and couldn’t watch even one full episode. I just don’t get it. Why? This is brutal. It damages people’s emotional and physical health. And the viewers too! You can’t watch this and have a normal perspective on your own helth, weight, body etc. I’d even go a step further and say this is a show for people who are obsessed with their weight to the point of unhealthyness.