Wednesday, September 19th, 2007...5:43 am
The Biggest Loser - Losing Weight in Fantasy Land
Every summer I grimace as the promos for the latest Biggest Loser show begin, I then tell myself that I am not even going to bother watching this year…by episode two I’m hooked.
I have always been intrigued by this fight to lose weight. We live in a society that is focused on food and in an era where computers have made things like walking and moving unnecessary. Do we really wonder why weight gain has become such a big issue (no pun intended). As society makes it easier and easier to be sedentary and heavy, society’s view of what is desirable has not changed; thin is still in.
I think The Biggest Loser competition is good and bad for America so I put together a list of reasons why I feel this way, here it is…
Good - because it clearly demonstrates what the human body and the human spirit can accomplish when they work together.
Bad - because it is all about forcing change — forced change rarely lasts.
Good - because it shows just how much your mindset or attitude plays in your success and your continued willingness to change. For instance, David, from the red team, was disappointed by what he thought was a small weight loss yet he did not get consumed by it, instead he was quick to say, "I’m not giving up."
Bad - This is just personal, and it is probably done for ratings but let’s allow the men and women to wear a shirt at all times - please! I realize that clothing adds weight when you step on the scale, but really.
Bad - This show plays into the mentality that if you just focus for a short period of time you can lose all the weight you want and the problem is over. In reality, you must change your way of thinking about eating and exercise for the rest of your life.
Good - There is an element of motivation in the form of "if they can do it, so can I". I am all for that.
Bad - They are losing weight in fantasy land where workouts are 5 hours long and food intake is controlled.
Good or bad, I will continue to watch it because I love seeing what can be accomplished. If you would like to catch up on The Biggest Loser News here are some links to help you out. For a short and sweet recap of last night’s show, check out this article on TVGrapevine. You can meet all the contestants on NBC’s website by clicking here.
I would love to here your comments about the contest!
1 Comment
September 25th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Hi Becky,
I can relate - I have conflicting thoughts about The Biggest Loser, too. On one hand, I have gained motivation from the show, but on the other hand, I’ve always thought that they work out way too much. You don’t have to “kill” yourself to shape up and lose weight, and it’s just not realistic for busy people in the world (not the show contestants) to work out 2 or more hours a day!
Of course, if they didn’t do what they do on the show, then there wouldn’t be a show. Anyway, I’m like you, I still end up watching it, but I don’t buy into the brutal workouts.
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