Biggest Loser Finale --too much?

With the Biggest Loser Finale fast approaching (NBC Tues 8-10) another successful season is coming to an end. Love them or hate them, Biggest Loser trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels get the job done. As a trainer I may be in the minority on this one. I have read, and I have heard many trainers and critics trash the show, producers, the Network and of course the trainers for as long as the shows’ been on Television. Why? Well, first off their training methods may be a bit extreme, especially with clients that are this obese and out of shape. So why do I watch? I have to admit, I enjoy the show and the message it sends and I’m still amazed by the body transformations. The message the show does convey is that anyone can change if you’re willing! It’s out there for you, if you want it! And, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!

Am I irresponsible for enjoying the show? How can a trainer endorse this kind of show? First off, I think most of us are smart enough to realize that this isn’t the real world. These folks have dedicated 4 months away from their families and are making losing weight a “full-time job”. It’s a Reality show that’s not reality. Do I cringe? Yes I do. Some of the exercise form is brutal and should be edited from the program. But next time you’re in a gym take a look around you, you’ll see that same brutal form, a rounded back, weight on toes and reckless and dangerous lifting. But contestants on the Biggest Loser are suppose to be supervised by great trainers, yes I know that’s a real problem, c’mon guys clean that up!

But again I do think some so-called “Big Time” trainers may be a little jealous of the success Bob and Jillian have earned, but still feel they are sub-par trainers and the success is due to being great TV “personalities”. Whatever the case, they’re here to stay, and Jillian is adding a second show, ‘Losing it” in 2 weeks. So get used to it!

The show overall is very unrealistic in terms of weight loss. I’ve seen someone lose 31lbs in one week on the show. Yes 7 days. So my client works with me, loses 2 lbs in one week. How’s that feel, hopefully good? But you get the picture. Ordinarily, 2 pounds would be an outstanding pace at which to lose weight each week, but with TV shows and infomercials advertising double-digit weekly weight loss results it’s hard to be that impressed with a couple of pounds here and another few there.


What I see as a Positive on Biggest Loser.

One of the most powerful things that help with weight loss is Accountability. Accountability is one of the most powerful motivational forces and it may be the number one reasons to get a Personal Trainer. It’s best to be able to have accountability to yourself, but the show sets you up to be held accountable by your partner and then by your team. That’s powerful stuff!

They bring out the competitive person. We all want to win, but at what cost? If you play sports you know what I’m talking about. Because competition is motivating and competition brings out the best performances in people.

It gives people watching at home some hope. Think about it. In week 1 many of these folks are sickly and some can’t even walk up their stairs at home. By the end of the show these same people are running a 26.2 mile Marathon. What the heck? Maybe you’re a couch potato sitting at home saying, “if they can do that, I can at least get out and walk.” The show makes you realize it’s not easy, it’s going to take hard work and consistency to achieve your goals. It’s not sitting on a machine reading a book, it’s HARD WORK!

Food, Food, Food. You are NOT starving yourself! It's making healthy choices and portion control. Yes it’s that important! Yes there’s product placement and sometimes I think the trainers are irritated by the fact they have to push products, but hey it’s a sponsor, so be it. But the bottom line, you’re not getting the results you want without eating a clean diet. That’s emphasized over and over. The contestants are educated on how to eat correctly for safe weight loss. They have great guests who share recipes and further educate the contestants. Most important they never lose sight of how critical diet and food planning is when losing or maintaining your ideal weight.


What I see as a negative on Biggest Loser.

Well, I already stated that some of the exercise form is shabby. Along those same lines, I would always start the season showing the initial basic routines the contestants start with. If you read Bob or Jillian’s books or view their DVD’s they always emphasis how important the basics are and you should always start slow and build up. As a viewer you never see that. It looks like contestants just jump right into a “Last Chance Workout” and suffer the consequences. Producers use your heads, it’s TV that’s why………

Are Personal Trainers really that mean? I hope not. If you’re thinking about hiring a Personal Trainer and you think you’re going to get screamed at, you’re not. Personal training should be more nurturing and more emotional and I think you'd get better results if you handle it that way rather than being a drill sergeant. If you’re a Personal Trainer, don’t yell at your clients, please, it only works in the military. But again, TV……….

The competition is judged on weight loss and that damn scale, not body composition. It’s unfortunate but too many people, especially women are slaves to their scales. Some weigh themselves daily, which is a major mistake. Once a week is enough first thing in the morning. The weight loss shown at the end of each show is deceiving. No doubt they're losing a tremendous amount of bodyfat, but at alarming rates. Much of that loss is water and some are losing muscle and other lean tissue, which is not what we want. The show should think about inches lost and maybe judge the competition on body composition, not just body weight. And put an emphasis on safe weight loss and that rapid weight loss is a dangerous practice.

The contestants work out schedule is ridiculous with major risk of injury. What about showing us what happens when you over-train? The show should bring us into that trainer’s room. Here you’ll see contestants being treated for shin splints and other various over-use injuries. Don’t just show us people throwing up or falling off treadmills. That’s bad enough! Remind the viewer that this training is unrealistic and should not be attempted at home.

What do Bob and Jillian have what most trainers don’t have?

I don’t even know where to start. I know, I know I see all these so-called “Fitness Experts” selling that great program out there and claiming to have that “secret” to weight loss. When did the fitness profession create that “used car salesman” mentality? Only 2 days left before my price goes up, act now because I’ll never offer this package again, blah, blah, blah…sorry off track.

Bottom line. I see it all the time. The expert has all these great certifications and higher education beyond belief. Knows every exercise out there and can tell you what muscle and where it insets with his eyes closed. Yes, stuff we as trainers have to know to be successful. But when clients work with them they are missing something. That something, difficult to explain is called “IT” in sports we have many examples, Larry Bird had “it’ Magic Johnson had “it” A-Rod doesn’t have “it”. When it comes to trainers, Bob and Jillian have “it”. For us, along with training knowledge you have to be able to relate to a client and read certain things. Life Coach, psychologist, yes a little of both, it’s that missing ingredient I’m sorry to say, many trainers don’t have it, it’s not just designing a fitness program or inventing a cool exercise, it’s real world. It’s not something you’ll learn from a book, you either have “it” or you don’t……..

Conclusion

Does the show have flaws? Yes it does. Should it make changes? Yes they should. Would you rather watch a bunch a young adults acting like idiots living in a beach house on the Jersey shore? Hope not. That’s what’s great about this country, you have a choice. You have a choice whether to be heavy or to be in shape. You have a choice to watch what you want. This show spotlights one of the major problems we have in our Country, obesity. And the show recognizes there's a problem and encourages folks to try to do something about it. Has the show helped many people? I think it has. Watch it with an open mind and remember it is just Television and we all know it’s all about ratings and revenues. If you’re a viewer with weight issues and you think you’ll lose that amount of weight if you duplicate what they do, think again. If you’re serious about working out and getting in shape, contact a Certified Personal Trainer first and do it right. As far as the show, remember its entertainment. So enjoy the Finale and see what these contestants did on their own for 3 months! You just may be inspired.

Maybe add a Warning Label: