NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” is a reality competition in which overweight contestants try to lose as much weight as possible to insure their survival in the game. The show draws a lot of interest from the fact that contestants routinely lose vast amounts of weight in a relatively short amount of time. It’s commonplace for contestants to lose more than 10-15 pounds in a week, particular during the early part of a season.
The show has received a lot of criticism for the very same reasons. The weight loss that the contestants experience is completely unrealistic for the average overweight person. Contestants on the show have 24/7 access to some of the best fitness professionals in the world as well as the fact they can spend their entire week exercising. I’ve heard a few different reports saying that contestants spend upwards of 6 hours per day exercising, which is out of the question for most people with jobs and families. Another criticism is that some of the contestants end up putting back on some of the weight after the competition. As their lives return back to normal, i.e. no more 6-hour daily workouts, their bodies will naturally adjust and weight will certainly be gained.
There are, however, still many things that we can learn from “The Biggest Loser”. First and foremost, losing a significant amount of weight requires commitment and hard work. If you’ve ever watched the show then you know just how hard the contestants are working. They aren’t in the gym just going through the motions, the trainers are constantly pushing them. There is a big difference in the benefit of pushing yourself in the gym versus just doing the exercises.
A second important learning is that reaching your goals takes time. It’s not going to happen overnight. Depending on how much weight you need to lose to reach your goals, it may take up to a year or more to actually achieve your desired weight. Contestants on the show don’t reach their desired weights in 2-3 weeks. Even in the fast-forward atmosphere of the reality competition it still takes them a few months of extremely hard work. Realizing that weight-loss is a marathon and not a sprint is important. It’s more about making lifestyle changes than fad diets, and more about long-term dedication than short-lived inspiration.
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