Every now and then I watch the Biggest Loser. When the new season started, in January, I, reluctantly, had it programmed into my DVR.
I say reluctantly because I have mixed feelings about that show.
On the one hand it's interesting and inspiring to see people, who are so severely obese, lose weight. Especially since I have to admit to myself that, at 253 I'd be a lightweight, but I could still be a contestant on the show.
On the other, it's unrealistic and more than a little fake.
Don't get me wrong, these people are losing the weight, and they're working VERY hard to do it. There is absolutely nothing fake about that. But it's how they're losing the weight that's unrealistic and fake. And I have a big problem with the way they measure progress.
There's more to weight and weight loss than mere pounds. There's body composition. What are those pounds made of?
And the problem I have with the way the Biggest Loser measures weight loss is that you can't tell if the pounds are water, fat, muscle or bone. And it does matter. Some of these people are losing weight in the double digits each week. I see so many of these people lose so much weight yet, they don't look any different. They don't look any smaller (or healthier) until several weeks in. And you think, well, they originally weighed over 300lbs, they're not going to look thinner right away. Fine, I'll concede that someone so large will need to lose A LOT of weight for it to be noticeable. But I've lost 20 lbs before (just not in a week) and there has been a noticeable difference. I don't see it so much in these people.
But the other issue I have with the measuring system is that it's not fair. A loss of pounds does not mean a FAT loss. And a gain of pounds doesn't mean a FAT gain. As a matter of fact, the first time I was successful in losing weigh I got down to 179 (from 220) but I dropped from a size 20 to a 12/14. And the LAST time I was a 14 I weighed less than 179. That means I had more muscle mass than the last time I was that size and less fat. And if you gain muscle your POUND losses are going to be small and slow because you're replacing the fat weight with muscle weight.
So a Loser who gains muscle easily is at a disadvantage because their pound losses are going to be smaller, even if their actual fat loss may be higher.
Which gets me to the issue of how they lose weight.
On the surface it's a sound plan: Diet and exercise. But there have been reports that the diet isn't necessarily as healthy as wew are led to believe. Not only that but they are in a seriously controlled environment. They spend 24/7 at the Loser ranch with NO distractions and NO temptations (except those provided by the producers). Their food is provided for them and they work out several hours a day with personal trainers. They don't have to arrange exercise around their jobs, they don't have to drive past Burger King on their way home, they don't have friends and family members sabotaging them with "good" intentions. They have however much time they have in the house to focus on nothing but sticking to their diet, exercising and whatever activities the producers dream up for them.
And this, is what makes it unrealistic and fake.
Sure, when the final four leave the house, they go out into the world and have to deal with the same issues as the rest of us and still continue losing weight. But, by and large, the bulk of the loss occurs in a seriously controlled environment.
And let's talk about what happens when they get back out into the "real" world. We don't really get to see how they lose the rest of the weight. We don't really get to see them diet or exercise. We see snippets between scenes of infighting and scheming and the Challenge/Temptation of the week. Not really what I'm interested in. I tune in for the metamorphosis and, at this rate, I don't even watch the show. I fast forward through each episode to get to the weigh-in and really only tune in for the season finale.
So that's why I have mixed feelings. On and off of the BL ranch, these people work hard to achieve their losses and when they do go home and keep up the loss it is inspiring.
But, my favorite season will always be the one where 36 people were sent home, had to do it all on their own, and managed to lose as much (if not more) weight as the people who got to stay in the house.
Honestly, I would rather have watched any of their stories.