I've said it a hundred times - NO ONE can maintain their weight loss when they lost it by exercising 6 to 8 hours a day. NO ONE is going to keep up that schedule. Not even ex-Biggest Loser contestants. In fact, a couple of them said today that they only work out 60-90 minutes a day since the finale. (Thank goodness!)
Filipe and Sione Fa (season 8 Biggest Loser contestants) were in upstate Carolina for a Fitness Across America program at a local Y. Before heading to the Y, they made a stop past our local NBC station. They did an excellent 2-part interview.
Unfortunately, it was obvious that Filipe had gained some weight. Filipe started at 364 pounds and weighed 229 at the finale. Sione started at 372 and weighed 226 at the finale. When asked today what they weigh, Filipe said he weighs 241. Sione replied that he's in the 240's.
Sione looks like he did at the finale to me (even more fit, in fact!). I would have never guessed that he was up 14+ pounds. (The banter about the amount of weight loss is at the start of part 2 of the interview.)
Whatever they weight, they are certainly to be congratulated for keeping off the majority of the weight they lost. I just hope it doesn't creep back up on them a dozen pounds at a time.
If we're really going to have a "reality" weight-loss show, why not see one where folks have to deal with their daily lives, exercise the amount that is normal and healthy...and then declare the participants who lose weight at a healthy, realistic pace and keep it up to their going THE BIGGEST WINNERS?
Showing posts with label Biggest Loser. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Biggest Loser. Show all posts
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Losers
It's taken me all season to figure out who I'm rooting for on this go 'round of Biggest Loser. There were probably more hard-to-like (on TV, anyway) folks offering themselves up for abuse this time than in any other season.
I've decided that either Danny or Allen would be excellent winners...er, losers...er, you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, I wish them all success. But these guys are the ones who I've come to respect and like.
Did you see last night's show? Now, I've never been a huge fan of Shay's but she absolutely deserved to stay. I was SO hoping for Amanda and Rebbecca to be packing their bags. After Tracey, they were next on my oh-God-get-them-out-of-there list.
On a side note, here I was all braggy yesterday about losing 5% of my weight in 7 weeks. Then last night, a couple of the Losers lost MORE than that in one week! And to add insult to injury, there were a couple more in the 4% range. Of course, I've had a life, eaten healthy and exercised a reasonable amount of time during that period. They, on the other hand, have absolutely abused their body.
And speaking of abuse...did you catch Shay on Jay Leno's show? Didn't you just want to SCREAM when she said the exercises 4 hours a day during the week and 6 to 7 hours a day on the weekend?! What a screwed up life. And, what a way to set yourself up for weight gain in the future.
I definitely have a love/hate relationship with Biggest Loser. It's like a car wreck. You don't want to look but you do. I can hear the wheels screeching every week. I just hope that the resulting crash that they will find themselves in eventually doesn't kill 'em.
(btw - is this the season for hard-to-like folks on TV? Have you seen Next Iron Chef? Need I say more?)
I've decided that either Danny or Allen would be excellent winners...er, losers...er, you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, I wish them all success. But these guys are the ones who I've come to respect and like.
Did you see last night's show? Now, I've never been a huge fan of Shay's but she absolutely deserved to stay. I was SO hoping for Amanda and Rebbecca to be packing their bags. After Tracey, they were next on my oh-God-get-them-out-of-there list.
On a side note, here I was all braggy yesterday about losing 5% of my weight in 7 weeks. Then last night, a couple of the Losers lost MORE than that in one week! And to add insult to injury, there were a couple more in the 4% range. Of course, I've had a life, eaten healthy and exercised a reasonable amount of time during that period. They, on the other hand, have absolutely abused their body.
And speaking of abuse...did you catch Shay on Jay Leno's show? Didn't you just want to SCREAM when she said the exercises 4 hours a day during the week and 6 to 7 hours a day on the weekend?! What a screwed up life. And, what a way to set yourself up for weight gain in the future.
I definitely have a love/hate relationship with Biggest Loser. It's like a car wreck. You don't want to look but you do. I can hear the wheels screeching every week. I just hope that the resulting crash that they will find themselves in eventually doesn't kill 'em.
(btw - is this the season for hard-to-like folks on TV? Have you seen Next Iron Chef? Need I say more?)
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
BL'ing!
Yep. It's Tuesday. Which means it's all about Biggest Loser'ing. Can I just say...UGH???!!!!!!
Now, I guarantee you that if I was on the losing team (or the winning team, for that matter!), I'd be the first one raising my hand, waving my arm, and demanding that they ship my tired butt, deaf ears (do Bob and Jillian always have to be yelling?), and sweat-stained self home. But why oh why do we have to endure another week of whiners, nasties and not-so-big-losers while the ones we really like go home?
I know, it makes for better TV to have the despicable ones left on the show. But, really. There's only a couple people left that I hope win. I don't know if I'll keep watching if they get sent home.
Which brings me to another thought about tonight. I really don't like the idea of a one-on-one competition. Too much stress. Wrong motives. Not good for anyone. Probably good for ratings though. (I know you can't see me rolling my eyes right now...but please know that I am.) Team work is good. In fact, excellent. Competing against your own set goals. That's good, too. But when you start thinking of it being you against someone else, it changes the basis for the action. And, it's really easy to get lost in that and end up defeating all the progress you've made for the right reasons.
'While we're talking about good and bad, how would you react to a trainer yelling at you? Would you keep that trainer? Does negativity inspire you to a positive result?
It's not my style. Wasn't when I was a trainer. Wasn't what worked for me when I was a student. Still doesn't work for me - either on the giving or receiving end.
If someone treated me like that - even if they try to convince me it was for my own good - I'd tell them to kiss my shiny, white...ummm, you know. Bling!
Now, I guarantee you that if I was on the losing team (or the winning team, for that matter!), I'd be the first one raising my hand, waving my arm, and demanding that they ship my tired butt, deaf ears (do Bob and Jillian always have to be yelling?), and sweat-stained self home. But why oh why do we have to endure another week of whiners, nasties and not-so-big-losers while the ones we really like go home?
I know, it makes for better TV to have the despicable ones left on the show. But, really. There's only a couple people left that I hope win. I don't know if I'll keep watching if they get sent home.
Which brings me to another thought about tonight. I really don't like the idea of a one-on-one competition. Too much stress. Wrong motives. Not good for anyone. Probably good for ratings though. (I know you can't see me rolling my eyes right now...but please know that I am.) Team work is good. In fact, excellent. Competing against your own set goals. That's good, too. But when you start thinking of it being you against someone else, it changes the basis for the action. And, it's really easy to get lost in that and end up defeating all the progress you've made for the right reasons.
'While we're talking about good and bad, how would you react to a trainer yelling at you? Would you keep that trainer? Does negativity inspire you to a positive result?
It's not my style. Wasn't when I was a trainer. Wasn't what worked for me when I was a student. Still doesn't work for me - either on the giving or receiving end.
If someone treated me like that - even if they try to convince me it was for my own good - I'd tell them to kiss my shiny, white...ummm, you know. Bling!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Stranger In A Familiar Land
Being a stranger in a strange land is not nearly as disconcerting as being a stranger in a familiar land. Just as the Black Team on this week's Biggest Loser.
They went home for a week. The only problem (and the great thing) was that they were not the same people who had left home 6 weeks earlier. For the most part, their friends and family were. So, trips out to restaurants, family picnics, etc brought with them a certain set of familiar expectations that were no longer true for the Biggest Losers.
I remember this feeling. When I'd lost weight and saw friends for the first time in a long time (and it seems that those gatherings were almost always at a restaurant, btw), they'd often order appetizers for the table or finish the meal with the community dessert. Fine by me. Eat all you want. But, I'd choose not to eat the "treat".
"Aw, c'mon. You haven't had it in so long. Just this once won't hurt."
"No one gets fat eating one Buffalo wing. Try one. They're really good." (For the record, I've never eaten just one wing. Wings are meant to be eaten by the half-dozens...aren't they?)
"It's not going to hurt you to skip the workout and go with us to the mall."
No one says these things with any malice. (Although I gotta tell you, when Tracey said tonight that she hoped the members of the Black Team had eaten lots of cake when they were home, I was really hoping for the Universe to take care of her tonight. But, looks like we'll have to wait at least another week for that to happen.) They are just doing and saying and thinking what they've always done and said and thought. They haven't changed! The person who has lost the weight is the one who has changed.
The trick is to not let anything (a wing or a cupcake) or anyone (even the best-meaning family and friends) change you to something you don't want to be. Again.
Hang tough and before long the "new you" will be the familiar person in the familiar land. What folks will eventually deem strange is when you grab that chip and swipe it through the cheese dip!
They went home for a week. The only problem (and the great thing) was that they were not the same people who had left home 6 weeks earlier. For the most part, their friends and family were. So, trips out to restaurants, family picnics, etc brought with them a certain set of familiar expectations that were no longer true for the Biggest Losers.
I remember this feeling. When I'd lost weight and saw friends for the first time in a long time (and it seems that those gatherings were almost always at a restaurant, btw), they'd often order appetizers for the table or finish the meal with the community dessert. Fine by me. Eat all you want. But, I'd choose not to eat the "treat".
"Aw, c'mon. You haven't had it in so long. Just this once won't hurt."
"No one gets fat eating one Buffalo wing. Try one. They're really good." (For the record, I've never eaten just one wing. Wings are meant to be eaten by the half-dozens...aren't they?)
"It's not going to hurt you to skip the workout and go with us to the mall."
No one says these things with any malice. (Although I gotta tell you, when Tracey said tonight that she hoped the members of the Black Team had eaten lots of cake when they were home, I was really hoping for the Universe to take care of her tonight. But, looks like we'll have to wait at least another week for that to happen.) They are just doing and saying and thinking what they've always done and said and thought. They haven't changed! The person who has lost the weight is the one who has changed.
The trick is to not let anything (a wing or a cupcake) or anyone (even the best-meaning family and friends) change you to something you don't want to be. Again.
Hang tough and before long the "new you" will be the familiar person in the familiar land. What folks will eventually deem strange is when you grab that chip and swipe it through the cheese dip!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
If It's Tuesday...
...it must be BIGGEST LOSER.
Ugh! Coach Mo - there is no honor in falling on the sword. Especially for such a negative force. (In case you don't know who I'm referring to, it's Tracey. If you don't know her, you're better off in life!) The one truth is that the universe takes care of itself. I can't wait to see it happen in her case. (Yeah, it's so much more fun to be around to see it - or at least have a good friend report it to you...but that's another story for another day. LOL.) Let me restate my thoughts about tonight's show...UGH!
But, that's not what I want to talk about today. I want to tell you a BIGGEST LOSER story that had me up in arms for days this summer. There is a BL couple here in these parts. I went to a local event several weeks ago where these folks were part of the entertainment. The guy was absolutely hysterical. I didn't expect to like him but he turned out to be a hoot! The gal...well, she was very nice but also looked beaten down. It was all over her face.
After their gig, they were at a booth. I wanted to talk to them, compare notes from my time in the weight-loss spotlight. Then it happened.
They had a manager or handler with them. Well, it was about 1:30 - they had a noon show. So, when I got to the booth, the gal was eating a sandwich. One she'd brought from home. It didn't have much on it. BUT, the manager/handler/BIGGEST JERK leaned over and whispered something to her. I heard it but couldn't believe it. The gal turned to her husband and said "I need to go eat this somewhere else. BIGGEST JERK says it doesn't look good for me to eat in public." Yep, I'd heard correctly.
OH HELL NO! I spoke up. Pointed out that we all eat and that it was actually a good thing for the public to see this gal eating a healthy lunch. BIGGEST JERK shot me a hateful look and pulled the gal away.
I was livid. You see, I lived this many years ago. After I'd lost weight and become a public figure, every one thought they should tell me what I should or shouldn't eat in public. Strangers who'd seen me in the paper or on TV would approach my dinner table at a restaurant and suggest what I was eating wasn't the best choice or ask if Richard Simmons knew that I was eating out or what I was eating.
After allowing all that type of crap to drive me into exercise bulimia, I went the opposite way and gained weight. I started hiding what I was eating and after maintaining the weight-loss for five or six years, finally gave up the fight.
So, BIGGEST JERK, if this gal struggles more than usual after losing the weight, I hope you take the credit that you so rightly deserve. You've got no idea what you are doing or saying. You are so superficial and so uneducated in the "handling" of weight-loss success stories that you are dangerous.
Now, if you want to devote some attention to Tracey from this season, I think you'd make a perfect team! But, leave the good folks alone! Look over your shoulder, BJ, the universe is approaching.
Ugh! Coach Mo - there is no honor in falling on the sword. Especially for such a negative force. (In case you don't know who I'm referring to, it's Tracey. If you don't know her, you're better off in life!) The one truth is that the universe takes care of itself. I can't wait to see it happen in her case. (Yeah, it's so much more fun to be around to see it - or at least have a good friend report it to you...but that's another story for another day. LOL.) Let me restate my thoughts about tonight's show...UGH!
But, that's not what I want to talk about today. I want to tell you a BIGGEST LOSER story that had me up in arms for days this summer. There is a BL couple here in these parts. I went to a local event several weeks ago where these folks were part of the entertainment. The guy was absolutely hysterical. I didn't expect to like him but he turned out to be a hoot! The gal...well, she was very nice but also looked beaten down. It was all over her face.
After their gig, they were at a booth. I wanted to talk to them, compare notes from my time in the weight-loss spotlight. Then it happened.
They had a manager or handler with them. Well, it was about 1:30 - they had a noon show. So, when I got to the booth, the gal was eating a sandwich. One she'd brought from home. It didn't have much on it. BUT, the manager/handler/BIGGEST JERK leaned over and whispered something to her. I heard it but couldn't believe it. The gal turned to her husband and said "I need to go eat this somewhere else. BIGGEST JERK says it doesn't look good for me to eat in public." Yep, I'd heard correctly.
OH HELL NO! I spoke up. Pointed out that we all eat and that it was actually a good thing for the public to see this gal eating a healthy lunch. BIGGEST JERK shot me a hateful look and pulled the gal away.
I was livid. You see, I lived this many years ago. After I'd lost weight and become a public figure, every one thought they should tell me what I should or shouldn't eat in public. Strangers who'd seen me in the paper or on TV would approach my dinner table at a restaurant and suggest what I was eating wasn't the best choice or ask if Richard Simmons knew that I was eating out or what I was eating.
After allowing all that type of crap to drive me into exercise bulimia, I went the opposite way and gained weight. I started hiding what I was eating and after maintaining the weight-loss for five or six years, finally gave up the fight.
So, BIGGEST JERK, if this gal struggles more than usual after losing the weight, I hope you take the credit that you so rightly deserve. You've got no idea what you are doing or saying. You are so superficial and so uneducated in the "handling" of weight-loss success stories that you are dangerous.
Now, if you want to devote some attention to Tracey from this season, I think you'd make a perfect team! But, leave the good folks alone! Look over your shoulder, BJ, the universe is approaching.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Local Biggest Losers Lose
Well, the Red Team is out. I mentioned earlier that the Red Team is from my town. And, in fact, they work out at my gym...at least part of the time. According to the local news, they work out at a few gyms around town. And why shouldn't they? They work out for AT LEAST three hours a day. THREE! Hello!!!
I guess that's how Phil (the male half of the Red Team) has lost 120 pounds in the last five months. Amy (lady Red) has lost 80 if I remember the news report correctly. When they were at "the ranch", they were working out eight - yes EIGHT - hours a day. So, I guess they are taking it easy now. (Go ahead, roll your eyes. I did.)
Now, I gotta tell you, I lost 128 pounds - actually a bit more but I don't often count those last few pounds. (Too painful to remember...but that's for a later post.) I lost the first 118 exercising ONE hour a day...and not even every day. Granted, I didn't do it in five months. But I also had a life. And I didn't suffer. And it wasn't hard. Really! I also didn't have a television camera in my face until AFTER I lost the weight.
They're keeping up the grinding exercise schedule in hopes of "winning" $100,000 on the Biggest Loser season finale. They won't be the Biggest Loser Big Winners but they can still be Biggest Loser Winners. Ummm. Sitting here thinking about it. Biggest Loser is really an appropriate name for the show. "Winning" can come at a really big cost - one that I'm sure they can't even begin to comprehend at this point.
I'm so glad that when I lost my weight the first time it was when you had to lose weight and then get on TV, not the other way around. I took the time to do it right. Do it in a healthy, realistic way. Biggest loser? Nah. But guess what? In the overall scheme of things, I win!
I guess that's how Phil (the male half of the Red Team) has lost 120 pounds in the last five months. Amy (lady Red) has lost 80 if I remember the news report correctly. When they were at "the ranch", they were working out eight - yes EIGHT - hours a day. So, I guess they are taking it easy now. (Go ahead, roll your eyes. I did.)
Now, I gotta tell you, I lost 128 pounds - actually a bit more but I don't often count those last few pounds. (Too painful to remember...but that's for a later post.) I lost the first 118 exercising ONE hour a day...and not even every day. Granted, I didn't do it in five months. But I also had a life. And I didn't suffer. And it wasn't hard. Really! I also didn't have a television camera in my face until AFTER I lost the weight.
They're keeping up the grinding exercise schedule in hopes of "winning" $100,000 on the Biggest Loser season finale. They won't be the Biggest Loser Big Winners but they can still be Biggest Loser Winners. Ummm. Sitting here thinking about it. Biggest Loser is really an appropriate name for the show. "Winning" can come at a really big cost - one that I'm sure they can't even begin to comprehend at this point.
I'm so glad that when I lost my weight the first time it was when you had to lose weight and then get on TV, not the other way around. I took the time to do it right. Do it in a healthy, realistic way. Biggest loser? Nah. But guess what? In the overall scheme of things, I win!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Picture this...
I got the monthly email update from the gym a couple days ago. It was full of the standard stuff. New classes, time changes, reminders to stop taking the towels home, etc. But then there was something definitely out of the ordinary..."no pictures, please". That got my attention. In all the years that I've worked out at gyms, I don't think I've ever seen anyone taking pictures. I've certainly never had anyone specifically tell me not to take pictures. I guess when I was juggling my water bottle, towel, keys and iPod, I just never thought to reach for my camera as I was heading out for a workout.
It seems that one of this season's "Biggest Loser" couples belongs to the gym. Okay. Got it. I also understand the request to respect their time and space. After all, I'm going to the gym to get a workout, too. Heck, I want my time and space respected. But, I'd have never known they were there if they hadn't pointed it out in the email - or if the local news station and newspaper hadn't done stories on them and made a specific point of the fact that they were working out at that gym. My guess is, neither would 99.9% of the rest of the city. They could have just left the name of the gym out. You know, like I have. So much for flying under the radar.
Several years ago, I was a Richard Simmons success story. When Deal-A-Meal was all the rage. Back when you had to lose weight at home and then get on TV via an infomercial - not lose weight on TV via a reality show in order to be a "weight loss star". I was everywhere when you flipped the channels. I did national talk shows, local talk shows, Richard showed my clip on QVC for months and the infomercial ran morning, noon, and night for over a year. There were print ads in the Sunday newspapers. Heck, I was even paging through "Glamour" magazine one day and came across my picture in a review of "Sweatin' to the Oldies 3". I have to say that in all the time that I was in the national spotlight, other than a photo shoot I did at the Y in Aurora, Illinois one day, no one ever took a picture of me working out at the gym. And, rarely did anyone ever interrupt my workout.
But times have changed. Paparazzi have changed the expectations and the bounds of reasonableness. I wonder if people really do have to be told to not take pictures at the gym? It will be interesting to observe from the distance. I hope that my workout schedule crosses theirs sometime just so I can see how others react to them - and vice versa. My guess is that everyone will do their own thing and no one will even notice that they are working out. Don't you think?
(btw Red Team...best of luck! I hope you win it all!!)
It seems that one of this season's "Biggest Loser" couples belongs to the gym. Okay. Got it. I also understand the request to respect their time and space. After all, I'm going to the gym to get a workout, too. Heck, I want my time and space respected. But, I'd have never known they were there if they hadn't pointed it out in the email - or if the local news station and newspaper hadn't done stories on them and made a specific point of the fact that they were working out at that gym. My guess is, neither would 99.9% of the rest of the city. They could have just left the name of the gym out. You know, like I have. So much for flying under the radar.
Several years ago, I was a Richard Simmons success story. When Deal-A-Meal was all the rage. Back when you had to lose weight at home and then get on TV via an infomercial - not lose weight on TV via a reality show in order to be a "weight loss star". I was everywhere when you flipped the channels. I did national talk shows, local talk shows, Richard showed my clip on QVC for months and the infomercial ran morning, noon, and night for over a year. There were print ads in the Sunday newspapers. Heck, I was even paging through "Glamour" magazine one day and came across my picture in a review of "Sweatin' to the Oldies 3". I have to say that in all the time that I was in the national spotlight, other than a photo shoot I did at the Y in Aurora, Illinois one day, no one ever took a picture of me working out at the gym. And, rarely did anyone ever interrupt my workout.
But times have changed. Paparazzi have changed the expectations and the bounds of reasonableness. I wonder if people really do have to be told to not take pictures at the gym? It will be interesting to observe from the distance. I hope that my workout schedule crosses theirs sometime just so I can see how others react to them - and vice versa. My guess is that everyone will do their own thing and no one will even notice that they are working out. Don't you think?
(btw Red Team...best of luck! I hope you win it all!!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
