Weight Loss News and Current Events - Newspaper article follow-up on "The biggest loser"

Not sure where to post this, so if this isn't the right place, please move it.

In the weekend edition of the Anchorage Daily News, they had a terrific article on Kai, the gal who almost won "The Biggest Loser" two years ago.

http://www.adn.com/life/health/story/740127.html

It goes behind the scenes of the show, how UNhealthy it is, and how she's struggling now, to keep the weight off. Very interesting and informative.

Wow. Just WOW.

I feel sorry for her- that just sound so tough. It's funny all we see is the people working hard and losing weight. And I've said it myself a million times, the REST of the world can't lose weight like that because we can't quit our jobs and work out 12 hours a day. I consider it a good day when I get in half an hour of a workout and an AMAZING day when I get in 1 hour. But life gets in the way, kids, work, school, combinations of both, then when you get to work out, bam you get the flu, or something else happens. Normal people can't lose 20 lbs in a week- it's just insane. Even JM herself says BL is the Olympics of weight loss.

I hope she finds happiness.

That's enough to make someone hate Biggest Loser.

And, beerab, the other thing is, no one has to go to those extremes to lose weight. Sometimes on those shows someone loses "only" 3 pounds, 4 pounds, even 6 pounds in a week and are made to seem like failures. I succeeded with my weight loss averaging 4 pounds per MONTH.

I feel sorry for her, too. She was one of my favorite contestants.

By the way, here's the appearance of Erik Chopin on Oprah, after having gained 100 pounds back...

Jay

I certainly don't think I'll ever tune into BL again. I have so much sadness for her, what a tough road. I think they need to stop focusing on huge losses and look a little more at the psychological aspects of why these contestants are the way they are. My heart goes out to her.

I think that in the beginning of this show folks didn't really know what to expect. Producers (or whoever is in control of that stuff) will do anything to get ratings.

After a few seasons, viewers are getting to be more savvy.

The trainers made them spit out the milk?

I was never a fan of Kai when she was on the show but thanks for sharing the article.

And, beerab, the other thing is, no one has to go to those extremes to lose weight. Sometimes on those shows someone loses "only" 3 pounds, 4 pounds, even 6 pounds in a week and are made to seem like failures. I succeeded with my weight loss averaging 4 pounds per MONTH.

Oh I agree- I didn't mean to imply someone did have to do that. I just have friends who are severly overweight who go "man so and so lost 15 lbs in one WEEK" and I have to remind them that normally most people DO NOT lose 15 lbs in a week because most people can't maintain that workout schedule. Course they are all the ones looking for that miracle pill that'll magically make them lose 200 lbs without having to diet lol ;)

My average right now is like 3 lbs a month- I'm still happy lol.

FTA - "And now the house is a minefield of guilt and defeat. The brownies. The closet with the favorite pair of jeans that don't fit. The bathroom where the scale sits ready to measure her worth."

That's a heavy quote.

Wait - she made a pan of brownies to reward her husband for weight loss?

I've always wondered why the Biggest Loser is so weirdly focused on exercises, product placement foods and temptation foods. Very little focus is every placed on healthy eating, unless it's being served up by a celebrity chef (Rocco! Call me!).

I don't think they have any intention of setting ANY of those people up for long term success, the only goal is ratings for THAT season. That's it. It's the kind of short-sighted weight loss behavior that "dieted' me up to 200 lbs. It's sad, very sad.

This is sad. So basically, "The Biggest Loser" takes people who already have a not-so-healthy relationship with food, and instead of teaching them to make their lives a little better, it sends some of them like Kai home with full-blown eating disorders & new, unhealthy habits like purging & overexercising. With a big check, yes, but no support services afterward for what they've been through.

FTA - "And now the house is a minefield of guilt and defeat. The brownies. The closet with the favorite pair of jeans that don't fit. The bathroom where the scale sits ready to measure her worth."

That's a heavy quote.


Media heavy that is ... I'm a regainer and I don't consider my house a minefield of anything.

I do sympathize with her very public battle. Fame ain't always what it's cracked up to be.

Thanks for sharing.
Wow, when you watch the show, you don't realize what the actual reality is .... like the contestants sitting in a van, waiting for the shooting of scenes, etc. but mainly the "private" (or not so private) part of it - where you become public property and anybody recognizes you.
But, IMHO, she was really overdoing it, I mean in the months after the ranch and before the final weigh in. Sure, if I had a vision of $250,000 so close within my reach, maybe I would do the same - I don't know. And I can imagine that the pressure from being recognize anywhere you go must be enormous.

I did not start watching TBL until season 5, but quite coincidentally, I saw a rerun of the episode mentioned in the article (the obstacles run on the bridge).

I often wonder how Ali Vincent is doing these days?

Very little focus is every placed on healthy eating

How many times (and how many ways) can you show steamed broccoli or steel-cut oats?

That's not what I want them to show. I want them to TEACH them how to plan, shop, cook healthy foods. How to find recipes, how to tweak recipes, how to store produce, how to make snacks. I want them to learn the skills that I find integral to losing weight and keeping it off - skills which are basically ignored by the show.

Show them you don't have to live on steamed broccoli for the rest of your life. There are plenty of healthy, tasty alternatives. Maybe if the losers learned some of these skills, they'd be able to maintain their weight loss a little bit better.

Exercise alone can't do it.

Even if they don't SHOW it (because I guess cooking, shopping isn't as exciting to the American public as hot, dominatrix Jillian yelling at a huge man or riding his back like a cowgirl), they still should have time to TEACH IT while they are there full time at the ranch.

How many times (and how many ways) can you show steamed broccoli or steel-cut oats?

I've never ONCE seen them explain adequately healthy eating outside of product placement or rocco. And its always these little snapshots. No explanation of how much they should be eating. Little snippets, mostly in the post show blogs.

I'm still addicted to the show.

Meh, it's a reality show.

I think that article falls under 'sensationalism', just like BL often does. The article is meant to provoke. It seems to me that she's a fairly normal woman struggling with body image and weight loss, except that she's had the option to do it at an insane pace and therefore thinks that's possible and in some weird way normal. Much of the 'sob' story in that article really has to do with her choices- her choice to go into debt, her choice about how she would eat, etc.

Don't we all get obsessive about food? About our weight? How many of us have lost weight and then regained it? How many of us have poor relationships with food because of our family history or our emotional make-up? I know I've had to pack away the scale and focus on other things in the past because this weight loss journey can be all consuming.... it affects what we eat, which affects how we spend our time and who we hang out with, and where we shop, and how much money we spend.

The thing is, the American way of eating is really messed up. So, in order to lose the pounds we pack on, we make some pretty drastic changes from what we see as normal. Then, once we lose, we somehow think we no longer have to eat in that way. (Been there done that, 3x, and I'm working on seeing this healthy way of eating as a lifestyle... and figuring out how to work in those junky foods.)

BTW, Jillian talks a lot about what goes on at BL campus on her radio show- she's brutally honest about what she hates, things she's refused to do, stuff she's done because they make her, etc. She talks about all the stuff she takes her contestants to do- surfing for exercise, classes at gyms all over LA, etc. I *know* she educates her people, because she spends hours each week on the radio sharing that knowledge with us, often using examples of what she said to whom, and why. She also talks about how the contestants actually 'weigh-in' in the morning, but they don't hear the official news until the evening time w/the BL scale. I'm skeptical about what the article says about her behavior at the final weigh-in because of that. And bodybuilders and figure/fitness competitors do weird things like she did for competitions all the time.

That being said, it *is* a reality tv show.... bottom line, and a lot of the 'bad' comments are directed at that aspect. Beyond that, it's not BL's fault that Kai made some unwise financial decisions in order to pursue the money, which are continuing to cause her problems, or that she's struggling to lose weight after having a baby!!!!! Duh- most of us have been there, done that, and know it's hard.... hormones change, time flexiblity changes- it's just hard. I'm sorry she's struggling, but she has lots of company or this forum wouldn't be here.

Julie - amen to that, very well said.

I have to agree with Julie. I really like the show, but I am under no delusion that it represents weight loss in real life. Still, it does inspire people, and for me, it's just another tool to help motivate me. As for Kai, I remember I didn't particularly like her on the show because I thought she was always complaining. This article hasn't changed my mind about her. I do feel for her in her struggle with weight loss and would never wish ill will on her, but as Julie pointed out, she's made some very poor choices. Did she know nothing about healthy eating? And if not, why not? People have to take responsibility for their own bodies. No doubt she should be here, just like us, learning everything she can about healthy weight loss and exercise. With that said, I would like to see BL focus more on healthy eating like Glory suggested--not only would it help contestants but viewers as well--and I think it would be a great idea if they set up counseling for contestants on and after the show to deal with their obvious weight issues and obsessions. (The show can certainly afford it!) All in all, I still really like the show and will continue to watch it.

I'd also like to point out that, if they have a 50% success rate in terms of maintenance, a BL contestant is somewhere between 3-5 times more likely to maintain their weight loss than a non-contestant, just based on statistics. Something to ponder, anyway.

I often wonder how Ali Vincent is doing these days?

You will find out soon if you are watching TBL. Word is, on the gossip forums, that Ali and Michelle are coming on the show to take over while Alison Sweeney goes on maternity leave for this season.

Ali Vincent also has her own website. http://alivincent.com

Do you really think the people on the BL aren't like us? They know all the dieting dos and don'ts and what they should be eating before they go. They need some theraphy to deal with the emotional issues that made them eat in the first place.

I spoke about this before and eventhough the BL is a motivation for many people and that is a positive thing for people to start their weight loss journey and realize that it can be done. but also it can be a double-edge sword. When BL contestants are losing 12 and 15 pounds per week and you are only losing 2 it can demotivate you. But what I told of friend of mine who was all bummed out because she only lost 3 pounds in a week is that BL is a reality show and they aren't working or have other daily life activities. If you could work out 8 hours a day and eat 1200 cals per day and have a 2000 daily deficit you'll lose weight like they do. But 3 pounds a week is exceptional for us normal folks with jobs family and etc..

I've only seen like 2 episodes of BL and it's a positive thing to see people losing weight and realizing that they needed to do something. but for some people like my friend they have to realize the BL is not normal or typical weight loss.

IMO I think the contestants gain weight back because they are no longer in a controlled environment and they can't work out 8 hours per day like they were on the ranch. I just don't think the BL is a lifestyle change for many of the contestants and they don't realize that once you leave that ranch and normal daily life returns you are faced with the same problems why you gotten so overweight and that now is where the REAL challenge takes place. Losing the weight on the ranch IMO is easy it's when you are back in reality and back home is where the challenge begins and you must make a lifestyle change.

I watch TBL - when I catch it. I wonder if Kai had eaten more healthfully when she left the ranch if she would have had more success. If you don't fuel the fire, it can't burn.

I remember a few weeks ago, the son on the current brown team had not lost any weight. And they showed Bob, several times, telling him he was not eating enough. And then the next week he had a big loss. Now, what happened behind the scenes, I don't know, but that is so true.

TBL also misrepresented that one of the people who was voted off this season finished a marathon in 3:56 or something. In fact, that person got a ride in a van for part of it, and was not considered an official finisher. The time on the clock when he crossed the line (after the car ride) was 5:56.

Also, if they discuss more details about *how* to lose weight, then they couldn't sell their cookbooks, dietbook, TBL club, etc. etc. etc.

In addition, sometimes there is more than 7 days that pass between "weeks." There is sometimes a disclaimer at the end of the show.

But, still, when I watch it I feel motivated. And I like to see how I will look if I continue to lose weight.

IMO Shame on anyone who actually watches this show! This is the normal American mentality these days, "I know its bad. But I don't care"... not good :(

I'm suddenly glad I don't watch the show. Not because of the article, but because I didn't realize they were (or were depicted as) losing 12+ pounds a week. I was going to rent episodes from Netflix for when I'm on my excercise bike, but it wasn't available.

Still, if it weren't for that I think seeing other fat people exercising would be good for me (ha).

This is my second season for watching TBL, and after dealing with a weight issue most of my adult life, believe me...I KNOW that 12 lb weight loss is not normal and cannot be acheived by the average person attempting weight loss. But you are also forgetting that these people are way over 200 lbs, some above 350 this year...12 lbs is nothing for these people at that point. As they get closer to a normal weight they are losing single digits numbers which again are still not normal for the general public...one we do not have 8 hours a day to work out...we don't have someone else planning or controlling our calorie intake.

Another point, we only see 1 or 2 hours of edited footage, we have no way of knowing what the entire day consist of, so I guess my point is why be so negative. We know we aren't seeing everything, we know that the execs dictate what we see, and we know that we can't exercise and diet like those that are on the show. But the motivation I do get comes in seeing people having changes in their health...it gives me the motivation to exercise because I know that if I put forth a fraction of the time that those on the TBL put in, I just may be able to eventually get off high blood pressure meds, and when I get older, just maybe the exercise that I'm doing now will keep me from falling and breaking bones when I'm older.

TBL is entertainment. Simply entertainment. They don't really get too concerned about teaching proper eating behaviors because sensible weight loss doesn't permit the competitor's to post the weight loss numbers that they do on a weekly basis. And really, who would tune in to see which contestant lost 0.5 lbs last week?
Product placements are just that -- advertising worked into the context of the show. The trainers don't actually have to believe in the product, or recommend it personally, they just have to pitch it in order to satisfy network demands.
So lets not be too hard on the show -- take it for what it is worth. And it is clearly a boot camp situation focused on numbers, not health, and product placement, not education about healthy eating. Nothing more, nothing less. No one forces anyone to appear on the show. And no one forces anyone to watch.
I personally don't believe that the program does or even should teach healthy eating habits -- there are tons of less entertaining and lower-rated shows that do that. And although there is alot of criticism about the show, I know that if I had an opportunity to be on it, I would jump at the chance to have an all-expenses paid boot camp experience that would, at the very least, set me on a path towards better health and fitness. The rest would be up to me...
Kira

That is a very sad article. :(

I feel badly for that woman.

That said, if I had the opportunity to jump-start my weight loss through intensive measures, I would take it. There are contestants on this season who swear they are not a part of TBL for the money -- they are there for their health. We have to believe them, and hope that they are being truthful, otherwise yes, I can see how this sad story could be repeated.

That is such a sad article. I must confess that I watched TBL for one season several years ago, but not since then. It's entertainment, pure and simple and I have much better things to do.

And I am sure that many people watch the show with a coke in one hand and a bag of potato chips in the other.

Losing weight is not an easy thing to do. However it can be done. I doubt if TBL encourages anyone in the correct way to safely lose weight.