I have often heard that some of the actors or actresses when preparing for a movie role will exercise 6-8 hours a day but that is all they are doing and they are getting paid millions of dollars to do it too! I would exercise for 20 hours a day if you paid me what they get! And, eat only a banana and drink water.
I would liken this amount of exercising to deciding you are going to work construction for a day. No one is saying that it can't be done! Ask anyone who does a lot of physical work for a job or living ----they do it because it pays the bills and puts food on the table. Some might even prefer it to being at a desk all day.
Now, getting back to the Biggest Loser contestants. Again these people are sequestered on a fitness ranch with nothing else to occupy their time. They are under a lot of pressure. They have signed contracts. If nothing else they have their pride or losing it if they "fail". They are in a very controlled environment. They couldn't order pizza or go through a drive through if their life depended on it. They have the pressure of making a specific goal weigh-in and not to be booted off the team or the show. If I had that kind of pressure on my back, I would probably be doing some of the stuff they do too! And, more!
It is tv and it is done for ratings. It is exciting to watch and, at times, inspiring, but I also think it is unrealistic for most of us to aspire to doing this. However, if you can clear the other commitments of your life to do this and your health will permit, who am I to say? I have always like being active and I have restarted my exercise program after a four month hiatus. I was able to start pretty much where I left off but I have been active almost 30 years too. I have worked with personal trainers in the past, I know my limits and I am a competitive person by nature. However, even I know that I am getting older and I can't do some of the things I used to do with ease.
If all signs say GO, then go for it!! Let us know how it works out.