I don't understand why this has turned into such an issue on here.......
*GASP* this lawyer said this and he got this from an NBC official, it must be the God-given truth.....
*GASP* I can never ever watch TBL again - they have lied to me and people might try to do what they do on TV and if they don't get the same results, they might kill themselves.........
I've seen that same silly link to that same big, scary lawyer/ fen-phen litigator / fitness guru website on about 4 different threads now.......like people have made this big huge discovery that NBC producers have hoped you'd never ever see! I'm sure that NBC is aware of that website, if they were THAT secretive, I think that they would fight to get it off of there.... if the info. is true...... so what? It's people losing weight.... if TBL was doing it in an unnatural, unhealthy way, I don't think they'd be on there for 4 seasons... I think there would be enough media attention about it, I think NBC would get in trouble for it... etc etc etc. It's not as huge of a deal as people are making it out to be!
As for what he said in his email "
I knew instantly from looking at the data that it must have taken several times longer than 11 or 12 weekly episodes to lose this amount of weight. " Well.... he understands it..... If anyone lost 150 pounds in 3 weeks (even with Gastric Bypass surgery) I would be really scared as to what diesease is raviging their body!
It is TV people.... supposed to entertain..... if people can't see the "do not try this at home" part.... and "before beginning any exercise regime of ANY kind, talk to your doctor"........... then - well...... if they get hurt it's their fault. I think on any and every exercise tape you buy, and any diet that you go on, that same statement is on there "talk to your doctor" and how many of YOU have really talked to your doctor before doing the "Sweatin' to the Oldies" video with Richard Simmons or before joining WW??? I didn't. My doctor would tell me I'm obese and if I don't do something I'm going to die.... so if I die while trying to do something about my weight..... at least I was trying.
Like the PP said about Survivor - I see people losing 30+ pounds by being in the wilderness eating bugs..... so if I really want to lose weight - I'm going to go sit in the woods for 3 months and eat bugs (I wonder how many WW points are in those??)........ common sense tells me that that is RIDICULOUS!!!! Common sense also tells me I don't have 6 hours a day to workout - I also have kids to feed, so I can't just eat rice cakes and water for 8 months.....
These people do lose weight the right way. I found a site last night that said that they have to keep food diaries and if producers see that anything is going on that is unhealthy - the contestant will be kicked off the show..... the people who dehydrate themselves or don't eat before weigh-ins are doing it on their own accord and not at the insisting of the trainers or of the show.... I also saw an interview with Jillian that she says that ALL contestants are heavily screened before the show, they do all sorts of health tests, stress tests, etc........ to make sure that they aren't going to have a corinary on the show. AND, she also said that they show is extreme because it's REALITY TV.... they exercise 5 hours a day whereas in "REAL LIFE" she recommends working out like that 5 hours a week! (if you'd like the link to THAT interview, I'll gladly put it on here or mail it to you). I would take Jillians word over the lawyer dude any day on this subject matter. Though it would be funny (since he's a fitness dude) if he was a trainer on TBL next season..... I would laugh..... probably hysterically!
Maybe this whole thread will get closed because it's getting really nutso here. What's the point? If you have teenage daughters, tell them that TBL isn't really done in 12 weeks..... that weight loss like that should be done over a longer period of time. Tell them to tell their friends...... wash, rinse, repeat.... ta-da Also tell them that "America's Next Top Model" isn't really consistant with how girls these days should look.... and that on "American Idol" they let the bad singers in to sing for the judges in the beginning because it makes for good TV (can you imagine what it does to those kids self esteems though - to think that they are so good that they get to see the judges only to be told in so many words that they suck on National TV??? Where's the link to the lawyer who is looking into the mental torture that that causes?)
Okay....I am so glad, however, that we have a place like 3FC where we can voice our opinions but still be reaching for the common goal of losing weight, yes? I really do love all you ladies (and men), we are all on the weight loss journey together - and share that common bond....