Maintenance for the Biggest Losers
 

As a fan of the show, I read this site with interest. I realize that the contestants may get down WAY low for the finale, but it's kind of surprising that only 2 people seemed to have stuck at their finale weights.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28239000...Y_BLoser_WATN2

It is positive that most of the people profiled for that article say they have made significant changes for their health. Not sure if their weight on the scales backs up their stories!

Found a link of Eric the winner of Season 3 on the Oprah show. He has gained back 100+ lbs.

http://images.oprah.com/images/tows/...01_350x263.jpg

Related story:

http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blo...ck-122-pounds/

I saw that episode. I'm not surprised that TBL contestants don't make great maintainers.

I think that it's kind of a microcosm of how this country approaches dieting and weightloss. Going balls to the wall to get the weight off, going to extremes for the big finale followed by going back to the "real world" where you're no longer surrounded by people who are eating and working out like you are.

I love TBL and how inspirational it is, but I'm always frustrated at the lack of discussion about what happens when the weight is actually gone.

I agree completely!

For most of us, we had practice from day 1 dealing with helpful coworkers who bring in bagels and cream cheese and then HOUND YOU to take some (as an example). Those real world experiences and tactics are priceless!

I saw Brittany in the audience at last season's finale, and she looked like she was the same size she was when she first started losing weight. It made me really sad, actually.

So I just read through all the profiles on the msnbc link... did they all have to become motivational speakers? My goodness!

Also, I still think Matt and Suzy are off the charts adorable!

I wish that a show that focused more on maintenance could be HALF as popular!!

I know these people lost their weight in a crazy, unique RIDICULOUS setting, but it still upsets me to hear how they've gained back so much weight. Upsetting, but sadly, not so surprising. We here are all "working maintenance" every single day.


Kinda reminds me how I used to wish that I could just wake up one day and be a normal weight. I told myself if that could only be that I would NEVER allow myself to get so heavy again. But honestly, what would have prevented that? Had I just "woken up thin" one day, would I have had a clue as to how to KEEP that weight off? Probably not. Make that DEFINITELY NOT. The weight loss process itself is so incredibly valuable.

Robin, I used to lie in bed and pray that the Thin Fairy would come visit me during the night and poof, I'd wake up thin. :wizard: What would I have done to celebrate? Probably had a bag of Oreos. :lol: In other words, Robin is right (of course!) We have to live it in order to learn it. And maintenance is a skill that we have to keep practicing and refining every day for the rest of our lives if we want to keep the weight off.

It's sad about all the BL weight regain but it doesn't surprise me. We all know the abysmal statistics about regain after weight loss. No one knows for sure, but we see numbers up to 95% of people who lose weight put it all back on. Regardless of what the actual numbers are, we maintainers are definitely a minority.

One thing that I think separates us from regainers is our group support here. I can't imagine how hard it would be to go out in the world and try to keep 122 pounds off without having a peer group of people who are living maintenance every day too. We're not like normal weight people who have never been overweight and we're not like overweight or obese people any more. So where do we fit? Here!

If the BL losers joined here with us, I'd like to think they would have had far more success keeping the weight off. As it was, they were sent out in the world with no preparation or group support. Regain was almost inevitable.

This is not at all surprising to me. In fact this is why I don't watch the show. It's too extreme. And then the people get dumped back into their original environments w/o being taught coping skills.

To me, it is like taking a drug addict into rehab w/o providing after care.

I can't watch the show for the same reason. I don't think it's inspirational at all -- IMO it's selling a lie to the viewers. First of all, the way they lose weight is so incredibly extreme that it's unsafe to attempt without being under the supervision of doctors and trainers. Second of all, they don't focus on maintenance at all. It's like, lose as much weight as fast as you can, and then, poof, you're "done." No wonder people gain the weight back.

Also it makes me angry that on that show if someone loses, say, one pound in a week, it's a failure. Seriously? Don't you think that people who are working a slow weight loss at home get disappointed, even maybe give up, because they don't lose as fast as the people on TV?

Okay, enough ranting. Sorry guys.

We see evidence of what Jessica said ...

Also it makes me angry that on that show if someone loses, say, one pound in a week, it's a failure. Seriously?

... here at 3FC almost every day. There are far too many folks who think they're doing something wrong because they only lost a pound or two last week or two.

I have not posted in quite a long time, but feel the need to comment.

I look at the people on TBL and think they personify the thoughts of people with a lot of weight to lose (myself included). If I can just go to a place where the world is perfect and I have all these people to tell me exactly how when why and for how long. Then I can do it. If I have the whole world watching me then I have to do it. They literly have all the "motivation" you could possible have! And much to their dissapointment (and mine) it doesn't work when they leave and go back to what ever is their real life.

TBL shows that the american dream of weighloss does not work for weight maintenence. Yes, with all the ways you see on tv or the internet or your neighbor's way you can lose weight, but it doesn't mean you can maintain it. Just like I can make $ in all sorts of ways, doesn't mean I get to keep it. I could rob a bank and get $, what then? Same with weightloss, I lost weight doing xyz, now what?

We as a weighloss society give a quick "drive through" version of how to lose weight and then say "and they lived happily ever after" Really? How did they do it? Did anyone even check to see if they did? These are the questions that most don't even ask! We (as a society) really are confused as to why we can't go back to how we lived our old lives yet maintain our new ones!

Society forget to teach Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Weather you are a Bible believer or not, society is not teaching the right ways, but we are still believing it. Why?

Jelly, you summed it all up in your one perfect line. That's it, in a nutshell.

Good to see you again! :hug:

The American dream of weight loss. Meg's Thin Fairy. My wishing to wake up thin.

You can't dream it away. You can't wish it away. Luckily, you can work it away.

Just like that great quote I once read. "Success: Don't wish for it. Work for it.

Amen, Meg!

I still love to watch the show but it does make me sad to think that so many regain their weight. Not terribly surprising, but I know they try to teach the contestants how to cook and eat healthy and to incorporate exercise. You would think they would realize they have to continue this, but I guess many of them don't. It is very eye-opening... but many have successfully kept weight off. I saw Ali Vincent last month at my gym (and took a class with her!)-- she looks awesome-- she is obviously still exercising daily and she is still wearing her BodyBugg. She has learned what it takes.

I've always realized the results of the contestants aren't realistic but I would have hoped they would have learned better habits. Sigh... makes me stop and think and make sure I stick to my new healthy habits so I don't end up where so many of them have.

I don't find it surprising that they regain weight either. It is like any other quick fix - people who declare bankruptcy to get out from under debt who run up equivalent or more debt within five years because no one taught them to live within their means, or the previously mentioned drug addict sent home from rehab without therapy. There are dozens of examples. The difference between these other life changes and weight loss is that there often are resources out there for the other big changes - there are budgeting classes at your local college, NA & AA meetings, etc. When you google or look in the yellow pages under 'weight loss management' do you find a list of local support groups for weight loss maintenance? Nope.

Meg is exactly right - of the BL contestants joined the Maintaners here they would have a better chance at living with the changes they made.

BTW: I have a friend from college who applied to be on the BL one season - they turned her down because she was already working out three-four times per week at the gym. They said that they were looking for contestants who didn't know where to start, but that she was already well on her way. At this point she weighed over 300 pounds at 5'4".

I think it is sort of interesting how the last couple of seasons they've shown a lot of the trainers trying to talk to the contestants about their emotional issues, kind of buying into the whole notion that emotional eating makes people fat. Period. Fix the issues and you get to stay skinny without continuing to do the work.

I do know emotional eating is a problem for a lot of people, but I'm past the point where I believe that if somehow you just get right with yourself, it becomes easy. Getting past your issues just gets you to a place where you can do the work.

Anne

The poor maintenance rates may also have to do with the personality type of a person who would actually apply to be on the BL.

There are many contestants who go on that show thinking that it IS the "fat fairy". In any case, it is the modern day, real-life equivalent, at least in the heads of many people out there. You go to this fantasy ranch and are removed from all of your daily obligations and triggers, you are surrounded by nutritional and fitness support, and you have no choice but to lose weight. It's not quite a magic wand, and people go there knowing they'll have to work, but it's that same "magic" mentality. And unfortunately, that "magic" mentality isn't great for maintenance...because it reflects a belief that once the weight is OFF, the work is over.

Sometimes, people get to the ranch and they SHIFT their mentality away from that "magic wand" version of things, and those people seem more likely to maintain. But I'd venture that -most- of the contestants go in with a belief that they will go to this ranch, get "fixed" weight-wise, go home, and be thin forever. And as we all know, that isn't how to successfully maintain!

How are the maintenance rates after the show all that different from the maintenance rates here at 3FC?

Everyone who gained weight only once, lost the weight successfully the first time s/he tried, and never regained, please raise your hand. I'll wait.

ypu know I had to stop watching the biggest loser, I was getting angry at myself for 2 pounds loss..I was seeing how these people were 'changing' over the weeks and getting depressed because I wasn't.

I have had to make a promise to myself that I will take ONE day at a time....I will not no matter how hard a try, wake up at my goal..and as I know I need to get used to working because I will need to carry on doing this when I get there.

Back in my younger dieting days, I used to think that once the weight would come off, it would stay off and I could go about my business. Needless to say, I regained weight every time - in fact, I never made it to goal, ever.

Maintaining takes a *lot* of internal fortitude and vigilance. I know that now and have accepted that.

Some of these people lose so fast that it has to be a total whirlwind - and when they are put out on the street, so to speak, they have nowhere to turn to, or even a clue as to what happens for the rest of their life. It's really heartbreaking.

Good point, MariaMaria, but I think the discussion had to do with the unrealistic setup of Biggest Loser, which I'm sure you'll agree isn't like real life at all. :) BTW, where you been?? :cheer2:

Jay

I would venture to guess that if we gathered statistics on this sort of thing, people who are here at 3FC through weight loss and who move into the Maintenance forum have greater long-term success rates than people who never have that kind of support. If only because reading about the struggles of the maintainers reminds people that weight LOSS is only half of the battle, and losses have to be maintained long-term.

That was one of the very first things I learned by joining here, and it got me out of that "diet" mentality right quick.

I also think that being here keeps weight loss at the forefront of your mind even if you are maintaining or just trying to keep the weight off that you've already lost.

I am one of those that this is my first successful time losing weight although I had tried various methods longer than I can remember but at least from early elementary school. I remember losing 75 lbs and then stopping... but I think if I didn't have the support here, I may have just slipped back into previous habits.

I wonder if the folks who get sent home from BL in say the mid-part don't do better in the long run. They are back in their own environment, but they have the tools, and they are expected to show up for the finale. Granted none of them have won, but they have all lost weight, and done much of it in the "real world." Just curious. I like the show, but have work commitments many Tuesday nights, and no Tivo/DVR (I know, waaay behind the times) :)

I have never ever in my "real life" come across as many people who are as dedicated to keeping the weight off as I have here at 3FC. There is not one person in my at home life who is doing what I am doing. Not one. Not the planning, the shopping, the cooking to the extent that I do, the packing of foods, frequent weighing, and the frequent exercise. Not a single solitary person.

And then of course there's 3FC. The reason we are here is so that we CAN all support one another. We've seeked it out and STUCK with this place AND our plan. Interesting.

:cp:

I've been thinking about this a lot. If I didn't have 3FC I would feel unbelievably alone. And this really was my first weightloss attempt and success and who knows if I would be 4 years into it without the support I've found here- I think this says a whole heckuva lot. I know that I was desperate for someone to relate to me when I found this site (I had just hit maintenance).

You're right, Robin. I know plenty of magic bullet seekers in my everyday life, but that's fleeting. I don't know a single person in my life who can share in this experience with me as the people on this site.

:lol: group hug

Completely agree! I stumbled upon this site at the IDEAL time, around May 2005 when I was transitioning into maintenance mode. 3 Fat Chicks in general and the Maintainer's Forum in particular have been INVALUABLE. A whole forum of people who GET ME. We may not always 100% agree but if I post an "ohmygod, I ate a bunch of cheese and crackers and 2 glasses of wine AND a piece of cheesecake, I messed up I messed up!" thread I'm guaranteed to get at least a few responses - both gentle encouragements and kicks in the butt (I appreciate BOTH).

Can we get a group hug? Oh yeah.

:grouphug:

Amen. And add me to that :grouphug:

Yay! Group hugs are my favorite!

:grouphug:

You know what I would get from people "in real life" (which sounds weird, as though you all are figments of my imagination or imaginary friends:lol:) if/when I vent about that stuff?

"....and???"

"So???"

"Jen, you're being obsessive".

Not that my loved ones aren't supportive, but they really don't... get it.

Calorie counting. What's wrong with me? How could I have left that out, one of the most important aspects of what I/many of us - do here, day in and day out, month after month - YEAR AFTER YEAR. Never have I met a person who is doing this for such a length of time.

What is up with THAT? How come there are so many of us here doing all these things, yet no one amongst my "at home peeps" doing this? It's amazing that we've all found one another and oh so very fortunate.

I am such an oddity here at home. And here at 3FC, I'm just one of the regulars. :grouphug: