When I used to listen to jillian Michael's radioshow she said the female contestants ate 1200 calories and the men ate 1800. They were not allowed to go lower then that. She also said they had 1 free calorie day per week meaning they could eat as much as they wanted.

The only contestant I've heard actually mention calorie allowance on the show was Sam of Sam & Koli cousins team in season 9(?) and he said his allowance was the biggest of all the contestants at 1,800 because he's very tall. Now it's not clear if that allowance is only for food, I think they count things like protein shakes additional to food calories, so if your allowance was 1,200 and you have 3x220cal protein shakes your actual intake is 1,860.

Interestingly, TBL UK they lose waaaaaay less weight per week than TBL US so they have to be doing something significantly different between the two. A very high weight loss in TBL UK is 16lbs (like a week 1 loss) and you see double digits about twice in the whole season after that.

Not to mention that almost everyone has clicked now that if you bulk up on water weight for your first weigh-in you have a better chance of losing a giant number in week 1 and thus staying in the competition. If you drink 4 pints of water you add an extra roughly 4lbs, and when you go on the scales next time you've lost your glycogen weight, the 4 pints of water, any other water in your body that you sweated out in last chance workout, you end up with weight losses like 21lbs.

Last chance workout does make me laugh, working out makes you retain water weight, and your body doesn't burn fat that instantly, it's a much more involved process. Last chance workout might help you to use up the fat that was metabolised into usable products by your body 24-48 hours ago, but it sure isn't going to burn anything new off you by the time you step on the scales!

A friend was on the show....from 900-1200 for the women and 1200-1800 for the guys.They exercise until they burn from 5,000-8,000 extra calories(as read on the bodybugg)..they are encouraged to eat low carb even though they pretend to eat subway,oatmeal,and special K cereal....they eat MOSTLy lean meats and veggies...They do have a "carb up" day where they might be eating the subway and Special K....

Wow, that seems way to little for the amount of exercise they do!

I agree Jilly6.. how in the world do they keep them from passing out all over the place??

I read somewhere that the info in their cookbooks & diet book is not what they follow on the ranch.

I found this info, which is supposedly the way they do it:

1200 - 1500 cals/day

Based on the 4,3,2,1 system:

4 - fruits & veg
3 - protein & low fat dairy
2 - whole grains
1 - extra fats/sweets up to 200 calories

Of course, I'm sure they all do their own thing to try to win.

I think it really is sad to see someone so upset about only losing 7 lbs for the week, and sends a terrible message.

Just my thoughts

They make such a big deal about people gaining it back - but if they
are really losing it like you guys say how can you not gain it back? Its
not much different than any other crash diet.....

x7 your weight? that is really low. I always read 10x your weight was a healthy place to 'start' for weight loss.

I dont even watch biggest loser anymore. it seems so unrealistic and in no way motivating to me. Maybe if they followed at home contestants and had THAT be a show. lol

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/b...er-diet?page=2

I found this link awhile ago when I was trying to find out more about their diet. I often hear the women are on 1200 and the men 1600 (or is it 1800?) but they have the trainers and the doctor design a diet so it's healthy. Who knows how true it is... I also read part of their contract is to not talk about what goes on on the show.

The cookbook does, indeed, state 7x your weight, BUT if you are over 300lbs, you calculate for 300, and if you are under 150, you calculate for 150. This keeps your calories between 1050 and 2100.

Seriously??? I wouldn't be able to make that. I burn 800-900 calories and get the shakes. On that amount of exercise I need 1600-1800 calories and if I don't get that many I get sleepy. Maybe that is why I'm not loosing as much weight. I'll have to look into trying this for a day or two.

This is what I read in a magazine featuring the show.