The first episode outlined the diet plan for the contestants - I believe it's 1200-1500 a day for the women and 1600-2000 for the guys.

They ARE working out several hours a day, but keep in mind they are all being medically supervised - plus I don't think that the trainers (Bob and Jillian) are going to endanger their health (even though a couple of the guys threw up due to the exercise).

It figures that Women's World would refer to the diet and exercise plans for the show's contestants as "secrets".

I guess it's a ploy to buy the mag, but there really IS no secret. The website for the show has the diet plan outlined, for cryin' out loud! Oi.

Although I really enjoy watching the show, I have to disagree with the "bootcamp" tactics and atmosphere. Weight loss is about so many other things than losing the pounds! AND I know that they are working out several hours a day, which doesn't seem quite sane or realistic. I know it wouldn't be as dramatic, but I think I would enjoy a show that follows them around for about a year, and puts them in real world situations.
I've seen Body Challenge, and the shows on Discovery/Health & Fit TV also. I have found these to be a little more to my taste and motivating. I've seen real people trying to exercise while their kids are crawling all over them. Now THAT"S reality. hehehe
I also don't think it's fair to put the men against the women. Even though percentages are different than pounds, it's still a little demoralizing to see guys lose big numbers with their extra muscle & watch the women pour their hearts into exercise for a 2 or 4 pound loss. Pretty crappy thing to do.
But... I do enjoy watching!

I love this show because it does illustrate for me the importance of weight loss and basically it's just a subject I'm very interested in, but I don't like the message they give that one has to half kill themselves with exercise to achieve weight loss. The bootcampy stuff is fine but overreaches and if these people were really going at the all-out intensity the presentation seems to indicate, someone's going to drop dead. But a reality show like this only lets us in on a few minutes here and there in the contestants' lives and is edited to tell a dramatic story, IMO, so I take it all with a grain of salt as a kind of morality play on the efficacy of exercise and diet.

Hello,
I know the show claims to have resident doctors and nutritionists, but what kind of reputable nutritionist or medical doctor would countanance such rapid weight loss? There have been injuries due to the excess pressure of the exercise routine. I am not sure toned athletes could work out 3 to 5 or 6 hours a day without having injuries. Will these people be able to continue this? Somehow I have a feeling it is not safe. Now, understand that I watch anyway, and envy the amount of weight lost be everyone. I think the show panders to the daydreams of the wishful dreamers who are a part of the 50something percent of overweight people.....like me. I am cheering and rooting for them all to succeed in losing weight and making lasting changes in their lives that they can live with.
Sorry, I will yeild the soapbox to the next speaker...writer, lol
peace,
wannaBaloser

Good points....this is one of the reasons the subforum was set up - to use this as a springboard for discussion of healthy ways to lose weight.

Most of last year's contestants, however, seem to have maintained that healthy lifestyle - Gary is still my favorite and he looks GOOD.

As far as working out 3 hours a day (according to the trainer's plans on the BL website the contestants are working out 3 hours a day, 6 days a week) well...I've been there, done that, still do actually (my average is usually around 2 hours in the morning at the gym but many evenings and afternoons, I'll take a spinning class or yoga or Pilates - I ride at least 2-3 times a week but don't count that as part of my exercise total). I haven't run any marathons or anything, but I have done several fairly strenous half-day and all-day hikes (mostly in Yosemite, including Half Dome and the Four Mile Trail), a few metric century bike rides, the San Francisco Bay to Breakers (1993 and 1994), and so on with no ill effects (except for some blisters and soreness).

Back when I was 16 I attended an 8 week weight loss camp (one of the best summers of my life, definitely!). We probably worked out at LEAST 3 hours a day, starting in the morning before breakfast - I remember we had a choice of an aerobics class, biking around the college campus (a very hilly campus in SoCal) or running/jogging - from 7 am-8 am. The rest of the day was split up into 'periods' with scheduled athletic activities such as aerobics, hiking, team sports, weight lifting, racquetball, track and field, etc, mixed in with nutrition classes, rest periods, arts and crafts, and so on. I had THE BEST TIME! Actually, the setting and schedule of the show quite reminds me of my summer at camp.

IMO the trick is in getting enough rest and recovery in between workouts.

The show's doctor, Michael Dansinger, MD, has an impressive resume. It would be interesting to hear his viewpoints on the show's format and the rate of weight loss for the contestants! Maybe I can dig up an interview later on, but for now I gotta dash over to the gym for Spinning

I sort of agree that three hours a day isn't out of line if they are getting enough rest, but they seem to be pushing them awfully hard intensity wise ... but then again, its' a reality show and we only see bits and pieces and it's edited for drama.

Plus, they don't have to go to a job after working out, I assume they are encouraged to rest, they eat healthy food, they are monitored by medical professionals, etc., so hopefully they're fine.

I agree that Gary from the last season looks great and will probably maintain his weight loss over time (hopefully).

Actually, I still say that I wouldn't mind working out three hours a day if I could go to a beautiful mansion, have people watching over me and providing all my food and not have to deal with a job and the outside world. As it is, I spend up to two hours a day exercising when I'm at my fittest and less when I'm not.

So guess I'll go to the gym now.

Amarantha - I'm with you! It does make things easier that they just basically have to show up and do the workouts. It would be nice to not have to worry about my day job while I'm concentrating on the weight loss. A cook & nutritionist would be nice, too!
I do agree though, that massive action is sometimes needed to make profound changes.

Yea, Lori, ESPECIALLY a cook and a nutritionist.

I think it'd be really nice not to cook and to have healthy low glycemic mini meals presented to me every three hours (which is as long as my blood sugar will permit me not to eat).

I bet they have a jacuzzi also where they can soak away the aches and pains of all that working out.

Your stats are fabulous, BTW. You are doin' great ... even without a TV production crew and a cook!

Thanks! It hasn't been a straight line down though. More like a wide zig-zag!

I watched the show too and I think that somethings about this show are so unrealistic, like you said about the first weigh-in...they lost so much because they stuffed their faces and now have to follow regime. I also think that the exercise portion of it is unrealistic. I could never have made it up that hill, now mind you I am quite a bit heavier than the women on this show. Everybody's physical status is different. I agree to push to the limits of what you can do, but not to over do it.

I think the best weight loss show I have ever watched is "Taking It Off" in Canada. Everyone follows their own weight loss plan and they are still in the regular day to day life(not like those on the ranch of Biggest Loser). So they have to learn to adapt it to their every day living right away.

Don't get me wrong though, I love the Biggest Loser show too. Anything to try to motivate me.

... Mine's been a zigzag, too, Lori!!!! Name o' the game, methinks!!!

Super Mom, I love your avatar!!!! And, I doubt if I coulda made it up that hill either ... unless someone took ahold o' me hand 'n dragged me up!

Haven't seen the "Taking it Off" show but it sounds interesting.

I do know that I added the spinning class to my repertoire last week totally because I enjoyed seein' 'em do that on Biggest Loser and I also know without a shadow of a doubt that adding that extra intense cardio was the reason I broke through the plateau and went down a little ... so guess the show's a keeper on my schedule!

Hi everyone!
This is a challenge that I'm not sure if everyone is doing or not

During the commercial breaks I exercise - I do a different exercise every other commerical. It's a good way to get some exercise in

Amarantha - you just gave me a new burst of energy - seeing your ticker and how far you've come. Congratulations!

I know they were casting for a group of people to do the Biggest Loser and it was to be done at home with a personal trainer coming to you. Myself and a coworker almost applied but chickened out at the last minute.

Thanks, Molly!