biggest loser

I've started watching reruns of the biggest loser on WE. I like the show and it's part of what inspired me to get going with getting back in shape. My question is this- everything i've read says to take it slow with weight loss (1-2 pounds a week) but people on the show will sometimes lose 10-15-20 pounds in a week. Is this healthy? Is is only okay if you're significantly overweight?
Just curious.

Fri. Jun 8, 2:41pm

weight loss and Reality TV

They don't show you the food they eat, they also don't tell you/show you that they workout for 8 hours or more everyday. It's a fast loss, but as you saw on the Today show, the guy who won last season on the "biggest loser" didn't keep it off... long term. It's about facing your eating demons and learning to make healthy choices forever.

Losing weight is all about a lifestyle change, For Life! Making good habits last for a lifetime, not just for a few months, etc... Everyday for the rest of your life!... not just, "till I lose the weight and then go back to old habits."
Weight loss is just a perk of keeping to the routine. Keep at it and you will see results.

Friday, June 8, 2007, 3:02 PM

And I don't think their "week" is 7 days.

Friday, June 8, 2007, 3:15 PM

When is the show on? I live in NY I caught a series once and loved it!

Friday, June 8, 2007, 3:15 PM

TV Listing in NYC

The Style Channel on Time Warner cable channel 118 at 7:00 7:20 and 8:00

Friday, June 8, 2007, 9:17 PM

Sorry- Style Channel, not WE. Also, as a response to an earlier comment. Watching an episode they revealed that the prescribed daily calorie intake is 1200-1500 depending on size. I'm sure they're working out incredibly hard, but I'm not sure if this is unhealthy per se.

Sunday, June 10, 2007, 12:36 AM

I don't think it is healthy, they are not eatting enough calories for the amount of working out they do. Also, they do not drink enough water. There was an article in TIME last week about a few of the former contestents. One said that the night before the last weigh in she spent it going in and out of a sauna to burn calories and only at Jello (can't remember for how long). Another one said that after going home and drinking water he gained 20? lbs. Another one has regained almost everything except 30 lbs. Most people in the real world can not workout 4+ hours a day and stick to such low calories. That being said, is it healthy to lose more than 2 lbs in a week, I guess it can be, depending on how much you have to lose and how you do it. Or, if your on a program with your Dr. People whose lose weight slowly tend to keep it off. Good luck and please don't do anything extreme or dangerous.

Sunday, June 10, 2007, 9:51 AM

I'm a huge fan of the show, too. But I realize it IS a TV show and a contest after all. I've read that they work out 4-6 hours a day and have really low caloric intakes. I actually purchased the book after season 2 and was somehow less thrilled with the whole thing when it suggested I multiply my current weight by 7 to get my daily caloric intake. Ok...as of right now that would be less than 1000. I put the book down. :)

Monday, June 11, 2007, 12:14 AM

If your heavier you tend to lose more especially if you've never excercised in your life because your moving more mass in your body plus the shock of change in diet and the workout heavier people tend to lose more weight but as you get to a more sensible weight your weight loss in terms of pounds go down.

Monday, June 11, 2007, 5:51 AM

Realistic Diet

Here is a sample 1600 calorie meal plan from Tom Venuto's book Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle:

Meal #1
Food Item Quantity Calories Pro (g) Carbs (g) Fat (g)
oatmeal, quaker oats 2/3 cup 200 10 36 4
Whey protein powder 1.5 scoops 135 26.2 3 2.5
orange 1 med 60 0 15 0
Meal #1 Subtotals: 395 36.2 54 6.5

Meal #2
Food Item Quantity Calories Pro (g) Carbs (g) Fat (g)
oatmeal, quaker oats 2/3 cup 200 10 36 4
egg whites (scrambled) 4 68 14 1.8 0
egg, whole 1 75 6.3 0.6 5
Meal #2 subtotals: 343 30.3 38.4 9

Meal #3
Food Item Quantity Calories Pro (g) Carbs (g) Fat (g)
brown rice 3/4 cup 154 3 30 0
chicken breast 3 oz 143 26.5 0 3.8
green beans 6 oz 50 2 12 0
meal #3 subtotals: 347 31.5 42 3.8

Meal #4
Food Item Quantity Calories Pro (g) Carbs (g) Fat (g)
salmon 4 oz 206 28.8 0 5.8
broccoli 1 cup 46 4.6 8.6 0.4
meal #4 subtotals: 252 33.4 8.6 6.2

Meal #5
Food Item Quantity Calories Pro (g) Carbs (g) Fat (g)
chicken breast 3 oz 143 26.5 0 3.8
light italian dressing 3 tbsp 12 0 3 0
Large mixed green salad 2.0 cups 40 0 10 0
flaxseed oil (supplement) 1/2 tbsp 65 0 0 7
meal #5 subtotals: 260 26.5 13 10.8

Per Meal Averages: 319.4 Calories
Calories Pro (g) Carbs (g) Fat (g)
Grand Totals: 1597 157.9 156 36.3

As you can see here, that is Hardly a starvation diet so it is very doable for anyone attempting to burn fat and build muscle. All 5 meals should be eaten throughout the day.

Also, they are working out 5+ hours a day, a combination of cardio, strength and resistance training. 1 hour on their own + 4 hours with their trainer. They are working with doctors, nutritionists and personal fitness trainers to get optimal results. I hope this helps with many of your questions.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007, 12:45 PM

Biggest loser weight loss

I don't think it is healthy to lose more than two pounds a week. These people are losing more because they are involved with vigorous physical exercise that most of us cannot do for one reason or another.
Stick to two pounds a week, your heart will thank you. Remember, you didn't get fat overnight.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007, 12:56 PM

If you research those people, you will find that most of them gained some or all of the weight back, and all of them had major issues with excess skin from losing the weight so fast. It is NOT healthy and it is NOT conducive to keeping the weight off long-term. The only way to do that is to take it slow.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007, 1:05 PM

I think in the beginning very obese people will lose a large number because all of a sudden they are eating well and exercising. Even a slightly overweight person will lose say, 5 lbs in a week. However that is not normal for a weekly weigh-in afterwards. 1-2 lbs a week is ideal.
Also, remember they are competing for money so they do drastic things later on to lose big chunks of weight.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007, 1:13 PM

Interesting post

Wednesday, July 4, 2007, 9:04 AM

Biggest Loser Workout DVDs

I was inspired by the contestants on the Biggest Loser. But I wouldn't want to lose the way they did. Too much too fast. Right now I am on a reasonable diet and I am losing about 1.5 pounds per week.

I have been using the Biggest Loser Workout DVDs. I really work up a sweat. But I don't hurt afterwards. And it is great to see familiar faces and bodies on these programs. On the second one, it was recorded while the contestants were still on the ranch. So they aren't crazy skinny yet. But they are healthier. It is great to see larger bodies accomplish these exercises even if they stumble sometimes. And it is funny when they grumble at Bob.

Friday, July 6, 2007, 8:23 PM

I have the Biggest Loser book, which explains their eating plan, which is quite sane and healthy, focusing on lean proteins, lots of veg and fruit, smart carbs and fats.

The losses they have are HUGE, but stop to think: they are focusing totally on exercise and diet, they are working with a trainer, have unlimited time and access to a gym, so of course one could expect their losses to be big. If you exercised for 4-8 hours a day you too, could lose like that! My son went to the police academy and dropped 35 pounds in 4 weeks from all the pt they did.

But in the real world where we live and have jobs and family, and aren't competeing for a quarter of amillion dollars, we have to "settle" for safe and sane losses of a pound or two a week.

I am grateful to them and the show, however unrealistic it is, because it got me to the gym, it inspires me to "push through" and it got me up off the couch to finally do something about my health. I don't think anyone has been harmed by participating in the show, and they do have a doc checking their health frequently. I would be willing to go on the show and try my hardest to stay where I can transform my body if they would let short fat graying old ladies on!

Friday, July 6, 2007, 9:47 PM

And the skin thing?

I'm gonna have loose skin issues by the time I get to goal weight. I have had this fat packed on my body for over 20 years and my skin isn't going to bounce back! What you "amatures" who "only" have 20-50 pounds to lose don't realize is that unless you are VERY YOUNG, your skin WILL hang if you have been obese and lose weight, no matter how slow and careful you are.

Friday, July 6, 2007, 9:50 PM

I would happily trade an excess fat problem for an excess skin problem.

Friday, July 6, 2007, 11:16 PM

One of the posts says the last winner gained it back??? I Googled him, but everything I see shows the same guy, still very fit.

Saturday, July 7, 2007, 2:40 PM

I do remember the guy who won the first one , I think his name was Matt..he then got married to another contestant..he did seem to gain some of the weight back..not sure what he looks like now though..

Saturday, July 7, 2007, 5:24 PM

People magazine

I just read this week's issue and it has an article on Eric, the last winner. He had to have major plastic surgery but he only gained a little of the weight back and he looks good now. They show the before picture with the skin hanging off his belly!

I've seen articles on Matt and Suzi from the previous year. Matt gained at least 50 of the pounds back, and Suzi gained some back but then she got pregnant so I don't know how she's doing with her weight now.

Saturday, July 7, 2007, 11:13 PM

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