Would you be on the Biggest Loser?

Over at the iVillage Message Boards, this is the question being asked. Say you are overweight and were given the opportunity to lose an incredible amount of weight, working out with the best trainers (who wouldn't want to carry Jillian Michaels around on their back while doing deep lunges and dragging a car from a rope tied around their waist?!

Then again, you have to regularly appear in a sportsbra and bike shorts, no matter how unflattering; you have to stand on a gigantic scale and have a bevy of possible numbers (210...112...197...136..215!) displayed on that digitron thing. And the Drill Sergeant Man might yell at you.

In April, I got the chance to interview Ali Vincent, this year's winner (and the only female winner in the show's history). This program changed her life in such an indescribable way...the woman scored her own Got Milk? ad! That's one of my dreams!

So I ask you...

gingercookie says, "I'm casting my vote for "No, because I only have 10 lbs to lose. But I'd love to sign up my DH!" (PS I am a freak and have suffered silently for farr too long so can someone clarify for me - does DH stand for Dear Husband?)

How 'bout you? Would you do it for the challenge? The fame? The health benefits? The possibility of a Got Milk? ad?

PS Thanks to commentor cl-nosouix fpr the idea!

REMINDER: SUZ and LACEY, please email me - I have something for you!

Comments

Hell, yeah! Except I'd love to do one focused on athletic performance and toning up--like a marathon-prep boot camp. I find those kind of circumstances very motivating (I was in the Navy--boot camp was one of the most fun experiences of my life), and I think I'd LOVE it!

Well, thankfully, I don't have the weight to lose anymore...but if I did, hell yeah. Just to get to work out with Jillian! :-)

I am ambivalent about the show now though. I know too much of the behind-the-scenes crap for peace of mind. I think it is a wonderful concept but has really been degraded for the sake of making money. Which, of course, is show biz.

But there is NO question it has changed some lives in amazing ways. Not just the contestants. I got my start on this journey, 55 pounds ago, by joining the Biggest Loser online club. And it ranks in the top three decisions I have ever made. :-)

V.

I would definitely do it for the workout alone. I love Jillian Michaels. I know it wouldn't hurt to have my diet revamped a little bit either. As disciplined as I am with exercising, I'm still not completely disciplined with my eating.

Don't have the weight to lose but I would totally go on it if I did. It's kind of the same thing as appearing on something like What Not To Wear- I would definitely do it even though it'd be a little embarrassing, because it'd be completely worth it in the end. And it would be such a great experience!

I don't have the weight to lose either...but personally, I would do it just to meet/hang out with/flirt with Bob. Does anyone else find him attractive? (Even though he is almost twice my age :) )

Bad new though- I went to hear a speech by Matt Hoover, winner of season 2 I think, and he said that the majority of people that go on that show gain back all of the weight (and sometimes more). He said that some people get depressed about not winning the money, and they ate to soothe their disappointment. I don't know if that is accurate for sure or not, but interesting nonetheless. I'm sure many people have also had much better lives after being on the show than they would have had if they kept on living the same way as before they ever tried out.

Sorry for rambling :)

no because of the unbalanced eating plan, and upwards of 5 hours working out a day with no rest. no thank you.

and i might get kicked off for throwing myself at Bob. His bodt type is PERFECT to me, not too ripped, not too thin. mmmm, Bob.

how do I email you??? what is your email address? :) it is probably obvious somewhere on here, but... I have trouble with the obvious sometimes :) thanks!

Even though I have less to lose than most of the contestants I have seen, I would definitely give it a try. Just to have someone pushing me through the workouts would be a boon to my physical health. All the trainers I have tried just stand there and don't seem to know how to really motivate.

The biggest drawback, that would probably get me booted off, would be my intolerance for whining and the neverending floods of tears the show seems to generate. You got fat because you were lazy, now get moving!

its not embarassing once you lose the weight its actually (personal experience) ok cos its evidence of how much you lost. its only embarassing if you still look like that and by the time the show airs you wouldnt so yeah sign me up.

I'd love to have time just to focus on eating well and working out. Are you KIDDING me? With trainers and equipment and not having to do the whole, "ok, if you watch the kids monday afternoon so I can go to the gym, then I will watch them tuesday so you can" rigamarole that family life requires? Sounds amazing.
Only...being on TV would make me insane with anxiety and being away from my husband and kids would turn me into one of those neverending criers. So...maybe not.

No way - not even if you guaranteed me a book deal. With my predilection for compulsive behavior an environment like that would send me over the edge. Not to mention that I don't think Jillian's workouts are the best out there. And the food plan sucks. There. I said it:)

Now, I'd love to be on the Amazing Race! YOu have any hookups with that show Leslie?

I agree with Charlotte, I would hate for food and exercise to become my whole life. It seems I fight that tendency enough already! It's good to have my job and family and friends to distract me. If I had to spend all day thinking about my weight... that would be bad.

Yes yes yes! Insane bootcamp-style workouts for free, and my boyfriend isn't allowed to complain that I'm working out too much because this time I am surrounded by experts??

Being on TV would be very strange though, I'm not sure what that would do to my already shaky self-image...

TA x

I third charlotte and nikki----Id be on WIPE OUT fo'shizzle!

I was on national TV once, and not even something as widely-watched (I tell myself) as Biggest Loser, and I still can't think about it without cringing. Not because it was bad, but because I was in PUBLIC!!!!!!! ON TV!!!!! Where people could see me. Also, I only have about 10 lbs to lose. But if Jillian wants to come over & help with those pounds, I'd let her record it & put it up on YouTube.

To me going on the show is no different than doing one of those quick weight loss programs we all know don't work long term. Yes, you'll lose lots of weight while on program but what about after when you're back to your real life where your bad habits live. The things they do on the show at that level are not realistic for every day success. I still want them to do a show called "Big Loser One Year Later" so we can see where all those people are at post show.

I agree with Steph, the show is entirely unrealistic. I'm all for encouraging people to make lifestyle changes and lead a healthier existence, but no one can dedicate that much time and energy to diet and exercise in reality, it's just not feasible.

That said, if someone wanted to send me a nutritionist and personal trainer for a year...

I agree with Steph and Cara, this is temporary, what happens once the cameras stop rolling, Jilian isn't yelling out you to go the extra mile, etc. It may be entertaining, it may give people that really do want/need help a good kick start, but i am not sure it would work for me. That said, i also don't have weight to loose, infact, i need to gain a few if anything...hmm which brings me to a cool idea, a show for people who need to gain some healthy weight (not necessarily former anorexics, but people that need toning up and fitness makeovers). If these shows offered help AFTER the show, i think it might be more beneficial. and like Mizfit and Charlotte said, it freaks me out to always be thinking about loosing weight and me me me me (and backstabing other people).

I would totally do it, if only for the chance to learn how to use all those freaking weight machines (they scare me a little ...). Plus, as a person with some issues with bad knee joints and now some RSI, I would like to know how to work out around that.

The backstabbing, however, would be a problem for me. Not good at that part.

I would love to do it. I always envisioned myself doing it. It's the kick in the pants that I know would 100% work for me. Being an ex jock, I know how great structured programs can be.

abso-freakin-lutely! I may not agree with everything they do on the show, but why the heck not! Its an experience, a small chunk of time in my life where i'd get to do something a little crazy, weird, different, extreme. And if it opened doors for my life/career/future then so much the better! We only know what we see on TV after editing so who knows whats really happening with all those takes on the cutting room floor! So, YES YES YES, sign me up!

If I were overweight enough to do the show, I probably would want to do it. But objectively watching it, you can't help but *know* that for many of those people, maintaing the weight loss isn't going to happen. They way they eat, the amount of time they devote to working out...it's just not sustainable over the long term.

That said, my dream show would be called "Just Tweak Me" and it would be a mixture of The Biggest Loser, What Not to Wear and Extreme Home Makeover...Lite. I would work out and learn nutrition to lose these last pesky 10 pounds and tone up...make my wardrobe more stylish than it is now (my staples of khackis and t's while not forefront of fashion, isn't heinous either)...and they would decorate my home to look nicer, but not tear it down and start it over.

"Don't have the weight to lose..."??? Really? I used to tell myself that. Yeah, about 50lbs. ago. "Oh, it's just muscle, which weighs more than fat." "I have a large frame (thanks mom)."
Hell yea, I'd be on the show. I want my 15 minutes! Plus, I'd be the bitch everyone hates, cuz I'm a hater! But it would be entertaining and I'd love the chance to learn new tricks, like back in the day in juvie or fat camp or boot camp and my fave, hate camp! Yay!

I'm with slacker. I don't technically have enough to lose for BL. But...I need help with lifestyle changes and fitness just as much.

I didn't do Biggest Loser -- I didn't have enough to lose, nor would I have liked the back-stabbing, vote people off part of the show -- but I did lose weight publicly as Shape magazine's Weight-Loss Diary columnist last year.

The Shape experience was total immersion -- it was all diet and gym all the time. I knew all along what I needed to do to lose weight, but the Shape experience allowed me to do it, guilt free, with the support of a trainer, dietitian and life coach. That was the upside.

The downside was definitely the pressure, the whole "you didn't lose any weight this month, so you're a failure" feeling that came with the experience.

I'm glad I did it and some very positive things grew out of it (I just finished writing my first book). I've also continue to hold myself accountable publicly through my blog. That helps me stay committed, too.

The support and public pressure doesn't matter if you don't make the choices you need to make. That's what I took away. I'm in charge of my own choices.

I don't think I'd like it, only because I really hate to be told what to eat, what to do for my workout, etc. I like doing things my way, I guess. I must be doing something right because I'm not at all overweight.

I remember seeing a show on WE called "Bulging Brides", which was about women that were a touch too big for their wedding dresses. They all only had like 10 lbs or so to lose and they got a trainer and a nutritionist to get them into their dresses in 6 weeks. It wasn't quite as extreme as BL, but I still think a lot of those women probably gained the weight back on their honeymoons.

Absolutely not.

Check this out: http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2008/07/01/the-biggest-loser-or-the-cash-cow/#comments

You needed an option for "no way in hell, since long term that type of weight loss is almost certainly doomed to failure."

Also, I think too highly of myself to be subjected to that sort of humiliation. Fat or not, I don't deserve that sort of treatment.

love that message board. wait til the show begins, it'll rock.

i'd never appear on television in a bra. oh, the horror!

i'd love to go to a fat camp. not so sure i'd want to go to one that was televised on national tv tho.

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