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DEL.ICIO.USWhat Can You Learn from NBC’s Biggest Loser?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You may not be much of a reality T.V. watcher (I’m not), but there is one show you should pay attention to if you’re trying to lose weight. The show is the Biggest Loser which is on NBC on Wednesday’s.
There are only two more shows left and I reccomend that you take the time to watch them. Unlike the other reality shows, this one is positive for all participants and many of them continue a productive life.
The most prevalent commonality of the contestants is how they lost the weight. They did not use pills and powders. They did not suck it out or misdirect their digestive system (e.g. gastric bypass). There was not one special exercise gadget that promised weight loss. There wasn’t any sort of special exercise class or dietary program.
What they did was simple. It was a combination of the basics of physical conditioning which include resistant training, cardiovascular exercise, and proper eating habits. They also entrusted in two fitness experts that know what they are doing and truly care about the outcomes. Two experts who provided them motivation and education, even when it was something the contestants didn’t want to hear.
The second and foremost important thing they had in common is that they didn’t just lose weight. They got their “life back,” as many of them stated. They had vigor and energy. They worked hard. They got there confidence back, or in some cases discovered a confidence they never knew they could have. They got stronger. They got healthier. Their relationships and sex life improved. They could play with their kids again
Do you get the point? Weight loss itself is not enough. I am stressing this to you because you may only be focused on weight loss, now or this upcoming New Year (if that is your resolution). However, what you need to focus on is what you can gain. You can take a pill to suppress appetite, therefore, losing weight. However, you are not going to feel any less stressed, get stronger, or decrease cardiovascular disease, just by losing weight. Even your healthcare professional may tell you to “just lose some weight.” However, it takes more than that if you want to change your life.
I am warning you that the pseudo-experts of weight loss and fitness will be in abundance at the beginning of the year. Don’t trust them! Don’t seek quick fixes to lose weight, but change your life. You have seen in real people, who were extremely obese and on national television make such positive life changes. There were no drugs, one-dimensional exercise programs, or diets involved.
You have to believe. You have a simple choice to make. You can either continually be fooled by the weight loss and fitness hustlers, or you can really make a change by doing what really works for long term health and vitality. You also have to accept that it is not going to be cheap and easy. Cheap and easy things don’t last. You will have to invest time Mainly timme) and money, plus understand that you have to sweat a little.
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Comments
By Inspired
December 4, 2006 08:46 AM | Link to this
Nooooo, you have to sweat a lot! At least in my case, I sweat a lot. It isn’t just the “Biggest Loser” that is inspirational, the spreads in “People” about people who also lost weight the old fashoned way - heart, sweat and tears - are inspirational as well.
I was always very fit in high school, college and even a while after that. It was when I started working “in the real world” that I started gaining weight. I got to about 70lbs overweight.
I bought a recumbent, some free weights, some excercise DVDs about 5 years ago and just recently a treadclimber (which I absolutely LOVE!) I’d go on a tear for about 3 months and then give up because I wasn’t seeing results as quickly as I wanted (I didn’t change my eating habits). At the end of last year I started looking for another job and it didn’t come as fast as I wanted either and got depressed and gained another 20 lbs.
So, about two months ago I started reading up on how to lose weight the healthy way. I learned that not only do you exercise at least 20 minutes to 30 minutes a day, you also have to change your eating habits and do strength training. I started working out every day for 15 minutes, then bumpted to 30 and now I’m going 45 minutes a day. Some days I also do some weight training. I also have changed the way I eat (though I sometimes cheat) - I eat 5 or 6 small meals and eat a lot more fruits and vegetables. I’ve lost about 15 pounds in the last two months and I’ll tell ya, it has been hard work! But, it is inspirational to see the “Biggest Loser”s do it so I know I can!
I already feel a lot better. I have more energy and sleep much better at night. I can stand for longer periods of time without my back killing me. My clothes fit better. I am not as stressed because I can go home and take it out on one of my machines. My resting heart rate has lowered considerably as well.
By Losing Weight
December 4, 2006 08:46 AM | Link to this
I completely agree with everything you said. It’s about getting your life back and doing it a healthy way (not by Gastric surgery, etc.) My sister-in-law had gastric surgery almost two years and cannot keep any food down and is sick every single day. I wish she would have just tried to get on a healthy plan instead of taking what I consider to be the easy way out to lose weight. But now, it’s not so easy anymore - she looks like a very sick person, and I fear for her life, with her weight at such a dangerously low level now.
By the way, you have a misspelled word in your column - should be “their” instead of “there”.
Thanks for all the healthy tips.