Today I want to make a confession: I really like reality TV!
When all those reality shows such as Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, Project Runway, Survivor, Big Brother and all those MTV shows started popping up on the TV program I was sitting in front of the TV fascinated!

I am not sure what’s it about those shows that makes me stay on the respective channel whenever they are on - I simply like them. They are fun and entertaining!

When the Biggest Loser season 1 was aired I didn’t pay much attention to the show, but I watched some episodes from the latest season. I think it is really inspiring to see the contestant turn into completely different people - physically and mentally - through their weight loss. On the other hand I think it is awful that the show forces the contestants to be so strategic and that they focus on excessive, short-term weight loss rather than a natural workout routine and healthy eating habits that will eventually lead to a weight loss.

The Biggest Loser and similar shows are extremely popular all over the world right now. As inspiring as they are for many people in front of their television sets it seems that weight loss often doesn’t work for the contestants in the long run. There are various reports of people who lost an incredible amount of weight in a weight loss show but who couldn’t stop the pounds from piling up again afterwards.

Most say that they felt the pressure to lose weight because they were being watched by a whole nation, but when they returned to their lives again - to reality - they got back to their old habits. Within 1 or 2 years many of them gain all the weight that they have lost during the show.

I think weight loss shows are in a way like a fairytale-land for big people. They have a group of people around them supporting them, they feel understood, they exercise all day, they have the best gym equipment, they are presented with the most healthy food, they have personal trainers, etc.

But this is not reality! People like you and me don’t have a personal trainer and they don’t have time to exercise that excessively and don’t have healthy meals served to them when they come home from work.

I am sure that for some people weight loss shows really work, but I guess most contestants realized afterwards that all that the goal of the shows’ creators was not to make them lose weight, but to get the viewer ratings up and make money.

What do you think about shows like the Biggest Loser? Do they inspire you to lose weight?

Yours,

Dieting Delilah

1. by Patrick Wanis February 16th, 2009 7:22 pm

   To just answer you in one single word, my answer would be NO

2. by Weight Loss » Blog Archive » Weight Loss Shows February 16th, 2009 10:18 pm

   [...] Original post by Delilah [...]

3. by marisa February 20th, 2009 6:46 am

   I used to be so overweight and down on life until I realised that fad dieting was not the answer for a long term solution. I took on an online approach by getting a personalized nutrition and fitness plan at fit4lyfe.The trainer was great and I felt like I was ontrack. I now am 30lbs lighter and in the best shape of my life!- I highly recommend it.

4. by terri February 25th, 2009 6:44 am

   I never could get into it - I can’t ever get over the angry thought of “if I didn’t have anything else to do, I could transform too”. Alas, work & life get in the way. More on this:
   http://diet-drama.blogspot.com/2009/01/todays-obsession-biggest-loser.html

5. by Mel March 11th, 2009 9:03 pm

   For the record, the contestants are not waited on and there are not any meals prepared for them. Producers do the grocery shopping because they aren’t allowed to leave the ranch; otherwise, the kitchen is stocked and they have to make their three meals and two snacks a day on their own. As each contestant goes home, they remind us that we CAN and SHOULD do this at home. No, it’s not realistic to devote eight hours a day to working out in the gym, but it is realistic to work in even an hour. Give up a TV show, take a walk at work, or any number of other simple ways to incorporate more physical activity in your day-to-day. They prove time and again that you don’t need a big gym, you don’t need all the equipment. You need to move your body and be conscious of what you’re feeding it. Just by two cents.

6. by Michele April 26th, 2009 3:36 pm

   I like watching them but they don’t inspire me to get off the couch and work out. To tell you the truth, if it was my “job” to work out 8 hours a day and there was an on-site nutritionist and trainer at my disposal every single day, yeah I would lose 100 pounds in 10 weeks. Just like with “celebrity” diets and workout plans. Yes if it were my “job” to look awesome and bust my butt every day to maintain that awesome body, I could do it. But unfortunately, I don’t have a 24 hour trainer and nutritionist. I don’t have 8 hours a day to work out, I wish I did, but that’s not “reality”. And because I know all this, they don’t inspire me. They aren’t “reality”.

   Give me a show that every week highlights the things you can do around your town that get you moving. Have it choose a city every week that talks about local hiking areas, parks, sports, etc. Even great yoga, kick boxing, etc. classes. I admit I don’t necessarily know all the activities that I could be doing in my town. I’m sure I would love a lot of them. Also every week have it give you a great healthy low cost recipe and some quick easy around the house strength training exercises. Like lifting the milk jug 20 times to tone your arms, while you are making your breakfast. I need practicality.