Make your mind up, Biggest Loser!
I am a big fan of reality TV and I don’t care who knows it or thinks any less of me, intellectually speaking, as a result. I am a huge fan of The Biggest Loser. I love watching those overweight people giving it their best and slowly but surely, with a lot of hard work, transforming into healthier, smaller, happier versions of themselves. Their stories, and their admirable efforts, make me laugh and cry. And any woman who agrees to wear one of those cropped tops when she hasn’t got anything nearly like a six-pack deserves a medal for that alone.
What is really starting to grate on me are the advertisements for the Biggest Loser brand of meal replacement milkshakes shown throughout the program. One of the best things about Biggest Loser is that it advocates a healthy approach to weight loss which focuses on exercise in a big way. It shows that everyone can get into exercise, even really overweight people. Just try doing some of those grueling training sessions they show participants being put through on the show if you’ve swapped two of your meals a day for a milkshake! And don’t even get me started on how swapping real meals for milkshakes won’t teach you anything, long term, about your relationship with food.
I’m not saying meal replacement diets are wrong and won’t work for anyone. I’m not a big fan (and believe me, I’ve been there, done it) but each to their own. What irritates me is the confusing mixed messages simultaneously sent out by a brand which in its TV show advocates exercise and healthy eating, and with its diet products advocates removing proper food from the equation. Go figure.
For more no nonsense diet rantings, I’d recommend you read my friend’s blog, Three Piece Suite.
Thank god someone in the media (albeit business) has actually picked up on this ridiculous scam. The first (and last) time I watched the Biggest Loser shy-za I was thinking to myself ‘what the f*ck is up with those ads!? Do the trainers endorse that crap too?’’ I can hardly imagine Shazza Ponton or Mr. Muscles Michelle sipping on that refuse instead of a steak or lean piece of meat.
You can’t live on shakes or soups or whatever other junk they were trying to flog! Even if you’re a couch potato burning negative calories a day!
True stuff Jen. Actually I’m a little worked up now so I am going to comment and then email those peeps over at Channel Ten/Biggest Loser.
Biggest Loser is dumbed down education for middle Australia, most of whom are lazy/indifferent, overwieght or obese. So while it’s a positive that programs like these might change their thinking about nutrition and exercise, for Channel 10 and its sponsors this is just one more marketing ploy
I would disagree that Biggest Loser is holistic or takes a healthy approach in its methods. You don’t make obese people with no previous history of exercise sprint on running machines, perform plyometric squat jumps or lift heavy weights rapidly if you any idea about safe training methods.
Nor do you try and force people with a history of poor eating habits to resist a table of chocolate in front of their peers as a form of motivation – that only works in a contrived environment. Once they leave Biggest Loser many of them will go back to their old habits because there is no visible peer pressure to discourage them – as has been reported by past participants
It’s a cheap, exploitative show that needs to be far more responsible and informative – but then I’m not part of Ten’s target demographic