I have a confession to make. In the past 4 1/2 years I have literally gained 60 pounds. I know, I know … an overweight blogger quel surprise. The reason no longer matters (minor leg surgery), but I have reached the point where now even my coworkers don’t believe my weight loss attempts and just say, “Maybe this time you’ll stick to your goals.” So, I secretly hope that covering The Biggest Loser will shame me into exercising or sticking to my diet.
However, after watching last night I don’t know if I would want to stay in The Biggest Loser household. Honestly, watching the contestants retch out their innards after two hours of heavy exercise made me prefer a trainer who would give me a slow ramp up. I mean, seriously, is pushing people that hard even safe? Thanks goodness for the paramedics.
Although this is the season of “No Excuses,” I felt the contestants had perfectly valid reasons for their weight gain. One of the contestants underwent depression when his daughter died, one man had nine children a la the Brady Bunch, another woman had 13 children and 50+ grand children, one kid had leg problems, and all the rest were parents or single parents with multiple children. If you have multiple children, not a lot of child care options and also work, where are you going to find the time? So, I found people whose job it is to look good professionally telling people, who have multiple loads to balance, that they have “no excuse” slightly condescending.
I also did not like the first elimination challenge. Before entering the gates, challengers had to run a 40 yard dash (the first four winners automatically got into the house), build a puzzle (the first four winners automatically got into the house), and undergo a balancing/trust exercise (the team that hangs on the longest stays and the other team leaves).
I felt sorry for the brother and sister team that did not make it. Although the sister seemed detached throughout, when they lost she started wailing and I felt terrible for her. While I am glad they can return to the house in a month if they lose 50 pounds combined, I am disappointed the show let them go without any tools or even a Planet Fitness membership. If they couldn’t figure out how to lose weight at home how can they do so now?
The opening was over-the-top dramatic. The trainers are total drama queens. The extreme helicopter rope drop (Dolvett) and motorcycle entrance (Bob) were insane testosterone fueled exercises in masculine one-upmanship. But, yeah, they did look kind of cool. At the end of the two-hour workout, the contestants chose the trainers they wanted. I found it amusing that most of the women wanted Dolvett as their trainer, while most of the men wanted Bob.
The other switch I did not like the surrounded splitting up the partners. Once again, people are there because they lack the support system with their family and friends. Undergoing The Biggest Loser together sets up a positive relationship to continue after they leave the house. However, if they are separated that severs the bond. It makes for good TV but I wonder what will happen to the contestants six months after they leave, let alone six years.
All in all, the show still had its usual positive moments with the contestants supporting each other and the trainers supporting the contestants.
I do not know if I will continue to cover The Biggest Loser, but considering the extreme torture these people undergo in the name of health, makes me think attending a normal exercise class isn’t so bad. What about you?
Quotes:
“I don’t know if I wanted to hit him or say thank you.” — Contestant on Trainer Dolvett
“Unless I see your dinner come up, you ain’t puking.” — Bob the Trainer
“He actually is an evil man.” — Contestant on Trainer Bob
“Chris wants me to have Dulvett’s body.” — Contestant on why he chooses Dolvett
Clacked by An Nicholson 
on Jan 04, 2012 @ 18:54 EST5EDT
