In Which I Split Everything Down To Build Everything Up
Last night I watched the final of the Biggest Loser Australia 2012. It’s been an addiction watching this show for the past however many weeks since I started watching. I was flicking through the channels one lazy afternoon and somehow ended up watching it, never having watched it before (not even the UK version). A day or so later I noticed it was on again, this time in the evening. And again the next night. I made Sarah watch it too and then we series linked on Sky+.
We didn’t see the first 6 or so episodes, but once we started we watched them all from there on in. I was as addicted to the show as the contestants were to junk food before going into Camp Biggest Loser.
Starting with 16 contestants, they get split into 4 teams of 4 and assigned a trainer for each team.
Not allowed to say whose team I’d want to be on… (AHEMwhiteAHEM)
And bloody hell there were some big people, but then some BIG transformations.
The trainers push them, and push them HARD. They each get given an eating plan and have challenges each week too. They can access the gym 24/7, but most of them didn’t take advantage until the last couple of episodes when the prize money of AUS $220’000 was in sight.
Most of the biggest weight lost was in the first week weigh in, due to the fact that the lazy fatties never did any exercise so it was a shock to their system. They then lost the weight bit by bit, over the following weeks. They were still losing 6-10lbs a week though, which is WAY more than people (experts) say if healthy for a normal person. (2-3lbs a week.)
Obviously there were a few who looked like they could do with re-applying for Biggest Loser 2013 (looking at you, Selena), but most of the contestants made a massive change to their appearance and lives.
“So Selena, how have you got on on the outsi… Oh.”
The winner – Margie – Originally weighed 350lbs (159kg). She was running a pizza shop (not sure if she sold any, or just ate them) but through hard work and eating better, shed a huge 161lbs (73kg) to weigh in at the final at 189lbs (86kg). She lost a massive 46% of her body weight in 16 weeks.
Margie: Before and After
Would this be feasible in real life, away from Camp Biggest Loser? No, of course not. When they’re in the camp they do nothing but train and exercise and do challenges and eat right (mostly) with no work/family/PS3 commitments like the rest of us. Is it a good way of losing weight? For the normal person, no. And I’m sure a few (if not most) of the contestants on these shows put the weight back on within a few months or a year due to going back into old habits. If I’d’ve been in Camp Biggest Loser for 16 weeks the first thing I’d do on the outside is order take away food.
Kasey Cheesman. Yup, Cheesman.
But the fact is, everyone lost a lot of weight. The least anyone lost was 21% of his starting weight, and he’d been voted out after the second week so must’ve kept up with the lifestyle at home.
BMI categories go as follows: Healthy, Overweight, Obese (Class 1), Obese (Class 2), Obese (Class 3.) For the 16 contestants, these are the BMI category they fell in to before they started:
Healthy: 0
Overweight: 0
Obese Class 1: 0
Obese Class 2: 3
Obese Class 3: 13
And after the competition ended:
Healthy: 2
Overweight: 6
Obese Class 1: 3
Obese Class 2: 2
Obese Class 3: 3
Even the ones that are still in Class 2 or 3 are a lot closer to getting their BMI down than they were before. And all of them will have added years to their lives.
So what can you take away (pun intended) fro watching shows like these? (HA! Didn’t see this learning coming at ya did ya?!)
1. Make healthy food (and portion) choices.
2. Weigh yourself once a week, at the same time, weighing the same sort of clothes. This’ll give you enough time to notice a change.
3. Surround yourself with supportive people, and people who will tell you the truth.
4. Exercising regularly will lead to weight loss.
5. Do it bit by bit, not all at once. If you didn’t put the weight on over night or within a week, why would you expect to lose it in that short amount of time?
6. Keep track of what you’re eating, it makes it easier to see when and where you overeat.
7. If you have an off day, so what? Put it behind you.
8. Don’t quit.
9. Set goals.
10. I have no number 10.
So there you go. Do I know what I’m talking about? Not really. But I AM setting myself a goal. My next marathon is in 7 weeks and I need to lose about 14lbs to get down to a better racing weight. Instead of thinking ‘I need to lose a stone’ though, I’ve split it down into smaller goals.
1. Get to 14st 10lbs (206lbs)
2. Get to 14 1/2 stone (203lbs)
3. Get under 200lbs (14st 3lbs)
4. Get under 14st (195lbs)
Four little goals that added together get me to my main goal, without having the main goal seeming so far away. This way, I’m achieving something each week (or every other week) without losing focus (hopefully.)
Marc Hemingway 
i appreciate you and your trainer’s work!
Nice review, I’ll surely check this series out. I’m glad that such programs are being more popular instead of cooking fatty foods and eating them on TV which is a bad influence to every couch potato. These programs give great motivation to couch potatoes and show them that losing excess weight isn’t that hard.
In spite of these, the biggest question on my mind is “Is this weight loss temporary?” Can these contestants or other people who follow extreme diet programs maintain the weight they end up with in their usual lives? Working out 24/7 is out of the question, especially for those of us who have a life 🙂 But the main problem is the effect of such a weight loss on the immunity system. Even I, who has no excess weight but a little excess fat, lost some weight after getting sick after long hours of training and studying. Trust me I do not work 24/7! Good nutrition is the key to a healthier life, but rushing it may be the biggest mistake.
I think it is hard to put ourselves in the shoes of people like the ones on this show. I am very impressed they were able to achieve what they did without surgery, and hope they can keep the weight off. It is about life style change, isn’t it? Thanks for a nice post.
You make me laugh. I’ve watched this show a few times while eating ice cream. Then I run.;)
I’m glad I’m not the only one who got addicted to the Australian series of Biggest Loser. Yes, I agree it isn’t possible for us mere mortals to lose that amount of weight in such a short period of time and nor should we but it is a great inspiration and addictive viewing. What I really got from it though was that if you don’t tackle the reasons why you put on weight in the first place you won’t be able to keep it off because you’ll continue to over eat. We also have to bear in mind that if we don’t have a lot of weight to lose, we aren’t going to lose weight quickly anyway.
Good goals – I always set weight loss goals in very small chunks, 150lbs (10st 10lbs), 147lbs (10 1/2 st), 145lbs etc. So much easier to stay motivated. Best of luck.
I used to love the US version of the show. Then, a year or so ago, they had some contestants who were so mean and manipulative, I stopped watching mid-season. I haven’t watched any of the seasons since.
Keep us updated on your progress.
Simple really – why dont we ever manage to follow it? I need to lose more weight (always have) but another half to a stone would do me a world of good. So thanks for the inspiration!
Very good points! Especially no. 10… 🙂
No. 3 is even more important when it comes to kids. It should be the parents’ responsibility to watch out for their kids. Watch what and how much they eat. It is very difficult as parents we all see our kids through pink glasses: thinking they are the most beautiful, smartest, etc.
Keep it up and good luck with your weight loss! 🙂
So true on Children! I am always very sad when I see chubby kids- ESPECIALLY when I see them with very fit parents who tell me “Oh she’ll grow out of it” One Mom I know is very into healthy eating- so much so that she posts a darn photo of every single breakfast, lunch and dinner on Facebook- but takes her son to McDonalds at least once a week…teaching him healthy eating? Nope. I myself have to lose about 10 pounds, and I’ve been making some poor efforts.