TBL "Week 2 Nonsense"

Wednesday, 23 September 2009 16:42

What is becoming a seasonal trend with The Biggest Loser is the ridiculous drama over the dreaded week 2. Just because there were a couple of (or a few) consecutive seasons where some of the contestants did not do as well at the second week's weigh in compared to the high losses of the first week, week 2 is something to be feared. That's according to Bob, Jillian, and the show's writers and producers.

Maybe one of these seasons they'll give Dr. Huizenga some airtime regarding this mystery during a week 2. I would like to hear his opinion about why week 1's change is so much more radical than the following week, although the overwhelming majority of last night's losses were still extremely high. I have already made my conclusion about why the first week's losses are so great- water weight. Water (sweat) has weight. So when you lose extreme amounts through over-exercise, you will lose its equivalency in weight. With poor, sodium rich diets like the contestants were probably enduring prior to their stay at the King Gillette ranch, their abused bodies were most likely retaining excessive amounts that would not affect normal hydration levels after a significant loss. Still, I'd like to know what Dr. H thinks, but then the show might lose some of the suspense and drama.

Last night's episode did have its positive points. We got to hear Jillian coaching the importance and facts of proper nutrition, energy balance- calories in versus calories out, meal planning and advanced preparation, and the role of hormones. I specifically recall her mentioning that a calorie is a measurement of energy. All these factors work in conjunction, over time. So why the over the top torture sessions called the last chance workouts? Unless it is an abnormally long bout (3+ hours), realize that any weight lost during one workout is water weight, all to be regained after eating or drinking anything containing H2O. Anyone reading this that is exercising to aid in your effort to lose fat please pay attention to what I mentioned above. Stepping on the scale immediately after your workout is not going to give you an accurate measure of any fat burned from the session.

One other thing I must highlight was the segment, while Jillian was teaching nutrition, showing the therapeutic care some of the contestants were receiving- knees and ankles with ice compresses held in place by elastic bandages. I think the only other time I've seen something similar was a sidelined athlete during a professional sports event. This just goes to show the extreme measures the contestants are being pushed through. So if you still think you can lose 5 pounds in 5 days with just a few minutes of easy exercise like infomercials tell you, think again.

About eighty minutes into the show I did take about a ten minute break from TBL to root for the SD Padres as they came close to winning, getting four runs in the 9th, only to lose 10-11. When I returned, as usual Jillian was dropping *F* bombs like a Marine on the front lines. With all the fancy equipment on the ranch she resorts to the simplest of tools- a rope. Good job Jillian. It just goes to show that you don't need to spend thousands on equipment for a good workout. You certainly don't need a smith machine to do plyometric exercises (as Bob had Julio doing), push ups or a medicine ball are just as, if not more effective.
The most notable statement was made by Abby- "It works..., watching your diet, counting your calories, moving...., It works."

Comments (4)

|2009-09-26 07:07:38 Rozsa

Hi Aaron!
Great article! I'm just surprised that there aren't more contestants hospitalized in weeks 1 and 2! Seriously, don't people need to start off a little slower than that? Are you worried that this show will scare some potential clients into NOT hiring you to train them? They may think that ALL personal trainers do this!
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|2009-09-26 14:13:58 Aaron

Thanks for your comment.
Yes, the show definitely can intimidate a lot of people in need of physical activity. They may get the impression that the workouts will be so extreme that they'll need to heave up their guts into a trash barrel. That can scare away a good deal of potential clients, especially those that need the most help. Another problem the show creates is the unrealistic expectations. Some may think they can get the same amazing weight losses that the contestants are getting. Unfortunately these same people will only want to train at most three one hour sessions a week, a mere fraction of what the contestants are doing. People need to realize this show is very, very far from reality, and Jillian Michaels is not a good representative of the personal training profession.
As I said in last weeks post, the show does not follow professional guidelines of any sort when it comes to proper progression. I wonder how many viewers injured themselves by deciding they could run one mile for their very first workout after watching the show.
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