3 Lessons From The Biggest Loser
Introduction
Millions of people watch TV night after night all throughout the world, but not to watch the newest CSI or soap opera. not to see Sex in the City or Jay Leno. not to witness who on Survivor outwits, outlasts, and outperforms the others. No, what has them enthralled is the efforts of a small group of fat people who are attempting to overcome the consequences of years of binge eating.
It’s not surprising that for so many people this is compulsive viewing. Obesity is the new epidemic. Fat children lumber around school playgrounds while their overweight mothers fill shopping carts with wrong choices. Then…
they sit down at night to watch The Biggest Loser. They see dramatic weight loss and startling new body shapes beginning to emerge. They want the same results – and they begin to think it might be possible.
But who has four or five hours a day to work out? Who can afford a personal trainer several times a week?
And who has the luxury of their own personal adviser on calorie content and smart food choices?
The answer is:
not many people. But you have to remember that this is television, it’s a false situation.
As the players keep reminding themselves and the viewers:
“This is a GAME. You have to make the most of your time here – it’s going to be so much harder out in the real world.”
IS it harder in the real world? Probably. But you can take lessons away from watching this reality show. Both the participants and you can benefit from it. Here are three practical and useful lessons you can put to use immediately.
1. Put Weight Loss First.
In the Biggest Loser household WEIGHT LOSS COMES FIRST. Make it come first in your household, too. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It is. In fact, so simple that many people just overlook it. They try to fit exercise and meal planning around everything else in their lives, instead of making it a priority.
Think: what is most important: getting the weight off, and becoming fit enough to put years on your life – or watching another TV show?
Take a seat, get a pen and paper, and set out at least an hour each day to make meal plans, keep track of your intake, and exercise. You’ve still got 23 hours left to do everything else!
2. E is for Exercise – and Enjoy!
What else do you notice in the Biggest Loser household?
The more they exercise, the more they seem to enjoy it. Oh sure, they grunt and they groan; they sweat and they complain. But as the weeks go on, you’ll hear them say things like: “I never thought I’d say that I look forward to working out – but now don’t feel right if a day goes past without exercise!”
The secret to enjoying exercise is finding what’s right for YOU. If you don’t really enjoy the gym, look for other forms of exercise. You need a mix of cardio and resistance training – but it doesn’t have to be on machines.
You can enjoy yourself by walking, swimming, dancing, climbing hills, pushing a wheelbarrow in the garden, and many other activities… Research what happens to various muscle groups – and to your heart – when you exercise, and pick activities that you will enjoy.
3. Identify the Triggers.
Emotions run high when the contestants have to face their demons. Weight gain is rarely from just a physical cause. If you keep a food diary, and faithfully record not only what you eat but when (and why) you eat it, you’ll soon see a pattern of emotional eating. What are
YOUR triggers? Boredom? Tiredness? Family arguments?
Once you have identified these triggers, you can start working on strategies to defeat them. This can be as simple as challenging yourself every time you want food. (“Am I hungry – yes or no? If I’m not hungry, then why do I want to eat?
Am I really just thirsty? If I’m running to the fridge because I’m upset, is there something else I can do to feel better? Is there a long-term solution that will fix this forever?” and so on.)
If you’re not yet ready to deal with the root cause, then be prepared with food that won’t add to your problems with the resulting rolls of fat. Make sure that you have ‘good’ food at hand – but also food that you LIKE.
These are just three of the lessons that anyone can take away from watching The Biggest Loser. And you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you did it all by yourself.
