The Biggest Loser

[Shanmac]

While I admit I enjoy the show, I cannot believe anyone who has seen it would be shocked by that interview. And I can't believe anyone who who watches the show would be surprised by what happens when you become a contestant. It seems pretty clear to me what you're signing up for.

If I were at the gym and someone screamed at me the way Jillian screams at her contestants, I'd tell them to fuck right off. But, again, if you go on the show, you know what you're signing up for. One contestant on the new season even said, "You know, at home, 13 pounds would be great" (this guy was 400-plus pounds, so percentage-wise, he hadn't lost as much as his teammates). But it's a whole new world on the show when you're competing for money based solely on weight loss. Another extremely large (again, in the over-400-pound territory) contestant lost 38 pounds on the last episode. That's ... completely insane, no matter what you weigh. But that's what the show is about and unless you were a S1 contestant, you'd be well aware of that.

I think anyone who goes on this show should meet with a trainer when they get home so they can talk about how to maintain their weight in a healthy way, because no one can sustain the level of intensity the contestants deal with on the show. Not in the real world. I think that's why so many contestants seem freaked out when they make it to the portion of the season where they have to go home for two weeks -- they panic because they don't know how to function outside the environment on the ranch. So no question, this show isn't about teaching "normal" people how to lose weight.

Plus, if you're miserable on the show, can't you just leave? If I recall correctly, there was one woman who left after the first workout last season. Just said, "you know what, I can't do this," and went home. They checked in with her later in the season and she had lost a lot of weight on her own. I've seen other contestants walk before. I think the agreements you sign when you go on the show only go so far -- they can't tell you, "You can't leave." Granted, even if I were completely miserable, I'd want to tough it out so I wouldn't look like a quitter, which I am sure is the case for some people on the show.

And Caroline Rhea ... I'm giggling that SHE was the one to stand up for the contestants. If I recall correctly, when she would tell someone they'd been voted off, she would say, "It's time to cut the fat." It's funny that, of all the things on the show that raise my eyebrows, that sticks out in my mind as being particularly horrifying. Whoever came up with that is a terrible person.

[Shalamar]

Plus, if you're miserable on the show, can't you just leave?

I remember a couple of seasons ago when several contestants basically went on strike and ended up leaving the show. At the time I said "Are they NUTS? Do they know how many people would kill to be in their shoes?" Having read that interview, it makes a lot more sense.

[margojata]

Well, I think they deliberately choose the most fragile people. And really, when you're 350-400+ pounds, your life must feel completely lost to you and you might buy anything at that point. Even the screaming and dehydration.

The problem is that they do not appear to show how to LIVE with a weight loss. It's an unreal world where that's all you think about in life. When you hit real life again, and all of the problems/emotional issues that gave you the eating disorder in the first place - then what? It's no different than force feeding an anorexic for a few months and then sending them back off to their lives.

[GirlyGhoul]

I don't watch this show every season, but I've been watching it this go 'round and the latest 'controversy' is actually cracking me up more than it probably should. But anyway, if you haven't been watching or paying attention to news items on the show, this season was all about 'Second Chances' and also featured American Idol winner Ruben Studdard (That's what initially sucked me in. I totally voted for that Velvet Teddy Bear back in the day)

But as it turned out, even though Ruben was the big star and their big draw this season... He kinda sucked at losing weight. He was the biggest in the house and should have been dropping mad poundage, but never really did. So he got the boot pretty early on. Well, the week after he was eliminated, they called out Jillian Michaels and her team for breaking the rules and said that she gave her team caffine pills against doctors' orders. I'm not sure if caffine pills have ever been a problem before- and considering this is a show that often forces morbidly obese people to eat donuts in order to gain a game advantage- I'm sure caffine pills are the least of these folks' worries. But because of the epic rule breaking- which very coincidentally came to light right after Ruben's elimination- they booted someone off Jillian's team and brought Ruben back.

But once he was back, he still turned out to really suck at losing weight. He was eliminated AGAIN after just a couple weeks.

Now they've just had a double elimination and are already at the point that they no longer have 'teams' so it's every individual for themselves... And suddenly they announce yet another twist to the game where the two most recent eliminated contestants will have a chance to get back in the game... along with ALL the previously eliminated contestants which OF COURSE includes Ruben.

Even though it's kind of obvious what they're doing, I'm finding it hilarious rather than maddening. For one, because they have decided their theme is 'Second Chances' and Ruben is already on his thrid or possibly even fourth chance at this point. But also, because as much effort as they are putting into keeping Ruben in the game... he doesn't really seem to give a rat's ass. He definitely needs to lose weight- but he's not dropping it at the alarming rate most of these contestants do. Which means he's not playing the game by Biggest Loser rules. That's probably about the healthiest thing he could do since Biggest Loser rules are seriously twisted (see the article listed a page or so back) But he's not even a little interested in being their Star Player. He's wanting to get himself back on TV and promote his upcoming album. He talks about his project the way the other contestants talk about their goal weights.

In spite of their increasingly frantic efforts to keep Ruben in the game- his head was never there to begin with. If they think his presense is necessary for their viewership, I think they're barking up the wrong tree. I don't think this guy, even if he does go further in the game, is going to be one of their pet contestants who always show up in Subway commercials. I think he just wants to get the word out about his album and will promote that as often as they let him until it hits the shelves or itunes. Then he'll strut off into the sunset, munching a cookie along the way, and quickly lose the Biggest Losers' number.

They stunt casted an Olympic Winner a couple seasons back and he also sucked at losing weight and then split under mysterious circumstances. I think it finally came out that he had issues with their rules (surprise) and was doing things like using a cell phone and sneaking off the Ranch (as well as sneaking junk food) and he mainly left of his own accord but they couldn't out or shame him due to his Olympic status and the fact they'd hyped it up with their stunt casting so much.

This time, their stunt cast seems pleasant enough, and is willing to play by the rules... He just doesn't give two craps about actually winning their show. He's already been crowned The American Idol. He doesn't need to be The Biggest Loser. They seem desperate to keep him on their Show, but they're having to resort to huge amounts of game manipulation to make it happen... And it's really funny. Probably not to the other contestants... but to me it's funny!

[Deleted]

Ruben's tried different weight loss regimens before. He went to the Duke University residential program for a while and later became a vegan. Randy Jackson supposedly tried to be a support to him and Ruben rejected that. He never seems to lose more than 20 to 40 pounds and then gains it all back again. His size has negatively affected his career but that doesn't seem to be enough motivation. Whatever issues he has, they're deeply ingrained.

The Olympics guy was a wrestler. They really should ban wrestlers from the show. Those guys often have long-term disordered eating due to having to cut weight for matches. They can drop and gain like crazy, usually in the most unhealthy ways. A former NCAA wrestler won a season and gained all the weight back in less than two years.

And who cares about caffeine pills when the contestants are always shown drinking coffee and tea? I'd bet there are many who chug the stuff to up their weight loss numbers.

[margojata]

Was Ruben really that big of a draw? I started to watch, but had to give up. I cannot stand the screaming and belittling they do to these people. Sure, they ASK for it... but they're also in a terrible place in their lives. I equate it to being in an abusive relationship. These poor people will do ANYTHING to lose the weight.

Ruben would be pretty hot if he lost weight. Those dimples and his "aww shucks" demeanor are adorable. It's too bad that he just can't quite do it. He seems to go up and down 100+ pounds regularly, and his heart is just going to give out. I wonder why he never tried the surgery? Last resort, and yes people can gain afterwards (hello Carnie Wilson, and even Randy Jackson), but this guy is really in danger.

[sumire]

Oh, man. When that last woman came out on tonight's finale, I could not believe how emaciated she looked. In my mind, everyone else was as taken aback by her appearance as I was, leaving the producers with a dearth of heartwarming reaction shots and a feeling of, "Well, yes, technically weight loss is the desired result, but..."

I dearly hope tonight's apparent starvation/dehydration was exclusively for the finale, and now that she's got her $250,000, she's going to whisk herself off for a lot of nourishing meals and a lot of therapy.

[Mierin]

I found how skinny Rachel was to be very alarming - she didn't look healthy at all.

[GirlyGhoul]

I didn't catch the show last night, but I went on their website to see what y'all were talking about. Suspiciously, they are not showing pictures of Rachel front and center as you would expect them to do for their 'Winner'. They are showcasing David who didn't win, but looks to be the healthiest of the finalists. They do have a video clip of Rachel's appearance if you hunt enough for it and... well yikes. Very telling is Jillian visible mouthing 'Oh My God!' and not in the good way at all when Rachel shakingly steps forward.

I feel bad, because when I was watching this season earlier, near the final episodes, Rachel was striking me as getting smug. She had lost mad weight and was looking great plus seemed to win every competition always leaving the other contestants in the dust. She had been an athlete before gaining weight and was also the youngest one still standing- so with her around, it was never much of a contest to begin with- she was already the most fit going in. And yet, she seemed to get smugger with each win rather than being gracious about how far she'd come. She was so close to her goal weight that I figured she didn't stand a chance of winning the grand finale. But what did that matter, she'd won tons of prizes (including a car and $5,000 on separate occasions) and now she was back to her old figure.

But now, forget smug, I don't care about her being smug. She's flat out unhealthy and needs medical attention immediately. How horrible! Now I feel very bad, because what I was reading as 'smug' near the end was obviously something else. Possibly the beginnings of an exercise addiction and starvation fetish. This is very very very BAD! I'm hoping the producers take her aside and hook her up with some councelors/ doctors, what ever she needs. At the very least, I think Jillian will try to do something for her. I'm guessing Jillian's about done with this show anyway (They did her dirty this season)

OY! Not good! Now I feel bad for watching this show and giving them ratings at all. Damn Velvet Teddy Bear sucking me in! (And he didn't even really lose that much weight- He just wanted to sing all the time)

[famvir]

Wow, although this is not surprising. It brings to mind a Dear Abbie set of feel good posts where people were "competing" to find the youngest grandma. The 42 yo grandma, the 38 yo grandma. It all came to a screeching halt when the 25 yo grandmas started to show up (mom born when grandma was 13, grandchild born with mom was 12.)

What's next? Someone who loses 65% of their body weight? The 85 lb Biggest Loser?