Biggest Loser Methods: Epic Fail
July 1st, 2010
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by Brad · Filed Under: Rants
The Biggest Loser Is THE Biggest Loser: Dirty Secrets Exposed
I have previously blogged about My Top 10 Secrets of the Biggest Loser.
And now former contestants like Kai Hibbard are stepping forward exposing what REALLY goes on behind the scenes in the making of a “reality” TV show surrounding weight loss contestants. Hibbard lost 118lbs in 12 weeks on the show yet has regained 70 of the 118 lbs. Props to her for coming clean on the TRUTH.
I hear comments from time to time… “The Biggest Loser is soooo inspirational.” or “The contestants on the Biggest Loser work so hard and look so great.”

I knew there were shenanigans behind the curtain of the TV Camera. Here are some juicy details and my response to them.

BIggest Loser Shenanigan #1: A Week Is Not a Week on TV
TV tells you that these people lost up to 12 pounds in 1 Week. Hibbard says a week is not a week on TV. Sometimes “a week” is 12 days for 15 days behind the scenes. Remember they are slicing and dicing 7 days (or 12 or 15 days) of footage down into about 40 minutes of content.
BIggest Loser Shenanigan #2: Weight Loss Techniques Shown can be Duplicated
Remember this is “Reality TV”. Reality TV = The most drama possible to drive the highest ratings possible. So reality is not really “reality”. Biggest Loser Contestants are encouraged to use DEHYDRATION TECHNIQUES to max out their Weight Loss NUMBERS for that given time period. But what I watch on TV and what is told to me on TV is REAL, correct? aaaaaaahhhhhhh TV. Ridiculously unhealthy and promoting unrealistic results.
BIggest Loser Shenanigan #3: Encouraging 300lb+ Contestants to Run.
Running? These people can’t even hardly WALK! Here’s how much stress you put on your joints when you run
Bodyweight x 10-12. Mine would be 205 x 10 = 2050 lbs PER STEP. That’s fine if you’ve worked into adaptation. Not so much if you have successfully planted your ass on the couch for 10 years and then say “I’m going to run a 5k in 3 weeks.” Uh, no.
BIggest Loser Shenanigan #4: Pressure of Losing Maximum Weight in 12 Weeks
I run 12 Week Body Transformation Contests at RAD Boot Camp. I do promote maximum BODY TRANSFORMATION in 12 Weeks. Our focus is Inches, Body Fat, and pounds. The scale is not the “tell all”
It’s your journey. You put on 22, 53, 87 or however many pounds over the course of years. Unlikely you will strip all of it off in 12 weeks…the 22 is possible and has been done in my gym.
BIggest Loser Shenanigan #5: Negative Body Image
Anyone who loses over 100lbs in 12 weeks is going to have some former habits take back over when they leave a super structured environment. Personal chef. Working out 4-6+ hours per day. No job. No spouse. No kids. That’s as close to “reality” as I can think of. When the TRUE reality of life sets in back home are the results going to stick? And when they don’t, what are the thoughts running through the contestants’ heads?
It all comes down to Lifestyle Change. To make permanent changes you must do things you have never done.
Share your comments below!
Crank it!
B-Rad













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