The Biggest Loser: A rather significant flaw...
 

i've watched every episode so far, and i've noticed one thing they've failed to mention, make note of, suggest, imply, comment on...

that when you're trying to lose fat, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A MILITARY-STRICT DIET!!!!

agh! it pisses me off so bad to see that stupid shit. guys - most of you've seen my pics, i have a low bodyfat percentage... and i eat things that are fattening, and not necessarily "healthy" rather frequently...

i'll have chocolates sometimes, i go out to eat frequently and order whatever i feel like ordering.. i eat like 3 or 4 pb&j a day, waffles in the morning...

my diet is far from perfection, but since i make it a conscious note to try and eat right, and get my protein - AND TRAIN HARD in the gym... i dont have to worry about it.

they make the whole process of losing weight seem very intimdiating to people, and it shouldn't be, at all. you can have "cheat meals"

Those people are starting off very overweight and with a very slow metabolism. Your eating plan is very effective if you're wanting to lose weight *slowly* or maintain your current weight. Of course, that's a healthy lifestyle change but these people on the show are going for 'bang for the buck' or the quick fix. That's what's truely disturbing about the show, they're not much better than those radical plastic surgery shows. Sure, these folks are working hard but the level at which they're working out and their diet is completely unrealistic in the real world to maintain. Who has 4-6 hours a day to work out? Totally unhealthy and unrealistic...talk about setting people up to fail long term.

Did I mention that I hate that show? lol

yeah it's simply for the sake of the game.

realistically you only need to put in 30 to 45 mins on average of 4 days a week, and just watch your diet. no where near as difficult as the show makes it out to be.

I watch that show, and I've hoped that it shows people how difficult it is to fight your metabolism.
Their one purpose for their weeks at the ranch is to lose weight. They have no jobs, no kids, no obligations or responsibilities, so they are able to maintain that exercise schedule. The average person doesn't have a spare five hours a day.
But aside from that, the biggest problem I have with the show is that noone is accounting for the muscle they are gaining. Bodyfat percentage would be a much more accurate measurement of how their work is paying off, and how much healthier they are getting.
But, like you say, it's all for the show, and weight is more concrete of a measurement for comparison I guess, and easier for the public to grasp.

does anyone have a problem with the title? i mean i would be pissed if i was a fat guy on that show. granted if you know me fat isnt exactly the first word that comes to mind.... "micah" is more synonymous with "somolian" or "eating disorder".....

yes definitely... bodyfat would be way better.

Nope its just you. :glugglug

maybe..

I never even watched that shit...I'm sick of reality crap...Well other than the stuff in my sig of course...

I've seen your "before" pics, and it doesn't seem like you have the body type of build to get fat period.

Compare it to me and my housemate:
He's 6'7" and weighs 160 lbs, while he eats craploads of bad food and doesn't work out.
I, on the other hand, am 6' and weigh 210 lbs, while I eat the same meals as he does, only smaller portions and no candy and sweets. I also work out daily.

Obviously, most of my weight comes from working out (muscle), but it is quite apparent that while his body just won't gain mass, mine does it in any way it can. So I'll get fat easily but also gain muscle easily, while he is virtually unable to get fat but also unable to build real muscle.

yes point taken, but the way in which they are (the show) completely 100% discouraging the contestants to eat anything "bad", is not necessary. my point was, was that you can have cheat meals, even those who find it very difficult to lose fat.

you just have to have a rather structured diet that allows for those cheat meals, and you have to train hard in the gym.

Yup, though I don't actually follow through with what I know, I've done a lot of research on fitness and nutrition/metablism/diet, and a lot of very successful fitness regemines (sp?) have a "cheat day" like Bill Phillips' Body for Life, or Eating for Life.