Who Are Really the “BIGGEST Losers”?

 "So you’re a personal trainer?" I am commonly asked.

 "Yes" I say.


"Like those folks on “The Biggest Loser?"


"Well, to be honest, nothing I do remotely resembles what is portrayed by the trainers on that show!"


This type of conversation happens to me on a regular basis.  I’m put in the position to explain that what folks see on their TV is the polar opposite of how I treat or train my clients.

I’m sure it’s a pretty common scenario for most Personal Trainers ever since the phenomenon of “The Biggest Loser” ("TBL") came on the scene.

Before I continue, I do want to say that I'm sure there are a percentage of viewers who may be motivated to start exercising and trying to clean up their eating as a result of the show and that is great, but there is a lot about the show that concerns me on many levels!


PERSONAL TRAINING?

First of all, even though they have personal trainers leading the workouts on the show, what they are doing on the show is not actual personal training.

What makes Personal training “personal" is the idea that programs are custom designed to meet the specific, individual needs of each client. However on the show there seems to be a general plan that each trainer uses and some contestants survive it and some don’t. 

Also no responsible personal trainer would ever risk putting a severely deconditioned and morbidly obese individual through those types of grueling workouts. It takes time for one's body to adapt to safely handle the stresses of exercise both from a musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory standpoint. 

Maybe they can get away with it because they have medical staff "in the wings" on "TBL", but it's not the way personal trainers would typically handle a client with that type of physical profile.

Second, I can’t imagine any responsible trainer who would even consider, let alone get away with, the type of verbal abuse seen on "TBL". It also should go without saying that no paying client would tolerate that sort of behavior for a minute.

Both of those issues go against everything our education as trainers (not to mention "common sense") teaches us. Rather what I have seen on that show would be considered reckless and abusive, plain and simple.

In fact if a trainer used those types of tactics and a client was injured, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on from a legal standpoint because it would be so far outside of what is considered the "standard of care"

Train Wreck?

Fairly recently I was listening to a podcast interview with Coach Robert Dos Remedios (2006 NSCA Collegiate Strength Coach of The Year). In it,  Coach Dos (as he is called) referred to “The Biggest Loser” as a ”train wreck”.

This is because it has the same effect on people as a terrible accident that people can’t turn away from out of morbid curiousity.  He  continued by saying something to the affect of  "And this is coming from a guy who works his athletes so hard that most people would consider what I do abusive!"

He said that if he treated his athletes that way the folks on "TBL" were treated, he wouldn’t have a job very long because no one would tolerate it! 

Is It All An Act?

The irony is that I wouldn't be surprised if in "real life" the trainers on "TBL"are completely different in how they would train or treat real clients "off screen".  In fact they may be the kindest, most compassionate people in the world, but regardless of what the truth may be, that isn't what "TBL" viewers get to see so all we can go by is what we're given.

Bottom line, whatever they're doing is working to attract viewers and sell products so I don't see a change anytime soon.

And The Winner Is!

The only reason the trainers on 'TBL" get away with all of the above on the show because ultimately it’s a “game” and the "contestants" know that they've got no choice but to deal with it in order to have a chance at winning the prize money!


Sadly, it has been reported that in numerous cases, many of the contestants on "TBL"  don’t end up keeping the weight off (in fact an NBC exec said about 50% ) because they lost it in an environment they cannot possibly  duplicate in their real life.

Also, the backlash of going through an extreme process like that is analogous with  what happens when someone severely deprives themselves on a diet and then goes on uncontrollable eating binges.

Getting Real!

Ultimately, REAL transformation happens both on the inside as well as the outside. What I mean by “Real” is a change that will last indefinitely. That is unlikely to happen if one's primary motivation is coming from a combination of prize money and the prodding of overly aggressive trainers beating them senseless with exercise. 

For example, when I train my own clients, I challenge them to find their edge but not go over it. They know I "want" them to stop if they start to feel overwhelmed. Within a fairly short amount of time, every client I've worked with ends up pushing "themselves" because they learn where their personal safe threshold is. 

A big part of the reason people may not work hard initially is because in the beginning they can't tell the difference between discomfort and fatigue or when they are actually moving into the danger zone.

Once they learn to judge that difference internally, they are self motivated and actually seem to enjoy the challenge of pushing to their personal edge. I've never once had to yell at a client and in fact I'm more likely to be reminding them to be mindful of not crossing the edge rather than trying to force them over it.

It's the difference between "extrinsic" (outer) and "intrinsic" (inner) motivation. Intrinsic motivation is ultimately more powerful!

The truth is, it really doesn't take more than a few sessions for this to start to happen and they could easily employ this approach as well on "TBL" but I guess that wouldn't get ratings! 

 Who Are Really The Biggest Losers?


Ultimately,  I really believe that the real “Biggest Losers” are many of the people watching the show, in particular those who may have a lot of weight (i.e. bodyfat) to lose themselves.

I say this because those viewers see the contestants losing insane amounts of weight each week and may feel that if they can’t accomplish the same that they are somehow failures. This can lead to them just give up in frustration!

Even if they are fully aware that the “contestants” on the show are in an unrealistic situation, with nothing to do 24-7 but concentrate on losing weight, it doesn't help them feel better about their own predicament. The show has led to unrealistic, not to mention unhealthy expectations regarding achievable weight loss.  

Where are they now?


 MSNBC Interactive did an article about the show called "Where are the biggest losers now?" Erik Chopin, the overall wnner of season 3 was interviewed.  He revealed that he has  put almost all of the 200 lbs that he lost on the show.

When he spoke with Bob Harper, his trainer on "TBL" Bob recommended that he use a more balanced approach that he can do for the rest of his life" in order to take the weight off again. 

In fact Bob said (direct quote from the article) “You know how to take it off and you know how to put it on — what you don’t know is how to live your everyday life”.

Okay, so much for the great tools these folks were given to take into their lives. I guess all those 100 calorie snack bags and Subway sandwiches (no doubt products of the show's sponsers) didn't do the trick..... big surprise!

Unfortunately most people watching "TBL" probably haven't seen that article I referred to above and may mistakenly still believe that the only way to achive weight loss is using the extreme tactics shown on the show.

They may also believe those solutions will bring about long term change, that once you lose it then you are all done and you'll keep it off forever. I mean, who could lose 200 lbs and ever go back. Just ask Erik, and about half of the other folks who lost all that weight on the show. This is a terribly sad situation!

A "Personal" Concern

 Besides having unrealistic weight loss expectations, it also greatly concerns me that the viewers may be afraid of hiring a qualified fitness professional who could help them because they are afraid they might be treated like the folks on "TBL". 

This is extremely upsetting to me because the main reason I went through the process of becoming a certified personal trainer was because I wanted to make my living making a positive difference in people’s lives.  I would never think of treating my clients with anything other than respect, kindness, patience, and compassion!

Most people really don't know how to go about tackling such a complex issue. They don't know where to begin in terms of setting up an appropriate exercise program. Most likely they will need the help of a Registered Dietician or nutritionist along with a fitness professional to help them have the right tools to be successful. But if they think all personal trainers are like those on "TBL" they may never take the first step on what may be a life changing experience!



Scott Fishkind Time4You Fitness

http://www.time4youfitness.com/