A couple of years ago a rather public spat between two big names in the Australian weight loss industry, Ajay Rochester and Adro Sarnelli, brought to light some not-so-pretty realities behind extreme public weight loss in general and The Biggest Loser specifically.
I am not a fan of this reality TV show for a number of reasons. Principal among them is that this portrayal of the weight loss journey emphasises everything that is wrong with the fitness industry as a whole. Extreme weight loss systems do not work, at least, not for most people and not without significant pain.
Exercise cannot be seen as a punishment, something brought on to "correct" overweight people and a sort of physical torture necessary for true change. Australians have enough trouble sticking with exercise regimens as it is. In fact, upwards of 42 per cent of those beginning an exercise routine quit it before completing 30 days and 90 per cent have quit by three months.
There is more, though. A 2013 study in the American Journal of Health Behaviour specifically indicts shows like The Biggest Loser for discouraging people's weight loss. The conclusions state that the portrayal of extreme, painful exercise deters the non-exerciser from even considering a new programme.
But wait, don't most people think that The Biggest Loser motivates people to lose weight?
It doesn't and this is a problem throughout the fitness industry. By presenting exercise as painful, hard, and torture you discourage those who need it most-the non-fit-from pursuing it. Exercise cannot be seen as an elitist activity only for the super-skinny, but that is what the industry does and thus people remain on their couch or fail in each new exercise attempt.
I was that person once. The entire attitude towards weight loss, fad dieting, and extreme exercise had me so overwhelmed that I quit them all. But I didn't quit entirely. Instead, I designed a process that focused on success, not pain or deprivation. The results of that programme were startling. I lost 50 per cent of my total body weight and kept it off for more than 10 years. How many Biggest Loser contestants can say that?
The fitness industry does not want you to succeed. In fact, their entire scheme is based on repeated failure which brings you back to another solution costing more money in a few months. Shows like the Biggest Loser only support this idea since they instill fear and de-motivate people to act. Instead, see these shows for what they are, entertainment, not a real way to change your life.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sally_Symonds
I am not a fan of this reality TV show for a number of reasons. Principal among them is that this portrayal of the weight loss journey emphasises everything that is wrong with the fitness industry as a whole. Extreme weight loss systems do not work, at least, not for most people and not without significant pain.
Exercise cannot be seen as a punishment, something brought on to "correct" overweight people and a sort of physical torture necessary for true change. Australians have enough trouble sticking with exercise regimens as it is. In fact, upwards of 42 per cent of those beginning an exercise routine quit it before completing 30 days and 90 per cent have quit by three months.
There is more, though. A 2013 study in the American Journal of Health Behaviour specifically indicts shows like The Biggest Loser for discouraging people's weight loss. The conclusions state that the portrayal of extreme, painful exercise deters the non-exerciser from even considering a new programme.
But wait, don't most people think that The Biggest Loser motivates people to lose weight?
It doesn't and this is a problem throughout the fitness industry. By presenting exercise as painful, hard, and torture you discourage those who need it most-the non-fit-from pursuing it. Exercise cannot be seen as an elitist activity only for the super-skinny, but that is what the industry does and thus people remain on their couch or fail in each new exercise attempt.
I was that person once. The entire attitude towards weight loss, fad dieting, and extreme exercise had me so overwhelmed that I quit them all. But I didn't quit entirely. Instead, I designed a process that focused on success, not pain or deprivation. The results of that programme were startling. I lost 50 per cent of my total body weight and kept it off for more than 10 years. How many Biggest Loser contestants can say that?
The fitness industry does not want you to succeed. In fact, their entire scheme is based on repeated failure which brings you back to another solution costing more money in a few months. Shows like the Biggest Loser only support this idea since they instill fear and de-motivate people to act. Instead, see these shows for what they are, entertainment, not a real way to change your life.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sally_Symonds
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