When it comes to The Biggest Loser, my stance is this: make diet and exercise your full-time job – complete with personal trainer – and it’s pretty hard not to lose weight. But will you keep it off? Of course not. (Just like any diet, which is why I’m such a fan of the Health At Every Size approach to nutrition and exercise.) And at least one former contestant can back me up on this: In today’s New York Times, first season winner Ryan C. Benson notes he wasn’t part of tonight’s reunion episode because he’s since gained back most of the 122 pounds he shed in the competition. What’s more:
“[Benson] thinks he has been shunned by the show because he publicly admitted that he dropped some of the weight by fasting and dehydrating himself to the point that he was urinating blood.”
Sorry, but I really think you had to hear that. The article goes on to cite another former contestant, season three’s Kai Hibbard, who reportedly admitted she drank little or no water up to 24 hours before a weigh-in. After she left the show, she apparently gained 31 pounds in two weeks, “most of it simply from drinking water again.”
Also interesting: after several former contestants were contacted by by the paper to be interviewed for this piece, a talent producer from the show emailed others to warn them of the consequences – up to a $1 million fine! – of speaking to a reporter without the show’s permission.
Perhaps they don’t want any more of these types of diet secrets leaked?
2 Responses to “ This just in: The Biggest Loser diet doesn’t work ”
This is regarding my sister Rosemary, who one year ago was approx. 500 pounds and in the hospital.She was in the hospital for 3 months and upon release came to live with me. She has cellulitis and lymphodema and almost lost her foot.She has made a remarkable recovery and now weighs 262 pounds,she looks amazing and is still recovering, nurses are still coming in to treat her, she recently returned to work .It was not easy and she had to change her way of eating (I cook healthy balanced meals) there were some days that she was not to happy but with eating properly and walking she is losing the weight – not fast but the best way to do it. the best part is a neighbour of ours was over the other day and had said she gained alot of weight and was kind of in a drepression about it so she thought about my sister and said if she can do this great with her health issues that herself (Marlene) would just have to suck it up and do something so she did, I don’t think my sister ever thought she would be a role model but she is.Successful people get noticed ROLE MODELS SHINE
By Heather on Dec 2, 2009
Hi Heather, thanks for reading my blog and also for sharing Rosemary’s story – she’s very inspiring (and also lucky to have such a great sister!)
By mhalushak on Dec 3, 2009