As a disclaimer, I have always watched The Biggest Loser casually as someone might watch The Super Bowl for the commercials. I enjoy making digs at the product placement, the commercials, etc. This pleases me #broughttoyoubyziploc #subway #extragum #whomever
This year, however I was taken in a little more, sucked in, even after saying things like: "I'd never watch that crap," and "How dare they publicize weight loss competitions!" I am sure I have said MANY choice things over the years about this (...and other shows) as an online weight-loss blogger, even as product pitches aligned with this show were tossed my way. I still watch for the product placements. I also watch for the exercise -- WHAT?!
This year, I started a (...word warning) "journey" nine years after I started my massive weight loss path.
I began exercising in earnest. I dropped some lbs and gained muscle. I have endurance!
I found that The Biggest Loser gave me some "Actual Motivation" if only for ideas of What To Do To Move My Butt. It's the reason I tried the "Jacob's Ladder," guys.
Or, even just for a frame of reference in body-size for someone like me: a former morbidly obese individual whom had been 320 lbs now 144-150 lbs and maintaining my bodyweight while learning to create health, and gain muscle and make exercise a habit. If you have not been living in a 200, 300, 400 lb body - you must know - the body dysmorphia that comes along with the change from your super-morbid or morbidly obese self to your "normal" self can last for years. It may not be until you see another person whom is "wearing" your "body" size when you realize what you look like, and only sort of.
That said -- The Biggest Loser's winner, Rachel. And please remember that I can only relate to what I know to be true, and to what I see in relation to the hundreds of women (... and some men) I read about daily in my weight loss groups for bariatric surgery.
She went too far, and sometimes that happens.
I hope that it was simply because she was pushed to far for the "trigger" of money -- and will find balance in health.
It happens in our bariatric-post operative patients all the time, and the thing is: bariatric patients don't have the temptation of a quarter million dollars hanging over their head like a dangling carrot as thin-spiration. It takes a lot less sometimes for a person to be triggered to lose too far. Some women (...and men) are pushed by a bad photo, cruel word, or emotional disturbances.
In the weight loss surgery world, we have a hard time with talking about weight. We don't like to talk about "how much weight is too much to lose." We don't like to discuss "too far," and we say things like "well, you called her fat, now she's too thin and you hate her for it."
No. It's not that. You/we really have to stop thinking that way. It is just the same as having bariatric surgery WAS for YOU. It was supposed to be about your health and saving your life. There is not a stitch of hate in the words. It is out of concern for the person, and the people watching: like our daughters and sons.
Going on The Biggest Loser was about stopping this person's journey through morbid obesity and saving her life, and getting healthy again. However, dropping to an underweight body-weight and publicizing this for all of us on TV and creating this huge social media #thinspo out of it -- is WRONG.
Where were the trainers, Biggest Loser Team, producers, etc. when she hit the red flags? Where was the psych team? Where is her help? Is this really just about prize money and not health?
I think that says it all.
You failed, @thebiggestloser
