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Biggest Loser Recap: The Season Premiere

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:15:00 -0700

The Biggest Loser Season Four premiered last night and I am already hooked. The format is a little different this year, but so far so good.

As always, the cast introductions were emotional and I was amazed at how hard the trainers work them from the start. Their results showed it too as weight loss numbers ranged from seven pounds to a whopping 31 pounds from Jerry, the oldest contestant (62 years) in Biggest Loser history. Amber was kicked off -- I am not attached to any of the contestants yet, so she seemed like the best choice since she was begging to go home on day one.

One of my favorite things about the show is that lessons about being healthy are promoted. The new host, Alison Sweeney, mentioned that watching the show is a weekly reminder for viewers that they too can get healthy. Sure tuning in every week is also great for ratings, but I am not kidding you, it's motivating.

Aside from that, here's what I learned from the Biggest Loser this week:

On figuring out if something is a protein: One simple theory is that, "If it had a mother it's protein."
On resisting the urge to snack: Keep sugar free gum around and grab that when you're feeling like nibbling on something.
On drinking too much soda: Cutting out soda from your daily diet could help you lose 8 pounds over the course of a year (without even stepping on a treadmill).
On the average American diet: An American eats an average of 16 pounds of french fries per year.

To see all the new contestants and to see which of my favorite fitness gadgets made their television debuts, just read more

I also like that they are pushing their own online weight loss club, "The Biggest Loser Club" because people are seeing some amazing results from being inspired by the show and just working out at home. If you're looking for an online weight loss community, I would definitely check it out.

Pretty interesting, right? I was also very impressed that the contestants were wearing my favorite workout gadget of all time, the bodybugg!

Source

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The Biggest Loser Premieres Tonight!

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

I wanted to make sure you guys were all aware that The Biggest Loser Season Four starts tonight at 8/7c on NBC. It is going to be a two hour premiere and if it follows suit to the previous seasons, it's going to be good (and you're going to need a box of Kleenex). Set your TiVo, so we can all chat about it tomorrow.

Check out the promo at NBC.com.

The Toll Fat Can Take Inside Your Body

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 08:45:00 -0700

It is easy to get caught up in the aesthetic reasons for losing weight, but it is also important to remember that one of the most important reasons to lose that extra weight is because of what you can't see: Inside your body.

I don't know if any of you guys caught the series "Living Large in America" on the Today Show a while back, but one segment where they took us through the affects of obesity on your insides and during surgery, has really stuck with me. Here's what they found:

Enlarged liver. An obese person's liver can be twice the size of that of an average person's liver. Instead of a healthy brownish, reddish color, an obese person's liver is greasy yellow.
Breathing is harder. An obese person's lung's are often smaller than those of an average person's lungs. This is because they get crushed under the pressure of the excess body mass.
Enlarged heart. For every 2.2 lbs a person gains, the body creates about two miles of red blood vessels to compensate. For this reason an obese person's heart is often enlarged due to it having to work overtime to account for extra miles.
Difficult to diagnosis. Diagnosis for an obese person is harder for doctors to determine as reading x-rays are much more difficult.
Difficult during surgery. Surgery time for an obese person is often increased due to excess fat. This is in correlation to increased incision size, increased healing time and increased risk of infection.
Hard on your knees. When you go up a step, you are putting pressure seven times your body weight on your knee joints, so an obese person's knees are at increased risk for injury with each and every pound.

To watch the segment online, check out MSNBC.com.

Source

Biggest Loser Casting Call!

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 07:30:00 -0800

Want to be on The Biggest Loser?

"NBC's hit reality show The Biggest Loser season four will conduct a special search in seven cities by holding open casting calls across the country. The Biggest Loser is looking for outgoing, charismatic and candid individuals who are at least 18 years of age. Candidates should be ready to make their weight-loss dreams a reality, in addition to possessing personality, desire and a competitive edge to vie for this chance of a lifetime."

Get there early, but not too early. The Biggest Loser casting teams guarantee the first 500 people in line will be seen. People will not be allowed to line up prior to three hours before the start of the open call.

For casting locations and dates, read more

JANUARY 14
MILWAUKEE, WI
Rock Bottom Brewery
11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
740 N. Plankinton Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202

NASHVILLE, TN
Buffalo Billiard
12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
154 Second Ave. N
Nashville, TN 37201

NORFOLK, VA
Jillian's
11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
333 Waterside Drive
Norfolk VA 23510

JANUARY 21
DES MOINES, IA
Jordan Creek Town Center
11 a.m.-6 p.m.
101 Jordan Creek Parkway
W. Des Moines, IA 50266

HOUSTON, TX
24 Hour Fitness
10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
11528 Gulf Freeway
Houston, TX 77034

COLUMBUS, OH
Buckeye Hall of Fame Café
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
1421 Olentangy River Rd
Columbus, OH 43212

FEBRUARY 3
LOS ANGELES
NBC Studios
11 a.m.-6 p.m.
3000 West Alameda Ave
Burbank, CA 91523
No large bags will be allowed. Be prepared to enter through metal detectors and security searches. Line will start outside The Tonight Show entrance. Cameras and recording devices are prohibited.

For further info, check out the news release.

Biggest Loser Recap: Finale!

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:15:00 -0800

Did you guys watch the Biggest Loser finale last night? It was absolutely amazing (despite Caroline Rhea's horrible job as the host) and I spent the entire episode in tears.

For those of you that didn't get to see it - Erik won (pictured above)! During the duration of the show he lost an unbelievable 214 pounds (or 53 percent of his starting body weight)! Seriously, I can't believe it is the same man. Can you?

To see the other dramatic before and afters, read more

One of the things I liked the most about the finale is that we are able to see the contestants succeed at home, which is the true challenge. Everyone succeeded at home, not just Erik. They had to fit working out and nutrition into their everyday lives. Originally I thought that Heather was not going to make it because something just seemed odd with her and it turns out that she was pregnant and couldn't continue the contest. Congratulations Heather - You look amazing!

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On another note, Jossip Rocks has reported that NBC is fuming about all the slip-ups last night and the powerhouse director behind the show, Glenn Weiss, may not be back for another season.

I hope Glenn comes back as I can't imagine what someone else would do with the show.

If these stories inspire you to lose weight and you are looking for a community of folks in the same boat, then check out Fit's Diet Support Group. I'd love to hear your tales.

The Biggest Loser Recap

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:50:15 -0800

Last night on The Biggest Loser, we watched Jaron get kicked off the ranch. He was destined to get kicked off since he was not part of the original cast, but he looks amazing. Check out his before and after picture (below).

Jaron, who lost most of his weight at home then came to the ranch to continue the game, is very likely to be able to continue his regimen at home. Go Jaron, Go!

For the challenge, contestants completed a triathlon, which is something they would have never of dreamed of doing in the past, but they all finished it and they were all surprised at how easy it was. Setting fitness goals like a triathlon or a 5K is a great way to motivate yourself and track your progress.

If you only watch one episode of The Biggest Loser, I strongly urge you to watch the final episode on Wednesday (especially if you're looking for that extra bit of motivation to get in shape). Last year the transformations were incredible and you really got to see how their lives have improved since starting to live a healthy lifestyle -- and trust me, it will be a tear jerker for sure.

To find out when the show is on in your area, check out The Biggest Loser Website.

The Biggest Loser Recap

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 12:17:46 -0800

Last night on The Biggest Loser we saw Adrian (despite her whining and fussing) get kicked off the ranch. But there are two really great things that we can take from the episode:

The contestants had to pack the total number of weight they lost back onto their bodies and then run a mile -- so each contestant went back to weighing the same number they did when they came to the ranch. They were all amazed at how being overweight had hindered their lives in the past. Jaron, who has lost a total of 100 pounds since the start of the show, described it as if he was carrying around a small middle school sized kid for much of his life. The challenge really gave each one of them insight as to how much more energy they have (mentally and physically) with their weight loss.

Also, Adrian had only lost two pounds for the week, which made her very disappointed with herself. She was sad because she was at the same weight she was at in high school. She felt that she was stuck at that weight in the past and now felt stuck again at the ranch. She said she felt like she would always be the "fat girl." Interestingly enough, since leaving the ranch Adrian has gained weight. This proves how powerful our state of mind can be. When striving to reach a goal, it is so important to realize that no matter what you are doing, it is YOU that is important and that we can all do so much more than we give ourselves credit for.

Fit's Tip: Don't throw yourself a pity party, it never helps and it often slows your progress towards your goal.

Catching Up With Biggest Loser Tara Costa

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:47:08 -0800

Even though she is no longer required to pull big numbers at the weekly Biggest Loser weigh-ins, Tara Costa is still working it. She told Life and Style that she's "still battling the last 10 pounds."

Tara currently weighs 164 pounds (down from 294 at the start of the show), but the second runner-up of from last year's season says she'd "love to live at 155-ish." Her plan of attack is twofold. She's headed for a week-long stay at the Biggest Loser Resort and Spa, located in Ivins, UT, where guests can reenact the rigors of the weight-loss reality show: six hours of daily exercise and a healthy diet. Her second method is running. Tara ran in the New York City Marathon last Sunday, completing the 26.2-mile course in 4 hours, 23 minutes, and 12 seconds.

I love keeping up with past contestants from the show and seeing that they are still living healthy lives. Like Tara, are you battling the last few pesky pounds that refuse to go away? Join the Weight Loss Support group, to meet like-minded people who share your goals.

Photos courtesy of NBC and Getty

Fitness Pros Weigh In on The Biggest Loser

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:00:38 -0700

Fall TV is back, and with it comes the return of The Biggest Loser. Now in its eighth season, the weight loss reality show has inspired many viewers to get off the couch and get to the gym.

Although it cannot be denied that the show has brought health and weight loss, or at least the notion of it, into millions of households across America, there are some fitness professionals who disagree with the tactics used. IDEA, an international organization of fitness and wellness professionals, published a long article discussing the fitness regimen used on the ranch. In the article, personal trainers weigh in on the show. Here are two similar complaints, voiced in the article by fitness professionals:

“There seems to be little concern for biomechanics, and many contestants who clearly have been avoiding even the simplest forms of activity for years are now doing explosive, full-body plyometric exercises. There is simply no sound reason for doing this."

"Speed is only appropriate when you’ve mastered the basics of movement. Many of the contestants on that show have no business jumping or doing explosive exercise."

Learn how Bob Harper, Biggest Loser trainer, responds when you read more.

Harper defends the show's workout regimen, explaining that there is a logical progression. But watching contestants while they learn the ropes doesn't make for exciting TV. The heavily edited two-hour show comes from hundreds of hours of footage. Harper also explains, in response to criticism for yelling at the contestants, that he and Jillian might care too much. Most paying clients do want to be motivated, but most likely won't stand for yelling.

While the ultimate message of the show is health and personal accountability, some trainers feel the message of extreme exercise might cause more harm than good.

What do you think? Are you a fan of the show? Will you be watching this season? Do you think the workouts are too over the top?

Photo courtesy of NBC

Anthony Edwards Makes His Return to TV

FitSugar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:00:06 -0700

If you are fan of Anthony Edwards, get excited. The actor is returning to TV in a new five-hour NBC television special. You may have even heard of the much-anticipated program - it's a little something called the New York City Marathon.

Watch this hilarious video as Edwards describes how he's been preparing for his next acting role as "a runner." And make sure to hold out until the three-minute mark where he talks about some of his favorite runners, "Run-DMC, Forrest Gump . . ."

Edwards nails this video. Hilarious.