Biggest Loser vs Biggest Winner
Years ago I used to religiously watch The Biggest Loser, the TV show where a group of obese people compete to see who loses the most flab for a big cash prize.
It was good entertainment and did show the benefits of exercise and nutrition and how it can change people. The contestants would lose hundred of pounds, which was very gratifying to see.
But I eventually lost interest, mostly because it didn’t really represent a realistic view on the process of getting fit and fatless.
I recently read an article about it which said that the majority of people on the program end up gaining back the weight. Mostly all of it, sometimes more. I thought this would be the case.
If the show were to follow the contestants after the competition ended, the results would be a lot different, and here’s why:
1. Unrealistic approach – In the average person’s typical life, there is little time and lots of stress – relationships, job, family, school, etc. But on the show they live in a vacuum outside of reality. If all you had to do was exercise out of the context of your daily life, then no problem.
But trying to fit what they did into a typical person’s schedule is another matter. No wonder when they all return to their lives they also return to their previous ways. They haven’t really fit the exercise habit into their daily lives.
Also, they had great support for their endeavor: fitness, medical, nutritional experts on hand 24/7. Not to mention that mega cash prize to keep them motivated. This definitely works for TV but who has this in real life?
2. Torture workouts – No one should, let alone could, start off doing such brutal, brutish, barbaric hardcore workouts like these contestants do. I mean, holy crap that’s way too intense. I love exercising, especially going hard, but even I look at these workouts and grimace. Way too much pain. And I won’t even
talk about the exercise selection. That’s a whole different story.
3. Doing too much too soon – Not only are they being tortured but they are doing too much to start with, especially since they’re all extremely obese. I realize this is TV and they can’t show the contestants not suffering. There has to be drama and pain. If they showed how they should really start an exercise program it would be very dull television. But no one should start off doing that much right out of the gate. If you’re lucky enough to not get injured you’ll burn out fast.
All of these are a recipe for recidivism – falling off the wagon and returning to the old bad habits which got you obese in the first place. Worst of all, the person now thinks he can never stay fit so gives fitness up for good.
Getting lean and mean – and staying mean and lean – is possible. But you’ve got to approach it the right way.
Yes, and that way is the Baran Brothers Way. The Baran Brothers Method is the Biggest Winner way and is very different from the Biggest Loser way:
1. Fit the workouts into your life until it becomes habit. Then it becomes effortless.
2. No torture, only fun. Build the exercise habit so that it’s as natural as eating or sleeping, easy as pie. Movement is meant to be natural and enjoyable.
3. Ease into it. Start off where you are and progress from there. This means that if you’re brand spanking new to exercise then go slow, gentle and easy.
Don’t kill yourself trying to get healthy; if you are fit already then Go Animal with a savage, jungle-ized party.
Doing it this way, time spent exercising is enjoyable, the results come quick and they last. Best of all you’ve made a lifelong habit of fitness. This means being lean and mean, fit and young for the rest of your life.
More on the Baran Brothers Method…
All the best,
Eddie Baran
