Lessons from TV's 'The Biggest Loser'
All over the world, night after night, millions of people
are riveted to their TV sets - but not to watch the latest
soap, or CSI. Not to watch Jay Leno or Sex in the City. Not
to see who outwits, outlasts and outplays others in Survivor.
No - they are spellbound by the efforts of a small band of
obese people trying to overcome the effects of years of overeating.
It's not surprising that for so many people this is compulsive
viewing. Obesity is the new epidemic. Fat children lumber
around school playgrounds while their overweight mothers fill
shopping carts with wrong choices. Then... they sit down at
night to watch The Biggest Loser. They see dramatic weight
loss and startling new body shapes beginning to emerge. They
want the same results - and they begin to think it might be
possible.
But who has four or five hours a day to work out? Who can
afford a personal trainer several times a week? And who has
the luxury of their own personal adviser on calorie content
and smart food choices? The answer is: not many people. But
you have to remember that this is television: it's a false
situation. As the players keep reminding themselves and the
viewers: "This is a GAME. You have to make the most of
your time here - it's going to be so much harder out in the
real world."
IS it harder in the real world? Probably. But you can take
lessons away from watching this reality show. You can make
it work for you, as well as for the contestants. Here are
three practical and useful lessons you can put to use immediately.
1. Put Weight Loss First.
In the Biggest Loser household WEIGHT LOSS COMES FIRST. Make
it come first in your household, too. Sounds simple, doesn't
it? It is. In fact, so simple that many people just overlook
it. They try to fit exercise and meal planning around everything
else in their lives, instead of making it a priority.
Think: what is most important: getting the weight off, and
becoming fit enough to put years on your life - or watching
another TV show? Sit down with a pen and paper and allot at
least one hour a day to planning meals, recording what you
eat, and doing some form of exercise. You've still got 23
hours left to do everything else!
2. E is for Exercise - and Enjoy!
What else do you notice in the Biggest Loser household? The
more they exercise, the more they seem to enjoy it. Oh sure,
they grunt and they groan; they sweat and they complain. But
as the weeks go on, you'll hear them say things like: "I
never thought I'd say that I look forward to working out -
but now don't feel right if a day goes past without exercise!"
The secret to enjoying exercise is finding what's right for
YOU. If you don't really enjoy the gym, look for other forms
of exercise. You need a mix of cardio and resistance training
- but it doesn't have to be on machines. Walk, swim, dance,
climb hills, push a wheelbarrow in the garden... there are
endless choices that can be fun for you. Research what happens
to various muscle groups - and to your heart - when you exercise,
and pick activities that you will enjoy.
3. Identify the Triggers.
Emotions run high when the contestants have to face their
demons. Weight gain is rarely from just a physical cause.
If you keep a food diary, and faithfully record not only what
you eat but when (and why) you eat it, you'll soon see a pattern
of emotional eating. What are YOUR triggers? Boredom? Tiredness?
Family arguments?
Once you have identified these triggers, you can start working
on strategies to defeat them. This can be as simple as challenging
yourself every time you want food. ("Am I hungry - yes
or no? If I'm not hungry, then why do I want to eat? Am I
really just thirsty? If I'm running to the fridge because
I'm upset, is there something else I can do to feel better?
Is there a long-term solution that will fix this forever?"
and so on.) If you're not yet ready to deal with the root
cause, then be prepared with food that won't add to your problems
with the resulting rolls of fat. Make sure that you have 'good'
food at hand - but also food that you LIKE.
These are just three of the lessons that anyone can take
away from watching The Biggest Loser. And you'll have the
satisfaction of knowing you did it all by yourself.
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Author: Eric Choong
Please visit my website at: http://www.health-beauty-care.com
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