Archive for March, 2013

Previously on The Biggest Loser the thunderthighs weighed in and they did some weird age morphing thing with computers that made them all look old and ugly.

Tonight! The rules change (already?!) and Jess is already considering leaving, except we know she’s not going to because we can see her in the challenge later tonight…

Yes, later tonight the first challenge for the year sees the contestants dragging a heavy sledge across the grass beside a runway while Commando Steve gets a joyride on a jet plane.

The trainers are sitting around chatting to the contestants in the lounge after a hard week’s training. They’ve all got a lot of questions for the trainers still, what to eat, what exercises to do, etc. Then Hayley rocks up!

She wants the contestants to follow her outside so she can tell them something. Why couldn’t they do it inside? Who knows!

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Previously on The Biggest Loser promises were made, cliffs were jumped and we discovered a partnership will win, rather than a single contestant!

Tonight, baptism of fire in the first training session, Mr Voiceover Man promises us. Later, bio ages. Always good for some horrified stares.

But first, the very first weigh in of the new season, woo!

Each contestant will weigh in with their partner and the first onto the scales will be Robyn and Katie. Orange girls!

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And we’re off! Michelle’s getting in a creepy white van… where a bunch of TVs are set up so she can monitor the eating habits of the first contestant.

Jess is having breakfast. Breakfast is ice cream. A 4 litre tub of it. With Ice Magic! Delicious!

Todd’s next, Steve’s watching him cook up a bunch of dim sims and spring rolls and amazed they’re all for Todd.

Next is Janet with a bunch of chocolate biscuits on her lap and her husband conveniently arrives home so she shoves them beside the lounge chair so he doesn’t see them.

Jess is later seen getting a steak. And then another steak. And then a smaller steak. Presumably washed down with steak? Plus a bunch of quick snips of all the contestants eating all sorts of “junk”.

Mish says this year’s Biggest Loser is tackling generational obesity. Commando Steve says their lives hang in the balance and Shannan reckons the parents will be burying their children if they don’t get things in order.

Gerald has a sad because he’s got his son into appalling shape. What sort of father has he been? He’s in tears on the scales and Mish tells him he’s a good Dad, Gerald denies it and Todd says he’s the best!

RARRRRRRR! Black team youngster is a big shouter, it seems. Pink team have some shouty confrontations.

Mish runs! Mish suggests a big fella can go down pussy street or man up lane! Mish asks another girl how breakfast tastes the second time around!

Challenges include abseiling, boatrowing, planes? Truck pull! Water getting dumped on their heads… Okay, that’s not a challenge.

Shock twists! Heaviest contestant in the world, ever. Not sure if that’s a regular contestant because they don’t show who it is…

SO MANY THINGS. And if you fall I will catch you I will be waiting! Time after time… Okay, this is not an appropriate song, nobody could catch most of these people, they’re too big!

All that stuff and more, etc.

Finally the show gets started. The contestants are all crammed on a bus with some camera crew on the way to a destination unknown. Where does everyone think they’re going? Todd suggests they’re going to The Biggest Loser house. Well, we’ve got a fucking genius on our hands, it seems.

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At least, that’s the newest angle the media is using to grab attention in the lead up to the season premiere tonight.

Senior writer for The Sunday Age, Jill Stark, reports on the efforts of Ella Graham from eating disorders advocacy group Fed Up NSW Health to have production on the series halted and the show pulled off the air entirely.

This despite a proven track record of the show turning around people’s lives and inspiring viewers to begin their own weightloss journeys.

The argument seems to be that a restrictive diet and excessive exercise can lead to eating disorders. Of course many of the contestants already have eating disorders, that’s how they got fat. And I particularly like how a well balanced, healthy diet is characterised as “restrictive” and the exercise is “excessive” because… oh, I guess they work up a sweat over something other than eating too much damn food?

They’re literally at Fat Camp. Of course their diet is restricted and they’re expected to exercise. You don’t lose weight and get fit by eating the same things and not exercising.

The argument ultimately boils down to this: doing it this way is less healthy than the old fashioned eat less, exercise more. And it’s probably true, in the long term. Assuming you can stick to the plan. The contestants on Biggest Loser are not, typically, people who have gained all this weight within a year, or two. They’re often people who have tried many times in the past, often with even more unhealthy options (surgery, “cleanse” diets, etc) and have failed to shift the weight permanently. Or they have been overweight since they were in school and declining health has finally made them realise they have to change.

The Biggest Loser is a way to kickstart that change. You’re taken away from the usual temptations, given expert advice from some of the best trainers and health professionals in the country, encouraged to stick to a healthy diet and exercise regime and there’s a chance you’ll come away from the show significantly richer.

If, once the cameras go off, you put that weight back on, is that the show’s fault? Or your own? You were given all the tools you needed, what you do with them is up to you.

The other angle of attack is the introduction of much younger contestants this year, though it’s still only as young as 15 (Todd) and 19 (Katie), with the rest 20 or older. It’s not the case that most are younger than usual, only Todd breaks the pattern.

And to be honest the only one that concerns me is Todd, as 15 is quite young to be appearing on this show. I think it’s important to recognise that Todd is already a hefty lad and without intervention he is likely to follow in his Dad’s footsteps. But at 15 he may not be as aware of the lasting consequences of appearing on the show and he is young enough that he could have realistically done it outside the show, particularly if he wants to become a famous baseball player, as he claims. The work required to improve his game to the point where he might get scouted is not inconsiderable and coupled with a healthier diet would likely see him shed the weight outside, if he has the willpower.

But what about his Dad? Gerald is 52 and has already developed Type 2 Diabetes. Without Todd being prepared to go on the show Gerald couldn’t go, either. While this is likely to be fairly easy on a young, sporty lad like Todd, the support of his son should make Gerald’s experience that little bit easier.

It’s entirely appropriate to be concerned for Todd’s welfare during his time on the show but it’s also important to remember his health is already at risk due to his weight. If he’s not going to do it on the outside, maybe he’ll do it for the sake of his Dad.

In any event, taking it off the air won’t help anyone – the show has been in production for months. All you’d do is block the yearly batch of inspired viewers from doing something about their own health, surely a worse result for everyone.

Just a quick note today to let Twitter junkies know I have created a separate account for people to follow to receive updates from The Biggest Loser Recap. To save people from the generalised horror of my regular Twitter stream.

The new username to follow is @TBLRecap

That account will be used only for links to Biggest Loser Recaps when the show begins airing and, very rarely, short updates like noting special episode air times and the like.

I’m, like, totes organised and shit this year.

Retweets, especially for the first episode recap on Sunday night, greatly appreciated!