Are we The Biggest Losers?

By Meeghan, 15 March, 2010

The title of The Biggest Loser has always annoyed me a little but recently a number of my clients have asked what my thoughts are of the show. In the process of answering this question I've had to put my thinking cap on and dig deep for some honest answers.

At the outset it's important to recognise The Biggest Loser is a reality TV show not a serious sports training program. It's all about ratings and commercial success. This is the 5th series of The Biggest Loser and on Sunday March 7th 2010, 857,000 viewers tuned in to watch. So that's plenty of bums on seats right?

The Biggest Loser has always been a target for criticism but in this series sports scientists are horrified that contestants, some of whom began the program at more than 170 kilograms, will compete in a marathon - yes that's right a 42 kilometre road race (a distance equal to Melbourne to Frankston) after only 11 weeks of training.

And, the other major criticism seems to be the weekly weigh ins, which according to former contestants who spilled the beans to the Age, actually happen every 10 to 14 days or longer. Personally I'm outraged that the show's producers would deliberately mislead viewers (like that's never happened before) and claim weight loss of up to 17kgs a week in order to put more more bums on seats! Anyway the moral of the story seems you shouldn't always believe what you read or watch – even if it is supposedly a weight loss reality TV show.

The health and fitness industry is very big business as our nation grows and expands due to an obesity epidemic. A TV show like this can inspire and motivate others but ultimately it must be viewed as it is - a reality TV game. Why else would contestants who are falling off treadmills, throwing up and losing dangerous amounts of weight keep going? Well that would perhaps have something to do with the tasty carrot of $200,000 which the 'winner' will take home.

You and I don't have the luxury of The Biggest Loser living environment. Cameras in your face, trainers like Michelle Bridges telling you "I pay respect to anyone that can puke, get up and get on with it", and a lockdown environment in which you may train for 5 or more hours a day if you like without having to work, cook or clean.

The irony is presumably some of the contestants who made it onto the show had been doing quite a bit of sedentary TV watching themselves. So are we The Biggest Loser in all of this while the TV executives laugh all the way to the bank?

The Biggest Loser entertains viewers and sometimes even has some great health and fitness advice. However in my corner of the world I’d be more inclined to encourage you to lift your bum up off the couch, switch off The Biggest Loser and head out for a walk.

And if you do watch the show, don't settle into the couch with some popcorn, do some squats, do some lunges and burn some fat in a healthy and realistic way. After all the main message really should be it’s all about balance; a healthy body, a healthy mind and a healthy spirit.

You don’t need to throw up or fall off a treadmill to achieve that.

The ABC’s of lifestyle change

By Meeghan, 27 August, 2009

While most of us wouldn't dream of renovating a house without a comprehensive set of plans, we often set about building a new healthy lifestyle with wild abandon. However if we could apply what we know about building and renovating to the work we do on our temple, our body and mind that is, our chances for success would be much improved. This article looks at the building blocks of successful lifestyle change, the ABC's.

A rock solid foundation upon which you build your new lifestyle is critical and it's called ATTITUDE. We've all heard people talk about it, perhaps they have even been talking about you. "She has such a good attitude" or "she has a really bad attitude". But what is it? Attitude is simply a manner of behaviour, your behaviour! You may have learnt some of your behaviour from family or friends but if you lean towards feeling the glass is half empty, we have some work to do.

The good news is we can change our attitude! A positive self affirming attitude doesn't just happen, you need to work at it...daily! Here's an example. Next time you wake up and don't feel like going to work try saying out loud six times, "There's nothing I'd rather be doing than going to work this morning". Go on sceptics, give it a go! You'll be surprised; even the positive suggestion will make you feel better!

Our next building block is BELIEF. Sometimes when we begin an ambitious project it can appear insurmountable. Rather than look too far ahead to the future, think how a house is built. One brick at a time! Building a house or changing the way we live often takes longer than we expect because often our expectations are unrealistic. And along the way we don't anticipate the many obstacles we will encounter. Do we give up? No, because things worth having take time and effort! Confidence may ebb and flow but belief is the deep seated feeling which assists you in finding a way around the obstacles at all costs in order to achieve your goals.

But what of having a rock solid attitude and a strong belief if you don't do the work consistently? CONSISTENCY means constantly keeping to the same principles even when things get tough. Let's imagine we are building our dream home and our builder suggests we cut a few corners here and there to save money or some badly needed time? It's tempting but you can't cut corners when building a house or it will fall down. And if you want to achieve positive lifestyle change consistency is the key. You MUST put in the work and often!

So attitude, belief and consistency are the building blocks of lifestyle change. You will also need to call on your project manager, your Personal Trainer to support you. Your Personal Trainer will assist you in finding ways around obstacles and help you to get everything back on track should it threaten to run over budget or over time. It won't be easy but making a lifestyle change may be the best and most rewarding project you've ever worked on!

Quick management lesson

By Meeghan, 10 June, 2009

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing. A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, 'Can I also sit like you and do nothing? The eagle answered: 'Sure, why not.' So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on rabbit and ate it. Moral of the story: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Life and work goals

By Meeghan, 7 January, 2009

How can you know where you’re going when you don’t have a map? Setting yourself some goals can be like establishing a direction to help get you from A to Z. We have developed a templated approach to help you work out your goals. Ask us about devising goals that are meaningful to you, and which are both challenging and fun.

The Little Engine that Could

By Meeghan, 6 November, 2008

It may be a children’s story but The Little Engine that Could is about the value of optimism and hard work. In the tale, a long train must be pulled over a high mountain. When other larger engines built for hard work refuse to pull the train because the task seems impossible, a little locomotive is called upon. “I think I can,” puffs the little engine bravely. Huffing and puffing up the hill the little engine keeps repeating, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…”. And nearing the top of the hill that had discouraged all of the larger engines, the little locomotive congratulates itself by saying, “I thought I could”. Obviously parallels can be drawn to physical training. It’s not uncommon for me to hear “I can’t” on a daily basis. Next time when the words “I can’t” begin to form, try saying “I think I can”.

Spring clean your life

By Meeghan, 7 September, 2008

Are you living or just existing? Working at a job you hate? Bogged down by routine and clinging on to regrets and past disappointment? Get over it, and get a life!

Now is the time to stop wishing your life away and pleasing everyone else – stand up for yourself and set some goals. Maybe it’s the holiday you’ve always dreamed of, the book you’re desperate to write or a career change.

Peter Drucker said, “the best way to predict the future is to create it”. So write down some realistic and specific short- and long-term goals, be prepared to sweat and finally start realising your dreams.

Pets to the rescue

By Meeghan, 7 September, 2008

Do you want to fit more exercise into your life? Not sure how? Why not adopt a dog and give an abandoned or unwanted pet a new chance of life?

PetRescue is a not-for-profit organisation with the largest online searchable directory of pets for rescue in Australia. I found them at http://www.petrescue.com.au. Spring is an excellent time to adopt – the weather is warmer and with daylight savings around the corner, you will have no excuses for not walking your pooch – a sure way to improve your heart health and reduce your waistline.

Every year over 160,000 unwanted pets are put down in Australia so you will be doing a great thing for the animal race too. Don’t buy from pet shops or puppy farms, adopt from petrescue and get your body moving.

Personal Best

By Meeghan, 7 August, 2008

Setting a personal best time around ‘the tan’ running track is a real challenge. Not only do you have to contend with the 3.83km of demanding running, but there are other obstacles such as prams, power walkers and random dogs. Want to know what a good time is? The fastest runner around the tan is Craig Mottram – he did it in 10mins 12 secs. A brisk walk would see you home in roughly 36 minutes. Eddie (everywhere) McGuire did it in 17-something. Have a think about what you’d like to achieve and talk it over with me. Your goal might simply be committing to the six-week training program; losing 3 kilograms or beating your best mate. But whatever it is, it should be fun!