What's with weight loss TV shows that have people lose 5 lbs a week?!
- Thread starter LauraRose
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TikTak
New member
I don't think that the weight loss rates in Biggest Loser are unrealistic or espacially "unheathy" by any means. Remember that the participants are seemgly working out all day long. That means that they could be able to raise ther calorie needs to 8 000-10 000 kcal/day or somthing like that. Also keep in mind that at those wieghts, even things like walking or lifting the arms would be an hard exercise due to the extra weight that has to be moved around.
In my youth I was once able to lose 10 kg (22 lbs) of weight in 3 weeks just by 15 days of hard labor, 8 h/day. And I could swear that was mostly fat.
15*8 h = 120 h
1 kg body fat is approximately 7 000 kcal
That gives 70 000 kcal/120 h = 583.33 kcal/h, a number that is still fairly realistic I think.
So if a Biggest Loser "week" is 10 days and they work out 8 h every single day, that would amount to (8 h*10*583.33 kcal/h) / (7 000 kcal/kg) = 6.67 kg or 14.7 lbs with the same (realistic) level of exercise.
And I even believe that the Biggest Loser participants are getting paid more than I was back then.
Enough said!
In my youth I was once able to lose 10 kg (22 lbs) of weight in 3 weeks just by 15 days of hard labor, 8 h/day. And I could swear that was mostly fat.
15*8 h = 120 h
1 kg body fat is approximately 7 000 kcal
That gives 70 000 kcal/120 h = 583.33 kcal/h, a number that is still fairly realistic I think.
So if a Biggest Loser "week" is 10 days and they work out 8 h every single day, that would amount to (8 h*10*583.33 kcal/h) / (7 000 kcal/kg) = 6.67 kg or 14.7 lbs with the same (realistic) level of exercise.
And I even believe that the Biggest Loser participants are getting paid more than I was back then.
Enough said!
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San2
Mod
It might be possible, but it's neither realistic nor healthy. The level of exercise is way too high for most of them, putting their heart, joints and pretty much everything else under enormous pressure, risking everything from a heart attack to permanent damage to joints.
The kind of lifestyle they are leading during the show is not something that can be sustained for the rest of their lives, so a jojo-effect is (with very few exceptions) unavoidable. So, in addition to the fact that the makers of this show are putting the health of the participants at risk during the show, they also accept the fact that those people are going to suffer and struggle afterwards.
Don't think for a second that anybody on those shows gives a rat's behind about the participants. It's about one thing, and one thing only: Ratings. Ratings mean money, and that is all that matters. The fact that what they are portraying is unrealistic for the 'average' person, unhealthy, dangerous and does more damage than good for the majority of the participants means nothing to the producers, or anybody else involved.
Oh, and by the way, last time I started to cut down, I lost 17.5 kg in a month. I would guess that about 5% of that was fat, the rest was water. So 10 kg in 3 weeks isn't anything out of the ordinary, but I would disagree that most of that was fat. And it's not about the first month or two. It's about the rest of people's lives, and for that, those shows and what is shown in them, simply doesn't work.
The kind of lifestyle they are leading during the show is not something that can be sustained for the rest of their lives, so a jojo-effect is (with very few exceptions) unavoidable. So, in addition to the fact that the makers of this show are putting the health of the participants at risk during the show, they also accept the fact that those people are going to suffer and struggle afterwards.
Don't think for a second that anybody on those shows gives a rat's behind about the participants. It's about one thing, and one thing only: Ratings. Ratings mean money, and that is all that matters. The fact that what they are portraying is unrealistic for the 'average' person, unhealthy, dangerous and does more damage than good for the majority of the participants means nothing to the producers, or anybody else involved.
Oh, and by the way, last time I started to cut down, I lost 17.5 kg in a month. I would guess that about 5% of that was fat, the rest was water. So 10 kg in 3 weeks isn't anything out of the ordinary, but I would disagree that most of that was fat. And it's not about the first month or two. It's about the rest of people's lives, and for that, those shows and what is shown in them, simply doesn't work.
TikTak
New member
I really think that it was 10 kg of body fat by 120 h of "exercise". Or just about all the extra body fat I was carrying around at that point. I didn't change anything in my diet at all besides drinking a lot of everything due to the sweating.
The rest I have to agree with, weight loss is not about mothts or years it is finding a sustainable way of living for the rest of ones life. So I wonder what happenes when those participants are adusting to a "normal" way of living after the show is over?
Therefore I think that a slow loss is more sustainable than a fast one, at least for normal people in every day life.
San2
Mod
Well, let me rephrase that, in a person who is not vastly overweight, it might be more fat than water - but with peeps as overweight as the ones on BL, it's more water than anything else that comes off first.
I don't follow the shows, but pick up bits and pieces every now and again. From all I've read and seen, a lot of them end up putting weight back on, some ending up worse than before.
And yeah...slow and steady wins the race. Even though I know from my own experience that it is much more motivating to see the big numbers come off! *lol*
I don't follow the shows, but pick up bits and pieces every now and again. From all I've read and seen, a lot of them end up putting weight back on, some ending up worse than before.
And yeah...slow and steady wins the race. Even though I know from my own experience that it is much more motivating to see the big numbers come off! *lol*
champgiants1111
New member
losing 10-15 lb a month isn't too bad. I'm sorry but the 1-2 lb a week is too soft and only for lazy people. I mean come on, 1lb a week could be lost by pretty much anyone. I dont think a person should feel terrible for losing 5lb in a week. If you work out good (1-2hr a day) for at least 3 or 4 times a week, and have healthy meals, the 1-2lb a week should be thrown out the window. I'm not trying to rip anyone or cause a stir, but i think that people should push themselves a little more than just to lose 1lb a week.
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San2
Mod
It doesn't have anything to do with being lazy or not pushing themselves. It has to do with what is healthy, and what won't come right back on within a few months.
Actually, the formula isn't 1-2 lbs per week anyway, it's 1-2% of your bodyweight. Because if you are bigger, it's easier to lose weight. So for somebody who's, say, 300 lbs, it would suggest losing 3 - 6 lbs per week, while somebody with 200 shouldn't go over 2-4 lbs, and so on.
Actually, the formula isn't 1-2 lbs per week anyway, it's 1-2% of your bodyweight. Because if you are bigger, it's easier to lose weight. So for somebody who's, say, 300 lbs, it would suggest losing 3 - 6 lbs per week, while somebody with 200 shouldn't go over 2-4 lbs, and so on.
champgiants1111
New member
I just think its ironic that people trying to lose weight are concerned about doing it the "healthy" way, but when they were gaining weight they weren't so concerned about health at all, me included. But your right, it depends on how heavy a person is, the heavier, the more weight they can lose.
San2
Mod
A lot of people want fast, not healthy. I think the people who come to this forum have already tried the crash diets, pills, and all the other stuff, and found that it doesn't work in the long run.
Additionally, on here we try to promote healthy weight loss, because let's face it, as you said, we already damaged our health enough by putting the weight on in the first place...no need to make it any worse by crash dieting now.
Additionally, on here we try to promote healthy weight loss, because let's face it, as you said, we already damaged our health enough by putting the weight on in the first place...no need to make it any worse by crash dieting now.
Most people put thier weight on over the course of at least a few years, sometimes half a lifetime. It's hard to expect that to come off in a matter of months.
I would contend that consistancy is far more important than speed.
SoCoSideshow
New member
People featured on weight-loss shows are able to lose 5+ pounds per week because they are on very strict, orchestrated diets and spend the majority of their time with personal trainers. Very few people in real life are able to follow such a lifestyle.
Justina
New member
I agree thats too much weight to lose in a week on a permanent basis.
when i kicked off my diet i did lose 4 kg the first week (around 8 lbs)...which was amazing.
i did it by eating a completely balanced diet - no starving and only an hour excercize a day.
i also had a detox day - that really got me started.
but since then i m back to 0.8kg a week -( 1-2 lbs )
which is fine by me - and yes my skin will say thanks too!
when i kicked off my diet i did lose 4 kg the first week (around 8 lbs)...which was amazing.
i did it by eating a completely balanced diet - no starving and only an hour excercize a day.
i also had a detox day - that really got me started.
but since then i m back to 0.8kg a week -( 1-2 lbs )
which is fine by me - and yes my skin will say thanks too!
skunkrider
New member
the answer, dear ladies and gentlemen, is to throw away your television
as quickly as you can.
the amount of stultification people allow themselves to be exposed to is nothing less than horrible.
yes, when I worked out six times per week (after work) and drank 2-4 liters of water per day and used to eat consciously, I was able to lose 2-4kg per week,
but I ignored the rest of my life for 2-3 months completely.
I know, men are ANYthing but flawless, but women - never tired to claim higher intelligence - have let themselves be dulled by consumerism and vanity.
I prefer a chubby girl with brains and an independent mind from a dumb beauty 100 out of 100 times
then again, nobody asked for my opinion
as quickly as you can.
the amount of stultification people allow themselves to be exposed to is nothing less than horrible.
yes, when I worked out six times per week (after work) and drank 2-4 liters of water per day and used to eat consciously, I was able to lose 2-4kg per week,
but I ignored the rest of my life for 2-3 months completely.
I know, men are ANYthing but flawless, but women - never tired to claim higher intelligence - have let themselves be dulled by consumerism and vanity.
I prefer a chubby girl with brains and an independent mind from a dumb beauty 100 out of 100 times
then again, nobody asked for my opinion
ChefChiTown
New member
Losing 5 lbs in a week isn't impossible. SHOULD you be losing that weight each and every week? No, not really. But, it's not impossible (or uncommon) for a heavy person to lose 5 lbs a week for multiple weeks in a row.
When I lost a bunch of weight the other Summer, I was losing 4-5 lbs every week for a good 8 or 9 weeks in a row.
lornahowe
New member
I've been reading this whole post with interest - do you know what - EVERYONE IS CORRECT! We are all on the large side because we've been lazy and we all have the best way to lose weight personally that is right for us... Fast or slow. But the main thing is that we concentrate on losing weight..
BL contestants arent just getting the diet and training - they are getting the best food! If you want to lose weight your body needs to be able to work properly without all the trash that we find in most of our food - which means eliminating the additives, pesticides and pollution that is part of most of our foods nowadays... They just clog up the system and cause our bodies to function at a fraction of what it should - including digestion and absorbtion of our food. Did you know that 40% of people that go into hospital - no matter what their size or routine - are deficient in the valuable vitamins and minerals needed to have the operation? Hospitals have to "top up" 2 in 5 patients before their bodies can be allowed to go through that operation and a lot of the time the immune system isnt good enough to fight the infections etc and that is why we have the MRSA problem... Healthy immune systems dont get MRSA.
I went to supplement training on Saturday and found a few facts that may be of interest, here are three scary facts backed up by research;
1. There are 50% less vitamins in our fresh food nowadays compared to 50 years ago - you would need to eat more like 9 a day to keep the antioxidant levels high enough to make a difference to free radicals in the body. Free radicals are natural by-products of oxygen metabolism that may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Our soil no longer has enough Selinium to sustain the levels needed from our food because to supplement the earth before planting would reduce the size of the crop. Selenium is absorbed into proteins to make selenoproteins, which are important antioxidant enzymes. The antioxidant properties of selenoproteins help prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Other selenoproteins help regulate thyroid function and play a role in the immune system.
2. You would have to eat 22 oranges picked from a tree over the course of the day to maximise your vitamin c within the body - and the body can only hold 60g of vitamin c at any one time. But the synthetics vitamin c tablet is treated as toxic by the body so thats why you have to have 1000mg of vitamin c at one time - just to absorb that 60mg...
3. They worked out that an orange sent from Europe had lost ALL the vitamin C content by the time it reached the shelves. This is true with most of our imported food - the maximum that any of the oranges had in that batch was 40% and that was because it was in the middle of the box surrounded by the rest.
And here is one that made me realise the importance of detox - even when done regularly - there is something like 5lb of toxins in your cells - when you detox the first weight loss isnt because you are losing weight - its because your body is eliminating the toxins.... So if you want to lose 5lb in the next week - DETOX! but that only works periodically... so I'm working on the other 3 weeks of the month.....
Ok - I'm off my soap box now - and yes, I'm on a detox RIGHT NOW! and lost 5lb in the last week... last detox was abandoned so needed to do it again... Now I just need to work out about that weight loss!! ;>)
BL contestants arent just getting the diet and training - they are getting the best food! If you want to lose weight your body needs to be able to work properly without all the trash that we find in most of our food - which means eliminating the additives, pesticides and pollution that is part of most of our foods nowadays... They just clog up the system and cause our bodies to function at a fraction of what it should - including digestion and absorbtion of our food. Did you know that 40% of people that go into hospital - no matter what their size or routine - are deficient in the valuable vitamins and minerals needed to have the operation? Hospitals have to "top up" 2 in 5 patients before their bodies can be allowed to go through that operation and a lot of the time the immune system isnt good enough to fight the infections etc and that is why we have the MRSA problem... Healthy immune systems dont get MRSA.
I went to supplement training on Saturday and found a few facts that may be of interest, here are three scary facts backed up by research;
1. There are 50% less vitamins in our fresh food nowadays compared to 50 years ago - you would need to eat more like 9 a day to keep the antioxidant levels high enough to make a difference to free radicals in the body. Free radicals are natural by-products of oxygen metabolism that may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Our soil no longer has enough Selinium to sustain the levels needed from our food because to supplement the earth before planting would reduce the size of the crop. Selenium is absorbed into proteins to make selenoproteins, which are important antioxidant enzymes. The antioxidant properties of selenoproteins help prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Other selenoproteins help regulate thyroid function and play a role in the immune system.
2. You would have to eat 22 oranges picked from a tree over the course of the day to maximise your vitamin c within the body - and the body can only hold 60g of vitamin c at any one time. But the synthetics vitamin c tablet is treated as toxic by the body so thats why you have to have 1000mg of vitamin c at one time - just to absorb that 60mg...
3. They worked out that an orange sent from Europe had lost ALL the vitamin C content by the time it reached the shelves. This is true with most of our imported food - the maximum that any of the oranges had in that batch was 40% and that was because it was in the middle of the box surrounded by the rest.
And here is one that made me realise the importance of detox - even when done regularly - there is something like 5lb of toxins in your cells - when you detox the first weight loss isnt because you are losing weight - its because your body is eliminating the toxins.... So if you want to lose 5lb in the next week - DETOX! but that only works periodically... so I'm working on the other 3 weeks of the month.....
Ok - I'm off my soap box now - and yes, I'm on a detox RIGHT NOW! and lost 5lb in the last week... last detox was abandoned so needed to do it again... Now I just need to work out about that weight loss!! ;>)
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San2
Mod
*yawn*
...
Detox is a myth. The body doesn't need a detox. It's unnecessary. The human body is perfectly capable of detoxing itself. There are no 5 lbs of toxin in our cells. If you lose 5 lbs the first week you're on a diet, it is very likely water weight, no more.
And for the rest, I would like to see credible studies for that. I wouldn't be surprised if some it was true, yes, but most of it sound rather exaggerated, and a few things were...erhm....less than believable, let's put it nicely.
...
Detox is a myth. The body doesn't need a detox. It's unnecessary. The human body is perfectly capable of detoxing itself. There are no 5 lbs of toxin in our cells. If you lose 5 lbs the first week you're on a diet, it is very likely water weight, no more.
And for the rest, I would like to see credible studies for that. I wouldn't be surprised if some it was true, yes, but most of it sound rather exaggerated, and a few things were...erhm....less than believable, let's put it nicely.
ChefChiTown
New member
I don't really think the whole issue of detoxing your body is a myth. Yes, the human body naturally detoxes itself, so people in good health will receive no needed benefit from some sort of detoxing supplement or program. But, not everybody has a body (or level of health) that properly detoxes itself. And, in those cases, supplements and detox programs can be very beneficial...and that's not a myth.
Don't get me wrong though - I think the HYPE of detoxing is overblown and, in that sense, it's a huuuuuge myth. But, there are instances where it's beneficial and quite needed.
lornahowe
New member
In answer to the very nice way of saying that my information given by my company were wrong - I've done a quick reccy around the web and found the web pages to back up what I've been given in training - these are NOT from my company but found elsewhere - just so that you dont think I'm being brainwashed.... Sorry its taken so long but I had to go away for a while and type this up calmly and not as a knee jerk reaction.. I have a soap box and am not afraid to use it - I just prefer to use it calmly! LOL.
BL contestants arent just getting the diet and training - they are getting the best food! If you want to lose weight your body needs to be able to work properly without all the trash that we find in most of our food - which means eliminating the additives, pesticides and pollution that is part of most of our foods nowadays... They just clog up the system and cause our bodies to function at a fraction of what it should - including digestion and absorbtion of our food. Did you know that 40% of people that go into hospital - no matter what their size or routine - are deficient in the valuable vitamins and minerals needed to have the operation? Hospitals have to "top up" 2 in 5 patients before their bodies can be allowed to go through that operation and a lot of the time the immune system isnt good enough to fight the infections etc and that is why we have the MRSA problem... Healthy immune systems dont get MRSA.
I went to supplement training on Saturday and found a few facts that may be of interest, here are three scary facts backed up by research;
1. There are 50% less vitamins in our fresh food nowadays compared to 50 years ago - you would need to eat more like 9 a day to keep the antioxidant levels high enough to make a difference to free radicals in the body. Free radicals are natural by-products of oxygen metabolism that may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Our soil no longer has enough Selinium to sustain the levels needed from our food because to supplement the earth before planting would reduce the size of the crop. Selenium is absorbed into proteins to make selenoproteins, which are important antioxidant enzymes. The antioxidant properties of selenoproteins help prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Other selenoproteins help regulate thyroid function and play a role in the immune system.
2. You would have to eat 22 oranges picked from a tree over the course of the day to maximise your vitamin c within the body - and the body can only hold 60g of vitamin c at any one time. But the synthetics vitamin c tablet is treated as toxic by the body so thats why you have to have 1000mg of vitamin c at one time - just to absorb that 60mg...
[removed - page full of advertisments] - this research says that its been increased to 75mg...
3. Scientists in the UK worked out that an orange sent from Europe had lost ALL the vitamin C content by the time it reached the shelves. This is true with most of our imported food - the maximum that any of the oranges had in that batch was 40% and that was because it was in the middle of the box surrounded by the rest.
And here is one that made me realise the importance of detox - even when done regularly - there is something like 5lb of toxins in your cells - when you detox the first weight loss isnt because you are losing weight - its because your body is eliminating the toxins.... So if you want to lose 5lb in the next week - DETOX! but that only works periodically... so I'm working on the other 3 weeks of the month.....
Ok - I'm off my soap box now - and yes, I'm on a detox RIGHT NOW! and lost 5lb in the last week... last detox was abandoned so needed to do it again... Now I just need to work out about that weight loss!! ;>)[/QUOTE]
[sorry, had to remove these because they were websites pushing cleansing programs]
I hope that starts to give you some information about where I am coming from - right at the start of my post I did say that EVERYONE is right - it all depends on what you believe - where you are willing to take on board - how many different theories that you are willing to digest - I take them all... I'm still fat but I am definately more aware and a little more healthier because of it.
And I'm getting thinner!!
BTW - the Forever Living 9 day detox was one of the the only detox processes that was approved on the channel 4 documentary last month about "is my diet killing me".... thats my detox plan.
BL contestants arent just getting the diet and training - they are getting the best food! If you want to lose weight your body needs to be able to work properly without all the trash that we find in most of our food - which means eliminating the additives, pesticides and pollution that is part of most of our foods nowadays... They just clog up the system and cause our bodies to function at a fraction of what it should - including digestion and absorbtion of our food. Did you know that 40% of people that go into hospital - no matter what their size or routine - are deficient in the valuable vitamins and minerals needed to have the operation? Hospitals have to "top up" 2 in 5 patients before their bodies can be allowed to go through that operation and a lot of the time the immune system isnt good enough to fight the infections etc and that is why we have the MRSA problem... Healthy immune systems dont get MRSA.
I went to supplement training on Saturday and found a few facts that may be of interest, here are three scary facts backed up by research;
1. There are 50% less vitamins in our fresh food nowadays compared to 50 years ago - you would need to eat more like 9 a day to keep the antioxidant levels high enough to make a difference to free radicals in the body. Free radicals are natural by-products of oxygen metabolism that may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Our soil no longer has enough Selinium to sustain the levels needed from our food because to supplement the earth before planting would reduce the size of the crop. Selenium is absorbed into proteins to make selenoproteins, which are important antioxidant enzymes. The antioxidant properties of selenoproteins help prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Other selenoproteins help regulate thyroid function and play a role in the immune system.
2. You would have to eat 22 oranges picked from a tree over the course of the day to maximise your vitamin c within the body - and the body can only hold 60g of vitamin c at any one time. But the synthetics vitamin c tablet is treated as toxic by the body so thats why you have to have 1000mg of vitamin c at one time - just to absorb that 60mg...
[removed - page full of advertisments] - this research says that its been increased to 75mg...
3. Scientists in the UK worked out that an orange sent from Europe had lost ALL the vitamin C content by the time it reached the shelves. This is true with most of our imported food - the maximum that any of the oranges had in that batch was 40% and that was because it was in the middle of the box surrounded by the rest.
And here is one that made me realise the importance of detox - even when done regularly - there is something like 5lb of toxins in your cells - when you detox the first weight loss isnt because you are losing weight - its because your body is eliminating the toxins.... So if you want to lose 5lb in the next week - DETOX! but that only works periodically... so I'm working on the other 3 weeks of the month.....
Ok - I'm off my soap box now - and yes, I'm on a detox RIGHT NOW! and lost 5lb in the last week... last detox was abandoned so needed to do it again... Now I just need to work out about that weight loss!! ;>)[/QUOTE]
[sorry, had to remove these because they were websites pushing cleansing programs]
I hope that starts to give you some information about where I am coming from - right at the start of my post I did say that EVERYONE is right - it all depends on what you believe - where you are willing to take on board - how many different theories that you are willing to digest - I take them all... I'm still fat but I am definately more aware and a little more healthier because of it.
And I'm getting thinner!!
BTW - the Forever Living 9 day detox was one of the the only detox processes that was approved on the channel 4 documentary last month about "is my diet killing me".... thats my detox plan.
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i think its very slow but tv shows give us guideline not guarantee then depend on our self. weight loss is working only on proper diet and exercise with yoga.
San2
Mod
Well, if you've got the money to spare and believe that it helps you, by all means, detox.
The mind is a powerful thing after all, and if it makes you feel better, that's all that matters in the end.
You do realise that nearly all the links you posted are trying to push cleanses and other programs though, right?
The mind is a powerful thing after all, and if it makes you feel better, that's all that matters in the end.
You do realise that nearly all the links you posted are trying to push cleanses and other programs though, right?
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