Last night 2 people were eliminated on the Biggest Loser. We said goodbye to Daniel, who came on last season as, I believe, the heaviest male ever and the first to come back for a second season. Shay weighed in as the heaviest woman ever, at this years premier. Between the two of them they lost a few hundred pounds, Shay losing 100 pounds in 9 weeks! It’s hard to call either of them losers.
While watching last night with my family, they asked me how I could really endorse this kind of rapid, radical weight loss. A great question from a family who knows how much I believe in SAFE weight loss, usually recommending a steady loss of about 2-3 pounds a week, for most. I explained how at one time I was very disapproving of this method, I have come to understand that extreme situations often require extreme measures. At over 400 pounds these individuals were walking time bombs, waiting to explode at any moment. Under strict doctor’s supervision and the trainer’s guidance, these severely obese individuals were literally given a second chance at life. I am in awe and admiration of their guts and determination, for though the weight loss is rapid, it requires a certain type of person to get through these grueling (and sometimes frightening) challenges as well as the hours upon hours of extreme workouts with minimal calorie intake. They inspire me each and every day.
I am sad (and annoyed) to see Jillian Michaels endorsing a product that jump starts the metabolism. Makes me wonder, now, about what goes on behind the scene. Also makes me feel a little less comfortable with her credibility. Maybe some day I will understand this, too. Until then, I’ll just admire her incredible body.