Heavy

             In the past I’ve mentioned my love of reality shows about weight loss and I was looking forward to watching the new series on A&E called Heavy. I finally had time to sit down and watch TV the other day and I was lucky enough to catch a mini marathon of the show. It felt like my lucky day and I LOVE the show.

            Basically the people on the show get into a 6 month program. For the first 30 days they are at an inpatient facility that is the most amazing resort I’ve ever seen. While there they work out, learn how to plan meals, shop for food, and they have therapy sessions. After 30 days they go home, but are assigned a personal trainer and they go about their life but try to incorporate all the new habits they have learned. At the end of the 6^th month they meet with the people from the resort/facility place and weigh in for a final time. Most people lose about 70 – 160 pounds in the 6 months they do the program.

            The show is really good. Even though the people on the show are heavier than I’ve ever been I can really identify with their eating issues. That’s pretty scary too, because I feel like if I hadn’t made changes when I did, I would have been that heavy in no time.

            So when I saw everything the people had at their disposal my jaw hit the floor and I was instantly jealous. When I saw the facility that some of the shows were taped at I couldn’t believe my eyes. Some of the shows were taped at Lake Austin, a spa in Austin, Texas. This is the place they went for 30 days. No TV, no phone, no distraction; just people helping them change their lives. You need to see the pictures from this place. Check out the website! Seriously! I found myself getting mad at the people on the show when they would complain about the workouts, the food, or the requirements. Then I had to remember that I’ve been busting my butt for over a year and they are just getting started so they still feel a little defiant and have that “it’s too hard; I can’t” attitude. I still wish someone would tell me to go to a spa for 30 days and do nothing but workout and work on my eating habits!

Lake Austin

            They also get to do a huge variety of workouts. They do cardio, lifting, aerobics, swimming, water aerobics, yoga, etc…etc. They aren’t just doing a one size fits all workout plan. These people are getting personalized workouts and training. I’m so jealous. Ok, I pretty much do get that, but I want to do it at an amazing spa!

            I think it’s more encouraging than other weight loss shows. These people are losing a lot of weight in 6 months, but some of them struggle and gain at different points through the process. They do make great progress but no of them are like 130 pounds after 6 months. It seems like a more realistic weight loss. It’s encouraging to see them struggle, have bad days, and get back on track. That’s real life after all. No one is perfect. I would be annoyed if they were perfect the whole time. I would like to see a follow up show and see how many of them kept up with the plan and continued to lose.

            Anyway, check it out if you haven’t seen it. It is a good show. Where I’m located it’s on at 10PM on Monday nights on A&E. That’s too late for me since I have to get up early. I never see it when it airs originally, so I have to catch reruns; I refuse to get a DVR, I’ll be too dependent on TV again!