New Year, old weightloss shows

I don't watch the Biggest Loser, sometimes I think I should, but I just can't get into it.

I do like to watch the shows about the morbidly obese people who have to be cut out of their homes though. They usually show them on TLC or Discovery and I can't get enough of them.

Typically at the first of the year they break out all the good shows. You know, the ones where the people aren't just morbidly obese, but they are super morbidly obese? This year they are showing the same ones from years past! I've seen all of those. Don't get me wrong, I keep watching them over and over, but I would like a new one to air.

I just watch and watch and watch. I just want to know what they are thinking and how they got to a weight where they are immobile. How do you feel when you have to be CUT out of your house? How do you get to that point and keep justifying eating? I know that I've justified some crazy things about food, but not being able to move on my own and to keep eating? I'm not sure if I could have done that. Could I? I think that's why I watch. I wonder what I would have done in their situation.

It's kinda like a train wreck, in a way. I don't really want to keep watching but I can't turn away. I have to know more about these people. I need them to do follow up shows about them!

Basically, I need to see more of these shows! I need new documentaries and I need updates on the old ones!

I used to be fat

There is an I Used To Be Fat marathon on MTV today. Yea, I still watch MTV....you can make fun of me.

Anyway, I love this show. I know all the people on the show are 10 + years younger than me, but I like to see them trying.

They lose a lot of weight in like 3 months, but they do work hard. You know, the old fashioned way...hard work and changing their diet. They struggle, they complain, they whine, and I find myself yelling at the TV.

I really like the trainers the best. A lot of them make me think of Zach, because they don't sugar coat anything. I mean, they are a little more showy than Zach, but they say the same straight forward things.

There is one thing that does bother me. All the trainers say, "If you give me your summer; I'll give you back your life." That makes me want to puke. I guess they needed a catch phrase.

If you've not seen it; you should watch it. It's addictive.

Big Sexy? Anyone seen it?

Disclaimer! My super strong opinions are coming....reader beware.

Big Sexy is a new show on TLC. I've seen it a few times and not entirely on purpose, but after I watched a few minutes of each episode I've had to watch the rest of the episode. It's like a train wreck; it's awful, it's sad, it's upsetting, and it honestly makes me want to scream.

I've now seen two episodes and they have both had the same theme and it's not really the theme of what the commercials advertise.

The commercials make the show sound like these 5 women that are sexy, confident, independent, strong minded, and totally ok with their weight, appearance, lifestyle, choices, etc, etc....

Here's what really happens on the show.....complain, whine, complain, whine, complain, whine....and so on and so forth.

They are not confident, they are not strong, they are not happy. Seriously, they are not happy. They are obsessed with what others could be thinking of them. Anytime something does not go their way they blame it on the fact that people are discriminating against "plus size", "big girls", "heavy girls", etc, etc....it's kind of disgusting. They are very "in your face" about their size and assume everyone is judging them. Their actions do not show someone that is confident with the way they look, and how about this, maybe you didn't get the job becuase you weren't qualified and you were unprofessional in your interview because you were talking about how no one gives "big girls" a fair chance?

It's even worse when they talk about meeting guys. They whine and complain about no one giving them a fair chance. They ask each other daily if one of them is getting laid. They talk about how sexual they are and how they are so great in bed, but none of them can remember the last time they got laid. They spend all their time trying to meet guys and find places to meet guys. These are also not actions of someone who is happy with their life. If they were happy they would just let meeting someone happen naturally. When they do meet someone the first thing they ask is if they know how to handle a big girl or if they would ever date a big girl. Most guys get scared away once they start talking. If you are really happy and content you are not going to obsess over meeting someone.

The one girl even went to ask her ex boyfriend what went wrong in their relationship. She woudln't even let him respond to the question and she came to her own conclusion that it's because she's a "big girl". The dude cut her off and was like, "Well, it had nothing to do with that. I actually liked your body. It's because you are a stalker and you are insecure with who you are." I was cheering for that guy. There is nothing wrong with the way they look, it's the way they act and the way the ASSUME everyone is treating them.

And....AND....AND, every word out of their mouth is about how happy they are at the size that they are. It's all they talk about. So, why is the one girl always crying about how she can't lose weight? I thought she was totally happy the way she looked and anyone who didn't accept her the way she is can go eff themselves. Why is she obsessed with losing weight? Why did she go to the doctor and cry about being overweight and having a slow thyroid and struggling to lose weight? Hmm....again, not the actions of someone who is happy the way they are.

This show does not portray what they claim to portray. It is honestly disgusting the way these women behave and they way the assume everyone is judging them and no one gives them a fair chance.

I feel like I can honestly say these things because I used to be in the same boat that they are in. I was very unhappy 100 pounds ago. I mean, I had fun, but I was always wanting to change. My thoughts and complaints were just like these ladies on the show and I was not happy. They all claim to be happy, but they only complain about the problems of being a "big girl".

Now, I do beleive that there are people out there that are "big girls" that really are happy about the way they look. I just don't think TLC found any of those people, but those people probably have dignity and self respect wouldn't do a reality show anyway.

You missed the mark TLC, you really missed the mark. I can honestly say that show makes me want to vomit. I hope it doesn't make another season, and if you have seen it and like it, good for you. You have a stonger stomach than me!

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! 

Can someone please block shows about weight loss and obesity from my tv?

           I don’t watch the Biggest Loser and not because I think it’s a bad show. I’m sure it’s a great show, but it’s not grotesque enough for me. I’m too busy watching TLC, Discovery, Style, A&E, WE, E!, and Oxygen. They have some of the most addicting, disgusting, jaw dropping shows about weight loss, morbid obesity, and food addiction that I have ever seen. It wouldn’t be such a big deal for me to watch them, but I get paranoid that I’m going to end up like the people on the show, grossed out, or mad while I’m watching them and start calling people to tell them about what I’m watching! Kelly and Janelle have both threatened to do a Parental Blocks on those channels if I don’t get myself under control!

            I am so fascinated by these shows with titles like, One Ton Mom, 600 Pound Virgin, Worlds Fattest Man, and Half Ton Teen. I can’t even tell you why they’re so engaging. I guess it’s that the people on these shows say so many crazy things to justify how they look, what they eat, why they can’t lose weight, or how they know they are losing weight.

For example, one man had a gastric bypass after a wall had to be removed from his house to get him out. He refused to change what he ate, but did try to eat smaller portions. He said that it doesn’t matter what you eat because he can’t lose weight because obesity is genetic. So he said there was no need to eat salad and veggies. According to him soda pop and chips were just as good for him, and tastier, than the salads and veggies.

Another show I watched was about the world’s largest woman. She was nearly 1000 pounds. She was confined to a bed, but said that she was still healthy because she was able to pull herself to a seated position. She said she still felt beautiful, would wear makeup daily, and tried to give herself daily sponge baths. She was also so large that she could not wear clothes. She wore king size silk sheets and said that she knew she was sexy no matter what she was wearing. Her children would hold mirrors around her body so she could check on her sores and weeping skin. She actually died due to complications from a gastric bypass.

There are so many more I could tell you about too, but I’m going to spare you. I have a love hate relationship with these kinds of shows. I can’t stop watching. I never watched any of these shows until last year. I guess what I really want to know is how they got that big. When you get so big that you can’t move, who brings your food to you and why do they bring all that food? I guess I’m fascinated by other people’s weight loss stories and struggles, but I’m totally developing a problem. There is a new show starting on A&E called Heavy. It hasn’t even started yet, but I can’t stop talking about it. Based on what I’ve seen on the commercials it’s right up my ally, and I’m going to be hooked. I hope by the time I reach my goal weight I will be past this current obsession. If not, I’m going to have to cancel my cable!