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Biggest Loser Families Recap: '80s Week

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:00:00 -0800

Life on the Biggest Loser ranch was a little tense at the beginning of the week, since Amy voted Brady off the show. To lighten the mood, someone decided to celebrate the '80s, complete with teased hair, leg warmers, and lots of blush. Bob and Jillian treated their teams to '80s-style workouts. Jillian's group did some "break dancing"(I put that in quotes since the only thing they did resembling break dancing was a group wave) and Bob, wearing short shorts, led his team in a step aerobics class.

The physical challenge was an '80s health and fitness trivia quiz, performed with the contestants holding 50 percent of their weight in large water buckets placed over their heads. If they answered a question wrong water was added to their bucket, and when the contestants let go, they were doused with water reminiscent of the famous scene in Flash Dance. The prize, won by Michele after bribing her mom to let go by offering her a designer purse, was either $5,000 or giving another contestant a one-pound penalty at the weigh in.

The show heated up as we edged closer to the weigh in, to see who was sent home and how they look now, just

7 Tips For Eating Cheaper From Biggest Loser Nutritionist

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Money is tight for a lot of people these days, and the majority of you admit to cutting back on buying organic produce to save on the expense. Cheryl Forberg, a nutritionist for The Biggest Loser, is aware that "fresh and healthy" appears to be more expensive than "packaged with preservatives," and shared her tips on how to eat cheaper while staying healthy.

Buy in bulk: You have control when buying from bulk bins and can save on products like whole grains, dried beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, and cereals. Look for spices sold in bulk at health food stores.
Go seasonal: If it's in season, then it's cheaper. Plan your meals in advance and save money by choosing seasonal ingredients.
Shop locally: Healthy bargains can be found at local grocers or farmers markets. Take this a step further by checking for end-of-the-day specials.

To see four more cheaper eating tips,

Biggest Loser Recap: High Drama and Single Play

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:00:00 -0800

Last night, The Biggest Loser brought the drama. Watching the show last night, I was nearly as tense as I was last Tuesday during the national elections. Now that the show is down to the final seven, it is heating up. The two-hour format didn't seem to drag as in episodes past because the tension and taunting were high. The junior high antics of the blue team began early in the show as Vicky and Heba could not control their delight at Phillip being voted off the black team. Although Michelle, Coleen, and Renee, of the black team, were not surprised by Vicky and Heba's antics, they were still hurt by the blatant rudeness.

After the vote, Ali came to the ranch to tell the contestants that team play was over and that the game was now every player for him or herself. This announcement was followed by an even bigger twist. All the players returned (but Coleen's father — he had to work) for one last chance to return to the ranch. Most of the contestants are looking great and have lost a considerable amount of weight. We were treated to some of Vicky's very public taunting of Phillip. The prize of the physical challenge, open only to returning players, was not only to return to the game, but also to have immunity at the weigh in. The returning player to step 1,000 onto a classic aerobic step first would win.

To see who won the challenge and who lost at the weigh in, just

Biggest Loser Families Recap: Game On!

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

By the end of last night's show the number of contestants on The Biggest Loser Families had been whittled down to seven. With dinnertime confrontations, backstabbing, and trash talking, the show reminds me a bit of junior high, minus the unicorn stickers. Early into the episode we learned that Bob finds Vicky's scheming to be downright Shakespearean, and that Phillip really did confront Brady on the basketball court during the last episode in attempts to create an alliance late in the game. I admit, I thought Brady and Vicky had made up the entire event.

The blue and black teams squared off for a couple of competitions before their last chance workouts. First they played a version of "Eat This, Not That" from the popular Men's Health magazine feature turned best-selling book. The blue team won the game giving them a 40 pound advantage in the next physical challenge.

For the physical challenge players were suspended high in the sky where they had to hold the equivalent of their own weight via a pulley system. The black team having lost the previous game had an additional 40 pounds to hold. With the weight advantage the blue team easily won, and they won yet another advantage. Prior to the weigh in, the blue team would get to pick a member of the black team to be excluded from the final numbers. This advantage seemed to fuel the game-playing aspect of the competition.

To see what went down at the weigh in and who was eliminated, just

Biggest Loser Families Recap: Alliances Prevail

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

There is always a point in the Biggest Loser where you are reminded repeatedly that this is a game with prize money involved. The show starts to seem like a character study to see what the possibility of winning $250,000 does to people rather than a weight-loss show. I know editing has a lot to do with it, but how many times did Vicky smirk right into the camera after brokering deals, stirring up tensions, and judging prizes not worth her effort.

Even while the gaming is on, both teams were treated to unorthodox workouts: a challenging ropes course for the black team and circus arts mixed with a dose of self-defense for the blue. This show really hammers home the power of physical metaphors, and watching Michelle and Renee, the last remaining parent/child team meet in the competition, meet each other halfway while balancing high above the ground was rather sweet.

The challenge, with the prize of a video from home was upgraded to a live video chat — almost as if to spite Vicky's lackluster attitude toward the reward, involved stability and concentration. "Take it one step at a time" was the mantra as the team walked circular balance beams placed over water that challenged balance as well as focus. Renee rose to the challenge finishing the last nine laps solo after Phil fell into the water. Before competing in the challenge, all the contestants were treated to a midpoint checkup with Dr. Huizenga and everyone was quite pleased with their results — all the contestants are considerably healthier after six weeks of lifestyle change.

To hear about the drama of the last workout, the weigh-in, and the player eliminated, just

Biggest Loser Families Recap: Don't Be Left in the Dark

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0700

The Biggest Loser was back to its regular two-hour format time last night and true to all the previous episodes, nearly everyone cried. Last night marked the point where the show starts to frustrate me because people lose focus on their health and start playing "the game." In other words, people get nasty.

In this episode, the contestants were faced with a rather hefty temptation as the person who ate the most calories was allowed to create the new teams and pick which the trainer for each team. To create conflict, it was completely dark in the room with the baked goods and so no one really knew who was eating what. In the end, Heba ate the most calories and rearranged the teams into blue and black — she split up the red team, husband and wife Amy and Philip, as well as Shellay and her daughter Amy. To see what the challenge was and to find out who was sent home, just

Biggest Loser Families Recap: Tears and Even More Tears

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

After watching a politically charged reality show, aka the second presidential debate, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Biggest Loser Families would run 60 minutes instead of two hours. After watching Jillian make almost every member on her team cry in the course of the hour, I was sorely disappointed to learn that the weigh-in will take place during a second "special" episode that airs tonight. The show is really mixing things up — keeping us on our toes or rather our couches, and I am not quite sure how I feel about that.

In this episode a couple of teams "cashed" in their prizes from the hill-climb challenge from the first episode. The red team, Amy and Philip, flew to South Carolina for a 24-hour visit with their three children. It was a heartwarming and tearful reunion. The entire family went on a hike to reinforce the lessons these parents have learned on the ranch.

Amy and Shellay, the mother-daughter purple team, decided to use their prize of 24 hours with their trainer Jillian. Instead of pampering the contestants, Jillian took the purple team to the gym for a workout, and was more than disappointed with mother Shellay's attitude and laziness. Their strength-training session ended in tears.

To hear details on the challenge, just

Biggest Loser Families Recap: Road Trip

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

The latest season of The Biggest Loser is rolling along, and what better way to celebrate, or tempt, the contestants than with a road trip. The families were treated to a trip to the glories of the Grand Canyon.

Possibly daunted by the sheer beauty of their surroundings, the contestants were unable to figure out how to work out without a gym, even though Ali left workout gear for them — medicine balls, resistance bands, and pads. They all took a few long walks around their campsite, although they stayed in one of the seven wonders of the natural world, which is covered with hiking trails. Many contestants complained that they just "don't lift boulders."

The episode included a "Temptation" where contestants were asked to guess the caloric content of some convenient store staples. The catch being that if they guessed incorrectly, they had to eat the snack. The prize for guessing correctly was a night in a luxury RV, and the orange team, husband and wife Heda and Ed, won the temptation. The orange team also won the kayak challenge and the prize of an RV to take home, an odd gift in these gas-expensive times. Speaking of presents — Coleen of the yellow team turned 24 and all the contestants celebrated with kind and encouraging words as well as a small cake.

To see how the teams fared once they headed back to the ranch and who was eliminated, just

Biggest Loser Families Recap: Plateau

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

The ongoing theme of the second episode of Biggest Loser Families was the dreaded plateau. After seven days of shocking the system with hours of working out and a sudden change of diet, the body goes into a kind of diet shock. Contestants on average only lose 2 percent of their body weight, compared to double-digit percentages from the previous week. Jillian and Bob repeatedly commented that some competitors even gain weight in the second week, and this season was unfortunately no exception.

Almost as if to counteract the depressing weight-loss plateau, this episode was full of contests and challenges. There was betting/auction game, where the team to bid auction style for highest percentage of weight loss had the chance to win $10,000 prize if they lost the percentage of weight they bid. But, if the team who bid to lose the highest percentage didn't meet their goal, they would automatically fall below the yellow line. Much to Jillian's dismay, the yellow team, made up of father Jerry and daughter Coleen, bet that they could lose 2.4 percent of weight totaling 14 pounds. This contest was followed by a Slip-n-Slide hillside challenge, with the prize of calling home. Then guest chef, Rocco DiSpirito, gave a lesson on shopping and healthy cooking. This turned out to be a contest as well, and the cook of the tastiest meal won a year's worth of groceries as the prize.

One of the most striking elements of the second episode was these contestants are serious competitors. The game is already "on" with faked or exaggerated injuries used as subterfuge, and hopeful alliances created out of favors granted to competing teams. This element of the competition seems to have arrived on campus early this season, but these contestants are savvy having watched the show for five seasons.

To see who gained weight and which team was eliminated, just

Biggest Loser Families Recap: The Premiere

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

The Biggest Loser Families premiered last night and the five-season formula of the show did not disappoint. I got choked up a couple of times and was inspired by the family teamwork. Watching the teams of two being weighed in simultaneously and seeing how proud the duos were of their loved ones was truly touching.

As a viewer I find the elimination round of the show's opening week more than a little sad. It is amazing to see the dramatic changes that can happen in just seven days of Jillian ~~yelling~~ coaching her team through wall sits and Bob teaching his team the beauty of the treadmill.

The health issues of obesity were highlighted in scared-straight fashion, making it impossible to snack while watching the show. Through computer simulation, contestants were shown the detrimental effects of fat on their vital organs. The two oldest participants were put on exercise restriction, 30 minutes a day, due to health-related problems. That is a serious health problem.

To see who was unfortunately eliminated and how they look today, just

Biggest Loser Families Starts Tonight

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:10:00 -0700

If you are looking for some inspiration, and possibly a few teary moments, then don't forget to tune into the season premiere of The Biggest Loser Families on NBC tonight at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. CDT).

Motivational trainers Jillian Micheal or Bob Harper return to the show to lead teams of two, husband and wife or parent and child, on their competitive weight-loss journey. The show is always emotional, but add familial love to the mix and you are sure to see some heartwarming, or even heated, moments. Hopefully, after watching you will be inspired to get you own heart rate up. Will you be watching?

Kim Lyons Is Moving On

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:30:00 -0800

Both The Biggest Loser Couples and The Biggest Loser Season Five will be minus trainer Kim Lyons. While she did not win (and technically did lose) your vote on favorite trainer from the reality show, Lyons is moving on. She has just come out with a new book Your Body or Your Life ($17.95). It is a twelve week diet, exercise program with an element of emotional health.

Sunny, the health articles editor of Glamour asked Kim a few great questions about the show and extreme weight loss. Here's are the highlights:

On the most frustrating part of the show: "Ironically, the most frustrating part of the show is the game itself. My goal is to change peoples lives through the power of proper nutrition and exercise. It breaks my heart when people lose sight of the overall purpose of getting healthy."

On the criticism of the "reality" show portrays an unrealistic vision of weight loss: "People have to realize that it is TV, and yes it is difficult for people to try to replicate it at home. . .Our contestants don't have any distractions at all, not even a phone or a newspaper. They are in a totally controlled environment with the undivided attention of top trainers.

To see what Kim has to say about the double digit weekly weight loss on the show, just

The Biggest Loser Recap: Season 4 Finale!

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:45:00 -0800

Last night was the season finale of The Biggest Loser and it was a good one. I will say that it was not as amazing as last year's finale, but still pretty darn motivating. While the production was a little off, as it always is, with way too much confetti and delays, I was still totally engrossed.

To see who won as well as a video of the four finalists just

Who Is Going to Win The Biggest Loser?

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:30:00 -0800

Tonight is the grand finale of The Biggest Loser, and I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If you only watch one episode all season, watch the season finale tonight on NBC (9 PST) — it never ceases to amaze and inspire me. We were all shocked when Neil was voted off last week, especially since most of you thought it would be Julie or Isabeau. Seems to me like it's anyone's game, so who do you think will be the winner this season?Source

Who Is Going to Win The Biggest Loser?

Bill

Holly

Isabeau

Julie

The Biggest Loser Recap: The Final Four!

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:00:00 -0800

The Biggest Loser is finally down to the final four, and I can hardly wait to talk about who was kicked off so

Who Won't Make the Final Four?

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:30:00 -0800

Tonight is the final weigh-in on The Biggest Loser before the finale and I am wondering who you think will not make the final four for the season finale? In other words, who's getting the boot tonight?

The Biggest Loser Recap: From One Reality to Another

FitSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:45:00 -0800

The Biggest Loser is nearing the season finale and the contestants are preparing to leave the reality show and get back to, well, reality.

Last night was all about preparing to get back to reality, which means fitting in working out when you have time, no matter how tired you may be. In the real world most of us have obligations like work, family, and friends that make finding a time to workout difficult. One of the hardest things to do is to pick yourself up after a long hard day and head to the gym, but the contestants were forced to do so in preparation for reality. Something that we all deal with every single day.

Of course, one person was kicked off so to find out who it is

Fit Quiz Biggest Loser Style

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:00:00 -0800

If you watched The Biggest Loser on Tuesday night, then you should ace this quiz. If not, then good luck. Regardless, this is a fun quiz to see how well you know your stuff.

The Biggest Loser Recap: Two More Weigh-Ins Left!

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:45:00 -0800

I'd say that last night's episode of The Biggest Loser did not live up to last week's standards, but I still enjoyed it.

Last night was the first time we got to really see how strong everyone has gotten. Most of the workouts they were doing are not by any means easy, and their last-chance workouts are downright hard. Their time on campus has made them incredibly strong, and it's really cool to see them not only losing fat, but also gaining muscle. Speaking of losing fat, it was equally as cool to hear their doctor's reports. While most of the contestants came in with many health issues (such as Type 2 Diabetes), their weight loss and muscle gain has put an end to almost all of their previous health issues. Congrats guys!

Want to know who got voted off? Then

The Biggest Loser: Live Weigh In

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:30:00 -0800

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this week's Biggest Loser focused on taking stock in the current moment and giving thanks for all the changes made.

The show began with contestants looking at photos of themselves from the start of the show and appreciating the difference in their bodies and faces. Hints were dropped of a big surprise to follow. Of course the black team had to discuss and attempt to resolve Isabeau's tie-breaking decision to vote Amy off the show last week. The black team felt that she had ruined their well thought out strategy and Jillian made no attempt to hide her disappointment. Isabeau definitely got the cold shoulder from Jillian the next day in the gym and made quiet threats of defecting to the blue team. Nothing became of this, but the interpersonal drama is always intriguing.

The big surprise was a trip to the Days of Our Lives set where Alison Sweeney, the host of BL, works her day job. The contestants were treated to the ultimate makeover with lots of pampering, and the final surprise of all the contestants having a shot at being selected for the cover of Prevention magazine. Shades of Project Runway? But no criteria was given to how the cover girl was chosen. Before the photo shoot, all the contests were reunited with a loved one. There were lots of tears and hugs and all around camaraderie. However, I did find the big reveal of the loved ones hiding behind a double mirror that slid away a tiny bit cheesy. I am now about to reveal who made the magazine cover, so skip the next sentence if you want to stay in the dark.

Look for Kae on the cover of Prevention looking hot and wearing red!

The challenge on this episode was a physical metaphor, and the contestants had to physically stay above a yellow line by climbing a rope that was also slowly being lowered. The prize was definitely something worth climbing for – a $5,000 shopping spree. Kae was once again the winner, and it is hard to believe that this was her first-ever challenge win!

To see who was eliminated with a serious amount of dignity this week, just

Biggest Loser Trivia

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 11:00:00 -0800

If you watched The Biggest Loser on Tuesday night, then you should ace this quiz. If not, then good luck. Regardless, this is a fun quiz to see how well you know your stuff.

The Biggest Loser Recap: Singledom

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:30:00 -0800

Last night on The Biggest Loser the game was back to being about getting healthy, doing it for yourself, and making me cry.

The game changed and it's finally every man for himself. Yay! While they still have loyalties to their colors, we should see their strategies being much more about individual goals than back stabbing. I found it rather ironic that one of the challenges focused around donuts since we've had a little discussion about donuts recently here on FitSugar. The contestants had to eat a donut (or two, or three) to play the game and most of them played and ended up eating three donuts a piece — yikes. It was interesting to see that all the contestants were very aware of how much time that one donut would mean in the gym, which is way different from how they were at the beginning of the show.

Hollie won the indoor 24k triathlon and her prize was to go home for 24 hours. She was also allowed to pick another contestant to do the same, and she picked Julie. While neither of them ended up losing any weight at the weigh-in after having to do 24 hours on their own, none of them gained any weight from being at home.

The elimination was emotional and someone was voted off. To find out who it was and to see how they are doing now, just

The Biggest Loser Recap: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:45:00 -0800

Last night The Biggest Loser turned its focus from weight loss onto recycling.

Instead of the usual weight loss tips and trainer tips, this week we were given "Green Tips." While it was cool to see NBC trying to make conservation mainstream, the blatant marketing centered around it all was painful.

One thing that we can all take from this week's episode is that you don't need to use electricity to workout. Machines are easy but if you're looking to conserve a little energy, there are many other options such as using the great outdoors for cardio, and your own body weight or resistance bands for resistance. Some of the contestants had their biggest weight loss numbers last night, and not one person used a treadmill (that was on, at least) to get there. Jillian asked, "What's the point if we're taking care of our bodies and not our planet?" Great point, and one we should all ponder daily.

One of the challenges involved guessing how many calories were in a typical large meat lovers pizza and 32 ounce cola. Think you know? To find out the answer and to see who was eliminated this week, just

The Biggest Loser Meal Plan

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:00:00 -0700

If you're like me, you use The Biggest Loser as a source of motivation. The tough part is that the contestants on the show are in a controlled environment being told what to eat and how to workout and when and why. As for us voyeurs, well not so much since we have to fend for ourselves in the real world.

I have always been interested in what they eat on the show, so it was interesting to see what a sample meal plan would look like from The Biggest Loser's kitchen. It looks like the plan calls for three-meals and two-snacks per day and is broken down to 45% complex carbohydrates, 30% lean protein, and 25% fats. To see a sample of what a day's worth of eating looks like, just

Domino's Breakdown (It's Pretty Scary)

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 07:30:00 -0700

A few weeks ago, I got all riled up while watching The Biggest Loser. All the food commercials were for seriously crappy food. It seems more than a little mean to advertise calorie laden food during an inspirational weight loss show. Especially if you consider that the majority of viewers are watching to get a little inspiration on their own path to get in shape.

The one that bothered me the most was by Domino's Pizza; they were advertising their amazing Oreo Pizza. What's the deal with that? It's not enough to make decadent, calorie-laden cheese pizzas, so they have to make dessert pizza too? I'm not even going to question how much crap is in it (although this commercial is pretty funny, I can admit that).

We can all agree that it serves no nutritional purpose, but if you're curious to how many calories are in a slice of this Oreo Pizza pie,

The Biggest Loser Recap: "It's Like Pissing Into the Wind"

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:30:00 -0700

The Biggest Loser this week was back to being inspirational and motivational, and I cried. Though I will admit that I was a bit on edge due to our earthquake in the Bay area last night.

Last night's episode was all about getting back to working out, eating right and losing weight. I am more and more impressed with Jillian's attitude. She used to be a little too hard core for me, but she has such a fabulous motivational side to her and you can't but help feel she is really pulling for her team (and everyone else for that matter). I loved that she sat down with Amy and said, "Put the game aside and go after what you want." This not only fits in with the realm show, but also in the realm of our own lives because when it comes to our bodies and our health, it's about going after what we want.

Before I reveal who was kicked off, here are the things I learned from The Biggest Loser:

Lose weight while getting zen!
Train your mind and body with yoga. An intense hour of yoga can burn up to 600 calories and yoga is great for relieving stress and gaining flexibility.
Rid your body of cellulite!
Exercises like squats and lunges are proven to smooth out the underlying flabby muscles and minimize the appearance of cellulite.
Get on the resistance bandwagon!
Resistance bands are affordable, lightweight, flexible and easy to take with you. They are a great alternative to barbells, dumbbells and hand weights.
Get rid of your spare tire with crunches!
Crunches eliminate excess fat around your waistline. What may surprise you is that the bicycle maneuver is more than 50% more effective at working your obliques than crunches.
I missed the fifth tip due to breaking news of the earthquake, so if anyone knows what it was, please share in the comments section below.

To see Jillian's trainer tip and find out who was kicked off, just

The Biggest Loser: I Can't Believe It's Jez

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Last night on The Biggest Loser we watched as the show turned into a game.

I know it's always been a game, but each season there is a turning point where people start getting nasty. Last night in an effort to sabotage members of the Black Team, Neil purposefully gained 17 pounds [gasp] by guzzling water before the weigh in. I always get a little angry when the show hits this turning point because as far as I am concerned this show is about health, and gaining 17 pounds in one week is not healthy. I wish they didn't allow foul play on BL, but I guess like any game where a cash jackpot is involved, it's bound to happen.

Kim continues to prove that she's not going to be up for any best trainer of the year awards—her attitude has been far from motivating. Not only did it get ugly with Kim again, but overall tension increased when Jez was voted off. Jez was losing a great deal of weight, but he also had a great outlook on the show, weight loss, and life in general so it's hard to see him go. iVillage caught up with him after the show, so check out his parting words. Also check out what last week's cast-off, Phil, is up to on Sunny's Shape Up Blog.

I will say that something to be learned from the week's show is to just keep your eye on the ball. While The Biggest Loser is a game, life is not. Do your best in being healthy and you'll get there — now is the time to be thankful of your supporters and be happy that you don't have any conniving folks looking to sabotage your goals.

While the great little tips and tidbits were lacking again this week, Kim provided us with a workout tip so to find out what it is, just

The Biggest Loser: Motivating or Depressing?

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:00:00 -0700

I enjoy The Biggest Loser, well except for last week's show, which was crap. I do however take it with a grain of salt realizing that the contestants are on this show and their only obligation is to lose weight. No kids, no work, no holidays, no school, no McDonald's, just weight loss. I am thrilled that it does motivate some of us to get off the couch and lose some weight too, but the New York Times is reporting the show may make some of us feel worse than we did before watching the show. (Thanks to BuzzSugar for the lead on this one.)Here's why:

"...If you’re losing two pounds a week and you’re watching The Biggest Loser, you probably think your diet is going horribly. If you lose two pounds a week and you’re not watching the show, you probably think your diet is going great.

I fully agree, which is why I say you need to take it with a grain of salt. Take the tips and tidbits with you, but leave the expectations that you're going to lose ten plus pounds a week at the door. I get angry when the contestants are all mad over losing less than ten pounds a week because in the real world, even half a pound weight loss is an accomplishment to be celebrated. Remember to watch the show tonight!What do you guys think? Do you find The Biggest Loser to be motivating or depressing?Source

The Biggest Loser: Motivating or Depressing?

Motivating

Depressing

Other—tell us below

The Biggest Loser Recap: The Biggest Disappointment

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Was anyone else a little disappointed/confused with The Biggest Loser last night?

I don't know, something was just off about the episode last night. I felt they sped through it and that the personal touch, something I love about the show, was completely lost. Kim completely lost her cool and was not acting like the supportive trainer that I had thought she was. Now I understand why you guys didn't pick Kim as the trainer you'd most like to have. Hollie, from the Black Team, made the decision to visit home to be by her mother's side, who was battling cancer. In the end Phil, the guy who I thought was going to win it all, sadly got the boot. iVillage got caught up with Phil after the show, and while you're at it, check out Sunny's interview with Jim, last week's loser.

Usually a bunch of great tips and tokens about losing weight are offered throughout the show, and I outline them here for you guys. Last night however, not so much. This is all I got from the show — Chew gum while preparing meals so that you don't snack before you eat. A decent tip, but I expected more.

What did you guys think about the show? Was the episode weird to you or was that just my take on it?

Source

The Biggest Loser Recap: Black Team Faces Elimination

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:04:03 -0700

Last night during The Biggest Loser I am happy to report that I did not shed a tear.

Last night the campus was closed down and the teams were forced to go to Jamaica to work out — those poor things. However, Jamaica did prove to be a challenge since there were constant temptations (booze, relaxing and not working out, etc.) so it was interesting to see the struggle as well as be assured that you can be disciplined on vacation and still have a good time. The Black Team lost the weigh in and had to face elimination. The game got dirty, as it always does, and Jim (one of the twins) was voted off. Jim looked absolutely amazing at his check-in and I can't wait to see him at the finale. To see his parting words, check out iVillage. Curious what last week's cast off is up to? Patty had lunch with Sunny from Body By Glamour.

Here's what I learned from The Biggest Loser this week:

When traveling, get your workout done first thing in the morning because this way it's done. Especially since chances are that once you get your day going, you're not going to want to hit the gym.
You don't have to use the gym at the hotel to get a workout. Use the pool, the beach, and the ocean to get in a workout that allows you to enjoy your surroundings while working out.
If you have an all inclusive package, be especially careful when choosing your food items from buffets. Also, drink alcohol in moderation or avoid it altogether.
When flying, don't get stuck being so hungry that you stop at the first fast food place in the airport. Take along some 100 calorie packs on the plane for when you get hungry.

Kim gave us a great tip for working our butts, thighs and glutes. To find out what it is, just

Biggest Loser Recap: Patty and Her Smile Leave The Campus

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Another great episode on "The Biggest Loser" last night - once again I was brought to tears.

From the Red Team getting immunity from the weigh-in by winning the challenge to Jillian really showing the Black Team her heart, the episode was jam packed. I am loving that the trainers are more involved this season because it makes them a little more accountable. In the end Patty, quite possibly the most smiley contestant ever on BL, got the boot from Bob's Blue team. I was proud of her however as she looked great in her check-up at the end of the show. Check out her parting words at iVillage.com. While we're at it, check out Sunny's interview with Jerry, who got kicked off last week, at Sunny's Shape Up Blog.

Here's what I learned from "The Biggest Loser" this week:

American's consume over half a billion cupcakes each year, which is about 90 billion calories per year.
Food should never be a reward, so think of something else to reward yourself with. Perhaps a hot new pair of high heels instead.
It's impossible to win something if you don't even attempt it in the first place.
Get someone to push you to go beyond your comfort zone and encourage you to succeed - this could be a trainer, a best friend, a sister or a coworker.
One spin class can burn around 700-1000 calories, so get spinning. To find a free spin class near you, click here.
Get something tangible to remind yourself of your goals. On BL they use goal shirts, which are cute logo t-shirts, but maybe you're more inspired by something a little prettier like a bracelet.

I also loved Jillian's trainer tip. To find out what it was, just

Even Jillian Struggled With Weight Issues

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Jillian took second place as the trainer you'd want from "The Biggest Loser," so it's no secret that there is something about her we like and can see in ourselves. Well, it may be that Jillian has also struggled with her weight too, and that is something we can all relate to.

Here's more:

Even though she is now one of the leading personal trainers in the industry, Jillian struggled with her weight and appearance throughout most of her youth. After being introduced to the martial arts, Jillian finally found the motivation to transform her appearance. She studied Muay Thai and Akarui-Do, in which she eventually earned a black belt. One of the most important lessons her instructor ever taught her was to reverse her negative thinking.

Along with dropping the negative attitude, Jillian's number one tip is to control your environment to the best of your ability. So instead of telling yourself you are not going to eat any bread at a restaurant, Jillian believes you should immediately ask the waiter not to bring any bread to the table. Great tip - I do this myself!

While you're working on controlling your environments, let this post serve as your reminder that "The Biggest Loser" is on tonight 8:30/7:30 central if you want to watch it.

Source

"Biggest Loser" Recap: Losing Is Still Losing

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:00:00 -0700

My emotions went through the ringer once again during "The Biggest Loser" last night. The folks on the Red Team got to make a call home as the result of winning a challenge, which resulted in seeing grown men cry, which resulted in leaving me a blubbery mess. That is, however, not the point of this post.

Moving on.

The Red Team also had their very first victory at the weigh in and the Blue Team had their very first loss. The team decided to vote off Jerry [gasp], who was not only the oldest contestant in Biggest Loser history but also my favorite player. Bummer. iVillage interviewed Jerry after the show, so check out his parting words here. Oh, and while we're seeing what past contestants are up to, Sunny had lunch with Lezlye (last week's loser, er 'not' loser) - so check out Sunny's Shape Up Blog for the fun recap.

To see what I learned from The Biggest Loser this week, just

Which BL Trainer Would You Want?

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Another two hour episode of "The Biggest Loser" is on tonight and since you guys always mention that you forget to watch, let this post serve as a reminder to tune in tonight! In light of tonight's episode, I am curious which trainer would you rather have train you...Source

Which BL Trainer Would You Want?

Bob Harper

Kim Lyons

Jillian Michaels

Words That Move You...

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:30:00 -0700

As you all know, "The Biggest Loser" is one of my favorite TV shows, since it proves that people can make positive changes in their lives by exercising and eating right. Here's an encouraging reminder...

"Take charge of your life. Every day is a new day."

-Bob Harper fitness trainer for "The Biggest Loser"

It reminds us that these changes take time, but if we are patient, and we take care of ourselves each day, we can accomplish our goals.

If you need a little bit more inspiration, check out the video preview for this season's "The Biggest Loser". To see it

Biggest Loser Quiz

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:00:00 -0700

The Biggest Loser is always full of interesting tidbits of information and facts about health. Even if you didn't watch the show, take this quiz to see how well you know your facts about health and food in America.

Biggest Loser Recap: The Black Team Joins the Game

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 10:15:00 -0700

The Biggest Loser, once again, was motivating and inspiring. It's always sad to see a player get voted off, but so the game goes. Lezlye, a Katrina Survivor, was sent home mostly due to not losing big numbers on the scale.

The Black team was revealed to the Blue and Red teams, and the Black team ended up with the greatest amount of pounds shed. I think a lesson is to be learned here is that you don't need a gym to still get a workout. The Black team had not stepped one foot in a gym, they worked out in the desert, doing things such as carrying sand bags up a sandy hill, yet they still lost the most weight. Sure, they had Jillian, but they still did it.

For me, this sort of reiterated that on those days when I absolutely do not feel like stepping foot in that gym, there are other ways I can still get a workout. Sometimes it may be even better because you don't limit yourself to the equipment in the confines of the gym, you have to force yourself to step outside the box.

Source

Biggest Loser Recap: The Season Premiere

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:15:00 -0700

The Biggest Loser Season Four premiered last night and I am already hooked. The format is a little different this year, but so far so good.

As always, the cast introductions were emotional and I was amazed at how hard the trainers work them from the start. Their results showed it too as weight loss numbers ranged from seven pounds to a whopping 31 pounds from Jerry, the oldest contestant (62 years) in Biggest Loser history. Amber was kicked off -- I am not attached to any of the contestants yet, so she seemed like the best choice since she was begging to go home on day one.

One of my favorite things about the show is that lessons about being healthy are promoted. The new host, Alison Sweeney, mentioned that watching the show is a weekly reminder for viewers that they too can get healthy. Sure tuning in every week is also great for ratings, but I am not kidding you, it's motivating.

Aside from that, here's what I learned from the Biggest Loser this week:

On figuring out if something is a protein: One simple theory is that, "If it had a mother it's protein."
On resisting the urge to snack: Keep sugar free gum around and grab that when you're feeling like nibbling on something.
On drinking too much soda: Cutting out soda from your daily diet could help you lose 8 pounds over the course of a year (without even stepping on a treadmill).
On the average American diet: An American eats an average of 16 pounds of french fries per year.

To see all the new contestants and to see which of my favorite fitness gadgets made their television debuts, just

Biggest Loser Season 5 Casting Call

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:30:00 -0700

I just got word that my favorite show, The Biggest Loser, is already casting season five.

Here are the details from NBC.com:

NBC'S THE BIGGEST LOSER IS BACK! WE ARE SEARCHING THE COUNTRY FOR INDIVIDUALS OR TEAMS OF 2 WHO WANT TO COMPETE TOGETHER ON THE BIGGEST LOSER SEASON 5!

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED AUDITIONING FOR THE BIGGEST LOSER BUT THOUGHT YOU’D RATHER AUDITION WITH A FAMILY MEMBER, CO-WORKER OR FRIEND? THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE TOGETHER!

COME BE A PART OF THE BIGGEST PHENOMENON IN REALITY TELEVISION. We are looking for OUTGOING & CHARISMATIC individuals with PERSONALITY who have the WANT, DESIRE and COMPETITIVE EDGE to vie for this all- expense-paid chance of a lifetime.

NOW CASTING:

TWINS
FAMILY MEMBERS (including but not limited to: parent & child (18+), cousins, siblings, married couple, engaged couple, grandparents, etc.)
CO-WORKERS
FRIENDS
RETIREES
INDIVIDUALS

COME TO AN OPEN CALL!!!

*(If auditioning with a partner, please come together if possible)
*Please bring a non-returnable photo of yourself
*Open call lines will start forming 3 hours before the start time. Please do not line up before.

For a list of open casting calls near you, just

Tips Straight from The Biggest Loser

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:00:00 -0700

If anyone knows weight loss, it's the folks over at The Biggest Loser.

While the new season of the Biggest Loser does not start until September 11th, 2007 (I am so excited I can hardly contain myself), Kim Lyons, Devin Alexander (author of The Biggest Loser Cookbook) and several of the "Biggest Losers" offer these tips and tricks on WebMD to help motivate you:

"Eat often -- snack often," says Alexander. While this may seem contrary to traditional dieting advice, the chef says that as long as you keep an eye on calories and portions, eating often will stave off hunger attacks that ultimately sabotage your diet. "When you're starving, you grab whatever is available -- and that's the quickest way to get off your eating plan," says Alexander.
"Eat your carbs in the morning," says Biggest Loser contestant Brian Starkey. "It gets your day off to an energetic start." Lyons adds that carbs are quickly burned with activity, so eating them may help motivate you for that morning walk or bike ride.
"Post a picture of yourself on the refrigerator -- at your worst," says Biggest Loser contestant Dana Desilvio. "The next time you're thinking of grabbing something you shouldn't from the fridge, you'll be reminded of what you don't want to look like!"
"Instead of watching the clock during workouts, listen to music," to make the time go faster,says Erik Chopin (pictured above), The Biggest Loser's season-three winner. Lyons reminds us that everyday activities, like bike riding, tossing a Frisbee, or walking your dog, count as physical activity, too.

There's six more so

Countdown to the Oscars: Get Fit with Ellen and Bob

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 10:25:00 -0800

As you probably already know, the Oscars are coming up soon - February 25th and Ellen is the host. She wanted to get fit for the Oscars so she teamed up with trainer Bob Harper (from the Biggest Loser). Each day up until the Oscars, I am going to feature one video workout. Bob claims that if you follow along (keeping in mind a healthy, low calorie diet) you can expect to lose 10 pounds in 38 days (not by next weekend).

In the first video, Bob starts off the program with ways to eat healthy, since exercise and diet go hand in hand. He really does offer some great (and doable) tips. Keep watching because after the healthy eating segment, they start with the first few lower body workouts (twisting lunges, Romanian dead lifts, leg raises and knee tucks) for you to try.

Come back tomorrow for day two of FitSugar's Countdown to The Oscars with Ellen and trainer Bob Harper. Until then, definitely check out Ellen's gym site for more great tips and tidbits on getting Oscar ready with Ellen.

Biggest Loser Casting Call!

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 07:30:00 -0800

Want to be on The Biggest Loser?

"NBC's hit reality show The Biggest Loser season four will conduct a special search in seven cities by holding open casting calls across the country. The Biggest Loser is looking for outgoing, charismatic and candid individuals who are at least 18 years of age. Candidates should be ready to make their weight-loss dreams a reality, in addition to possessing personality, desire and a competitive edge to vie for this chance of a lifetime."

Get there early, but not too early. The Biggest Loser casting teams guarantee the first 500 people in line will be seen. People will not be allowed to line up prior to three hours before the start of the open call.

For casting locations and dates,

Biggest Loser Recap: Finale!

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:15:00 -0800

Did you guys watch the Biggest Loser finale last night? It was absolutely amazing (despite Caroline Rhea's horrible job as the host) and I spent the entire episode in tears.

For those of you that didn't get to see it — Erik won (pictured above)! During the duration of the show he lost an unbelievable 214 pounds (or 53 percent of his starting body weight)! Seriously, I can't believe it is the same man. Can you?

To see the other dramatic before and afters,

The Biggest Loser Recap

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:50:15 -0800

Last night on The Biggest Loser, we watched Jaron get kicked off the ranch. He was destined to get kicked off since he was not part of the original cast, but he looks amazing. Check out his before and after picture (below).

Jaron, who lost most of his weight at home then came to the ranch to continue the game, is very likely to be able to continue his regimen at home. Go Jaron, Go!

For the challenge, contestants completed a triathlon, which is something they would have never of dreamed of doing in the past, but they all finished it and they were all surprised at how easy it was. Setting fitness goals like a triathlon or a 5K is a great way to motivate yourself and track your progress.

If you only watch one episode of The Biggest Loser, I strongly urge you to watch the final episode on Wednesday (especially if you're looking for that extra bit of motivation to get in shape). Last year the transformations were incredible and you really got to see how their lives have improved since starting to live a healthy lifestyle -- and trust me, it will be a tear jerker for sure.

To find out when the show is on in your area, check out The Biggest Loser Website.

The Biggest Loser Recap

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 12:17:46 -0800

Last night on The Biggest Loser we saw Adrian (despite her whining and fussing) get kicked off the ranch. But there are two really great things that we can take from the episode:

The contestants had to pack the total number of weight they lost back onto their bodies and then run a mile -- so each contestant went back to weighing the same number they did when they came to the ranch. They were all amazed at how being overweight had hindered their lives in the past. Jaron, who has lost a total of 100 pounds since the start of the show, described it as if he was carrying around a small middle school sized kid for much of his life. The challenge really gave each one of them insight as to how much more energy they have (mentally and physically) with their weight loss.

Also, Adrian had only lost two pounds for the week, which made her very disappointed with herself. She was sad because she was at the same weight she was at in high school. She felt that she was stuck at that weight in the past and now felt stuck again at the ranch. She said she felt like she would always be the "fat girl." Interestingly enough, since leaving the ranch Adrian has gained weight. This proves how powerful our state of mind can be. When striving to reach a goal, it is so important to realize that no matter what you are doing, it is YOU that is important and that we can all do so much more than we give ourselves credit for.

Fit's Tip: Don't throw yourself a pity party, it never helps and it often slows your progress towards your goal.

The Biggest Loser Recap

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 11:30:00 -0800

Last night on The Biggest Loser, we all watched Marty, the sweet positive teacher Marty, get kicked off the ranch. Showing us that once again, the show is more than just helping people to lose weight, it's a game.

All that aside and before nice Marty got sent home, the contestants were rewarded for all their hard work with a makeover and photo-shoot from Prevention Magazine.

Rewarding yourself is a great idea for anyone who has been working really hard at something, but especially at getting in shape and/or eating right.

A lot of diet programs (like Body for Life) have one cheat day per week where you can eat whatever you like. However it doesn't have to be eating based (as that can be counterintuitive), it can be getting a new haircut or makeover or even buying yourself a fab find. These type of rewards definitely are great for someone getting in shape and wanting to show off their new self.

Fit's Tip: Maybe you're not needing a reward but you know someone that is, rewarding gifts are always nice...and the holidays are fast approaching!

Biggest Loser Recap: Are you too old to lose weight?

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:25:00 -0800

Last night, we were taken on yet another emotional roller coaster as we watched sweet, Southern, firefighter Bobby get knocked off the ranch by his teammates.

I was a bit frustrated by the dramatic introduction of the new teammates. But the so called intruders got their revenge since they (Adrian and Jaron) had lost more weight than those at the ranch. Adrian, however shocked everyone.

To find out her weight loss secret,

FITSUGAR SNEAK PEEK: Healthy Eating Out Tips

fitgirl — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 07:16:58 -0700

We just can't get enough of this blogging thing so we are branching out yet again. Get excited because FitSugar is coming soon! See below for a sneak peek:

Wednesday night was a sad night on The Biggest Loser. The Red Team kicked off Ken, the amazing shrinking man, who had lost a total of 68 pounds in six weeks. Talk about motivation.

Aside from kicking my favorite teammate off, another twist was that the Blue Team was forced to face an interesting challenge: eating out ONLY, for 72 hours. Eating out is yummy and fun, but if you are trying to eat right, it could be detrimental to your regime. So keep in mind a few Fit tips to eat out right:

If at a restaurant, ask the server to not bring the bread and butter. A good rule of thumb is you won't miss what you can't see.
Learn this term: Clean. It means no oil, no fat and no surprises. Use it when ordering poultry and fish.
If there is an option between two portion sizes, opt for the smaller one. Restaurants tend to oversize portions dramatically.

Want to have Kate Beckinsale's body but don't know how to get it? Need to learn how to de-stress the healthy way? Itching to discuss whether eating organic is worth it or totally over-hyped? Read about all of this and more on our next site, FitSugar!

FitSugar is coming soon. Sign up to receive an email notification as soon as we launch!

To see more eating out hints and an example menu item to modify,