With all the glowing coverage and praise, the average viewer is starting to think ‘The Biggest Loser’ somehow represents the indomitability of human spirit and the triumph of modern bariatric medicine. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. It’s a ‘made-for-TV’ spectacle that has morphed into a cruel hoax being sold to the typical overweight person of this day and age, an individual desperately looking for the weight loss secret. This show represents a dangerous and unrealistic way to lose weight. Talk about two steps forward and three steps back!

‘The Biggest Loser’ is reality programming at its finest- Depicting There’s nothing real about it ladies and gentlemen. This is a reality TV show where people have no responsibilities or commitments like a job and family to look after. They have very little temptations to avoid like drive-thrus or the chocolate isle of the supermarket. They are dangerously pushed to their physical limits in ways which are highly detrimental to their health. They don’t show you the behind the scenes where the contestants dangerously dehydrate and remove salts from their bodies in order to get the smallest number on the scales every week. By not showing this and promoting its all about healthy eating and exercise they are essentially lying to you. These are not ideal or real health and exercise tips portrayed in this show, the end result for contestants may become counter-productive to one’s weight loss goals.

So who really is the biggest loser in this situation? EVERYONE…..well everyone except the money hungry networks who are feeding these lies to people. The contestants are put through hell which will probably do them more harm than good.  In reality human beings cannot lose this much weight in one week without dangerously manipulating your body and practically. After the contest practically all of the contestants spring back to their pre contest weight or heavier, leaving them feeling like failures. There are a rare few that are able to keep the weight off but they are the rare exception and not the overwhelming norm.  The viewers who are apparently ’inspired’ by this dramatic weight loss soon have their motivation and dreams crushed when they find out  they cannot lose anywhere near as much weight as those on TV. They buy up on cleverly marketed meal replacements and bars (naturally endorsed by ‘The Biggest Loser’) which they hope will be the magic elixir they need, only to be let down once again. These poor souls end up blaming themselves and return to their self-destructive ways.

If we strip away the manipulative footage editing and emotional backing music to this ‘journey’ we will see this is simply a survival of the fittest show. Contestants compete against, endure and manipulate each other all while bullying their bodies into rapid weight loss. There is nothing positive about it. For one person to succeed, another must fail. The biggest concern is that these shows do not show humanity at its best and reinforces horrible morals.

Sure it’s fun to see those great transformations on the grand finale show but at what cost and what are the odds these people keep the weight off? As I mentioned above, these people have been in weight loss paradise without a care in the world. Once they are back in the real world chances are in all comes crashing back down as they find themselves in WORSE shape than they were. I can’t imagine how that effects them emotionally. To the few that are able to maintain their shape, I congratulate them as it was a dream built on a foundation of sand. Well done to them.

‘The Biggest Loser’ as it seems, is definitely an unrealistic TV drama. So audiences, if you want honesty, don’t look to people who can make money by lying to you. It’s easy to see that the goals of the producers of ‘The Biggest Loser’ show concerns only for entertaining the public, to watch their ratings soar to infinity and beyond.

So audiences I ask you this… why waste your time with this TV junk food?!!

By Shereen Jegtvig, About.com Guide

Updated April 01, 2012

Question: How Can I Stick To My Diet On Weekends?

A big congratuations to Kirsten Naylor for being the third ALL ACCESS boot camper to reach the magical 100 sessions! Kirsten is a real trooper and puts in 110% every session.

Here’s to another 100 Kirsten!

Gecko Kids Fitness is Ballarat’s #1 after school activity for kids! Kids need a place to call their own. Gecko is for kids of all shapes, sizes and abilities, aged 5-14 years. Our cool state of the art facilities combine kids specific equipment, awesome music and expert coaches. Our programs are designed by exercise scientists and child development specialists. WE MAKE FITNESS FUN!

Click here for more info and session times.

A MASSIVE congratulations to Samantha Pitt and Fiona Burfurd for hitting 100 sessions on the same day! It’s been a neck and neck race between these two girls with the interruptions of torn hamstrings and honeymoons respectively but it’s only fitting these two share the honour of being first to 100 sessions. Well done girls!

The holidays can cause an internal struggle between the desire to splurge on festive treats at numerous feasts and the will to avoid the inevitable weight gain that ensues after overindulging. However, there are ways to enjoy the special holiday foods served at parties without having to go up a size by January. Here are some tips for eating healthfully at your next soiree.

Listen to Your Body

You’ve likely heard this time and time again, but your body is remarkably good at regulating your appetite and intake. Your body sends signals to your brain to let you know when you are truly hungry and full. Listening to those signals and responding accordingly will take the guesswork out of when and how much you should be eating. This is called “mindful eating” or “intuitive eating.”

Being mindful of what you put in your mouth is the most basic way of controlling your intake. However, our culture and increasingly busy lifestyles have caused us to ignore all of those internal clues that regulate our intake. Focus on getting back in touch with your body.
Savor Your Food by Eating Slowly

Did you know that it takes your stomach 20 minutes to send signals to your brain that you are full? If you inhale your food with reckless abandon, you’ll likely feel uncomfortably full later because you ate too quickly for your body to register that you were full long before you stopped eating. To prevent this feeling – and prevent overeating – slowly eat smaller bites.
Limit Liquid Calories

Holiday parties are notorious for providing ample amounts of calorie-laden beverages, especially alcoholic drinks. Limit yourself to one indulgent beverage, like eggnog or cider, and sip it slowly. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water – both before and after you eat. People often mistake thirst for hunger and end up overeating. Stay well-hydrated throughout the party, and you’ll get full more quickly and stay full for longer.
Munch on Low-Calorie Items

Crudités (fancy word for vegetables that are cut-up or sliced and often served with a dip) are a good food to fill up on for very few calories. However, don’t overdo it on the dip as dips are usually high in fat and calories. Use a very small amount of dip or forego it all together. Salsa makes for a great low-calorie dip, and studies have shown that spicy foods may cause a slight increase in metabolism.
Don’t Linger in Front of the Food

Many holiday parties serve food buffet-style since all the guests are often asked to bring a dish. This can be dangerous for those trying to eat healthfully at the party because constantly being in the presence of decadent food can undermine the efforts of the even the most motivated healthy eaters. To avoid this diet deterrent, fill a single plate half with vegetables or fruit, a quarter with a lean protein, and the other quarter with some sort of grain, preferably a whole-grain. The next step is simple: Walk away.
Focus on Connecting with Friends and Family

Concentrate on making socializing the main purpose for attending the party. If your mouth is busy chatting, it won’t be busy chewing food. Happy and healthy holidays!

Kari Hartel, RD, LD is a Registered Dietitian and freelance writer based out of St. Louis, MO. Kari is passionate about nutrition education and the prevention of chronic disease through a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Kari holds a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Southeast Missouri State University and is committed to helping people lead healthy lives. She completed a yearlong dietetic internship at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL, where she worked with a multitude of clients and patients with complicated diagnoses. She planned, marketed, and implemented nutrition education programs and cooking demonstrations for the general public as well as for special populations, including patients with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and school-aged children. Contact Kari at KariHartelRD@gmail.com.

As a fitness professional I hear a lot of ‘interesting’ theories in regards to health, fitness and weight loss. In some instances these theories are correct, but in other cases it’s simply a load of bulldust. So where does this misleading information come from? Sometimes it comes from a person trying to sell their brand new diet book, or the companies pumping out the latest and greatest ab-blaster-pro-2000 that promises to turn your flab to fab in just 15 seconds a day! On the other hand, sometimes it’s a more innocent case of someone obtaining fantastic weight loss results and attributing it to something they believe to have caused the results, when in fact it was something totally different.

Below is a comprehensive list of health and fitness beliefs and an explanation as to whether or not they are a hit or myth!

Belief: Eating after 7pm causes weight gain.

Verdict- Myth!

Your body and the calories it consumes do not know what time of the day it is nor do the calories consumed react differently depending on the time of the day you eat. It ultimately comes down to how much you eat and exercise over the whole 24 hour period. The reason night time eating gets such a bad rap is because by then most people have already eaten their days quota of calories so anything in addition to that will be stored as fat. If you eat sensibly during the day there is no reason your food intake has to go down with the sun.

Tip: Most times when we eat in the evening, it’s because we are bored. The most common time we grab for that packet of biscuits is when the TV ads come on. Instead of packing the calories on during the break, see how many you can burn by doing as many sit ups you can do before the ad break finishes (and try and beat on the next ad break!)

Belief: You have to give up all your favourite foods to lose weight.

Verdict- Myth!

Weight loss from fad diets is temporary...unless you plan on just eating celery for the rest of your life!

When people think of losing weight, they think of restrictive starvation diets and live in fear of being separated from their favourite indulgences. When constructing meal plans with my clients, I tell them that they are allowed to have anything in moderation. Love your pizza? Cool, you can have it! You’re a sucker for chocolate? No problem! When it comes to weight loss, it’s about what you eat MOST of the time, not SOME of the time. Having your favourite indulgence once a week is fine as it keeps you sane, avoids any huge breakout binge sessions and you avoid theguilt associated with cheating on your healthy meal plan. In actual fact, you may not even want to eat this type of food after a few weeks as it may make your body feel sluggish since its used to all the healthy food you’ve been eating (A bit like putting dirty oil into a high performance car).

Tip: Give yourself a reward meal once per week where the rules don’t apply. Some people call this a cheat meal but I prefer to call it a reward as cheating has negative connotations attached to it. Remember, you can have this reward meal only if you deserve it and have eaten well all week.

Belief: Since I will burn the same amount of calories if I walk 3km or run 3km, I may as well walk.

Verdict- Myth!

Sure, it is true that walking 3km will burn around the same amount of calories as running 3km but what happens after the exercise has finished is where the real magic happens. After you finish walking, your heart rate will drop back to resting levels very quickly whereas running will leave your heart rate elevated for a much longer time and therefore increase your calorie burning metabolism for longer.

Tip: If you can’t run the whole distance, don’t throw in the towel. Try interval training to build up your fitness levels. Try running for 30 seconds and walking for 1 minute until the end. As you increase your fitness, gradually change the intervals to longer runs and shorter walks until you can run the whole way!

Belief: Diets don’t work in the long run.

Verdict-Hit!

These days we live in a world of home delivery, remote control, on demand and drive through. We live in a word of instant gratification which in other words means we want things RIGHT NOW. When people want to lose weight, they want it right away so they turn to fad diets to lose weight. It’s true that these diets will help you to drop a few kilograms in a reasonably short amount of time but you’ll put them all back on (plus more) in the long run. On top of that, restricting the quantity and variety of food you eat puts a great deal of stress on the body’s internal functions. Starving yourself of various food groups can result in harmful and even potentially fatal nutrient deficiencies.

Tip: Weight loss and healthy eating is a lifelong relationship, not a one night stand. You’re better off losing weight gradually rather than dropping it suddenly as you are more likely to keep it off and won’t cause harm to the body.

Belief: I need to count calories/kilojoules

Verdict-Hit!

You need to know what you're putting in your body if you intend to eat correctly

I’m not a big believer in counting calories down to the last crumb but the bottom line is you need to know what you are putting in your body. It’s very common for me to have new or potential clients swear black and blue me that they eat healthy yet they are 20kg+ overweight and steadily increasing. Clearly they are not eating well but in many cases, it’s simply a case of the client having a slight misconception of what is healthy and they eat what they think is healthy. This is surely not a case of ignorance is bliss. The two most common errors people make is eating the wrong ratios of foods or simply just eating too much of it (even healthy foods can be fattening if you eat too much). In many cases when people do not take notice of what they are eating, the ratio of carbohydrates tends to be much higher than it should be while protein is much lower. In many cases, I’ve found new clients have been eating a ratio of about 25% Protein, 50% Carbs and 25% Fat (25-50-25). I advise my clients to shoot for a ratio of about 50% Protein 30% Carbohydrates and 20% Fat. (50-30-20) When it comes to portion sizes, people tend to grossly overestimate the correct size. When we eat out at restaurants we get served up steaks, pastas and risottos that can have up to 5 times as much food as we really need, and don’t get me started on supersized meal deals or all-you-can-eat buffets.

Tip: Learn to read and understand nutritional labels and every once in a while, weigh your meals to see if you are eating more or less than you should be. When you eat out with a partner or a hot new date, offer to share the desert! Not only will it save you money and your waistline, but it’ll make you seem like the real romantic!

Belief: Doing 1000 sit ups a day will give me a 6-pack

Verdict- Myth!

This applies to doing countless arm exercises to rid yourself of the ‘bingo wings’. Yes training the muscles will make them stronger, firmer and more developed, but you won’t lose any more fat from that area of your body than you would by doing any other exercise.

Exercise AND sensible eating are required for serious body transformations!

It’s important to understand that the body is one big energy source, not little pockets on energy (aka fat) that is kept separately all over the body. When you exercise a certain body part, it doesn’t take fat from just that particular area, but from the body as a whole. This phenomenon is called spot reduction and simply doesn’t happen. One of the best ways to lose fat quickly is by eating a calorie deficit and doing a combination of weight training and cardiovascular workouts. Cardio is very helpful in helping you get rid of your fat belly while weight training will ensure your metabolism stay fired up to not only help the fat burning process, but to also ensure you are looking toned and fantastic when you shed the fat. Tip: One of the greatest motto’s I’ve heard is ‘’Abs are made in the gym but uncovered in the kitchen’’. Train them hard and eat well for a great midsection!

You can send any questions or comments to Julian via email at julian@perfit.com.au

As a fitness professional I hear a lot of ‘interesting’ theories in regards to health, fitness and weight loss. In some instances these theories are correct, but in other cases it’s simply a load of bulldust. So where does this misleading information come from? Sometimes it comes from a person trying to sell their brand new diet book, or the companies pumping out the latest and greatest ab-blaster-pro-2000 that promises to turn your flab to fab in just 15 seconds a day! On the other hand, sometimes it’s a more innocent case of someone obtaining fantastic weight loss results and attributing it to something they believe to have caused the results, when in fact it was something totally different.

Below is a comprehensive list of health and fitness beliefs and an explanation as to whether or not they are a hit or myth!

Belief: Eating after 7pm causes weight gain.

Verdict- Myth!

Your body and the calories it consumes do not know what time of the day it is nor do the calories consumed react differently depending on the time of the day you eat. It ultimately comes down to how much you eat and exercise over the whole 24 hour period. The reason night time eating gets such a bad rap is because by then most people have already eaten their days quota of calories so anything in addition to that will be stored as fat. If you eat sensibly during the day there is no reason your food intake has to go down with the sun.

Tip: Most times when we eat in the evening, it’s because we are bored. The most common time we grab for that packet of biscuits is when the TV ads come on. Instead of packing the calories on during the break, see how many you can burn by doing as many sit ups you can do before the ad break finishes (and try and beat on the next ad break!)

Belief: You have to give up all your favourite foods to lose weight.

Verdict- Myth!

Weight loss from fad diets is temporary...unless you plan on just eating celery for the rest of your life!

When people think of losing weight, they think of restrictive starvation diets and live in fear of being separated from their favourite indulgences. When constructing meal plans with my clients, I tell them that they are allowed to have anything in moderation. Love your pizza? Cool, you can have it! You’re a sucker for chocolate? No problem! When it comes to weight loss, it’s about what you eat MOST of the time, not SOME of the time. Having your favourite indulgence once a week is fine as it keeps you sane, avoids any huge breakout binge sessions and you avoid theguilt associated with cheating on your healthy meal plan. In actual fact, you may not even want to eat this type of food after a few weeks as it may make your body feel sluggish since its used to all the healthy food you’ve been eating (A bit like putting dirty oil into a high performance car).

Tip: Give yourself a reward meal once per week where the rules don’t apply. Some people call this a cheat meal but I prefer to call it a reward as cheating has negative connotations attached to it. Remember, you can have this reward meal only if you deserve it and have eaten well all week.

Belief: Since I will burn the same amount of calories if I walk 3km or run 3km, I may as well walk.

Verdict- Myth!

Sure, it is true that walking 3km will burn around the same amount of calories as running 3km but what happens after the exercise has finished is where the real magic happens. After you finish walking, your heart rate will drop back to resting levels very quickly whereas running will leave your heart rate elevated for a much longer time and therefore increase your calorie burning metabolism for longer.

Tip: If you can’t run the whole distance, don’t throw in the towel. Try interval training to build up your fitness levels. Try running for 30 seconds and walking for 1 minute until the end. As you increase your fitness, gradually change the intervals to longer runs and shorter walks until you can run the whole way!

Belief: Diets don’t work in the long run.

Verdict-Hit!

These days we live in a world of home delivery, remote control, on demand and drive through. We live in a word of instant gratification which in other words means we want things RIGHT NOW. When people want to lose weight, they want it right away so they turn to fad diets to lose weight. It’s true that these diets will help you to drop a few kilograms in a reasonably short amount of time but you’ll put them all back on (plus more) in the long run. On top of that, restricting the quantity and variety of food you eat puts a great deal of stress on the body’s internal functions. Starving yourself of various food groups can result in harmful and even potentially fatal nutrient deficiencies.

Tip: Weight loss and healthy eating is a lifelong relationship, not a one night stand. You’re better off losing weight gradually rather than dropping it suddenly as you are more likely to keep it off and won’t cause harm to the body.

Belief: I need to count calories/kilojoules

Verdict-Hit!

You need to know what you're putting in your body if you intend to eat correctly

I’m not a big believer in counting calories down to the last crumb but the bottom line is you need to know what you are putting in your body. It’s very common for me to have new or potential clients swear black and blue me that they eat healthy yet they are 20kg+ overweight and steadily increasing. Clearly they are not eating well but in many cases, it’s simply a case of the client having a slight misconception of what is healthy and they eat what they think is healthy. This is surely not a case of ignorance is bliss. The two most common errors people make is eating the wrong ratios of foods or simply just eating too much of it (even healthy foods can be fattening if you eat too much). In many cases when people do not take notice of what they are eating, the ratio of carbohydrates tends to be much higher than it should be while protein is much lower. In many cases, I’ve found new clients have been eating a ratio of about 25% Protein, 50% Carbs and 25% Fat (25-50-25). I advise my clients to shoot for a ratio of about 50% Protein 30% Carbohydrates and 20% Fat. (50-30-20) When it comes to portion sizes, people tend to grossly overestimate the correct size. When we eat out at restaurants we get served up steaks, pastas and risottos that can have up to 5 times as much food as we really need, and don’t get me started on supersized meal deals or all-you-can-eat buffets.

Tip: Learn to read and understand nutritional labels and every once in a while, weigh your meals to see if you are eating more or less than you should be. When you eat out with a partner or a hot new date, offer to share the desert! Not only will it save you money and your waistline, but it’ll make you seem like the real romantic!

Belief: Doing 1000 sit ups a day will give me a 6-pack

Verdict- Myth!

This applies to doing countless arm exercises to rid yourself of the ‘bingo wings’. Yes training the muscles will make them stronger, firmer and more developed, but you won’t lose any more fat from that area of your body than you would by doing any other exercise.

Exercise AND sensible eating are required for serious body transformations!

It’s important to understand that the body is one big energy source, not little pockets on energy (aka fat) that is kept separately all over the body. When you exercise a certain body part, it doesn’t take fat from just that particular area, but from the body as a whole. This phenomenon is called spot reduction and simply doesn’t happen. One of the best ways to lose fat quickly is by eating a calorie deficit and doing a combination of weight training and cardiovascular workouts. Cardio is very helpful in helping you get rid of your fat belly while weight training will ensure your metabolism stay fired up to not only help the fat burning process, but to also ensure you are looking toned and fantastic when you shed the fat. Tip: One of the greatest motto’s I’ve heard is ‘’Abs are made in the gym but uncovered in the kitchen’’. Train them hard and eat well for a great midsection!

You can send any questions or comments to Julian via email at julian@perfit.com.au