The Biggest Loser--have you seen it?

One of the most-watched TV shows in America, The Biggest Loser™ is not simply about a dozen obese men and women who are sequestered on a ranch with a goal of being the one who lost the most weight and winner of $250,000. That’s just the hook. In my opinion, TBL is a show about guts and glory. It’s an expose about people who have no choice but to exhibit great courage in the face of great obstacles and great opposition.

If you watch the compelling saga unfold, it becomes a weekly lesson in how to overcome the odds against you, the genetics within you, and the assumptions you or others have expressed about you.

But did you know that The Biggest Loser™ was originally slated to be a reality TV show in which “lucky contestants” would be given a medical or surgical solution to lose weight with the expectation that this “gift” would radically change their lives? Instead, right before the first taping, the first fortunate few contestants chosen for the show were given an “opportunity” to lose weight the hard way—through healthy and very controlled eating, along with grueling workout regimens.

Since 2004, almost all of the contestants have experienced AMAZING weight loss—sometimes up to 100 pounds per person. And the majority of the men and women are extremely grateful to be given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to concentrate on an area of their lives that is completely out-of-control. In fact, they push themselves (and so does their personal trainer) in ways they never thought possible—from forever saying “no” to their favorite unhealthy foods to submitting to difficult physical endurance challenges as well as exploring the reasons and feelings behind their eating habits—all in front of America!

The Biggest Loser™, if you’ve never seen it, is inspirational, not only for those who need to lose weight but also for the millions of us who must overcome our genetics, addictions, or fears.

More than a reality show about weight loss, it is a visual reminder that true and lasting change begins with little, daily, quantifiable changes that will add up to big results if you (1) never give up, (2) don’t go it alone, (3) and remain transparent and honest with yourselves and others!

Be encouraged,

Becky