I am gearing up to interview trainers Bob and Jillian this week or next week for an article about The Biggest Loser and its impact on the fitness industry.
If you could ask trainers Bob and Jillian any question about the way they train or handle clients, what would it be?
Thanks!
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Amanda Vogel, MA human kinetics
Active Voice Writing Service for fitness professionals
Do they ever worry that they're really going to hurt someone (as in, overdoing things)? What are their thoughts on the importance of rest and recovery, which are rarely (never?) shown on the show...
You should get them to articulate the breakdown of an actual real day/week with respect to steady cardio vs weights vs other (swimming, hiking, etc.) - it isn't all day every day intense weights as what is shown in the show clips.
I think the show is great for getting people motivated, but as a trainer it puts unrealistic expectations on us. They see their fast and big results and expect us to do the same for them. So I would like the show or trainers explain that 15-20 pounds in a week is not healthy and very unrealistic.
You should get them to articulate the breakdown of an actual real day/week with respect to steady cardio vs weights vs other (swimming, hiking, etc.) - it isn't all day every day intense weights as what is shown in the show clips.
I'd be surprised if a "week" is really a week in that show. I'd say the weigh ins for instance are more like 9-12 days. If I ask you on Saturday what you weighed "last week", that could easily be last Monday i.e. 12 days ago. Ask them this, though I doubt they can answer it due to legal obligations.
I'm not a trainer (nor do I play one on TV), but are they the only PTs the contestants work with? (i.e., is there other staff "behind the scenes" available for training 24x7?)
How do they find trainers to work with the contestants that get sent home?
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"I have accepted the fact that there will never be a kairos moment for me, just an uneventful Miltonian plow-the-fields discipline." - Rick Rescorla
I'd be surprised if a "week" is really a week in that show. I'd say the weigh ins for instance are more like 9-12 days. If I ask you on Saturday what you weighed "last week", that could easily be last Monday i.e. 12 days ago. Ask them this, though I doubt they can answer it due to legal obligations.
It's pretty common knowledge that some weeks are 7 days and others are 10 or 12. They also weigh & get medical tests in the morning and then "find out" at the evening so that the producers can pick the weighing order for the best production/suspense/TV.
I'm not a trainer (nor do I play one on TV), but are they the only PTs the contestants work with? (i.e., is there other staff "behind the scenes" available for training 24x7?)
They have other trainers work with them when not on camera. And for the record one of THE dumbest trainers I have ever met is one of those people. He got fired from my gym basically for being such a moron.
There is more than one meaning to the title of the show.
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How do they find trainers to work with the contestants that get sent home?
As far as I know most contestants gain the weight back, so are probably not working with anyone.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
They have other trainers work with them when not on camera.
As far as I know most contestants gain the weight back, so are probably not working with anyone.
I got the impression from the source I've spoken to so far that there are not a lot of other trainers working behind the scenes. I will find out more soon.
According to the show's sources, most contestants do NOT gain back all the weight.
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Amanda Vogel, MA human kinetics
Active Voice Writing Service for fitness professionals
You may not be, im just assuming that due because I dont know the names of the Brit trainers and most of you are yanks ;-)
So, I cant comment on those, but I do know in our Brit version that is being aired currently, the trainers adopt an almost sort of boot camp approach, screeming at the contestants to train harder.
Not always a bad idea imo.
I think they key thing is, its primarily a tv programme, so it has to make good tv at all costs. A calm, sensible approach to training/diet/health etc wouldnt cut it due to our tv channels being full of this type of programme.
As to it being right/wrong, lets be honest, the only type of PT who will get on the show has to fit into that standard, meaning if they werent there, somebody else would fill their space.
If I could ask them one question.....
"Do you think the show portrays a healthy message to members of the public looking to lose weight?"
Amanda, this is a great opportunity! I am a psychiatrist, and part of my practice is working with patients who are having weight loss surgery. On the show, I often see jillian help her clients discover their deeper issues with food. I see her make big interpretations on camera, but I wonder how much psychotherapy the contestants get behind the scenes. To my knowlege, jillian is not a licensed therapist, although I think her mom might be. Opening up major emotional wounding on camera is probably part of the consent process, but as someone who actually does this work, I wonder how much access they have to licensed professionals who specialize in eating disorders? I would never try to design fitness programs or train my bariatric patients. We have exercise physiologists who do that! So why aren't therapists and psychiatrists not more prominently featured on the show? Feel free to PM me if I can elaborate further
Thanks to everyone who has responded. I am still in the middle of the interview process. Some of the questions you suggest are best suited to the show's publicist or producer - I plan to speak with them, as well.
For the full results of what I discover, check out IDEA Fitness Journal, September 09 issue.
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Amanda Vogel, MA human kinetics
Active Voice Writing Service for fitness professionals
Amanda - if you appreciated any of the information you received here, I hope you come back and give us a way to see your article because I'm not sure that anyone would join IDEA just to read it.
Amanda,
Good luck with your article it should get quite a response in the industry. I would be curious what kind of pre-screening the contestants go through before starting on the super intense workout regime that the show portrays. We all know that typically clients with these type of weight issues have a lot of health issues like heart disease and high blood pressure and the intensity level seem an accident waiting to happen.
Amanda - if you appreciated any of the information you received here, I hope you come back and give us a way to see your article because I'm not sure that anyone would join IDEA just to read it.
Thanks, but I'm not really suggesting or expecting that a person would join IDEA just to read an article .... just offering the reference for those who might be interested.
If I get a public link from IDEA, I will post it on this forum.
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Amanda Vogel, MA human kinetics
Active Voice Writing Service for fitness professionals
Amanda,
Good luck with your article it should get quite a response in the industry. I would be curious what kind of pre-screening the contestants go through before starting on the super intense workout regime that the show portrays. We all know that typically clients with these type of weight issues have a lot of health issues like heart disease and high blood pressure and the intensity level seem an accident waiting to happen.
I will check out the idea article.
Hi Nikki,
The contestants receive extensive pre-screening and continue to be under a doctor's close supervision throughout the show. Plus, the intensity levels we see are built up over time.
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Amanda Vogel, MA human kinetics
Active Voice Writing Service for fitness professionals
Hey, we have two female fitness writers from Vancouver. What are the odds? Amanda and Nikki, do you two know each other personally outside this forum or did you only learn of each other here?
Hey, we have two female fitness writers from Vancouver. What are the odds? Amanda and Nikki, do you two know each other personally outside this forum or did you only learn of each other here?
Hey Jean-Paul,
Nikki and I do know each other! I used to teach Spinning classes at her training studio (a great place).
But Nikki, I didn't know you were a fitness writer!
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Amanda Vogel, MA human kinetics
Active Voice Writing Service for fitness professionals
Thanks, but I'm not really suggesting or expecting that a person would join IDEA just to read an article .... just offering the reference for those who might be interested.
If I get a public link from IDEA, I will post it on this forum.
Amanda, looking forward to the article (I'm a big fan of The Biggest Loser), I really hope you can get a public link. Do you know what date the sept issue is out?
I am not a fitness writer just a blog poster! I will leave the expert writing to you! We keep ourselves busy with our training studio and our software companY!
What some fitness pros think of The Biggest Loser, & how trainer Bob Harper responds
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Originally Posted by BritLad
Amanda, looking forward to the article (I'm a big fan of The Biggest Loser), I really hope you can get a public link. Do you know what date the sept issue is out?
Here's an exclusive look at what some fitness pros (experts who represent NSCA, NASM, ACE, ACSM and more) say about The Biggest Loser and how some of the show's insiders respond.
Plus, the scoop on what trainer certifications Bob and Jillan hold.
Glad to see the article turned out well. Thanks for the link!
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
BIGGEST LOSER If you could ask Bob & Jillian ...
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