 Media Credit: theinsider.com How can we safely lose weight without overdoing it?
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Many of us students, as well as the average American are in a battle against the bulge, and trying to keep off those pounds. We may also take a look at television shows, like "The Biggest Loser," for inspiration and motivation to continue with this battle. However, this show and shows like it can give people the wrong impression and create unrealistic expectations (such as large weekly weight loss). If you've never caught an episode of the show, the norm for these contestants is to lose double digit pounds, equaling 1 to 3 percent of their original body weight. While there is nothing wrong with the obese losing their excess weight in order to get healthy, it is necessary to understand that unrealistic expectations can be just as hazardous to the human body as the extra pounds.
"The Biggest Loser" gets contestants who are morbidly obese (17 out of 22 contestants have a BMI over 40) to challenge one another in the hopes of winning $250,000 by losing the most weight. Many of these contestants participate in strenuous activities, which can be harmful after years of barely exercising. Instead of running a one mile race on the first day of a new work out, many of the average obese people out there should just move around the house more until they can get used to more scheduled exercise.
When considering the pros and cons of weight loss, Dr. Reed Berger, Assistant Clinical Professor for the Nutrition and Wellness Center comments that, "Any increase from baseline (if caloric intake remains stable) results in weight loss. You always have to take into account what the individual's baseline activity level is in order to lose weight." This means that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to lose weight. "If a person is a severely obese and sedentary individual, a good place to start is by changing the diet alone until they are capable of moving around," Dr. Berger notes. "If anyone starts off too fast they are at higher risk for injury and subsequent elimination or delay of their exercise program all together." Indeed, this can cause problems with hydration, electrolyte balance, and cardiac function. High impact workouts will add more stress to bones that are already stressed from the excess weight, causing stress fractures and possibly other serious complications.
So how can we avoid "over doing it" and be able to safely lose weight? First of all, you should realize that healthy weight loss can never be 20 pounds per week. Dr. Berger asserts that a 1% body weight loss per week is considered safe and acceptable. In the long run, many of these exercise programs and diets that "The Biggest Loser" endorses do not work. Exercise should become a lifestyle choice rather than a temporary measure. If a person cannot continue their workout routine or diet, then he or she will most likely regain the weight quickly. In order to establish a better solution, perhaps an individual can raise his or her exercise level gradually and to substitute food intake for a healthier menu. If a person cannot maintain the changes to create a new lifestyle, then the method they have decided upon is the wrong one for them.
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Bill Germanakos - The Biggest Loser - season 4
posted 3/01/10 @ 9:03 AM CST
Hi guys.
I appreciated the article, as it is refreshing to see comments other than "The Biggest Loser" represents an unhealthy way to lose weight.. (Continued…)
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