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We Are NOT The Biggest Loser

[ 19 ] 07/02/2009 |

How many people’s mouths dropped just now?  You’re thinking, did I read that right?  April just said that?!

Yes.  I did.  Don’t get me wrong, I love that show and think that it truly does inspired people to change their lives, but let’s be honest here.  It’s a reality TV show.  And we all know there is not much reality in Reality TV.  They need ratings just like every other TV show.  So, how does a reality TV show about weight loss get ratings?  They show huge weekly weight losses.

And how do they do this?  Those folks eat, breathe, and sleep weight loss.  Literally.  They leave their families and homes to go to the ranch (which I have read is much like a college dorm).  They work out no less than 8 hours a day, and most days they work out 12 hours a day.  And that’s six days a week.

Can you work out that much?  Of course you can’t.  It’s not realistic.

So, why then, do you get discouraged if you “only lose a pound”?  Believe me, I am the first to say I miss the 4 lb loss weeks, but I was working out nearly an hour and a half every day.  And well, I do work out around an hour a day 4-5 times a week, but sometimes I don’t.

I’m not saying that I’m not putting in the effort, but what I am saying is that I am doing what is realistic for me right now.  So, I am losing what is realistic for me right now.  Yes, it can be frustrating and annoying, but overall I am very happy with each and every loss.

Here at the Sisterhood, we are all about realistic.  We don’t expect you to lose 10 lbs in a week.  Because in the REAL world, that’s just not going to happen unless something is wrong.

What we do expect from you is for you to try your best.  This is a place where you can be honest and accountable for your actions in your weight loss journeys, and you know what?  Not once will we judge you.  Not once will we ridicule you.  We may “go Jillian’ on you, but hey, we all need that every so often.

But we also know that you need picking up when you fall.  And we’re here for you.  We know that you need a good pat on the back when you do well.  So, we’re here for you. And even if you need to talk about something totally unrelated to weight loss, and you feel like you have no one else.  Well, we’re here for you.

That’s why it completely bums me out when I see people that just seem to disappear on weigh-in days.  Why?  Is it because you didn’t lose 10 lbs?  Did you just have a bad week?  Tell us.  We want to know!  We want to pick you up if you need it!  Even if you just go to your blog  and say, “I gained weight, and it sucked.”  We are here to say back, “Hey! It’s okay!  You’ll do better next week!”

Because in real life, sometimes things happen, and we do gain, and we do have bad weeks, and that is okay.  Just as long as you keep trying.

Celebrate those one pound losses!  Don’t worry if they’re not 10 lb losses because we love you anyway!

And we may not be the Biggest Loser, but we all are the Biggest Winners.  At least we all are in my book.

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Category: MIND IT

About april: I'm a brand new cyclist! In just a few short months, the sport has reminded me that it's all about the journey, and I need to enjoy the ride. I live with my two dogs and two birds, and love to spoil my nephew. Oh yeah, and I'm 32. View author profile.

  • ladybugs714

    That's a good point-we have to be accountable for the good and the bad. We aren't going to get “voted” off our team or this sisterhood because we gained or maintained for the week. Any loss is a good thing!

    I know I am thrilled when I see anything over a pound drop off the scale. But if I don't then it just makes me work harder the next week. Having support makes a huge difference to me….and I am thankful for everyone that comments on my blog…it keeps me motivated when I feel like gasping for air because the goal line seems so far away!

    But like most of you…at least I am headed in the right direction!

  • http://slimmerfancypants.blogspot.com/ Nancy Sabina

    Thank you for this. I am one of those “one pound loss” people and it really is a downer. But I know you're right. One pound is still something! And it's something I worked hard for! As hard as I could.

    I do get my motivation for hard work from The Biggest Loser sometimes. But you're right that I shouldn't even *think* about getting the same results as them.

    Just… thanks.

  • http://a-woman-of-moderation.blogspot.com/ ValleyGirl

    Great post, April. You're so right. I notice, too, a lot of people seem to disappear on weigh-in days and I've been betting it's because they didn't show a loss ~ maybe even a gain. But you're right ~ if we want the accountability and the encouragement, we need to participate regardless. If nothing else, than to let the other “gainers” know they're not alone!!

  • http://www.smartstrongsexy.blogspot.com/ Brooke

    i wish i could lose 10 pounds in a week – then i'd be done! ;) j/k (i had to say that after your post about your coworker's comment)

  • http://lifeofmine.net/ Priscilla

    Yay! This post was so needed. I had been stuck on a plateau since the first week but I kept chugging along because I knew that someday, a loss would come…and it did!
    That show is not realistic at all and I couldn't do it, even if I was at the ranch! That's a ton of exercising!!
    We are all doing so well and we need to remember that anything we are doing to improve ourselves is fabulous!
    Great post!

  • http://cristinasfitnessblog.blogspot.com/ Cristina

    Wow, very well put and so very true. We should celebrate that 1lb loss. It might not seem like a lot but all those -1lbs add up, just like the +1lb up added up to where we are now. :-)
    So, yes…I will celebrate my .6lb loss or my 1lb loss!

    And you're right, that show is reality TV and I've heard and read several articles about how so many of the people on that show have gained their weight back. It's just impossible to leave the ranch and continue working out the way they do there. Those people need to go back to their families and jobs, etc. I guess there is truth that people that loose slowly tend to keep it off vs. those that drop the weight so fast. Those dropping so fast are going to extremes and you can't live like that forever.

  • http://bacardimama.blogspot.com/ Nancy

    Thank you so much for this post. I've been creeping along with one pound a week losses and getting down on myself lately for it. I keep telling myself that if I lose the weight slowly, it will stay off. Thanks for the validation. I'm off to exercise!

  • SkinnyLisa

    We are ALL winners- you are right about that. I would have been happy for a one pound loss instead of the one pound gain I had this week! Oh well, there is always next week.

    Hang in there everyone- don't leave us now. We're here for you.

    I also want to remind everyone that we, the writers for SJ, have our own blogs on this site that we write posts on from time to time. Look at the right side bar…see our pretty pictures? Click on “Lisa's Blog” (or Aprils Blog or Christy's blog or Melissa's blog or Thea's blog….) to see what we have written about our own individual journey's. The latest post we have written on our personal blog is listed. Go ahead and check it out. Those posts do NOT show up on the main page.

    My latest post is titled “Frustuation” and I bet some of you can relate.

  • http://www.imadramamama.wordpress.com/ Thea @ I'm a Drama Mama

    This is so true. And if you got back and look at all the people that were on that show, the majority of them have gained at least some of the weight back…because they got back to living their own lives, not some trainers life.

    It took me over a year to lose 35 pounds. But I did it. And that's the important part. Not how long it takes, but that you keep trying…

  • http://violazuppa.wordpress.com ViolaZuppa

    I totally agree. I've had a couple of big losses, but if it keeps up like that I might actually get worried that there is something wrong.

    I found the following (and I apologize to the original author because I can't remember where it came from) in 2008 and updated it this year to remind me that a 1 lb loss is nothing to sneeze at. If you know where it came from please let me know, I can't find an original source anywhere.

    IF I LOST 1 LB EACH WEEK OF 2009
    • By Valentine's Day I'd be 7 lbs lighter
    • By St. Patrick's Day I'd be 11 lbs lighter (with the luck of the Irish I'll make my goal)
    • By Easter I'd be 15 lbs lighter (I'd be a cute bunny)
    • By Memorial Day I'd be 22 lbs lighter (won't let it rain on my parade)
    • By Independence Day I'd be 27 lbs lighter (that's a neat declaration of independence from overeating)
    • By Labor Day I'd be 37 lbs lighter ( what a wonderful reward for all my hard work)
    • By Columbus Day I'd be 421 lbs lighter (what a joy to discover what I can do)
    • By Halloween I'd be 44 lbs lighter (I didn't think I had a ghost of a chance)
    • By Thanksgiving I'd be 48 lbs lighter (I'd have so much to be thankful for)
    • By Christmas Eve I'd be 51 lbs lighter (talk about a merry day)
    • By New years Ever I'd be 52 lbs. lighter (it's not just a new year, it's a new ME)

  • http://www.whooosthatgirl.com Lissa_ShrinkingJeans

    So true! Great post, April!

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  • http://jessleftthelighton.blogspot.com/ Jessica

    Thanks so much for these words! They really were what I needed to hear today. Feeling a little down about my unavailability to work out as much as I want to because of other commitments during the month of June. I know it will get better in July, but it won't ever be as intense as The Biggest Loser and thanks for the reminder!! Have a wonderful day!

  • http://ann-shesgonnablow.blogspot.com/ Ann G

    Thanks for those words of encouragement, April! I really needed to hear them, especially RIGHT now! I have been having a really discouraging week and needed that extra boost of “it's ok”!!

  • http://mommymotivation.me/ Cathy

    I love, loved, loved this post! Yes! Amen! Preach it! You go girl! Big pats on the back for putting it out there!

    Hugs,
    Cathy

  • http://laurakay428.blogspot.com mommyp

    definitely celebrate those 1 pound losses. Here is a great poem that I've found on the internet that puts it into perspective:

    Only One Pound

    Hello! Do you know me? If you don't, you should. I'm a pound of fat. And I am the happiest pound of fat that you would ever want to meet.

    Want to know why? It's because no one ever wants to lose me; I'm ONLY ONE POUND, just a pound!

    Everyone wants to lose three pounds, five pounds, or fifteen pounds, but never only one.

    So I just stick around and happily keep you fat. Then I add to myself, ever so slyly, so that you never seem to notice it. That is until I've grown to ten, twenty, thirty or even more pounds in weight.

    Yes, it's fun being ONLY ONE POUND OF FAT, left to do as I please.

    So, when you weigh in, keep right on saying, “Oh, I only lost one pound.” (As if that were such a terrible thing) For you see, if you do this, you'll encourage others to keep me around because they'll think I'm not worth losing.
    And, I love being around you ? your arms, your legs, your chin, your hips and every part of you. Happy Days!!! After all, I'm ONLY ONE POUND OF FAT!!!

  • http://jiggles.airynothing.com/ barb_at_jiggles

    Great post! I've been getting frustrated reading comments from folks down on themselves for *only* losing a pound or two.

    Healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds per week, no more. In fact, when I was on eDiets, one week I lost more than a couple pounds one week and they suggested that I up my daily calories to keep the loss at a healthy level. So not only should we celebrate every loss, but if we want to do this right, without harming ourselves, then 1-2 pounds should be our goal.

  • Christine R

    Great post! I have never seen the show, but can imagine how unrealistic it is. Who in real life can exercise for 8 hours a day??? Any loss is a good loss in my book!!

  • Christine R

    Great post! I have never seen the show, but can imagine how unrealistic it is. Who in real life can exercise for 8 hours a day??? Any loss is a good loss in my book!!