The Biggest Loser

       There was a comment made during a commercial for The Biggest Loser today. "Why would you want to show America how ridiculously fat you are?!" This really upset me. As someone who has struggled with my weight my entire life, I commend every contestant that does go on the show. How many people sit on their couch, just WATCHING The Biggest Loser? A heck of a lot more than the Biggest Loser contestants. The people that send videos into the show genuinely want to lose weight. They are willing to take the viewers on their weight loss journey with them, no matter how heavy they start. That alone is inspiring to me. They put in HOURS of hard work. They are real people, with real health concerns, that want to change their lives. 

         I've watched probably 4 or 5 seasons of The Biggest Loser, and the contestants usually are very insecure about how heavy they are. There's always the two or three that are labeled the heaviest on the ranch, and I'm sure that is not an easy thing to deal with; especially when you are surrounded by people with the same issue. No one likes the weigh-ins, where the men have to be shirtless and the women are in sports bras. They don't do it to show America "how fat they are.", they do it to show America that if you're struggling with obesity, you can overcome it, too. 

          Yes, it's a reality show. I get it. But this is probably one of the most REALISTIC reality shows because these people are forever changing their lives, AND inspiring millions every step of the way. They have trainers, and set schedules, but the contestants are doing ALL of the work. You can have a doctor or a trainer consistently tell you to do something, but they can't do it for you.

           I'm very fortunate that growing up, I was never really bullied for being overweight, but I am extremely defensive over these things because I do know how difficult it is to lose weight.  

       I believe that if you don't know, you shouldn't talk. If you watch the show and it's just not your cup of tea, it doesn't pertain to you, etc. that's fine. That's your opinion, and you are fully entitled to it. However, if you haven't seen the show, you don't know anything about the struggle of being overweight, I don't think you have room to make ignorant comments.