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How do people on The Biggest Loser lose so much weight?



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I'm sure that quite a few of us pay attention to that show for obvious reasons. I'm currently exercising a good deal and taking in about 800 calories a day. The scale is MAYBE nudging downward these days but barely (my 3rd fill is in 2.5 weeks), so how do those people regularly lose 10 pounds per week? I know they exercise all day long but I still feel that there's something about the band that causes you to lose weight more slowly that you would if you were eating and exercising this way without it. Or am I missing something?

I'm totally thrilled with the band so this isn't a complaint. Just an observation.

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I think the fact that they exercise the whole day is the main reason why they lose so much weight. You really shouldn't compare your weight loss with those on the Biggest Losers. It is not reasonable to lose 10 pounds in a week unless you're on a liquid diet, plus pretty much all of the weight coming off would be Water.

With the band, the idea is that you would lose faster than with "regular dieting," but you would lose slower with than the gastric bypass.

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Intense exercise is their occupation. They don't do anything other than exercise.

The weigh-ins also do not always reflect only one week's loss, I read.

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Not all calories are equal. I eat between 1200-1500 calories a day in fresh fruits/veggies, lean meats and dairy and sometimes loose upwards of 5 lbs a week. I could eat the same calorie amount in junky food and wouldnt loose the same. I know this from trial and error unfortunately. :thumbup:

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They wear a body-bugg to measure their calories burned and have a goal to burn 6000 calories a day. They also MUST eat 1200-1800 calories a day. The math still adds up to a little over a pound a day.

I don't know about you guys but I have to work and sleep too. :thumbup:

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They definitely eat more than 800 calories per day. I have seen on the show where they have chastised players for NOT eating.

And, like the other posters have said, working out is their full time job while they are there.

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I'm sure that quite a few of us pay attention to that show for obvious reasons. I'm currently exercising a good deal and taking in about 800 calories a day. The scale is MAYBE nudging downward these days but barely (my 3rd fill is in 2.5 weeks), so how do those people regularly lose 10 pounds per week? I know they exercise all day long but I still feel that there's something about the band that causes you to lose weight more slowly that you would if you were eating and exercising this way without it. Or am I missing something?

I'm totally thrilled with the band so this isn't a complaint. Just an observation.

It sounds like you are not eatting enough calories. 800 calories is not alot especially since you are exercising alot. You can make you body hold on to fat stores because you are not eatting enough. Try adding in a few hundred more calories a day. When your body realizes it's gonna get enough nutrition everyday, the scale will most likely start to move again. Good luck!

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Hi...It is nice to find a fellow Joliet patient here. My doctor is Doctor Joyce. I am scheduled for the bank on May 11th. On the two week pre-op diet now. Ugh!!! It is actually getting easier though. Any tips on what to expect or what to do or not do before/after surgery?? Would love to hear whatever you would like to share.

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Hi, Lisa--Dr. Joyce is awesome! You don't have to worry about a thing. He and Dr. Lahmann have the best practice in the area, IMO. Their aftercare is excellent--and they're both such great guys.

My experience at Silver Cross was outstanding---excellent, excellent care.

I'll be happy to answer any questions you have---feel free to PM me!

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They definitely eat more than 800 calories per day. I have seen on the show where they have chastised players for NOT eating.

And, like the other posters have said, working out is their full time job while they are there.

It depends who it is. The guy mikey, the really big guy eats only 800 cals, i know this because he lives around here and is being trained by one of my friends that is a personal trainer.

They work out 6-8 hours a day and their food is on point! They dont cheat, theres no bad food in the house!

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It depends who it is. The guy mikey, the really big guy eats only 800 cals, i know this because he lives around here and is being trained by one of my friends that is a personal trainer.

They work out 6-8 hours a day and their food is on point! They dont cheat, theres no bad food in the house!

It was either Mikey or Kholi who wasn't eating enough earlier this season. I can't quite remember.

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Keep in mind that you are watching a show where there are more than one person weighing in. Not all of them lose 8 to 10 lbs a week. Usually the ones who have the biggest losses are the ones who are extra large. They have the most to lose. The ones who are closer to goal do not lose that much!! They struggle a lot, like many of us. Also they don't lose at that rate every week. They have all had disappointing times on the scale like all of us. However if we had the time to work out full time, we would lose faster than we do too. Personally, I do not want to have sagging skin so I am very happy with a one pound a week loss. Hugs!!!!

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Yep, its all the working out. Once my kids are out of school for the summer, I have a goal of increasing my workout from 2-3x per week to 5-6x per week. Currently, I can't do this because I have to be driving one kid to school at the same time as the Jazzercise class I would go to on M/W/F. Anyway, its funny as I've been telling people about my goal to exercise this much, everyone can't believe I want to exercise practically EVERY day. I tell 'em well if the Biggest Loser people can work out 9 hours per day, I can work out ONE! LOL

Honestly, I would HATE HATE HATE to work out 9 hours a day even if it was my full time job. Its just not worth it to me to lose weight faster.

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Walking can be done any time, and is cheap... An hour walk a day, increases weight loss, feels good because of the endorphine thing, and creates wonderful alone time where much good thinking can be done!!! Hugs!!!

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They also have a person that makes most of their food. Give me a Personal trainer, a Chef and a gym like that on my property and I would be a different story!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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