My thoughts on Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition

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My thoughts on Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition
Posted on May 31, 2011 by Amy_Dungan in blog, Weight Loss

I’m not a TV watcher. In fact, I don’t even have cable. Our TV is mostly used for DVD’s and video games. Recently we purchased a digital antenna thing at a garage sale. Now we get the local ABC affiliate station (hooray for local news and weather!) and a couple of channels I’ve never heard of. I started seeing commercials for Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition and decided I just had to watch. Not only was I interested in the methods that would be employed for such a life-changing experience, but I wanted to see the joy of someone changing their life for the better.

I’ll admit I tuned in with a skeptical mind. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe it could be done. My skepticism was more about the nutritional advice that would be doled out. I was concerned this would be another Biggest Loser, where they push low-fat while exercising the poor person to death. I’d like to tell you I was happily surprised, but I can’t.

So here’s the scoop: Trainer Chris Powell spends an entire year helping an obese individual make an amazing transformation. If you think about it, the title is certainly fitting. Trying to make a major change like this in a year is pretty extreme.

The premiere episode started with Mr. Powell choosing to help a beautiful young woman named Rachel Oliver. She’s 21 years old and started the year with 220 extra pounds on her. She looked to be pretty tall, so I’m guessing she carried her weight well. While I could see she needed to lose weight, I would never have guessed she was that much overweight.

The first thing I noticed is that she is an intelligent and lovely young lady. She’s a 1st grade P.E. teacher (yes, she noted the irony of her situation), and in high school was valedictorian and homecoming queen. She obviously had so much to be proud of in her life, and yet her self-worth was wrapped up in her weight. Now I’m not blaming her for that. I blame society. The media have splashed airbrushed, toothpick thin models in front of our young girls so often that they could hardly be expected to think an average, let alone large woman, is acceptable. It saddened me to see such a wonderful young person so down on herself. While it’s obvious we are all better off at a healthy weight, when did our appearance become WHO we are or how valuable we are? She is worth being respected, loved and listened to, regardless of her size. But I digress.

Rachel started her journey at 369 pounds. Her first week was spent in boot camp at Mr. Powell’s facility (in California I believe). He put her on a diet of 1500 calories, but we never heard much else about the nutritional recommendations. We did however get a view of one of her first meals at the facility: low-calorie chicken and dumplings. It didn’t appear to be low-carb in the least. Chris pushed Rachel very hard during their exercise sessions. I have no problem with pushing someone to keep them motivated, but wow – this almost seemed cruel. She was hurting and crying. Chris continued to push, refusing to let her give up. At first I wanted to smack him, but after she finished the exercise, she said something that indicated she was proud of herself. (I didn’t catch watch she said through her tears. It was a little difficult to understand.) She was crying, but happy, and to his credit, Mr. Powell was crying too. He was proud of her and you could see that he seemed to feel her pain. They returned to her home at the end of the week, where Chris stayed with her for the next 3 months. He converted one of her rooms into a gym and stocked her fridge with the foods she was allowed.

Her first goal was to lose 80 pounds in 3 months. This goal date also was very close to her birthday. Should she reach that goal, Chris was going to reward her with a trip to Greece, which is somewhere she’s always wanted to visit. At 29 days Rachel had lost an amazing 39 pounds! As of day 60 she was down a total of 60 pounds!

At this point her family support system was starting to crumble. Foods Rachel couldn’t eat were abundant and at one point the camera shows her Mom come in and ask them to stop exercising because of the noise. Chris called a family meeting and explained the need to make permanent changes. He walked in the kitchen and started tossing food. He mentioned a food had trans fats and tossed it. Yay for Chris! Then he tossed out perfectly good sausage. Boo for Chris. (Another indicator that low-fat foods were being pushed.) Meanwhile Rachel’s Mom had decided she couldn’t watch this anymore and left.

After 90 days, it was time to weigh-in. Rachel lost an amazing 80 pounds! She reached her goal exactly and in 3 weeks would be on her way to Greece. Her next goal was to lose 55 pounds in the next 3 months. Upon reaching that goal, they would climb Mt. Whitney together. Chris would no longer be with her, so it was up to her to keep things going.

We then get a glimpse of her vacation in Greece, which she took with her brother. Again I noticed she avoided olives in her salad. (Fresh olives from Greece? I can only imagine how fantastic those would have been.) The cafe they ate at gave them free desserts. She thankfully didn’t give in to the temptation and her brother showed his support, much to her dismay, by refusing to eat his as well. She felt it would be insulting not to eat it; he didn’t care. Go brother!

At her 6 month weigh-in she had lost an additional 50 pounds. She was 5 pounds short of her target. I have to interject how frustrated I was here. Rachel had done something amazing. She’d lost 130 pounds in 6 months and yet because of 5 pounds she was so disappointed. FIVE POUNDS! It’s great to have goals folks, but we also have to be realistic. 50 pounds is nothing to sneeze at and she should have been ecstatic. I was honestly amazed that she hadn’t hit a plateau by now. She also had a foot injury that wouldn’t have allowed her to climb the mountain, regardless of whether she reached her goal. I have to wonder what caused such an injury. Could it be all that extreme exercise she was doing? I didn’t catch the name of her injury, but she talked like it was a problem with her arch. Despite not reaching her goal, they did hike to the Bridge To Nowhere and she could choose to bungee jump off the 40 story bridge. The weight limit for the jump was 250 pounds and she was at 239. She chose to jump, even though she was scared. She loved it. She spoke of how she couldn’t have done that a few months ago. A very exciting moment!

Phase 3 was a little different. She needed to lose between 50 and 60 pounds. Hitting this milestone would allow her to have surgery to get all that excess skin removed. Those who have lost weight quickly (and this definitely qualifies as quick loss), you know how heavy that extra skin can be, as well as how it gets in the way.

Now she tells us she’s exercising 4 to 5 hours a day. Who realistically has time for that? We never hear her talk about work, so I have no idea if she went back to work during this year. If not, I guess she had plenty of time for obsessive exercising. What burns my butt about shows like this: it’s not realistic. People watch these shows to get hope and inspiration. This kind of craziness doesn’t help them in any way. Most of us have lives that don’t allow for hours of daily exercise. I’m a firm believer that exercise is not crucial to weight loss. (I lost 45 pounds on low-carb while doing little more than the occasional, casual walking. I wasn’t really exerting myself in any way.) I do think strength training is important though. Who wants to lose weight but be all flabby? But again, I’m getting off track here. Speaking of tracks, she alluded to the fact she did a lot of running, which can be very hard on the joints.

It was time for her 9 month weigh-in. Her loss was 3 pounds. In 3 months she’d only lost 3 pounds. Again my mind envisioned the almost inevitable plateau. It happens. We should look back at our progress, pat ourselves on the back for a job well done and enduring this far, then push forward. She did admit to some stress and not always eating on plan, but vowed she’d kept up the extreme exercising every day. (I do believe this kinda flows with my view above about exercise not being essential to weight loss.) So now she was nowhere near her 3rd phase goal and may no longer be a candidate for surgery. Here’s where I got angry. Powell told her she’d “screwed herself out of surgery”. I. Was. Livid. She physically busted her butt, ate on plan most of the time, and had lost a whopping total of 133 pounds in 9 months. Suddenly she was a screw up?!? Despite Powell, the Dr. examined her and said she was an excellent candidate for the surgery. Chris agreed to let her go through with it. While in the hospital her Mom admitted to being proud of her, which obviously meant the world to Rachel.

At the end of the year she is ready for her big moment . She will get to show the world a brand new Rachel Oliver. As she walks out people are gasping, cheering and crying. I’ll admit to feeling very proud of her myself. She’d accomplished something most people only dream of. And she stuck with it, despite suffering through grueling workouts and low-fat meals. Even her Mom had lost 50 pounds during that year. Her final weight was 208 lbs. She’d lost 161 pounds and looked fantastic. You could tell she not only physically felt better, but felt better about herself.

No one can argue that she’s better off having lost the weight. She can now look forward to doing things that can be difficult for an obese person. My issue with this show is two-fold: 1. This doesn’t help the regular Joe that wants to tackle their obesity problem at home. It’s not realistic in any way, so this can only be categorized as entertainment. 2. Participants have to suffer to get results. It’s just as likely these people could utilize a low-carbohydrate diet with moderate strength training and still see fabulous results. They also wouldn’t have to deal with the humiliation of being yelled at while exercising or being told they are a screw up when the body doesn’t perform on cue. I realize some people need tough-love motivation, but despite our knowledge of the body and how it works, it doesn’t always cooperate when we think it should. You can be doing everything right and that darned scale won’t budge for a while. That’s just how it is sometimes.

I hope people watching this show will take away the thought that it’s determination that helps you reach your goals. It’s not willpower. It’s not exercising until you injure yourself and fall into bed exhausted on a daily basis. It’s about making choices you are happy about and can live with for the rest of your life. Watch what you eat and exercise when you can. Don’t forget about the importance of nutrition in your menu planning, as well as “tools” that help you towards your goals, such as post-workout recovery using whey protein isolate.

As I’ve mentioned, this show is entertainment – not education. I believe Rachel, and all the other participants of this show, can continue on their journey of health and be just what they want to be. I’m just not as convinced they were given the right tools for the job. I hope I’m wrong.

Post Tagged with blog, diet, exercise, Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition, food, Health, helpful tools, low carb blog, Low-Carb, nutrition, TV shows, Weight Loss

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If you enjoyed this article please consider sharing it!

Jayreaser

I really do appreciate you taking your time to help us get a better understanding about the low carb issues that keep popping up. THANK YOU AMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vesper999

Thanks for reviewing the show. I was hoping for better but it sounds like it has some of the same problems as The Biggest Loser. I just can’t watch that show, much as I love to see wonderful transformations because I end up so frustrated at their methods.
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

You are very welcome Jay! I realize this is a little more fluff – it is entertainment after all – but it’s still about health and weight loss (and bad advice). :)
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

Glad to Vesper! I couldn’t get into The Biggest Loser for the same reasons. I get frustrated seeing people suffer needlessly. It doesn’t have to be that hard.
Mary Titus

Can you imagine combining low carb with slow burn. You will lose the weight, be happy and accomplish other life hassles with much less…hassle.
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

Exactly Mary!
http://twitter.com/GrannyMumantoog Sue

I can’t watch either of those shows. I’ve only made it through a couple brief excerpts before just wanting to cry. It’s terrible what they put those people through to entertain a ghoulish public. I think most “reality” shows have very little to do with reality and appeal to people’s baser instincts. The science is finally beginning to trickle down to the general public and hopefully our government will stop recommending the SAD way of eating which is killing people. When this happens how terrible will the so-called trainers on these shows feel for having treated these people so shamefully…for money! Appalling!
Maynard50725

I would like to know “how to make Chicken and dumplings low carbs/calories”?
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

I don’t know that it’s possible to make a healthy low-carb dumpling, since it’s just a ball of flour. Maybe someone has a recipe, somewhere, for a substitute.
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

I agree Sue. It’s amazing what we will put ourselves through, or allow others to put us through, for the sake of entertainment. I realize that the participants really do want to lose the weight or they’d never agree to it, but it’s still not realistic. I think the tide is slowly changing. It will take a long time for the old mode of thinking to die off, but once it does, trainers and the like will have to shift their ideals or get left behind.
John

Amy I have to disagree. I’m a 6’2 195 lb former college athlete who still enjoys lifting weights and pushing my body to the extremes(oh and I have a full time job and work out six days a week). I think we have to consider that there are a lot of people out there that enjoy the value of hard work. I’m the kind of person that believes if something comes easy then you should feel no satisfaction from doing it. Good, hard excercise builds self-esteem. Personally, I work out hard enough that I can pretty much eat what I want. I would say that if your readers are not getting the weight loss they want they should worry less about the food they eat and get their butt’s in the gym. It amazes me how people in this country always look for the “easy” way out and then sit back and question why we have an obesity epidemic on our hands.
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

Well, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Just keep in mind that we are not all the same. People with metabolic syndrome, such as myself, can’t use your methods to reduce weight or improve health. And I’m not anywhere near lazy.
GodBlessChrisPowell

I COMPLETELY disagree with you. Chris Powell is an amazing, compassionate man showing these people how to love themselves for the first time. What’s so unrealistic about it? The people aren’t doing anything different than the “average Joe” who also works out. It’s just looks that way because they are carrying an extra 200-400 pounds. Somehow I don’t think you’ve ever been in that predicament. Yeah it’s a little hard on them at first. So what! It’s hard for the majority of people to begin a regular work out routine. Yes, they work out for 4-5 hours a day, but once again that’s because they are carrying an extra 200-400 pounds and are trying to rid themselves of it. The “average Joe” may have 20-100 pounds extra and all they would probably need was at LEAST an hour a day. “Realistically” that is more attainable for anyone to do, but most people don’t want to do it. Also, any doctor will tell you that a healthy diet AND exercise is the best combination for anyone to lose weight. You may have a metabolic disorder, but that’s not exactly as common as obesity. You found a diet that works specifically for you and your disorder, but the majority of overweight people are just overweight. I’ve watched every episode so far and this is the ONLY reality show I watched and I am moved to tears every time. He more than gives these people the tools they need to succeed. He doesn’t just teach them work out routines, but he also teaches them proper nutrition too, without making them starve themselves. We should all have a class on that, especially the way America is today. Obesity has the highest morbidity rate right now and I praise Chris Powell for taking the initiative to help those in need. This isn’t “entertainment” for you to sneer at. I wouldn’t even say they get tough love. All he gives them is love and respect and help them love themselves as well. I’m sorry, but telling someone that they didn’t reach a goal because of their actions isn’t cruel. It’s real. You are your own worst enemy when you fight a battle with weight. Your last paragraph is very contradictory. Having the determination to make the right choices and being happy with them is the SAME THING as having the willpower to make the right choices too. How many of us have stood in the kitchen and thought “I can have carrots for a snack or I can have chips. What’s more appealing to me?” We make the right choices everyday by having determination AND the willpower needed to do so. There should be more people out there like Chris Powell who are willing to give all their time to help those who are ready to better their lives and God bless him for going to ABC to share this message with the world. This isn’t the Biggest Loser. These people aren’t contestants on some ridiculous show that doesn’t teach you how to actually keep the weight off once it’s gone. This is a show about Transformation of a person and that person’s life. These people have their lives back because of what you call “entertainment.” Shame on you and GOD BLESS CHRIS POWELL.
GodBlessChrisPowell

LITE CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 Tbsp. olive oil
½ onion, finely chopped
3 stalks celery, sliced thin
1 cup baby carrots, sliced thin
½ cup frozen green peas
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped or 1 Tbsp. dried
1 tsp. fresh thyme or ½ tsp. dried
2 Tbsp. no Trans fat margarine
2 Tbsp. flour
1 ½ cups reduced sodium, organic chicken broth
½ cup fat free half-and-half
1 cup low fat Bisquick mix
½ cup milk or buttermilk
½ tsp. sea salt and fresh pepper

Directions:
1. Place chicken breast halves in saute pan and cover with water. Place over medium
heat, uncovered, and cook for 10-12 minutes until chicken is poached and cooked
through. Remove from water and set aside to cool.
2. Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery and carrots, saute
for 4-5 minutes until carrots are just tender.
3. Remove from heat and add frozen peas, salt and pepper, parsley and thyme.
4. Cut cooled chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and add to vegetable mixture. Set
aside.
5. In small saucepan, heat margarine until melted, add flour and stir well forming a
paste. Add chicken broth and fat free half-and-half. Continue whisking over medium
heat until just starting to thicken. Add to chicken-vegetable mixture and return to low
heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
6. In small bowl combine Bisquick mix with milk with fork until just mixed. Drop
rounded tablespoons of dough on top of chicken-vegetable mixture and cover and
continue to simmer for another 7-8 minutes, just until dumpling is done.
7. Serve in bowls, garnish with a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

Serves: 4
Calories per serving: 425
Calorie equivalent: 4 oz. protein, 2 vegetables, 2 carbohydrates, 1 fat

Recipe courtesy of California Health & Longevity Institute
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

Thanks. It’s not low-carb in any shape or form, but maybe someone reading will still appreciate the recipe.
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

Ha ha! Calm down already. I didn’t say Chris was satan. I said I don’t agree with his methods. Last I heard I was allowed to have an opinion. And despite what most people think – these “reality” shows aren’t quite all real. Lots of scripted stuff is added in most of the time. So who knows what is really going on behind the scenes.
I can say that I was disappointed on this last show where the guy was doing 100 squats daily, pain and all, then found out his ACL was torn. Just push through the pain! Baloney. Pain is usually a signal something is wrong. I’m not talking muscle soreness – that’s different. I’m talking real pain, and this guy seemed to have it, but worked out anyway. Not smart.
And to answer your assumption that I’ve never had a weight problem – yes I have, to the tune of 70 lbs overweight. Granted it’s not 200 or 300 lbs, but it’s hard just the same and I’ve had to fight and struggle just like these people. I just found a method that works and doesn’t require I injure myself in the process. And metabolic syndrome is very common. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it’s a large part of the obesity problem today. I truly believe it is. But again – my opinion. You are free to not like it, just as I’m free to write it. :)
GodBlessChrisPowell

If you noticed I wrote the “average joe” struggles with anywhere from 20-100 pounds of extra weight. This includes you. I didn’t say you didn’t struggle with weight. You are nor have you ever struggled with 150+++++ pounds of weight. It’s a WHOLE different ball game after that. Enough said.
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

That’s your opinion. I have mine. Enough said. :)
Zowie

I enjoy the show, any show like that is very encouraging to me. The process is so slow that it’s nice to see it actually happen to someone condensed over time.

However, I believe the exercise routines they show are very harmful. If you have read any of the primal info out there you would know that exercising like that is stressing the body and actually causing damage.

They’re losing the weight, doing it quickly but what is happening to their health in the long run? That’s is what is most important. You’ve got to live in that body. Just looking good isn’t the answer but feeling good and actually being healthy.
http://www.facebook.com/livinlavidalowcarb Jimmy Moore

Actually, as a former 410-pound man who lost 180 pounds on the Atkins diet in 2004, I DO happen to know what it’s like to struggle with 150+ pounds of extra weight dude. It is a struggle, but no less of a mental and physical challenge than those with even 20-100 pounds to shed. Amy is right, this show is promoting some really whacked out therapies for shedding pounds that are seemingly focused intently on the exercise aspect and not healthy nutrition. Sure, you can shed pounds cutting fat and calories as he does, but it’s gonna catch up to these people. A healthy high-fat, moderate protein, low-carb approach combined with weight lifting and interval training will help them keep the weight off for good. By the way, I’ve kept off over 150 pounds of my weight loss for the past 7 years. ;)
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

Thanks for sharing your story Jimmy! I know you have inspired so many to work towards more than weight loss – but good health as well.
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

I do think it’s amazing to see a year’s worth of changes in one hour. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thrilled for each one of these people in regards to them losing weight. It’s hard, no matter how much you have to lose and what plan you use. Some plans are just much harder than others. You have an excellent point Zowie, that it’s not just about weight loss, it’s about living a healthy lifestyle. We have to look at the long-term picture. I do mostly strength training (I like the Slow Burn method) because I know heavy aerobics will eventually destroy my joints. I prefer not to need knee surgery or other such problems when I’m older.
Kellady

I am yet another person, who is an “average Joe” (or “Joanne”, as the case may be) who is over 200 lbs overweight, does not have a diagnosed “metabolic syndrome”, although anyone who is obese technically DOES have a metabolic syndrome; it’s called insulin resistance. I have successfully lost over 100 lbs on a low carb regimen (Atkins) in 6 months time, and my daughter lost 85 lbs in the same time frame. Never once did we feel pain from overdoing exercise during that process, nor did we ever feel hungry or deprived. Don’t knock something until you tried it. I’ve tried low fat all my life until I found low carb, and it doesn’t work, so I have earned the right to knock it. As far as being lazy goes, why would you work harder to achieve the same results, than is necessary? That’s just masochistic, which IS a disorder, of the mental variety.
http://www.facebook.com/jeffv5950 Jeff Viloria

speak for yourself, John. A lot of us are not former college athletes and have your metabolism. Although I was a former athlete myself, things start happening to you when you get past the age of 50. Having said that, does that mean there is no hope for me if I can’t push myself as hard in the gym for hours straight anymore? I’d like to believe there is an easier way to do things as we have progressed in this life. For example, I am glad I can travel 300 miles in a car and get to my destination in 5 hours, as opposed to a stagecoach and arrive a day and half later.
Kellady

Allow me to correct myself. I guess I’m not the “average joe”, since your definition of that title is one who has 20-100 lbs to lose. So, I DO fit into the criteria of the 150+ lbs of extra weight, and I assure you, the ball game is EXACTLY the same. It’s all in the way that you play it. ;) If you choose to continue deluding yourself, and to continue to struggle with your weight by following Chris Powell’s methods, have at it. That is certainly your prerogative. However, if you’d like to lose the excess weight nearly effortlessly, you may want to explore the low carb lifestyle. I promise that once your eyes are opened, you’ll never go back.
Kellady

John, I am a firm believer in the statement, “Work smart, not hard.” Why can’t you derive satisfaction from something if it comes easy? Life should not have to be a struggle. Based on your theory, we should all use manual tools, rather than power tools to accomplish tasks, because we couldn’t be proud of the finished product, since it was produced with less effort? That’s ridiculous! There really is an easier way out, when it comes to weight loss and optimal health. Amy, Jimmy and I (read my testimony/response to GodBlessChrisPowell above…all done without “getting (my) butt in the gym”…what we eat has EVERYTHING to do with it) are all living proof that we don’t need to kill ourselves to lose weight and be healthy. I know several low carbers, including myself, who would be glad to put our blood work up against yours, and I guarantee the LCer’s numbers would blow yours out of the water, if you subscribe to a low fat regimen. It’s about more than just weight loss; it’s about overall health. The reason that we have an obesity (and diabetes) epidemic on our hands, is directly related to the FDA’s push for low fat diets. The two primary ingredients that give food their flavor are fat and sugar. When they remove the fat from these products, they add more sugar to make it palatable to the average consumer…check out the reduced fat peanut butters, as just one example. Think about the time frame involved here…the obesity and diabetes epidemic are DIRECTLY correlated to the low fat movement. If low fat worked, Americans as a whole would be skinnier over the last 20+ yrs, not fatter. The other issue, is that when someone sees that something is labeled “fat free”, they think it’s a license to eat larger portions of it, which just exacerbates the problem further. So, I will continue to enjoy my bacon, heavy cream, full fat cheeses, and ribeye steaks, as my weight melts off of me, while you deprive and abuse yourself, to derive satisfaction from your accomplishments. To each their own. btw, my self esteem is just fine, thank you.
Kellady

No such thing, Maynard…sorry.
John

Jeff, I’m only 32 so I can’t really comment on your statement about being over 50 because I obviously don’t have that experience. But I think you got the wrong idea from my post. I’m not saying that diet isn’t important for some people. I just don’t really need a proper one because I’m very focused on working out. My point was really that working out helps self-esteem. Sure you can feel thin and look thin with a good diet but, for me, there is nothing like that feeling you get after a good workout. I feel strong, confident, and healthy. That’s why I really believe that a good workout program contains more psychological gains than a restrictive diet.
John

Glad to see your so literal. The tools analogy was nice however incorrect. Personally I enjoy working out and seeing the results in my body. My wife enjoys seeing them to haha. But, hey, if you’re the kind of person that enjoys being inside and is scared to death of this thing they call sweat then more power to you. I’m very healthy. I can run a mile in 6 minutes, dunk a basketball, and powerclean 285. But I enjoy living life and doing things like playing sports with my kids. If you’re not an active or athletic person then you may never understand. What would your mile time be? When’s the last time you even ran one?
John

Metabolic syndrome is present in about 5% of people with normal body weight, 22% of those who are overweight and 60% of those considered obese. Adults who continue to gain five or more pounds per year raise their risk of developing metabolic syndrome by up to 45%. This is from a medical website. So does this mean that most people become overweight and then develope this syndrome? Does this mean that it is the indivduals fault? I’m not trying to be controversial I really just want to know. I also noticed that on several websites “intensive excercise” is included as a major way to prevent and cure this particular syndrome.
Kellady

I believe that my analogy was right on target. More power to you, if that’s how you choose to spend your time. You are right, I don’t like to sweat, nor to abuse my joints with high impact exercise…talk to me in 20 yrs (or possibly less) when you are suffering with arthritic issues from the abuse you have put your joints through, with those jarring exercises for so many yrs. Trust me, my words will haunt you one day. I enjoy life, as well, just in different ways. Your ways aren’t any better, just different, so don’t judge me. Again, when’s the last time you had a blood profile run? Just because you look healthy on the outside doesn’t mean that you are healthy on the inside, which is what will kill you. Put your money where your mouth is, and put your numbers up against mine…bet ya I’ll win. :)
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

John, I appreciate that you aren’t trying to start a fight, but are genuinely interested.
A good book on the subject is by Gary Taubes called Good Calories, Bad Calories – but be warned, it’s a super intensive, 600 page research-filled read. A “lighter” version of that book is Gary’s Why We Get Fat and it’s also an eye-opening read. The documentary Fat Head is great to watch as well. It explains a lot of the faulty science that has helped fuel diabesity (diabetes/obesity).From what I’m learning so far, it’s kind of a chicken or egg situation. We do know that eating an abundance of the wrong kind of foods (like simple carbohydrates) can overstimulate insulin production, eventually causing insulin to be ineffective and requiring more more production to keep blood sugar under control. Our cells are starving because the glucose is being stored as fat instead of being released into the cells for energy. So the cells cry out for more food and the body says “eat dummy”, so we eat more carby foods, and so the cycle starts all over again. Does this start before obesity or after? I think it depends on the individual. I do believe that having the low-fat diet pushed on us for so many years has does a lot of damage, and it wouldn’t be near as bad if the government had stayed out of our meal plans and let us continue as we were – as our grandparents ate (or even our ancestors, per the paleo/primal movement). There is simply no real science to back up the assumption that animal fats are dangerous. We’ve spent the last 30 or so years following bad dietary advice. Do you remember when the diet plate was a hamburger patty, cottage cheese and a tomato slice? We knew more than we thought we did back then. :)
http://www.facebook.com/jeffv5950 Jeff Viloria

Okay, fair enough. I believe in the great feeling you get when working out also. Heck, I work out now. Just not hours like the show suggests or unrealistically portrays.(I used to, though)I love that feeling of sweating and working those muscles. And walking away from the gym newly showered with that glowing feeling of self accomplishment. But to be fair, you may have rubbed a few the wrong way with your last statement, and I will quote you:
” It amazes me how people in this country always look for the “easy” way out and then sit back and question why we have an obesity epidemic on our hands.” Who said anything about looking for an easy way out? We are looking for alternatives than what these crazy reality shows portray.
Remember, do not generalize people. Stuff happens to people during their lives and as they age also. People develop conditions, and diseases, etc. God forbid the happens to you. Let’s hope it doesn’t in order for you know these things. Sometimes the words you use provoke a different reaction than you would have expected when you really meant another message.
So, in summary, for a lot of us who are aged, with certain conditions, etc….we would like to know that there is “an alternate” way (NOT EASY as you so mistakenly term it) to lose weight through a lifestyle diet and limited workout plan. We’d like to know that there is still hope for us still, because unlike you in your young strong body a lot of us just cannot work out for hours and eat anything we want.
Lastly, take it from me. I was once strong and athletic in my 20s and even 30s as well. But until you reach the age of 50+, you might not be singing the same song of working out for hours and eating anything you want. Unless you are one of the genetically lucky ones. Your metabolism will go against you. You may not have the same testosterone level and energy to sustain that prolonged kind of workout and things will change. You will have the desire to stay in shape, but you will like to know that there is still hope that you need not have to work out for hours in order to stay in shape.
http://www.facebook.com/jeffv5950 Jeff Viloria

Wow, the more I read your comments I am beginning to think you have some sort of elitist attitude. Unless people are not athletically gifted or have the energy to work towards that goal, it seems that people who are unlike you should be banished from this earth.C’mon, enough of the showing off, already. PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT. Hopefully,God forbid, you do not learn the HARD WAY. You think you will be able to run a mile in 6 minutes at the age of 60? Or are you just one of those young people who have the “Invincible Mentality Syndrome”? People get old, stuff happens. Take it easy on us ordinary people.
http://www.healthylowcarbliving.com Amy Dungan

”I just don’t really need a proper one because I’m very focused on working out.”
John, I don’t know if you meant this the way it sounds, but honestly, we all NEED a proper diet. You may look great, but what is going on inside? Dr. Mary Vernon once shared a story of a patient of hers who looked like he belonged on a Chippendale’s calender, but when they did a lipid profile his triglycerides were well over 600! He was a heart attack waiting to happen. She called him metabolically obese. I hope that your lipid profile is great, but if you are able to just eat whatever you want, and you do, you might want to get checked regularly. Staying thin doesn’t always equate to staying healthy. Just my 2 cents of motherly concern. :) (Although I guess that’d be sisterly concern since I’m only about 6 years older than you. LOL)
Kellady

One last thought: I believe firmly in “Everything in moderation”. Too much of a good thing can be bad for you, too. “Even the suns burns, if we ask too much.” ~ excerpt from “After Awhile” by Veronica A. Shoffstall
GodBlessChrisPowell

Since you didn’t bother asking I actually struggled with weight at a very young age and when it became risky to MY HEALTH as all of you are stressing, I did something about it. I exercise regularly AND have a very healthy, well-balanced diet thank you. Who said anything about low-fat only? I don’t think any of you are realizing that low-fat, low-carb, high-protein, and blah blah blah can ALL be used in combination WITH a healthy exercise regime. That’s all I was saying. By the way DUDE, I’m a very healthy young woman who looked in the mirror one day just like these people did and found I didn’t recognize who’d I’d become. I’ve dealt with the mental and physical side of it and in fact am STILL dealing with the mental aspect. I suspect I always will considering a high percentage of my family struggles with obesity. I HAVE lost the excess weight “nearly effortlessly” thank you and there is no study out there that can disprove a healthy diet mixed with a healthy work out regime suited to EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON is harmful to ones health. Enough said. =D
GodBlessChrisPowell

I totally agree with you. More people need to spending their money on gym memberships instead of take-out and movies. The sad thing is that everyone assumes they have to kill themselves in the gym to see results. That’s not what we’re saying. We are just saying to at least GO to the gym and start small. Eventually you work your way up to a regime that suits your needs. It’s pretty simple, but you have to actually take the initiative. As far as aging goes, I wouldn’t say that disables anyone from a good workout session. Yeah it may be different than when you were in your 20s, but hello, I’m sure that’s not the only that’s different. People need to learn to take their age and what happens in life and continuously adapt their diet and exercise around it. That’s also why vitamins are highly recommended. To replace anything your body loses or just don’t make anymore as you age and your body changes. Oh and the word diet is being misused a bit much on this page. It actually means a “well-rounded” intake of food according to daily recommended values and each individuals needs.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_U2MHXPFKYVEG65FPTBBPIE4H7E Mariour

Extreme weight loss, however, comes with risks. Like with any natural process ? For more info visit

http://fitnessandweightloss.us

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