Losing it on "Loser"

The time has come for me to spout off about my love-hate relationship with the TV show Biggest Loser. Over and over I decide not to watch any more because I hate the trainers’ domineering behavior, the contestants’ subservience, and the misinformation the show disseminates (see the list I link at the end of this post), but then I cave and tune in again, in order to follow the contestants as they shrink and get healthier (which can be inspiring at times).  

I could talk about this week’s episode (10/25) and how the ridiculous weight-loss expectations set up contestants for “failure” (and reinforced the message that losing two or three or five pounds in one week—or even gaining a few back—is failing!) but it was last week’s episode of BL (10/18) that got me thinking about writing this blog.

That episode opens with one contestant, Sunny, winning a trip home to see her family for a week. Naturally, she’s ecstatic at the opportunity to spend time with loved ones she’s been missing for a month. She jumps around and squeals—as the other contestants applaud her good fortune. Sunny’s joy even overrides the “twist” included in her prize [There always is one]: Her weight loss for that week will represent her entire team, meaning that if she does not lose a higher percentage than the average weight loss of at least one other team, a member of her own team will be eliminated.

Not to worry—Sunny will live to regret her rejoicing. Her trainer, Bob (who’s in a snit because Sunny’s prize also dictates he must accompany her to Texas to train her one-on-one), takes her to task in front of everyone: “Hey, Sunny,” he says, “This is going to be work. This is not going to be fun! You’re not going to have any f****** fun. . . . If I have anything to do with it, [you’re] not going to see anybody but me the whole time.” [Message to viewer: Working out is not, should not, cannot be fun, and weight loss success happens only in misery and isolation.] Bob glares at Sunny’s stunned expression. “You think I’m kidding?” [Actually, yes—we all know you’re exaggerating for obnoxious dramatic effect.]

So Sunny squares her shoulders, looks Bob dead in the eye, and says, “How dare you try to make me feel guilty for looking forward to seeing my family! I’m happy I won this prize, and I’m going to enjoy it—in spite of the fact that I have to let you come along.”

Oops. My mistake. For a minute there I imagined I was watching someone respond normally in a real-life situation. But this is not real life; this is reality TV. And all I can figure out is these contestants must sign a “will not talk back or stand up for myself” clause in order to compete for the $250,000 prize.

How does Sunny react to Bob’s tongue lashing? To her credit, she at least expresses some dismay at Bob’s threat to ruin her hometown visit. Other than that, though, all we see is her kowtowing to Bob’s scolding, apologetically uttering, “No, Bob, no fun” and “No, Bob, it’s not a vacation.” Later, she talks to the camera, promising to prove herself to Bob. [Because she’d better please that overbearing trainer—or else!]

I’ll admit, at this point, I got so disgusted that I quit watching. But that disturbing dynamic niggled at me so much I decided to write about it, and I went back later and viewed the episode in its entirety.

This episode also treats us to some workout scenes with Bob and Sunny in Texas. Bob seems to take pleasure in taunting a sweaty, exhausted, nauseated Sunny for celebrating when she won her prize, intimating that her torture sessions/workouts are his way of punishing her for her foolish excitement.

   

Meanwhile, back at the BL ranch, we see contestant Vinnie joshing around with his teammates about his belly, which he has nicknamed Cecil. He squishes his belly button up and down as if it’s a mouth and quips, “I’m trying to get off Vinnie because I’m killing him . . . slowly.” The group laughs. [It occurs to me that amidst all the yelling, cussing out, grunting, panting, and crying, one sound we don’t often hear on BL is laughter. I enjoyed the humor break.]

But evidently funny and thin are not compatible. Vinnie’s trainer, Dolvett Quince, talks to the camera about his disdain for such hijinks. “People with cancer don’t name their tumors.” [Ya wanna bet, Mr. DQ?] “This is a thing that’s literally killing you. This is a life and death situation. . . . I think my team has been guilty of being a little too playful leading up to this point.” Later, in the gym, when a couple of his contestants giggle at a funny comment while they exercise [Note, they did not stop working], Dolvett watches in disgust, then reams them out: “What the f*** is so funny? Why are we laughing over here? . . . I am sick and tired of the giggling, the laughing, the not taking things serious!”

Of course that leads to a treadmill-side therapy session—which, as usual, consists of the trainer lecturing the contestant about some unacceptable attitude, and the contestant showing submissive contrition. Vinnie eventually—kind of—defends himself. The trainer is happy to see the “angry Vinnie” and hopes there will be “no more jokes.” [Since we all know anger is better for your health than humor. Huh?]   

To quote Bonnie, another contestant, who’s having issues with her trainer, Anna: “I have no hints on how to be a trainer, but I do have hints on how to treat people.” [You go, Bonnie!]

I don’t have hints on being a trainer, either, and obviously this drill-sergeant approach works for some people. One thing I do know: No matter how much weight I needed to lose, I would never try the BL solution—for many reasons, the top one being I might end up in trouble for assaulting a trainer. Not worth it!

I’ve often wondered how other trainers view the BL portrayal of exercise, personal training, and weight loss. This list I found on a trainer’s website, entitled Top 10 Fitness TV Falsehoods , proved interesting and insightful—you may appreciate it too.