Chronicles of a Late Bloomer

photo credit: kirikiri

To tell you the truth, I’ve been hesitant to write about Dr. Huizenga’s book and the program that I’ve decided to follow because, frankly, I anticipate some backlash. Like PastaQueen Jennette, who begs and pleads readers not to respond with advice for her chronic headache, I don’t really want to hear it.

If you’ve ever watched The Biggest Loser, you can assume that Dr. Huizenga, the show’s main medical consultant, is no fan of “start small and build slowly” kinds of programs. No, he has shown for many years now that his balls-out, no-holds-barred, zero-to-sixty regimen works for morbidly obese people — at least when $250,000 and tv glory are on the line.

photo credit: stevendepolo

So, I don’t want to hear about how I’m setting myself up for failure, or putting myself at risk, or just downright stupid for even attempting his rigorous training plan. I am pretty sure I know what I am getting myself into. In fact, I’ve been doing it for over 2 weeks now, and I know I can handle it. I may be morbidly obese, but I am not a couch potato.

It’s not necessarily my style to embark on an all-or-nothing kind of deal. But, start googling morbid obesity and weight loss and exercise and most of the results are:

1. Ads for pills, diets, contraptions
2. Proponents of weight-loss surgery
3. Condescending exercise programs advocating 2-5 minutes of moderate walking per day

photo credit: Wm Jas 

Although he has been made famous by the television success of on-campus Biggest Loser contestants, Dr. Huizenga seems most proud of the program he developed for at-home players; that is, the intense exercise and moderate calorie restriction that the contestants use when they are off the ranch or (in the case of 36 state representatives on Season 3 and two of the teams this season) make it all the way to Los Angeles only to be sent home before ever being screamed at by a telegenic trainer.

photo credit: jerryonlife

Dr. Huizenga’s not joking around. He means business. his program is not for the faint of heart, the dalliers, or the half-assed. (No offense, Jennette.) But, he tries to be scientific about it. He certainly is medical about it. And he recounts his personal experience with dozens and hundreds of people like me who have successfully reached their goal weights by becoming healthy from the inside out — by focusing on fitness — and all of it out of the sight of cameras and celebrities.

photo credit: Chris Pirillo

The bottom line is that he doesn’t write much about the show contestants. He writes about the at-home contestants. He specializes in people like me — big people. Smart, funny, attractive people, yes, but big people who live real lives and need to lose weight without the benefit of treatment teams and trainers and television. I am hopeful that his understanding of the unique physiology and challenges of the morbidly obese will bring me better results than just walking around the block twice a week ever could.

I guess what I’m trying to say is this: unless you’re an obesity researcher, an MD specialist in sports medicine, or a trainer who specializes in assisting people with BMI’s in the 40’s, and 50’s, please keep your negative comments to yourself.

This entry was posted Monday, January 11th, 2010 at 8:21 pm and is filed under Biggest Loser, The 2010 Experiment. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.