I have been watching ABC's new show entitled "My diet is better than yours".
It's been on for 2 weeks and so far I I'm left shaking my head at the end of each episode (and there's 2 every week so that's a lot of head shaking).
I even stated a private Facebook group page so we could all talk about what we were seeing and open up a dialogue on nutrition (but mainly it has been me posting to myself in there so hopefully next week will be better...).
I have found that in general people pretty much "get fitness"... we, as a population, are starting to understand that cardio health, resistance training, and flexibility must all work together to create a healthy, fit, balanced physique WITH THE AID OF A PROPER DIET. Here's where it gets tricky... people don't know what to eat to reach their goals (& believe me, this varies depending on your goal).
I was quite excited when I thought a nationally televised show might shed light on the subject because it seemed to be based around the food aspect instead of the fitness aspect Ala 'The Biggest Loser'. Once I became a Nutritionist I had to stop watching the Biggest Loser because they kept taking their contestants to Subway and that show was all about losing the most weight the fastest, instead of in a way in which their body could adapt and maintain the changes (which is what I do with my clients), so it was hard for me to endorse that.
Upon the opening of the 1st episode of 'My Diet', the host (Shawn T on Insanity fame) made it a point on 3 different occasions to say something along the lines of "this is about long-term goals" or "this is not about short-term weight-loss, this is about lifestyle change".
Upon the opening of the 1st episode of 'My Diet', the host (Shawn T on Insanity fame) made it a point on 3 different occasions to say something along the lines of "this is about long-term goals" or "this is not about short-term weight-loss, this is about lifestyle change".
My interest was piqued! BUT THEN the diets were introduced... worried face... here are a few on my thoughts on the show so far. I have spent some time getting my clients feedback as well as most of them are watching it with me and I think my observations represent a pretty far and accurate take on what's been going on..
First Week Thoughts....
1. This is a weight-loss competition with $50,000 on the line. Most of these contestants have 70-90lbs to lose and the show is only 8 episodes long and so far both episodes have taken up only 1 week per episode... what I'm getting at here is time is of the essence! AND IF time is a definite issue than 'lifestyle change' is unrealistic because the contestant will have to choose between WINNING and actually making steps towards changing their relationship with food. So right away this show is sending America a mixed message. "Lifestyle change is important!" but "lose weight the fastest and you win $$$"
2. 'Relationship with food' is not touched upon but obesity is directly related to this. You must eat whole foods but you also need balance for longevity and you must feel good about the choices you are making for yourself, even when they are difficult or uncomfortable. Only one trainer seems to have a solid grasp on this, and no, it's not he obituary guy. The trainer I am referring to allowed her contestant to have a piece of cake as long as she ate it outside her home because she knew she wasn't in a place yet to where she would have the self control to not eat more than she should to stick with her goals. I personally don't think sugar on week one was that smart of a move but I like that the trainer IS thinking long-term, unlike vegan-cleanse-lady. Obituary guy understands how emotions are directly related to obesity but essentially, if his client doesn't learn what healthy nutrition actually is, he'll be in this health nightmare forever. I feel like even though he did lose weight, his health scans came back so negatively because even though his trainer is showing us shopping for fruits and veggies, his client is mainly eating low-calorie processed foods (eating less so he loses, but not really learning what he needs to about how nutrition works).
3. They keep saying over and over, through all of their promotion, that this is real life, unlike 'The Biggest Loser' (they are really hyping that one up). but um... no, sorry guys. Let's just put aside the fact that it's painfully obvious how aware both the contestants and the trainers of the darn cameras. Some of the exchanges are downright uncomfortable, but do you know how many times I've camped in a clients front yard to make sure they get up and exercise... go ahead... guess...
The only real moment, and the only moment I hope they replay over and over again for America, is when one of the contestants fired her vegan health coach, turned toward the camera, and said something along the lines of "I'm not looking for a best friend here! I'm looking to change my life and get this weight off and win those 50G's!" NOW that is a GOAL if I've ever heard one! Thank you girl!
2nd week Thoughts...
1.) the wild diet is a type of ketogenic diet. This "expert" didn't invent this but nobody seems to care and it's annoying to me that we're not calling it what it is.. The first 15 lbs the contestant loses on this type of diet is water... also I can pretty much guarantee this guys is about to stop pooping like right....
now.
I do like that the expert is having fitness be about 50% of this program and because of this he'll be hard to beat (in a short term, fight to the finish-line, weight loss competition) because this method is a surefire way to lose fat fast, HOWEVER, and this is a big however, this is extremely hard to maintain. As soon as this guy has a pizza,pastry reward meal he'll STORE everything and it will take a while for his body to get back into ketosis so lifestyle change for someone who is clearly an emotional eater and likes starchy type foods... doubtful.
2.) Taj (who fires her vegan coach (who never had a weight loss problem and thought rubbing baby oil on your body promoted weight loss... where do they find these people?? and she writes books and gives seminars!! And people pay her!!) actually makes a good choice when she hires the Strong and Clean Coach (or whatever lame title she's giving it). The real only problem I have is that the whole spin is that it's supposed to be martial arts based, but the trainer (making a smart move actually) is doing cardio based kick-boxing and bag-boxing workouts with Taj, knowing that she'll burn fat this way... but it's not martial arts. You can give her all the gi's you want trainer lady, but you are NOT doing Karate.
3.) the contestant are supposed to be learning "diets" and yet we are never actually seeing exactly what they are eating and 2 of the contestants have flat out said that they are "still confused about the eating part." Ummm???
One of the few times we say an actual days worth of "food" was when the wild diet guy packed a lunch bag full of (I'm not joking here:) snacks and said "Now you are all set for your day riding around in the car! Avoid those fast food places pal!"
Ummm???
The other huge component is fitness and finally on the 4th episode we got to see 3 of our contestants start working out and training for their big half marathon that is approaching, but again NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION. How are they training? How frequently? What's with all the secrecy!? On the last episode they had a challenge that pertained to heart rate zones and yet this is the first we are hearing about heart-rate.... have the contestants been learning about heart rate training in there off-time, away form the cameras?
Maybe it's the editors... either way head shaking...
4.) It's these types of "Spins" and inconsistencies that are driving me nuts but my client Naki brought up a very good point to me one day while I was pontificating during her warm-up.
She said "Yea Tristan... but it's a multi-billion dollar industry..."
Oh yea...duhhhh... it's not about being right.
They make MORE money by keeping you confused.
It's sad to me that health is an industry but the truth is it's actually multiple industries...
Pharmaceuticals $$$
Food $$$$
Supplements $$$
Fitness (gyms, fitness equipment, etc).
There are good trainers out there and excellent Doctors and people who genuinely want to help you succeed so it's not all sad faces up in here!
But do I think ABC's new show has set out to actually help the overwhelmingly obese population of the U.S,
ummm hell to the NO!
"This is really just clean eating but the producers make me give it a catchy name."
- Dawn
"If you find us repugnant it just means you aren't working your core correctly!"
- Shawn T
2nd week Thoughts...
1.) the wild diet is a type of ketogenic diet. This "expert" didn't invent this but nobody seems to care and it's annoying to me that we're not calling it what it is.. The first 15 lbs the contestant loses on this type of diet is water... also I can pretty much guarantee this guys is about to stop pooping like right....
now.
I do like that the expert is having fitness be about 50% of this program and because of this he'll be hard to beat (in a short term, fight to the finish-line, weight loss competition) because this method is a surefire way to lose fat fast, HOWEVER, and this is a big however, this is extremely hard to maintain. As soon as this guy has a pizza,pastry reward meal he'll STORE everything and it will take a while for his body to get back into ketosis so lifestyle change for someone who is clearly an emotional eater and likes starchy type foods... doubtful.
2.) Taj (who fires her vegan coach (who never had a weight loss problem and thought rubbing baby oil on your body promoted weight loss... where do they find these people?? and she writes books and gives seminars!! And people pay her!!) actually makes a good choice when she hires the Strong and Clean Coach (or whatever lame title she's giving it). The real only problem I have is that the whole spin is that it's supposed to be martial arts based, but the trainer (making a smart move actually) is doing cardio based kick-boxing and bag-boxing workouts with Taj, knowing that she'll burn fat this way... but it's not martial arts. You can give her all the gi's you want trainer lady, but you are NOT doing Karate.
3.) the contestant are supposed to be learning "diets" and yet we are never actually seeing exactly what they are eating and 2 of the contestants have flat out said that they are "still confused about the eating part." Ummm???
One of the few times we say an actual days worth of "food" was when the wild diet guy packed a lunch bag full of (I'm not joking here:) snacks and said "Now you are all set for your day riding around in the car! Avoid those fast food places pal!"
Ummm???
The other huge component is fitness and finally on the 4th episode we got to see 3 of our contestants start working out and training for their big half marathon that is approaching, but again NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION. How are they training? How frequently? What's with all the secrecy!? On the last episode they had a challenge that pertained to heart rate zones and yet this is the first we are hearing about heart-rate.... have the contestants been learning about heart rate training in there off-time, away form the cameras?
Maybe it's the editors... either way head shaking...
4.) It's these types of "Spins" and inconsistencies that are driving me nuts but my client Naki brought up a very good point to me one day while I was pontificating during her warm-up.
She said "Yea Tristan... but it's a multi-billion dollar industry..."
Oh yea...duhhhh... it's not about being right.
They make MORE money by keeping you confused.
It's sad to me that health is an industry but the truth is it's actually multiple industries...
Pharmaceuticals $$$
Food $$$$
Supplements $$$
Fitness (gyms, fitness equipment, etc).
There are good trainers out there and excellent Doctors and people who genuinely want to help you succeed so it's not all sad faces up in here!
But do I think ABC's new show has set out to actually help the overwhelmingly obese population of the U.S,
ummm hell to the NO!
"This is really just clean eating but the producers make me give it a catchy name."
- Dawn
"If you find us repugnant it just means you aren't working your core correctly!"
- Shawn T
** not actual quotes
