Biggest Loser

Ok, I've posted some fun and/or interesting things today. Here's one a little more serious. I have a TV show that I've become hooked on since last season: The Biggest Loser.

Now before you jump up and down calling me a loser for watching it, let me say what I have to say.

In my profession (teaching), I interact with students from a wide variety of backgrounds. There are many days where it can become stressful- just trying to imagine what some go through at home- verbally/physically abusive parents, alcoholism, lack of food/heat, etc. I come home at the end of the day and after dinner and the gym (1 month and counting, yeah!), I relax with some TV.

Flip through the channels on any given night. The programming on 9 out of 10 stations have some mix of the following: police, criminals, yelling/screaming, fighting, drugs/alcohol, and/or violence. Oh, and don't even get me started on the wing-nut, neglectful parents Dr. Phil has on his show.

How is any of this relaxing in any way? Watching people yell/fight/etc. just makes me stressed. Don't get me wrong, I like blood and guts just as much as the next guy, but not when I'm trying to wind down.

* side note: The premise of The Biggest Loser is this: Couples enter the show, hoping to lose the most weight and become 'the biggest loser'- winning $250,000.*

One of the main goals of my profession is to build self-esteem. This is what The Biggest Loser is all about. Along the way, the contestants discover a lot about themselves and what they can accomplish. For most of them, the $$ becomes secondary. They're losing weight for their health and for their families. One competitor lost 30 pounds in one week. IN ONE WEEK! For some, they end up weighing less than they EVER have.

Watching these men and women (ages 18 to 63) work their tails off and then step on the scale at the end of the show and feel proud of themselves helps me relax. The 'where are they now' segment is always uplifting as well.

If you're tired of the same old stuff, check it out.
The Biggest Loser airs weekly on NBC- Tuesday nights from 8-10pm.