Thoughtful Thursday – The Biggest Loser and Societal Values

Hunger PangsOkay, so you all know by now that I’ve had my own personal battle of the bulge. Maybe that’s why I’ve gotten hooked on THE BIGGEST LOSER. I can so identify with these people since at one time or another, I probably weighed enough to be on the show.

I’ve totally been engaged not just by their personal stories, determination and of course, the diet and exercise tips, but about the societal values we see at work during the game play. Like what you may wonder?

The contestants originally completed a challenge in order to choose who would train them — Bob or Jillian.

If I had my druthers, I would so totally choose kick ass Jillian. I can definitely see her as the heroine in one of my novels!

The groups (consisting of couples this time) split off with those trainers, but a few weeks ago the trainers had a challenge and Bob won. Bob got to pick the people for his new blue team. No surprise to me who he picked. He picked mostly men. Big, heavy muscular men who are more likely to post big weight gain loss numbers compared to the smaller and less heavy men and women who were then sent to Jillian, including one couple who had chosen Bob as their original trainer and were the original blue team.

The sweet justice of all this is that since then, Jillian’s team has won 2 of the 3 weigh-offs! Love it!

What happened the first time that the mostly male blue team had to choose someone to eliminate? They voted off the only woman on the team.

Hmm. Are you seeing a pattern here that maybe reflects societal values? Big men good. Small woman bad.

Well, this small woman is going to keep on watching as the game play and weight loss continues. I’ll be rooting for Jillian and her mostly female black team.

Copyright 2008 Caridad Pineiro Scordato www.caridad.com

6 Replies to “Thoughtful Thursday – The Biggest Loser and Societal Values”

  1. So it’s you and hubby’s (notice I put first born first LOL LOL).

    WELL HAPPY Bday to you both.

    My friends Bday is the 14th also.

    So I have sent her one card for each year. Thinknig about a balloon per year,but may wait till next year the big 60. LOL LOL

    As to replying to us. WELLLLLLLLLL

    I willl take the option of more books first, personal reply second.

    Although I do like to here from you.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU BOTH!!

    Gail

  2. I agree with what you’re saying. I was a bit disappointed in Bob’s choices too, especially when a person or two commented on how he is “all about the boys club”. I started to think Hmm…
    Then when he walked out of the weigh in last night I was really disappointed. But again, I guess it’s all in the editing of the show too. He’s normally so damn cool and such a good guy.

    All I know is, I’ve always thought I’d take Jillian as my trainer, she does totally kick ass. I still Bob is HOT though. LOL

  3. LOL@yoga…I know, right

    I’m totally going to write up a blog post for Sasha for next week on emotional eating!

  4. LOL! Me, too!

    Bob did lose his cool which was weird since he is so . . . mellow, let’s do yoga.

    But Jillian got all those contestants to talk about what made them eat, which is really really important. Many people, me included, use food for emotional reasons which is what gets us in the yo-yo syndrome.

  5. Yes, I totally noticed! Bob was kind of a sore loser after that last weigh in though I can see where losing by 1 pound hurt. I normally LOVE Bob..he’s so zen and cool but this season, well, the whole male chauvanist thing doesn’t work for me.

    And BTW when I grow up (IE lose that last 50 pounds) I SOOOO want to be Jillian. Yes, I have a total girl-crush on her *sigh*

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