Lessons From Tonight's Biggest Loser

Although I spent many years practicing Medicine, and have encouraged probably hundreds of people to lose weight, I had never watched the reality television program Biggest Loser. Until now. Since checking out the show when it started this fall, I have become as hooked as anyone. While I resent the product placements and overdone theatrical breaks, there are none the less, many messages that really hit home regarding the struggle to achieve a healthy weight and lifestyle.

In tonight's episode Aubrey was sent home. The mother of several school and preschool age children, she arrived home to tears and vowed to continue her daily workouts. Aubrey cited her desire to be healthy for her children and to be a role model not only for them, but for her massively obese father as her motivation to maintain her training and new lifestyle. She gained nine pounds in her first two weeks home.

When faced with the daily decisions of family life Aubrey found herself putting others before herself. One telling scene showed her stowing her workout gear after her son asked her for homework help as she headed for the gym. Now if she had said "figure it out yourself" and headed out the door, the talk of her being a self-absorbed bad mother would have been flying before the next commercial break. I am not saying what I think she should have done, but it does point out how hard it is to make lifestyle changes that require you to make time for yourself.

As a society we are very quick to judge another's actions and anything that smacks of self promotion or self importance is often labeled as indulgent or selfish. Yet isn't Aubrey's motivation her desire to be healthy and a role model for her children? By always placing herself last on the priority list isn't she modeling that she doesn't count? That healthy behaviors need to take a backseat to everything else, like household chores and homework?

While living at the Biggest Loser ranch the contestants do not have to cope with these daily decisions, yet learning how to integrate new healthy behaviors into their lives at home is the key to maintaining their weight loss. And placing workouts before dishes, or laundry, or even homework is one of the choices they will have to make. It is one that we all have to make. Sure it is easier and quicker to grab some takeout food on the way home from work, but is it going to get you to the weight you want? Is it in line with the type of foods you want to be eating, or feeding to your family?

At the end of tonight's show Aubrey has gotten herself back on track. It probably required some tough decisions, at least a few of which required her to acknowledge her own self-worth and the need to place herself higher on her own list of priorities. It is a lesson we can all learn from. Self care is not the same as selfishness and requires time that has to come from somewhere. Only after we admit that we are important can we give ourselves permission to take the time and make the effort to live the healthy lifestyle we desire. It is not just what we desire, but what we deserve, for ourselves and our families.

Now who said reality TV isn't about real life?