It's irksome to see a woman attacked for being too thin after being pressured to lose weight on national television.  Put the situation of this year's winner of Biggest Loser in context.  She is a contestant on a show with other competitors, and was incentivized to lose as much weight as possible to win prize money.  People tune in to be inspired and mesmerized by the progress show contestants make.  Those contestants who don't demonstrate extreme progress get booted off the show.

This is what the Biggest Loser is about and always has been. It's not that different from Survivor.  The winner is dehydrated, malnourished and exhausted all in the hope of being a few $$$ richer. 

And why are we so particularly critical of a female contestant who won with 59.6% loss of body fat. A male contestant had lost 55% body fat compared to her 59.6.  If he looked gaunt would the reaction been less vocal?

I  don't watch the show because it bothers me to see how some of the contestants are treated.  The weight loss pressure in the time frame allowed is not smart or healthy.  (Subject of another blog)

Realize that it's a contest. If you don't like the process or the outcome vote with your eyes and stop watching the show but don't attack Rachel for trying to win a game show.

 Similar to this show, your own physical condition as 'fat' ,'skinny', or anything in between does not bring about happiness and acceptance. Look at all the backlash she received after she won.  Treat yourself right.  Eat healthy and take your favorite fitness class.  ;p

The good thing and bad thing about Central Park is that it is a ZOO of a meet up location.  Street entertainers, charity events, tourists, eclectic people all congregate by the USS Maine Monument.  For this reason, I am moving my FitCamp meet up spot to the water fountain in front of Ferrara Cafe.  Now, you might say 'Wait a minute.  There are two Ferrara Cafes!'.  Well, the one I am referencing is closest to Central Park South.  If you are in the right spot you should be able to see a FedEx office across the street. 

On Weekends, we will still meet at the West 63 Street Entrance to Central Park.

This weekend the opportunity arose to sit down with friends and the family of the off-Broadway play with Bollywood roots, Bunty Berman Presents  cast members. At the after show dinner the subject of "Why is it so hard to lose those final few pounds?"

It is because the body adjusts and adapts to the caloric shift (assuming one is using a traditional calorie deficit weight loss program).
The longer you are on it, the harder it is to lose weight.

Here is an example that will help you understand why the pounds come off slower.

When an overweight person cuts down significantly on what he eats, the body defends itself by using fewer calories. The effect can be long-lasting: If a person’s weight drops to 150 pounds from 250, significantly fewer calories must be consumed daily to stay at that weight than would be necessary if the person had never been overweight.

Even if a 170-pound person loses 20 pounds, he needs 15 percent fewer calories to maintain the new weight than someone who always weighed 150. Short of bariatric surgery, very gradual weight loss — say, no more than 20 pounds a year — may be the a way around this metabolic slowdown. This strategy gives the body and appetite a chance to adjust.

An alternative is to exercise which will increase metabolism instead of just relaying on calorie reduction to manage weight.

Another strategy is to replace some starchy foods with protein sources. This simple swap of calories makes it easier to manage weight because protein requires more calories to be broken down and used for fuel.

Strength exercises, if done properly, can also help you add or increase the muscle fibers in your body. These fibers require more calories. Effectively the muscle consumes calories that would be normally stored as fat. Thus keeping you leaner, stronger and healthier. Healthier because your body fat would be lower.

There are ways to reset or wisely manage your metabolism, but it usually requires a game plan and a dose of commitment.

Stay healthy, my friend.

Any questions please feel free to reach out to me at 212.729.4445