Biggest Loser

Does anyone here watch the Biggest Loser on television? The reason I ask, is that this week one of the contestants lost no weight after working out all week hard, and it was mentioned breifly that his working out has brought on increased hunger. I have recently started lifting again, as well as riding the recumbant bike. I am so much more hungry then usual. My surgery is (hopefully) going to be in late Nov/early Dec. Do any of you find that the more you work out the hungrier you get? Also, it was mentioned on the show that working out without adding some food to your diet can slow your metabolism. Is this true after surgery? Is it better to keep the strength training to a minimum until youve dropped a magority of the weight, and then start? I have always been a fairly strong and active fat guy, and don't want to lose the muscle well I'm losing weight, but at the same time, I want to drop the excess 140 lbs of lard that I carry around. Any help is appreciated.

Since I have started to work out, my appetite has increased. I am two years post op and eating more than 2000 calories each day. I am only 100 pounds and have not gained at all. When you work out, you do get more hungry.

Mark, The more you work out, the less hungry you will be, ONCE your body is more efficient at handling insulin and responding to the exertion. I don't want to get into (and probably would foul it up anyway) the specifics, but if you look at the old book "fit or fat", Covert Bailey describes just how the biochemistry works in layman's terms. On a more practical level, if you don't eat enough carbohydrate before you work out, and you don't replenish your sugar after you work out, your will bottom out with low blood sugar and feel hungry. So, whatever way you choose to eat, you need to fuel your body for workouts, and always eat protein, carbs and fat at each meal. I don'****ch the biggest loser (I live in France currently, we don't get the show here), but a wise doctor once said to me, (Grasshopper!!!) "we in medical science don't know everything. If weight loss were a simple game of mathematics, everyone would be at the weight that they desire. But there is more going on with the human body than plusses and minuses". She was also a great believer in the mind-body connection, which I also believe palys a huge role in shedding excess fat. So, don't worry. Keep on that recumbent bike and keep on lifting! Good luck! cheers, KarenK

Mark Here is my $.02. Do any of you find that the more you work out the hungrier you get? Absolutely. The more I work out the hungrier I get. Also, it was mentioned on the show that working out without adding some food to your diet can slow your metabolism. Yes, if you don't eat enough...your body goes into starvation mode...or slower meabolism....especially after surgery. Is it better to keep the strength training to a minimum until you've dropped a majority of the weight, and then start? No. I would start weight training as soon as you can. You can gain muscle and lose fat at the same time. You are correct... you do not want to lose muscle...just the fat. Good luck

Thanks all. I wasn't trying to suggest that I stop working out after surgery, just wondered about the weight training. Thanks for the help. Mark.