CASTING DIRECTOR 4 The Biggest Loser Tells All

 As promised, after a wee bit of phone tag, I spoke at length with "The Biggest Loser"'s Casting Director, Ian Young.

He answered all my questions about who can qualify as a contestant at the open casting call in Atlanta next month.

You'll find my interview with Ian on my blog right now!

Hmmm that raises a very good question... all of us (or most on this forum) have had wls. We believe in it, we work it as a tool... we advocate it, preach it, live it...

So my question is, IF a wls patient joins the Biggest Loser (and I do like the show, don't get me wrong) but would that really be fair? I mean, we DO drop a lot of weight VERY quickly just for the fact that we have such restriction on how much we can eat. A fresh postop would have a lot of advantages over the others...

AND, would the Biggest Loser want to take credit for the wls patient's rapid loss? That would not be fair, nor would it be a good representative of our gastric communities... kinda like "Well this person had wls and it failed... so the biggest Loser came along and he lost a ton of weight!" when really, it was the surgery AND the exercise that helped boost it.

I'm just thinking out loud. What does everyone else think about this?

Yep, Mel!  That's how I look at it too.

WHOA! "25 lbs. below target weight" printed under your BMI  chart means? Your target weight could've been lower had you been able to imagine it or you don't know how to stop losing weight or - you tell us!
I don't whether to be impressed or concerned. Inquiring minds want to know, Bob!

EmbodySuccess...  as you can tell, we like to talk a lot! LOL.  And, we are go getters!  Goal meeters!  Success stories!  Yes this TN forum...  we know how to "stand up and represent".

Bob isn't from TN (he's from AL) BUT we claim him!  I think he must've been born in TN.  Or maybe he secretly wants to live here....

As you know, "target weight" is actually an arbitrary and subjective number.  It is exactly that - a "target" or goal that people set. Some folks set unrealistic goals and want to get down to unrealistic and possibly even unhealthy weights when they start out on their journey. Before my heart attacks 7 years ago, I was 235 lbs. 8-9% bodyfat, healthy and strong.  I worked out 6 days a week and was in top physical condition for a 49 yr. old man. I felt great. The Doctors said my heart attacks were due to "gentics".   The males in my Dad's family all had heart attacks  and died at relatively young ages (42 - 62). After the heart attacks, I had a pacemaker, stent, and was on 13 diffrent meds a day. I was not able to do anything and I blew up to 397.5 lbs!  I developed congestive heart failure, sleep apnea, pre-diabetes, severe edema, and a host of other problems.
My cardiologist told me that, incredibly,  my heart was in remarkably great shape considering I had the heart attacks. My ejaction refracion rate was 54, and they consider 55 perfect. He said that was a testament to my physical condition prior to them, but  that the massive weight gain was starting to impact my heart and overall health. He strongly suggested that I consider gastric bypass surgery. My PC Doc agreed with him. Both said that if I could get down to the 210 - 220 weight range they would be very happy with that - hence, my target weight became 210 lbs.  

My WLS and the team at Vanderbilt said I would probably get down to the 180 lb. range following the surgery, and they were right on the money. I actually got down to 181 lbs., but looked too skinny and boney. I've been hitting the weight training fairly hard and have put on about 10 pounds of muscle in the last few months.  I look and feel better, even though some folks still tll me I'm "too skinny".  Of course, they remember me at nearly 400 pounds, so my weight and size now blows their minds.  I believe that if you exercise regularly and eat properly, your body will decide where your "ideal weight" is.  Just my opinion.

Because your response appeared underneath Mel's response, I wasn't notified.
I am delighted & relieved to know that your current weight represents a healthy achievement, Bob!
You are an inspiration!
I absolutely agree with your final statement,
"I believe that if you exercise regularly and eat properly, your body will decide where your 'ideal weight' is."
The fact that I've remained a size 8 for 4.5 years (I'm 6.5 yrs. post-op) attests to its accuracy.
I would also add: learn to listen to and respect your physical body.
As they say to victims of domestic violence, "Love isn't supposed to hurt."
I started working out 3x week (:90 min total) after my 3-wk. post-op exam. Haven't stopped: switched to 2x wk (2hrs. total). I've learned to pay attention and know the difference between "feeling the burn" and injuring myself.
Again, thank you for your generously sharing your story with so many of us, Bob!

I am really impressed with your thoughtful reflections, Mel.

I wouldn't personally concern myself with how "fair" the show appeared to its audience if WLS contestants compete; that is the production company's responsibility, not mine. If I was an employee of the production company - casting director, director, producer, trainers, sponsors - that would be a real concern of mine, though. Would it stop me from trying out IF that was something I wanted to do? Nope!

Likewise, I wouldn't concern myself with the possibility of the show "taking credit" for the WLS contestant's rapid weight loss. Legally, they couldn't. If a contestant wanted to give permission to personally endorse some aspect of their participation - again, that wouldn't concern me.

To me, the WLS communities are very much like cities - a mixed bag. There are the shining lights who inspire us and live with integrity; there are the addicts; there are the predators who will sell victims goods and services that sound "almost too good to be true; there are the charlatans who put WLS persons at risk because they aren't the bariatric experts they claim to be; and, then, there are the majority of us who are following our post-op regiment, creating new lives for ourselves, and being of service to others. One TV show's implied commentary on WLS is not going to make or break bariatric surgery as one viable medical choice.

If I was post-op and in the process of losing weight but still had over 100 lbs. left to lose (whether I was "on schedule" or delinquent), I think the constructive shift to a physically active lifestyle would be a tremendous gift to me.

If participants (on screen or audience) are able to re-think  physical activity from the grim, punishing obligation to exercise, to the challenging, life-enhancing enjoyment of remaining physically active and strong -
they will benefit.

Exercise is one way to be physically active; so are fun activities like hiking, bicycling, swimming, tennis, running/bike races, skiing, sex, rollerblading, skate boarding... you see where I'm heading?

I'm not sure the show has effectively made clear that re-orientation to being physically active as a life-long pattern.

Oops! Lost track of time. Gotta run.
Y'all keep talking. I'm learning from ya!

I went to your blog...  interesting...  here is what caught my eye:

I spoke directly with Casting Director Ian Young late this evening about whether or not having undergone any form of weight loss surgery would prevent someone from becoming a contestant.   The short answer? "No. As long as they have at least 100 lbs.to lose we don't care what they've tried in the past to lose weight."
  So there you have it. My opinion? If you've had weight loss surgery and gained back a signficant amount of weight; or, if you've had WLS within the last 6-9 months but your slow rate of weight loss has kept you in the morbidly obese weight loss category; and, the opportunity to be on "THE BIGGEST LOSER"

Do you see what I'm getting at?  Most of us here have not gained back weight after our wls.  We are still in the weight loss modality...  still taking full advantage of our new opportunity.  Plus, 6-9 months after surgery isn't enough time to call it quits on the surgery... because look at the 18 month honeymoon period.  Ok thats just my opinion.

I think the only way it could really be fair was if all the contestants had undergone WLS. That would be closer to comparing apples and apples.
Holly