The Biggest Loser: The Weight Loss Program to Transform Your Body, Health, and Life--Adapted from NBC's Hit Show! Reviews

• 'The Biggest Loser' A Big Winner For Weight Loss

  
  By A1J6B00Z1D6PS4 on 2005-10-05
  'The Biggest Loser' book is filled with stimulating stories of personal triumph over weight from the popular television show's contestants.
  
  If you're one of the millions of fans of the hit NBC television reality weight loss show "The Biggest Loser," then undoubtedly you have become personally acquainted with names like Ryan, Kelly, Mo, Dave, and Drea from Season One as well as Matt, Dr. Jeff, Suzanne, and Suzy from Season Two, just to name a few.
  
  You probably feel like you know these people intimately because you have watched them work so very hard on your television sets each week to tackle a commond problem -- what to do about their obesity. Their commitment to doing something positive and permanent about their weight is indeed inspiring and educational for a home viewing audience, two-thirds of whom have a weight problem of their own that they need to deal with and don't know what to do about it.
  
  That's where The Biggest Loser book steps in. This book is based on the popular television show and allows you to read more about the contestants from the show to learn how they have been able to be victorious over their battle of the bulge while also communicating important principles to apply in your own life to help get that fat monkey off your own back for good.
  
  The Biggest Loser is a beautifully crafted book full of colorful pictures, personal stories from cast members, advice from the show's trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, a thorough explanation of "The Biggest Loser" diet plan, a 12-week exercise routine, scrumptuous recipes including personal favorites from the contestants, motivational remarks from those who went through the most dramatic weight loss change, and the secret tips about how to make weight loss and healthy eating a permanent part of your life.
  
  Cheering you on to become the "biggest loser" that you can possibly be, The Biggest Loser book asks the simple question, "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the body you want -- slender, toned, fit, and healthy -- and have it for life?" Who among us who has struggled with weight loss would respond back with anything but a thunderous YEAH BABY?!!! This dream can become a reality when the steps outlined in The Biggest Loser book are applied.
  
  Read about the struggles that each contestant had with weight prior to their television experience and how "The Biggest Loser" show literally changed their lives forever. As someone who has lost over 180 pounds, I can certainly relate with their stories of heartache and frustration about what to do about being overweight. It's not a fun experience and you just feel so hopeless. But once you read The Biggest Loser, you will find that while it won't be an easy road to restore your health, there is definitely a way to rise to the occasion and gain victory over weight problems once and for all!
  
  There's a unique section in The Biggest Loser book called "From Reasons to Resolutions" which will get you to visualize and think about why you want to lose weight and what will happen if and when weight loss occurs. Getting your mind in the right frame of reference will get you started off right and make your eventual success that much more likely to happen.
  
  In a nutshell, "The Biggest Loser" diet consists of limiting your caloric intake to seven times your body weight. For example, when I weighed 410 pounds in January 2004, I could eat 2,870 calories according to this plan. At my current body weight of 225, that number of calories per day drops down to 1,575, which is probably a little bit less than what I consume on my low-carb lifestyle but not too far off. There's a creative "4-3-2-1 Biggest Loser Pyramid" which shows you which foods you should eat and in what quanties, including fruits and vegetables, proteins, whole grains, and "extras." Guess which one you eat the least of?
  
  You also are encouraged to drink lots of water, use artificial sweeteners sparingly, eat 4-6 planned meals, portion-size your foods to avoid overeating, read labels like a hawk (there even a neat "translation" guide to help you figure out what certain terms mean on a nutrition label), and steer clear from certain appetite-stimulating foods. It's all explained in great detail in The Biggest Loser book.
  
  I really enjoyed the "Take A Cue" blurbs at the bottom of the pages which feature one- or two-sentence words of wisdom from the cast of "The Biggest Loser." You really feel like they're talking directly to you and rooting for you as you turn page after page of The Biggest Loser book. I also was attracted to the recipes section towards the back of the book, which included some excellent low-carb ones including Dave's chicken salad, Ryan's portabello pizza, Suzanne's grilled salmon burgers, and Drea's turkey wrap. My mouth is watering just thinking about all these delicious recipes.
  
  As a 180+ pound low-carb weight loss success story I don't personally adhere to all of the advice provided in The Biggest Loser book, but I am encouraged to see many of the contestants giving superb advice to would-be losers: stay away from sugar, get more water consumption, eat often enough to ward off hunger, skip the dinner bread and eat a salad first at a restaurant, replace television watching with exercise (except to watch "The Biggest Loser," of course!), eat healthy carbs found in fruits and vegetables, and much more. You can really learn a lot about good basic habits that you can incorporate to make weight control a long-term part of your life.
  
  There is also a section in the book which urges local communities to conduct their own "Biggest Loser" challenges to help people deal with this very real problem. They include step-by-step instructions about how to organize it and replicate what so many have seen on television, including stunts and races to give the contestants an incentive to continue on. Applying these recommendations will make your local "Biggest Loser" challenge a huge success.
  
  A special "where are they now" section gives an update on all 26 contestants who became winners by becoming big losers thanks to "The Biggest Loser." You will be amazed by how far these contestants have come and how their lives have been literally turned upside down for the better. I can relate and hope and pray many will be uplifted and have a fire lit within them to lose weight and keep it off for good after reading The Biggest Loser.
  
  

• Disappointing

  
  By A17SZZO9LM3WYC on 2005-12-10
  I really wanted to love this book... but it seems as if the producers rushed it to print. There are very little before/after photos... and very little in-depth profiles of the contestants. All you get is blurbs from them... and a recipe, which may/may not be their creation. The caloric recommendations... 1050 kcal for people below 150 pounds... are too low...especially for the amount of exercise prescribed. Rarely these days do any experts advise going below 1400 kcal for an active woman, with 1200 be the absolute minimum. Even with such minimal caloric requirements, no mention is made of vitamin supplementation. In the recipe section, they often refer to agave nectar/syrup... yet they do nothing to explain it, its benefits, or where to buy it. (It's a low-GI sweetener from a plant in Mexico.) All-in-all, disappointing.
  
  

• Read this book for inspiration!

  
  By A2521H8ADEI73U on 2005-12-27
  I laugh when I see all the reviews from people who complain about the calorie intake requirements. The calorie requirements within the book are the "net" calorie requirements. (i.e. Calories consumed (what you eat) - Calories burned (exercise)). These readers just skip to the chapter on diet looking for that "silver bullet" to slay the weight lost beast. Bottom line: This book will not turn you into the biggest loser. It will not make you lose weight or a millionaire. It is not a quick fix book. If you want to lose weight, eat right and work out. If you want be be a millionaire, make money and spend less than you make. Read this book for inspiration and know that there are people out there who struggle with weight and self discipline problems like us "normal" people. If they can do it, you can do it. It may take months and even years to reach your goals but be: Consistent, use proper form and remember its a marthon and not a sprint. If you are 40 and plan to live until you are eighty, you will have 40 years of workouts ahead of you. So have fun! I loved the stories! Good job Matt, Seth, Mark, Pete, Ryan, Andrea and Suzy! You are inspirations!
  
  

• Don't buy for calorie plan

  
  By A3NXVZZBGE5X6 on 2005-10-21
  This book is great if you are a fan of the show "The Biggest Loser." It has lots of photos and quotes from both season's contestants and the trainers. As for the person complaining it wasn't written by Bob Harper, the blue team's trainer--it says right on the cover of the book that he only wrote the foreword.
  
  Most of the nutrition information is pretty sound. They explain things like food labels and how many servings of which food group you should eat every day. They recommend a diet that is: low fat, low sugar, high fiber, and protein adequate.
  
  I do not, however, agree that the caloric intake formula is safe. According to the formula, you multiply your current weight by 7 and that's how many calories you need to lose weight. So, following this theory I would only need to consume 875 calories per day. NOT HEALTHY OR SAFE!!
  
  Most nutritionists and doctors will tell you never to go below 1200 calories per day, or else your body will go into "survival" mode because it thinks (rightfully so) that you are starving it. I would say, to figure out how many calories you need for weight loss you are better off multiplying your current weight by 10 or 11(as long as the total is not below 1200).
  
  The exercise plan they have in the book is pretty reasonable. They cover things such as doing intervals in your cardio workouts, strength training, and how often to do each.
  
  Overall, I would say it is a good book. Very easy to read, and lots of pictures. But, if you are looking for a nutrition plan, try Denise Austin's book:"Eat Carbs, Lose Weight" instead.
  
  

• interesting and fun

  
  By A1NQE7DGQWVEV2 on 2005-10-21
  I actually read this book and Jillian Michaels book Winning By Losing. I think this book is interesting and fun because it does give you insights into the contestants and their trials and tribulations. I do agree that as far as nutrition plans go The Biggest Loser book is slightly lacking. If you are looking for a weight loss plan, Jillian's book is definately the best choice. Although the Biggest Loser book is not the most informative, as a fan of the show I enjoyed the read.
  
  
• dissapointed
  By ARW44TQOS7ZAU on 2005-10-07
  I ordered this book months ago as a pre-sale. I think it is good if you are a fan of the show looking to learn more about the contestants and their personal trials and tribulations. If you are someone looking for weight loss advice this book is as void of that as the actual show. It is very story heavy and lacks any real information. What little information it does provide in the way of diet and exercise is overly simplified and generic. At the end of the day, it was interesting to read the contestants anecdotes, but dissapointing as a source of information.
  
  
• Great for Motivation!
  By A3QYO76LD22QHT on 2006-08-29
  Ok...so most people who know me know I have a slight obsession with this show....and I was surprised to note when I was getting the synopsis for this post, one reviewer didn't think that the diet was covered adequately...and in some respects I agree...because the diets for each person on the show is individualized with the help of a dietitian...so they can't really say *all* of the contestants did X, Y & Z and had X results. What the book does give you are some parameters as to what the best choices are and instructs you to go out with that information and make choices based on your own personal preferences and staying within the caloric guidelines. Since I've already begun my own "healthy living" adventure, I already had some firm ideas on what I wanted to do and I found that the book complimented what I already had planned and allowed me to expand the scope a bit. The version of the food pyramid printed in this book is surely more in line with what I think is proper and realistic, so it gets big kudos from me in that respect. The exercise program was brief in my opinion...but again, these were tailored to the specific contestants by professional trainers and they certainly don't' want t-o give away all their secrets either...but the info is good and I suspect you can get more out of it if your willing to buy the exercise DVD that goes with it (I'm renting from Netflix first...to see if it's worth spending the dollars on first). The bulk of the book was personal snippets about the contestants (which I could have lived without...but perhaps necessary for those who didn't watch the show, but are curious about it). There is a selection of recipes at the end which there are about 7-10 that I will try...they all look quite good and are not bad with the fat and calories...so for the price I paid for this book (12.89) I'd say it was definitely worth it...but for those looking for a set in stone, do X, Y & Z diet and exercise plan...this is not going to make you happy, you may want to look elsewhere.
  
  
• Nothing you haven't heard and a lot of bad information
  By A1NUGGBB0BX6EE on 2005-12-05
  I too am a huge fan of the show and it has inspired me to lose weight and so far I have lost a significant amount. Although I loved the show, I dislike the book. After reading the reviews, I decided to take a look at it in the bookstore before purchasing. I was highly disappointed with the book. I too was under the impression that Bob and Jillian may have colaborated more in this book. If you watched the show, then you learned about as much as the book details in reference to the contestants, I feel. Also, the book also has a crazy suggestion in reference to calorie consumption, as previously mentioned. The recipes would be the only reason I would purchase the book and I can just check it out at the library for that and the recipes I like, I put them on cards. Someone had mentioned Jillians book, Winning By Losing, earlier. I too highly suggest this book. It's written better than the biggest loser book and gives better info along with illustrations of each exercise and proper form. She also gives great insight and I felt like I was getting from it what the biggest loser book was lacking!!
  
  
• I'm fat not stupid
  By A9F8DW047YWUM on 2005-12-25
  Not a new piece of information in the book. Telling me to eat less and exercise more is not information I was looking for. I was very disappointed in this book and the DVD. Maybe if your actually on the television show and can devote your whole life to exercise and proper nutrition this book will help. I really wanted to know more about how the contestants lost weight after the show.
  
  
• AN INTERESTING BOOK ... for those who love the show!
  By A3MFU0GVZUVH3K on 2006-01-09
  I liked this book because I enjoy watching the show. I admire and respect all those contestants/dieters who go through all that "struggle and hard work" to lose weight and feel better about themselves.
  
  Personally, I feel that reading the book is not motivation enough for people who are tremendously overweight. They need the one-on-one like the wonderful people on the TV show receive.
  
  So if you're thinking of buying this book to lose weight, save your money. However, if you just want to hear more about the show and the participants, you may want to have this book.
  
  I liked it ... but didn't loooooooove it.
  
  
• Inspirational!
  By A1KS4BFDMWBOIZ on 2006-01-13
  I loved the show and I enjoyed reading through the book soon after season two had ended. If you're looking for a detailed, in-depth diet plan this isn't the book for you. If you are looking for an inspirational book about real people who worked hard at losing and maintaining weight and following a healthy lifestyle, then this book is for you. With the best seller list constantly filled with the latest quick-fix diet gimmicks, this book was refreshing. I will keep it on my bookshelf always as a reminder of what hard work and discipline can do for those interested in being healthy.
  
  
• Don't bother
  By A2ESNSDOKR3F1Q on 2005-10-04
  I was so excited to get this book only to find that it is nothing but fluff. Bob Harper did not actually write the book, he only wrote the forward.
  
  As for the diet plan, there really isn't one. It's really just a series of anecdotes from the contestants. If that's what your interested in then then I suppose it's worth the read, but if you are looking for a book about weight loss don't bother.
  
  
• As good as the show
  By A2XNX64CZIW2LH on 2006-01-06
  
  "The Biggest Loser" diet suggests limiting your daily calorie intake to seven times your body weight (measured in pounds). For a 200 pound person that means 1400 calories a day. This might be OK for an average weight but I am not sure if the formula is proper for very heavy or very light people. So, from that point of view I find this book not very scientific. On the other hand the exercise plan suggested in the book is pretty reasonable. There are also a lot of other good advice that will help you take a long term control of you weight and will result in a good health: stay away from sugar (except for natural sugars contained in fruits), eat a salad before each meal, exercise, and so on. For much more comprehensive advice on adopting healthy lifestyle, resulting in permanent weight loss I rather recommend "Can We Live 150 Year?" by M. Tombak. A lot of free excerpts from Tombak's book can be found at the author's website.
  
  
• bits and bobs
  By A3VCU18UUO6I89 on 2006-03-26
  I bought this book because it was advertised as Bob Harpers book. Needless to say, it's not. It isn't Jillian Michaels book either. The book is fun and there are lots of pictures of Bob, but no real weight loss advice that amounts to a program of any kind. I like the book because I am a fan of the show and it does have some motivational anecdotes, but I wouldn't recommend it as a weight loss plan.
  
  
• Believer
  By A2WK8T387IUOLY on 2005-10-13
  Got my copy. Read it and loved it! It is both informative and inspiring. I've gone through many diet books and haven't found any that has suited or motivated me like The Biggest Loser. I've already started implementing what I've learned. What's great about this book is that it's real--the diet tips/plans are manageable. I was actually very skeptical at first--convinced that the book will probably just be about the contestants/show, sprinkled with a couple of diet tips and recipes, but I was wrong. Without a doubt, it is truly a book with"The Weight Loss Program to Transform Your Body, Health, and Life".
  
  
• Not What I was expecting
  By A2ZAL9BL9YRFF7 on 2006-01-05
  After reading this book I was left wondering why I bought it in the first place. Yes, I love the show, but there just isn't anything new here that gives me any reason to believe I can succeed long term. Eat less exercise more...if it was that simple I wouldn't need a book. I need help with a lifestyle adjustment that can really work for me and counting calories never worked for me and it seems like it doesn't work for most people.
  
  
• This book stinks
  By A2KBYWI87XPCAO on 2005-05-26
  This book stinks. It isn't even written by the trainers of the show. Apparently they wrote their own books. So who wrote this piece of crap?
  
  
• Biggest Loser Book
  By A3U2QS9FTEM3R0 on 2006-05-19
  The book has been very helpful and informative. The recipes are quick and easy and the stories are inspirational... I've lost almost thirty pounds by following the regimes explained in this book...
  
  
• You can't review it!
  By A2MOE96I4I5A3R on 2005-10-05
  I don't know how anyone can post a review of this book yet, when it isn't even available for 2 more weeks!!
  
  This is an OBVIOUS attempt at someone trying to sabotage the show and the week (probably someone from Jillian's book company).
  
  
  
  
• Not what it claims to be!
  By A3RQASPW7XJQNG on 2006-01-26
  I bought this book looking for information on how to lose weight and also because I am a Bob Harper fan. Sadly this book is full of half hearted anecdotes with no real weight loss information at all and sports a meager 2 page forward by Bob. That's the total extent of his involvment in this book! Alas, I will continue to wait for Bob's book to come out, but meantime I recommend Jillian Michaels book Winning By Losing, it is the real deal.
  
  
• wonderful
  By A26OZUFK3Y7O9L on 2006-03-15
  My husband and I are hooked on the show and decided to have a little competition of our own. The book is easy to follow and has great recipies. Easy to follow diet that never leaves you hungry. We have continued weight loss each week and are feeling and looking better than we have in years!
  
  
• Inspiration from Big Losers
  By A1K9IG5MP8RW75 on 2006-01-22
  I think the best use of this book might be as inspiration for those who identify with the problems and personalities of the LOSERS on the reality series. I missed seeing it, but could relate to the many reasons the LOSERS struggled with their eating and weight.
  Most of the info about losing weight wasn't new to me. It's probably the equivalent of reading 5 or 6 "women's" magazines. The amount of advice on exercise, nutrition, recipes and inspirational success stories probably equals that.
  One section did tell how to organize your own Losers group in a neighborhood, school, church or family. It tells how to recruit contestants, set up rules, organize weekly support activities, create challenges and celebrate.
  
  
• Buy it, you wont be sorry!
  By A38WGMAKYKH0KH on 2006-03-03
  This book is my new "bible", and I carry it everywhere! Finally a weight loss program that is easy to understand and makes it possible to transform your life without feeling deprived. It's all about changing your attitude and learning to make healthy choices that you can live with the rest of your life (not just until you drop the weight!). I have been using what I learned in the book and working out to the Biggest Loser video for 2 months...I've lost 25# so far and have never felt so good. I have more energy than I know what to do with! The recipes are delicious and satisfying, and I no longer think about food 24/7. I've spent the first 32 years of my life being overweight and tired....I"m looking forward to the rest of my life being fit and happy! Thank you, "Biggest Loser" experts and cast!!!!!
  
  
• Loser of a book.
  By A3CKLQZKIA6ZWE on 2006-03-10
  I expected the plan as it was given to the contestants on the Biggest Loser. I wanted a menu planner and a workout plan.
  This book was not much more then a recap of the TV show.
  I already saw that, I did not need to read about it.
  
  
• Far more than your usual weight loss title
  By A14OJS0VWMOSWO on 2006-08-05
  The Biggest Loser: The Weight-Loss Program To Transform Your Body, Health And Life (1594863849, $18.95) comes from the Biggest Loser Experts, cast, and Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, Ph.D. and provides the popular NBC-TV show's insights on how overweight contestants teamed with celebrity trainers to shape up. Millions have seen the changes and show: in book form you'll have easier access to the plans designed by the show's medical experts, along with recipes, to make the most of the trainer tips. A 12-week fat-blasting program pairs with tips and motivators along with participant insights and experiences making for far more than your usual weight loss title.
  
  
  
• This workout rocks!
  By A3BG7ILEZE5NCC on 2006-02-14
  I bought this book as someone who is in pretty good shape but slacking off lately and getting bored with the same ho-hum workout routine. In fact I'd been slacking off big time and was looking for something to make it fun again, or at the very least interesting enough to motivate me again.
  
  My girlfriend and I are big fans of the show and are very impressed by the trainers so I bought the book to see what it had to offer. I started doing the circuit training routine as explained in the book, and love it! It's extremely quick - about 15 minutes, 3 days a week - and is also very challenging. After doing it for the first time I immediately could see why my usual combination of cardio and moderate weight training were not getting much results anymore. I'd never felt so worked out and also exhiliarated after exercising!
  
  In addition to the 12-week circuit training routine the book explains it's 12-week cardio routine which starts you out at 4 days a week on top of the 3 days of circuit. The chapter on food and diet is outstanding and I've learned a lot about what to eat and how much, and what not to eat. We've changed our grocery shopping to reflect this and can feel the difference already.
  
  The bottom line: This workout rocks! I have a hard time only doing it 3 days a week because completing it feels so great!
  
  
• Don't be fooled
  By A2QGGQIKHGXEME on 2006-03-08
  This book is a piece of fluff. There is absolutely no REAL information in it. I feel totally jipped. Don't be foole. I agree that if you are serious about losing weight Jillian Michaels book Wining By Losing is the much better choice.
  
  
• The Biggest Loser: The weight loss program to transform your body, health, and life--adapted from NBC's hit show
  By A1WTUDFSQMGQI0 on 2006-03-17
  great motivator, however the weekly plan that they give you is hard to do. If you want to follow it step by step and word for word you need to prepare a lot of the food ahead of time. So make sure when you start this program you do the prep work, otherwise is gets too time consuming and you lose the motivation. I did follow it for part of the first week and lost 6 lbs. so it does do what its suppose to do, however just too time consuming of a mother of a 2 year.
  
  
  
• Rip Off
  By A1XBIIO0IBZFBR on 2006-03-21
  This book isn't what it claims to be. It is a play by play of the show and there is no real weight loss advice except for random tips from the trainers.
  
  
• A fluff piece
  By A2E4U6R5O5RJRO on 2006-03-25
  I got this book hoping it would reveal "the weight loss program to transform your life etc." I found the book to be pretty light on the program part. There are a lot of tips from the contestants and from the trainers, but no real solid weight loss program and no logic or reasoning behind the tips that are given. Overall, I would only recommend this book is you are a fan of the show looking for contestant anecdotes. If you are serious about weight loss this book is not for you.
  
  

• Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

• The Biggest Loser Cookbook: More Than 125 Healthy, Delicious Recipes Adapted from NBC's Hit Show
• The Biggest Loser Calorie Counter: The Quick and Easy Guide to Thousands of Foods from Grocery Stores and Popular Restaurants--As Seen on NBC's Hit Show!
• The Biggest Loser Fitness Program: Fast, Safe, and Effective Workouts to Target and Tone Your Trouble Spots--Adapted from NBC's Hit Show!
• The Biggest Loser Workout, Vol. 1
• The Biggest Loser Workout, Vol. 2