The Biggest Loser

I was at the gym. My gym is now souped up with flat screens everywhere and you can watch whatever you want on your own personal cable TV as you run. I know... think football...

I couldn't find anything that jumped out at me until I landed on "The Biggest Loser." This was the navy/military wives edition or something and they were battling for total percentage weight lost over the other women. They had a coach that told them what to eat and a basic diet plan, but they have to do most of it on their own. The point is that most of these women have even had surgeries done and couldn't keep the weight off. The women have to do everything on their own and have their own willpower and determination. This is where the fact that they are on a time limit and that it is a a competition really helps.

I decided that I love this show. I found myself so inspired and uplifted by it that I forgot I was running! When the coach would tell them positive things and shout "see look what you are made of" I would instinctively run faster- it was perfect to run to!

I couldn't help but compare this show and how I felt about it to all of the other "makeover" shows and "top model" shows. This one builds good habits and helps the individuals learn how to make life changes rather than attempting to let them be changed for them. It was almost emotional for me as each woman got off the scale and realized what she had accomplished with all of her own hard work. (I love the positiveness of everyone working as a team rather than the skinny Beotch teenagers all living in one house and constantly shouting at each other over nothing.)

I decided that I love this show. I found myself inspired and lifted by it that I forgot I was running. When the coach would tell them positive things and remind them what they are made of I would push a little harder myself-- it was perfect to run to! I watched all the way until it came to the end and the host had each team weigh in. I couldn't help but compare this show and how i felt about it to all of the other "makeover" shows and "top model" shows. This one builds good habits and helps the individuals learn how to make life changes rather than attempting to change it for them. It was almost emotional for me as each woman got off the scale and realized what she had accomplished with all of her own hard work. I loved that positive message. Then I noticed that half of why I felt that way was because of the music chosen. The music was sort of sappy and manipulative as each woman weight in. They built the suspense and then told me how to feel all in the choice of music. It was a bit like a Mormon movie when you get to the end and everyone is crying...yes- part of that is a spiritual moment, but the other part is the brilliance of audio editing. Nevertheless, I was still inspired and proud of the great idea to uplift so many people. Everyone leaves feeling beautiful--and I am all about that.

If I were to use this in the classroom I could use it for two things: 1) When teaching directing techniques, I could use it to show that the individual has to follow their own intuitions or it wont be natural...etc. or 2) I could use it to show how music is used to help tell a story or alter the mood of the piece. I found it to be very effective for me.