So I'm sure you've heard "Shaq's Big Challenge" debuted last night.
The show features basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neil and six overfat kids between 11 and 14 years old. (The official protocol now is to say "overfat" with kids versus "obese" for adults.) These kids weigh from 180 to 285 pounds.
Apparently, I was the only personal fitness trainer who didn't watch the show.
Yes, I know…
As a current member of the Board of Directors of the International Youth Conditioning Association and a former member of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness (whose prime objective was to bring daily physical education back to schools), it's "part of my job" to watch shows like this.
But I just couldn't. For many reasons.
First, I'm not a hypocrite.
By that, I mean TV is the enemy! I'm not going to sit on my butt and watch a TV show about a bunch of kids who are too fat largely because they spend too much time sitting on their butts watching TV.
I rarely watch network TV anyway. (Yep, I'm one of those anti-TV snobs), but I did happen to see the ads showing Shaq holding down a kid's feet while he did sit-ups (Shaq, we stopped holding people's feet down years ago!) and kids holding the handrails while walking on treadmills (another no-no).
On a good note …
I was touched when one kid said about his new exercise program, "I've never done anything like this before. It feels good."
But the main reason I didn't watch – and won't – is that it's promoted as a "reality" show.
And Reality TV isn't real. It can't be.
Here's what Variety.com had to say in their review:
… members of “Shaq’s Team” — the Miami Heat all-star’s trainer and doctor Carlon Colker, trainer Tarik Tyler and nutritionist Joy Bauer — each seem to be auditioning for their own TLC series or featured spot on “The Biggest Loser.”
Remember my brief involvement with "The Biggest Loser?" I can tell you from personal experience – TV producers of shows like this are more interested in ratings than they are in educating the public about fitness.
My friend, Cincinnati personal trainer Brian Calkins had an even worse experience with another Make-Kids-Lose-Weight reality show. (Sorry, they'd sue the heck out of me if I mentioned the name).
He said producers of the show encouraged the family to abuse the overfat girl until she cried.
Then they begged them to make her cry more!
Besides, this reality show is a copy of the British series “Unfit Kids” starring English Hall of Fame soccer player, Ian Wright.
Here's how they could really help these kids (if they weren't so concerned with ratings):
Make it fun.
The kids hated exercise. Even most adults don't like traditional structured exercise.
The modern attack is to make kids' exercise more like play.
Ease up on the time limits.
The professional standard in personal training is to "meet clients where they are." That means you start a formerly sedentary client with just a little activity.
The last thing you want to do is take someone who doesn't do any exercise (probably because they hate exercise or believe they will hate exercise) and make them exercise vigorously.
Time limits may make for good TV, but what kids need are permanent changes in their lifestyles.
Speaking of time limits…
I recently "lost" a client because she wanted me to help her lose 20 pounds in less than a month.
I said, "No thanks." Weight loss shouldn't be a race.
Sure, deadlines help motivate some people, but a weight loss deadline should be both reasonable (1 pound a week for women) and flexible.
I know, one pound a week is not exciting or "sexy," but, sorry, I don't write the rules of physiology.
Obviously it's "good" marketing to sell ab and inner thigh gadgets by promising tremendous inches and pounds lost.
But you know – if you understand anything about physiology – these gadgets CAN'T work, but since the buyers won't use them anyway, they'll blame themselves, not the gadget or the company.
Then they buy the next ab and inner thigh gadget to come along. Customer for life!
I've seen far too many people set too ambitious a weight loss goal only to say, "I'll never do it, so I'll just give up."
Even the official pediatrician of Shaq's Big Challenge, William Muiños of Miami Children's Hospital, says,
"To lose 80 to 90 pounds in nine months takes a Herculean effort."
So why make it so hard by being so aggressive in the rate of weight loss?
Shaq did, however, put it best when he said, the key to weight-loss success for kids is "believing in yourself, eating the right foods and being active."
It really is that simple.
Tags: fitness program, exercise program
Similar Posts:
- Personal Trainer of the Year and Planet Hollywood CEO working together?
- Strenuous exercise may harm obese kids
Popularity: 14% [?]
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
please give this message to shaq.
I was a nerd during my teen years.i lived close by a pool. i hung out wtth a great group of kids.we played keep away with a nerf ball for hours.i only got out for a few minutes,then i showed off my can opener on the high board.i was the only girl who could do one.my friends were impressed!! it was fun!! we also had relay races with a greased watermelon.
may i suggest dividing the 6 kids in two groups.Also use a buddy system.three times a week(beginning,middle,end)call each other.making sure that they stay on track.also measure their waist,arms thighs,etc..each week.
I lost 24 lbs and lots of inches by dancerzing 45min.a day.I only gained weight after i turned 35. And get the parents involved . after dinner or on a saturday or sunday.Take a long walk,throw a ball,frisbee,play miniature golf,etc..these are all low impact fun activities that everyone can enjoy !!
oh by the way i was never heavy until i turned 30 something. and believe me it is a lot harder now to lose weight than when you’re young.I weighed 120lbs,5ft.7 1/2′”
Important thing is to have fun,then your mind won’t know that it’s really good for you!!
And 86 the trainer,he scares the daylights out of me.just imagine how intimidating he his to the young teenagers.
trust me they will lose weight,gain confidence and have respect for others.
oh one more thing.the winning team who loses the most weigh or inches,gets to see shaq.front row at a basketball game!! great idea or what? i just hope you take this great advice,thanks,tanya
But, of course, scary trainers make “good” TV.
I had to tell “The Biggest Loser” I was no longer interested in their offer when they asked me to send in a audition tape. I knew I didn’t have the “in-your-face” personality TV producers want from personal trainers.
Apparently, a “Personal Trainer of the Year” award (along with being a 5-time Finalist and 14-time nominee) and nearly 30 years worth of proven results wasn’t enough for them.
As an ex-jock, I certainly understand that the point of competition is not to beat the other guy into the ground, but to get the most out of yourself.
On the other hand, shows like “Shaq’s Big Challenge” and “The Biggest Loser” send the wrong message by encouraging people to lose weight so quickly they can’t possibly sustain those loses.
Again, weight loss should be a permanent lifestyle change, not a short-term race. – Stephen
Dear Mr. O’Neil:
I have been watching your program and have been inspired to help. I will not speak of storys of woe but can tell you that I am a father of very heathly and fit seven year old and would like to help. I live in a wonderful part of Southern California and I believe your present in this part of SC would also be inspiring to the youth our community.
Respectfully,
Albert Hernandez Jr.
562.254.5897
What a wonderful program for kids. It’s nice to see how helping our kids be fit can be made fun and exciting. These kids, and many who watch, lives will be forever changed and improved.
From my own experience it was always hard to get my kids to eat fruits and veggies. Those are the best they can eat but they were resistant.
Fortunately, I found a company (& became part of it) that has 2 Fruit & Veggie products that have changed all that. They love the Fruiji bars.
I love them because they have all the nutrients, grown organically, put together in a tasty bar. When we run out we take the supplements, also fully organic.
It’s great to have an alternative method of getting good nutrition into their bodies to benefit their health.
Thanks again for airing this program. Keep these kinds of programs coming : )