The Biggest Loser Diet
Who doesn't love watching The Biggest Loser? It’s simply fascinating how some people can literally transform themselves from grossly overweight to fashion model thin in weeks!
The Biggest Loser eating plan was created by dietician Cheryl Forberg, Dr. Michael Dansinger, and professional trainers Jillian Michaels (right) and Bob Harper (middle).
Now The Biggest Loser has come out with their own diet and exercise plan based on the show. Of course, no one is going to expect you to work out for 6 hours a day and eat one celery stick, but this diet plan is intended to have you lose weight quickly.
What Is The Biggest Loser Diet?
To follow the plan, you need to choose one of the Biggest Loser books to guide you. Although they are all pretty much based on the same idea, there are different plans. For example, there is the 30 Day Jump Start, which is fairly lengthy, or the 6 Weeks to a Healthier You.
For this article, let’s look at the 6 Weeks to a Healthier You version. It’s a crash course in nutrition, guiding your food choices with the Biggest Loser diet pyramid.
This pyramid is a healthy choice of 4 servings of fruits and vegetables, three servings of protein, two whole grains and no more than 200 calories of "extras" for snacks or dessert. They will explain how and why you should keep a food journal, as well as calculate your daily calorie allowance.
As you can imagine, the book calls for lots of strenuous workouts.
Who Wrote This Plan
This eating plan was created by dietician Cheryl Forberg, Dr. Michael Dansinger, and professional trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper.
Although the show has promised celebrities, they have yet to produce one, and it’s really no surprise why, however, it has been said that Rob Kardashian used this plan on the sly to drop unwanted pounds.
Will I Lose Weight?
If the plan is followed as given, yes, you will lose weight and lots of it.
Studies have shown that, on average, those who follow this type of diet plan lose as much as 133 pounds in 1 year.
The Advantages
- Since no foods are forbidden, this means you cannot cheat
- There are numerous cookbooks and advice online, making most meals easy
- No special food or equipment to buy makes this diet wallet friendly
The Disadvantages
- The plan and books are not free and vary from $9.99 to $40
- Lots of heavy, grunting exercise. Lots.
- Many people go off the diet after a short time due to intense exercise and the inconvenience of reading food labels
Sample Menu
The plans can vary greatly depending on how many calories you are allowed to eat. This number will vary depending on how overweight you are.
This is a sample menu from one of the books, which says that 60 to 90 minutes of exercise needs to be completed to consume this much food.
- Breakfast: ¾ cup of old fashioned oatmeal made with water, ½ cup of skim milk, 2 links of turkey sausage, and 1 cup of blueberries
- Snack: ½ cup fat free ricotta cheese with 1 tablespoon of chopped pecans and ½ cup raspberries
- Lunch: Salad made with 4 ounces of grilled chicken breast, 1 tablespoon of low fat cheddar cheese, ¼ cup zucchini, ½ cup bell pepper, 1 tablespoon vinaigrette dressing and 2 cups of mixed greens
- Snack: 2 tablespoons of hummus and 6 baby carrots
- Dinner: 4 ounces grilled salmon, 1 cup of wild rice with 1 tablespoon slivered almonds, 1 cup of baby spinach and 1 teaspoon of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and grated Parmesan cheese, ½ cup diced cantaloupe
- Snack: ½ cup fat free cottage cheese with ½ cup salsa
The Bottom Line
The Biggest Loser is a healthy way to lose weight, but it can be very intense. You should check with your doctor to be certain this diet plan is safe for you. The rewards are amazing and, who knows? You just might discover that YOU are the biggest loser!