“I feel there are enough shows that make people feel bad about themselves. If you want to lose weight, fine. Just don’t hate yourself if you’re larger than average.” –Josh Berman, creator of Drop Dead Gorgeous
I agree. I also believe there are 2 issues here, both of which I feel passionately about.
1. It’s painful for me to watch people being made into spectacles (or debacles) on so many shows these days.
While I enjoy watching shows like The Biggest Loser because I love celebrating the joys and successes of people who have lost faith in themselves (to lose weight), it is frustrating to watch someone be humiliated, be yelled at and criticized on national television. On the flip-side, I suppose the contestants DID know what they were signing up for when they auditioned for the show, didn’t they? (Hell’s Kitchen is another example)
2. It’s frustrating that many shows portray weight-loss as such an uncomplicated, simple equation.
Kelly D. Brownell, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale captures my thoughts exactly in this statement from the NY Times- “[Many TV shows] suggest that if you only try hard enough you can be thin. A far better message is that it’s hard to lose weight and that it’s not just willpower and personal responsibility, but that both biology and the environment are players.” As many of you successful weight losers surely appreciate, weight loss is NOT that simple!
I don’t understand why The Biggest Loser DOES NOT incorporate more of Jillian Michael’s research/tips on hormones, metabolism, body type, genetics, and all of those complicated, yet important factors that go into losing weight!! The show producers could simply replace the time slot that they currently use advertising HFCS-infused sponsor products with something actually useful!! (No sarcasm intended)
What are your thoughts on this??
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Time for a mental break and feast on some vegan banana bread before you share your grand thoughts. 🙂
[*Disclosure* This recipe was adapted from Fat Free Vegan …and is intended to convert non-vegans into vegans]
Vegan, Grease-less Banana Walnut Bread
3 big over-ripe bananas
4 ounces soy yogurt (plain or vanilla) or applesauce or canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup dark sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
½ tbs cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
1) In a large bowl, mash the bananas and add apple sauce, vanilla, and sugar. Stir well to combine.
2) In a separate bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients.
3) Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, and stir just until the mixture is well-combined.
4) Spray a loaf pan with oil/Pam. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan and bake until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.
*Important Note *: Fat-free quick breads like this really benefit from being allowed to cool completely, which is why they often taste better the next day. The crust, which is chewier than breads with oil, will gather moisture and softness over time.
My brothers (a non-vegan) review: “It’s AMAZING. seriously. I love it. I’m still eating it, but it tastes really good.Good job!” Obviously he’s my brother, so he’s gotta be a little biased 😉 hehe
I say, if you like your bread crust a little on the softer, chewier, nuttier side, you would love this recipe!!
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OK, banana bread break is over! Time to leave your mark in the comments section! 😛
Lucky Taste Buds! 
I can see your point. I agree that putting those putting out there during their effort to try to loose weight could be crude, but they chose to do that way and I’m sure there’s more reason than just lose weight.
Weight issue is complicated, both to lose weight and gain weight. that has much more to do with personality and lifestyle, that’s why I don’t like this kind of show to lose weight, because it’s so artificial to create a environment and place that your only focus in life is to lose weight… what about after the show? does it affect positively or negatively to their life? do they go back to normal life easily? can they maintain their new adopted life style without competition pressure? as you can see, I’m not a big fan of the idea of TBL.
nice job with the vegan banana bread… looks really yummy~~ 🙂
There definitely needs to be something POSITIVE done in the situation, to counter the negative. Thank you for your insight.
Hooray for banana bread!! I just posted a recipe for some too 😀
Oh boy, I have my own opinions on the Biggest Loser, but I have not watched it long enough to REALLY create the best opinions, as last week was my first time. I do agree with you that they should focus more on biology and working on the environment of the conestents. I mean think about it, while they are on the show their environment is SO SO SO different than when they get home. They don’t have the food advertisements everywhere, the stress of works, family, friends, etc. It’s SUCH an artificial setting!! Ugh. It angers me now that I think about it. I will come up with more opinions as I continue to watch the show. I will post about my thoughts every Wednesday!
Great post 🙂
mmmmm I love love love love that b-bread! and it makes it even cooler that your non-vegan taste tester thought it rocked 🙂
Whoa, that sounds like some awesome banana bread! I just made banana PB bread this weekend too 😀
I’ve never seen the Biggest Loser (gasp…or maybe that’s a good thing?), but having HFCS loaded commercials is counterproductive indeed (if they’re trying to help America lose weight!).
I completely agree that people need to stop making it seem like weight loss is a simple equation. I know, especially from personal experience, that this is completely untrue. It used to frustrate me, and I always thought “why does calorie counting/exercise work for everybody else (seemingly) but not me?”. I can see how this would impact others as well. I would start watching the show if Jillian gave some of her advice (from her book) out there!
I’ve never watched TBL, but I do think the show is set up to show pounds being shed. They’re in a created environment w/ plenty of specialists, no job, no kids, no day-to-day responsibilities that get in the way. Of course if you devote 24 hrs. to eating right and exercising w/ trained professionals, pounds are going to shed off. No matter how great they do there, I think it’s a little unfair to them b/c when they go home they can NEVER re-create that environment, even if they want to keep going.
Hell’s Kitchen I think does accurately portray a kitchen. My brother’s told me stories of chefs getting an inch from his face screaming. He’s also burned his hand on grease in the line, and was just given a bucket of ice to put his hand into while he continued service. True, not all kitchens are run that way, but a lot are. Also – some of those ppl they choose… ???.. I don’t blame Ramsey – I’d have to just walk out. They choose underqualified ppl on purpose to give a good show. Daycare center food people? Buffet worker? Why would they qualify to work in a real kitchen??? It’s setting up for them to fail so he has to scream. Artificial stimulant, but I believe accurate response..
Yummm the bread looks delicious!! I love how you always put what’s inside the bread on the outside. It’s so pretty! I never remember to do that, but I think it amps the presentation up by a lot, and also gives you some chewy, crunchy, big pieces.
great insight – I agree. I feel as though different TV shows are “glamorizing” the process of weight loss almost. I love biggest loser, but I wish they offered more guidance and advice to viewers who are perhaps struggling with their weight rather than just plugging product placements (that drive me nuts by the way!). Very thought-provoking post 🙂
your banana bread looks amazing! i want a piece right now, michelle!
i completely agree with you about obesity. when i first started studying nutrition, i was one of those people who thought obesity was only the manifestation of a lack of self control. after studying for 6 years, i now see that it’s so much more than that! our country is in serious trouble if we don’t start to treat the root of the problem instead of the after-effects (the diseases obesity causes versus obesity itself). obesity meets all the criteria to be considered a chronic disease, and there is no simple fix-all cure.
I agree with you! At school, we’re learning about why it’s so hard for overweight people to lose weight. Like how they can become leptin-resistant, and how they can never lose fat cells–they just shrink in size. There’s also a genetic aspect of it–you CAN be predisposed to being fat. Some people have to work that much harder to keep weight off. It’s really interesting information, and I can’t wait to keep learning about it.
Your banana bread looks incredible!! Thanks for the recipe 😀
That bread looks incredible 😀
I have never seen BL, but we have similar shows here. I think they undermine quite how much effort it is to reach a healthy weight and also, to me, promotoe unhealthy and extreme measures which I personally don’t think are healthy or sustainable. The shows in the UK put people on hard-core “detox” diets for a 2-3 months and YES- they get results, but really…how are they going to learn “healthy” habits in the long-run. I hardly think that drinking potato and garlic juice and being yelled at to run X miles is going to help their self-esteem which I would imagine is already pretty low (and perhaps partly why they go on the show?) These programs are about making money at the end of the day- they show what people want to watch because ratings are more important than anything else and if that means making weight loss out to be something that it’s not…it’s kind of how the media works 😦
UM YUM! This does indeed look moist 🙂
I love banana bread…I purposefully buy extra bananas just for that purpose!
you are making my mouth water!
I completely see your points – and agree!! I’d watch/pay more attention if more of Jillian’s info was on the show – perhaps instead of those incessant recaps?? 🙂
I totally agree — they need to give more info on weight loss. Its more complicated than just “try harder”
I pretty much hate “The Biggest Loser”. I think it’s a really lame and contrived show and a great example of people consuming media mindlessly.
…like all reality television.
I am kinda on the fence with the whole weight loss shows. In a way it’s encouraging for others, but it’s not like weight loss isn’t hard enough without all the cameras and publicity! Did you watch “More to Love”..that was a little refreshing to see real sized people vs the “ideal”.
Loove this banana bread–and I have found, like you said that letting it sit overnight makes it 10x better! Have a wonderful week! 🙂
OMG that sounds amazing- and a great tip about letting it cool! I watched a great Oprah show on a lot of the biggest loser contestants- some who have kept it off, and others who have obviously gained a significant amount back due to “real life”! It would be better if they were incorporating into their normal lifestyle instead of the “Ranch”..
I am in complete agreement with you, girl!!! You hit it right on the dot 😉 Hehehe…
That vegan banana bread looks INCREDIBLE!
❤ jess
xoxo
i agree and i agree. now send me some of that banana bread.
I agree with Christina, that if you had no other outside distraction, i.e. kids, bills to pay, A JOB! that anyone can lose weight in that environment – and I think they know what they are in for too!
That banana bread looks amazing! I only got one piece of yours and when I went back for another, it was all gone – I loved the cashews in it.
I have such mixed feelings on the BL….on the one hand, I love that people are changing their lives in a positive way, and possibly influencing others to do the same. On the other hand, is it SAFE? Also, I’d LOVE to see them do follow-ups with people after they go home. That’s when it has to be hard!!
Copied and pasted that recipe – that looks soooo good!!! I’m all about the nanners. 🙂
haha intended to convert non-vegans that’s cute!
you know what is so weird…Hell’s Kitchen weirds me out, but biggest loser doesn’t. Although this year I feel like Jillian is just a tad over the top. I agree thoguh in both cases they knew exactly what they were agreeing to before they started
oh and if you haven’t seen it yet, stop by for a yummy salsa giveaway http://runtothefinish.blogspot.com/2009/09/pepper-dog-salsa-giveaway.html
my thoughts? i wish we could take TV back to 1990 when reality TV didnt exist and the most drama was ricki lake. thanks for the vegan recipe! totally bookmarked this one for my vegan pals!
The Biggest Loser is one of my favorite shows. However, I am frustrated that they push products like Yoplait yogurt which contains artificial sweetener and other artificial or un-natural ingredients. I like Jillian Michaels but how can she say that she advocates a diet of whole, natural foods when she is involved of the marketing of diet pills and processed “diet food”?