How can I not mention The Biggest Loser finale from tonight?

One thing- honestly, I don't care who wins.  I'm happy for Michelle, and for Heba & Ed, but truthfully most of those people would probably rather keep their weight loss and forgo a $100k or $250k check as opposed to getting the money and being fat.    I refuse to get petty and gossip about people and cast my vote for who should win, unless it's truly based on just seeing a need and feeling connected to a person.  I didn't feel that way about any of these people, so 'twas no biggie to me who won.

Onto thoughts about the finale and the show in general...

It's good.  It's emotional, to see people who were so obese 6-7 months ago now fit and no longer staring down death's barrel.  

That said, it's frustrating.  If you look at previous winners, so many of them have gained weight back.  I'm never going to say that only WLS works, just like before I began to pursue WLS I never would have said that only diet and exercise work (I say diet and exercise "only" because even with WLS there is a huge emphasis on d & e; the surgery is just a tool to help).  I think people just have to do what is best for them.


Surgery is not for everyone.  That said, a diet and exercise only regimen isn't successful for everyone, either.

The deal is, Ali is maintaining really well.  But Matt (of Matt and Suzy from season... 2?) has gained a lot of weight back, Suzy has gained some, and, as I have said before, you know there is a reason why they never have Biggest Loser reunions.  Plus, did anyone else notice that most of tonight's people shown on camera from past seasons, as they are today, were shown only from the shoulders up?  I mean, hello.

The deal is, I was watching the preview for the next season, that starts on (I think) January 6, and seeing the guy that weighs 454 pounds, and the woman that weighs 379... it struck a chord.  I guess just because the guy jumped right into my heart.  The woman... well, I have always thought that I could never be on that show because the biggest woman so far was barely over 300 pounds (I think it was Isabeau).  With the woman who is 379 pounds, I just connected with her, and I really want to see how she does.

Truthfully, I really start to care about these people.  They're real people.  They want to succeed.  They want to live.  They are trying to change their lives.  I guess I'm just a little frustrated, and a little disheartened, because I feel like it's misleading to see these people the way they were tonight, finally accomplishing a goal they have worked so hard for, and to know that so many of them will end up being obese again.  I mean, look at Vicky- there is NO way she can sustain that life.  Being either at work or at the gym from essentially 4am to 9pm every single weekday?  I guarantee you that post finale she'll adjust to a more livable schedule and some of the weight will come back, even with her exercising and eating well.  She'll put in twice the effort and have 10x the self-control and struggle to maintain a weight similar to any other size 10 woman that has never been obese.

It doesn't seem fair, but once a person has been obese they simply don't have the same body chemistry as someone who never was.  I promise you that I eat better and exercise more than many size 12-14 women and I am struggling to get comfortably back into a size 28.

Those are my thoughts.  I'll still keep watching, but there's a sadness for me when I watch the show now.