I don't watch much television and what I do watch needs to have substance (it's usually CBC or HBO shows). There are a number of hit shows (like ER or the Amazing Race) that I know exist... but I've never made an effort to sit down and watch.

There is one mainstream show that both Gordon and I are completely addicted to... it's The Biggest Loser. This is the first season that I've watched (but it's been on for a couple years now). I'm blown away at the depth of the characters (and my interest in their lives), the intensity of their weight loss experience and the emotion the show is able to capture from the contestants. Yes... there are shameless product shots... ridiculous cliffhangers before commercials... and sometimes exaggerated drama... but if you PVR the show... you can fast forward through anything that seems silly! I cry every time I watch the show (but most of the time it's happy tears).

From my own experience, I've discovered that significant weight loss is a personal challenge... a trainer and workout buddy help... but in the end you've got to take control of your own life and do this for yourself. Even though each person approaches weight loss for their own reasons and in their own way... this show has proven to me that there are some universal challenges and rewards that go along with weight loss... here are some of the common themes between Real Life and Reality TV:

Milestones: I remember when I saw the scale go under 200lbs, it was a big deal. I woke up at 6am on a Saturday morning for my weigh-in and Gord was right by my side to cheer me on. I remember looking up at him when I saw 197lbs almost crying and then saying, “I will NEVER see 200 pounds again"... and I haven't. This happens to the contestants on the show too, and I get a knot in my stomach every time and cry. I know how rewarding it feels to achieve a major weight loss milestone... and that high makes all the effort worthwhile.

Importance of a Trainer: There was a week where the teams got switched up and the competitors had to switch trainers. My heart ached for these people, everyone knows that I completely adore Devin and Gina. I couldn't imagine having anyone else as my trainers, it's an unexplainable bond. I really believe their help made the difference between me giving up when things got hard or continuing on until it became part of my regular routine. Their belief in me and their encouragement can't be measured and their relationship is invaluable to me.

Importance of Friendship: You see it on the show and I experience it with my workout buddy and my boot sistas. It's fun to have people to workout with and cheer you on, make you laugh and also to help you push yourself harder with friendly competition! You develop an amazing bond with the people you workout with and these people become your closest friends. You can see the people on the show develop lifelong relationships because of the experience they are sharing... it's beautiful.

Light Bulb Moments: The most important thing that I've learned from this show (and the contestants have too) is that all of us have the ability to make this change, we just need to want it bad enough and have the willpower to follow-through. It does get easier with time, it does become a habit and it is addictive!

Unlike other weight loss shows (like X-Weighted), The Biggest Loser focuses on the success of the contestants instead of the failures. For dramatic effect they show the sweat, tears and pain but at the end of the show they always recap how much the person kicked off the show has achieved and I find it encouraging and a nice tribute to the effort the contestant put in.

Bonus is that The Biggest Loser also has amazing cookbooks. Gord and I have bought two now and everything we've tried has been easy to make, healthy and best of all DELICOUS! I highly recommend it for people who want to lose weight but can't think of good recipes to compliment their workout routine.

With exception to my one vice... Big Brother... I typically don't watch reality shows... but this one is definitely worth watching.