I have to admit it, I am a reality TV junky. Not in a need clinical assistance sense, but pretty close. It fascinates me how people act on the shows when there is fortune and fame to be had.

That being said, I was watching the Biggest Loser show the other day, and finally had a suspicion confirmed. I had always wondered how the contestants lost SO MUCH WEIGHT. One person lost almost 20 pounds in a week. How is that healthy?? Then Gillian said it. She told the contestant to "Stick to your exercises and STICK TO YOUR 1200 CALORIE LIMIT". The person she was talking to was a female who weighed over 250 pounds.

Here are the facts regarding calories. Women need 1200 calories for normal body functions. That means breathing, heart pumping, smooth muscle contractions, etc. Everything that your body does without you telling it to do, requires 1200 calories if you are a non pregnant, non breast feeding woman. So how then, can a person be healthy if they are burning 1000 plus calories a day on top of the normal stuff. That puts your body in a serious calorie deficit, which WILL RESULT in health complications. We are talking gallbladder problems, nervous system problems, there is a whole list.

I like the idea of the show and the way it motivates people to make a difference in their health. I'm sure you have seen all of the local gyms jumping on the biggest loser bandwagon with their own spin on it. It's free publicity, and people are excited about it.

If you are considering losing weight, you must eat right. You need to know how many calories you need, including how many fat, carb, and protein grams, to lose weight safely. Most people should only lose 2 pounds per week. I know that doesn't seem like a lot, especially if you have over 100 pounds or more to lose, but it is the safest way to get it off. The weight didn't get there over night. It probably was a result of years and years of poor food and fitness habits. Be patient and lose the weight the right way. If you don't know how to determine the amount of calories you need, talk to a personal trainer. Most will do this for free, with training of some sort. Others charge a small fee for it. The point is, IT WORKS. You will lose the weight and learn how to live a healthy lifestyle. The best part is, the weight will stay off, because it came off the right way.