Operation Transformation... it needs one

The following is taken from my weekly newsletter that is usually sent on a Sunday. You can subscribe to it by clicking HERE

Apologies for no newsletter on Sunday. But needed to get one out today.

On Sunday, I had my long run. The longest run that I plan on doing before doing the marathon on Sunday week. Not going to lie, I didn't really do too much else after that. I was meaning to do this newsletter but I had the Any Given Runday Podcast to do (talking about the big difference a positive mental approach can have to a long run and setting yourself you for a virtual marathon, on Spotify HERE and Apple Podcasts HERE)... and sure then it was 6 pm. Time for a Sunday roast and 7 straight hours of American Football. That routine is important to the story. As is the guilty free beers watching my 49ers lose for the third week in a row.

I'll get to my point in a second.

Last night, after Boot Camp, it was down to Dundrum to watch the new Bond movie with Dad. No spoilers on whether that is a part of this story.

I woke up this morning. And scrolling through Instagram over breakfast, I came across this video with a few clips from Operation Transformation.

Being in the health and fitness field for the past 12 plus years, I am asked on occasion if I watch this show.

*Side note* I actually always thought it was on a Sunday. Just checked to see that it was Wednesday... well that half ruins the first part of this newsletter. So no, I haven't watched a full episode.

Back to the story.

Nope, I just am not interested in watching it. Shows like that and the Biggest Loser never appealed to me. In fairness, I still need to watch Game of Thrones, Love/Hate, and this Squid Game thing that's on Netflix now so I don't exactly keep up with what's on TV... except those 7 hours on Sunday evening.

So back to this video about Operation Transformation HERE.

And I realise that it's clips without context on what the people are doing during the week. I also do not know if these clips are an actual portrayal of what you would see on the show on a week in week out basis. But if the premise is like what I am seeing in these clips, it has it all wrong.

Right off the bat, having people in their black underwear and giving out to them because they lost 3lbs when they "should have" lost 4lbs on National TV is a crock of crap (I'm keeping it PG). That's TV and it's completely unnecessary. Can they not throw on a t-shirt before the "judges" channel their inner Simon Cowell?

The real sad part is that a few of these clips are over the top reality TV reactions for ratings under the premise of helping people and the country. And I know this because a lot of the clips are arguing over a single pound! Your body weight will fluctuate more than that over a given day!

If you can't tell already, it actually annoyed the hell out of me watching this video. I don't get annoyed easily. And I'm not one to rant and rave or comment negatively on social media posts. I definitely don't do Twitter right!

But this video. It got my blood boiling. Unfortunately, to highlight everything that is wrong with this and the perception of fitness and losing weight in this country, I am going to have to go through it again.

Here we go...

Clip 1: One of the things that can prevent people from losing weight is stress. I don't know about you, but I'd be pretty stressed if I was on national TV in my underwear being berated like that. Not exactly building towards a healthy lifestyle change and a better approach to food and exercise. I would say this looks like something from Hell Week... but I haven't seen that either.

Side Note - that's not a criticism of Hell Week.

Clip 2: My favourite part of this whole video:

"Was the day at races worth it?"

"Yeah".

You should never feel guilty about having a few drinks with friends/family and enjoying yourself.

Never!

If the last 18 months has thought us anything, it should be that. Is it the best idea to weigh yourself a day after having a few drinks? No, of course not. It's not going to be an accurate representation of the week. This is why some people would advocate for weighing yourself every day and taking an average. But that's a newsletter for another day.

Bottom line, you're not going to undo your progress by having a few drinks on a day out. I didn't undo my run on Sunday morning by having a few beers on Sunday evening along with dessert.

Maybe those choices were an "abomination?"

If your diet doesn't allow you to socialise at all with friends and family and has zero tolerance for types of food, it is something that is not sustainable and will not last.

Clip 3: This is one clip that I probably need more context to comment on, to be honest. There's no context about "the target". Although I will say that having goals is great but specific weight loss targets, especially at the start of a new exercise regime is not a good idea for anything other than TV.

Yes, calories in vs calories out will lead towards weight loss over time. But having exercise will increase lean muscle mass and could have a positive effect on fat loss but might not show up as quickly on the scales. How you sleep, eat and handle stress will also affect weight loss.

Clip 4: NEVER EVER compare your weight loss journey to someone else's. Weight loss does not work like that. There are too many variables. Results come over time. The man lost 2.5lbs and because 'his target' was 4lbs, he gets told that "there hasn't been any change".

Clip 5: Yet another clip where there's a pound in the 'target' result. She lost 3lbs. Great result, well on her way. And the first thing she is told is, "I'm disappointed for you". 10 seconds later, the camera starts panning down her body. If I scanned a woman down like that in a bar on a Saturday night, I'd get a well-deserved slap across the back of the head.

I'm all for times where tough love may be needed. I'm all for being held accountable. I do get that sometimes people need to be kicked up the backside, that they are not working as hard as they claim to be. And I also get that people signed up to this show for results. And there could be parts of this show that are genuinely helpful for people. Full disclosure, I have not watched a full episode. But, unless this show has changed drastically, right down to how they are interviewed after they weigh-in, I have a hard time believing that this show is about the 'health of the nation' or whatever spin they want to put on it. The weekly "targets" is nothing more than TV. Berated over a single pound and belong told there is no difference because someone lost 3lbs instead of 4lbs is wrong. Making everything, right down to the logo of the show being about the scales, when a fitness and fat loss journey is about much more than the number on scales once a week, is wrong.

If you are on your own fat loss journey. Some weeks you will lose more weight than other weeks. Even if you stick to the plan rigidly. Weight loss is not linear. Some weeks, you will lose no weight. that's ok too. If you focus on creating better habits along with making it sustainable, you will get results. Don't compare yourself to anyone. You are on your own individual journey towards your individual goals.

If you lose it fast, without those habits, in that bad environment with that amount of pressure on you, once the lights are off, you'll gain it all back again. And the studies have proven that.

Make smaller changes. Find exercise and training you enjoy doing and want to work towards. And, unless you are a professional athlete and it is your job, there should rarely, if ever, be a case where you can't socialise for fear of "undoing the entire week".

Now go see the new Bond movie because I need to talk about it!!

Happy... Tuesday?

Seán