Operation Transformation

First Up wrote: »

I'm surprised they haven't guided Andrew to work on his strength and conditioning. He clearly has energy and motivation to burn and they could help him channel, it instead of giving out to him for running.

They would need a fitness expert for that...
Karl is a bit of a spoofer who got into media.

First Up wrote: »

I'm surprised they haven't guided Andrew to work on his strength and conditioning. He clearly has energy and motivation to burn and they could help him channel, it instead of giving out to him for running.

Yeah thought the same myself. Their reaction to him was pretty sour. He lost 4 pounds and should have been congratulated but instead he met a wall of tut tutting as if he is on the road to anorexia. They could have gotten their point across in a better way.

Would agree with others that Suzannas heart doesnt seem to be in it. In the argument with Karl about walking around a football pitch she had a lot of negativity like shes convinced herself that she just cant do it. Someone mentioned that dancing might have been better for her and Id tend to agree. OT seems to have this cookie cutter approach that all contestants will like running because Karl does. One size doesnt fit all like Karl seems to think, lots of people hate running but would actually enjoy cycling or swimming and be able to sustain it when the show ends. If they're not doing something they genuinely like then as soon as the camera crew departs they will stop doing it.

Caught up with the newest episode today. For some reason Andrew is starting to annoy me a little bit now the past few weeks. It's fantastic he's lost so much weight and has taken to running so well, it just seems like he's got a little bit cocky imo. Talking about beating Karl on the 5K on the day and he doesn't take criticism very well. Maybe it's just me but I think he's eating less than what his plan is the past few weeks. I just don't get Susuana at all being honest, she's lazy and is where she is for a reason. She just screams drama queen, I can't do this, I can't do that, give me a break! She has a neighbour, practically a full time fitness instructor to her during a pandemic and she still struggles walking on country roads. I want her to do well but I can see right through her, half hearted words that don't involve real action or commitment in any way, we'll see, maybe, possibly, try etc, all defeatist words from someone who really doesn't want to be there. They have cameras in the houses so I'd be interested to see the footage when she's measuring out her ingredients, I'd say her portion sizes are still bigger than what they should be, nobody gains weight three times in seven weeks, something very fishy about it.

Hazel and Sharon have both done fantastic and well done to the both of them. They've really grown as human beings throughout the show and their confidence has shot up. Paul is still Paul imo, although he has improved a bit. He was on the radio during the week with Dr Sumi and he was talking about how sticking to the plan is vital and that he's done it. I was driving at the time and thought I was in the Twilight Zone for a minute listening to it, surely this wasn't the same man who fought with the experts saying the plan didn't suit him and didn't want to use the microwave. I hope it works out for him post OT and he brings his new changes into his daily life. His breathing has improved and he has lost some weight. Benefits for him to build on and I agree with another poster who said he gives the impression he can't wait for the show to end.

Bradley Mushy Gunboat wrote: »

I think I worked it out before and she had men on 1250-1400 calories a day, that is crazy low for a man but it gets rapid weight loss so the show works out for the producers in that people lose weight very quickly and it makes good tv and transformations.

However then they start going mad when they lose too much weight on these very restrictive low calorie diets, sorry they cant have it both ways.

I think they could do with a better nutritionist and a better trainer tbh as neither seem to have a clue but that's an argument for another day.

Given that public health advice is that men eat 2,500 calories a day 1,250-1,400 is ridiculously low. I remember losing weight and the app MyFitnessPal recommeded no less than 1,700 per day and it would be giving you warnings if you consistently logged less calories than that. I did try to drop below 1,500 at one stage but its not worth it as you're just going around hungry at the end of the day.

If theyre putting the men on 1,250-1,400 calories per day that sounds more like shock therapy on their bodies just so the producers have some results to point at by the end of the series. Id actually say it is irresponsible advice.

Baffling when you see how they reacted to Susanna in comparison to Andrew. They were quite harsh on Andrew for losing when they told him not to but almost complementary of Susanna despite the fact she is relentlessly gaining. Have they just realised she is a lost cause and don’t see the point? If it was anyone else, say Paul for example, who was gaining to such a degree they would be gone through him. I don’t understand their approach towards her at all. There’s clearly something going on with her that we’re not seeing.. Andrew looks great, very trim and fit but I’ve a feeling he’s not done losing weight. He’s losing it so quickly now I think he’ll find it hard to know when to stop

Muahahaha wrote: »

Given that public health advice is that men eat 2,500 calories a day 1,250-1,400 is ridiculously low. I remember losing weight and the app MyFitnessPal recommeded no less than 1,700 per day and it would be giving you warnings if you consistently logged less calories than that. I did try to drop below 1,500 at one stage but its not worth it as you're just going around hungry at the end of the day.

If theyre putting the men on 1,250-1,400 calories per day that sounds more like shock therapy on their bodies just so the producers have some results to point at by the end of the series. Id actually say it is irresponsible advice.

Absolutely, and with a calorie deficit like that, the exercise is going to have very little effect on weight loss.
I know exercise is vital for fitness, well being, mental health etc but in terms of weight loss the effect from exercise is minimal.
If you had two sets of leaders one just did the diet only, no exercise, the weight loss would be similar.
I know their fitness would not improve but I think it is a mistake to imply that exercise has any significant effect on weight loss.

Diet causes weight loss, exercise brings a whole range of other benefits but has minimal effect on weight.

The exercise is beneficial even without weight loss.

Susuana should of been kicked out of this long ago, she's getting fatter as the show goes on, she's absolutely pathetic.

Id say they are afraid to go harder on her because of race issues, they don't want to be accused of anything, but anyway shes the most pathetic contestant I have ever seen on this show.

But the "experts" are just as pathetic, she's wasted everyone's time from the very start and they have failed to call her on it.

Complete joke.

Arduach wrote: »

Hazel and Sharon, both excellent. I look at the careers they are in and it's clear they are workers. If you're a worker, you can achieve most of your goals.

Suzanne.. She just doesn't want to put herself in the least bit of pain. Whenever any of us start at a low base there's plenty of pain to endure to reach physical fitness, the right body size and shape. She's a china doll. I can't see her being productive in anything she does.

Paul is a bit bull thick. He'll work more than Suzanne but he's stubborn in his habits. He'd take 'managing' full time. Bubbles has probably had her hands full for years. Not that he wouldn't be good natured, but he'd always know best!

Andrew has gone a bit prima donnaish for me last night. Ok the guidance isn't the best. But he's lost sight of the real goal and just wants to compete with, or beat, Karl in the 5k. That's short term thinking. I'm sure he did more than 6 min extra running! You can hide an awful lot, re. exercise, food portions etc, even to yourself..but the scales won't lie.

I agree with all your comments except the last paragraph. The "experts" treated Andrew terribly imo.

Arduach wrote:

Andrew was told to maintain his weight, I don't see what he has to cry about when he loses 4 ibs.

But he was given no guidance on how to do that. He has got hooked on running and fitness which is great but the "experts" don't seem to have suggested any ways to use his energy and enthusiasm to build muscle mass (which he needs) instead of losing weight (which he doesn't)

The guy needs to get advice from real experts. Karl Henry is a one dimensional chancer.

Bradley Mushy Gunboat wrote: »

I was thinking the exact same but just didnt bother writing it because I didn't want to get into an argument with someone so didn't bother.

You are 100% right, she's a lazy clown who should have been booted off the show week 3. Would have made for better television tbh

It was so clear to see how it would go from the start, she's morbidly obese and thinks she's a goddess or something. Delusional doesn't cover it, the lack of self awareness is frightening.

I feel bad for her son, he seems like a good guy.

I agree she was lazy and she needs to take responsibility for it not working out.but saying she is delusional goes back to her heritage. Warning signs were there from 1st episode that the shows one size fits all plan wasnt going to work
On episode 1 she said that in Nigeria society thinks the bigger you are the more beautiful society counts you. Alarm bell number 1
Its was also clear to see she was never going to be your 5k sort of person. Alarm bell number 2. She fitness plan should have been altered. Karl henry is a one trick pony when he comes to fitness and its clear for a number of series he isnt great. Make fitness fun for her. She came across as a fun person include dance into her routine for example. So many ways to do fitness than pounding the pavements sure poledancing is a legit form of fitness class nowadays great for upper body strenght
Alarm bell 3. In 2 seperarte episodes she says shes missing african food. Aoife took a lazy approach here too. She only lookes at planteen in reference. Surely Aoife could have looked into herbs ans and spices to add african flavour to her menu plans? The planteen thing would be like someone focusing on spuds to an Irish person..
Suzanne, Karl and Aoife all have some blame here.
Andrew i got the feeling the other night if not careful he could be the sort to take weight loss too far. People can get addicted to it

RebeccaK21 wrote:

There is no nuance in the plan, or personalisation, as we've seen especially so many times this series. The food Andrew is on is obviously insufficient for maintaining weight while exercising. An extra slice of toast or more porridge or whatever isn't going to do it. He should be really proud of himself, and I'm so glad he's found that he loves running. The contrast between his weigh-in and Susanna's is actually embarrassing to see from the 'experts'.

Both cases illustrate the difference between a TV show and a serious exercise programme. The African woman is clearly a hopeless case but she'll be carried to the finish line because that's what the show requires.

Andrew is more complex and a bigger challenge because it's the first time a participant has gone beyond the simplistic picture the programme is designed to show. He is an interesting case study but his needs (and maybe potential) can't be easily packaged for the couch potatoes the show is intended to impress and motivate.

Scolding him for running while not suggesting alternatives shows how limited the programme - and its panel of "experts" - really is. I'm sure he will finish it out but I hope he moves on to get better advice when the cameras aren't rolling.