The Biggest Loser: The Weight Loss Program to Transform Your Body, Health, and Life--Adapted from NBC's Hit Show!

by Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, Cheryl Forberg, Michael Dansinger

The book fans have been clamoring for—the diet and exercise plan that enabled contestants to transform their bodies and their lives on TV's new smash hit reality show

The Biggest Loser was NBC's surprise hit of the Fall 2004 television season, drawing a passionate audience and prompting people nationwide to start their own Biggest Loser competitions. This unscripted weight-loss drama was based on overweight contestants competing to lose weight and win a quarter of a million dollars with the help of a team of doctors, dietitians, and trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.

On the evening that the first season's finale aired, legions of fans went to the NBC Web site to look for the diet and fitness plan that the contestants used. It wasn't available to the public—until now. With this book, people looking for change can accomplish the same type of radical makeover of their bodies, their health, and their lives that they saw on The Biggest Loser.

The book features the food and fitness plans from Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, Cheryl Forberg, Michael Dansinger, and Biggest Loser Experts and Cast Staff, and motivational tips from the contestants themselves. The contestants' compelling stories and reasons for losing weight, dramatic before-and-after photos, and real-life advice provide the inspiration and upbeat attitude that made this show a smash hit.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Self Help, Fitness

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2005

About the author

Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, PhD, is a leading health and medical writer in the United States. She has authored or coauthored more than 30 books on nutrition, exercise, weight loss, psychological health, and other health-related issues, among them The Biggest Loser, a New York Times best-seller that is the official diet and fitness book for NBC’s hit reality show of the same name. Some of her most recent books are 20/20 Thinking, Good Carbs Vs. Bad Carbs, and Foods That Combat Cancer. Greenwood-Robinson has appeared on numerous television and radio shows, including the Dr. Phil Show and NBC’s Dateline. She has also written articles that have appeared in the magazines Shape, Let’s Live, Great Life, American Health, Physical, Muscle and Fitness, and MuscleMag International. A frequent speaker on issues concerning health, anti-aging, nutrition, and exercise, Greenwood-Robinson is a member of the Dr. Phil Show advisory board and serves on the advisory board of Physical magazine. Greenwood-Robinson resides in Flower Mound, Texas.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A common sense approach to losing weight requiring counting calories and exercise. I loved reading all the personal stories as they provide so much encouragement. I also really loved the meal plans and recipes and have tried several myself. They are easy to prepare with mostly common, wholesome foods.

I am not sure if the exercise component is something that a person can continue to do for the rest of their life. Otherwise, there are many pictures and descriptions of good exercises.

For me personally, counting calories is not the best way for me to lose weight. I usually tire of it and end up giving up. For other people this just might be what they need to get starting on their journey to improved physical health.

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to read but not as much great info as I'd like. Some good tips from the Losers and trainers but mostly it's what I've read everywhere else. If you're looking for some great info, check out the book by the other trainer on The Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels, Winning By Losing. Awesome source of info!

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are lots of books out there designed to help us all change our lives and our looks. Many are doubtless good; others are … well, whatever they are. Some of them are psychobabble, others are pom-pom waving cheerleading “you can do it” kinds of books. I found this particular book the perfect balance between inspiration and hard facts.

The book provides more than 80 pages of recipes and meal plans for those interested in becoming more by being less, so to speak. It also includes inspiring stories of people who participated on seasons one and two of the show. There’s also good advice from Bob Harper, one of the show’s trainers.

My favorite section here is the exercise section, which provides a comprehensive plan for everyone from the beginner to the advanced exerciser.

I’ve always thought the participants on the show lost way too much way too quickly, but the book emphasizes that those of us in the real world should focus on losing no more than two pounds a week. The medical advice seems rather sound to me, although I’m the ultimate layperson when it comes to having a radar for good medical advice. Still, there’s nothing fanatical about the meal plans in this book. You won’t be drinking caribou-flavored broth for 28 days then switching to Las Vegas cactus water for 14 days. This is a no-nonsense, no psychobabble book about eating fruits and vegetables and unprocessed foods, drinking water, and exercising—the three basic pillars of common sense, safe weight loss.


There’s excellent information in here on keeping a food journal, calculating your caloric needs, setting up an exercise plan that’s right for you, and paying attention to food labels. The only down side is that a couple of the web sites listed are already out of date or broken. But other than that, this book has real merit based on content. Woven throughout the book is the story of the various show participants and how their lives and health were affected as a result of their weight loss.

[Cory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me just start by saying that I LOVE the Biggest Loser TV show--it's inspirational and motivating and fascinating and it makes me cry. If I look at this book as serving the same sort of purpose, it's a very good. There's a lot of the "You can do it!" and "You have worth!" stuff in it. However, when it comes down to the actual mechanics of the diet and exercise, it doesn't really fit into my lifestyle or the choices I've made. For instance, I don't like to ingest artificial sweeteners, while the book is all about them. And some of the tips are horrifying to me--when I'm craving ice cream I should put cottage cheese in a blender until it's smooth, add almond extract and freeze it? Ewww!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the simple breakdown and lists of foods that are good to eat. I am not very food savvy when it comes to cooking and it really helps to have a no nonsense approach. I have been eating like a horse and have lost 9 pounds in 15 days. On the rare occasion I have been hungry and had a craving for sweets but most of the time I have not had cravings. I also have more energy to use with workouts. I feel my muscles have what they need to work hard for me. Lastly, my PMS symptoms which generally put me out of commission for several days prior were soooooo minimal, I didn't even realize I was in that time frame. All I can say is AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really know how to rate this book. It's not really a "book", but includes testimonials from the Season 1 contestants, delicious-sounding recipes, exercise plans (including pics on the correct way to do them, who knew I had been doing sit ups wrong this whole time?) and a sample of what to eat for a week.

I LOVE The Biggest Loser. It is one of my favorite shows out there, which is why I picked this up. I highly enjoyed reading the testimonials, and am dying to try some of the recipes. So... I guess, 3 stars? Like I said, not exactly a "book".

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I checked this book out from the library, not in an effort to lose weight per se, but rather for general health/fitness related information and because I liked watching the show. I was hoping it would have some insider tips or tricks for staying fit, but it seemed to be a lot of repeated information if you had been a fan of the show. Still, I like the no-nonsense approach: no gimics, just eat consciously and carefully and get active.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sound, easy to follow advice on health, eating and physical activity that is easy to do from home with a few added tools to work with. I bought this book while doing some research for a personal fitness exam I was planning to take and was impressed with how easy this book would be to follow and how well the program was written. They have their science down and obviously know what they are doing.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another great learning experience as I learned to eat things that were better for me and contained the right portions and quantities of different foods. It was a great help on my weight loss journey and has been helpful even after I read it the first time. Besides diet information it also has tips and tricks as well as trainer insights to help you get on track and stay on track. I would recommend this for anyone looking to loose weight or just maintain a healthier lifestyle.

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great, common sense guide for lifestyle change, not necessarily lose weight fast. It's rethinking how and what you eat, as well as deciding to make a change in moving your body. They offer great suggestions, meal plans, as well as exercise tips to get your metabolism jump started. I really enjoyed reading all the personal testimonies on people's struggles and how they overcame them. It made me see that if they can do it, I can certainly do it!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this show so reading the books is a given for me. I don't think the book is going to help someone who knows basic nutrition and exercise principles, but it would be great for someone who doesn't know much about either. I have now moved onto the 30-day jump start which has even more recipes and exercise plans.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Biggest Loser is the only show/movie that has ever made me cry. That's right, the only one. Enjoyed the format of the book, it was full of bite-sized tips, which is good because I have no attention span post-first semester of grad school.

[Meghan Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book teaches you how to lose weight the common sense way. Move more, eat less. And make healthy choices. There are no fad diets in this book, just common sense lifestyle changes. If you are trying to lose weight you should def. read this book.

[Flori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Haven't read cover to cover, but I did read most of it. I saw it at the library and wanted to see what all the hype is about. Amazing before and after pictures almost have me convinced....
Seems like more of a commercial for the show than a really helpful book.

[STEPHanie Collao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information about eating and exercise. I never follow the diet plans in health books that I read although The BL plan is very good and I do recommend it.

[Karen]

This was a "Bargain Book" that I picked up. It solidified what I've learned from Weight Watchers.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had lots of good ideas and motivating stories, but it honestly wasn't that educational compared to other diet and DIY books I've read.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Same old diet advice, nothing special, glorified picture book.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a newbie to the Biggest Lower tv program but love it....enjoyed this book too!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it for the motivation and recipes. You can skim through this and still get the gist

[Mandy Huot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent tips! Loved it!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great exercises and recipes! Not a diet but lifestyle change.

[Connie Marx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty informative, had more than enough testimonials, I'm sure it motivates people, I was just looking for the facts.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great diet for life.