Secrets of 'The Biggest Loser' By Ellen Burke The big scale isn't real, and the contestants weigh in behind the scenes before the show. It's just a prop. The situation isn't real, because there are no jobs, no commitments, and no racing to dance class or baseball throughout the week. And the weight loss, although real, comes from unrealistically long periods of exercise and probably a fair amount of dehydration. Other than an entertaining and albeit inspirational hour, what is the best takeaway from "The Biggest Loser" television show for the average person? Sure, the contestants on NBC's "The Biggest Loser" have doctors, nutritionists and trainers with them on their journey to lose 100 pounds- 112 to be exact for this season's winner- but how did they get on the show in the first place and make it through the daily professional, athlete type training regimen? It comes down to one word- motivation. It has been reported that the No.1 thing they are looking for in contestants is people who really want it. At least 100,000 people tried out to be a contestant, and without a doubt the most motivated are going to make the best TV.You can't air a TV show for its entire run if after a week or two half of the contestants just stop trying to create that often-elusive caloric deficit we all need to lose weight. Even with the support team, the kitchen at "The Biggest Loser" campus is stocked and contestants have to prepare their own meals. So back to reality: How does the average person lose 5, 10, 25 or even 100 pounds? The same way the contestants do it- with motivation, and ideally over the course of many months or even years rather than over a four- or five-month unrealistically intense period of time. Does a four-hour day spent with a trainer and cameras rolling in the kitchen, not to mention a $250,000 prize, help? Of course, but let's not minimize the accomplishment of these contestants. At the end of the day each individual is responsible for what they have accomplished. Motivation is the only thing required to reach out to a doctor, nutritionist or trainer. Motivation is what gets you moving more and eating less. Motivation when you are morbidly obese, as all of these contestants surely are, can come from concern about a shortening life span,but really, do you want to wait for that to happen? So the big take-away from "The Biggest Loser" is to find what motivates you, and it doesn't have to be anything grandiose. Maybe you want to enjoy shopping for clothes again,have less anxiety going into swimsuit season,or want to set a good example for your children about leading an active lifestyle. Find what it is for you and run with it! Nothing is more motivating than people stopping you and telling you how great you look; translation:"You lost weight, and I am so jealous." But that comes with a lot of hard work behind the scenes first. It's not glamorous; it is hard work but most of it is in your head. Getting motivated, staying focused and getting out and moving, often, is the key. What is motivating about "The Biggest Loser,"for the person without the month of isolation on campus, is these people prove that weight loss is possible, even when you have 100 or more pounds to lose. If you think you can't lose that 5, 10, 25 or even 100 pounds then you won't. If you get motivated and start to make changes now, think about where you could be in six months or one year. Exercise when you're not in the mood; ask yourself if you're hungry before eating anything;make your own healthy, fresh meals and stop eating out four or more times a week. Seek out the professional advice available and affordable for you. Get a pair of good sneakers. Look at your schedule and plan to exercise each week, starting with a day or two of brisk walking if you are inactive now, and build to three to four days. You can keep telling yourself that you can't lose weight, you don't have time, and you don't have the money, or you can use whatever is available to you including knowledgeable friends, books or the Internet, to become informed about where to start and just start, today! Ellen Burke, M.A., P.F.T., is a personal trainer and the owner of It's Time Training LLC, 61 Pease Road, Manalapan. For more information, visit www.itstimetraining. or call (732) 841-8992.com