By: Kevin Larrabee, CSCS
Yesterday I made my weekly trip to Stop and Shop. Normally I just pick up some cottage cheese, some high fiber tortillas, turkey bacon, and my canned pumpkin. To my surprise (and disappointment) I saw some, “Biggest Loser” branded protein powder. Ohhhh boy. Can you believe that I saw it in a clearance bin? It seems like Designer Whey paid to use “The Biggest Loser” branding to help sell protein powder to those trying to lose weight and be healthier. Clearly it didn’t work as there was about 30 tubs of this stuff discounted at 50% off.
Do most people need more protein in their diet? Yes they do. But I don’t think the every day grocery shopper is going to be the same person that makes protein shakes. Instead they should be sticking with lean meats, poultry, cheese, greek yogurt, nuts, eggs, ect. Only one of my clients uses a protein supplement, and that is just because he travels a lot and I want him to be able to have something in his stomach that isn’t going to derail his results.
And, “The Biggest Loser?” Seriously. I hate this show, not as much as Leigh Peele hates Jillian Michaels, but pretty close.
Some people will do or try anything to cash in on the almighty dollar…
That shit look likes Ovaltine with frankenbitch on it. Leigh Peele on a tub of Tropical Traditions coconut oil would be much better in my opinion.
I’d have absolutely no problem with them capitalizing financially on the show’s name, if the show had sustainable value. Heck, if you guys could create a “Fitcast Brand Protein Powder” and make a bunch of money, then good for you! I just find it so ironic that they are trying to motivate people to lose weight, while making a pun on the word “loser”. I mean, if you are a loser, you are a loser. The human psyche is a bizarre thing and with these seriously obese people, the show’s title itself has got to be confusing on a cellular level. I know it’s marketing, and I can’t really comment on the overall value of the show itself (I saw one episode and I’ll say one good thing – they clearly incorporated serious resistance training in that episode, so good for them).
What, may I ask is so bad about The Biggest Loser endorsing a brand of protein powder to the general public? Just because it isn’t Metabolic Drive or Ultra Peptide and is sold in a grocery store it is suddenly a bad thing? Please.
The fact is, most of the general public, especially women, aren’t getting enough protein in their diet, and anything that encourages its consumption (especially in place of “junkier” food) should be encouraged.
Kevin, you’re beginning to sound just like the trainers at your college gym that got upset about the overweight people putting their hands of the railing of the treadmill, focused on the trees but missing the forest.
Protein powder is a supplement and it should be used as such. Just because you have a crappy diet doesn’t mean it’s an excuse to start taking supplements, even protein powder. Get a sound and stable diet if you need more protein in your diet, eating fresh meats, good fats, vegetables with every meal. And no, corn isn’t a vegetable, it’s a grain, and potatoes are tubers. Stop stuffing 600 grams of carbs down your pie hole daily when you have a desk job and don’t do anything to actually utilize those extra carbs.
If you actually need more protein in your diet, adding a protein supplement isn’t going to magically make you lose body fat, gain muscle mass, and become some jacked up hulking behemoth. It’s a sign that your actual diet is probably crap, like the average western diet, and it probably isn’t just a lack of protein in your diet.
Protein supplementation has it’s place. If you’re a hard training athlete and you want a fast digesting protein, if your actual diet is good and you want to add more protein, etc. It has it’s benefits and anyone could utilize those benefits, but just because you have a crappy diet doesn’t mean adding a supplement is going to make you any better off. Most of the general public needs a better diet, not some supplement they see in a store for 14 bucks with 6 grams of protein per serving that they falsely think is going to have some magical properties and cancel out their crappy diet.
Buy a pack of steaks.