Until a week or two ago, I had never heard of Kai Hibbard.
Apparently I was in the minority, because I don’t watch The Biggest Loser.
I hate that f’g show, as do most people in the fitness industry. I understand we’re in the minority though, and obviously about a gazillion people out there watch it, many inspired by it, many also discouraged and depressed by it because they can’t replicate the results seen on the show. I’m not here today to debate the merits of The Biggest Loser though. I hate it. You make your own choice.
Today I want to talk about Kai Hibbard, a former competitor on the show a few seasons ago. Although Kai didn’t win, she lost an amazing 140 or so pounds while she was on. (side note: If you lose 140lbs and don’t win, what the hell do you need to do to win that show?)
Now though, Kai is speaking out about the reality of her experience on “reality” TV. (see the video below) Among other things, she states:
- Weekly weight loss numbers were usually from periods lasting longer than a week.
- She would intentionally dehydrate before weigh-ins to create the illusion of bigger weight loss.
- The show’s producers pushed contestants to do very unhealthy things in the name of dropping the biggest numbers.
- She was basically starving herself, considering coffee with splenda a meal.
According to Kai,
If I’m going to be grateful for my part in inspiring people, I need to take responsibility for the fact that I participated in a myth that hurts people. I made a deal with myself after that finale, that I was such a coward at that finale that I didn’t speak out and tell the truth about how awful it was, that if anybody came and asked me from that point on I would tell the truth.”
I give her a lot of credit for coming out and speaking about the reality of The Biggest Loser. Obviously she could have kept quiet and used her fame to her advantage. I mean, look how many losers who’ve appeared on The Bachelor or Survivor have leveraged that dubious feat into career paths they never would have been able to achieve otherwise. A few phone calls and I guarantee she could have been on next season’s Dancing with the Stars. Instead, she’s now been anointed a saint by some for speaking out, while simultaneously painted as a fame-whore by others.
I don’t think she’s either one.
If she was a fame-whore, she’d be on Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Apprentice, or some other show that revives questionable ‘stars’ or washed up ‘celebrities’. Nope, she’s a military wife stationed somewhere in Alaska I believe.
But I’m not going the saint route either.
Sure, it’s great that she’s come out and said this stuff, but honestly, my reaction was “No shit.” Contestants dehydrate before weigh-ins? Oooh, shocker. They did unhealthy things like starve themselves? OMG, I never knew! I thought they really lost 15lbs every week. What? Those weekly TV weigh-ins were actually more than a week apart? Say it isn’t so!
Yes, I’m being sarcastic. Remember, I said I hate this show and the main reason why is that “Reality TV” in never based in fucking reality. As soon as a camera is turned on, reality sails out the window. (Do you really think the pathetic Jon & Kate Plus 8 losers ever would have had Emeril Legasse come to their house to cook dinner if they weren’t on a ‘reality’ show?)
So let’s all get over the ‘shock’ of her revelations.
She didn’t say anything shocking at all. If you were truly surprised that shit like this occurred on this show, you aren’t real bright. Sorry, but you probably shouldn’t be allowed near sharp objects.
But, since she’s apparently the first to break the Biggest Loser code of silence, she deserves some credit for that.
She continues,
If I’m going to be grateful and be an inspiration, at the same time I need to take blame and responsibility for the fact that I helped perpetuate a myth that’s dangerous. I participated in something I feel is harmful to so many people, so I own responsibility to make it better.”
That is very noble.
Or it would be, if it wasn’t for the fact that Kai Hibbard is also a paid spokesperson for some diet pills peddled on the internet.
She’s featured on the web page for Livea, an appetite suppressant made from barley grass, algae, chlorophyllin, alfalfa, corn starch, and sugar. Yeah, baby, a diet miracle in a bottle made from barley grass.
Here she is on their site (no, I’m not going to promote them by providing a link), along with the supplement facts label from this crap she promotes. She’s also on their Facebook page, and the link on her Twitter page is for this diet supplement.
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So, no, she’s not a fame-whore, but she’s not a saint either.
In my book she’s a hypocrite.
You can’t condemn The Biggest Loser, saying you want to take responsibility for perpetuating one weight loss myth, while you take money to perpetuate another one.
~Dave
About the Author
Dave Soucy is a coach, trainer, motivator, husband, dad, and former fat guy. His goal is to teach as many people as possible how to achieve a life of health, fitness, and wellness through simply eating right and exercising. Click here to learn more about Dave.
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