This February The Biggest Loser’s Rachel Frederickson lost 155 pounds to win the show’s title. Frederickson had lost the highest percentage of body weight in Biggest Loser history and was the only contestant to actually be underweight at the final weigh in. There was a lot of controversy over Frederickson’s severe weight loss, and she later admitted to working out up to six hours a day to burn enough calories to win the show. Many people pointed out that Frederickson was just playing the game as it was designed and that she was at a disadvantage as a woman in the competition. She did what she had to do to win. Others said hurtful things, as is typical on the Internet. In a new blog entry on the Today Show website, Rachel admits that the negative comments did personally affect her, and she said that she’s worked hard to listen to herself and focus on the positive. Here’s some of what she wrote with more at the source:
Comments during the controversial storm following my weight loss were hurtful. My self-esteem once again was affected by other people’s voices — this time, the kind that live forever in Facebook posts or written in the pages of magazines. People tried to bring me down and (privately) succeeded. To the voices of those who tried to lift me up after the finale, I thank you!
2014 has been a year full of learning, changing and growing for me. I’ve been taking college classes, working in voice-over, walking dogs at the local shelter, training for my first marathon, and through my new career at DreamJobbing [a website that aids job search], I’m helping others change their story.
There will always be other voices in life. The trouble comes when you stop listening to your own. I am committed to trusting my decisions and standing strong behind them. I found strength in this struggle and I am listening to my own voice again!
My question to you is this: What voices will you allow into your life to tell you who you are? Everyone’s voice is powerful. Is your voice going to be one that tears others down or one that lifts this world up with positivity, hope, and love?
That was very well said and inspirational. While I didn’t watch that season of The Biggest Loser, I’ve seen interviews with Frederickson and have found her both sincere and likable. She’s just 24 years old and she comes across as very mature. She busted her butt to win the show and she played by the rules, however extreme they are. She’s also gained some weight back, and she looks great now. I hope that she continues to have success and happiness. I also hope that weight loss shows like The Biggest Loser and Extreme Weight Loss can adjust their format somewhat to focus more on health and wellness than numbers on a scale. Whenever I’ve seen them I’ve been disturbed by how blasé they are about massive rapid weight loss, and this controversy only highlighted that.
