1. Challenges Faced in the Obese
In the Biggest Winner program there are many challenges that are faced while
training individuals who are obese and overweight. These challenges are real and need to
be addressed in order to bring about life changing results to contestants. Challenges that
are discussed throughout this paper are real and can deter individuals from seeing results
and becoming motivated to overcome their previous lives.
The big challenge at the beginning of the program is determine which barriers
each contestant has that is either slowing down their progress, or is stopping their
progress. There are three different categories that have to be addressed: Physical, such as
habits or related knowledge, Environmental, such as the people around them, and lastly,
Emotional, which could include negative experiences in the past or personal thoughts
towards themselves. It would prove to be extremely beneficial to find this out first thing,
rather than somewhere in the middle, or even worse at the end.
Physical barriers can be hard to overcome but they can also be very beneficial
once they have been identified. Some contestants come into the program with pre-
existing health conditions. These conditions should be known to the trainer and the
wellness coach. Medication for these conditions can greatly affect the results of each
contestant. Some medications can lower someone’s metabolism, thus, disrupting their
weight loss goals despite their good effort. Other physical barriers could be that some
contestants don’t know how to cook. If they don’t they should consider signing up for a
cooking class or do some of their own homework on the subject. That could be one of the
biggest challenges facing each contestant is the fact that they are eating unhealthy
because they don’t have the knowledge or experience with cooking.
Environmental barriers are also prevalent among many contestants. Some may not
want to let other know they are in a program to lose weight or they simply don’t know the
impact that it can make on helping them. Contestants should let their roommates,
spouses, family, friends, co-workers, and employers know that they are apart of a
program to lose weight. This additional support group can add extra strength whenever
contestants may feel weak and also extra motivation when they accomplish great things
along the way.

2. Emotional barriers can be the worst of all to overcome, because that is quite
simply, that is who you are. Each contestant needs to develop faith in themselves that
they can overcome their previous lifestyle. They need to praise themselves for changes
and when they do something wrong, they need to forget about it and move on, rather than
grinding themselves into the ground. This is where the trainer and wellness coach and
help create positive experiences for these contestants to thrive on. If they have nothing to
work with, it will be a struggle they will face the whole program.
Stepping towards the actual program itself when it comes to training, form and
progression of exercises can play an important part. Some contestants have never lifted
before and therefore need help with form. An individual training session for each
contestant would prove to be the best answer in answering questions, demonstrating, and
having them gain trust in you as their trainer.
A simple progression scheme could be something such as: two weeks of
endurance lifting (15-20 reps), three weeks of moderate intensity (8-12 reps), and five
weeks of heavy lifting (4-8 reps). Endurance would safely introduce weight while helping
them to develop proper form under supervision. In addition to that, they would be able to
get cardio in while lifting weights. Some great routines for endurance could be something
as simple as a fitness class on campus or using the circuit in the fitness center. In addition
to endurance lifting, some forms of cardio are better for contestants at the beginning of
the program. Swimming (water aerobics), biking, elliptical, and other low impact
exercises are beneficial. These forms of cardio reduce chances of injury, inflammation,
and overall negative attitude that could be caused by such incidences.
Moderate lifting can also be another great stepping stone to help contestants build
some strength while improving their form on certain exercises.
A challenge that can be faced amongst contestants, and especially college
students, is the lack of sleep and the toll it can gradually place on individuals. These
changes can be hard to detect but can add to weight gain over a period of time and also
create other diseases related to weight gain. A number of factors can contribute to a poor
regimen of sleep, some of which include: Poor diet and a habit of staying up late. This
lack of sleep can create a slue of issues for an individual over time and even in as little
time as a few weeks. Some of the changes that occur in an individual who doesn’t get

3. adequate sleep include:
• Interferes with the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates and causes high
blood levels of glucose, which leads to higher insulin levels and greater body-fat
storage.
• Drives down leptin levels, which causes the body to crave carbohydrates.
• Reduces levels of growth hormone--a protein that helps regulate the body's
proportions of fat and muscle.
• Can lead to insulin resistance and contribute to increased risk of diabetes.
• Can increase blood pressure.
• Can increase the risk of heart disease.
Joint pain and inflammation in general can be a common challenge amongst
contestants in the Biggest Winner. Most of the contestants haven’t exercised for extended
periods of time, so when they engage in exercise, they can come across inflammation or
joint pain. Nutrition can play a key role in helping contestants stay in the game, whether
that be sufficient energy for exercise, maintaining a good mood, or relieving joint pain
and inflammation from exercise.