The Biggest Diabetic Loser

We just got word that Kim Lyons, the trainer on the NBC series The Biggest Loser is launching a 3-DVD set of exercise videos geared toward Type 2 diabetics. To quote from the press release:

The DVD series is a guide to motive people to take responsibility for their own health and to help prevent type 2 diabetes or manage it if they already have the disease. The program on the DVDs is designed to give individuals the motivation to engage in 20 minutes of physical activity daily. . . .

Each volume of the “Start Fitness Now: Beating Type 2 Diabetes” DVD includes two 20-minute workouts. For example, the first DVD is entitled “Sit Down and Shape Up 1,” and involves using a kitchen chair and doing a cardio walk. “Sit Down and Shape Up 2” includes muscle warming movements, while “Stand Up and Slim Down” consists of walking workouts. Overall the workouts are designed to strength the body, increase heart rate, enhance blood flow, and work the muscles without straining the joints.

I’ll admit I’m a bit confused by the titles — am I sitting down to shape up? Or am I standing up to slim down? I guess it doesn’t really matter — if I sit down and stand up enough times quickly, I’ll lower my blood sugar regardless of which position I end up in.

I’ve always been wary of reality shows involving weight loss — check out the video below from Current TV’s Target Women by Sarah Haskins that includes a truly terrifying clip from “Bulging Brides.” But this seems like a much healthier endeavor. And hey, if the Biggest Loser can help diabetics, that sounds like a win to me.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLerM2PAQsU[/youtube]

Catherine Price

Catherine Price (www.catherine-price.com) was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 22 years old. She has written for publications including The Best American Science Catherine Price is a professional journalist who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 22 years old. Her work has been featured in publications including The Best American Science Writing, The New York Times, Popular Science, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post Magazine, Salon, Slate, Men’s Journal, Health Magazine, The Oprah Magazine, and Outside, among others. A graduate of Yale and UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism

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Catherine Price

Catherine Price was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 22 years old. She has written for publications including The Best American Science Catherine Price is a professional journalist who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 22 years old. Her work has been featured in publications including The Best American Science Writing, The New York Times, Popular Science, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post Magazine, Salon, Slate, Men’s Journal, Health Magazine, The Oprah Magazine, and Outside, among others. A graduate of Yale and UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism