NBC's Biggest Loser for Smokers!

Biggest Loser for Smokers
The most recent episode of NBC's Biggest Loser was amazing and touching, as usual. The amount of weight lost was astounding and inspirational. Season 8 was the first time I watched several episodes including the finale. Congratulations Danny and to all of the hard working contestants! I would love to see NBC invite smokers to the Ranch and think it would be an interesting show. It's time there was a Biggest Loser for Smokers! Integrate the smokers with the overweight or start a new show. An alternate name idea: Winning Quitter.

Just as the challenge to lose weight is extremely difficult, it's a well known fact that quitting smoking is comparable to breaking away from heroine. I have struggled for years with quitting and staying quit. Many smokers go back to the nicotine monster just as those who successfully lose weight often regain it. I would gladly be a contestant on Biggest Loser for Smokers but don't know who would watch my kids and would not handle being away from them very well.

Obesity is personally important to me because I grew up watching my Mom struggle with weight problems. The effects of being extremely overweight are just as detrimental to one's health as smoking. Some believe that healthcare costs in America would decrease if there were less smokers and obesity in America. I tend to think things balance out.

Track a smoker's quitting progress:
So, why hasn't NBC begun a series to help smokers? Perhaps it's because they are unsure about how to track a smoker's progress. Measuring exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) would be an easy and immediate method of assessing a contestant's smoking status. Its accuracy has been proven according to a Respiratory Medicine article. Their habits could also be easily monitored while at the Ranch.

Becoming a Winner Quitter will also take determination, hard work and behavior modification.
Even though NBC doesn't have a Biggest Loser to help smokers quit (yet), watching the Biggest Loser does help give me confidence that I can quit smoking. To successfully change negative, unhealthy habits, intervention is often necessary. Learning healthier ways to handle everyday hurdles and stress is extremely challenging. Changing routines may also help.

Portion control, healthy eating and exercise will improve wellness and help one to lose weight. Portion control for smokers: gradually decrease the amount you smoke if you are not one of the lucky ones who can quit cold turkey. Exercise is a great stress reliever and releases powerful endorphins aka "natural high."

Sources:
Let Us Eat And Drink; For To Morrow We Shall Die, WordPress Blog, Lucian E. Marin
Respiratory Medicine, Volume 98, Issue 6, Pages 551-556, Elsevier
Healthy Eating and Exercise for Wellness, Associated Content, Ranee Wright