The Biggest Loser Club is the online program that is based on the hit television show The Biggest Loser. Following the recent craze for this show and overwhelming popularity of the weight loss program I decided this should be the focus of the first column. Overall I found this entire weight loss concept fantastic! The Biggest Loser: The Weight Loss Program book was easy to follow and was one of the first diet programs that actually makes sense!! The Biggest Loser DVD has excellent workout programs to follow and who can’t help but smile right back at Bob Harper when he’s saying “I know its hard. But you can do it! I know you can!” Those dimples ..sigh!

But I did find a few shortcomings with the tools being utilized for the web version of this program: The Biggest Loser Club. When you take on this program please keep in mind that your results may not be the same as the cast of The Biggest Loser. The contestants on the show are placed in a fantasy environment away from everyday life and are focused and dedicated to one thing only WEIGHT LOSS. There are no outside distractions no children vying for attention no chores or household needs to worry about. The contestants on the show have made drastic changes in their diets cutting their caloric intake by 40 50% and increasing their exercise by 100 200%. They work out 3 hours each day dropping over 1500 calories. This is a drastic change, and according to Dr. Michael Dansinger, a consultant on “The Biggest Loser 2″ and a physician at Tufts New England Medical Center, not very many people are in a position where they can take such drastic measures.

The key to the dramatic weight loss of the Biggest Loser contestants is removing the many barriers that made them gain weight in the first place. So unless you are preparing to spend the next 12 weeks secluded away from real life don’t expect to drop 20 pounds a week! What do you get when you join the Biggest Loser Club?

Here’s what the web site promises and what you really get:

PROMISE: Daily Meal Plans & Recipes: Personalized plans featuring foods and recipes that helped the contestants lose weight and eat healthier. Plus get shopping lists and recipes.

What you really get: This is a great tool though it does have its limitations. You are able to select from a variety of meal plans and customize it to your own tastes. If you are not a picky eater {like me} and are willing to follow the program strictly then this tool couldn’t be any easier to use! You basically print out your menu and shopping list for the week and off you go! However if you do dietary restrictions or want to drop to a caloric intake less than what the plan advises you do have a lot of customization to contend with. It took me two hours to plan out my meals for the week and then adapt them to fit MY needs. AND if you’ve already purchased the Biggest Loser Book you’ll find a lot of the same menu ideas and recipes. Not a ton of variety.

PROMISE: Customized Fitness Program: Burn calories with our circuit program you can do at home or at the gym. Our demonstrations show you how to exercise safely and effectively.

What you really get: To personalize this fitness program you just basically select which days you want to do a cardio workout and which days you want to do strength training. That’s it. Based on the days you select, you’re given a workout plan that is very similar to the Biggest Loser Book. Once you review the Strength suggestions, and Cardio suggestions once and print them off there really is no need to go back to that section of the web site.

PROMISE: Connect With Bob Harper and Cast Members: Use the message boards to learn their tips and secrets, find answers to your questions, and get motivated.

What you really get: You are offered the same diet options and fitness program used on Season 2 of the show. You do have the option to contact the experts and past contestants via a message forum. But its really hard to get the attention of these individuals. There are so many people utilizing the Club right now with so many questions its easy for your post to get lost among the masses. It took me 6 tries to get the attention of a nutritionist and that was only after I posted THIS IS MY 6th ATTEMPT TO GET ADVICE.

PROMISE: Personal Progress Journal: Share your experiences and success with other Club members, Contestants, and Trainers.

What you really get: This is what I find really cool about the Club and may keep me as a member. I know there are other free web sites that offer the same service but the graphics here are so pretty! In your Journal you can track your weight, your caloric intake, your BMI, and the popular % of weight loss as we see on the show. You also have the option of keeping an online journal to track your weight loss. I personally prefer keeping my journal on my blog to share with everyone but others tend to be more private and may find this tool very valuable.

PROMISE: Newsletter, Tips, and More: Get inspiration, motivation, and the information you need to succeed on e-mail and online. Club members will also exclusive benefits like access to a limited number of tickets to The Biggest Loser Season 2 finale, and more.

What you really get: I personally did not subscribe to the weekly newsletter. I have enough junk e-mail coming into my box it gets a bit busy. Throughout the web site you will find a variety of motivational messages and tips to help you on your weight loss journey. But this feature is just added fluff to give you some added value to the program.

I was able to access the program through a friends account and went to the forums to ask three questions of the subscribers and the experts. I didn’t receive the overwhelming response I expected but did hear back from two subscribers who LOVE the program. The first has been using the program for just over a week and found it to be an easy plan to follow something she hadn’t found in the past. The second subscriber mentioned she’s been using the program since January and has successfully lost 12 pounds. I did not receive a response at all from the experts but again they are flooded with requests from subscribers.

The key issues to address when deciding if this is the right program for you is the Menu Planning Tool, The Fitness Planning Tool, and the access to the Experts. If you feel you can follow the program as is with absolutely no chances to the menu plan or fitness program then this really is a fantastic tool for you! However if you find yourself wanting to speak more with the experts, wanting to customize the program, you should probably look elsewhere.

I give this Diet Plan: {Three Out Of Five on the Diet Scale}

With a few modifications this could be an AWESOME weight loss tool. But for now, if you’ve already purchased the Biggest Loser Book and DVD workouts Id save that $20 a month subscription fee.

The Biggest Loser Club can be found at www.biggestloserclub.com.

As with any weight loss and exercise program please check with your personal physician to find out what options are right for you!