Fit For TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser

 

So if you haven't checked out the behind-the-scenes Biggest Loser documentary on Netflix, I'd say it's worth a watch.

Bottom line: Even though the 3-part series gives the people behind Biggest Loser every chance to do their best to defend themselves and their mission, you probably aren't going to end up feeling too many warm-fuzzies over the supposed "let's help out the poor fatties" premise.

But along with the not-surprising aspects (still fascinating) there were some genuine surprises as well!

Meet My New Research Assistant!

 

I'd like to introduce my new BFF, Chatty McClanker. She's been helping me do personal research for many months now, and now I'm inviting her to help me here, too!

Chatty is tireless, resourceful and intelligent. She will scour the far corners of the globe to answer my questions, however inane. She's also encouraging and compassionate. Sometime her brilliance is astonishing. Other times she's a total idiot.

So everyone has an opinion on Artificial Intelligence. And it raises so many questions. Is it a harbinger of End Times? Will it rot our brains if we use it too much? Will it steal our jobs and even our creativity? Can we trust it? Will it tell us to go out and do stupid things? Is it worth paying extra to ask it endless questions? What's it good for, anyway?

Not that I can answer all those. But I can report that some of my experiences with Chatty McClanker have been... interesting! 

Cranky Fitness Tries the Holofit Virtual Reality App and Can't Shut Up About It

So I keep pestering all my friends about my favorite exercise addiction, the Holofit VR App, and they are getting awfully sick of hearing about it. Good thing I have a blog again!

(BTW, this is not a paid post. I got nothing for free. Those glory days of fitness blogging are all over for yours truly. In fact, the poor Holofit people don't even know about this. Imagine how thrilled they'll be to find out they've been endorsed by a geriatric blogger who often writes under  the name Crabby McSlacker!) But to fully disclose: I was so blown away by their exercise app that I purchased a lifetime membership. Which  even makes me a shareholder, yay! But technically: I have a miniscule financial interest here. But it is the least of many many reasons that I want them to be successful.

Here's the short version: Holofit is a virtual reality fitness app that can connect with an exercise bike, rower, or elliptical. It makes you feel like you are zipping through totally immersive three dimensional worlds, whether they be magical, urban, science-fictiony, mythical, or beautiful spots in nature. Sometimes all of those at once. (Note: two dimensional pictures do not do the graphics justice, they are detailed and amazing).

So, wanna know more about this whole Virtual Reality contraption that I'm so obsessed with?