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TV Review: “Fit To Fat To Fit” Delivers A Journey Of Weight Loss Inspiration

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This new series follows personal fitness trainers from across the country as they undertake the most extreme weight-loss experiment ever: by forcing themselves to gain weight, they aim to better understand the struggles of their obese clients as they lose the weight together.

It is no secret that the American people are obsessed with weight and weight loss. There are countless shows dedicated to helping people who are morbidly obese lose weight, one of the most famous being “The Biggest Loser.” The obsession/fascination even permeates teen oriented television such as MTV’s “I Used to Be Fat.” Watching ripped trainers motivate and push their client’s physical and emotional limits never seems to get old. The end goal transformation is always enough to keep you amazed, inspired, and addicted to every weight loss journey that graces the screen. “Fit to Fat to Fit,” is no less inspirational but takes on an extra task to create an even heavier journey.

In an attempt to understand what it means to be fat, the trainer takes on the task of gaining a significant amount of weight in 4 months so that they may better relate to their client’s physical and emotional struggles. The assumption is that a person who has been in perfect physical health cannot fully understand a person who has not, often assuming that an overweight person is simply lazy and does not have the will power to make the right choices and is choosing their fate, when in fact the struggles are far more complicated.

In the first episode we meet JJ, a personal trainer who has been in peak physical condition his whole life, and Ray, a morbidly obese man who is unhappy with how he looks, feels, and desires to become a healthier and better man through this weight loss journey. Before the journey of weight loss begins, JJ informs Ray that he will be gaining 60 pounds in 4 months so that he may better understand what it feels like to be fat. It’s quite disturbing to see JJ stuff his face for 4 months, and nauseating hear every bite of greasy food he chomps down on. Every pound added he becomes more lethargic and agitated, feeling like a failure.

Upon seeing JJ for the first time in 4 months Ray is surprised by the transformation. JJ is also surprised to see Ray as he has lost some weight during the 4-month wait. The trust between Ray and JJ is strong as both embark on a weight loss journey. JJ is excited, manic even to get fit again and Ray very hopeful. While JJ is stunned by his limitations in his first workouts, Ray pushes his limits more than he ever has before. The bond between trainer and client is strong and the transformations are tearfully inspirational.

While “Fit to Fat to Fit,” is compelling, to be frank, it is also somewhat grotesque. It is hard to watch JJ consume so much food to gain weight on purpose, and watch the changes unfold. I felt quite bothered and irritated watching JJ’s transformation. Listening to him complain, and saying he “has” to do this grated my nerves and made me think, “Does he have some sort of savior complex?” Even though JJ gaining weight is an attempt to understand what it’s like to be fat, it just seems so superficial. JJ knows what it’s like to be fat for like 5 seconds when many people who are morbidly obese have been struggling for a lifetime. Something just doesn’t gel well with me on that level. Even though “Fit to Fat to Fit,” is adding a new element to the weight loss journey, it isn’t a necessity to make the journey any more inspiring.

“Fit to Fat to Fit” premieres Tuesday, January 19th at 10PM ET/PT on A&E

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