It makes the players seem like wimps, but please. If a person weighs 350 pounds and hasn't exercised in years, can you expect him or her to suddenly crank up the treadmill for a few miles or do knee-crunching squats?

Heather Hansen, the Utahn who was on the show's third season, told me in 2007 that doctors monitor the contestants, "but you get a lot of pressure from the trainers to push your body beyond its limits. The doctor would say, 'Don't do squats, hills or inclines,' but then the trainer would say, 'We're climbing up a sand hill today."'

Hence, she left the ranch with a torn calf muscle, bursitis in her knees and tendonitis in her quadriceps muscles, making it hard to continue exercising. So I think folks would be wise to dial-down those "last-chance workouts" if they're trying them at home.

My other beef: If muscle weighs more than fat, wouldn't some type of fat-to-muscle ratio be a better way to measure success that the amount of pounds loss?

But aside from the above complaints, I still feel that "The Biggest Loser" sends a positive message for viewers, especially those of us trying to lose weight.

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E-mail: vphillips@desnews.com