It’s getting a little depressing watching the Biggest Loser lately.

Each week, we see a succession of big blokes and beefy women bemoaning the fact that they have “only lost” two or three kilograms. It’s enough to send you into a binge-eating fit of depression.

As some of you may know, a couple of weeks ago I insanely joined a quest to lose 20 kilos in 20 weeks or fork out $100 for every kilo I fail to shed.

In my first week, I lost three kilograms, but if you look at my TV counterparts, I should be slashing my wrists rather than quietly celebrating with a little more zest in my step as I slog my way up Woombye’s hernia-inducing hills.

As I may have mentioned, I kicked off my weight-loss program just before the start of the new year and since then have lost about 13 kilos.

In many ways, I think starting out early could prove costly. As my fellow losers continue to offload the kilos, my fear is that my weight loss will start to plateau – unless, of course, I up the exercise, or turn my two meal replacement shakes a day into three or no replacements at all.

When you see these big guys shedding 10 or more kilos a week, you have to wonder whether Biggest Loser is really promoting a sensible or sustainable weight loss.

What am I thinking? It’s television; it’s not about informing or educating people – it’s about ratings.

And watching fat people sweat for hours on end – and then almost cry as they lose 0.9 of a kilo – is great TV. But it’s not particularly helpful.

Most experts say you should try to lose about a kilo a week.

According to the same experts, one of the reasons why contestants on the Biggest Loser are losing so much is because they ate so much to start with.

Whereas big blokes like me are happy to consume 2000 calories a day, these guys and girls are knocking back 3000 calories a day – so the idea of cutting their intake by 1500 calories a day is entirely feasible.

And of course, they’re spending about three hours every day exercising. I don’t know about you, but I struggle to find the hour a day I’m trying to set aside for either gym, walking, or more pain and suffering on the treadmill I foolishly bought months ago.

Despite my early success on the program, somehow I fear I could be a safe bet for anyone who wants to throw some money my way for sponsorship.

Dollars per kilo lost donated by the public will go to two Coast-based charity projects – one involves an orphanage built by the Reed Charity Foundation in India while the other is for a medical centre being developed by Dr Michael Ryan and wife Cheryl.

Pledges can be sent to mark.furler@scnews.com.au .