Fans of The Biggest Loser may have noticed an exotic addition to the show recently: The 2010 StreetStrider.

Like a cross between an elongated tricycle, a Razor scooter and a gym elliptical trainer, the StreetStider consists of a light frame with two small wheels in front and one large wheel in back. Riders stand on the ski-like platforms and stride their legs in a stretched out oval motion. The movement is part jogging, part cycling -- and part something completely new for an outdoor exercise machine.

If the Biggest Loser contestants are any indication, StreetStriding will be the next big fitness craze. They tested the machine behind the scenes for over two seasons, zipping around obstacle courses and pumping up hills. Although contestants had usually lost a good deal of weight before climbing aboard, most of them were still on the heftier side so Dave Kraus, the inventor and president of StreetStrider International, thinks their feedback was especially useful in helping in working out the kinks and perfecting the motion for the average person.

"We're really hoping to re-energize people of all shapes and sizes by providing them with a cutting edge product that's safe, rigorous and low impact," he says.

Best of Biggest Loser 2008(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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The Biggest Loser Families started off with an NFL bang this week with a surprise appearance by San Francisco 49ers retired stars Steve Young and Jerry Rice. It was great to see these NFL Superheroes put the remaining six contestants through football drills to win $10,000 to donate to a school of their choice, but the Football Reception Challenge was boring. No contestants tackling each other, no suspense, a big yawn. Vicky continues to prove she's got game -- she swept the drill and challenge with cool strategy. Many viewers may not like her, but when there's big money on the table, honor doesn't always rise to the top.

It's About Being Better Than Yourself, says Steve Young, the guy who sat patiently in Joe Montana's shadow for years. Work toward improving your own goals instead of doing 50 push-ups like the next guy. Don't let a size double zero keep your size 10 body from striving for a size eight. Stay focused within at the gym and you won't waste energy on outside comparisons.

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Is The Biggest Loser reality show dangerously grueling or a healthy grueling? Depends on which expert you ask. Considering the show's immense primetime popularity and the fact many might be trying their own demanding form of Biggest Loser at home, it's a question worth asking. Here are a few positions:

• The show's extreme fitness demands could potentially mock serious health conditions related to morbid obesity, says one expert. Bootcamp-like Biggest Loser workouts put those with undiagnosed high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes at risk for a heart attack, stroke or low blood sugar.
• High-intensity from the get-go stresses the joints to the max -- we've seen several contestants limping around.
• Unless you're a trust-fund kid, most people have jobs that get in the way of burning calories Biggest Loser-style -- 4,000 a day for women, 6,000 for men. This stirs up unrealistic expectations at home.
  
  

• Biggest Loser's Dr. Rob Huizenga emphatically believes in the power of intense, sustained exercise to counter morbid obesity. He says contestants are tremendously good at keeping the weight off compared to clinical studies of participants losing far less. As long as you have a doctor's approval and supervision (if necessary), go for it.
• The show delivers inspiration to the masses -- even if you don't daily hit the gym Navy SEAL-style, viewers at home are learning diet and fitness tips, while simultaneously beginning to actually believe losing 100 pounds is possible.
  
  

Want to lose weight? Here's how:(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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The Biggest Loser reality show has arrived -- it landed on The Oprah Winfrey Show. An optimist preaching self-empowerment to millions every weekday, Oprah is ignited by success stories, and she's not afraid of hard work. The Biggest Loser is right up her alley.

• Biggest Loser contestants spend 6-7 hours a day in the gym at the ranch?
• Women eat 1,200 calories a day and burn 4,000 calories; men eat 1,800 and burn 6,000?
• 114 contestants have lost over 10,000 pounds?
• Last season's winner, Ali, has kept the weight off (234 lbs to a sleek 125 today) with 5-6 workouts a week and weighing/measuring all her food. Mark (285 lbs, now 189) has kept off the weight and learned how to feel emotions again?
  
• Suzy, Ryan, Erik have gained some or nearly all the weight back, but they're fighting?

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• Results are not typical. Normal people don't lose more than two pounds a week.
• They put their lives on hold. Contestants spend weeks focused solely on losing weight. The rest of us can't afford that luxury.
  
• They're probably over-training. Think about it -- they go from no exercise to working out for hours each day. This isn't healthy -- or realistic.
• They have trainers. Celebrity trainers are there with them for every workout. Can you afford that? Didn't think so.

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• Establish a routine: Harper says regularly scheduling workouts is the most important step, especially for someone new to fitness.
• Sugar-free Cardio first: A gym membership shouldn't be the first step. Just relax, buy a good pair of shoes and start walking every day. Cut sugar from your diet from the start. Ooh, sugar is my nemesis. But there's hope, I just chose red grapes over candy corn.
  
• Then weights: After two months of cardiovascular training, start adding in weight-training. Harper says fat and muscle don't like to hang out together. He's a fan of heavy weights and lots of repetitions, unlike other trainers who suggest heavy weights/less reps or lighter weights/more reps.
  

Bob Harper(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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Alison Sweeney(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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