I must admit one of my guilty pleasures is watching The Biggest Loser. I love working out and always have, so I like watching the trainers push the contestants to their limits. I also appreciate the “Trainers’ Tips” from Bob and Jillian (BTW, if I were on TBL I would definitely want Bob for my trainer . . . I love meeting fellow yogis).

As my husband and I curl up on the couch and watch TBL (shamefully, we’re usually eating Blue Bell at the time), one thing I find interesting is the contestants’ personal stories. This season and last season both contained women who came from divorced families. They both said their weight gain and struggles with food were direct results from their parents’ divorce.

“Kids are resilient” is a common saying, especially when parents divorce. We want to believe that kids will rebound, that they will emerge from a difficult situation stronger and tougher than before. But the harsh reality is that many kids carry their pain like a backpack full of bricks. Carrying that much extra weight eventually takes its toll. For TBL contestants, that toll is on their bodies, their health, and their self esteem.

Fortunately, these contestants decided to take control of their lives. They joined TBL and dealt with their emotional issues as well as their physical issues. So what is the lesson they teach us? That we should not assume kids will just “get over it.” We need to address the difficult issues head on, initiate the hard conversations, and never stop listening. Maybe then children of divorce won’t have to be the biggest losers.