Strong – “Pilot” Recap. Mind, Body, Spirit.

Season 1, Episode 1

Air Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2016, 9/8c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★

Strong is NBC’s newest reality competition series from Dave Broome, creator of The Biggest Loser. Hosted by professional volleyball player Gabrielle Reece, Strong pairs 10 male trainers with 10 female trainees. Unlike other competitions where the trainers watch from the sidelines, both trainer and trainee compete.

As someone who has struggled with their weight, I had no desire to watch Strong. I find weight loss shows that use temptation as part of the game difficult to watch. It wasn’t until I participated in a press conference call with Broome and Reece did I check it out. As I watched the first few episodes, I wondered whether I could keep my emotions in check or if my personal weight experiences would cloud my judgment. You see, a few years ago following a workplace accident, the ordeal eventually led to me being homeless for three years, which contributed to my weight gain and subsequent lack of mobility.

That said, Strong puts an emphasis on learning the contestants’ stories to gain a better understanding of who they are and why they are doing the show. Each person’s story helps dispel the stigma that overweight and out- of-shape people are lazy.

Contestants on Strong come from all walks of life and include everyday people like Jill, a busy mom with four kids, and Claudia, a mom of two who has struggled to stay in shape since being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Along with the other eight trainees, their personal stories play a big part in the series as we learn how each contestant got to where they are today. Learning about their struggles makes the ups and downs of their journey even more powerful.

There are some very touching moments on the show when some contestants talk about being bullied about their weight. While some people might view their bullies’ comments as just words, their examples really resonated with me. Why, you might ask? Well, I remember standing in line to buy a newspaper when a little kid looked at me and said, “Mom, he’s fat.” While I know the kid meant no ill will, it’s hard to describe what a comment like that can do to you. Listening to similar stories from contestants like Jasmine, who talks about wanting to find confidence after years of being bullied because of her weight really did a number on me.

Instead of having a group of trainers from the same mold with a uniform method of training, Strong drew from various backgrounds. For instance, there’s Leyon, a boxer who incorporates boxing into his training; Ky, a trained ballet dancer who isn’t a fan of weight or impact training; and Dan, a Cross Fit trainer. With each of the 10 trainers being paired with 10 different trainees, it’s fascinating to watch the various techniques used and how that style impacts their performances in the competition.

Given how trainers are viewed as almost superhuman on some shows, it was surprising to learn they are human, even though they look so powerful and tough. They experience the same feelings and emotions as the trainees. Having the trainers play an equal role with the trainees in the competition, it’s easy to see the fear and self-doubt the trainers experience. Some of the more powerful moments in the show happen when the trainee has to emotionally carry or motivate the trainer.

The fun part about Strong is how the show creates physical challenges that are difficult for both the trainer and trainee. The oversized jungle gyms are engineering marvels as contestants hang, swing, and leap through various levels of obstacles. Watching the teams compete is inspiring as each team must utilize their strength and work together.

Strong is an entertaining mixture of The Biggest Loser, American Ninja Warrior, and a dash of Dr. Phil. There’s even a touch of Big Brother as occasionally some of the trainers clash during their downtime.

Unlike The Biggest Loser, Strong isn’t a weight loss show. Instead, the show focuses on getting strong, fit, and healthy. Weight loss is a result, not a goal. While the physical transformations are amazing, they aren’t treated like a secret. For the producers, the winner of the competition is the big reveal, not the number of pounds lost.

I’m not ashamed to admit I flat out cried on several occasions while watching the first two episodes of Strong because of how inspiring the contestants are. There’s one moment in the second episode when one of contestants repeatedly tries and fails to complete a task. With her elimination all but a given, it’s painful to watch as she keeps falling to the ground, only to get back up. You won’t believe what happens next; all I can say is it reduced me to tears.

Strong is an inspirational show regardless of your size. On a personal level, it got to me not only because of my own struggles but because of the contestants’.

Strong kicks off with a two-night premiere that includes two back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, April 13 at 9/8c, followed by an another episode on Thursday, April 14 at 8/7c, only on NBC.

Tune in to new episodes of Strong, Thursdays at 8/7c, only on NBC.

For more information on Strong, visit the official website.

Follow Strong on Twitter.

LIKE Strong on Facebook.

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.