Help The 'Kidney Beans' Team Save Their Dad From Diabetes-Induced End Stage Renal Disease

Joe Gaetani needs kidney transplant to see his kids grow up

Today I received an e-mail from someone who understands the fragility of life and how much your life can change when you put positive energy into doing something good. He just so happens to be the winner of Season 4 of "The Biggest Loser"--Bill Germanakos. Getting his life back thanks to the hit NBC weight loss reality show now gives Bill a tender heart for those who are suffering from physical ailments that are sometimes out of their control.

That message really hit home for Bill when his 5th grade son came home and told him that one of his classmate's dad is very, very sick from end stage renal disease brought on by Type 1 diabetes. As you know, this is the kind of diabetes where the body stops making its own insulin, so the danger of complications can happen at virtually anytime. That's exactly what has happened to Joe Gaetani.

Bill said this is a "wonderful family" and they deserve to see their dad around for many more years to come. He encouraged people to be generous with any donations you can spare for this family as they take part in the greater New York-Long Island National Kidney Foundation Walk this Sunday at Hofstra University.

"It would be great if each of us can help out, even if it just means donating a couple of dollars," Bill explained in the e-mail. "I'm sure that we can help make a difference for this family. Thanks for your consideration."

The leader of "The Kidney Beans" team is Joe's 10-year old son Frank Gaetani who shared his dad's story and asked for the support of anyone who could help. For most of his young life, Frank has seen his father go through four hours of dialysis early in the morning, faithfully go to work afterwards, and still be home in time to be with his kids before they went to bed at night. Frank loves his dad and shared all the difficulties that have happened over the past seven years.

"My dad needed a kidney transplant. In May 2001 he was able to get one from a cadaver. I am very grateful that my dad got a kidney. We pray each day for that person. My mom and dad write and speak to the donor family they are like our family.

For several years dad was strong, healthy and always feeling great. My mom and dad always tell us how we should appreciate each day and each other. Time spent together is the most important thing to us.

In early November 2006, my dad got an infection in his leg. Because he is a diabetic, the infection was very bad and it took a long time for him to get better. He was sick until December and after many antibiotics, he was getting better. After that infection, dad went back to his normal activities but he would get sick often. His immune system was not strong.

During the summer of 2007 my mom kept saying dad is not well. Something is not right. Dad had no energy but would never complain. By November we found out my dad needed heart surgery for blocked arteries. This wouldn’t be a problem if he wasn’t a diabetic and his kidneys were healthy.

Though his heart is better, his kidneys were damaged by the dye and all the antibiotics he had to take. My dad began dialysis again in February this year."

Limited to just one liter of fluids per day makes life very difficult for him and he can't even have some fruits and vegetables because of their water content. It's a grave situation that they hope and pray will result in a kidney transplant. That's why they'll be walking this Sunday at 10:30am EST in the hopes of raising enough money and bring awareness to this problem.

Joe's wife Nancy is putting all this together and could really use your encouragement and support as she deals with her husband's illness. Feel free to drop Nancy Gaetani an e-mail at ngaetani818@optonline.net and let her know you are thinking and praying for her husband and their family through this amazingly difficult time. These are good people who deserve a chance at a normal life like the rest of us who take it for granted most of the time.

You can become a financial sponsor for "The Kidney Beans" team and even join them at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York on Sunday morning. Joe and the Gaetani family would greatly appreciate your support.

Special thanks to my friend Bill Germanakos for bringing this need to my attention. Let's rally behind this family and show them the full support of the low-carb community.

'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show' Episode 106: Part 2 Of My Chat With 'The Biggest Loser' Bill Germanakos

"Got Milk?" ad with "The Biggest Loser" Bill Germanakos

After sharing with you Part 1 of my interview with "The Biggest Loser" 4 winner Bill Germanakos on my podcast show on Monday, it's time to hear Part 2 and the conclusion of that interview during Episode 106 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" today. Fans of the hit NBC-TV reality weight loss series "The Biggest Loser" are given a small glimpse behind-the-scenes of what makes this one of the most popular and inspiring shows on television these days.

Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear today's podcast:

"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 106 [17:43m]: LISTEN NOW | Download

Bill Germanakos was quite candid during Part 2 of my interview with him about how he feels about livin' la vida low-carb. I was grinning from ear to ear when I heard him talking about keeping his carbohydrate intake to 20 percent of his total calories (WOO HOO!) and avoiding "anything white," including bread, pasta, and sugar. This was quite refreshing to hear and not surprising since every previous winner of "The Biggest Loser" has implemented some form of carbohydrate restriction to their diet.

In Part 2 of my interview with Bill Germanakos, he also talks about what kind of sweetener he uses instead of sugar (and it just might surprise you!), the enormous benefits of resistance training and cardiovascular exercise in his weight loss success, the inherent dangers of drinking regular soda (and our host Jimmy confesses to Bill how much sugary soda he used to drink!), as well as Bill's potential plans for the future to continue inspiring and educating the masses about getting healthy.

It's time for you to be your own "biggest loser" right now by:

1. Listening at the official web site
2. Calling (818) 688-2763 to listen via Podlinez
3. Subscribing to the RSS feed
4. Going to iTunes--Click here to subscribe!

Now that you've heard from Bill Germanakos in Episode 106 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore," I'm curious to hear your reaction. Do you like his chances for keeping the weight off long-term by continuing down the low-carb path he has chosen for himself? Are you intrigued by the fact that the nutritionists and trainers on the show taught him about the inherent dangers of consuming too many carbs on weight and health? Talk about it in the show notes section of Episode 106 and express yourself.

Like I shared in my previous podcast post, I am in the midst of bringing you more interviews with the contestants from Season 4 of "The Biggest Loser," including Bill's brother and the at-home $100,000 winner Jim Germanakos as well as his fellow Black Team members Hollie Self and Isabeau Miller, Red Team members David Griffin, Lezlye Donahue, and "B" Andretti, as well as Blue Team members Neil Tejwani, Nicole Michalik, Ryan Rodriguez, Kae Whang, and the oldest contestant ever--62-year old Jerry Lisenby. I've been working diligently for over a month trying to secure these interviews and will share them with you soon and very soon. :)

Don't forget to check out the outstanding web sites created by Bill Germanakos located at HalfTheManTwiceTheMan.com and BiggestLoserTwins.com to keep up with what is happening with the Season 4 winner of "The Biggest Loser." You can even book Bill and Jim Germanakos to come speak in your area and buy some cool merchandise from the brothers, including that CD with Sinatra favorites sung by Jim. You can listen to FREE clips from the CD, too.

THANKS for your support of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" and listen again on Monday as we bring you another motivating and inspiring message of hope in your healthy low-carb lifestyle. SEE YA THEN! ;)

'Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show' Episode 105: Part 1 Of My Chat With 'The Biggest Loser' Bill Germanakos

Meet Season 4 winner of "The Biggest Loser" Bill Germanakos

In case you didn't know it, I'm a pretty HUGE fan of the hit NBC-TV weight loss reality show "The Biggest Loser" because it has transcended and penetrated our culture unlike any other show in television history to get them excited about losing weight and getting healthy. Sure, there are critics who believe the hours of exercise the contestants go through is unrealistic in the real world and that the nutrition plan promoted by the show adheres to the typical low-fat dietary approach that has failed so many. But you certainly can't argue with the results.

I'm pleased to share with you in Episode 105 of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" today an interview I conducted this weekend with the grand prize winner of $250,000 from Season 4 of "The Biggest Loser" Bill Germanakos. Bill was as humble and grateful during my interview with him as he appeared on television last Fall. You can hear in his voice a sense of excitement about what has happened to him and he's ready for whatever may come his way now that he's got his life back!

Click on the "LISTEN NOW" link below or download it to your iPod to hear today's podcast:

"The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore" Episode 105 [23:11m]: LISTEN NOW | Download

Bill Germanakos started his journey on "The Biggest Loser" weighing in at 334 pounds. He went on to lose a total of 164 pounds to be crowned the fourth winner of "The Biggest Loser" and take home a quarter of a million dollars cash! Even more importantly, he now has opportunities to share about how he was able to change his life forever and stands ready to embrace them to help others in their journey. When you lose as much weight as Bill and I have, you can't wait to share about it with others.

In Part 1 of my interview with Bill Germanakos, he discusses what kind of changes have happened to him since losing the weight, shares what it was like being on "The Biggest Loser" with his twin brother Jim, speaks fondly of his love and admiration for The Black Team trainer Jillian Michaels, and tells his honest thoughts about what fellow contestant Neil did to manipulate the game in a strategy to win (that didn't work).

Go on to become your own "biggest loser" whenever you want by:

1. Listening at the official web site
2. Calling (818) 688-2763 to listen via Podlinez
3. Subscribing to the RSS feed
4. Going to iTunes--Click here to subscribe!

Are you an enthusiastic fan of "The Biggest Loser" and excited about hearing from the winner of Season 4? What did you think about Bill Germanakos during the interview? Leave a comment in show notes section for Episode 105 and tell us what you think. Be sure to listen again on Thursday for Part 2 of my interview with him as he talks about what he thinks of livin' la vida low-carb (you might be surprised!), explains why muscle training is so vitally important when you are managing your weight, shares the motivation he had from his father's life to lose the weight, and discusses the future of his advocacy for health from the fame he has received from being "The Biggest Loser." You WON'T want to miss it!

By the way, I have been working on LOTS of blog interviews with other contestants from Season 4 of "The Biggest Loser," including Jim Germanakos, Hollie Self, Neil Tejwani, Nicole Michalik, Isabeau Miller, David Griffin, Lezlye Donahue, Ryan Rodriguez, Kae Whang, Jerry Lisenby, and "B" Andretti. They all have the interview questions from me and are working on them as we speak. I look forward to sharing those with you very soon.

Visit the two web sites for Bill Germanakos at HalfTheManTwiceTheMan.com and BiggestLoserTwins.com.

1-24-08 UPDATE: Click here to listen to Part 2 of my interview with Bill Germanakos.

'Biggest Loser Couples' Hope To Inspire Americans To 'Million Pound' Weight Loss

"The Biggest Loser" giving you two for the price of one

Only two weeks removed from the confetti falling on Season 4 of the hit NBC television weight loss reality series "The Biggest Loser" where Bill Germanakos was declared the big winner, the show is coming back in a two-hour season premier tonight with Alison Sweeney, Bob Harper, and Jillian Michaels again ready to help another group of contestants just in time for New Year's resolutions. You'll watch them invest lots of blood, sweat, and tears for their chance to change their lives forever as they pursue that $250,000 prize and a healthier life! And this time America will join the contestants on this journey to shed the pounds and get healthy, too.

MSN Health & Fitness and "The Biggest Loser" are teaming up beginning today for what's being called "The Biggest Loser" Million Pound Match-Up. Starting January 1, 2008 and running through March 11, 2008, a public challenge has been put out to people who live all across the United States to cumulatively lose 1,000,000 pounds! You'll be paired up with a buddy, get updates on your fitness goals, receive messages from the trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, and become eligible for some really cool daily prizes.

This challenge is FREE and will allow anyone who uses Windows Live Spaces to document their weight loss, hook up with fellow contestants who are participating in your area to support each other in your journey, and have a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to Los Angeles, California for the grand finale of "The Biggest Loser Couples" in a few months! Additionally, the winning team will receive a luxury fitness trip for two as well as their very own personal trainer for one year. WHOA!

So don't just watch this new season of "The Biggest Loser" featuring couples wanting to shed the pounds--do it yourself too and the payoff will be so worth it! Don't forget to sign up at the official "Biggest Loser" Million Pound Match-Up web site for all the details. And if you live in or around the cities of Chicago, Houston, Miami, Wichita, Kansas, and Mesa, Arizona, then be looking for representatives from this challenge raising awareness about what they are doing to tackle obesity!

So who are these couples vying to compete against each other in the new and exciting season of "The Biggest Loser?" Let's meet them now:

PINK TEAM: BETTE SUE and ALI



Bette Sue joins her daughter Ali both from Mesa, Arizona to see if they can collective shed the pounds and get back into shape again. Ali was an world championship swimmer as a teenager representing the USA in competition, but she now hopes "to wear sleeveless shirts" again. Likewise, mom Bette Sue wants to let that big personality of hers be the only thing large about her as she pursues having "only one chin."

BROWN TEAM: CURTIS and MALLORY



Husband-wife team Curtis and Mallory from Los Angeles have three daughters and they both want to live long enough to see them grow up. Curtis lost his father to heart disease when he was only 52 years old, so he knows the pain that obesity can cause. He's been fat his entire life. Mallory picked up some of Curtis' bad fast food eating habits and is now ready to get back to living healthy again.

YELLOW TEAM: PAUL and KELLY



A Florida native and 43 years old, Paul is trying to break a trend in his family--his father died at 47, his grandfather at 49, and his great-grandfather at 51. Not wanting to face that inevitable fate is his major motivation for being on the show. He's teaming up with--GET THIS!--his EX-wife Kelly who is a nurse desperately wanting children. Could their experience together on "The Biggest Loser" rekindle the flames of love?

BLACK TEAM: JAY and MARK



Brothers Jay and Mark from New Bedford, Massachusetts will be ones to watch this season. Both are in their 30s and have a whole lotta weight to lose. But Jay already admits he HATES exercise (hoo boy, don't let Jillian or Bob hear him say that!) so this might be an uphill battle. Even still, The Big Boned Brothers as they like to be called might have enough to be this season's "Biggest Loser" champions.

GREEN TEAM: LYNN and JENNIFER



The father-daughter team of Lynn and Jenni from Ohio will be a fun one to watch. Like Jerry from Season 4, Lynn is 62 years old and ready to do this with his 31-year old daughter.

Father and daughter Lynn and Jenni will make up this season's green team. Lynn is the oldest competitor on the show this season, at 62 years old. He spends so much time taking care of others that he has forgotten about himself. His 31 year old daughter, Jenni, is hoping that this experience will ultimately define who she is. A former college wrestling champion, Lynn hopes to get back into shape for the twilight of his life. Meanwhile, Jenni hopes to fight her depression by melting the fat.

GRAY TEAM: ROGER and TRENT



A strong brotherhood is formed when you become college football teammates and that's exactly what happened to Roger and Trent. But that was nearly two decades ago and time has certainly packed on the pounds. These former athletes are ready to hit the weights again to get their weight and health back in order. I wouldn't count these guys out when it comes down to the final players this season.

PURPLE TEAM: MAGGIE and JENN



How'd you like to be a young 20-something weight loss camp counselor in New Jersey and suffer from obesity yourself? Well, that's precisely what both Maggie and Jenn are which is why they hope "The Biggest Loser" can whip them into shape so they can serve as an example for the people they talk to. Overcoming their emotional eating habits so they can attract boyfriends is a major motivating factor for them.

ORANGE TEAM: DAN and JACKIE



This Frankfort, Illinois mother-son duo Jackie and Dan expect this experience on "The Biggest Loser" be a family affair that they can take back into their regular lives later on. Helping needy kids through her non-profit organization, Jackie knows she has to change her lifestyle to continue the great work she is doing. As for Dan, he's an aspiring country/rock singer who could possibly get his big break if he loses the weight.

WHITE TEAM: NEILL and AMANDA



The husband-wife team of Neill and Amanda from Oklahoma City will test their marriage like nothing else they've ever done to become the mother and father for their 2-year old son they need to be. In fact, Amanda says her motivation for being on the show is "to get thin before my son realizes I was fat."

BLUE TEAM: BERNIE and BRITTANY



How'd you like to be teamed up with a complete stranger for the first-ever "Biggest Loser Couples" season? That's what they did with Bernie and Brittany. Bernie is a 27-year old teacher from Chicago who is scared of dying young. Brittany is the 22-year old "pretty girl" who now wants to become "steamy hot" (she reminds me of Hollie from Season 4).

There they are! Your contestants appearing on "The Biggest Loser Couples" are ready for you to get to know them a little better over the next few months. I'm sure this will be an exciting season to watch and I wouldn't be surprised if the producers of the show have a few tricks and twists to share along the way to make this well worth watching every single week. I know I will be! Will THIS be the season we finally see a woman crowned "The Biggest Loser?" We shall see!

By the way, I have been working very hard behind-the-scenes to put together a series of interviews with at least 10 of your favorite contestants from "The Biggest Loser" Season 4, including the big winner Bill as well as his brother Jim who won the at-home consolation prize of $100,000. I'm still working on sending questions to them, but I hope to begin running those interviews beginning very soon. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, check out all my "Biggest Loser" posts if you are a fan of the show! Don't miss a single episode if you want to see real people changing their lives forever. :)

Is It Possible A Woman Could EVER Win 'The Biggest Loser'?

Bill Germanakos is the fourth man in a row to win "The Biggest Loser"

When the hit NBC reality television series "The Biggest Loser" debuted in 2004, it was roundly ridiculed and scorned by critics who didn't understand the allure of a show dedicated specifically to helping obese people fight the battle of the bulge. That didn't stop people from tuning in by the millions week after week cheering on these people seeking to go from flab to fab and it has continued to grow in popularity every year since. There's really nothing else like it on TV and, unlike most reality programs these days, nobody has been able to replicate the success of the original. I LOVE THIS SHOW!

However, there is a bit of underground controversy happening now after Bill Germanakos became the fourth straight male winner of the title "The Biggest Loser" on Tuesday night winning the $250,000 grand prize. Men have dominated over the years with their weight loss success and it may be an inevitability that will always be the case. So you can't help but wonder the obvious question:

Is it possible a woman could ever win "The Biggest Loser?"

Before we ponder that question a little deeper, let's take one last look at the final weight loss results of each of the 18 contestants on "The Biggest Loser" 4. You can see pictures of what they looked like BEFORE they began their weight loss journey training with Bob Harper, Kim Lyons, and Jillian Michaels at this preview post I wrote back in September and catch up with what they're up to today by checking out their personal web sites featured in this recent post.

"THE BIGGEST LOSER" 4 FINAL WEIGHT LOSS RESULTS:

BLACK TEAM
ISABEAU MILLER--From 298, lost 113 pounds (37.92% of starting weight)
JULIE HADDEN--From 218, lost 97 pounds (44.50% of starting weight)
HOLLIE SELF--From 255, lost 105 pounds (41.18% of starting weight)
BILL GERMANOKOS--From 334, lost 164 pounds (49.10% of starting weight)
JEZ LUCKETT--From 345, lost 150 pounds (43.38% of starting weight)
JIM GERMANOKOS--From 361, lost 186 pounds (51.52% of starting weight)

BLUE TEAM

NEIL TEJWANI--From 421, lost 211 pounds (50.12% of starting weight)
JERRY LISENBY--From 297, lost 110 pounds (37.04% of starting weight)
KAE WHANG--From 225, lost 97 pounds (43.11% of starting weight)
NICOLE MICHALIK--From 279, lost 105 pounds (37.63% of starting weight)
RYAN RODRIGUEZ--From 374, lost 133 pounds (35.56% of starting weight)
PATTY GONZALEZ--From 280, lost 64 pounds (22.86% of starting weight)

RED TEAM

"B" WASHINGTON--From 346, lost 122 pounds (35.26% of starting weight)
LEZLYE DONAHUE--From 255, lost 55 pounds (21.57% of starting weight)
DAVID GRIFFIN--From 368, lost 140 pounds (38.04% of starting weight)
PHIL HAWK--From 403, lost 145 pounds (35.98% of starting weight)
AMY ZIMMER--From 297, lost 126 pounds (42.42% of starting weight)
AMBER WALKER--From 295, lost 84 pounds (28.47% of starting weight)

CONGRATULATIONS to each of the contestants for putting forth the effort to finally do something about their weight and radically alter their lives for the better as a result of this experience. I've been there myself after starting out at 410 pounds in January 2004 and losing a total of 180 pounds--or 44% of my starting weight. It was the best thing I have ever done for myself and I'm continuing to reap the benefits of that pivotal year in my life ever since. WOO HOO!

As a pretty big fan of "The Biggest Loser" since Season 1 aired back in 2004 in the midst of my own weight loss path, I now have a few post-Season 4 comments to make before getting into answering that question about a female's chances at winning the title of "The Biggest Loser" in the future. You won't want to miss my opinions about how to make the show more fair for the gals. Stay tuned!

First, isn't it interesting how noticeably LOW the weight loss percentages were with Kim Lyons' Red Team. I hate to say it, but they were all underachievers with their weight loss and most of that onus has to be placed squarely on the shoulders of their trainer. Aside from Amy, who did a remarkable job of losing over 42 percent of her starting weight thanks in large part to the influence of her training with Jillian and the Black Team about halfway through the season, the weight loss percentages for the Red Team overall were underwhelming compared to the other two teams.

Yes, the total weight loss by "B," David, and Phil was impressive, but can you imagine how much MORE weight they could have lost had they received quality nutritional advice along with their physical activity? I was looking at "B" during the finale and thinking he could have EASILY lost another 30-40 pounds if he started livin' la vida low-carb rather than listening to the simplistic low-fat message that Kim was indoctrinating in him. I credit her for telling him he needed to eat more calories during the season, but those calories should come more from FAT sources and less from CARBOHYDRATES!

By contrast, look at Jillian Michael's Black Team. They had all four finalists competing for the grand prize (the first time that's ever happened on "The Biggest Loser") and the Black team as a whole totally rocked with their weight loss success! Keep in mind, these were the rejects at the beginning of the season and none of the other teams wanted these players. So they were thrown aside and left to their own devices before Jillian swooped in to whip them into shape and make them the most feared team on "The Biggest Loser" ranch. And what a job she did!

Except for Julie, who only missed it by a mere 3 pounds, all 6 Black Team members lost triple digits! INCREDIBLE! And their team average for percentage of weight loss was around the mid-forties--an astonishing accomplishment since the Red Team members ended up averaging in the lower-thirties and the Bob Harper-led Blue Team was in the upper-thirties. If this season didn't prove anything else, it showed that the trainer you have working with you DOES make a difference in the amount of weight you can lose. And unequivocally Jillian Michaels has the Midas touch when it comes to producing weight loss!

Jillian not only played a major part in the grand prize winner of "The Biggest Loser" 4 with Bill Germanakos, but she also had the at-home $100,000 winner in Bill's twin brother Jim. Actually, Jim ended up losing more weight as a percentage than anyone else in the game--although it was close. Neil Tejwani, the Blue Team member who lost over 50 percent of his starting weight, was a mere five pounds away from two things: 1) beating out Jim Germanakos for the consolation prize AND 2) establishing a new "Biggest Loser" record for total weight loss. But Eric Chopin's 214-pound weight loss in Season 3 still stands with Neil's 211 coming in a close second.

What's most amazing about Neil coming away from this competition empty-handed is that he would have been crowned "The Biggest Loser" of Season 4 with the quarter-million dollar cash prize had he made into the final group because his percentage of weight loss was greater than Bill's. But leave it to karma to come back and bite him in the booty when Bill's brother Jim of all people kept Neil from winning anything which many see as sweet revenge for the devious "game play" that happened in the middle of this season when Neil purposely gained weight to throw a monkey wrench in the competition. And despite losing 10 pounds in the last weigh-in, Neil fell below the yellow line and was voted off. This should serve as a warning to any future contestants who may try to pull a stunt like this--it WON'T pay off in the end!

Back to the Red Team and Kim Lyons for just a moment. With all due respect to her for being a professional personal trainer and willing to use those talents she has to help people change their lives, can I just say what a spoiled brat and self-absorbed trainer she is? When "B" was the last member of the Red Team for a period of several weeks before being eliminated, how many melodramatic scenes did we have to endure with her pleading with "B" to stay above the yellow line so SHE didn't have to go home, too? UGH! Did she even care if "B" stayed or not? What a freakin' egomaniac she is and I'm beginning to wonder if Season 4 was her swan song on the show? I don't know, but if NBC wants to know my vote about it, I say let Kim go and GOOD RIDDANCE! I don't think anybody will be crying over that decision.

Now what about this female enigma we find ourselves in with "The Biggest Loser?" Not only has a girl never been "The Biggest Loser," but we haven't seen one win the at-home competition either! Can a woman EVER break through the glass ceiling that has been dominated by the guys since this show began? From Ryan Benson, Matt Hoover, Eric Chopin, and now Bill Germanakos, men seem to have a firm lock on the ability to become "The Biggest Loser." And this is merely confirming a long-held belief many people (especially women!) hold about weight loss--men can lose it faster than women can!

And it's true for the most part since women's bodies were created by God to carry around a little more body fat, especially in their mid-section, for the purposes of nourishing a baby during pregnancy. Plus, the extra hormones in women make it a lot more difficult for them to shed the pounds like us male folk can seemingly at the drop of a dime.

Before I lost my 180 pounds on the Atkins diet in 2004, losing weight fast was fairly easy regardless of the diet plan I was on. When I lost 170 pounds on a low-fat diet in 1999, I did it in about 10 months. But the problem men face is KEEPING IT OFF and that's where low-fat failed me and caused me to balloon right back up again...and then some!

The contestants on this show, both male and female, who implemented a low-fat strategy for weight loss will be in for a rude awakening at some point if they don't continue to keep up with that hunger-inducing plan over the long-term. That's why livin' la vida low-carb has been such a godsend to me because it has become a permanent part of my life now and I don't even think about it anymore. I just live this way and let the plan keep working in maintenance for me just as it did during weight loss.

Don't get me wrong, weight loss is NOT easy by any means as all of these "Biggest Loser" contestants past and present will tell you. But the payoff for that hard work when it is continued long after the television experience is over is vastly improved health and a brand new lease on life. Just look at Pete Thomas and how his "Biggest Loser" experience continues to motivate him to become the catalyst in other people's lives to help them change for the better like he did! His is a model for success that other former "Biggest Loser" contestants would be wise to follow.

This season, it was Julie who lost the most weight among the ladies with 44.5 percent of her starting weight trailing behind only Jim, Neil and Bill. That was quite impressive from a woman who began the season at only 218 pounds. Conventional wisdom would tell you that the bigger the woman is, the better chance she should have to lose weight and be competitive. And in Season 4 that was Isabeau who became the heaviest woman to ever compete on the show beginning at 298 pounds (although Amy was right behind her at 297 pounds).

But even Isabeau's 113-pound weight loss was only good enough for losing just under 38 percent of her total weight. AWESOME TOTALS, but not good enough to beat the men. I bet Isabeau and the other larger women were reeling when they saw double-digit weight losses from the "big guys" like Bill and Neil while they only had modest weight losses of 5-6 pounds. It can be intimidating for bigger women to go up against that both mentally and physically.

So then we have people like Julie who weighed the least among her competitors and only needed to lose about 100 pounds total. Since she didn't have as much weight to lose, each pound she burned was worth about double or more than that of the heftier contestants. And for much of the season she did well losing just enough weight to stay above the yellow line and avoiding elimination. In the end, she came as close as any woman to winning the whole thing--even more so than Kae who started at 225 pounds and also lost 97 pounds while losing more weight on campus as a percentage than any previous contestant.

Had Julie only lost an additional 8 more pounds, then she would be $250,000 richer today and would have made her mark as the first female winner in "Biggest Loser" history (don't you know she's probably kicking herself about it today!). But it didn't happen and so you have to wonder if it ever will. Maybe future female contestants should be more along the mold of a Julie or a Kae rather than an Isabeau or Amy so they can have a better chance at winning.

That's not to say the unbelievable transformations that Isabeau, Amy, Nicole and the other larger and medium-sized women made while being on "The Biggest Loser" is diminished in any way because all of them are better off now than they were when they began this journey. But if "The Biggest Loser" is going to continue being promoted as a weight loss competition with the monetary prize at the end of the season, then something is gonna have to give to make this fair for the women who sign up to be on the show.

Sure, there's some fame that comes with being on a reality television show like this as well as the chance to work with a high-class team of some of the world's best health and nutrition experts to almost guarantee you will lose weight--and some people would consider that plenty of payment enough. But the carrot the show dangles in front of you is that big wad of money. Any woman who is considering trying out for future seasons of "The Biggest Loser" should keep in mind that there is a strong probability they won't be the big winner--or even the consolation winner.

During the season, there are opportunities to win some cool prizes like a free vehicle and cash prizes like the $5,000 Isabeau won on the last show of the season before the finale. But that's all just chump change in comparison to the big money that's become the drawing card for many who come on the show. What can be done to make "The Biggest Loser" more appealing for women who would like a serious chance at winning the $250,000 prize? I think I have the solution.

Why not have a male AND female winner? Start the show with say 15 men and 15 women with one man and one woman voted off each week. This would give you 13 weeks worth of competition for the television show before having a grand finale featuring two men competing against each other for one $250,000 prize and two women battling head-to-head for another $250,000 prize. The at-home competition could be exactly the same as it is now with all of them duking it out for the $100,000.

Couldn't this resolve the whole "it's not fair" argument against the current format of "The Biggest Loser" which seems to favor the men? I certainly think so and hope the show's producers will consider my proposal. It would give all the women a lot more incentive for trying to do the best they can without the constant worry that they could never compete with the men. It's the only fair thing to do as long as the men continue to dominate as they have and will continue to do.

What are YOUR thoughts about this? Should there be a separate competition and prize for the men and the women or do you believe the current format for "The Biggest Loser" is perfect? This should be a fun topic of conversation and I look forward to reading what you think in the comments section below!

I'll be blogging about the upcoming "Biggest Loser: Couples" season starting on January 1, 2008 real soon and will predict right now that the winner of that show will consist of two men. I have no idea if that'll actually happen, but it would definitely NOT surprise me at all.

If you'd like to read all of my commentary blog posts about "The Biggest Loser," then you can access them all by clicking here.