"Biggest Loser" 4 contestant Lezlye Donahue ready for life now
In recent weeks, I've been sharing some interviews with some of the contestants from "The Biggest Loser" 4, including Part 1 and Part 2 of a podcast interview with the grand prize winner Bill Germanakos as well as with final four contestant Isabeau Miller just last week. I've got another interview for you today from a member of The Red Team last season--35-year old Denham Springs, Louisiana resident LEZLYE DONAHUE! Although she was the second person voted off of "The Biggest Loser" in Season 4, the ripple effects from that show continue to resonate in Lezlye's life helping her heal from the wounds that have inflicted her life in the years leading up to her appearance on the show.
As you will see in my interview today, Lezlye has been through the wringer and back--and SURVIVED! Being a victim of Hurricane Katrina was merely "the icing on the cake" and thanks to "The Biggest Loser" she was able to learn how to "live life" again. Whether you have struggled with weight loss or have simply gone through adversity in your own life, let Lezlye's story encourage you that better days truly are possible for you. Let her inspire you anew today in this journey called life.
1. Continuing our series of interviews with the contestants from Season 4 of NBC's hit weight loss reality show "The Biggest Loser," today we have with us Lezlye Donahue. Hey there Lezlye and thank you for joining us today here at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. Did you ever think that you would be given the chance to be on one of the most inspiring and life changing television programs in American history? Why do you think they chose you to be among the final group of 18?
To be honest, my first reaction was "I did it!" I couldn't believe it! An opportunity of a lifetime and I am going to be a part of it. I didn't realize how huge the show was until after the entire experience. The fans that I have met, the lives that I have touched, but more importantly, the people I met along my journey and how each and every one of them changed and shaped my new life! I am a better person for having gone through this. I wanted a fresh start after Hurricane Katrina and I wanted my life back. The Biggest Loser was the first step in doing that. It was all about me! Little did I know...it had nothing to do with me. I would walk away with the appreciation of meeting so many wonderful people that truly motivated and changed my everyday life. Their stories of inspiration and the realization that I am not alone only pushed me further. I never expected that and I can never repay them.
Being in the final 18, WOW! Everyone has a story and each and every one of them are all equally important. My story is no different than yours...we all turn to food for comfort and before you realize it...you're unhealthy, overweight and out of control.
2. You certainly had a compelling story as a victim of Hurricane Katrina which the producers played up in the promotion of Season 4. Tell us how the stress from that devastating event in the lives of so many people in the New Orleans, Louisiana area impacted your weight and health. When you decided to move back home again last year, did you feel a newfound commitment to get your weight under control as you picked up the pieces to start over again?
Hurricane Katrina was the icing on the cake for me. What people don't know about me, but I will share here for the first time, is leading up to Katrina, I had gone through a series of tragedies. Unfortunate happenings over and over to my immediate family. Long story short, I lost my grandfather very unexpectedly to a destructive death, to be followed up by my parents being in four separate automobile accidents, 2 of which included fatalities, (none of which where my parents' fault) and my mother being hospitalized for PARVO. She was in the hospital for 19 days with this rare illness and doctors where preparing us for her death. Each day, a new organ was dying and then it reached her heart. I remember that moment when my mother looked at me and said "I'm going to be fine. God told me it's over." My mother survived. Then Hurricane Katrina comes and destroys what's left of me.
During all this time, I was the rock of the family. I put myself aside and dealt with anything and everything that came my way. I became the strength and along the way...Lezlye was lost. After Hurricane Katrina, the pounds packed on. I would put on my mask and conceal my pain. I would never let on that I was dying inside like all the others around me. Then one day, I decided NO MORE! I'm really fat and being unhealthy and unhappy is NOT the way I want to live!
I finally came home in June 2007, a house of my own after living in seven different states with family and friends. I'm committed to myself to being happy and healthy. With that comes being fit. I'm not saying it's not hard...I'm saying "THIS IS REAL." Real life, real steps, each and every day to a happier healthier lifestyle!
3. Working as a representative in the pharmaceutical industry, that's quite a competitive field that generally attracts good-looking, well-dressed people to share about the latest medications with doctors. Was there added pressure on you to lose weight because of this? And I'm curious what you think about weight loss drugs like orlistat that was sold under the prescription name Xenical and is now available over-the-counter in a lower dosage version called Alli. Is the obesity epidemic gonna EVER be solved with a pill?
I'm so glad you asked me this. First, let me correct something. I am not in the pharmaceutical industry. I'm a paralegal trying to break into the pharmaceutical/medical sales industry. I have the degree, I have the knowledge, I have everything it takes to land this job on paper but the weight held me back! It would stop me from getting the job. No matter what interview I was on..I would hear the same thing..."beautiful girl but overweight." This only added to me driving through McDonald's and getting that quarter pounder! I mean, I'm already fat, what's another burger to add to it!
I'm very familiar with Xenical. I confess, I wanted to try it. Truth is, there is NO PILL that works. No quick fix. If there was, I wouldn't be here talking to you about why our world is so overweight. It is an epidemic that can only be solved by making the right food choices and exercise. Notice I didn't say diet. It's your life you need to change!
4. You were a member of the Red Team who was led by the spunky and fit Kim Lyons. I know your time working with Kim was short, but did she teach you anything that will help you in your long-term weight management and health goals that you'll always remember?
Good question...NEXT!
5. It had to be disappointing for you that your time on "The Biggest Loser" was cut so short. Tell us how you felt getting voted off so early in the game. Did it discourage you when you got back home because you felt like a failure? What gave you the strength to carry on and attempt to make this a permanent and healthy lifestyle change?
Going home was just another blow to me. I was still homeless when I came home from the show. I didn't know how I was going to do it. I was depressed and discouraged. I knew that being on campus, I could focus on just me and forget my real life. However when I got home, life was living me as usual and I needed to learn how to CHANGE my life in order to make this a permanent lifestyle of health and happiness. I learned, not quickly, that I needed to live life! I was just existing and taking up food and oxygen. :) Now, THIS IS REAL and I'm working hard everyday to LIVE LIFE! I don't know what the change was for me to decide this but I knew that I was sick and tired of being overweight and unhappy. Not saying that I have it all figured out...but I'm working at it every day.
6. When you weighed in on the first day at The Biggest Loser ranch, you were 255 pounds. By the grand finale, you had lost a total of 55 pounds. CONGRATULATIONS, by the way! I'm so happy when people are able to lose weight and start pursuing a lifetime of better health since I've been there and continue to travel down that road myself. Are you still losing weight in pursuit of a final goal since the show ended? How's that going and what are you specifically doing to reach your goal?
55 pounds lost on my own I might add! My goal is to continue to lose the weight until I get to a size that I feel works for me. It's not a number for me but rather a size. I have a size in mind and when I get there I'll see how I feel at that weight.
I've changed. simple as that. I EAT TO LOSE! I eat every 3 hours and I do an hour on the treadmill in the morning and an hour in the evening. I hit the weights 3 days a week. More importantly, I make good choices when I eat. I consume food now, I don't allow food to consume me!
7. Hormones and the way God uniquely created us play a role in how fast and how much weight we are able to lose. Why do you think it's so much more difficult for a woman to lose weight than a man on a show like "The Biggest Loser?" Are men just more competitive than women or is there something more to it than that?
Men are just genetically able to lose more weight than women. Simply put...they have more muscle. Muscle burns fat which in turns makes it easier and faster for them to lose. Our bodies are completely genetically different. Isn't always like that...women work harder at everything. (smiling here) Sorry men, I love you too!
8. If you could go back and change anything about your experience being on "The Biggest Loser" in Season 4, then what would it be?
I would work even harder than I did if that is possible. I would work around the clock to try to lose the most weight to keep myself safe. Everyone makes alliances but there are no true alliances. I learned that the hard way.
9. We are constantly inundated with the statistic that states 95% of people who lose weight will end up regaining some of it back within a year and will be right back where they started from within 3-5 years. Are you worried at all about gaining back your weight? What are you doing to try to make sure that never happens?
Isn't there a rule that you can't be a part of more than 2 statistics?! I think I'm safe. I was already a part of being a statistic with my weight and Katrina. My turn is up (laughing)! My weight loss was real. It was a realistic weight loss in that time period. I did it the right way and didn't kill myself in the process. I'm trusting that I will continue to do that and I trust that I've made the mental changes in me to make certain that I continue on my personal weight loss journey and that I stay successful at it for my lifetime!
10. Lezlye, we appreciate you being here with us and wish you well in this journey that "The Biggest Loser" started for your life. Good things are sure to come to you as long as you continue to apply the lessons you have learned and never, ever give up. We're here for you cheering you on to great success for many years to come. Is there anything else you'd like to share with my readers before we go today?
I feel like I just went on and on here, thank you for allowing me to do that. But before I say goodbye, I would like everyone to know that THIS IS REAL! We all share the same struggle. You can change your life one day at time. Feel good about you and start today...Monday never comes.
Thank you for allowing me this time to share with you and your readers. I truly appreciated being here. Just wait till I'm done!!! Best wishes to everyone reading here and feel free to e-mail me at lezlyed@aol.com. I am always here to help.
THANKS so much for sharing with us today, Lezlye! We appreciate hearing how your life has been changed forever for the better thanks to "The Biggest Loser." Be sure to visit Lezlye Donahue's MySpace page to learn more about what she's up to (I do believe she's a BIG Kid Rock and New Orleans Saints fan, whaddyathink?! LOL!).
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.
It's no secret that I'm arguably one of the biggest fans of the hit NBC television reality series "The Biggest Loser". Since Season One aired in 2004 right smack dab in the middle of my own 180-pound low-carb weight loss success-in-the-making and watching those contestants give it their all to lose weight and get healthy, the positive impact that show has made on the lives of real people is undeniable. Sure, it's not a perfect plan, but it has worked a miracle in the lives of those contestants who have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels, and Kim Lyons over the past four years.
With the tremendous success of this Fall's Season 4 of "The Biggest Loser" (I previewed the contestants for you in this blog post back in September 2007) and the continuing writer's strike in Hollywood has prompted NBC to push up their next installment of the show beginning on January 1, 2008 where couples will once again be featured as teams fighting to shed the pounds and get their life back. I personally can't wait to watch even more lives get transformed and I'll be blogging about those contestants real soon before the show debuts. Stay tuned!
But first, with the big GRAND FINALE of "The Biggest Loser" 4 coming up on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 and all those amazing transformations we are gonna see, there will be a whole lot of people wanting to find out what their favorite contestants are up to now that the show has concluded. I've contacted quite a few of them after looking for a web site or some sort of online connection page for them. So far, I've only heard from one: Black Team member and Final Four contestant ISABEAU MILLER. Here's what she wrote to me:
Jimmy!
I read your blog all the time!! Nice to put a face with a name. Thanks for taking the time to write, and support us and congratulations on your own journey. It's so inspiring and impressive what you've done!!
Anyway, I'm off to the gym! :) Talk to you soon!
xo Isabeau
That was very sweet of Isabeau (who has this promotional web site for her music career she hopes will take off now with her national television exposure) to write me back like that and I was surprised to hear she reads my blog. Small world now with the Internet, isn't it? :D I've asked for an interview with her although I'm sure her world is about to be turned upside down especially if she ends up winning the whole thing. We shall see.
Isabeau wasn't the only one I found online among "The Biggest Loser" 4 contestants. Here are a few more familiar names from this season and their presence on the World Wide Web:
The rest of the FINAL FOUR from the Black Team are:
No web site found for: AMY ZIMMER and AMBER WALKER
I'm sure each of these contestants would LOVE to hear from their fans, so let 'em hear from you! :D Remember, these are real people just like you and me who were blessed with a rare opportunity not only to be on national television, but also to work with some of the finest trainers and health experts in the world to radically alter the direction of their life.
I know from personal experience that going through something like this changes you. You feel a purpose and a mission to share with others the miracle that has happened to you. Season 2 contestant Pete Thomas said as much in my interview with him and I've seen it in my own life. You just want to help open the eyes of people and let them know it's not as hard to be healthy as you think. Allow these contestants to motivate and inspire you anew as you continue down your own journey to better health.
If you are aware of any web sites for the other contestants who I did not list ones for, then please feel free to share them with me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. I can't wait for the next season of "The Biggest Loser" to begin! :)
Gary Taubes takes on the king of cable television talk, Larry King!
In case you haven't heard yet, Good Calories, Bad Calories author and New York Times science journalist Gary Taubes will be the special guest appearing Friday, October 19, 2007 on CNN's "Larry King Live" show beginning at 9pm EST. The topic of conversation will be the "Great Diet Debate" and will shine the national spotlight on livin' la vida low-carb in ways that haven't been seen since Dr. Atkins was alive.
This discussion about fat consumption being healthy and carbs being the root cause of obesity and disease will also feature a rather distinguished panel of "experts":
DR. MEHMET OZ
Best known as Oprah Winfrey's diet guru, he is definitely in the low-fat, low-calorie, portion control camp.
DR. ANDREW WEIL
Natural health advocate and alternative remedy promoter who also follows the low-fat line of thinking.
BOB HARPER, KIM LYONS, or JILLIAN MICHAELS
One of these three trainers on the hit NBC-TV reality show "The Biggest Loser" will participate. Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels are mindful of how carbohydrate-restriction is helpful for some with weight loss, but Kim Lyons is a low-fat and low-calorie puppet.
JOY BEHAR
Okay, I'm gonna ask it...why is she on this panel? Other than being known for her outspoken liberal beliefs on ABC's daytime talk show The View, what substantive comments could she add to this discussion? We'll see, I guess.
The show is soliciting comments and questions from people about this topic, so let's show our support for livin' la vida low-carb by writing to them with our personal experiences. Here's what I just submitted to CNN for the Larry King LIVE show on Friday night:
For the guests who will disagree with Taubes' book:
I lost 180 pounds in 2004 on the Atkins diet and have kept it off ever since by continuing to eat a diet consisting of 70% fat, much of which is saturated fat. Once weighing in at over 400 pounds, now I'm closer to 200 thanks to the low-carb lifestyle.
More importantly than the weight loss are the improvements in my health, coming off of three prescriptions and becoming athletic for the first time in my entire life. If low-carb is at least a viable option for people like me to shed the pounds and improve our health, then why can't we at the very least have government and health leaders recommending it as another option alongside the low-fat and "balanced" diet mantra that currently exists?
How about adding your voice to the comments and be sure to watch as Gary Taubes enters the arena of ideas espousing low-carb living in a low-fat world! GO GARY!
Here are "The Biggest Loser" contestants for Season 4 in 2007!
If you are as much of a fan of the hit NBC weight loss reality show "The Biggest Loser" as I am, then you are no doubt excited about the return of the brand new season ready to hit on Tuesday nights this Fall!
As I've previously blogged about, Season Four has several pleasant surprises in store, including the debut of new host Alison Sweeney, the return of trainer Jillian Michaels after a one-year absence (who will be training an all-new Black team of contestants while Bob Harper and Kim Lyons train the Blue and Red teams respectively), and 18 absolutely incredible new contestants who will seek to become the next "Biggest Loser" champion. WOO HOO!
Before I introduce you to the Season Four "Biggest Loser" contestants, first I want to let you know NBC took my suggestion and will be featuring a special one-hour update on the past contestants on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 as a prelude to the new season called "The Biggest Loser: Did They Keep The Weight Off?" Be sure to tune in to see how YOUR favorite past contestants are doing to KEEP the weight off they lost on the show. One of the contestants who will be featured has already agreed to an interview at my blog, so stay tuned for that coming soon! :)
Wouldn't you like to know how those Season One, Season Two, and Season Three contestants are doing NOW that they've been off the show a while? I sure do because I KNOW how hard it is to be in weight maintenance mode after losing a large amount of weight. If they are still imploring the secret behind "The Biggest Loser" success, then there's no doubt the weight is staying off!
Okay, enough about the past, let's meet the present contestants in 2007. Here's an inspiring and motivating introductory video about the new season and the contestants who we'll be getting to know more about in the coming months as they take this weight loss journey:
WOW, I can't wait for Season Four to begin after seeing that! Now that I've teased you long enough, are you ready to meet these 18 brave men and women who are willing to put themselves out there on national television in all their obese glory for a chance not just to win a big pile of money, but to quite literally change their lives forever? If so, then your wait is now over.
Here they are starting with the guys:
RYAN RODRIGUEZ Age: 29 Hometown: Jackson Heights, New York
Ryan is married and just became a dad for the first time. He has a stressful occupation as a corporate litigations attorney and is looking to overcome the eating large patterns he learned from his childhood days living in the culture of Puerto Rico. He is committed to beating this one area of his life where success has eluded him.
PHIL HAWK Age: 27 Hometown: Powell, Ohio
Phil wants to be a fireman, but his weight has literally held him back. He's dedicated now more than ever to shed the pounds so he can reach this goal he has for himself. As a devoted husband and father, he has the support to make it happen!
NEIL TEJWANI Age: 25 Hometown: Marblehead, Massachusetts
Neil is as intelligent as anyone you'll ever meet as a chemical engineer. Articulate, street smart, and the "guy next door," he hopes to use those qualities to overcome his struggle with obesity his entire life.
JEZ LUCKETT Age: 24 Hometown: Garden, Kansas
Jez is one of those people you can't help but love because he has dedicated his life to helping mentally challenged and handicapped children overcome their illnesses. His dream is to open a daycare center to provide a friendly and inviting environment for underprivileged families. Winning "The Biggest Loser" would help with that, but he also desires to beat all odds by defeating a family history of weight problems.
JERRY LISENBY Age: 62 Hometown: Peoria, Illinois
Jerry makes television history in Season 4 as the oldest contestant ever to appear on "The Biggest Loser"--more than TWICE the age of most of the other contestants! He realizes the impact of being a senior citizen on the show because obesity runs rampant with health consequences for this age group. Even still, he wants to return to the active lifestyle of his past as a bodybuilder and boxer. He's been married to his wife longer than most of his fellow contestants have been alive (over 40 years and counting!) and has been active in the Peace Corps helping the impoverished and needy. He hopes to lick this weight issue for good!
DAVID GRIFFIN Age: 31 Hometown: Cedar Hill, Tennessee
David is the father of four beautiful children and desperately wants to be an active part of their lives as they grown older. He's a rancher who is willing to put in the hard work necessary to melt the fat and get into shape.
BRYAN WASHINGTON Age: 29 Hometown: Riverdale, Georgia
Bryan is a gifted musician who uses that talent to teach kids in his local public high school about appreciating music in their own life. Now he hopes to set the example for them regarding diet and health so they can learn that anytime is possible! He hopes to have the chance to become a professional artist someday and "The Biggest Loser" could start him down that path.
JIM GERMANAKOS Age: 40 Hometown: Long Island, New York
Jim is one-half of the first-ever set of twins on "The Biggest Loser." Along with his brother Bill, he has struggled with his weight since childhood. Married with kids, he is both a police officer and a volunteer firefighter. As a fan of Frank Sinatra, he's "High Hopes" that "The Best Is Yet To Come."
BILL GERMANAKOS Age: 40 Hometown:
Bill is the other half of the first-ever set of twins on "The Biggest Loser." Like his brother Jim, he is married and raising three kids as well. Employed in the image-conscious medical sales field, he realizes the time is now to lose the weight.
And here are the ladies:
AMBER WALKER Age: 30 Hometown: Houston, Texas
Amber is the kind of paramedic you hope to have if you need her because she's got that little something extra to calm you in the midst of your calamity. But she has trouble with her job sometimes because of the extra weight she's carrying around and is hoping "The Biggest Loser" will help her continue to help others in need. Plus, she's hoping Mr. Right will be attracted to her once she loses the weight so she can fulfill her desire to have a family.
AMY ZIMMER Age: 28 Hometown: Rochester, New York
Amy is happily married and the mother of two gorgeous kids. But she wants to prove to her family and herself that she can beat her obesity and become everything she has ever wanted. By doing so, both her kids as well as those little first-graders she teaches can see the power of a changed life in action.
HOLLIE SELF Age: 28 Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Hollie is another teacher in this season of "The Biggest Loser" who is also the cheerleading coach at her high school. She absolutely LOVES helping the cheerleaders perform their acrobatic stunts, but is ashamed of her own weight and health in front of these impressionable young people. She wants to be able to teach her kids the positive impact of exercise so they can be the best cheerleaders possible.
ISABEAU MILLER Age: 21 Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee
Isabeau is another talented musician this season who is hoping her work and exposure on "The Biggest Loser" will give her just the boost she needs to set her career into motion. Obesity has stood in the way long enough and now it's time for this star to shine for all the world to see!
JULIE HADDEN Age: 34 Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Julie has a natural beauty that has enabled her to enter pageants in the past, but she is positive her weight has been a hindrance in those competitions. As a wife and mother, she is hoping to bring another child into this world, but first wants to get her weight and health in order.
KAE WHANG Age: 27 Hometown: Clark, New Jersey
Kae knows the negative impact of being too heavy--she was honorably discharged from the armed forces because of it. Although she has found the love of her life and married him, she is hoping to take the same kind of perseverance she used in boot camp to kick this weight off for good. Her goal is to visit her grandmother in Korea with her new slim and trim body.
Lezlye has already gone through more heartache and pain than most of us will ever experience as a survivor of the tragic Hurricane Katrina disaster from 2005. She returned to the New Orleans area this year with her son and is hoping to restart her life again there as a representatives for a major pharmaceutical company. She says the time is now to slay this obesity monster once and for all.
Nicole knows how to have a good time and soaks in every moment of life she's been given. Her desire is to lose the weight so she can enjoy the good times that much more with all the spontaneity and zeal she possesses. She's employed as a receptionist, but is hoping to break into radio broadcasting in the future.
PATTY GONZALEZ Age: 34 Hometown: San Diego, California
Patty is in a prestigious position at a credit union serving as senior loan officer. She's quite competitive as you can imagine and wants to show her husband and three kids she has what it takes to take on her biggest challenge yet--losing weight! She suffers from a rare medical condition called N.A.S.H., a non-alcohol version of cirrhosis, and weight loss is the only way she will be able to save her liver from destruction.
Be sure to tune in on Tuesday nights at 8:00EST beginning September 4, 2007. Access all of my previous blog posts about "The Biggest Loser" by clicking here.
As a strong supporter of the hit NBC reality television show "The Biggest Loser," I am pleased to see its success spawning the creation of many new weight loss tools to help people lose weight, feel great, and get healthy!
After releasing their bestselling first book The Biggest Loser: The Weight Loss Program to Transform Your Body, Health, and Life late last year along with a bestselling companion workout DVD, many brand new products are now available in 2006 just in time for Christmas and New Year's resolutions to help YOU and those people you know who are overweight to become a "big loser," too! Take advantage of these as you continue on your journey towards better health!
Here's a rundown of 5 of the best new products from "Biggest Loser":
1. THE BIGGEST LOSER CLUB Be a part of the club, "The Biggest Loser" Club!
Join "The Biggest Loser" Club, featuring exclusive tips, recipes, encouragement and advice from people like Bob Harper, Matt, Suzy, and other people who have been successful at losing weight on "The Biggest Loser" diet plan. Joining the club means access to sample menu plans, exercise recommendations, accountability and support just like the contestants receive on the show. This really is the next best thing to being a contestant yourself on "The Biggest Loser!" Also, don't forget, for fans of Jillian Michaels, fitness trainer from Season One and Two as well as "The Biggest Loser" Australia, then you'll want to try her wildly popular fabulous weight loss program as well.
By the way, here's an updated photo of Matt and Suzy from Season Two: Aren't they just a cute and darling couple? They look FANTASTIC!
2. THE BIGGEST LOSER COOKBOOK Recipes, recipes, I want "The Biggest Loser" recipes!
3. THE BIGGEST LOSER WORKOUT DVD 2 Get your heart pumping with MORE motivation from "Biggest Loser"
Releasing on December 19, 2006, The Biggest Loser: The Workout 2 DVD is set to provide an intense exercise routine in a short amount of time featuring "The Biggest Loser" trainers Bob Harper and Kim Lyons as well as six contestants from Seasons Two and Season Three. This DVD provides customized workouts for men and women at varying fitness levels. Like the first workout DVD, there's an inspiring segment about the journey the contestants went through to lose weight. Finally, you'll get to see a how-to segment on cooking a healthy meal.
4. THE BIGGEST LOSER CALORIE COUNTER Watching calories when grocery shopping or eating out made simple
5. THE BIGGEST LOSER MUSIC SOUNDTRACK CD Motivational music inspired by "The Biggest Loser" to move you!
Studies have shown that music makes you burn more calories because it makes exercising fun. Thus was born The Biggest Loser Soundtrack. With music that inspired by and featured on "The Biggest Loser" television show, you'll hear popular singers like Josh Hoge, Jessica Simpson, Elvis Presley, and Martina McBride among others. Whole-lotta-shakin' songs to help you burn them calories!
I'll keep my eyes peeled for any other new "Biggest Loser" products to come out that may be helpful in your weight loss efforts. And, in case you missed it, be sure to check out my Biggest Loser links featuring my interview with Bob Harper, commentary about the show, before and after pictures of your favorite past contestants, and so much more about "The Biggest Loser."
