'Biggest Loser' Weight Loss Secret--Low-Carb!

Erik Chopin is the fourth straight low-carber to win "The Biggest Loser"

Ever since deli shop owner Erik Chopin from Islip, New York won Season 3 of the hit NBC reality television show "The Biggest Loser" last week, I haven't been able to stop thinking about something rather fascinating about his amazing 214-pound weight loss that he now wants to use to help people who are obese to find hope. This is something I haven't heard ANYONE discussing about the people who are winning this show.

Let's take a quick look at the three previous "Biggest Loser" winners:


"The Biggest Loser" Australia 1 winner Adro Sarnelli

STARTING WEIGHT: 319 pounds
WEIGHT LOSS: 131.5 pounds
HOW HE DID IT: Avoid starchy and refined carbs


"The Biggest Loser" 2 winner Matt Hoover

STARTING WEIGHT: 340 pounds
WEIGHT LOSS: 157 pounds
HOW HE DID IT: Counts calories and carbs


"The Biggest Loser" 1 winner Ryan Benson

STARTING WEIGHT: 330 pounds
WEIGHT LOSS: 100 pounds
HOW HE DID IT: Eats high-protein, low-carb foods




Are you seeing a very clear pattern among the winners of "The Biggest Loser?" It's astonishing to me that amidst all of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the gargantuan triple-digit weight losses each of these men has experienced that there hasn't been a more inquisitive look into HOW they lost their weight.

Sure, they talk about calories on the show and making sure you burn more with exercise than you take in. But behind-the-scenes there's more to it--a LOT more to it!

We saw just a couple of months ago how one of the finalists from Season 2 of the show--Kelly Minner--was able to help one of her students who was struggling with his weight which had soared above 300 pounds. You may recall that Minner recommended the 16-year old student go on a high-fiber, low-carb diet along with regular exercise and he went on to lose over 100 pounds in just nine months. She learned that from being on "The Biggest Loser."

While I am sure the producers of the show have strategically instructed the contestants and trainers on the show to avoid using the phrase "low-carb" for whatever reason, the fact of the matter is that's what they are doing. Even "Biggest Loser" trainer Bob Harper, who has complimented my low-carb blog for helping educate people, has warned repeatedly about the dangers of sugar addiction. Livin' la vida low-carb runs up and down through this show.

And yet you never hear a thing about it! What's up with that?

There's no reason in the world why the contestants or producers at "The Biggest Loser" should EVER feel ashamed of the low-carb lifestyle. It is the most electrifying weight loss plan that I have ever encountered in my life and I will forever be indebted to it for changing the course of my health for the better. Ryan, Matt, Adro, and now Erik can all provide similar testimonies of what low-carb living has done for them.

When will this great "Biggest Loser" weight loss secret be given the recognition that it deserves? Can you imagine the tidal wave of weight loss that people could be experiencing RIGHT NOW if a very clear message of livin' la vida low-carb were allowed to be promoted in very clear language that everyone can understand on a show like "The Biggest Loser?" The positive impact that would have on the obesity problem in America is mind-blowing to even think about.

Let's let the whole world know about the miracle of livin' la vida low-carb!

214-Pound Weight Loss For 'Biggest Loser' 3 Champion Erik Chopin

Chopin wins "The Biggest Loser" 3 shedding over half his weight

Erik Chopin must be wondering exactly what kind of mysterious magic or blessing that has been bestowed upon his Long Island, New York deli shop. Before his high-profile appearance and eventual success on Season 3 of the hit NBC reality television series "The Biggest Loser," one of his employees won a $1 million prize in the New York State Lottery--TWICE!

When his fortuitous employee at Emma's Deli and Catering returned to work the next day after winning the lottery for the second time in four years in early 2006, Chopin exclaimed prophetically that "good things happen to good people."

Indeed they do because now REALLY good things are in store for Chopin, 36 from West Islip, New York, after Wednesday night's dramatic conclusion to the junior season of "The Biggest Loser." This special third season of the show featured contestants from all 50 states vying to lose the most weight as a percentage of their starting weight to become the next "Biggest Loser."


50 "Biggest Loser"contestants--over 14,000 pounds when they began!

When he began his journey on the famous ranch weighing in at an all-too-familiar 407 pounds (I was 410 when I started my low-carb weight loss journey in 2004), Chopin went on to lose a record-breaking 124 pounds on the show itself.

But although he was the "biggest loser" with the cameras on him, that did not mean he would necessarily lose the most weight when he went home and it came time to return for the live season finale because he had some rather stiff competition to face.

There were supposed to be four finalists out of the fifty contestants, but one of them got an unexpected surprise--A BABY! Heather, 36 from West Bountiful, Utah, actually became pregnant when she returned home from the ranch. The producers at "The Biggest Loser" decided to shower her with a complimentary nursery for her second child because she had gotten so far in the game. CONGRATULATIONS, Heather! That baby's gonna have a very healthy and fit mommy now. :)

So the real competition for Chopin came down to the other two contestants.

Kai, 27 from Eagle River, Alaska, looked absolutely fantastic after starting off on "The Biggest Loser" weighing 262 pounds. She lost 77 pounds on the show and dropped another 41 pounds to lose an astounding 118 pounds becoming the gretaest "biggest loser" female in the show's history. Her petite 144-pound body was so gorgeous to see as she showed off her 45.04 percent weight loss. She won $50,000 for coming in second place.

Next up was the charismatic Wylie, 40 from South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida, who was disgusted that his starting weight was 307 pounds. His goal was to be able to walk on the beach without his shirt on. Through his hard work on the ranch, Wylie lost 90 pounds before going home and losing an additional 39 pounds for a total weight loss of 129 pounds. When he stepped on the scale (shirtless of course!) and it read 178 pounds, that represented an amazing 42.02 percent weight loss for Wylie. He won $25,000 for coming in third place.

So how about the eventual champion of "The Biggest Loser" 3?

Erik started at over 400 pounds and lost nearly one-third of that while on the show. But it is what happened when he returned home to lose weight on his own that will have people talking until Season 4! Although he looked far better when he walked away from the ranch at 283 pounds than when he started, imagine the surprise on everyone's face when they saw him in the season finale. The man looked like a stick he had gotten so thin!


Erik Chopin saved his life by going on "The Biggest Loser"

When he stepped on that gigantic scale for the final time and the numbers click, click, clicked into place with a big 1-9-3, you knew this was the latest winner of "The Biggest Loser!" Another 90 pounds lost for a grand total of 214 pounds that are gone forever--a mind-boggling 52.58 percent weight loss in about nine months. WOW!!! Simply incredible, Erik! YOU GO BOY! He earned $250,000 for being crowned "The Biggest Loser" of Season 3.

Of the 34 contestants who were sent home during the early elimination phase of the show, nine of them were able to experience triple-digit weight losses. Outstanding! Plus, the collective goal of all 50 contestants was to lose over 4,000 pounds by the end of the show. When they all stepped on the scale during the season finale, the total weight loss added up to 4,281 pounds--that's 85.6 pounds lost per person! WOO HOO!

Life is about to get hectic for Chopin who will have to decide what he is going to do with his newfound fame. Perhaps he can ask his double-the-luck, lottery-winning employee about what to do. Incidentally, that employee decided to stick around at the deli to help out the business until her boss was finished with his experience on "The Biggest Loser" this month. Well, that could be awhile now that Erik will be doing the media tour thing, but I bet she won't mind. :)



I'm happy to see the success of "The Biggest Loser" has continued with new products designed to help people in their battle against obesity. I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with Season 3 and did not watch it as often as I did in the first two seasons. I don't know if it had anything to do with the absence of trainer Jillian Michaels or what, but I just couldn't get into it like I did when Ryan Benson and Matt Hoover won in Seasons 1 and 2 respectively. Nothing against Bob Harper or Kim Lyons, but it just didn't excite me this time.

Nevertheless, the fact that a show about weight loss can be commercially successful is a positive sign in a culture that can't seem to figure out why they are so fat. Whether people like the show or not, "The Biggest Loser" is making a difference because it proves an undeniable truth about humans--success at anything is indeed possible when you put them in the right circumstances and provide them with the proper tools and guidance to acheive. Adro Sarnelli, who won the inaugural season earlier this year of "The Biggest Loser" in Australia alluded to that in my exclusive interview with him. There's no reason why ANYONE with a weight problem can't be as succesful as these contestants on "The Biggest Loser" have been.

So, do you think you have what it takes to be on this amazing show? Get a taste of my review of the official application for "The Biggest Loser" and then go download the application to be on "The Biggest Loser" 4! If you are obese and have the will and drive to turn your life around, then give it your best shot! You could be the next Erik Chopin! GO FOR IT!

12-15-06 UPDATE: Wanna read more about Erik Chopin's unbelievable weight loss? Are you interested in finding out how he and the previous winners of "The Biggest Loser" did it? And you'll NEVER believe what he was willing to do to lose weight just before "The Biggest Loser" called him to be a part of the show. CLICK HERE to find out more about the latest "Biggest Loser!"

The Best New 'Biggest Loser' Weight Loss Tools

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!

When you have a successful diet plan, people are always interested in new recipes that complement it. That's why The Biggest Loser Cookbook: More Than 125 Healthy, Delicious Recipes Adapted from NBC's Hit Show was created. If you are a fan of recipes and of "The Biggest Loser" show, then you will want your own copy of this cookbook!

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

Look up the nutritional content of any food or meal you purchase when going to a restaurant or to your favorite food store with The Biggest Loser Calorie Counter: The Quick and Easy Guide to Thousands of Foods from Grocery Stores and Popular Restaurants. This is a handy-dandy resource for people wanting to watch their calories, carbs, and MORE!

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."

Mental Test Begins When Weight Loss Ends

Congratulations to Matt and Suzy from "The Biggest Loser"

Speaking of "The Biggest Loser," did you hear the news about Season Two winner Matt Hoover and 2nd runner-up Suzy Preston? THEY GOT ENGAGED on March 28, 2006 and are making plans for their wedding as we speak. CONGRATULATIONS to Matt and Suzy. Now here is a couple that understands the monumental acheivement of weight loss with Matt and Suzy losing 157 pounds and 95 pounds respectively in front of a national television audience. That is remarkable to say the least.

But as they embark on this new lifelong journey of weight loss now with each other, I was struck specifically by this love story between Matt and Suzy and how it underlines the real challenge for people after they lose weight. Anyone who has been through this process will tell you that the most difficult part is not the weight loss itself but rather the mental test that begins once the weight loss has stopped.

For Matt, this mental change began for him when Suzy cut his hair on the show.

"When she cut my hair she was a big part of my transformation," Matt said referring to Suzy while they were still contestants on "The Biggest Loser" this past season.

For Suzy, she noticed Matt change from that point on not just in his physical appearance but in how he saw himself as a person.

"Seeing the man he started becoming, with his changes, watching him come from what everyone wanted him to be to who he wanted to be," Suzy stated.


Like Matt's hair, Suzy got rid of her glasses to come out of her shell

All of us who have ever been overweight or obese have something that we hold on to as a crutch to cover up the fact that we are fat. For Matt it was his hair and for Suzy it was her glasses. For me, it was the illusion that I had created in my mind that I was a "healthy" 400-pound man. I had convinced myself that since I was active and felt good that I was okay. What a lie that was! Finally letting go of these things we create for ourselves to excuse our excess weight problem is the first step in the process of transforming yourself into the new person that you are destined to become through weight loss.

The mental test that follows weight loss is a neverending process either. Although I have triumphed over my obesity and have now kept it off for over two years doesn't mean that I no longer have to worry about my weight. Don't I wish! Actually, the mental strength to KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF is needed much more NOW than it was when I was losing weight. That may seem hard to believe, but most of us "losers" could attest to the challenges that come our way. I'm sure it will get a little easier over time, but don't kid yourself into thinking after you reach your goal weight that you are home free.

Now I am not saying maintaining your weight loss has to be hard once you find a great way of eating like livin' la vida low-carb to help you do it. But there are temptations and circumstances that will rise up like a little school-aged child sticking his tongue out at you and sarcastically saying, "Nanny nanny boo boo, let's see how long you can keep that weight off!"

I don't say all of this to scare you away from wanting to lose weight, but to help you realize the battle has just begun after you lose the weight. There will be forces at work that will attempt to discredit the remarkable job you have done to lose weight and you will need to be ready for them. Preparing yourself NOW will make it a lot easier when you get to that point in your journey. Start flexing your mental muscles to body slam these negative thoughts when they come.

Of course, going through the low-carb route to weight loss will get you battle-ready WHILE YOU ARE STILL LOSING with all the criticism that so many people will throw your direction. If you can somehow survive all the insults and "advice" that people give you about low-carb living while you are losing weight, then making this your way of life for the rest of your life to keep the weight off will be a much easier road. While it's hard to argue with someone about their weight loss method after they have lost 180 pounds on it, you'd be surprised how many people still give me grief over it! That just beats all I've ever seen. :-~

For Matt and Suzy, they know that this weight loss gift they have been given is going to force them to "watch our food forever." Otherwise...

"I could end up on Biggest Loser 4 if I don't watch it," Matt revealed.

Matt is exactly right. As successful as he has been at losing weight, the real test is whether he can keep it off for good. No more mindless eating for no apparent reason. No more "just this one time" meals. No more eating food because you don't feel good, are depressed, or bored. Nope, none of those reasons for eating stuff you shouldn't have are good enough.

Instead, after you lose weight, the best way to congratulate yourself is to recommit to a lifetime of healthy eating choices, a regular exercise routine, and a better way of life. I am constantly reevaluating all of those things in my life at a point where I have supposedly "made it" in my weight loss. But if I EVER just settle for what I have accomplished, then I am setting myself up to fail and gain the weight back again. Passing this mental test will be something I will be attempting to do for the rest of my life and gladly so!

At the end of their interview, Suzy said something that summarizes exactly what I've been talking about.

"We're still getting used to our new bodies and really believing it's us," Suzy explained. "For so many years I had lived in that other shell. I will probably be making that journey the rest of my life."

It is still sometimes hard to believe this body I have now is mine even after living in it for well over a year. Getting your mind to think of yourself as a thinner person than you used to be is VERY difficult to do. While everyone around you compliments you on how skinny you have become or how proud they are of you that you have kept your weight off, somehow that message has a hard time making its way into the brain of the person who lost the weight. We're our own worst enemy!

This lifelong journey is not just about keeping the weight off that has been lost, but also convincing ourselves that we are different than we were before. I still struggle with feelings of being fat from time to time because of the excess hanging skin that I still have in my abdomen and inner thighs. But I don't let those feelings get me down or cause me to eat my troubles away. Nope! Instead, I'll hit the gym and get in a nice 30-45 minute workout to ease the stress and do my body good.

How you handle the mental tests that inevitably come after weight loss will determine if you are a long-term weight loss success or if the pressure becomes so great that you fall back into your old habits again. Don't say you haven't been warned about the tests that are coming. Ready yourself now for these challenges that await you so you can overcome them when they come to destroy all the hard work you have invested. Trust me when I say this: YOU WILL OVERCOME!

Is The Success Of 'The Biggest Loser' Cannibalizing Its Fan Base?

Matt Hoover lost 157 pounds to win "The Biggest Loser" Season Two

I was struck by this Yale Daily News column this week from a fifth-year graduate student from Yale University named Michael Seringhaus because he brings up some very intriguing questions and issues surrounding the hit NBC reality weight loss show "The Biggest Loser."

Now that the confetti has stopped falling since Matt Hoover was named the Season Two winner of the show with 16 million fans watching this week, I think it is good to take a look at what Seringhaus has written and ponder it for just a moment because it brings up an issue I personally hadn't even thought about before now.

While openly skeptical of any attempt to market weight loss to the general public, Seringhaus says he finds "The Biggest Loser" to be "surprisingly refreshing."




And yet the success of a show like this bring on a huge problem for producers who base their success on there being a whole lotta overweight and obese people out there who need to be inspired and motivated to lose weight.

"Because such ventures depend upon overweight people to fuel profits, they face a not-so-subtle conflict of interest: Any technique that legitimately helps people drop pounds in a sustainable manner will cannibalize its own client base in quite short order," Seringhaus writes. "Selling diets is an awfully short-lived business if the product actually works."

Think about that for just a moment. If everybody and their momma went out and bought The Biggest Loser book or Workout DVD to actually lose weight like Matt, Seth, Suzy and the rest did, then what would happen to the fan base that comprises "The Biggest Loser" show? Would there be a need for "The Biggest Loser" to exist? Would the audience drop off because they are no longer overweight or obese -- in essence, they wouldn't need the show anymore?

I contend it would not change the show's audience one bit and I can explain why based on my own experience.

When the first season of "The Biggest Loser" was on last summer, I was glued to my television set although I had already lost over 100 pounds on my low-carb lifestyle prior to the first episode airing. But there was something incredibly energizing to watch others struggle like I did to do something about their weight to not only look better, but to feel better, too. And those contestants from Season One did it, too!

When this year's edition of "The Biggest Loser" hit the television screen, I was again enthralled by the show because as a former 410-pounder you never forget what that felt like. I could literally feel the pain and struggles those contestants were going through because I've been there not that long ago. I never want to forget what it felt like being obese because it will help me remain the thin man I am today.

Although I am 180+ pounds lighter than I was in January 2004, here I was this season watching these contestants of "The Biggest Loser" and cheering them on to achieve the amazing results that they accomplished in a short amount of time.

Is it odd for someone who has attained a large weight loss success to be attracted to a show about overweight and obese people who need to lose a large amount of weight, too? I don't think so.

For me, the weight loss is just the beginning. The most difficult part of any effective diet plan is keeping the weight off once it is lost. While Matt and the rest can and should be proud of their weight loss on "The Biggest Loser," their real challenge is going to be over the next year, five years, ten years. Can they keep the weight off? Is this lifestyle change that begins in the mind going to work for them the rest of their lives? The answer to that question depends on the individual and their commitment to healthy living.

But shows like "The Biggest Loser" can keep you accountable and I was glad to see many of the contestants from Season One in the audience at "The Biggest Loser" finale on Tuesday night. They're looking good because they remain committed to the principles that got them the success they were able to acheive.

I am sure it was a little surreal for them to watch new contestants go through what they had to go through and they undoubtedly lived vicariously through those contestants as they recalled their own experiences on "The Biggest Loser" ranch. But the same could be said for anyone who has lost weight -- watching others go through that process is, as NBC would say, MUST SEE TV! It's captivating, which is why they have scored such a huge winner with a show about losing.

Seringhaus criticizes "The Biggest Loser" for flaunting the overweight and obese contestants around in tight spandex, making them weigh in using huge cargo scales with giant LCD monitors, and for the show failing to recognize and reward those contestants who weren't the biggest losers but who still lost a significant amount of weight.

Those idiosyncrasies about the show aside, Seringhaus said the "astonishing" weight loss by the contestants to become "amazingly thin" right before our eyes is why people watch. It may also explain why droves of people are applying to appear on "The Biggest Loser 3" and a spin-off series is coming in January 2006 featuring self-contained episodes of brother vs. sister, co-worker vs. co-worker, and city vs. city. I can't wait to see those shows!!!

But this brings us back to the lingering question: What about the fan base watching the show? With diet plans of every kind (even off-the-wall ones like this) out in the marketplace today, why aren't people getting thinner? And if shows like "The Biggest Loser" really start helping people lose weight, what will be its fate?

I don't think those are necessarily the right questions to ask. The very point that we can talk about obesity in an attempt to come up with ways to help solve it is a healthy (all pun intended!) discussion. With all the glamour of Hollywood celebrities who promote unreasonably high expectations for beauty in this country, I'm am personally glad to see a show like "The Biggest Loser" be so successful. It's a product of our society because the issue of obesity is current and not going away anytime soon.

But Seringhaus wonders just how long "The Biggest Loser" can continue.

"NBC producers should be careful what they wish for, since a sudden bout of self-discipline might cause audiences not only to lose weight, but to halt their frenzied consumption of products pushed by the network's advertisers," he writes.

To grab a line from my political background, the fat will always be among us (just like "the poor will always be among us"). As long as exercise is a dirty word and fast food continues to appeal to the "billions and billions," people walking around with extra pounds will continue.

But the lasting impact of "The Biggest Loser" will be with the thousands, maybe millions, of people who are finally motivated to do something about their weight problem because of the show.

Seringhaus agrees.

"And if this causes just one person to abandon that exhausting and costly cocktail of self-propagating literature, weight-loss groups and overpriced diet aids, the show will have served an unexpected and valuable purpose," he concludes.

My point exactly. "The Biggest Loser" could be the starting point for people to finally get up off that couch and start living the healthy and energetic life they have always dreamed of. It happened for me through livin' la vida low-carb and it can happen for anybody who wants it so badly they can taste it. It's time for you to make it happen and become a BIG WEIGHT LOSER, too!

You can contact Michael Seringhaus by e-mailing him here.

12-3-05 UPDATE: Michael Seringhaus responded to my blog post about him and said he actually had come across this blog in his research for his column:

Thanks for reading and linking -- the show was quite fun!

You may be interested to know I actually came across your blog in doing a bit of research for the column last week -- so it's neat to be linked there.

Cheers and keep up the good blog,

-ms

Neat stuff that he came to this blog looking for information about "The Biggest Loser." Yeah, I guess I wrote a few articles about the show, didn't I? LOL! THANKS, Michael. You are welcome to come back here anytime.