PLEASE UPDATE YOUR BOOKMARKS TO LIVINLAVIDALOWCARB.COM/BLOG
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tim Russert's Fatal Heart Attack Was Preventable, He Followed Antiquated Advice
In this supercharged and oftentimes volatile political election year, something tragic and sudden struck this country and has everyone buzzing in Washington and across the United States. No, it wasn't some sex scandal, drug bust, or any of the other usual news that has become almost too commonplace these days. This was something much more serious and has greater implications than even the extensive coverage the mainstream media is giving to it.
Last Friday afternoon, hard-hitting political interviewer and long-time host of NBC-TV's Sunday morning news talk show "Meet the Press" Tim Russert experienced his first heart attack and it almost instantly killed him. I cannot imagine how his family is responding to this news and my sympathies and prayers go out to them during this very difficult time. Tim was in the midst of doing what he loved--preparing for his television show--when the heart attack took his life and took him away from all of us.
So, how did a 58-year old man die from a heart attack when he was doing all of the things his doctor said he should to prevent it? Should we be concerned about what doctors are telling us about how to ward off cardiovascular disease so that we don't become the next victim of what befell Tim Russert? These are the questions people are asking in the wake of this tragedy and was the subject of what one of my readers wanted to know in an e-mail I received.
Here's what she wrote:
Hi Jimmy, I have been an avid reader of your blog for a long time. I am so scared since Tim Russert died suddenly of a heart attack at only age 58 (my husband is 57 and I'm 54) that I'd really like to get some clarification on the statin drugs and cholesterol issue. Seems like Tim Russert's doctors did all the usual things and he died anyway. I trust what Dr. Jonny Bowden has to say as he has an advanced degree in nutrition and he seems to think for himself instead of just following the status quo. Can you see if he would help reassure me with this? Thanks for your assistance, and keep up the fantastic work!
While I am no Dr. Jonny Bowden, I do have some things to say about Tim Russert's death that need to be said. I can understand your concerns and I am delighted to forward your questions to Dr. Jonny Bowden. He's one of the brightest, most articulate people on nutrition in the entire world, so you are in good hands with the information he provides to you.
But if you would allow me to comment on this subject, I have some thoughts about it. Isn't it interesting that Tim Russert did everything exactly as his doctor wanted him to and yet his very first heart attack was a fatal one? I don't think that's a coincidence either and it happens every single day without a blink of an eye from anyone.
Watch this video interview with Russert's doctor to see how dejected he is about Russert's "unexpected" death despite his best treatment strategies. It's amazing to hear his doctor basically say that Tim did everything he was "supposed" to do and yet it wasn't enough to save his life. Wanna know what the scariest part of this story is?
Check out Tim Russert's lipid profile:
LDL--68 HDL--37 (up from the lower 20's) Total Cholesterol--105
Did you see that? Most doctors would look at those numbers and say, "See how healthy this person is because we lowered his cholesterol." And they would pound their chest with pride at putting someone like Tim Russert on a statin drug to artificially make this happen. But what good did it do him in the end? He's gone now because of that advice and there's no outrage about it. Worry, concern, perplexity, yes--but nobody is angry that this preventable death was made WORSE by the use of all the traditional means for improving heart health.
According to Russert's doctor, he didn't have Type 2 diabetes nor did he have any blood sugar issues at all. His A1c was in the normal range and as I noted previously his cholesterol was considered VERY healthy. For all intents and purposes according to the modern day medical conventional wisdom, he was the epitome of perfect health. And yet he tragically died before his time.
We now know posthumously that Russert had coronary heart disease that he was being treated for, but his doctor apparently didn't know how severe it was. But even if he did know it was extremely serious, what else would he have recommended to Tim? Higher doses of his statin drug? Even less fat in his diet? More exercise? In the end, all of these seemingly good strategies from the conventional wisdom point of view would have very likely done NOTHING to prevent this from happening.
His doctor put him on blood pressure lowering medication as well as a cholesterol-lowering statin drug to see if that would help. And Russert even rode an exercise bike to try to lose weight, although it didn't work. There's no doubt the plaque buildup around his heart was getting bigger and bigger over the years until his heart couldn't take it any longer.
As you know from reading my blog, my most recent total cholesterol reading was 326 with an LDL of 246, HDL of 65, and triglycerides at 77. I am confident I don't need to go on a statin drug now or ever and I am as healthy as I have ever been in my entire life. On face value, any typical physician in America would say to me, "Oh my God, you need to be on Lipitor, Crestor, or Zetia to lower your LDL and total cholesterol."
When you are livin' la vida low-carb correctly, then your HDL will be well above 50 and for women well above 70. At the same time, your triglycerides will drop below 100 for an HDL/triglyceride ratio of around 1. That's what you want. Of course, you will need to get the particle size of your cholesterol subsets measured using a VAP or Berkeley test, but you can almost be guaranteed that if your HDL is up over 50 and your triglycerides are down below 100 that your LDL particle size will be the large, fluffy protective kind.
This cholesterol issue is one I am quite passionate about because the modern means for dealing with it is simply exacerbating the problem. The medical community has the blinders on and they refuse to take them off long enough to see the harm they are doing to patient after patient they put on these risky prescription drugs for a purpose that is futile and fatal in the end like it was for Tim Russert.
Here are quite a few posts I have penned about the subject of cholesterol that I think you should read when you get a chance to help you understand this issue even better:
There's much more to this cholesterol issue and the connection to Tim Russert's death than most people even realize. I encourage you to read a few more commentaries from people in the health community who I respect and trust about this:
Hopefully my answer will make you feel better about this and that consuming a diet lower in carbs, higher in fat, and with moderate protein at every meal is what is going to work best for improving your heart health over the course of your life. If only Tim Russert had been given this information instead of the antiquated traditional advice he received, then his fatal heart attack may have been averted. Perhaps this event will begin a serious discussion of heart health treatment in this country so that others can benefit from the healthy low-carb lifestyle, too. We can only hope.
Anyone interested in learning more about the alternative cholesterol hypothesis I've written about today must check out the following books:
6-24-08 UPDATE: In response to an anonymous comment left about this blog post regarding the kind of diet Tim Russert ate OBVIOUSLY being a low-carb one, here's my comment:
As for Tim Russert, he most certainly was NOT on a low-carb diet because his triglycerides were very high and his HDL was very low...these are signs of a HIGH-carb, low-fat diet that his cardiologist no doubt put him on. Here's an excerpt from the New York Times about Russert's health:
Mr. Russert had low HDL, the protective cholesterol, and high triglycerides. He was quite overweight; a waist more than 40 inches in men increases heart risk. A CT scan of his coronary arteries in 1998 gave a calcium score of 210, indicating artery disease — healthy arteries do not have calcium deposits — and a moderate to high risk of a heart attack.
Monica Carlson is now "Jet" on the hit NBC-TV show "American Gladiators"
When NBC decided to bring back one of my all-time favorite television shows in January, I was so stoked! Watching it in the late 80s/early 90s, American Gladiators was an instant American cult classic. Here you had average, everyday people as contestants displaying brute strength, agility like a cat, and perfect timing attempting to give the pumped up Gladiators a thing or two to think about. Some did, some didn't. Regardless, it was fun to watch when I was 18 and it's still a blast today at 36.
Now hosted by wrestling legend Hulk Hogan and boxing great Muhammad Ali's little baby girl Laila Ali, this show gave one man and one woman the chance-of-a-lifetime to become a brand new member of the beefy lineup in Season 1 earlier this year and both of the winners were well-deserved for outlasting all their competition. Now they're set to debut in Season 2 of American Gladiators (airing Mondays at 8:00pm EST) tonight with all-new sculpted bodies that go along with their special Gladiator names.
Yet, there was one of those winners who stuck out to me when I heard about what she did after she found out she won that brought a big smile to my face. Jet, aka Monica Carlson, the mother of three who was crowned the female winner of American Gladiators a few months back, already looked in fabulous shape during her run on the show in Season 1, but man does she ever look amazing now?! You can really tell she's worked hard to get the body she has now and my ears perked up when I heard exactly how she did it.
Check out this video about Jet to get the scoop on how she got fit:
OMG, did you hear that? This quote from Monica Carlson...er, I mean Jet, is truly remarkable considering the kind of society we live in regarding diet and health these days.
"The second I knew I won, I was in the gym, eatin' protein, cuttin' out sugar and carbs...it was a huge transformation," Monica exclaimed.
Unbelievable, isn't it?! Here's a high-performance athlete training her body for competition against a new set of challengers for the next season of American Gladiators and how did she get her body into shape? She started livin' la vida low-carb to fuel her workouts and produce this "huge transformation" in her body. WOO HOO! I'm still in awe that she said it out loud.
But how can this be? We've been told by this Olympic athlete that you need carbs for proper training of your body and this line of thinking is often repeated by journalists in the media and those so-called health "experts" over and over until their blue in the face. But the reality is that kind of thinking is archaic and based on the old ways of thinking. Monica realizes that it's better to choose a low-carb dietary approach to get the kind of results you truly desire in the gym. And the end result with her I'd say is pretty phenomenal!
I for one will be watching American Gladiators this season just to see how Jet performs in her debut as one of the new members of the cast. She is an amazing physical specimen and should be very proud of the way she has changed her life simply by reducing her carbohydrate intake. What a champion for this way of eating she is and I salute her for being so open and honest about what she did to get in shape.
GOOD LUCK to you Monica "Jet" Carlson! Now go kick some low-carb butt out there! :D
Season 4 "bad boy" Neil Tejwani says he's a "lovable teddy bear"
1. There aren’t many people I get to interview at my blog who can understand what it feels like to weigh over 400 pounds and then lose about half of it like I did. But today’s guest here at the “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” blog did indeed weigh 421 pounds when he started his quest to better health on the hit NBC reality weight loss television program “The Biggest Loser” in Season 4. He’s Neil Tejwani and we’re so happy to have him here to talk about his appearance on the show, the astonishing turnaround in his weight and health, and what he intends to do henceforth to remain fit and trim for life.
Welcome to my blog, Neil! You ended up losing a total of 211 pounds--the second most total pounds ever behind Season 3 winner Eric Chopin--during the competition on the show and was just five pounds away from beating Jim and winning the $100,000 at-home consolation prize at the final live weigh-in. It was obvious you worked your tail off to lose as much as you could on your own after months on the Biggest Loser Ranch where you lost more weight than any previous contestant.
But you were telling me that your weight was even higher prior to beginning this journey with “The Biggest Loser” and that you were thinking about having gastric bypass surgery. How big did you get and how did you weight loss progress differ once you got on the show compared to your own efforts? Incidentally, from day one of the show to the final weigh-in, how long is that? That’s never been clear to me in the past few years of watching “The Biggest Loser.”
Thanks for having me on your blog Jimmy. Let me first congratulate you on your amazing weight loss achievements as well! You can relate to the feeling of winning your life back with your incredible accomplishment, and this was a journey that really was a long time coming for me.
You are correct that 421 pounds was not my heaviest weight. Towards the end of 2006 I actually tipped the scales at 461 pounds. It’s crazy to even imagine that now, but I have definitely been fortunate enough to have this experience on the Biggest Loser and better my health for the long run. The show really has changed my life, and I never could have imagined the incredible success I have been so lucky and blessed to achieve without this experience.
For as long as I can remember, I have been well over 400 pounds. Even in my late teens during the beginning of college, I was morbidly obese, and for the most part was fairly inactive. I was gaining weight at a rapid pace each and every year, and when I finally hit the 460 mark, I really knew that something had to be done. I consulted with my doctor, and he basically said in a “nutshell” that I would not see past the age of 30 at the rate I was going! I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and I was a borderline type II diabetic. Definitely a gut check moment for me to say the least!
I was 24 years old, and I was already being diagnosed with health problems that people 2 or 3 times my age usually experience! So upon my doctor’s advice, I entered a program at the Obesity Consult Center at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and I began my journey into researching weight loss surgery alternatives to help me get the weight off. I mean, when you are approaching 500 pounds you feel a totally helpless feeling that I’m sure yourself and anyone who has been obese can relate to; and I knew something drastic had to be done.
I had a history with yo-yo dieting and exercise in the past, and similar to anyone who struggles with their weight, I would shed a few pounds here and there, and the reoccurring theme was that I always put it back on inevitably at some point in time. As a kid I played many sports and was very active for the most part, but a leg injury in high school really set me on a path of a sedentary lifestyle where I ate badly and gained weight.
On my quest in pursuing gastric bypass surgery, I had to lose close to 10% of my body weight as a prerequisite to qualify for the procedure. I was successfully able to lose 40 pounds on my own, by closely monitoring my diet between 1500-2000 calories/day, and a light cardio exercise regimen of 20 minutes/day, about 4-5 days/week. I would do light walking or ride a stationary bike, and I slowly started getting the weight off. I was at the point where it was time for a surgical date, after two months of losing weight and completing all my other surgical requirements (i.e. behavior classes, lectures, seminars, support groups, psychological evaluations etc.).
I was convinced however that I could lose the weight on my own with my recent weight loss success at the time if I just really applied myself to it. In looking for ways to lose weight on my own through gym memberships and fad diets, I applied for “The Biggest Loser” largely because of my girlfriend Stefanie. She has worried about my health for the 8 years that we’ve known and dated each other, and I realized Jimmy that it’s hard to start making plans for the next chapter of your life with someone if you don’t know how long you will be around to enjoy it! I got just the opportunity I needed to succeed at my goal with the show!
Since losing the weight, I maintain a fairly strict diet and exercise plan now in my lifelong maintenance phase. I say lifelong because it really has been a new lifestyle that I’ve adapted in this experience, that I will have to carry with me forever! I finally have committed myself to going to the gym 5 days a week with a regimen of cardio and circuit strength training exercises. I have a personal trainer, Dusty Hinnman that I see once a week who has aided me in my maintenance efforts as well. Dusty works at Crunch gym in Hauppauge, NY and he also helped me get the weight off for the show when we were training at home for 4 months.
The timing of the show is about 8 months from the time they start shooting to the finale: 4 months on the Ranch itself, and then 4 months of training at home for the live finale. I obviously do not keep up the rigorous training of 4-6 hours a day that I was doing, but I have been successful thus far by keeping it off by eating right and exercising 5 days a week!
2. You were given the opportunity to work with one of the finest personal trainers in the world in Bob Harper as he led the Blue Team all season. Share some of your best personal memories about Bob and talk about how much he has impacted your life for the better. I assume you still remain in contact with him as you continue down this amazing journey and will for many years to come as you KEEP the weight off you lost on the show.
The impact that Bob has had on my life really is hard to put into words. He was my trainer on the show, and has since become one of my best friends for the gift that he has given me: my life back! I often refer to him as my “guardian angel” because that’s truly what he is Jimmy, an angel. He saved my life, and I can only wonder where I would be with my health right now had it not been for his influence. He committed himself to me everyday for 8 months, and I am forever indebted to him for all he has done for me since I started the show. Even now he contacts me a few times a month to see how I’m holding up, and he really has been a great friend and support system that I’ve needed to maintain this healthy lifestyle!
Bob and I got along the very first day I met him in the desert on the start of Season 4. I remember getting on the bus on the way to the Ranch for the first time and he told me then that he would inevitably make me cry and “break me” down at some point in time during our work together. One thing Bob and I have always shared in common is our competitive edge in terms of setting our eyes on something and going after it. I promised him that day that no matter how hard it got, no matter how bad I didn’t want to keep moving forward, that I would never quit and give him everything I had each and everyday! I really believe that’s why Bob and I got along so well, because he knew I would give him my heart and soul in everything we did, and he would always find new ways to push me to test how strong I actually was.
And believe me Jimmy, when it comes to pushing the boundaries to see how Bob can take you to the next level to achieve your goals, the man is absolutely relentless! He had a vision of me getting worked so hard that I would storm out of the gym and give up one day. Now obviously this was all in jest, of course, but the workouts came with a fury I’ve never experienced in my life. But no matter how Bob tried, no matter how hard he pushed me, I am happy to say that I NEVER quit and gave it everything I had everyday! The humor was seeing days when Bob would shake his head in disbelief that no matter what, I would never let myself give up!
Outside of the gym Bob and I have shared so many lifelong memories as well. One of them is that we both had a knack of falling asleep after a long days work at times. I remember on some of our “dark days,” which are non-camera days on the show, after a whole day of working out we would go relax and watch a movie with the other fellow Blue Team members. You can imagine how tiring it is sometimes to work out that rigorously each day, and Bob and I would often find ourselves falling asleep during the movie.
I remember when Bob first bought his new condo in LA, and we went to check it out. Him, Nicole, and I were sitting on the floor in his empty place just talking about everything as we always did, and within minutes we found ourselves passed out dead asleep on the floor! It’s not every day you wake up an hour later sprawled out on a floor next to Bob Harper. It was very funny! Those types of memories are things I will remember most from this experience. It’s those moments I still miss most, and it’s really amazing how close you get to people that you live with and see everyday even in such a short amount of time.
3. That sounds like you made some amazing memories that will last forever. Speaking of memories, for better or worse, you were made out to be the bad guy of Season 4 when you decided to pack on the pounds one week to throw the game to get a member of the Black Team (Jez) eliminated. Do you feel you were mischaracterized by that entire episode or did you relish in being the villain so to speak? After all, you did tell your competitors to “come and get me” which they did in the final week despite your tremendous 10-pound weight loss. Does it make you sick to know that had you made it into the final four that YOU would have been crowned “The Biggest Loser” for Season 4 beating out Bill for the $250,000 prize?
You know Jimmy, I really hold the show in very high regard and it’s tough to say that I was mischaracterized, even though I’m really not like that! Anyone who knows me knows I’m just a lovable teddy bear who is not the mischievous game player that you saw every week. I totally understand why the show made me out to be the villain at first because of my little stunt, but I hope I was able to redeem myself every week afterwards by continuing to work hard and get the weight off! I do believe they did it for the purpose of the show’s ratings though and that it was not malicious, but I can assure you I am not that “bad guy” that America may have seen at first.
People forget sometimes that there is a game aspect to the show, and everyone is guilty of playing it to some degree. Whether you are making alliances behind closed doors, chirping in someone’s ear before an elimination, voting off the biggest threats, or water loading for a weigh in, everyone tries to increase their chances of staying on campus to get the results they want. When you are perceived as the biggest threat like I was, in Biggest Loser terms that means you are next to go if given the opportunity. I was just trying to keep myself and my fellow Blue Team members there as long as possible, and my stunt really was to try and help my closest friends on the show, even though it can be misunderstand as a selfish act.
I realize now that I definitely got a little carried away, and it really was not my proudest moment on the show! The best strategy or game play at the end of the day you can do is to beat the scale every week, and I’m very glad to see that everyone on the season was able to do that! As for the “come and get me” attitude, that really was a self motivation tool for me. Bob always said that if you are perceived as a big threat on the Ranch, there are two ways to handle it: shy away and try to fall under the radar, or embrace the role and work that much harder to reach your goals. My “defiant” attitude in terms of being the threat was that I just try to embrace the role, and push myself to work harder to make sure the title was justified. Even though I fell just short of being crowned the Biggest Loser, my mentality of “coming to get me” really was a great tool for Bob and I to work our tails off in losing weight, and we were successful at that!
It would have been nice to win, I’m not going to lie, but I can’t say it makes me sick to think of how close I came because I gained so much more. I set out for the show with the purpose of losing weight and being healthy again, and that’s exactly what I was able to achieve! Winning a paycheck is nice, but winning your life back really means so much more to me! And although it would have been nice to win and use that money to start my new life with Stefanie, I’ve gained so much from this experience and have met some incredible people, and with that I feel like I have already won!
4. That's a great attitude about it, Neil! Let's turn to the subject of exercise. This is obviously one of the major areas of emphasis on “The Biggest Loser” for helping the contestants lose weight and get into shape. Viewers at home see you guys doing both cardiovascular and resistance training workouts, but we never really got a sense for how much of each you did. Take us through a typical day on the Biggest Loser Ranch in terms of what you did and for how long. Some people say the amount of exercise they have the obese people on “The Biggest Loser” do is too unrealistic for the average person to try to fit into their busy schedules. What do you think about that theory?
The only word I can really think to describe the exercise regimen on the show is relentless! On average Jimmy, most of the contestants worked out between 4-6 hours a day 6 days/week, with one light day of cardio for about an hour’s time. I definitely agree that this type of program would be very difficult to schedule in your day in the “real world,” but you have to understand that it is a show and you are looking for the most results in a short amount of time as possible. Extreme cases often call for extreme measure as was the case with our workouts, but it’s the message the show is trying to get out there that’s most important: that average obese people, can commit to a healthy lifestyle and get the results they want by applying themselves!
I agree that nobody can or should work out that much to reach their goals in a normal situation. You actually are technically overtraining your body working out as much as we did, but “The Biggest Loser” system was always supervised by a team of doctors and athletic trainers that ensured we were working out safely and not hurting ourselves. And the truth is that most people in the “real world” do not have access to 24 hour care like that to watch over them, in the event they had the time to train as hard as we did. So I would agree that it’s difficult to juggle a workout regimen like that with people who live busy lives, but the same principles of the show apply--that exercise and a strict diet are the keys to weight loss success.
The Biggest Loser really gives you an ideal environment to lose weight. You are removed from all distractions in your life and have the ability to just focus on yourself and bettering your health. An average day for me on the show would be to wake up in the morning, make a healthy balanced breakfast of protein and carbs, and then hit the gym for a few hours. I would take breaks in between workouts to eat every 4 hours or so to keep my metabolism burning, and then I would go back to the gym. All my strength training was always done with the help of Bob, who would give each of us on average 1-2 hours a day with cardio mixed in. And any workouts on my own were strictly cardio based (i.e. running, biking, walking etc.)
5. You started off like I did four years ago as a very big boy weighing in at over 400 pounds. People don’t realize that’s a miserable place to be in and you feel like there’s no way out of it either. Plus, carrying around that much weight makes you so susceptible to other health ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, and worse. For me, consuming a low-carbohydrate dietary plan with little to no sugar, starch, processed, and junk foods has helped me not only lose the weight, but keep it off ever since. What does Neil’s menu plan look like and is there anything you have decided you no longer need to eat? Do you still have cravings for certain foods? If so, what are they?
I would first like to say that being obese in society today is very difficult. I was fortunate enough never to really be the self conscious type of person, but there is no mystery that people look at you differently when you are overweight. I myself was diagnosed with some of the health problems you mentioned, and the benefits to such weight loss really can change your health in so many ways. Don’t get me wrong, fitting in a smaller pair of jeans is nice too, but I encourage anyone who wants to lose weight to understand how many years you can add to your life by doing so!
My diet nowadays has changed a great deal from the food the old Neil used to eat. At 400 pounds I would eat lots of junk foods, drink lots of soda, and have no regard at all for the concept of moderation. My philosophy now really is to be “80% good, 100% of the time.” This theory really allows you to still have your indulgences from time to time, but in MODERATION!
I usually focus on carb-loading my foods earlier in the day (i.e. breakfast/early lunch) so that I allow my body the whole day to burn off the carbs. With that said, I do moderate my carb intake during those meals as well by monitoring my portion sizes. My later meals and snacks in the day are usually always protein and/or vegetable based.
I have structured my diet now so that I eat right 6 days a week, and allow for Sunday to be my high calorie “cheat day.” The Biggest Loser diet has taught me that adding a high caloric day to your diet regimen really can “revamp” your metabolism each week, and helps to get the weight off in the long run. Limiting sugars, starches, and junk foods in itself can help with losing weight, and if you can stick to eating right most of the time, you can still allow yourself to eat some of your old favorite foods every now and then.
I still have cravings like anyone would, so once a week I will allow myself to have a beer, or pizza, or a bowl of frozen yogurt. It’s really a part of being and feeling like a normal person to have your cheats at times, so I have worked those in to my allotted calories I allow myself in my diet. I’m always been a big fan of pasta as well Jimmy, so from time to time I will allow myself to have a bowl of whole wheat or brown rice pasta. The one thing I do not crave surprisingly enough is regular soda. I have switched to diet soda which I consume a few times a week, and that really has been able to hold over my craving. But monitoring your carb intake, especially later in the day, really has helped me tremendously in keeping the weight off!
6. I couldn’t help but notice when your fellow Blue Team member Jerry Lisenby took his shirt off at the grand finale in December 2007 for all the world to see the outstanding work he did on his 60-something year old body with the guidance of Bob as his trainer that he had some very noticeable “loose skin” issues and he started at only 297 pounds. What about you Neil? I STILL have hanging skin in my abdomen and inner thighs from when I weighed 410 pounds four years ago and it has not gotten better over time. Do you have any “loose skin” that you deal with? If so, will you try to improve it by continuing to try to build muscle to fill it in or will you contemplate skin removal surgery at some point? Or does it even bother you at all?
Loose skin is unfortunately an issue that most people will have to deal with when they experience a large amount of weight loss. Now believe it or not, I really do not have nearly as much loose skin as most people who used to be 400 pounds would have, but of course there is some that will have to be addressed.
I’ve always been rather top heavy when I was 400 pounds. I carried my weight primarily around my stomach/abdomen area, and that is really where most of my loose skin resides. I have been doing more strength training now after the show to build muscle, and that has really helped fill out the small loose skin patches in my arms and legs, but the stomach will still have to be taken care of.
I’m pretty sure that I will inevitably receive cosmetic surgery at some point like many of the other contestants, but I’m not ready to rush into it. The loose skin issue for me has not been so drastic that it bothers me everyday, but I do look at myself in the mirror occasionally however and wish it was gone. I figure when I have a good idea of what weight I will be able to maintain after a year, or so, then will probably be the best time to do it. I still am putting on muscle right now, so when I’m at a weight I feel I can maintain with my daily schedule, and I look the way I want to carrying forward in my life, that’s when it will be the right time for a tummy tuck.
7. I'm in the same boat regarding my tummy tuck, so one of these days it'll happen. Getting back to the subject of "real life" again, does it feel weird being back in your normal routine as this amazingly different man than you were before? It was an interesting social experiment to watch how certain people began treating me better after I lost weight compared to before. It’s not that they were trying to be cruel before, but there’s something that happens in the psyche of other people when someone you and me becomes “normal” weight again. Have you noticed this happening in your own life post-“Biggest Loser?” How have you responded to those who never spoke to you before, but now they do?
I can absolutely relate to the different ways people perceive you when you are overweight and when you are fit. See Jimmy, even when I was 400 pounds I was very fortunate to never really struggle with my self-esteem or be very self-conscious about myself. This allowed me to really rely more on my personality to meet people and interact with others. As a result I believe my relatively large personality and communication skills developed because I was overweight. But even now I still am perceived differently than before because my personality is still there, but I have “the look” that goes along with it. And it’s unfortunate that sometimes people don’t give you the time of day if you don’t look a certain way!
I think when you are obese people often give you a look of feeling bad for you or self pity in some cases. I agree I don’t think people are trying to be cruel, but I think they feel a sense of sympathy for you because you just happen to be the largest guy in the room. I don’t really get many of those looks anymore Jimmy and it feels great, but I know there are millions of people who still do. I’ve been there, and I can absolutely relate to what it’s like to be perceived a certain way, and for that reason I never turn away anyone who wants to reach out to me, regardless if they would give me the time of day in the past or not. It’s really one of those “two wrongs don’t make a right” mentality. All of us who struggle with our weight are in the same boat, and I encourage people to contact me on my web site www.neiltejwani.com or my MySpace page to tell me their struggles and how I can help them.
It’s interesting to see how different people perceive me now, especially women, because I never got the same interest from others as I do now. It’s unfortunate that obese people can be treated differently then those who are skinny, and I say to those who are overweight that you are just as worthy as someone who is fit! It’s only when you believe that you are and make the change from within, that’s when incredible things can start to happen!
8. A lot of people don’t realize this, but there are a lot more people working behind the scenes to help the contestants maximize their ability to lose weight and get fit besides the very visible trainers like Bob, Jillian Michaels and Kim Lyons. There’s a psychologist, weight loss counselors like Dr. Michael Dansinger, doctors, registered dietitians like Cheryl Forberg, and so many more. How did these experts assist you in your weight loss efforts? Were you able to have access to them regularly although we never saw them on television?
I’m so glad you asked this question Jimmy because there are a team of wonderful people who worked behind the scenes in helping with my weight loss success. America is aware of Dr. Huizenga and Dr. Jenn, who would weekly give us blood and lab tests to ensure we were healthy and not doing anything unsafe in our weight loss. There are nutritionists we submit our daily food journals to each night, who ensure we are eating properly. There was Dr. Dansinger as you mentioned who came in for a psychological evaluation after starting the show to see how we were doing being away from our families.
One of the most important people of all was Sandy Krum, who was the athletic trainer on the show. Sandy is one of those people behind the scenes that I can never give enough admiration and thank for all the work he does each and every day! I really could not have succeeded in my weight loss aspirations without him. He helped nurse me through injuries sustained in working out so rigorously, he was there for injury prevention for challenges we did. He was the guy with us each and every day, who really helped all the contestants in providing a safe environment for us to work hard and get the weight off. He also has been a great personal friend of mine who America should know has as big of an impact on the show as anyone!
9. You did an outstanding job of turning your life around, Neil, and you have a lot to be proud of for the weight loss you were able to attain. But if you could go back through your experience on “The Biggest Loser” again and change anything about how you played the game or worked to get where you are today, what would you do differently? How has what you did experience changed you as a person and do you like who you are more now than you did before?
This is a tough question because it really has been such an amazing run and experience for me. If I had to pinpoint one thing it would probably be the game play part that I would change. If I could go back, I don’t think I would have played the game in the way I did; but then again I never would have learned what I did had I not done it that way. It’s a double-edged sword because on one hand I regret hurting anyone with my game tactics, but I know personally I learned a very valuable lesson about hard work and fair play that I would not have otherwise.
There is something we can learn from all of our experiences Jimmy, and for that reason there isn’t really much I would change from this experience from all the I have gained from it now. If I could go back though I wish I would have realized then that the best strategy you can have is to work hard and beat the scale every week, and I didn’t need to get wrapped up in drama or game tactics. But we live and we learn Jimmy, and I have changed into a much better person since starting this experience!
Since the show I really have changed as a person, because I believe anything is now possible for me. There is nothing I feel I can’t do, and I approach the world now or any obstacle in my life with a lot more confidence. I always have been a fairly confident person, but I think this experience has given me a sense of hope and belief now in my life that was never there before. There are many career aspirations I’ve always wanted to try, like keynote speaking and stand up comedy, and now I truly believe I can accomplish them.
After you have accomplished the impossible feat of losing so much weight and changing your life, all of sudden other impossible dreams do not seem so far out of reach anymore. I look at the world differently now after this experience because I got a second chance at my life, and this time around I really want to get the most out of my future. You only have one shot at this life Jimmy, and the difference now is that I’m not afraid anymore to try new things knowing I have added so many years to my life in hopes of getting it all right one day.
10. It has been a pleasure and an honor to have you here at my blog today, Neil. On behalf of the readers of the “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” blog, CONGRATULATIONS and WAY TO GO on your continuing weight loss efforts. Now the fun part begins--maintenance! :) What plan do you have in place to maintain your weight in 2008 and beyond? Do you have any words of encouragement to share with people who may be 300, 400, or more pounds thinking they could never dig themselves out of their obesity dilemma?
Jimmy the pleasure has really been all mine! Thank you so much for having me on your blog and to your readers for their support!
The maintenance phase now really is the challenge for me to keep the weight off. The keys as I’ve mentioned is to stick to my workout and diet regimen and never get complacent. Weight is something I inevitably will have to struggle with for the rest of my life. It will be a struggle for anyone whether you are overweight or once were.
Even for those who lose weight, your body is always susceptible of putting it back on, so I’ll always have to keep it on the center of my mind. But no matter how difficult it may seem, I really believe you become such a stronger person for having to accomplish something so challenging. You also become so much better equipped for any obstacle or hardship the world throws at you with such a life changing experience.
My goals now for my weight maintenance is to keep a mixed exercise regimen of strength training and cardio workouts, and stick to my diet philosophy of being “80% good 100% of the time." I also have a few upcoming projects coming up in the near future to help America get the weight off as well, which will in turn help me keep it off. I currently am looking into becoming a certified personal trainer and help those who need to lose weight reach their goals! You can check out some of my upcoming projects and appearances to help others in their weight loss efforts on my NeilTejwani.com web site as well.
The biggest thing I can say to anyone who wants to lose weight and feels helpless like I have for so many years is to never give up and always keep fighting the good fight! You deserve to live a happy and healthy lifestyle and never let anything come in the way of that. It’s never too late to change something about yourself, and I honestly believe anyone can do what they set their mind to with a little hard work. You just have to find something inside you that keeps the fire burning to be successful.
Let me leave you with a quote Jimmy that really helped me with my weight loss success, and hopefully will extend the same to some of your readers: Albert Einstein once said “Within every great difficulty lies opportunity.” The key to this message is to identify the difficulty you see in your life, and find the opportunity that has unveiled in becoming an incredible success story!
Thanks again for having me on Jimmy! I’d love to reach out to your readers anytime! It really has been a pleasure.
Be sure to hook up with Neil at his MySpace page for now and then check in as he updates his brand new NeilTejwani.com web site in the near future. Neil has expressed an interest in working together to help others dealing with weight and health problems find the hope that he did, so we certainly haven't heard the last of this incredible man who radically changed his life for the better. CONGRATULATIONS NEIL!!!
Catch up on all my interviews with past "Biggest Loser" contestants as well as my various blog posts about the show by clicking here.
David "Cowboy" Griffin lost triple digits thanks to "The Biggest Loser"
1. Today we welcome David Griffin from Season 4 of one of my favorite television shows ever--NBC's weight loss reality series "The Biggest Loser." David weighed in at 368 pounds when the cameras started rolling and went on to lose a total of 140 pounds through this experience. CONGRATULATIONS David on such a remarkable achievement and I'm very proud of you for making the commitment to improve your health as it is something that will stay with you for the rest of your life. I thought it was interesting that you had never even watched "The Biggest Loser" before you became a contestant. As an obese person, did you feel the show was too personal and embarrassing since you knew you had a problem? Or did you just not care?
Even though at one time I tipped the scales at a little more than 400 pounds, I had never been much for watching television. So it had nothing to so with embarrassment or not caring--I didn't even know that the show existed.
2. So it was a nutritionist friend of yours who encouraged you to apply for the show. Some people are intimidated about how they can approach a friend or loved one about their weight problem without hurting their feelings and jeopardizing the relationship. Do you have any tips about how to go about helping someone who needs to lose weight for the sake of their health?
I encourage people to get involved with their friends or loved ones who need to lose weight. It is not always enough to just talk to them about it. Take them for a walk, go grocery shopping with them while giving them nutrition tips, or start cooking from a healthy cookbook with them. Definitely don't forget to tell them how important they are in your life and how much you would miss them if they were gone.
I remember when my daughter Michaela was 8 years old she said to me, "I wish I could hug you all the way around." I was so large at the time that she could not get her arms around me at all. That definitely was not an endearing conversation with my daughter about weight loss. But during my time away from home at The Biggest Loser Ranch when I was training three times a day, anytime I wanted to quit or not go workout I thought about what Michaela had said and used that to motivate me to get better and work harder to become healthy.
3. You were a member of The Red Team led by personal trainer Kim Lyons. What was your immediate impression of Kim both as a person and as a professional and do you feel she enabled you to reach your fullest fitness potential during your time on the "The Biggest Loser?"
I instantly liked Kim and I think she is a wonderful trainer who really prepares her team for success for when they are away from The Biggest Loser. I did really well with Kim, but it took my body a little time to program for continued weight loss. She tried numerous strategies and I just could not consistently produce big numbers every week. But the perseverance and determination that she taught me helped me continue at home with my personal trainer.
4. The "game" aspect of Season 4 was the most one-sided it had ever been in the history of the show. In a way, it was kinda disappointing to see one team dominating--The Black Team--while the others were being picked off one by one. Talk about the morale of The Red Team when you started seeing your fellow teammates going home very early. Did you think it was fair and did it motivate you to work that much harder when you got home to keep up the work you had begun on The Biggest Loser Ranch?
The game play was horrible. No offense but if you look back to the beginning of the show The Black Team got a freebie weigh-in the first week. If they would have had to weigh in with the other teams when you review what their numbers were revealed on Episode 1, then they would have been the ones going to the elimination room instead of The Red Team.
Our first elimination was easy because Amber wanted to go home. But after that it was very hard and it seemed evident at that time that Jillian Michaels (trainer for The Black Team) was very good at playing the game. She has a lot of experience and it continues to show through in her success on The Biggest Loser.
I worked very hard day in and day out to stay on campus as long as possible. Speaking of game play, it was the game play of Neil, Amy and possibly Ryan playing the water game that ultimately got me eliminated. But, hey, it's a game and they had that right to play it.
5. If you could go back and change anything about your experience on "The Biggest Loser" using the 20/20 vision of hindsight, what would you do differently?
Nothing!
6. When I lost 180 pounds in 2004, I almost immediately found this newfound sense of purpose about what my life was supposed to be. It's an empowering feeling that you yourself have no doubt felt since your incredible weight loss success. What do you plan on doing to continue inspiring and motivating others on this journey to better health? Have you considered making this your full-time occupation as so many of the past contestants on "The Biggest Loser" have?
Inspiring, supporting and educating people about weight loss and getting and staying healthy has become my new passion. I am currently the spokesperson for GET FIT Tennessee. My personal trainer Carter Hays and I are doing Boot Camp and nutrition weekends all over the country with various events and involvements. It is my purpose to help people in their journey to better health and I enjoy every minute of it.
7. You're starting to sound like me. :) As a self-described "cowboy" who no doubt works hard to keep up the family ranch as well as chasing around four kids, how did you become so obese? Walk us through a day in the life of what you do which undoubtedly includes a lot of manual labor. Have you found that routine has changed any since your weight loss success?
To answer the first part of your question, I had been heavy all of my life and just continued to make poor nutrition decisions and exercise became obsolete for me. You can do all the manual labor in the world, but if you don't exercise to get healthy, then you won't be. On any given day I can be loading or unloading hay or feed. We work a lot of horses and cattle.
I stay pretty busy all the time including a full-time job. My routine of physical labor has gotten easier for me to achieve now that I'm in shape. I have so much more energy to work and play with my kids and spend time with my wonderful wife as well.
8. Everybody would love to know what your diet looked like before you were taught how to eat better on "The Biggest Loser?" And what do you eat now to continue the progress of your weight loss as you head into lifetime maintenance?
My diet before was a life of convenience--whatever I could get quick and on the go--never fully realizing how bad the processed foods and fast foods were for my body. If it's not natural, then it definitely will not nourish your body. Now we eat very healthy 24/7. Basically healthy carbohydrates and proteins with each snack and meal bout 5 to 6 times per day, with the exception of one cheat meal per week. I'm contemplating the idea of writing a cookbook next year, so stay tuned.
9. We'll definitely have to check that out, David! Make sure a few of those meals are low-carb. ;) I'm sure your family is thrilled by your new body and that you'll be around with them for many more years to come as long as you remain committed to your weight management routine. Discuss how much your relationship with your wife and children has changed for the better because of "The Biggest Loser." Did those few months you were apart strengthen the bond?
Most people don't realize how hard that time apart from your family really is while you're on The Biggest Loser. We had virtually no contact with our families because of the rules of the show. It is difficult to change every aspect of your life and not include your wife and children in that process. Now that I have been home for awhile and we all work out and eat healthy together, we are definitely happier and stronger than ever.
10. David, it's been a pleasure having you here at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog today to talk about your time on "The Biggest Loser" in Season 4. Again, kudos to you for accomplishing something that very few overweight or obese people are able to do--lose over 100 pounds! I'm here to help you and encourage you anytime, so don't hesitate to let me know what I can do to help you along in this permanent lifelong journey. Do you have anything you'd like to share with my readers as a final thought for them to remember?
Remember my motto: Nothing Tastes as Great as Fit Feels!
We haven't heard the last of "Biggest Loser" 4 contestant David Griffin. Catch up with all that's happening with him at his MySpace page or his newly-formed and creatively-titled DontStopDavid.com web site. He'd also love to hear from you via e-mail at DavidLGriffin@comcast.net.
Thanks to Season 2 "Biggest Loser" $100,000 winner Pete Thomas, who lost 185 pounds thanks to personal trainer Jillian Michaels and the life-changing hit NBC television weight loss reality show, he now wants to give a two-person team from the Detroit, Michigan area a chance to be on the next season of the show set to air in the Fall 2008.
Pete Thomas has teamed up with the show's producers to host a surprise audition in his local area to be held on Saturday, March 22, 2008, at Gardner-White Furniture in Macomb, Michigan. Thomas will be there to offer his support and suggestions for others who want to be on the show. He shared in my interview with him late last year some of the crazy things he did to get noticed and he's gonna tell these potential contestants what they need to do to grab the attention of the casting company, too.
"The casting team for The Biggest Loser still talk about the funky video my wife and I sent in for the show," Thomas said. "My goal is to help people prepare for the audition in such a way that they get noticed."
In fact, Pete has posted a couple of columns along these lines at his WinningMan.com web site such as "How To Become a Contestant On The Biggest Loser" and even "How To Totally Mess Up Your Biggest Loser Reality Show Casting Audition." Since he is from that area, Pete believes it's time for the show to feature a dynamic couple who will exhibit the same kind of character qualities that he showed in Season 2.
"Detroit has always been a city loaded with personality," Thomas exclaimed. "We want to see talented people with very strong personalities who may have more than a few pounds to lose."
Obviously a huge fan of the show because of what it did for his life, Pete is seeking to instill that enthusiasm for "The Biggest Loser" into the Motor City residents and beyond.
"I want to get Michigan hooked on the show so that people can benefit from the life-changing weight loss knowledge that I learned at the [Biggest Loser] Ranch," he stated. "That's why I personally contacted the network and got them to agree to a previously unscheduled open casting call."
But he's REALLY hoping for a Detroit couple to step up and take advantage of this.
"NBC really wants a team from Detroit, so let's show them what we've got!" Thomas added.
In fact, Thomas is so vested in helping people find the same kind of success that he did with Jillian on "The Biggest Loser," he has created a 10-week class called "Lose it Fast, Lose it Forever" for those people who want to get serious about their weight and health and don't make it on the show. As you know from my interview with him, Pete gives credit to a lower-carb diet along with regular exercise for helping him be as successful in not just losing the weight, but KEEPING IT OFF FOREVER!
So, if you live in the Metro-Detroit area of Michigan and want to have a golden opportunity to be on "The Biggest Loser" set to begin filming very soon for Season 6, then grab yourself a buddy and head on down to 43500 Hayes Road in Macomb, Michigan on Saturday, March 22, 2008, at Gardner-White Furniture from 10am to 4pm. This may be your once-in-a-lifetime chance to be on national television and CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Be sure to tell Pete you heard about this from his friend Jimmy Moore at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. :D
If you're a fan of "The Biggest Loser," then you'll want to check out my list of previous blog posts about the show featuring interviews, news, and commentary. ENJOY!
Fans of the show will get a special insider's look from Nicole at what the contestants do in the down time and on the "Dark Days," talks about how the editing of the show often leaves out some of the best moments, discusses the close knit bond that is formed among the contestants even from different teams, reveals her opinion that Bob Harper is a MUCH harder trainer than everyone thinks he is, and how she never thought about the "game" aspect of "The Biggest Loser" the entire time she was on campus. I LOVED this interview and so will you. ENJOY!
1. There are certain people who from the time you see them for the very first time they just have a certain aura about them that draws you in because of the genuineness they display in their demeanor. That was exactly my impression of Nicole Michalik from the moment I saw her as a contestant on the popular NBC-TV weight loss reality series "The Biggest Loser" in Season 4.
Authenticity cannot be faked and Nicole didn't have to. What you see is what you get and I'm so glad she has decided to share with us today about the journey to better health she has taken over the past few months. Welcome to the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog, Nicole.
You were probably the most outwardly emotional contestant on "The Biggest Loser" last season often being shown crying often during the elimination scenes. Have you always been the sweet, sensitive type who tries to avoid bringing hurt on others? Has that personality trait changed at all since your weight loss?
Let me first say, I'm SOO excited to be here! Thanks again for having me! I hope you enjoy what I have to say.
What's so funny is that I NEVER cry! If you ask my friends and family, they were shocked when they saw how hysterical I was on the show. I mean grant it, I cried like a baby when I watched Titanic, Stepmom, and A Walk to Remember (those are the SADDEST movies EVER!), but in regards to everyday life, I always prided myself in the fact I wasn't a crier. THEN, The Biggest Loser happened.
Bob would kick my butt for seven hours a day and I wouldn't shed a tear, but once I had to go in the elimination room and send someone home who deserved to still be there, it was horrendous. The week we sent Patty home was horrible, in fact I STILL feel guilty about that. Patty was so strong and hard working and she deserved to be there, but I was much closer to Ryan and Neil, and Kae was the Biggest Loser that week and couldn't be eliminated, so there was no other option. The Biggest Loser isn't like Survivor. It's not about money, it's about changing your life. And when you have to say goodbye to people you care about so much and know they still want to be there, it's so hard.
So I guess to answer your question (sorry, I’m kind of long winded), I have always been a really big people person. I always was the person who wanted to make sure everyone was okay; that everyone had something to do, etc. So in the situation where you get SO close to these people and then BAM, they are gone, it's VERY emotional. Like when Ryan left. Oh my God, it was horrible. Neil, Ryan, and I were the Three Musketeers and knowing I wouldn't be able to see him for six months was so hard to grasp.
I don't think I've changed since the weight loss. I would guarantee if I was in a situation like that even now, I would act the exact same way. I hated the game play. It was always about the weight loss for me and in turn I formed amazing relationships with people.
2. Speaking of your weight loss, you started out on "The Biggest Loser" weighing in at 279 pounds and you were able to lose a total of 105 pounds by the time the grand finale aired on NBC in December 2007. CONGRATULATIONS on such an amazing accomplishment and welcome to the triple-digit weight loss club. :) You've worked extremely hard to get where you are now and you look absolutely radiant and happy. Now that you know what to do to lose the weight, what are you planning on doing to keep the weight off for life and continue to make yourself healthier and healthier for many decades to come?
Well first, THANK YOU! It's so crazy to think that I lost 105lbs! But what's crazier is that I was cleaning my room the other day and found my weigh in ticket from Weight Watchers. I joined at the end of January in 2007 and my weigh in weight was 299.8 pounds, which means I lost 20 pounds before starting on The Biggest Loser. So technically I lost almost 130 pounds since this time last year! THAT IS INSANE! I NEVER thought I would be able to say I lost 130 pounds! I have been overweight my ENTIRE life AND suffer from hypothyroidism, so if I can do it, SO CAN YOU!
I'm not worried about keeping the weight off. I love shopping in normal stores way too much. HA! Actually, I would really like to lost another 20-30 pounds and be at a comfortable weight for me. I really enjoy working out and eating good food, so I just need to keep that up. I have officially become a Spin-A-Holic (take a spin class, you'll love it). Just knowing that I actually look forward to working out makes this whole process that much better.
3. You were a member of The Blue Team led by the incredible Bob Harper. Who doesn't like him? The guy is 100% devoted to helping people change their lives forever by imploring a healthy mix of targeted resistance training, steady cardiovascular workouts, and even reflective meditation as part of his overall philosophy for bringing about permanent lifestyle changes. And he also gets very close to those he works with on the show to help them achieve the success they deserve to have. Share your memories about working with this great personal trainer and tell us how critical he was to your eventual success. How much time did you actually spend with Bob working with you each day?
Like I've said before, I need a new heart because the one I have doesn't fit all the love in it that I have for him. Bob changed my life. From that very first day in the desert I knew there was something special between us. I remember standing up on the mountain and Ali telling us we had to run to either Bob or Kim. They both stood in their spots so we could see where we had to run, and from where I was standing to where Bob was standing was a straight line. I remember my dad always telling me, “The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.” And at that moment I knew I was going to be on his team. It was before the race, before the teams were even picked, but I just knew. And obviously I was right.
He was telling the truth when he said he was harder on me than any other contestant from any other show he's done. It was more mental though. He really kept me at arms length. It took me a hot minute to figure out what he was doing, but once I did, I fell more in love with him. He's the reason I was so successful on the show and I am so proud to call him my friend.
The thing about Bob is that he spent TIME with us. He didn't just show up, work us out, and then leave. He would come into our room and talk to us. He would put on Neil's clothes and play chess. HA! He would dance with me to Sexy Back and he would talk to Patty about her kids. His heart is SO big. But he's also a freaking manic. He IS the hardest trainer on the show.
He kicked our ass so hard I didn't think I would be able to walk. You don't see him yelling and screaming at us or the knock down drag out fights he and I had. I wish they did show that because going through that is what made us stronger. On the average, we spent about 8 hours a day with Bob. And to me, that wasn't enough.
OMG! I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING!!! I wish you could have been there for that! Ohhh, I get so sad watching that though. We had SO MUCH FUN! In fact if someone asked me to sum up the entire experience in one word that's what I would say--FUN! I had such a blast.
That was a “Dark Day,” which are the days when the cameras aren't shooting. Usually the teams split and we did our own thing, but that day since the Red Team only had David and B left, they came with the Blue Team (Me, Neil, Ryan, and Kae) for the day. We went into Los Angeles, took a Spin Class at Crunch (the gym we went to when we weren't on Campus), went hiking at Runyon Canyon (Um, yeah, talk about HARD), and then went to eat at Koo Koo Roo (I wish they had one in Philly)!
Bob and Kim met us there since they live close to Hollywood and we were driven in the van from Campus. I think David and Ryan started singing and Kae, B, and I jumped on board when we saw how annoyed Neil was getting. We actually sang until we got to ZERO Bottles! Wells, one of the COOLEST PA's, drove us and captured that on the digital camera. SO FUNNY!
5. Television viewers only got to see a brief synopsis of your experiences on The Biggest Loser Ranch with highlights from your workouts and activities each week. But what about the other 166+ hours during the week when the camera was NOT rolling? Many people have the mistaken impression that you guys just exercise for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week like a full-time job and never eat because that's all they see on television. What was your actual daily schedule like on "The Biggest Loser?" Did they give you any free time to read, watch television, or just hang out together playing games?
Well honestly, we did work out about 5-6 hours a day. I was there for four months and there was only ONE day the ENTIRE time I was there that we didn't workout (The Makeover Day). A normal "on camera" day on Campus went something like this: Wake up, wake Neil up (he was the worst at getting up), get dressed, eat breakfast, go to the gym to get 1-2 hours in before Bob and the cameras got there.
Then after Bob got there, we would work out with him for 2-3 hours, then eat (Bob has us eat every 4 hours so we kept our metabolism burning) and relax a bit, then go back for another 1-2 hours. Sometimes B and Isabeau would play the keyboard and sing for us, or we would watch DVD’s (old seasons of The Biggest Loser or movies that the crew would bring in for us), or just sit around and talk and be silly (which I wish they showed more of).
Some people read (Hollie is a big reader), or wrote letters home (my friends and family still yell at me for not writing more letters, but come on, I was tired). The whole cast was VERY into Catchphrase (thanks to Jez). We got REALLY good at it. Bob tried to play with us a few times but said it was too stressful. Ha! Ohh, I miss playing Catchphrase! So yeah, we did have SOME downtime, but we were usually too exhausted to do anything. HA! Sleep is a VERY important part of weight loss, so we tried to get as much sleep as possible.
6. The Blue Team got into some hot water when one of your teammates Neil decided to throw one of the weigh-ins by loading up on water one week that caused him to gain a whole lotto weight around mid-season. This led to the removal of one of The Black Team members Jez from the competition and created some bad blood between that team and the remaining Blue and Red Team members since it was perceived to be a blatant attempt to regain control of the game from the dominating Black Team. What was the thinking behind this strategy and do you think it ultimately backfired? Would you have done things differently now if you had the chance?
I was waiting for this question. Okay so here's the truth--Neil didn't throw the weigh in to send someone home, he did it to keep The Blue Team together. Now yes, in keeping us together, someone had to go home, but the intention wasn't a mean one. Neil is smart, probably the smartest person I know, and I trusted him, so when I found out what he was planning, I trusted that he knew what he was doing.
Did I agree? Absolutely not. The entire time I was on campus, my position was to workout as hard as I can, give 100% or more, and lose as much weight as possible. I never got caught up in playing the game. My take was, we are fat and unhealthy and out of shape, so don't worry about money or winning the game. Just lose weight! But some people are wired differently. Neil by nature is a game player. So when he saw an opportunity to take matters into his own hands, he did. And I wanted The Blue Team to stay together; they were my family, my friends, my support, so I went along with it.
Another example of how I wasn't game savvy was when I won the Calorie Counting Challenge and got to pick my duo. From a game standpoint, I should have picked Bill. He was a machine, pulled big numbers, considered one of the biggest threats, and wasn't on The Blue Team, so if we fell below, he would have been sent packing, no question. But I'm not wired like that. I picked Neil because we were best friends on the show, I knew Bob would kick our ass that week and I felt that was a better fit for me.
Obviously it worked since that was the week I broke 50 pounds lost, Neil broke 100 pounds lost and we won the weigh in. But, most people, Neil especially, said it was a dumb choice. But like I said, it was never about the game for me. And it was the same with the rest of the people who knew about Neil's plan. They just wanted to stay on campus as long as they could. It wasn't that everyone agreed with it, it was that we did what we felt we had to do.
Would I do things differently? Probably not. I would have never gone behind Neil or The Blue Team's back. I felt HORRIBLE that Jez got sent home, but I wouldn't have betrayed MY family for a chance that the others MIGHT help me in the future.
7. On a lighter note, I couldn't help noticing in yet another You Tube video that you love to dance. As you were showing off your "Back Up The Old Big Rig Creek" moves with "B" from The Red Team (who is indeed an INCREDIBLE singer!), did you ever think that someday you could dance with ease and not worry about running out of breath? How much dancing do you do now with you new leaner body? Would you consider going on another reality show "Dancing With The Stars" someday if they asked you? :) HA!
OMG, I would LOVEEEEEEEEE to go on Dancing With The Stars! I don't think I'm a big enough “celebrity” for that, but oh my God, I would LOVE to! (Do you have any connections?) HA! I actually danced for 14 years (at the Gloria Dillon Studio of Dance). I took lessons and taught tap/jazz. I was thinner back then, but never skinny.
I was a big girl who just happened to be in shape enough to put on spandex and shake it. My friends and I took a pole dancing class a few weeks ago and it was SOO much fun! Now I won't be removing any clothes on a stage anytime soon, but it was fun to pretend. (And I have to give props to my friend Krystle, she is the originator of Back Up The Big Rig, so she deserves credit for me doing it on national television).
8. Besides dancing the night away, you have another passion that you are pursuing in your life--radio broadcasting. As a former part-time disc jockey for a Christian radio station in Virginia as well as hosting my own online podcast show and YouTube videos now, I understand how much fun it is to be behind a microphone talking to an audience of listeners. Have you been pursuing this sight unseen career path because of the way you looked before your weight loss? Now that you've lost weight and look so beautiful, would you even want to consider any television broadcasting at some point?
First let me say THANK YOU for the compliments. A girl always loves being told she looks beautiful. I would LOOOOOVE to be on television. Being in entertainment has always been a dream of mine. I have to admit, I was VERY upset that the show didn't show my personality more (it started to come out the last 2-3 episodes), but for the majority of the season I seemed like the weird quite girl who cried at all the eliminations! (Which is SO NOT ME)!
The reason I love radio is because I love talking to people about what's going on and I love it when people talk to me about that. Everyone has a great story to tell and being able to hear their stories and share mine is what I love. Honestly, radio never had anything to do with weight. It was more about opportunity. When I was in college one of my coworkers at my first internship knew I was obsessed with pop culture and was related to someone who worked at the Top 40 radio station. So she told them about me, I sent in a resume, and the rest is history! I love radio, but I would love to do television as well.
9. People are always interested in hearing about what I actually eat and how many calories, carbs, protein, and the like I put in your mouth on a daily basis. I suppose they think if they simply mimic what I ate, then the same changes will happen for them that happened to me. That's not entirely true, but there is some merit to seeing what works for others. So would you share what a typical day's worth of meals looks like for Nicole along with the exercise routine you do?
Okay, here's my breakdown. First, let me say that I went back to work full-time right after I got home from the show. I think that Bill, Jim, and I were the only ones who did that. (I am still a little jealous of the people who are jet setting all over the place). Anyway, I digress.
So I work Mon-Fri from 9am-5pm. Every morning I eat a piece of Ezekiel Bread with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray, Low Sugar Jelly, and one egg. I also have my morning coffee with light cream and real sugar (This is a treat for me. Even when I was training for the finale, I still drank this coffee. It gave me that boost in the morning that I needed. Now I was also working out 3 hours a day, so it's a trade off for real sugar).
Lunch is usually a salad with grilled chicken, balsamic, or brown rice sushi, or turkey sandwich on whole grain bread with light Swiss cheese and light mayo. Dinner is fish, chicken, whole grain pasta. Anything that you think is good, I usually eat.
My best advice is to stay away from Partially Hydrogenated Oil and High Fructose Corn Syrup (they are the devil). Fiber, Lean Protein, Fruits, Vegetables, and Water should become your best friends. (They are good to you, I promise).
As for exercise, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday night I go my FABULOUS gym for their cross training class which is 30 minutes of cardio (run or spin), 30 minutes with weights, and 30 minutes of yoga. Tuesday mornings, Thursday nights, and Saturday mornings I go see my spin master Carl. I usually take Friday and Sundays off unless I do a yoga class on Sunday or do something outside.
The best piece of advice that I can give you about exercise is find something you like, something that motivates you. I am motivated by group settings; it's why the show worked so well for me. I would see Kae doing something and think, "Oh, I can do that too." I like the competition of being in a class and using other people as a healthy motivator to push myself a little bit more. Some people like to put on their headphones and just zone out on the treadmill. Neither is better or worse than the other; just find what works for you and it will become less daunting and more fun.
Nicole and others surprise "Biggest Loser" 5 contestants
10. It's been a blast having you here at my blog today, Nicole, and I am beyond ecstatic for you as you enter this next phase of your life as a thin and gorgeous woman. The longer you do this and stay accountable to people who love and care about you, the easier it gets. It's still hard work but totally worth it in the end. Is there anything you'd like to share with people who are discouraged about their weight and health to lift them up and encourage them as they embark on their own journey?
Thanks SO much for having me Jimmy! I hope I helped, inspired, and informed at least one person. The Biggest Loser was the BEST experience of my life and I want to share that knowledge, passion and excitement with as many people as I can!
Please remember that it's a constant battle. Even for me, after this incredible experience, I am still fighting the battle, but it's one that can be won. Everyday is a new day. So when you wake up, tell yourself that today is a new day and live it one day at a time. Ask yourself, Is it worth it? If so, then enjoy it, but work it off at the gym or outside later on. The mind is by far the strongest muscle in your body. Remember that and you can conquer anything! Good Luck to EVERYONE!
THANK YOU, Nicole! Get in touch with Nicole Michalik and let her know how much you enjoyed her interview here at my blog by visiting her MySpace page.
People are always asking me about how to become a contestant on NBC's weight loss reality show "The Biggest Loser." Ummm, how the heck am I supposed to know? While I have applied to be on several reality TV shows before--CBS' "Big Brother" twice, "The Weakest Link" game show, and NBC-TV's hit "Deal Or No Deal"--I lost my weight in 2004 when "The Biggest Loser" debuted so I never attempted to be on the show (although I think I would have been quite competitive if given the opportunity to do it).
But I have taken a closer look at "The Biggest Loser" application and asked some of the former contestants to share how they got on the show. Take a look at what Season 2 $100,000 at-home winner Pete Thomas said he did to get on the show (the craziness that he did is detailed in #2 of my interview with him). Season 4 contestant Isabeau Miller said she thought 3 Ball Productions, the casting agency for "The Biggest Loser," is "looking for genuine people who really wanted to lose weight, and of course, had the potential to be even more attractive as slim people." So use that as your guide if you are interested in being on the show.
Remember, just BE YOURSELF and let your personality shine through (of course, you have to HAVE a personality first, ya know?!). Look at Season 4 contestant Jez Luckett, for example. He set up his own web site with cute little graphics and writings that showed the producers he deserved this golden opportunity to show America he has what it takes.
Of course, personality only gets you so far--the casting directors also want competitiveness. Jim Germanakos, also from Season 4 and the $100,000 at-home winner that year, said in my interview with him that both he and his brother Bill (who was the $250,000 grand prize winner of Season 4) have the competitive juices flowing and had a simple philosophy for the show: "First we try to beat each other and then we try to beat everyone else." It's a great template for future contestants to think about.
So do you think you have what it takes to be on Season 6 of "The Biggest Loser" set to begin taping in the early summer 2008 and airing this Fall on NBC? If so, then you must act quickly and find yourself a partner--they're looking for couples yet again!
3 Ball Productions is wanting "outgoing and charismatic TEAMS OF 2 who have personality along with the WANT, DESIRE and COMPETITIVE EDGE to vie for this all-expense-paid chance of a lifetime and compete to win $250,000!" To help facilitate the application process, they are holding open casting calls in Boston, Massachusetts, Dallas, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, Atlanta, GA, Nashville, Tennessee, New York, New York, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Miami, Florida, Columbus, Ohio, Suffolk, Virginia, Mesa, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Los Angeles, California over the next two months.
Here's the schedule coming up in February and March on Saturdays:
FEBRUARY 16TH
BOSTON, MA FELT 533 Washington St. Boston, MA 02111 10AM - 6PM
DALLAS, TX UPTOWN BAR AND GRILL 2523 McKinney Ave. Dallas, TX 75201 10AM - 6PM
CHICAGO, IL CHICAGO HOME FITNESS 1555 N Halsted Chicago, IL 60622 10AM - 6PM
ATLANTA, GA WILD BILLS 2075 Market St. Duluth, GA 30096 10AM - 6PM
FEBRUARY 23RD
NASHVILLE, TN THE WILD HORSE SALOON 120 2nd Ave N Nashville, TN 37201 10AM - 6PM
NEW YORK CITY, NY NBC EXPERIENCE STORE 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York City, NY 10112 10 AM- 6PM
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK BRICKTOWN BREWERY 1 N Oklahoma Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 10AM - 6PM
MIAMI, FL FESTIVAL FLEA MARKET MALL 2900 West Sample Rd. Pompano Beach, FL 33073 10AM - 5PM
MARCH 1ST
COLUMBUS, OH BUCKEYE HALL OF FAME CAFÉ 1421 Olentangy River Rd Columbus, OH 43212 10AM - 6PM
SUFFOLK, VA SUFFOLK FAMILY YMCA 2769 Godwin Blvd Suffolk, VA 23434 10AM - 6PM
MARCH 8TH
MESA, AZ Superstition Springs Mall 6555 E. Southern Ave Mesa, AZ 85206 10AM - 6PM
LAS VEGAS, NV Location TBA
LOS ANGELES, CA Location TBA
If you attend one of these open calls, then please know that only the first 500 people in line will be GUARANTEED a chance to apply. So you need to be there early enough to have a chance to be on "The Biggest Loser" (although they discourage people from showing up more than three hours prior to the opening time of the casting call). You and the other half of your couple should bring a non-returnable photo of both of you for them to keep as they weed through the applicants in the next few months.
Of course, even if you can't attend one of these casting calls, you can always fill out the application (CLICK HERE to download a PDF copy of the application) and mail in your video to 3 Ball Productions directly AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! You both must be at least 18 years old and legal U.S. residents to apply and BOTH you and the other member of your couple team need to be in the video.
Mail your application and video together to:
The Biggest Loser Casting c/o Central Park West Productions P.O Box 578 Manhattan Beach, CA 90267-0578
What should be in the video? Tell them in 10 minutes why you and your teammate should be on "The Biggest Loser." Be very personal and don't be afraid to tell stories about why YOU deserve to be on the show more so than others. Tell 'em who you are, where you live, what you do, how you are related to each other, and be demonstrative about why you need to shed the pounds. PERSONALITY PERSONALITY PERSONALITY! And by all means, make it fun or the people watching it won't be having fun. Not good!
Make sure the non-returnable video is in VHS, DVD or MINI DVD format only. Get this along with the application and the non-returnable photo of your team to the casting company no later than March 12, 2008 if you want to be considered for the show. You might want sure to track the package and pay for a signature request so you KNOW they get it in their hands.
If you have any questions about the application process, then you can e-mail them regarding "The Biggest Loser" 6 at thebiggestloser6@yahoo.com. And let us know in the comments section below if you were able to apply or attend one of the open casting calls. GOOD LUCK TO YOU and regardless of what happens I hope you use this as an opportunity to begin doing something about your weight and health NOW rather than later. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
