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Friday, November 25, 2005

'Biggest Loser' Contestants Keep The Weight Off

With the exciting 2-hour LIVE season finale of the hit reality television show "The Biggest Loser" airing this Tuesday night from 8-10pm EST, many are waiting to see whether it will be Matt, Seth, or Suzy who will lose the most weight as a percentage of their starting weight to become one quarter of a million dollars richer and be deemed "The Biggest Loser" for Season Two.

Also, there will be a battle among the eliminated contestants to see which one amongt hem will triumph to win the $100,000 consolation prize. It will certainly be fun to watch and they are all winners for investing in the hard work it has taken to bring them this far.


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But for fans of the show (and I am one of them!), I bet you are wondering what happened with those contestants from Season One of "Biggest Loser" show? How are they doing with their weight now one year after being on the ranch? Wouldn't you like to see what they look like today?

Now you can! I thought you might like to have an update, including before and after photos, of the contestants from Season One of "The Biggest Loser":


RYAN BENSON

Ryan Benson was the original "Biggest Loser" and should be proud of what he has accomplished. He works out every single day and manages his 122-pound weight loss with the low-carb lifestyle. How cool is that?! You can check out what's happening with Ryan at his web site, RyanCBenson.com.


AARON

This is a man who now weighs less than 200 pounds and credits exercise for his success. In fact, he said he doesn't mind cheating on his eating habits because he knows he can work it off enough in the gym with exercise. Aaron is down to 11% body fat (hey, that's something we have in common!) and has never felt better. There's another thing he and I have in common as well -- Aaron's writing a book "because it really makes you get inside your own head and it also keeps me motivated." Amen, brother!


DREA

I always admired Drea because of what she did in accomplishing that physical challenge walking up a gazillion flights of steps. The look on her face when she was the winner of the challenge showed me that she was serious about her weight loss and that nothing would stop her from there on. According to her web site, she is staying plenty busy speaking about her weight loss and proudly, too. Man she's looking strong and healthy! She was the biggest female loser from Season One and has a smile that would light up any room. Her uncanny ability to motivate others is what has led her to become a fitness trainer. Do you think she ever thought she'd be doing that?! Way to go, Drea!


DANA

Although she didn't have a lot of weight to lose, Dana has certainly made the most of her experience on the show. She is a team leader for MSN.com's Losing Weight With Family and will be entering a bathing suit contest for a tanning company called Planet Beach. WOW! She looks great and credits cutting out sugar from her diet along with cardio workouts. Good going, Dana! You look mahhhvulous!


DAVE

The winner of the $100,000 from Season One for losing the most weight of the contestants who got cut, Dave made healthy eating and working out a "normal" part of his life. He said people stop him in the street and tell him how much they inspired them in their weight loss. It's a neat feeling, isn't it, Dave? I get that a lot since I went from 410 down to 225.


GARY

Eating "big salads" along with fresh fruit, Gary said he let his weight get "too low" while he was working on the show. He weighs 160 pounds today and says the key to his weight loss maintenance success is "cardio, cardio, cardio." Do you sense a theme here anyone?


KELLY MAC

Also crediting 1-hour workouts for six days a week, Kelly Mac also keeps a food journal and has inspired her parents and roommate to lose weight. She's still a stand-up comedian and loves the fact that guys ask her for her telephone number now. Check out what Kelly Mac is up to (including her tour schedule) by visiting KellyMacfarland.com.


KELLY MINNER

Being an example for her students, Kelly Minner says she has learned to relax more since leaving the ranch and doesn't worry about messing up. However, she made it very clear she will not eat white rice. Good girl! She, too, has felt the call in her life to help others in their own weight loss journey (when you lose weight and see such a dramatic change in your own life, that's only natural -- I've felt the same way!). She was on the front cover of Women's World magazine in May 2005 and is approaching 100 pounds lost since starting the show. You can see what Kelly Minner is up to at her web site, KellyMinner.com.


LISA

Using cardio workouts and dance classes to stay in shape, Lisa said her boyfriend gets jealous now because other guys are have google eyes at her. Nice problem to have, isn't it Lisa? Crediting "The Biggest Loser" for helping her get her life back, she described what life would be like today had she not gotten motivated to lose weight. "I would probably be in a wheelchair with a whiskey on the rocks in one hand and a double cheeseburger and fries in the other!" What a visual! Can anyone relate? :)


LIZZETH

She runs five miles a day and never cheats to keep her weight off. Lizzeth said she regained her sense of self-worth because of the show and has a goal to wear a 2-piece bathing suit before she reaches the age of 40. She's trying to get her family to do what she did by encouraging them to "start today" on doing something about their weight!


MATT

Another low-carber, Matt says he has cut out most of his carbs, eats lots of salads, chicken, and healthy fruits. He does portion control, but he says that helps keep him on track to maintain his weight loss. Matt also has three one-hour cardio workouts a week as well as sit-ups and push-ups. He says to "live fabulous" by enjoying life with a rum and Diet Coke!


BIG MO

Everybody loves Mo! What a super guy he is with a big heart that matches his once gargantuan body. But Mo is a changed man now who is working to get down to 235 pounds. Although he still weighs 350 pounds, Mo is confident his goal is "attainable" and uses the 1 1/2 hour workouts 5 days a week to help him get there. He said all the fried cookin' his momma used to make him has been replaced with baked now, so he's eating healthier. He even beat out television talk show icon Oprah Winfrey to be the Tennessee spokesperson for the Department of Health. Good going, Mo! You can do it, buddy! You've got a lot of people rooting for you to get to that goal of yours. Don't EVER give up!

So, that's what the contestants from Season One are up to now. Guess what is next in line for "The Biggest Loser" franchise -- A WORKOUT VIDEO!!!

Coming on December 20, 2005 is a special exercise video called The Biggest Loser Workout Volume 1 featuring "The Biggest Loser" fitness trainer Bob Harper and contestants from both Season One and Season Two joining him, including Gary, Drea, Suzy, Matt, Andrea, and Seth. From what I have seen of the video previews, there will be various workout levels to meet you at your level to go at your pace. That's a good way to do it!


Click here to order your copy TODAY!

By the way, NBC made it official today when they announced they have decided to renew the contract to bring back "The Biggest Loser" for a third season. Although the ratings are slightly down from the summertime Season One version of the show, producers and network executives are impressed with the numbers from the past couple of weeks which have been in excess of 10 million viewers. If the increased traffic to my site in that time period is any indication of the popularity of the show, then I'd say NBC did a smart thing renewing this lifechanging television show for yet another season.

Lose Big with Jillian Michaels

Check out all my "The Biggest Loser" columns by clicking here.

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Sunday, November 20, 2005

Amazing 'Biggest Loser 2' Before & After Pics

Fans of NBC's lifechanging television show "The Biggest Loser" are sad to see one of their favorite shows come to an end this season. I have to admit that this show is addictively compelling to anyone who has struggled, is struggling, or can relate to struggling with your weight.


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As casting for "The Biggest Loser 3" is now underway, I thought it would be nice to take a look at some awesome before and after pictures of the contestants from season 2.

WHICH OF THESE CONTESTANTS WILL BE "THE BIGGEST LOSER?"


SUZY

The petite 28-year old Des Moines, WA native who cuts hair for a living and has cut her weight way down. Suzy is that darling girl-next-door type that you just can't help but love.


SETH

The 24-year old Salinas, CA resident who makes sales occupationally, but may have done his best sales pitch for that newborn baby boy by losing a bunch of weight on national television.


SUZANNE

The 30-year old ex-cop turned beauty queen bride from Franklin Square, NY, all you can say is WOW! Is she a hottie now or what? Lucky fellow that fiance of hers.


MATT

A 28-year old former high school athlete from Marion, IA buzzed his hair and is one of the favorites to win this season. His incredible weight loss certainly warrants him wearing that title.


SHANNON

The 29-year old Revere, MA contract administrator is turning heads now with her 180 degree turnaround thanks to exercise and weight loss. WOWsers! She made the most out of her experience on "The Biggest Loser!"


JEN

A 24-year old Des Moines, IA student has learned a valuable lesson in life -- get healthy and stay healthy. The education she received from "The Biggest Loser" will be much more valuable than anything she learns at college.


MARK

The 36-year old San Francisco Police Department tough guy wanted to be able to wear a bullet-proof vest without his gut hanging out. Now the Campbell, CA native got his wish and so much more.


PETE

A giant among men standing at 6'5" tall, this 36-year old property investment advisor from Ypsilanti, MI is slamming basketballs instead of cheeseburgers and fries now. What a difference this experience has made in Pete's life, eh?


NICK

The 40-year old Glendale, CA funny man who gets the last laugh now that he is healthy and fit. Now he can tell fat jokes and it won't be about him anymore.


DR. JEFF

Don't you wish your doctor cared so much about you that he's be willing to humiliate himself on TV just to lose weight? That was the risk this 43-year old Hillsborough, NJ doctor was willing to make and what a remarkable change it brought him!


ANDREA

A 28-year old Placentia, CA cosmetologist who works to make others look beautiful is turning heads as her weight falls. I'm sure that "slinky dress" she wants to be able to wear in the near future will make her look like the "princess" she desires to be.


KATHRYN

Your honor, I object! This 28-year old Bloomington, MN attorney has made her case for weight loss and won a judgment of a lifelong reward of great health and a better body.


RYAN

Not to be confused with Ryan Benson, the winner of season one, the 26-year old legal assistant from Jefferson City, TN is turning heads now that she's slimmed down.


RUBEN

He only wanted to be a "stud...again!" and now he's done it. The 37-year old customer service rep provided a great service to himself and to millions of others who need to lose weight.

Even after the season finale of "The Biggest Loser" airs next week, you can still get inspiration and motivation from the show sent directly to your cell phone. And don't forget about hooking up with your very own personal trainer a la Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.

Lose Big with Jillian Michaels

Speaking of, don't forget to check out "The Biggest Loser" book featuring a foreword by Bob Harper (there are lots of great pictures of the contestants and trainers in this book) as well as "Winning by Losing" by Jillian Michaels.

Just in case you missed it, be sure to check out my exclusive interview with Bob Harper. It was full of some GREAT surprises for fans of the show.

While it is sad to see yet another season of "The Biggest Loser" come and go, I am anxious to see the continuing impact this show will have on the lives of people who think there is no hope for them regarding weight loss. This show is proving otherwise and may even change YOUR life. We'll be watching next season and cheering them all on to weight loss success!

Be sure to check out all my previous columns about "The Biggest Loser" by clicking here.

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