Helen Phillips - Biggest Loser Winner Talks Maintenance, Cheat Foods and Her Weight

by Bev Sklar (Subscribe to Bev Sklar's posts)
May 20th 2009 4:00PM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

"The Biggest Loser Couples" winner Helen Phillips is not only $250,000 richer, she's 140 pounds lighter. Pink Team's Helen surprised favored finalists Mike and Tara last week, weighing in at a wispy 117 pounds to easily take the title. That's Fit just had a chance to catch up with Helen as she rides her post-win high.

That's Fit: Congratulations on winning Season 7. How does it feel?

Helen: It feels incredible. I feel like I'm unstoppable. It's amazing how empowered you feel once you start realizing what you're capable of doing. I've been invited to run the NYC marathon. I'm really excited to do it. Fear will no longer hold me back from anything.

That's Fit: How did Tara and Mike handle the loss?

Helen: I do believe they probably took it kind of hard. I really don't think they saw me comin'. I really believe that they thought it was between the two of them. I don't know, because I haven't talked to either one of them, but I love them dearly and hope they're doing well.

Click the gallery below to see Helen's transformation. Story continues below gallery.

Helen Phillips - "Biggest Loser" Winner

THE BIGGEST LOSER -- Pictured: (l-r) Contestants, Helen Phillips, Shanon Thomas --

Posted: 12/22/08

Mitchell Haaseth, NBC

THE BIGGEST LOSER -- Episode 701 -- Pictured: (l-r) Shanon, Helen --
Posted: 01/07/09

Jack Zeman, NBC

THE BIGGEST LOSER -- Episode 705 -- Pictured: (l-r) Shanon, Helen --
Posted: 02/02/09

Trae Patton, NBC

Airdate: Tuesday, January 6 on NBC (8-10 p.m. ET) -- THE BIGGEST LOSER -- Episode 701 -- Pictured: (l-r) Helen, Shanon --

Posted: 01/07/09

Trae Patton, NBC

THE BIGGEST LOSER -- Episode 718 -- Pictured: Helen --
Posted: 05/13/09

Trae Patton, NBC

Airdate: Tuesday, March 10 on NBC (8-10 p.m. ET) -- THE BIGGEST LOSER -- "Weigh In Eliminator" Episode 710 -- Pictured: Helen --

Trae Patton, NBC

Airdate: Tuesday, March 24 on NBC (8-10 p.m. ET) -- THE BIGGEST LOSER -- "Day 1 - New Teams" Episode 712 -- Pictured: (l-r) Kristin, Helen, Aubrey --
Posted: 03/26/09

Trae Patton, NBC

Airdate: Tuesday, May 12 on NBC (8-11 p.m. ET) -- THE BIGGEST LOSER -- "Live Finale" Episode 719 -- Pictured: Biggest Loser Season 7 Winner Helen --

Chris Haston, NBC

Airdate: Tuesday, May 12 on NBC (8-11 p.m. ET) -- THE BIGGEST LOSER -- "Live Finale" Episode 719 -- Pictured: Final Contestant Helen Phillips

Chris Haston, NBC

Biggest Loser Winner Helen Phillips at the end of the contest. Updated 05/13/09.

Trae Patton, NBC

That's Fit: Jillian Michaels keeps churning out champions. You chose Jillian as your trainer in a mid-season pick-your-trainer moment. Why did you choose her and what makes Jillian so special?

Helen: I think Bob and Jillian are the best trainers, they're both geniuses. I needed Bob in the beginning. But I was going to give Jillian a chance no matter what because she deserves my respect and attention. She started pushing me differently and a little harder on the treadmill. I stuck with Jillian because I knew that Bob could get me through the beginning of the journey and Jillian could get me through the rest.

That's Fit: Has your weight loss inspired your daughter Shanon to continue to lose weight, and any other family members to be more healthy?

Helen: The whole community has joined the gym where I work out. At least 12 of my girlfriends have lost 25 to 45 pounds since I've been gone and they're loving it. My husband has lost 40 pounds and is off all his diabetic medication. Shanon has told me, "Mom, you don't have to worry about me, I will never, ever go back to my life as before. When you're home, we will work this out together." As a mother, I don't think I could hear any sweeter words. I can't even tell you how proud I am of her.

That's Fit: I recently wrote about Erik Chopin's struggle with weight gain after his Season 3 win. What are your plans to maintain thin and healthy?

Helen: I feel it's a lifestyle change. I never had a gym membership. I never really cleaned out my pantries. Now I want this, I want this for myself, for my family, for my friends. I could never go back to the way I was before.

That's Fit: Have you enjoyed any cheat foods, yet?

Helen: I'm not gonna lie. I had a little bit of sugar-free chocolate the other day, because I don't like sugar anymore. OK, I had an oatmeal cookie, too. And some Starbucks coffee, but I kept it black. Now I know I may have pizza tonight, but with very light sauce, mozzarella cheese, of course, and veggies on it. And that will be good and satisfying to me.

That's Fit: What was your best lesson learned at the ranch?

Helen: Eating those four-to-six meals every day is the most important thing I learned, along with the exercise.

That's Fit: You've taken some heat regarding your 117-pound final weigh-in. Is that a comfortable weight for you to maintain or just a winning weight you planned to never stay at permanently?

Helen: Honestly, I wanted to get down to 120, and I actually surprised myself going down to 117. I think my comfortable weight will stay around 125, because honestly I am going to have pizza and chocolates, I am going to eat a little bit. But I'm also going to work out. This is all about healthy, it's not about winning a prize and being so skinny.

That's Fit: Will you continue with your trainers, and do you prefer working out at a gym or at home?

Helen: I love to work out at the gym. I also love to work out outside. I love running and biking. The trainers volunteered their time to me, they were the football coaches at my son's school. I would get there at 5:00 a.m. in the morning, and then the football strength and conditioning class would come in and watch me work out. They were watching me go through this transformation and it was inspiring them.

That's Fit: Did you toss all your fat clothes or keep some as a reminder of how far you've come?

Helen: I'm going to donate them. There are a few things I'm going to keep. My first Biggest Loser shirt was a 3X. I hung it in my closet with all my skinny clothes. This is a reminder of what I was and never will be again.

Source

Comments (34)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Flax Chick 5-21-2009 @ 12:09PM

I love that a 48 year old mother won! It is inspiring! I also love that she lost the weight the old fashioned way, by eating less and moving more.

I am in 40's and recently lost over 80 pounds and after battling my weight for years, I know I will never be heavy again. I am not thin, but I am healthy, curvy and normal and am happy with how much I get to eat to maintain my size.

I stopped eating lots of processed foods and discovred the huge advantage of adding fiber to your diet. You feel fuller and more satisfied longer. I used to start my day with a muffin and a diet pepsi. All empry calories and loaded with fat. I now have a thick greek yogurt with 2 tablespoons of fitflax http://ww.fitflax.com and some berries and a cup of green tea. I have it on a nice plate, treat myself like a lady and I feel fabulous. Fitflax is a golden roasted flax and chia blend that is nutty, delicious and low carb and low cal. Since it is roasted it does not have to be ground and it loaded with Omega 3's and antioxidants. So not only did I lose weight, but my skin is fabulous now too.

I also make the time to at least get in a brisk 20 minute walk every day.

Husker13 5-22-2009 @ 10:14PM

Quit trying to sell a product that doesn't work. Only exercise and a proper diet. And if you and the others on these diets watched "The Biggest Loser" you would know that. Change your attitude and quit being lazy.

Sandie 5-22-2009 @ 7:58PM

Get over yourself Helen, you'll be fat again I guarantee it! you lost the weight in a way you can not keep up with so good by body!

Kathy 5-22-2009 @ 8:06PM

As good a job as Helen did to win the competition, I felt she was a very selfish mother. Her daughter, Shanon, certainly needed to stay on the ranch to continue to lose weight.

Julie 5-22-2009 @ 8:47PM

I agree!!!!!

kathi 5-22-2009 @ 11:30PM

Yes I agree too! They said Helen lost weight before and put it back on,a few times her daughter needed to be there!

sarah 5-23-2009 @ 3:18AM

I disagree...one of the women needed to go. Why not Helen. She is older and probably had more medical problems than the daughter. No one wanted to leave the ranch. The daughter wouldn't have won the money in my opinion. She didn't seem as motivated as the mother.

audrey 5-22-2009 @ 8:07PM

I am happy for Helen's weight loss ,however I have issue with how she did not give her daughter the chance to stay on the ranch,even though the daughter said that she did not want to go home but seemed to afraid to stand uo to her mom

samdrone 5-22-2009 @ 8:17PM

This is awesome! I have never watched the program, but her results are inspiring. I hope it encourages others who battle weigh problems. Good for them! I know what it's like to try and lose weight. I lost 47 pounds in 6 weeks using the Rapidthin diet at www.rapidthin.com. Good luck to all. Use what works for you.

Jessa 5-22-2009 @ 8:22PM

I too am a fan of a mother and someone over 30 winning. I heard about fitflax on Oprah and love it too. I have it in oatmeal and it tastes great and is super filling and it helped with my recent 15 pound weight loss. I also drink a cup of green tea every evening.

Elizabeth 5-22-2009 @ 8:30PM

I really felt that she was selfish and I can't believe she lost so much weight from her last weigh-in without doing something that wasn't fair. Are they watched after they leave the ranch to make sure they don't cheat in some way? I think she was a snack. I will never forget her eating a cookie against Tara and causing her to lose $10K. She was really mean.

April 5-22-2009 @ 9:33PM

she was a snack? how does one become a "snack"?

Madeline Nelles 5-22-2009 @ 8:34PM

I also feel she is so into herself. When she stayed and let her daughter go home, I felt her need came before her daughters. Not want I feel she should have done. Her daughter needed it more than she did, very selfish of her, and it shows.
I had so wanted one of the other to win.
madelind

Julie 5-22-2009 @ 8:48PM

It amazes me that this so-called wonderful mother got her daughter to volunteer to go home from the ranch so that she could stay. A real mom would have wanted her daughter to stay and reep the benefit of the ranch rather than to get everyone to send her daughter home. I really was hoping that she would not win because as a good mom who always puts her kids first, I cannot stand Helen.

Madeline Nelles 5-22-2009 @ 8:39PM

I really also felt she is full of herself. I didn't not think, as a Mother, should have stayed and let her daughter leave and go home, with still weight to loose. she is a very selfish person.
I so wanted any one but her to win.
Madeline

Husker13 5-22-2009 @ 8:42PM

I do not like Helen at all, actually it is more like I dispise her. I would have much preferred Tara, Mike, or Kristina if she was there. I as a father have no idea how she could have sent her daughter home. What a very selfish thing to do. If she reads this I think you went on a starvation diet and you should be ashamed. Take a look at your daughter, did she need to go home or did you?

JOanne 5-22-2009 @ 8:48PM

Not a fan.....she threw her daughter under the bus for her own gain.....I was definitely rooting for Mike and Tara. Although I am a 54 year old mother of 2, I didn't like her at all. I also felt she was manipulative. Only out for herself.....thinks she's better than everyone else.

map 5-22-2009 @ 9:06PM

I'm impressed that Helen was able to lose 140 lbs. but to me she looks malnourished and older . I agree with her wanting to be around 125 lbs. She would look much better. Congrats anyway.

TrippinToni 5-22-2009 @ 8:56PM

She may have lost 140 pounds, but she gained about 40 years. I think she looks awful, scary in fact. It almost makes me want to go out and gain a few pounds.