Biggest Loser's Shay: Still Losing Big

Shay Sorrells timidly set foot on "The Biggest Loser" campus almost a year ago as one of the heaviest contestants at 476 pounds. By the end of the season she had lost 172 pounds, a stunning feat, but not enough to win the title of Biggest Loser.

Show sponsor Subway was so touched by Shay's story that they asked her to continue her journey. They provided a team of experts and all the Subway she could eat, as well as another great incentive: $1,000 for every pound that she lost by this season's finale coming up next month. During next month's finale, Shay will show everyone how well she's done.

That's Fit recently spoke with Shay about her journey since leaving the show and how she balances heavy duty workouts, a family and her job as a social worker.

That's Fit: What is your biggest life change since being on "The Biggest Loser?"

Shay Sorrells: The biggest life change is the way I think about my weight. I didn't think of it as a life or death matter. Now when I make small choices throughout the day, every choice affects the decision I made to change my life and live a healthier life.

TF: What's your favorite workout?

SS: I don't have a favorite workout; I'm always changing it up. I'm always trying to do different things. I just started kayaking -- I couldn't do that before. I sat in a kayak a couple of years ago and it sank. That made me sad. I also love kettlebells. I do it three times per week. It's one of my new-found passions. I even own a couple.

TF: How much harder is the last chance workout compared to regular workouts?

SS: I wouldn't say it's that much harder. Your head is just in a different place. Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels kill you every day no matter what day of the week it is, your head and heart take it to a completely different place. It really is just as hard as every other day of the week.

TF: How often do you exercise now?

SS: I exercise seven days per week, but I think the misconception is you have to be in a gym beating your brains out. You don't, but you should be moving and active every single day. I take one day easy where I'll do two walks during the day but won't do heavy cardio or weight training.

TF: What does an average day of exercise look like?

SS: On average I do two hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon and then two hours of low-intensity. I currently work with about four trainers and they rotate in and out.

TF: Are you planning to continue with six hours of exercise per day when this is all over?

SS: Absolutely not! I had a big goal and that goal was to get healthy. I was 500 pounds and drastic times call for drastic measures. So I will still be active and doing a lot of things, but it won't be that intense because I'll be in maintenance. In maintenance you need about 90 minutes per day.

TF: How do you find time to spend with your family?

SS: You know, a lot of my exercising I do with my family. My husband jogs with me, we do family bike rides, we'll go to the beach. On our wedding anniversary, which just happened, my husband and I took a five mile jog! My husband has lost about 65 pounds total and he looks fabulous -- completely wonderful.

TF: Have you ever thought about becoming a fitness professional?

SS: I have! I'm starting a bootcamp of my own soon called Losing Life. I want it to look at the emotional and lifestyle aspects of losing weight as well as fitness. I want to go to a restaurant and show how to order off a menu or go to a grocery store and show what you need to buy for a healthy lifestyle.

TF: Have you thought about what you'd do with the money?

SS: The reality is no check will change my life, the numbers on the scale will. But, I'd like an "I do redo." My husband and I never had a wedding so that's one thing that we've talked about. We never really celebrated and had that moment. We've been married two years now.

Read on to see what the current "Biggest Loser" contestants are doing.