That's Fithttp://www.thatsfit.comThat's Fithttp://www.thatsfit.com/media/feedlogo.gifThat's Fithttp://www.thatsfit.comen-usCopyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/"Biggest Loser" New Trainers: Cara Castronova and Brett Hoebelhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/19/biggest-loser-new-trainers-cara-castronova-and-brett-hoebel/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/19/biggest-loser-new-trainers-cara-castronova-and-brett-hoebel/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/19/biggest-loser-new-trainers-cara-castronova-and-brett-hoebel/#commentsFiled under:

Trae Patton, NBC

"The Biggest Loser" wasted no time introducing the new trainers on Tuesday, unveiling their identities before the opening credits. As we suspected, Cara Castronova and Brett Hoebel are "the unknowns," and the trainers spoke about the experiences that led them to the show.

Brett Hoebel has been in the fitness industry for almost 20 years and working in several forms of martial arts. "I've studied, I was a pre-med, there's a science to training," he said. "There's no guesswork on anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology." He also talked about being overweight as a teen. "It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears," he said. "That's what I want to show the contestants."

Cara Castronova, who was ranked number two in the country in her weight class as a boxer and won two Golden Gloves in New York, has overcome her own life hardships. Her father, who taught her how to box, died when she was 14 and her mother passed away a few years ago after a car accident. "Having a hard life has made me stronger," she said. "I'm here to bring back the fighter in each and every one of them."

Brett, who holds multiple personal training and academic certifications, had been trying to work with "The Biggest Loser" for years. "Then I trained Capoeira with Jillian and she helped to move me to the front of my line," he told That's Fit. But giving Jillian a tough workout is different than training people who are morbidly obese -- but that is the challenge Brett is relishing.

""It is a different technique but you stick with the science and that's a common denominator," he said. "I don't know many [trainers] who work with a 500-pound person on a regular basis."

Cara, who is certified as a personal trainer through the International Sports Science Association and a licensed boxing trainer, was also passionate about how different "The Biggest Loser" is from anything else she has done. "There is no certification that will prepare you for the emotional breakthroughs the contestants go through."


Do you think the new trainers are as good as Bob and Jillian? Do you think they'll be as effective? What do you think about their qualifications?

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]]>biggest-loserBrett HoebelCara Castronovanew trainersLisa JohnsonWed, 19 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST"Biggest Loser:" New Trainers Take it to the Ringhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/19/biggest-loser-newest-trainers-revealed/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/19/biggest-loser-newest-trainers-revealed/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/19/biggest-loser-newest-trainers-revealed/#commentsFiled under: ,

biggest loser trainersTrae Patton, NBC

After weeks of anticipation, we finally saw the new trainers and the contestants they train on "The Biggest Loser." Both Cara Castronova and Brett Hoebel were revealed as the trainers (aka, "the unknowns") and we got a sense of life on the "other" ranch.

Brett and Cara both have strengths training in the ring and they showed their teams how to fight for their weight loss. On top of the usual treadmill shots, there were a lot of moments with the contestants inside the ropes of the boxing ring hitting the pads held by Cara and Brett.

Back at the ranch, Jillian Michaels tried to break through to the twins, Dan and Don. They had distanced themselves from the other contestants and didn't seem to be "bought in." After a heart-to-heart, they promised to fully commit themselves. But a few scenes later at a group meeting, Dan said he'd choose to go home before someone else at the house so they could have the opportunity to stay.

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A challenge that involved balancing an egg on the underside of a frying pan left two contestants, one from the unknowns and one from the ranch, with a cooking lesson from Curtis Stone. Denise and Marci won the cooking date and at the end of the meal they had to guess how many calories were in the dish. Marci has the closer guess at 480 (actual calories: 572) and won a two-pound advantage for the aqua team back at the ranch.

She didn't need the advantage, though, as the twins shocked everyone by each gaining nine pounds! In the end, per his wishes, Dan went home. He was happy to get back to his nine-year-old daughter and wife. He was successfully continuing his weight loss at home, down over 70 pounds from his starting weight.

It's interesting that the different training camps have unique approaches to training. Cara and Brett are focusing on martial arts and boxing techniques while Bob and Jillian are using the tried and true approach back at the ranch. Which one do you think will be the most effective? Are you glad they finally revealed the new trainers?

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]]>biggest-loserBrett HoebelCara Castronovanew trainersLisa JohnsonWed, 19 Jan 2011 09:00:00 ESTToo Much "Biggest Loser" Game Play on Week Two?http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/12/biggest-loser-teases-a-little-longer/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/12/biggest-loser-teases-a-little-longer/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/12/biggest-loser-teases-a-little-longer/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

The season premiere has come and gone and we still have to wait yet another week for "The Biggest Loser" to reveal the unknown trainers. There are only so many shadowy faces and awkward camera angles before you want to change the channel.

This week, viewers barely saw or heard the male trainer; just a sentence or two and a glimpse of the back of his head. The female trainer was mostly heard yelling at someone and also a shot of her being carried on a contestant's shoulders with her hair covering her face. Thankfully, the newest trainers will finally be revealed next week.

Host Alison Sweeney kicked off the show by telling contestants on the ranch that they would have immunity if they could beat the unknowns as a team. If they lost a higher percentage of body weight than the other team no one would be going home.

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The challenge really bonded everyone at the ranch who all worked hard to get the weight off all week. Where they didn't bond was the challenge which was linking rafts together to make it across a pond. The unknowns went first and did it in just over 38 minutes. When the ranch team tried, they hadn't even made it halfway across the pond in the same time.

The unknowns (or the producers on behalf of the unknowns) challenged the ranch team from afar. One night they sent two dozen donuts to the gym and the next day they sent videos talking smack about how much they were going to enjoy beating them again and splitting the $10,000 the winning team would receive.

Predictably, the taunting just energized the ranch team and they killed it at the weigh-in, beating the unknowns by 11 pounds despite having a three-pound disadvantage against them from losing the challenge. No one went home this week.

The two sets of contestants are already very polarized, a new level of game play that usually doesn't emerge so early in a season. They have both created a strong sense of community and the unknowns have been portrayed as antagonizing the ranch team, which will certainly be exploited by producers when they come together under one roof.

The show closed with a promo promising the new trainers will be revealed next week, but my frustration is already high just two weeks in.

What do you think about the teams being so polarized? Are you sick of waiting to see the new trainers?

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]]>biggest loserbiggest-loserBiggestLoserseason 11Season11Lisa JohnsonWed, 12 Jan 2011 10:00:00 ESTRulon Gardner: From Olympian to Biggest Loserhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/11/rulon-gardner-from-olympian-to-biggest-loser/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/11/rulon-gardner-from-olympian-to-biggest-loser/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/11/rulon-gardner-from-olympian-to-biggest-loser/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

Rulon Gardner is a true Olympian, taking home a gold in 2000 and a bronze in 2004 in Greco-Roman Wrestling. After he stepped away from the Olympics, he vowed to "never get on a scale again." He changed gears to become a wrestling coach, opening a health club with his business partner, Justin (also his teammate on the show), and eating whatever he wanted. There were consequences to his new life, however. That's Fit recently talked to Gardner about what led him to "The Biggest Loser" ranch and what he hopes to accomplish.

That's Fit: When did you realize you hit bottom?
Rulon Gardner: My low point came when I was getting inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. I had to get a new tuxedo, and they really don't make 'em that big. We went to the event, and then after, my wife and I got some fast food and she went to bed. I'm sitting there doing what I usually do, staying up late, watching TV and eating bad food. I'm watching the local news, and they had a clip of me and I didn't recognize the person on TV. Then everything finally came through and my health was starting to become an issue and I said, "holy cow you are so unhealthy and you are so obese." That's when I reached out and contacted "The Biggest Loser."

TF: How bad was that first workout?
RG: That first workout was so physical, so exhausting, it was brutal. I was trying to make my body run and sprint like I used to when I was 280 or 265 pounds, and it didn't move the same way. Our trainers, they pushed us. We had three workouts a day mandatory and one that wasn't mandatory, but ultimately, it was.

I could function at walking and slowly running, but anything beyond that my body is not used to putting the stress of 470 pounds on one joint. My leg then was probably 100-plus pounds itself, and my leg said, "Sorry, you just hurt me," and day one I had an injury. I pulled my quad.

TF: How was it working with the new trainers?
RG: At one point I said I can't move and I can't do this. At first they were pretty resistant to a person not doing the work because maybe we're just big, fat and lazy. Then there was a meeting of the minds over the first two weeks of training with the medical staff because it was so physical and it was so hard and there were limitations of the body. The trainers said we'll find an alternative for you and you can be 100 percent in the game and get to those fitness goals.

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TF: Why did you choose the new trainers over Bob and Jillian?
RG: Ultimately it came down to a choice: Do you choose someone you know who is reliable, or do you go with the hungry dog who wants to get the bone. That one person is truly out there and wants to make a name for themselves and will put in more time and more effort. That's why we went with the new trainers. We're happy with the choice we made.

TF: What's it like being with Justin Pope on the show?
RG: We grew up wrestling each other, and my only loss was to Justin. We never had a chance to wrestle after that, and I never lost again. Ultimately we ended up being business partners at our health club in Logan, Utah. He was at the club until midnight every night, and he's a hard worker. Justin is a champion, and you watch this season and you can say, "Wow, this guy is strong." I don't carry the show; this is a team effort. Justin is one of the best.

TF: How does being overweight affect your business as a health club owner?
RG: If we're going to be in a business where we promote a lifestyle of health and fitness we need to look the part. I'm gaining so much knowledge here at the ranch. It's incredible, not just about picking Bob and Jillian's brain but the knowledge about the types of food to eat and not to reward yourself with food.

TF: Many people have you pegged as the favorite to win the show. How do you feel about it?
RG: Just remember, people, I started at 474, and most previous winners lose more than 50 percent of their body weight. That puts me below my scratch weight. I'd have to weigh below the 265-280 that I was at in the Olympics. I haven't seen that number since junior high.

Gardner is looking forward to his life once he gets back from the ranch. He is close to obtaining his pilot's license and wants to spend more time with his wife and start a family, which is something that his obesity had been interfering with before. Although he doesn't think a win this season is realistic, he says if he did win, he'd put the money into his business and making it even stronger.

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]]>biggest-loserRulon GardnerLisa JohnsonTue, 11 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST"Biggest Loser" Tortures Contestants, Viewers in Season Premierehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/05/biggest-loser-tortures-contestants-viewers-in-season-premiere/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/05/biggest-loser-tortures-contestants-viewers-in-season-premiere/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/05/biggest-loser-tortures-contestants-viewers-in-season-premiere/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

"The Biggest Loser" season 11 debuted with a mystery: Who are the new trainers? Well, we still don't know since they didn't bother to tell us.

I was watching the show and hanging out on Twitter watching the comments go by, and I can tell you that the viewers are not happy about being denied the details for another week. We've already speculated who the newest trainers are, but we won't get confirmation until next week (and maybe not even then).

This year the contestants came in as couples and immediately competed for the right to choose who they train with: Bob and Jillian or two new trainers. The teams chose in the order that they finished and the majority picked the new trainers because they came in a package deal with four weeks of immunity. This is an incredible opportunity to stay on the ranch longer or, in this case, the Biggest Loser Malibu Resort, where the immune teams will spend the first four weeks.

We were shown only glimpses of the contestants who decamped to the new training facility. We saw an outdoor workout and only three of the weigh-ins (including Moses who lost 41 pounds, the single biggest week of weight loss in the show's history).

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Is anyone else steamed? This seems like a lame decision by the producers to milk ratings; if teasing out the reveal for one show is good, why not two?

As for the show itself, I was appalled when they showed a clip of Arthur, weighing in at 507 pounds, in a deep knee bend squat with weights pushed over his head, way past a safe 90-degree angle at the knee.

The best line of the show was from Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner, who said, "I never worked this hard when I was trying to make the Olympic team." Rulon and his friend Justin finished first in the challenge and chose to work with the new trainers, so it appears Bob and Jillian have some formidable competition.

Well, we're put off for another week. What do you think about the producers' choice to not reveal the new trainers? Do you have any early favorites for contestants?

Let's get the discussion going!

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]]>biggest loser premierebiggest-loserbob harperjillian michaelsnew trainersseason 11Season11Lisa JohnsonWed, 05 Jan 2011 10:00:00 ESTJillian Michaels' "6 Week Six-Pack" DVD Reviewhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/04/jillian-michaels-6-week-six-pack-dvd-review/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/04/jillian-michaels-6-week-six-pack-dvd-review/http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/01/04/jillian-michaels-6-week-six-pack-dvd-review/#commentsFiled under: ,

jillian michaels 6 week six-pack dvdamazon.com

Jillian Michaels has amazing abs -- that's a fact. She puts together a tough workout, as we've seen with "Shred-It With Weights," "30 Day Shred" and more. Therefore, it stands to reason that her "6 Week Six-Pack" DVD would kick some serious, umm, abs, right?

The DVD offers two 30- to 35-minute segments -- level one and level two. Both are very similar workouts, but level two takes the moves from level one and kicks it up a notch. In these core workouts, you use a hand weight, though the size is up to you (Michaels and the two women in the video appear to be using rather light weights, but the video doesn't make any recommendations).

The workouts each feature a dynamic warm-up, a circuit workout that features short intervals to raise your heart rate and is done twice, and a brief cooldown.

Level of Difficulty
Like other videos by Michaels, I would put this one in the intermediate to advanced camp.

Next-Day Soreness
Significant but not debilitating and (not surprisingly) mainly in the abs.

Who's It For?
Those who like Michaels will, obviously, be drawn to the workouts, but those who are looking for a reasonably short, tough workout that focuses on the core will also enjoy this. Well, at least they'll appreciate it.

Likes
The workouts are solid -- I was huffing and puffing and sweating in both levels. Despite this being an abs workout, my biceps, shoulders and thighs all felt the movements. That being said, it wasn't so difficult and intense that I couldn't have tacked it on to the end of a run or strength-training workout.

Dislikes
I wish Michaels had given a bit more in the way of safety instruction. There are a number of moves that involve twisting and swinging your hand weight -- I could see where one could tweak something rather easily.

Bottom Line
I liked the workouts, and, in fact, my husband (who rarely joins me in checking out DVDs) found both levels to be serious workouts. I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner, and if someone has very little core strength, I'd suggest starting with a very light weight (or none at all, which is shown as an option in level one). Overall, though, it's certainly a keeper, and I see it getting a lot of play when bikini season rolls around!



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]]>6 week six-packabscoredvd-reviewsjillian michaelsKristen SeymourTue, 04 Jan 2011 13:00:00 ESTBob Harper Will Stay on Biggest Loser "Forever"http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/22/bob-harper-will-stay-on-biggest-loser-forever/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/22/bob-harper-will-stay-on-biggest-loser-forever/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/22/bob-harper-will-stay-on-biggest-loser-forever/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Season 10 of "The Biggest Loser" has come and gone. For the contestants, the whirlwind of the competition is over, and they are back to their real lives. Some changed forever, like winner Patrick, while others have new perspectives (Ada) or a new commitment to what's really important (Frado).

That's Fit spoke with "Biggest Loser" trainer Bob Harper and executive producer JD Roth last Friday. They both talked aboutwhy they do what they do and the new trainers debuting in season 11.

On Jillian Michaels Leaving
Michaels' announcement of her departure is a big deal. She's had a rough go dealing with criticism over her credentials and teaching style on the show. But Harper and Roth wish her nothing but happy travels.

"Jillian and I started this whole journey together," said Harper. "We've definitely had our highs and our lows. We will definitely miss her on the show, but the show will go on."

"I'll miss her passion and her drive," said Roth. "I feel that this is a good move for her. We want trainers there that have a passion for making a change in people's lives. And if her focus is elsewhere, then I think she made the right decision for her. The door will always be open for her to return."

On Harper Staying
Meanwhile, Harper is happy where he is and has no plans to leave "The Biggest Loser."

"I do have a passion for what I do every single season," said Harper. "I'm seeing the experience through new eyes, which makes it new for me. It is what I'm supposed to be doing with my life. I can definitely say that I'm definitely not going anywhere."

Roth echoed that sentiment: "[Harper] found his mission in life 10 seasons ago, and that's never going to change. Bob's going to be on the show forever, with the same mission to help as many people as he can."

The New Trainers
There has been a lot of speculation about the new trainers coming on board; even That's Fit took an educated guess last Friday. Neither Harper nor Roth revealed the trainers' identities, but Roth did talk about the selection process.

"We found two people who are super passionate at changing people's lives, and they're amazing at what they do," he said. When pressed for more details, Roth and Harper both declined to comment.

Next Steps for the Contestants
We asked Harper and Roth what happens to the contestants after their season is done. Does the show ever reach out to them and offer assistance down the road?

"The weight loss is never going to be over," said Harper. "They're going to need something to keep them on track, like an online support system, something that is going to keep them honest in their lives."

"What they've been through is a bit of shock and awe," Roth added. "It's extreme for a reason. When they get home, it's time to be an adult and stand on your own. To understand that you need to take ownership in this new body and this new mind, you've gotta take what we've given you and be accountable."

Where's Shay?
After last week's finale wrap-up post, a lot of people were wondering where Shay was. She was supposed to continue her journey by running a marathon and return on the season 10 finale, but she wasn't there.

"I haven't heard from Shay in a while, which truthfully scares me a little bit," Bob admitted. "I'm going to reach out to her today and see if she needs any help. We're here for her."

Hopefully Shay is just taking a break from the limelight and is continuing her healthy journey.


The show has improved quite a bit over the past two seasons. Many of us would still like to see less screaming at contestants and more consistent good form when they are doing exercises. The trainers frequently give tips during the commercial breaks, but instead of hawking water filters and chewing gum, I'd rather see them demonstrate how to do a lunge properly.

I still find the show inspiring, and I know millions of others do, too. I always hope that people at home realize that dropping 10 pounds every week isn't normal and can be done only under the special circumstances that exist at the ranch. In the real world we've still got kids, jobs, errands and a host of other stresses that keep us from devoting every waking hour to getting as healthy as we can.

Are you looking forward to the new trainers? What are your expectations for season 11? Do you think the show has gotten stale or is it as exciting as ever?

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]]>biggest-loserbob harperjillian michaelsshayLisa JohnsonWed, 22 Dec 2010 11:00:00 ESTClues to Biggest Loser's New Trainershttp://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/17/clues-to-biggest-losers-new-trainers/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/17/clues-to-biggest-losers-new-trainers/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/17/clues-to-biggest-losers-new-trainers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

Hollywood has been abuzz trying to guess who the two new trainers are on season 11 of the "The Biggest Loser."

NBC has revealed that the man is a martial artist and award-winning personal trainer from New York and the woman is a Golden Gloves champ. There is a teaser that shows them yelling at the contestants and training them, all in shadows or with half glimpses.

Various websites have speculated that the new male trainer is Brett Hoebel, a personal trainer from New York, who is equally adept at training clients and being on camera. He is the trainer for the RevAbs series with various certifications (including the National Academy of Sports Medicine) and is very successful in the fitness industry. If you compare video of him and video from the show, he sure appears to be our guy.

The new female trainer, however, has been more of a mystery. No one has been able to identify her. Yesterday, however, I got a call from an anonymous woman claiming to be connected with the show. The caller said she was concerned with the qualifications of the new female trainer, which has been an issue raised by critics, especially in regards to Jillian Michaels, who is leaving after season 11.

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The caller claimed the female trainer is Cara Castronova, a two-time Golden Gloves champ and aspiring actress. When I compared the video footage from "The Biggest Loser," to other footage of Castronova, the voice, body and even the accent are all very similar.

NBC would not confirm the identity of the trainers because it has not yet made a formal announcement -- which is likely to come with the premiere of season 11 on January 4.

There was no readily available online information or contact information for Castronova about her personal trainer qualifications or certifications. She has been working on developing an acting career for the past two years and has appeared in a few films and indie roles.

Ideally, the producers took the time to hire someone with the proper credentials to work with morbidly obese contestants. If you think about it, "The Biggest Loser" ranch is essentially a medical facility where people at risk for health complications and even death are trying to turn their life around.

What do you think? Do you think the tipster was right? What do you think about a trainer who might not have extensive qualifications?

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]]>biggest-losertrainersLisa JohnsonFri, 17 Dec 2010 16:00:00 ESTWill the New "Biggest Loser" Trainers Surpass Jillian Michaels?http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/17/will-the-2-new-biggest-loser-trainers-surpass-jillian-michaels/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/17/will-the-2-new-biggest-loser-trainers-surpass-jillian-michaels/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/17/will-the-2-new-biggest-loser-trainers-surpass-jillian-michaels/#commentsFiled under: ,

As you may have heard, Jillian Michaels officially announced last week that she will not be continuing as a trainer on "The Biggest Loser" after the 11th season.

She announced via Twitter: "season 11 of Biggest Loser will be my last :) have to finish out my contract."

Jillian MichaelsCraig Barritt/WireImage.com

What may be even more surprising is NBC Universal's quick turnaround. Less than a week after Michaels' announcement, two new trainers were chosen to join the show for the upcoming January season. While the original duo, Michaels and Bob Harper, will still be on the show, there is a compelling new twist.

Each team will have the opportunity to choose which trainers they work out with. They can choose Harper and Michaels and stay at the ranch, which puts them at risk of going home after just one week. Or they can choose to work out with the two new unidentified trainers at a secret location, which gives them four weeks of immunity.

Will the two new trainers hold your interest in the show? Find out if readers are excited for the upcoming changes or if they've given up.

Cynthia G.
I guess we will have to wait and see. I am looking forward to seeing someone new.

Sonya C.
Yes anyone better than her and her ego.

Margie B.
We want Jillian coming back for January or i am not watching it... sorry.

Jennifer D.
I am also looking for something new with the show.

Holly H.
Will for sure watch more after Jillian is gone, I can't stand her but love the show!!

Amy J.
Yes.. I'm sure they will find another great trainer.

Heather C.
Jillian left before, it's no big deal. They should recruit Angie from BL UK and Michelle from BL OZ, they are tough and get results!

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]]>biggest-loserBob HarperJillian Michaelsseason 11The Biggest LoserHilary WalkeFri, 17 Dec 2010 10:00:00 ESTBiggest Loser Winner: Patrick Shares Lessons From His Successhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/15/biggest-loser-winner-patrick-shares-lessons-from-his-success/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/15/biggest-loser-winner-patrick-shares-lessons-from-his-success/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/15/biggest-loser-winner-patrick-shares-lessons-from-his-success/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

Patrick House, "Biggest Loser's" Season 10 winner was all Southern charm on Wednesday. He was not only grateful for his win, but also the ability to turn his life around get his family back on solid financial footing after nearly a year of unemployment.

Patrick came out on top last night at the season finale, losing a total of 181 pounds and 45.25 percent of his total body weight.

That's Fit: How do you feel about your win?
Patrick House: Winning that money meant getting my family back up on their feet. Knowing that if I could win I'd have my health back and have my family do a 180 and start heading back in the right direction kept me focused.

TF: Tell us about your new job.
PH: I'll be working with Mindstream Academy, which opens in January. We'll be working with kids for four-month periods in South Carolina. They'll continue their curriculum at their home schools and add in things like equine therapy, fitness and motivation at our campus.

TF: You'll be moving for your new job, what kind of house will you be looking for?
PH: I'm looking at a lot of different things now [compared to] when I bought my first house. Before I thought, 'do I have a room with a pool table and a bar and a big patio for a grill?' But now there's other aspects. Now I'd like to have a room where I can have a gym with a really good treadmill. Bob gave me some really good interval training on the treadmill with jogging to sprinting to walking uphill and I want to keep doing that.

TF: How often do you plan on working out now that the contest is over?
PH: I was putting 40 hours a week into the gym, six hours a day, six days per week. I'd like to get to a normal workout schedule of four to five days a week, 90 minutes a day. I can do 60 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of weight training. It's all about my diet too.

TF: Will your workout change in other ways?
PH: Building up to the finale I was doing almost all cardio. I'm going to be able now to get into a weight lifting program. Dr. H said the other day that I was looking good; he said I have 10 more pounds of fat to lose and he wants me to put on about 25 pounds of muscle.

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TF: Did Dr. Huizenga give you any other guidance?
PH: My goal weight is 235 and I'm under that right now, so I'm looking forward to building that back up by putting some muscle back on. He also said I can't do a big jump with my food. I can't go from eating 1,000 calories a day to 2,500. I'll have to progress myself back up and find the calorie count that works for me.

TF: How do you feel about the game play?
PH: I don't have any second thoughts about how I played the game. I learned early on you need to have friends and allies on your side to get ahead in the game and that's what I did.

TF: Mark was the at-home winner and would have beaten you if he'd made it to the Final Three. How do you feel about that?
PH: There was a $250,000 check dangling in front of me and Mark happened to be in the way of getting that money. For me, I put my family first. As for weight loss, the only thing I can say is the team that wins the Super Bowl doesn't necessarily have the best record.

TF: What's your advice for someone looking to lose weight?
PH: Frado and I did a lot of just walking at the ranch, we would go out to the Presidential mile and just walk. Moving is what you have to do, even if it's just a quarter-mile. Start somewhere and then set small goals for yourself. Your self confidence will improve and then you'll be walking a mile, then jogging a mile, then running three miles.

Congratulations to Patrick and his Season 10 win for "The Biggest Loser" We wish he and his family lots of success as they transition over to their new life in South Carolina. Season 11 of the Biggest Loser debuts on January 4.

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]]>biggest-loserpatrick houseseason 10Lisa JohnsonWed, 15 Dec 2010 16:00:00 ESTBiggest Loser Finale: Who Won?http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/15/biggest-loser-finale-who-won/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/15/biggest-loser-finale-who-won/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/15/biggest-loser-finale-who-won/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

"The Biggest Loser" finale came to an end as Patrick took the win like the redeemed man that he truly is. With an impressive 181 pounds and 45.25 percent of his body weight lost, Patrick was a percentage point better than second-place Frado to take home the title and the $250,000 prize.

"The Biggest Loser" gave Patrick back his health, an amazing new body and even a job. Unemployed since January, Patrick's success on the show earned him a job offer from MindStream Academy, a school for overweight teens in South Carolina.

The at-home competition was stiff this season. Four men were contending for the title, and Rick, Adam, and Jesse were all within a few pounds of each other. But Mark clinched the at-home prize with an impressive 213-pound weight loss for a total percentage of body weight shed of 50.59 percent. Yup, Mark lost more weight than Patrick and would have been the Biggest Loser if he hadn't been voted off the ranch. In fact, Rick and Adam would have beaten Patrick, too.

Ada was the top female contestant this season dropping 99 pounds and 38.37 percent of her body weight. Lisa came in second at 97 pounds and 33.68 percent.

The big news on the finale, however, was the upcoming twists. For Season 11, two new trainers will join the cast, and they'll even get their own digs as next season's contestants will choose how they train. After the first week, contestants will decide to either stay on the ranch, or they can go offsite with the two new trainers while getting four weeks of immunity.

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Unfortunately, we only got to see the new trainers in silhouette. The female trainer is a former Golden Gloves boxing champion. The male trainer was named best trainer in New York and is a martial arts expert. The gym for the new trainers included a lot of punching bags and a boxing ring, so I would expect the contestants to be doing a lot of old school training techniques.

There has been criticism about the level of professionalism of the show's trainers. At various times, Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels have been questioned on their use of kettlebells, group exercise cycling, and their overall approach to training contestants by getting in their face and screaming at them. According to IDEAFit, both of them hold online certifications that don't require a practical exam to prove proficiency.

It'll be interesting to see the credentials of these new trainers. While I'm impressed that the new female trainer is a Golden Glove champion, being a great fighter does not necessarily make you a great trainer. I hope she's has some equally awesome certifications to back up the chops she has in the ring. Hopefully the male trainer and his "Best of NY" award is equally steeped in experience and knowledge.

So what did you think? Are you happy Patrick won? What do you think about Ada being the best female contestant this season? Will you be watching in three weeks when Season 11 kicks off?

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]]>biggest loserBiggest Loser finalebiggest-loserjillian michaelspatrickseason 10season 11Lisa JohnsonWed, 15 Dec 2010 07:00:00 ESTBiggest Loser: Final Four Find Their Inner Athletehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/08/biggest-loser-whos-your-inner-athlete/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/08/biggest-loser-whos-your-inner-athlete/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/08/biggest-loser-whos-your-inner-athlete/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

This week's "Biggest Loser" is in a lot of ways the finale. Next week, there will be a lot of pomp and circumstance; there will be tears and laughter, triumphs and confetti. But this week is the last intimate week with the contestants. The final time we see them struggle to free themselves from the last vestiges of their old selves.

For Ada it's about finding a place in the world and making peace with her family. For Elizabeth, it's about finding and using her voice, to be herself without protection or comfort from others. For Frado it's about turning towards his family to support him as he supports them. For Patrick it's about salvation, the winnings will save his family financially and the weight he's lost will save his life. His doctor told him before the show, that as a 27 year old man, he might be dead within 5 months if he didn't start changing his ways.

Aren't you amazed that Frado has gone from 3 shots and 8 pills a day down to nothing? Exercise and diet cured his obesity in such a short amount of time. According to the American Diabetes Association, the U.S. spends $174 billion per year on the treatment of diabetes, which can be caused or exacerbated by obesity. Yet we have such a simple and inexpensive cure for many people: Move more and eat less. Do you think we should be spending more money on treatment programs that include strong exercise and nutrition components?

The four finalists trained for the Biggest Loser marathon. Everyone was successful and Ada (really a born runner who just figured that out) was the winner and beat Tara's old record.

Ada's discovery of running brings up a good point for the rest of us. We all have different athletic activities that our body likes more than others. I'm a runner and a stationary biker. My body just adapts to it and goes forever, but if you put me in a pool I'll be completely exhausted after two laps. I'm just toast.

If you're considering starting an exercise program be willing to experiment with your cardio until you find one or more types that work for you. Consider group exercise classes, dance classes, basketball, tennis, running, boxing, biking, and anything else you can think of. Don't worry if your friends don't like it. It's about finding what works best for you.

I'm looking forward to the live finale next week. Who do you think will win the season? It seems to be between Patrick and Frado, or do you disagree?

Who do you want to be the third finalist? Ada or Elizabeth?

More on That's Fit:
Mark and Brendan talk about who they think will win it all.
Tips on Becoming a Runner
Exercising with Diabetes

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]]>biggest loser finalebiggest-loserfinal fourFinalFourLisa JohnsonWed, 08 Dec 2010 12:00:00 ESTThe Biggest Loser Interview: Brendan and Mark Miss the Final Fourhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/01/the-biggest-loser-brendan-and-mark-just-miss-the-final-4/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/01/the-biggest-loser-brendan-and-mark-just-miss-the-final-4/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/12/01/the-biggest-loser-brendan-and-mark-just-miss-the-final-4/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

It always hurts when contestants almost get to the final four of "The Biggest Loser" and then don't quite make it. But both Mark and Brendan were in great spirits today when That's Fit talked to them about their journey and competing for the at home prize of $100,000.

Brendan fell below the red line and was immediately eliminated from the game on Tuesday night. Mark fell below the yellow line with Elizabeth and was voted off because he was such a threat to others when it came go the grand prize.

That's Fit: Mark how did it feel to not make it to the Final Four?
I was in a funk for a little bit. It took about a week to get over it. But you can see how much weight I've taken off. I have that motivation to keep taking it off and get that at-home title. That's what's been driving me the entire time.

TF: Brendan, how does it feel to be cast as the villain?
I went there to change my life and as soon as I got there I did the things I needed to do to prolong my stay. But I did a lot of good too: I gave money to Warriors in Pink, I helped Patrick win a car, I gave letters from home away. People see your true colors after a while, a true villain wouldn't give their money away.

TF: Mark, how often do you work out at home?
I try to get in four to five hours of working out at least two sessions, if not three sessions a day. I do about two to two-and-a-half hours of intense [workouts] and the rest is slow-burn cardio workouts. I'm doing a lot more cardio with light circuit weights so I don't lose all my muscle mass.

TF: Brendan, what's one piece of advice you can offer people?
We worked out for eight to 10 hours a day on the ranch, but only an hour or two is really intense, if you watch the guys who stayed around the longest they walk all day, all morning and all night. If you want to do it at home, just walk.

TF: Mark, what piece of advice would you give?
I would say the main thing, all you have to do is walk. That's what I always tell people, just keep moving, just move, move, move, move.

TF: Mark, who's your competition for the at-home prize?
Brendan is a workhorse so he's a threat, Adam also killed it in the gym and was really taking off weight and Rick as well, those three are three of the hardest working people.

TF: Brendan, who do you think will win from the Final Four?
Ada was almost at her goal weight so I think it's between Patrick and Frado.

Both contestants are looking forward to the finale and getting on to the next stage of their life. Mark has quit his job as a bartender and is looking forward to starting a career encouraging others to live a better life. Brendan is still working with disadvantaged kids in the Boston school system as a teacher and coach and hopes to continue to encourage them towards their dreams and a college education. By the way ladies, both men are single.

The finalists this year are Patrick, Frado, Ada and Elizabeth. We'll see who wins next week. Who do you want to win? Who do you think has the best chance?

More on That's Fit:
Jessica from Biggest Loser finds her confidence
Why walking is so good for weight loss
Circuit Training sizzles calories

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]]>biggest loserbiggest-loserbrendanmarkLisa JohnsonWed, 01 Dec 2010 17:00:00 ESTThe Biggest Loser: Sugar Highs and Trainer Lowshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2010/11/10/the-biggest-loser-sugar-highs-and-trainer-lows/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/11/10/the-biggest-loser-sugar-highs-and-trainer-lows/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/11/10/the-biggest-loser-sugar-highs-and-trainer-lows/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

I'm just going to come right out and say it. Screaming at someone and telling them to get off the show is not a great way to motivate people. Jillian Michaels was completely out of line to go after Lisa after she pushed herself to a successful eight-pound weight loss.

Lisa's desire to go home has been a struggle throughout this entire season. I too have rolled my eyes at her seeming ability to cave at the drop of the hat. The slightest obstacle and she wants to run home under the covers and hide. But I always wonder how much producers edit the weekly footage to skew a person to the "character" they want them to be portrayed. Given the fight that broke out at the weigh-in and Lisa's candid moments talking about her struggle Jillian's accusation seems to be true. She's "60 percent here, 40 percent at home."

The thing is, Jillian started yelling at her right when it seems she's breaking through. She's getting it, she pushed herself, she lost weight. I didn't see her throw her hands up and I'm sure the producers would have edited such a clip with glee, honing in on their point. But Jillian didn't push her, instead, she pushed her out the door. "Then volunteer your space to Aaron and go home, throw the weigh-in and leave!" she yelled at Lisa.

That is not cool.

Trainer Lows
I get that this is reality TV and not a real gym with a real trainer and a real client. But if I ever saw one of my instructors talk to one of my clients like that, they'd be fired on the spot. Personal training is a fine art that balances, science, nutrition and a little dose of psychology.

It is not our job to scream at people and make them feel worse. As trainers it's our job to nudge people along the continuum towards better health. We encourage, cajole, flatter, support and push. We don't tear down, belittle, and discourage. I was appalled at what Jillian did. But maybe that's just more editing from the producers, what do you think?

The show switched to teams this week, a food challenge left Brendan in charge to choose pairs: Elizabeth and Lisa, Ada and Jessica, Mark and Frado, Jesse and Aaron and Patrick and himself. The bottom two teams fell below the yellow line and one team was voted off. Everyone started digging in pretty deep in their workouts especially since last week's weigh in was "the worst in Biggest Loser history." The week at Camp Pendleton was great for getting people out of their fitness ruts but not so great for the mess hall.

Sugar Highs
The best part of this week's show was highlighting how much sugar is in our diet. The average American eats 150 pounds of sugar per year. Basically a whole human worth of sugar, yikes! The challenge highlighted it quite graphically with 150 pounds worth of sugar cubes that the contestants had to stack five feet high as teams. Jessica and Ada won the challenge and will receive free trips for themselves and three others to go to the Biggest Loser fitness ranches.

The weigh-in was tense as the teams had to rely on each other to pull through. Jessica was a surprise with a 12-pound weight loss, losing double what her teammate "Ada the Terminada" lost. A really dramatic weight loss was Patrick with 19 pounds and Brendan with 18 pounds handily winning the weigh-in. Mark is the first Biggest Loser this year to hit the 100-pound goal, a big accomplishment for anyone.

The fight occurred during the weigh-in and almost everyone got involved. Jesse had to stand between Frado and Aaron and keep them separated as the swears went flying and host Ali Sweeney finally got things back under control. The two teams at the bottom were Elizabeth and Lisa and Aaron and Jesse. Aaron lost 14 pounds last week, but only four this week, a bad week to hit a plateau.

So the final vote was to send home the threats Aaron and Jesse. With Aaron out of the game the triumvirate of Patrick, Brendan and Frado look pretty unstoppable. They decided to do the reveal of Aaron and Jesse live with Bob at Aaron's house in Ohio. I have to say it was a little flat. I kinda like the montages with the voice overs of the contestants as they work hard at home. They both looked great though, it's amazing how far they've come! The finale is only a few weeks away now so we'll be seeing more and more dramatic reveals.

What did you think of this week's how? Do you think it was okay for Jillian to yell at Lisa like that? What about Bob's on-the-fence attitude? What do you think about eating 150 pounds of sugar per year? Do you read labels to see how much sugar is actually in there?

Leave your thoughts in the comments.

More on That's Fit:
The Biggest Loser at Camp Pendleton
Sugar, Not just Bad for your Waistline
Tips for Find the Right Personal Trainer

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]]>biggest-loserbob harperjillian michaelsseason 10Lisa JohnsonWed, 10 Nov 2010 10:00:00 ESTBiggest Loser: Too Fat to Fight?http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/11/03/biggest-loser-too-fat-to-fight/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/11/03/biggest-loser-too-fat-to-fight/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/11/03/biggest-loser-too-fat-to-fight/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

The elections last night forced a brief, 60-minute show for NBC's "The Biggest Loser." So we got the fastest (and worst!) weigh-in ever and a blitz of workouts and one grueling three-mile Marine Corps challenge.

The contestants were immediately shipped off to Camp Pendleton for a week of Marine boot camp. We saw a 5 a.m. wake up with a boot camp-style workout complete with rifles. The challenge was a three-mile obstacle course race that included pushing a huge military truck, carrying a "fallen" soldier, and scooting under obstacles on their bellies.

Elizabeth, for the second time this season, passed out cold. "For the second time I watched her eyes roll back in her head," said Brendan. Her struggle caused the black team to lose the challenge, the blue team won calls home. She recovered and finished leaving her feeling strong and focused. Her team respected her for pushing through.

You might think that the contestants, despite their successful weight loss so far, are too "fat to fight." But given the statistics on teen and young adult obesity you'd be surprised how many Americans aren't fit enough for the military.

70 percent of recruits failed the physical test to enter the military in 2008. A 17- to 19- year old male recruit needs to do 50 sit ups in two minutes, 45 push ups in two minutes and run 1.5 miles in less than 12:30 to receive probationary status as a recruit. It's gotten to the point that the military is considering "fat camps" for recruits and top doctors recently suggested people looking to lose weight and enter the military consider going vegetarian.

What do you think about obesity and the military? Can American keep it's edge if we can't recruit enough healthy recruits?

There wasn't a lot of exercise to critique this show, only one lonely sprint on a treadmill and a few calisthenics from the military crew leading the contestants. But one thing is important to note. The food was not so healthy. The contestants ate like average recruits and most of them had bad weigh-ins with three contestants (Frado, Elizabeth and Jesse) actually gaining weight. The contestants and trainers mentioned a lot of starchy and salty foods, which will certainly make it difficult to lose weight.

I expect to see some big losses on the scale next week as they work out the salt and get back on the super healthy, low-calorie diets that they're following.

What do you think about how the food effected the contestants?

In the end, the black team lost the weigh in and voted off Anna. The teams are currently tied at five members each as they head back to the ranch. Anna was looking very sassy with her 80-pound weight loss at the update. It was good to see her being successful at home.

More on That's Fit:
Are You Bored with the Biggest Loser?
Escape to a Boot Camp Retreat
Obesity and the Military

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]]>biggest-loserboot campmarine corpsMarineCorpsLisa JohnsonWed, 03 Nov 2010 10:00:00 ESTBiggest Loser: Are You Bored?http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/27/biggest-loser-are-you-bored/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/27/biggest-loser-are-you-bored/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/27/biggest-loser-are-you-bored/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

Did anyone else think this week's Biggest Loser seem a bit, um, boring? They have been trying to mix things up this season to stay fresh, but in Season 10 that's pretty hard to accomplish. To me, last night's episode seemed to be rehashing just for the sake of rehashing.

The first "twist" happened when the teams learn that only one person's weight loss will count for the team. The other team will choose who they think is the weakest player and put that person up for the entire team. This basically made everyone focus on Blue Team's Jessica and Black's Elizabeth; the two slowest losers on the show. They definitely felt the pressure and started working like fiends to carry their team.

I have to hand it to Anna, the contestant who picked the two teams, they are pretty evenly matched as they battled through both mental and physical challenges.

First we head to the kitchen with celebrity chefs Curtis Stone and Lorena Garcia. They both lead a team to a flavor cook-off. Happy to get to see Curtis and his lovely smile again! The chefs were not allowed to touch the food at all as they guided their teams through three courses. The teams ended in a tie and it comes down to guessing the calories in the dessert to determine the winner. The blue team came within nine calories for the win and celebrated a little too loudly for the comfort of the black team.

Next everyone was off to the lagoon for a bit of fun, Dragon boats! Dragon boats are a really tough workout. The rowing is difficult and a little awkward. You really had to dig the paddle into the water hard and the reach is longer than in something like a kayak. It's an incredibly amount of core and upper body strength and it's critical for the team to work together or you just splash around a lot like the blue team did.

The cook-off earned the blue team a 10-second advantage, it turned out they needed it as they veered around the course and made a 180 degree turn very wide. They won by only six seconds and earned another prize, the right to veto the black team's first choice for weigh-in on their team. A huge advantage!

Once again, everybody sweats it out in the gym, and it was Frado and Elizabeth who both had breakthroughs this week. Frado is finally realizing that his anger isn't really getting him anywhere and softened up quite a bit during this episode. Not sure if it was "real" or story editing by the producers but he really seemed genuinely sweeter by the end of the show. As a local Bostonian myself, I hope I get to meet him someday. He and Brendan are my two favorites this season. Do you have a favorite yet?

The weigh-in was tense. The blue team had two ways to control the game. Since Adam has the weekly pound prize, he could have given it to Jessica but he chose to hold onto it. He missed a big chance there, donate three pounds and be a hero to your team or keep it to yourself and look a little greedy. They also had the right to veto the first choice and, despite the fact they chose the usually weak Jessica, the blue team was so confident they let it stand.

Well that was dumb wasn't it? Don't reality TV people know whenever you get confident it means your about to get smacked? They lost the weigh-in and have to vote someone home.

Again they whiffed it by voting a tie between Jessica and Adam, the weakest and most powerful on the team. The black team came in and quickly dispatched Adam and his four-pound advantage back to where he came from.

There was a great makeover of Adam! He's started the season at 402 and was at 264 with his check-in segment. He looked great and had moved to Kansas to be near his football playing brother and to train with the team. He was also paying it forward by working with the local YMCA to help others battle their obesity demons. Major props to Adam for that one.

What did you think of this weeks' episode? Was it exciting or more of the same old, same old? Was Adam a smart choice to eliminate? What should the blue team do to make better decisions?

More on That's Fit:
Biggest Loser: Can You Lose as Much at Home?
Is the Biggest Loser Still Worth Watching?
Row Your Way to Fitness

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]]>biggest-losercurtis stonedragon boatsseason 10weight lossLisa JohnsonWed, 27 Oct 2010 10:30:00 ESTBiggest Loser: Can You Lose the Same at Home?http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/20/biggest-loser-can-you-lose-the-same-at-home/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/20/biggest-loser-can-you-lose-the-same-at-home/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/20/biggest-loser-can-you-lose-the-same-at-home/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton/NBC

NBC's "The Biggest Loser" was right down to business this week. Bringing back an at-home contestant and grinding it out at the gym.

The show opened with a weigh in for the five contestants who didn't make it onto the ranch during the episode one challenges. Anna was the winner with a middle-of-the-pack weight loss of 11.82 percent. Rick was the highest overall with 15.41 percent total weight loss.

"That's almost 10 pounds a week," said Adam. "We're going to have to step our game up."

I was impressed that with very little help, and living her life as usual with all the responsibilities we all have Anna was the eighth highest weight loss loser overall with the ranch contestants. Makes you wonder if the really need the Biggest Loser to have significant weight loss doesn't it?

After Anna earned her spot host Ali Sweeney announced that Anna would be picking the blue and black teams. It was a lot of pressure, but she pretty much went with everyone's requests to put the teams together. As usual, blue went to Bob and black went to Jillian. The odd man out was Patrick who wanted to be on the black team. He'd join the losing team replacing the outgoing contestant.

Patrick has huge weight loss so suddenly he became a prize. The black team wanted Patrick on their team so they began talking about throwing the weigh-in to get Patrick. Jillian heard of their antics and managed to talk them out of it.

What do you think about game play on the Biggest Loser? Is it fun to watch the contestants strategize to their advantage or do you just want to see an inspiring show filled with success stories?

The challenge was kinda lame this week, guessing nutritional information and then contestants had to do physical challenges when they guessed wrong. In the end both teams had to trek up 21 flights of stairs and the black team won. Their prize was letters from home and four weeks of the Biggest Loser meal plan delivered to their door once they got home.

The blue team had a lot of parents and several members of the black team gave their letters from home to blue team members so they could hear from their kids. A very classy touch.

In the gym there were the usual workouts. A couple of quick notes. The contestants were shown doing tricep dips off of weight benches a few times. This is something that you should only do if you have healthy shoulders. It's a lot of weight on a joint that isn't designed to carry body weight, so if you want to try this at home make sure you don't have any joint issues and start with smaller dips to make sure it'll work for you. To be honest I'd skip it all together and use free weights, bands or a cable machine to achieve the same effect without far greater risk of injury.

Jillian had contestants doing push ups where they'd face each other and clap each others hand after a rep. It was good to see her cue "abs up" to the contestants. It's a really common cheat to let your abs go during a push up. Think of pulling your belly button up and under your rib cage while you're doing them and it'll protect your lower back and also give you a little bit of an ab workout too. I'm a big fan of push ups! Do it from the knees until you can do 10 push ups where you elbows get to 90 degrees. Once you can do that try it from the toes with three or four and work back up to 10 again.

Jillian has been under fire this week. The LA Times wrote a scathing article on her being more of an actress than a trainer. This week though there just wasn't that much footage in the gym to critique one way or the other. She told US Weekly that she'll be seeking legal action in response to the article.

In the end the black team lost the weigh-in and Rick was sent home because he was seen as such a threat in the house. In his "where are they now" segment, he was down 120 pounds to 230 and was gunning for 170 by the show's finale. He talked about his at-home routine. Two hours in the morning, work, 90 minutes in the afternoon, dinner and then another 90 in the evening. Could you do five hours of training at home? I couldn't!

So what do you think of this weeks show? Were you happy that they didn't use game play? Or do you think Brendan threw it? Would you like to see more gym workouts to get tips and ideas or would you rather see the drama unfold as the contestants get healthier?

More on Biggest Loser:
Jillian Michaels Is Called a Fraud
Biggest Loser Shows Bad Form
Is "The Biggest Loser" Still Worth Watching

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]]>biggest-loserbob harperBobHarperjillian michaelsJillianMichaelsseason 10Season10Lisa JohnsonWed, 20 Oct 2010 10:00:00 ESTJillian Michaels Fights Back After Being Called a Fraudhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/15/jillian-michaels-fights-back-to-being-called-a-fraud/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/15/jillian-michaels-fights-back-to-being-called-a-fraud/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/15/jillian-michaels-fights-back-to-being-called-a-fraud/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

If you think Jillian Michaels is tough on "The Biggest Loser," just wait until you see how she responds when she's called a fraud.

After a scathing personal attack in the LA Times that questioned the fitness trainer's credentials, Michaels told UsMagazine.com, "Apparently I'm an actress. Shame on the Los Angeles Times for saying I'm a fraud and not a trainer."

The 36-year-old reality star added, "I currently own two certifications, one of which doesn't expire. I developed my own continuing education program for trainers, with sports medicine doctors. I've been a trainer since I was 17-years-old for 19 years."

The allegations stem from writer James Fell who released the no-holds-barred op-ed in the LA Times earlier this week stating, "Michaels is not actually a real fitness trainer -- she's an actress playing the role of fitness trainer on TV and in a line of popular DVDs." He went on to discuss her "regular displays of poor technique and unsafe training practices" along with her lack of credentials to teach amateurs how to use kettle bells in her latest DVD, Shred-It With Weights.

This is not the first time Michaels' training techniques have been called into question.

Just this week, fellow That's Fit writer and Spinning instructor pointed out the bad form contestants had while cycling and rowing. Michaels failed to correct their alignment, instead choosing to scream at them to go harder. The rower ended up throwing his back out.

In another instance, a Master Spinning Instructor called her out for engaging in unsafe spinning practices with "The Biggest Loser" contestants, referring to it as "horrendous" and with a "rampant disregard for safety." And, in a previous That's Fit post, James Fell -- the same writer who penned said LA Times article, also questioned her credibility to teach yoga on her DVD without proper yoga certifications.

The show has long-since been under fire by health experts for unsafe and irresponsible weight loss techniques. Last season, That's Fit wrote about contestants who collapsed and were hospitalized due to dehydration, urinating blood, heat stroke and pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion.

Regardless, Michaels told Us Magazine she plans to take legal action against the LA Times: "I'm going after them. They didn't do any of their homework. They flat-out [lied]. It's defamation, it's libel, it's full-on."

Tell us what you think. Is Michaels a safe and qualified fitness professional? Or does her celebrity status outweigh her instructor abilities?

More Biggest Loser News from That's Fit
Biggest Loser Shows Bad Form
10 Questions with Jillian Michaels
Shred It With Weights DVD Review

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]]>Jillian michaelsJillianMichaelsshred it with weightsThe Biggest LoserDeborah DunhamFri, 15 Oct 2010 12:30:00 ESTBiggest Loser Shows Bad Formhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/13/biggest-loser-shows-bad-form/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/13/biggest-loser-shows-bad-form/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/13/biggest-loser-shows-bad-form/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

Loved the beginning of this week's NBC's Biggest Loser. There were sweet, guilt-ridden cupcakes, low-sugar almost healthy 100-calorie cupcakes and the biggest cupcake of all, Curtis Stone.

The opening was right into a temptation challenge with a pretty cool prize, a one pound advantage. If the winner doesn't use the pass in week one then a pound is added, so week two is a two-pound pass, week three is a three-pound pass and so on, until it finally gets cashed in. Four contestants took the plunge and Adam came out victorious. This immediately plastered a big red target on his back.

It's a good advantage to have, the hard part is guessing which week to use it. Adam could easily blow it and not use it when he should or use it when he didn't need to.

Curtis Stone popped in (he's just got this smile that gets me every time) and showed everyone how to cook a 100-calorie cupcake. His recipe is lower in sugar, topped with a real strawberry, very little frosting and a small serving size. If you need a treat consider making it at home from scratch. After all, who has high fructose corn syrup in their pantry?

There was a sudden elimination in the weigh-in this week. The contestant with the smallest weight loss would be below the red line and instantly sent packing. There would still be a yellow line challenge and a second player sent home. This got everyone's engines revving in the gym.

Couple of points here about the gym training. Jillian was teaching a group exercise cycling class and several of the contestants were biking furiously with the knees splayed open. This is bad form and you can stress your knee. I know because I've been a Spin instructor since 1998. You want to keep your knees in line from the hips and your knees point straight forward, not away from your body. It's always form first and speed second!

Also Mark had a pretty decent muscle spasm in his back while he was rowing. I rowed crew in high school and it's harder to do than you might think. There is a fluidity to the movement that takes a while to learn. Mark was doing alright but was a little jerky in his motions. He also had his knees turned out and you want to have the knees pointing right over the toes just like on the bikes. I didn't see Jillian correct his form but she was screaming at him to go harder just before he threw his back. Go figure.

On a happy note, Frado is off all his meds and had my favorite quote of the night, "exercise is the purest form of pharmaceuticals. Your body will create what it needs as long as you show it some love." I thought that was a great sentiment. What have you done lately that's healthy for your body?

The weigh-in was still midway through and Frado won. Sophia wound up at the bottom with only a two-pound loss and was immediately eliminated. I loved seeing her with her cheerleading squad in her after shots.

Burgundy wound up in front of the doctor with shin splints and was given an air boot and not allowed to compete for the elimination challenge. Frado had the chance to save her but chose Jessica instead so she was automatically one of the people up for elimination. Four people competed for the final slot. They had to roll 300 feet of carpet down some pavement and then run back.

The last person in was Elizabeth and she and Burgundy were up for elimination. It wasn't much of a vote, Burgundy was sent home with a vote of 4 to 1. Her after pictures were pretty inspiring, she had gotten her whole community moving with walks and other forms of workouts. She has a busy life with five kids so she decided to take them with her instead of leaving them behind. A good way to promote the theme of "Pay it Forward" this season.

One last comment. Bob Harper is vegan and has been sharing it off the show with the media. He invited all the contestants below the yellow line over to his house and had a vegan meal prepared for them. First off, it was definitely a nice house with a killer view, his contract is clearly treating him well. Second, he opened up people's eyes about vegan living. It might be extreme to a lot of people but if you take the idea of eating more grains, fruits and vegetables and eating smaller servings of meat you can definitely eat healthier. You might think vegan is totally not your thing but you would eat say one vegetarian meal per week?

So what did you think of the show? How do you think this season compares to other seasons? Are you looking forward to the contestants who failed the regionals to come back onto the ranch?


Other Stories on That's Fit:
Last Week's Biggest Loser
A Great Recipe for Blackberry Champagne Cupcakes
How to Avoid Shin Splints


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]]>biggest-loserbob harperburgandyfradojillian michaelsLisa JohnsonWed, 13 Oct 2010 10:00:00 ESTBiggest Loser: Whining and Surpriseshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/06/biggest-loser-whining-and-surprises/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/06/biggest-loser-whining-and-surprises/http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/06/biggest-loser-whining-and-surprises/#commentsFiled under: ,

Trae Patton, NBC

NBC's The Biggest Loser was a whine fest this week as the second week sunk in and contestants realized that they had a whole lot of work to do. Some took to the gym like a duck takes to water -- and some realized they were in way over their head.

The show opened with Tina and Lisa sparring over who would go home first. Tina, who was in the bottom two last week, was so guilt-ridden at being chosen to stay she actually wanted to leave. Mumbling something about going on vacation with her family she said she was going to "ask to leave." Lisa, whose pink-shirted team mate got voted out last week, said she was going to leave so she could "take care of Ali." Was anyone else doing the eye roll?

I think Brendan summed it up best when he spoke of Tina. "How selfish can you be? There are thousands of people who wish they could be here and to quit like that is just garbage man."

Bob came in as the voice of reason and told them all to stop the agita and start working out. To prove his point he set up a 15-station circuit training and pretty much wiped the floor with them. The whining faded quickly to grunts, gasps and a lot of huffing and puffing. Except for Jesse, Jesse learned the hard way that you don't talk back to Bob. After a few expletives passed back and forth (Jesse started it) Bob went after him.

"You don't disrespect me. You got it?" Bob screamed at him. "Yes, sir," Jesse replied as he realized his error. Bob retaliated not only on Jesse but the whole group.

A little aside here but that doesn't work in the real world. In the real world, at my Pilates studio, my clients would just pull their credit cards and walk out the door and say very bad things about me on Yelp.

I did like that after her meltdown, Bob came to talk with Tina in her room. She showed him pictures of her family and it was pretty clear she was missing them. The talk seemed to work. I think she had her light bulb moment. But the rest of the contestants had pretty much written her off.

Funniest part of the show was when tennis player turned model Anna Kournikova came in to give them a tennis lesson. The girls were awed to see her but the guys had their mouths hanging on the floor. The producers even did funny backlighting to her an even more glamour girl look and her hot pink, skin tight outfit was definitely hugging her curves. I liked her. She was pushing the contestants hard but was clearly enjoying working with them. She was probably rolling her eyes at the editing but she showed that tennis is a pretty sweaty sport and a great workout option.

In the challenge for immunity, contestants had to run back and forth with tennis balls, placing them in tall tubes to eliminate players. The last player standing had immunity. Tina was the first one eliminated. She got the message loud and clear, she was going to have to save herself to stay on the ranch. Patrick, Brendan and Frado all worked together to win the competition and everyone noticed. Frado ultimately won immunity and after the challenge they solidified their alliance. They're all big guys who can put up big numbers so they will be a forced to be reckoned with in the house.

The weigh-in came halfway through the show again with seven contestants below the yellow line. Adam was the highest weight loss for the week with 12 pounds gone. The second week slow down was in full effect, particularly for the ladies, who mostly fell below the line.

The save yourself challenge (I really like these!) was to dig through huge piles of sand for the brass ring. The two contestants left for the elimination vote were Lisa and Tina, the two women whining to go home at the beginning of the show.

In the end Tina's meltdown got her eliminated. Despite the fact that she had turned the corner, the contestants were unforgiving and voted her off. Her highlight reel was great, she was down to 205 pounds and was working with her daughter who had lost 85 pounds. I'm really looking forward to seeing her at the finale. It was great to see that she really did "get it."

Next week two contestants get voted off!

More That's Fit Stories:
Last Week's Biggest Loser Highlights
A Weight Loss Lesson from the Tennis Court
Anna Kournikova on Sweat and Weight Loss

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]]>anna kornikovabiggest-loserbob harperseason 10Lisa JohnsonWed, 06 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST