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The Biggest Loser - Game Players Get Fat Again

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

Biggest Loser contestants cooking
Photo: NBC
Compared to last week, Week 3 over at "The Biggest Loser" was an upside-down, emotional roller coaster after a relaxing week at the beach. Week 3 certainly prodded contestants with control issues. Read on for the full story, featuring tantalizing choices, another Biggest Loser cracked bone and possibly the most boneheaded game play ever pulled on the show.

A Week of 'Would You Rather' began innocently enough. Alison asked contestants if they'd rather have the trainers or a 2-pound advantage at weigh-in. First person to choose the pounds won 'em. Tracey swam right over the line without her partner, Coach Mo, on board. Only someone with control issues selfishly chooses the pounds over Bob, Jillian and Coach Mo. She took an f-bomb-free tongue lashing from the trainers.

She Didn't Get Fat Pushing Herself. Fans are in a heated argument whether or not all the trainer f-bombs and humiliation directed at players have gone too far. Some say yes, others emphatically disagree. But one person we might all agree with is Liz from the Brown team. She truly needs the trainers this early in the game. "I've never worked this hard in my life," she said. "I know myself too well, I didn't get fat pushin' myself." Maybe it's time for you to interview and hire a qualified trainer. Don't grab the first svelte bod to come along, seriously look for an inspiring match.

First a Hip, Then A Knee, Now Do it for Abby. We've seen plenty of players limp around past seasons, and Laura's cracked pelvis during Season 7 heightened concern that contestants are exercising too hard, too soon. Now Abby is in serious pain with a stress fracture to her tibia, and Dr. H. says she's out of land-based exercises for one to four weeks. But anyone relying on a cracked-anything to avoid weight loss can kiss that excuse goodbye -- Abby still lost 5 pounds eating right and sliding into the pool this week. "If I can get up and do this every day, anybody can," stated Abby. This is the same woman who's now chosen to live a healthier life after suffering the loss of her two children and husband in a car accident in 2006. If you're not ready to sweat hard for yourself, put a picture of Abby on that treadmill and take those first critical steps in her honor and her family's memory.

The Biggest Loser - Week 2 Curse is Lifted

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Motivation

Biggest Loser weigh-in
Photo: Chris Haston, NBC
Over at "The Biggest Loser, " Episode 2 was a drug-free Woodstock love festival, an Olympic opening ceremony, a Beaver Cleaver week free from Jillian's f-bombs. No major fights in the house -- both trainers were a well-oiled exercise and nutrition machine, and the ranch glowed an undercurrent of happy. But the truly big news? The Week 2 curse of pathetic weight loss, and even weight gain, was lifted. Maybe the Chicago Cubs should hold 2010 spring training at the ranch.

Perhaps producers are mopping up after Tracey's awful helicopter rescue on the beach in the season premiere. Or maybe Week 2 was already scripted for love. Whatever the case, aligning the eight remaining teams to work together on the following curious goal was an effective way to motivate, sustain and keep contestant claws in check and those cat-ranch-fights to a minimum. Although it's doubtful any Season 8-er can fight like Season 6's Vicky.

150-Pound Hurdles. In a new twist, if contestants lost a combined total of 150 pounds, everyone stayed at the ranch. If not, two fridge lights would be shattered. No sweaty competition this week, everyone's destiny was on the line. Yet the Week 2 curse hovered like a bad dream -- that's typically the worst week of weight loss at the ranch. Bob and Jillian were skeptical, but Coach Mo said anything is possible. Keep reading.

Why Tracey Collapsed.
No one revealed this week why Tracey dropped like a swatted fly at the beach. She returned to the show under doctor's orders for less-strenuous workouts, yet zero details were provided on her diagnosis. However, a quick Google search revealed she had heatstroke. Her beach temperature was 103.9, she was confused, and in this bonus scene, Dr. Huizenga explained the extra layers of fat she carries act like a coat. Tracey's lack of fitness and high body fat percentage make it that much harder to get rid of heat. Heatstroke is scary. Let's hope the show sticks to an air-conditioned gym for first-day challenges.

Feed Others As Your Scale Drops. In Season 7's Pound for Pound Challenge, Bob reported over 3.5 million pounds-to-lose were pledged by viewers. But the best part was every pound pledged meant one pound of groceries for a food bank. Americans everywhere are running marathons, walking three-day races, trying their first 5Ks to help beat a myriad of diseases. Turn your weight loss into a philanthropic goal -- Weight Watchers' Lose for Good campaign and Biggest Loser's Pound for Pound Challenge are great ways to start.

Biggest Loser Wedding is Skinny Bliss

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

biggest loser nicole and damien wedding
Nicole and Damien on the big day
Photo: Parris Whittingham Photography

There's only one thing sweeter than watching NBC's "The Biggest Loser" contestants reveal their slimmer selves at the finale -- a Biggest Loser wedding cake. Season 7's Nicole Brewer and Damien Gurganious just tied the knot last Sunday in a wedding day to remember.

That's Fit spoke with Nicole on Thursday about the couple's life-after-ranch wedding, upcoming honeymoon and future diet and fitness plans. Regarding her new skinny bride status, Nicole felt "victorious." She didn't have to starve herself for her wedding day or go on a juice fast. She simply maintained her post-show diet and fitness habits, swapping self-consciousness for a gorgeous size 8 dress designed by Amsale.

Trainer Bob and the show's producers were invited to the wedding, but they're deep into another Biggest Loser season and none could attend. However Season 7's Jerry and Estella Hayes and Carla Triplett were on hand to witness the occasion, along with Adam and Stacy Capers from Season 6. Carla even designed the bride's flowers. In true runner-up winning fashion, Jerry reportedly wore his BodyBugg at the wedding. There's no way this guy is gaining back the weight.

Check out more wedding shots in the gallery below! Story continues after the gallery.


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Biggest Loser Wedding
Wedding photos of Biggest Loser contestants Nicole Brewer and Damien Gurganious.
Parris Whittingham Photography
WireImage.com

Nicole and Damien - Biggest Loser Wedding

    Wedding photos of Biggest Loser contestants Nicole Brewer and Damien Gurganious.

    Parris Whittingham Photography

    The couple's cake deemed "Biggest Loser's Prailine Bliss", a vanila bourbon-prailine and sweet potato orange layered cake filled with bourbon candied yams and vanilla prailine buttercream and topped with fresh gladiola florals.

    Parris Whittingham Photography

    Nicole and Damien in a candid moment of joy on their wedding day.

    Parris Whittingham Photography

    Fellow Biggest Loser co-stars Jerry Hayes, Estella Hayes, and Carla Triplett celebrate at the wedding reception.

    Parris Whittingham Photography

    The happy couple looks sharp in formal wear that flatters their slim, new figures.

    Parris Whittingham Photography

    Nicole has a sweet tooth, so she didn't want to go light on the cake -- it's a prailine bliss cake topped with buttercream frosting.

    Parris Whittingham Photography


Photographs Courtesy of Parris Whittingham.

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

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment



helen phillips"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

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Erik Chopin - Life After The Biggest Loser

Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment

Erik ChopinRemember Erik Chopin? He was "The Biggest Loser" champ from Season 3 after trimming his 407-pound body down to a slim 193. That's Fit had a chance to speak with Erik for the inside scoop on real life at the ranch, his secret weight-loss weapon and one new passion -- helping people with Type 2 diabetes.

He's currently the national spokesperson for Health Across America, a national diabetes awareness and screening bus tour to support people with Type 2 diabetes. The 21-city tour rolled into the Bay Area today and is headed to Oregon and Washington next week.

We admired Erik's honesty on Oprah, after she acknowledged her own weight gain and inspired him to do the same, so we asked how the public has received his story. Erik shared the public has been extremely supportive. He is ashamed and embarrassed about gaining back half the weight, but going public was cleansing. He's now moving in the right direction.

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The Biggest Loser - Skeletal Helen Wins

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment


Helen

"The Biggest Loser Couples" crowned a new winner this week on LIVE TV -- the skeletal darkhorse Helen. I figured Tara or Mike would win, Helen didn't have enough weight left to lose. Helen proved America wrong on that one, but it took skin and bones weight loss for her to pull it off. Too much, I'd say. Read on for my takeaways and lessons gleaned from Season Seven.

A Hot Pink Dress, But No Humility -- During Makeover Week, Helen shared she hadn't worn a dress in at least 10 years. Whoa, did you see that hot pink dress? She was dancing her 117 pounds all over the stage in the little pink number, convinced she'd won and talking smack as Tara entered stage right. Someone needs to teach Helen about humility. The blogosphere is ranting with distaste for Helen, many comments read like an Anti-Helen Fan Club. They claim she lost way too much weight, looks emaciated, selfishly shoved her daughter off the show and was a poor winner on stage. I contend she now looks older than her age, and the women at my gym yesterday morning unanimously agreed.

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The Biggest Loser - Final Four Marathon Madness

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment


The Biggest Loser
Week 18 for the final four contestants in "The Biggest Loser Couples" was total chaos. Going cold turkey from the ranch and heading home for 30 days wasn't easy, especially as the reality of life came crashing down. After at-home uncertainty and a marathon challenge to remember (a cameo by Heba), the final four weighed-in and await America's vote to determine the third finalist for the $250,000 grand prize.

30 Day Countdown -- No spa ranch with trainers, no gym out the back door, no kitchen stocked with healthy choices. Tara and Helen appeared especially nervous about being home on their own, while Mike was torn over training himself versus his 400-plus pound brother Max. But hey, weight loss is still their full-time job. Unless you're a personal trainer or deliver beverages -- I rarely see a fat soda delivery guy -- work steals away valuable time from the gym.

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The Biggest Loser -- Fight to Final Five

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

The Biggest Loser

The Biggest Loser
Week 16 at "The Biggest Loser Couples" took one step closer to the May 12 finale. Set your DVRs the next few Tuesdays to watch the final five jockey for a shot at an anti-obesity $250,000. This week offered memorable diet and fitness tips, including one tricky Fitness and Food Trivia Quiz. Read on for all the fun including Bob's KitchenCam, one player's milestone weigh-in, and a diet and fitness tip where the phrase 'deck of cards' doesn't refer to a right-size serving of lean protein.

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The Biggest Loser - Mega Sugar Buzz

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment


The Biggest Loser
Week 14 at "The Biggest Loser Couples" has slimmed down to eight finalists, but many of them haven't shaken the poor food habits that landed them a spot on the show. Sugar impulse control is a tough hurdle for all of us. Read on as The Godfather Ron confronts Filipe and Sione, alliance paranoia revs up and players run steps at The Rose Bowl to make up for one disastrous sugar Temptation.

Bad Blood -- Ron and son Mike are angry Filipe and Sione flipped their votes against Ron last week. Contestants (and producers) are dramatically serving Ron up as an Italian mafioso. He's smart and manipulative, but has a bum knee -- not exactly Don-like. Let's see if he gets what he wants -- that $250,000 prize for Mikey.

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The Biggest Loser - Past Champs Skinny As Ever

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

The Biggest Loser
Ali Vincent
Week 13 at "The Biggest Loser Couples" wasn't all bad luck on the ranch, but perhaps this week's twist was unfair. Three contestants eliminated early in the game -- Estella, David and Nicole -- paid a visit to weigh in for a shot to return. Most weight dropped won. If that doesn't motivate contestants sent home in the first few weeks, I don't know what will. Read on for the most powerful Trainer Tip to date yet, an update on Ron's ambulance ride and an inspiring visit from gorgeous, skinny past champs, Ali and Michelle.

She Lost One-Third of Herself -- Estella, David and Nicole all jumped on the scale. While Estella looks like a different person 45 pounds lighter, David only lost 46 pounds from his original 393 starting weight, garnering a few sneers from contestants. But hey, he still lost 11.7 percent of his body weight. Nicole put anyone's fear of heading home to rest -- she's lost nearly one-third of herself to date, dropping 87 pounds. That's the second highest percentage of weight loss after Tara, no ranch required. But Nicole walked right into a competitive firestorm.

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The Biggest Loser - 100 Pound History, NASCAR and More

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements

The Biggest Loser


Week 12 at "The Biggest Loser Couples" was full of colored shirts, a history-making 100 pounds and a checkered flag surprise. At the outset, nine remaining contestants were handed their original colored shirts back, to everyone's relief. No more teams, we're onto singles this week. Alliances are floating around, but singles delivers a different flavor to the competition. Read on for all the juicy details, including a healthier way to bbq this summer.

Pick Your Trainer -- Like elementary school kids picking teams on a playground, Bob and Jillian's feelings were on display for all to see as contestants picked their own trainer. Obviously Filipe and Sione went with Bob, along with Kristin, Ron and Aubrey. Tara and Laura stuck with Jillian, so did Helen. Mike flipped a coin and randomly went with Jillian. If you have the money to afford a trainer, pick wisely. Don't flip a coin.

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Biggest Loser Marathon Cheater to Re-Run

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

The Biggest Loser
After Dane Patterson (aka Marathon Cheater) was eliminated from "The Biggest Loser" three weeks ago, he attempted a marathon at home with his wife. The show's producers shared a victory clip of Dane completing the marathon, but what they didn't reveal was they drove him three miles in a van toward the finish line.

A big public outcry followed -- this grinds against the cardinal rule of a marathon -- you never, ever say you finished The Big One if you didn't actually cover the distance. Now the Marathon Cheater is attempting redemption, scheduled to run the Country Music Marathon in Nashville next month. I wish you luck Dane. Finish all 26.2 miles (crawl if you have to) and I forgive you ... but I'm still sore at those producers.

Do you think Dane's attempt at a second marathon makes up for his initial false finish? Vote in the poll below.

Will Dane be redeemed with a second marathon?

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The Biggest Loser - Half Marathon Homecoming

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Motivation

The-Biggest-Loser

The Biggest Loser
Week 11 over at "The Biggest Loser Couples" was full of pizza n' sugar cookie temptations tempered by family love and an at-home challenge to remember. Contestants who could barely walk two miles per hour on a treadmill nearly three months ago are now jogging multiple miles as the fat continued to melt away for all but one. Read on about an episode that had me researching Spring 5K runs in my area.

Biggest Losers Head Home -- Screaming homecomings awaited contestants from Boise to Phoenix to Detroit to Long Island to Miami. Initially excited to see their families, contestants worried their week away from the ranch would ultimately damage their progress on the scale. The numbers were kind for some, but not all. In one unforgettable moment, Ron's morbidly obese son Max was overcome with raw emotion upon seeing his thinner dad and brother standing before him. Makes me wish he could have gone to the ranch, too. But his former eating allies will be home for good in a few weeks, modeling just the behaviors Max will need to join a healthier world.

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Lose Your Gut (Biggest Loser Trainers' Tips) - This Week on AOL Health

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements

Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels
Just because our stomachs might be the number one body part that drives us crazy when trying to lose weight, doesn't mean we're crazy about doing crunches or other tummy-flattening exercises at the gym (even Jillian Michaels admits it). Enter "Biggest Loser" trainers Bob Harper and Michaels with their top gut-busting tips, which call for small changes like adding mustard to your favorite sandwiches and fueling up with more bean-based dishes. Read the rest of their slim-stomach tips here.

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Secrets From the REAL Biggest Losers

Diet & Weight Loss


Liz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and author of 12 fitness bestsellers. She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider.

Last week I blogged about a study comparing bariatric surgery to lifestyle changes as a means to weight loss. The recent study, performed at the Miriam Hospital's Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine in Rhode Island, found that both methods worked about the same, though it took more commitment to drop poundage without undergoing the knife. Several of you wrote in to tell me what you had done to both lose and keep off a considerable amount of weight and as I read your comments, I was struck by how similar they sounded to the findings of the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR).

For those of you who don't know about the NWCR, it's a project run by Brown Medical School and the University of Colorado and has tracked more than 5,000 successful losers, e.g., people who have lost an average of 66 pounds and kept it off for more than five and a half years. People who sign up for the registry are asked all sorts of questions about their health habits, like what they've done to lose weight and what strategies they've used to keep it off. Their answers will be surprising to the many Americans who are looking for that secret formula to help them magically shed pounds.

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