“Biggest Loser” $100,000 winner seeks Detroit couple for Season 6

I recently shared with you about the auditions for the upcoming Season 6 of “The Biggest Loser” which have since come and gone.

But, don’t be sad!

Thanks to Season 2 “Biggest Loser” $100,000 winner Pete Thomas, who lost 185 pounds thanks to personal trainer Jillian Michaels and the life-changing hit NBC television weight loss reality show, he now wants to give a two-person team from the Detroit, Michigan area a chance to be on the next season of the show set to air in the Fall 2008.

If you live in or around the Detroit area and want to try out with a buddy to be on “The Biggest Loser,” then please CLICK HERE to learn more about this rare last-chance opportunity to be cast to appear on the show in Season 6.

Can it REALLY be? A television show about a low-carb diet? YEP!

With popular weight loss reality television shows like “The Biggest Loser” in the United States, Australia, and around the world, it was only a matter of time before a television network was gonna be willing to give the low-carb lifestyle an opportunity to be featured and displayed prominently in its very own program. And now it’s here for all the world to see for themselves the life-changing impact of healthy low-carb living!

Have you heard about the new Canadian show called “My Big, Fat Diet” which premiered on the CBC on Tuesday night at 10pm? Oh my gosh, if you are a fan of livin’ la vida low-carb, then hold on to your hats folks–they’re actually putting the participants on a sugar-free, no junk food, high-fat, low-carb diet. WOW doesn’t even begin to express how amazing it feels to see something like this on television.

Click here to learn more about this Canadian television show dedicated to following the lives of six people placed on a high-fat, low-carb diet for one year to see what happens to their weight and health. This you WON’T want to miss!

“The Biggest Loser” 4’s Nicole Michalik still fights the battle

Who’s THE MAN getting all these interviews with the contestants from Season 4 of “The Biggest Loser?” Yeah, baby, we’ve got ‘em lined up for you with seven already in the bag, including the big $250,000 winner Bill Germanakos, Isabeau Miller, Lezlye Donahue, Jerry Lisenby, Jez Luckett, Kae Whang, and the $100,000 at-home winner Jim Germanakos. Today we have #8 for you and it’s none other than Nicole Michalik!

Fans of the show will get a special insider’s look from Nicole at what the contestants do in the down time and on the “Dark Days,” talks about how the editing of the show often leaves out some of the best moments, discusses the close knit bond that is formed among the contestants even from different teams, reveals her opinion that Bob Harper is a MUCH harder trainer than everyone thinks he is, and how she never thought about the “game” aspect of “The Biggest Loser” the entire time she was on campus. I LOVED this interview and so will you. ENJOY!

Click here to read my entire interview with “The Biggest Loser” 4 contestant Nicole Michalik.

Wanna be on “The Biggest Loser?” Here’s your chance!

People are always asking me about how to become a contestant on NBC’s weight loss reality show “The Biggest Loser.” Ummm, how the heck am I supposed to know? While I have applied to be on several reality TV shows before–CBS’ “Big Brother” twice, “The Weakest Link” game show, and NBC-TV’s hit “Deal Or No Deal”–I lost my weight in 2004 when “The Biggest Loser” debuted so I never attempted to be on the show (although I think I would have been quite competitive if given the opportunity to do it).

But I have taken a closer look at “The Biggest Loser” application and asked some of the former contestants to share how they got on the show. Take a look at what Season 2 $100,000 at-home winner Pete Thomas said he did to get on the show (the craziness that he did is detailed in #2 of my interview with him). Season 4 contestant Isabeau Miller said she thought 3 Ball Productions, the casting agency for “The Biggest Loser,” is “looking for genuine people who really wanted to lose weight, and of course, had the potential to be even more attractive as slim people.” So use that as your guide if you are interested in being on the show.

Remember, just BE YOURSELF and let your personality shine through (of course, you have to HAVE a personality first, ya know?!). Look at Season 4 contestant Jez Luckett, for example. He set up his own web site with cute little graphics and writings that showed the producers he deserved this golden opportunity to show America he has what it takes.

Of course, personality only gets you so far–the casting directors also want competitiveness. Jim Germanakos, also from Season 4 and the $100,000 at-home winner that year, said in my interview with him that both he and his brother Bill (who was the $250,000 grand prize winner of Season 4) have the competitive juices flowing and had a simple philosophy for the show: “First we try to beat each other and then we try to beat everyone else.” It’s a great template for future contestants to think about.

So do you think you have what it takes to be on Season 6 of “The Biggest Loser” set to begin taping in the early summer 2008 and airing this Fall on NBC? If so, then CLICK HERE to learn more about the open casting calls that are taking place in February and March as well as how you and your teammate (yes, they are doing couples again for Season 6) can make a video telling the casting company why you should be considered for the show. GOOD LUCK!!!

Jim Germanakos was the at-home $100,000 winner of “The Biggest Loser” 4

I’ve got yet another interview with one of the contestants from “The Biggest Loser” 4 today and it’s with the $100.000 at-home winner Jim Germanakos! He’s the twin brother of Bill Germanakos who was the grand prize winner of $250,000 on the show and has quite a bit to share about how “The Biggest Loser” experience changed his life for the better.

You’ll find out some pretty interesting information in Jim’s interview today, including how HE was the one who actually got his brother Bill on the show, the betrayal he felt when he was voted off instead of Isabeau, and how his perspective on life has changed more than he could have ever imagined. Jim’s a thought-provoking, introspective kinda guy and I am pleased to share my interview with him for you today!

If you missed any of my previous interviews with the contestants from Season 4, then please visit my “Biggest Loser” links page to access them.

Click here to access my full interview with “The Biggest Loser” 4 contestant Jim Germanakos.

Kae Whang lost nearly 100 pounds, but gained so much more!

In the past couple of weeks, we’ve heard from quite a few contestants from Season 4 of “The Biggest Loser” including the $250,000 winner Bill Germanakos, Isabeau Miller, Lezlye Donahue, Jerry Lisenby, and Jez Luckett. For the millions of people who LOVE this show (myself included!), it’s been a neat experience getting to hear how much this simple little television show has quite literally changed the lives of these real people for the better and I’m so pleased to be able to share these interviews with you.

Next up we have the incredible story of Kae Whang who did some rather remarkable things during her time on “The Biggest Loser” ranch. As you can see from those stunning before and after photos at the top of this post, this is one incredibly changed woman. But those outward changes don’t even begin to tell the whole story as you will quickly find out in my chat with Kae today. She’s been RADICALLY changed internally where so much of the obesity battle tends to take place in our lives.

Listen as Kae is both edifying and instructive about what ANYONE can do to become a BIG WINNER at weight loss and in life. Kae’s a monster that’s been let out of her cage and nothing’s gonna stop her now! ENJOY!

Click here to read my full interview with Kae Whang from “The Biggest Loser” 4.

“Hairspray” star Nikki Blonsky stars in “Queen Sized”

Psssst! Come in closer because I’ve gotta big secret I’m just dying to share with you today. It will probably make me the laughingstock of the entire male population, but I can’t hold it in any longer. This is something I have been meaning to talk about for quite a few years and now I’m ready to reveal it at last to the entire world right here right now at my blog. What is it? (GULP!) I’m a HUGE fan of the movies on the cable network channel Lifetime.

Yep, you can call me a head-over-heels, super-excited metrosexual man because I absolutely adore the quality of the content found among the Lifetime network films. I think they do an amazing job bringing greater awareness to important societal issues that primarily concern women, but also have real application in the lives of men, too. Such is the case with one of the latest movies on Lifetime released in 2008 that my wife Christine and I watched on our date night last Friday night called “Queen Sized.”

Starring Nikki Blonsky, whose breakout role came when she was cast in the lead role of the movie version of the Broadway musical “Hairspray” starring John Travolta (in drag, no less!), Queen Latifah (who she calls “my sister”) and Michelle Pfeiffer, and veteran actress Annie Potts (best known for her role on the television show “Designing Women” opposite Delta Burke), “Queen Sized” centers around the character of Maggie Baker (Blonsky) who is an overweight high school senior just trying to survive until graduation (sound familiar anyone?). In the midst of dealing with the agony of not being like everyone else at school and simply trying to be invisible, some of the “pretty” girls decide to nominate Maggie to be homecoming queen as a joke.

Click here to find out more about the movie “Queen Size,” including video from the stars Nikki Blonsky and Annie Potts, and why this is a film that everyone impacted by obesity needs to see.

Jez Luckett weighed 345 pounds when he started “The Biggest Loser” 4

We’ve already heard from several contestants who appeared on “The Biggest Loser” 4 in recent weeks, including the grand prize winner Bill Germanakos, final four contestant and Nashville, TN-native Isabeau Miller, Hurricane Katrina survivor Lezlye Donahue, and the oldest contestant ever Jerry Lisenby. Today we continue that series of interviews by turning to yet another member of the Black Team–JEZ LUCKETT!

Wanna see what Jez looks like now after losing 150 pounds? Check it out:

As a true fan of “The Biggest Loser” television series since the first season in 2004 (when I was losing my weight), it has been awesome to have this opportunity to provide this inside glimpse into what it was like being a contestant on this popular weight loss show. I’m excited about bringing even more interviews to you soon, including Kae Whang, Neil Tejwani, Nicole Michalik, Jim Germanakos, Hollie Self, David Griffin, Ryan Rodriguez, and “B” Andretti. Look for those in the coming weeks!

Right now, let’s turn our attention to Jez and this remarkable turnaround that has happened in his life after being given this unique opportunity to appear on “The Biggest Loser.” Find out what this outspoken former contestant has to say about what he thinks of Jillian Michaels, the excessive “game play” that has been going on lately on the show, and his brush with the paparazzi from TMZ.com by clicking here.

“The Biggest Loser” 4 contestant Jerry Lisenby lost 110 pounds

We’ve all seen the dramatic transformations that have taken place in the lives of real people on the hit NBC-TV weight loss reality show “The Biggest Loser” over the past few years and most of them have had something in common: youth! Prior to Season 4 in late 2007, most of the contestants on that show were in their 20s or 30s and simply had a whole lotta weight to lose. But Jerry Lisenby changed that trend last season.

As the oldest contestant ever on “The Biggest Loser” starting the show at the age of 62, Jerry was an underdog from the beginning. But he relished in the opportunity to show other senior citizens that weight loss can truly happen at ANY age (as I’ve highlighted in stories like this one at my blog). And boy, has that weight loss Jerry enjoyed tee-totally turned his life around! He’s one fireball of energy and is living life to the fullest now.

Today, Jerry Lisenby joins us for an interview to talk about his weight loss, his thrilling experience appearing on “The Biggest Loser” 4, and to share what’s next for this man who refuses to slow down as he grows older. You’re gonna love the enthusiasm that comes from this changed man and I hope he encourages you in your own efforts to shed the pounds regardless of how old you are!

Click here to read my full interview with “The Biggest Loser” 4 contestant Jerry Lisenby in its entirety.

“Biggest Loser” 4 contestant Lezlye Donahue ready for life now

In recent weeks, I’ve been sharing some interviews with some of the contestants from “The Biggest Loser” 4, including Part 1 and Part 2 of a podcast interview with the grand prize winner Bill Germanakos as well as with final four contestant Isabeau Miller just last week. I’ve got another interview for you today from a member of The Red Team last season–35-year old Denham Springs, Louisiana resident LEZLYE DONAHUE! Although she was the second person voted off of “The Biggest Loser” in Season 4, the ripple effects from that show continue to resonate in Lezlye’s life helping her heal from the wounds that have inflicted her life in the years leading up to her appearance on the show.

As you will see in my interview today, Lezlye has been through the wringer and back–and SURVIVED! Being a victim of Hurricane Katrina was merely “the icing on the cake” and thanks to “The Biggest Loser” she was able to learn how to “live life” again. Whether you have struggled with weight loss or have simply gone through adversity in your own life, let Lezlye’s story encourage you that better days truly are possible for you. Let her inspire you anew today in this journey called life.

Click here to read my interview with “The Biggest Loser” 4 contestant Lezlye Donahue.