“The Biggest Loser: Battle Of Ages” winner John Rhode went home 220 pounds lighter and with a $250,000 cash prize after beating the other final 3 contestants, Ramon Medeiros and Antone Davis, on the big season finale on Tuesday (December 13).

Biggest Loser Winner 2011: Olivia Ward Lost Half Her Weight!

The 41 year-old, who started the competition weighting in at 445 pounds, is now totally focused on keeping the weight off and staying at the 225 pounds mark. John confessed his real challenge is yet to come.

“I had a sincere desire to make this change, but I want it to be a true change,” John said. “I want to keep the weight off. Losing the weight wasn’t so difficult. Keeping the weight off, that will be the true test.”

“It is very much a psychologically emotional battle,” John says of staying in shape. “My plan right now — I’m focused on running the L.A. marathon. After that, I’m going to have to find a new focus.”

Congrats, John! It’s not easy to make an effort and change your life around. Hopefully, the LA marathon will be only the first of many for the Biggest Loser star.

The truth is John’s life has just begun and he wants to be able to enjoy it to the fullest. “Why not live life to the fullest,” John said. “I have been given a new life. I’m excited and I want to continue living an exciting life.”

[image: NBC]

Who Won The 2011 Biggest Loser Season 11? New York opera singer, Olivia Ward, who initially tipped the scares at 261 pounds, lost half her weight (129 lbs) and took home the title of the Biggest Loser, a $250,000 prize and a healthy new life.

Biggest Loser Wedding: Sam Poueu & Stephanie Anderson Engaged

The 35 year-old competed on the show with her sister, Hannah Curlee, who also lost 100 lbs to the final weight of 128 lbs, because she was worried about her health. Olivia was particularly scared when her doctor told her she would not be able to bear children if she didn’t dramatically change her life.

Jillian Michaels Was Overweight (High School PHOTOS)

What brought you to The Biggest Loser?
Olivia: I like to control things in my life, but for me, food was the one area of my life where I could be out of control. Then last summer, I turned 35, and I started to panic. I felt like I had wasted all these years being overweight. I decided I did not want to live another day in that body. That’s when I reached out to The Biggest Loser.

Hannah: I was a college athlete, and all these people had such high hopes for me. [After I gained weight] if I saw someone from my past, I would duck into bathrooms. I was just in a funk. I thought, “I’m never going to have kids because no one is going to want to marry me.” It was just a vat of self-pity.

[image: OK!]

“The Biggest Loser” season 9 contestants, Stephanie Anderson and Sam Poueu, are officially engaged to be married after he proposed to his castmate at the weight loss reality show’s ranch in Calabasa, California on Monday (October 4).

Biggest Loser Romance: Stephanie Anderson & Sam Poueu In Love (Photos)

The lovebirds met on the show, began dating by the third episode and Sam could not hide the admiration he had for his new girlfriend when he was eliminated from the show.

Sam said, “Her go-getter attitude really attracted me — aside from her being beautiful on the outside!”

“You look for a partner who loves you for everything you are and everything you’re not,” says the radio saleswoman. “And that, for me, is Sam.”

Stephanie and Sam, who currently live in Los Angeles, feel better than ever after losing exactly 241 together on the show and are happier than ever as they plan their big day. The two still haven’t set a date.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

[image: US]

Jillian Michaels, 36, of Biggest Loser and Losing It With Jillian, recently admitted that she went under the knife due to teasing as a child. She told Parade’s Healthy Style:

“In eighth grade, I weighed 175 pounds and my nose was the size of a softball. Once, I was sitting at lunch and got surrounded by a bunch of kids who let me have it about how ugly I was -— my unibrow, the size of my nose, the fat rolling over my jeans. It was pure hell. My mom had to pull me out and put me in another school.”

Jillian eventually underwent a rhinoplasty to reshape her nose. She added that plastic surgery is a “personal decision.” But plastic surgery wasn’t the only thing that helped her feel better about her appearance. She also told the magazine that she has been in therapy since she was 5 years old:

“I was a very anxious kid. I had night terrors. I couldn’t breathe. I had a very strained relationship with my father, especially when my parents got divorced. I still try to go to therapy at least twice a week. It has given me the confidence to pursue the things I love, and it’s important that I don’t end up playing out my own pain and insecurities with the people I’m trying to help.”

Jillian Michaels Was Overweight (High School PHOTOS)

Jillian told the magazine that she one day hopes to start her own family, even if it means starting one alone:

“I’m hoping I’ll have the motherhood thing figured out within five years. I was an only child for a long time, and it was lonely, so I would like to have at least two kids. As long as children have love, that’s all that matters, but in an ideal scenario I’d want them to have a father.”

It’s refreshing to hear that this Biggest Loser fitness guru has problems similar to people on the show. When you’re watching, it’s almost impossible to imagine that this 5-foot-2, 120 pound woman has had problems with her body image. Jillian Michaels, you might be the most inspirational woman on the planet. I’m gonna go do some sit-ups just for you!

[image: WENN]

“The Biggest Loser” trainer Jillian Michaels, who now has her own weight loss reality show (“Losing It With Jillian Michaels”), has finally confessed that her life as an overweight teenager was pure hell in an exclusive interview featured in the latest issue of Redbook Magazine (July 2010).

Jillian went through a very difficult stage in high school when she was 175 pounds and her life was absolutely miserable. The 36 year-old personal trainer revealed that karate saved her life and her body. And to prove she is, in fact, now very comfortable in her own skin and at peace with her past, Jillian showed one of her “fat teen” high school pictures (pictures below).

Here are some highlights of Jillian Michaels’ Redbook interview:

On people’s biggest misconception about her: “That I’m a bitch. I really don’t have a mean bone in my body! Do you know how easy it would be to tell people what they want to hear? It would be heaven! But, unfortunately, it doesn’t get the job done.”

On her weight struggles as a teen: “Oh, my God, it was pure hell. I spent all of eighth grade in my classroom because God forbid I ever left. I was terrorized. And karate saved my life. It all stopped the day I broke two boards with a kick.”

On being in therapy at age 5: “I was a really disturbed kid. You know how kids have night terrors? Mine were really bad. I thought sharks were coming out of the drain in the bathtub. I couldn’t sleep at night, every night, waiting for aliens to come. I’m not kidding you: I. Was. Traumatized. And mom got me into therapy.”

On how families react in her new show: “I think they presume it’s a fitness show. And the next thing you know, I’m in your marriage, I’m going to school with your kids. I’m, like, in the middle of everything, and it’s just like, “What the hell, what’s happening?” I’m lying with one eye open in the middle of the night, waiting for the mom to come in and put a knife through my heart. It’s brutal. It is brutal.”

Jillian Michaels Redbook & High School Photos go on reading »

“The Biggest Loser” season 9 winner is Michael Ventrella who started as the heaviest contestant ever on the show with an astonishing 526 pounds and managed to lose 264 pounds (50% of his starting weight!) – watch video below. Michael broke the weight loss record set by last season’s winner Danny Cahill, who has lost 239 pounds.

The Biggest Loser Season 9 Family Team Edition (FULL Cast PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Michael took home the $250,000 prize and is ready for a brand new and healthier beginning. The contestant started the competition with his mother Maria, who did not make it and was eliminated back in week 3.

Biggest Loser Romance: Stephanie Anderson & Sam Poueu In Love (Photos)
Biggest Loser Rasha Spindel & Lesbian Lover Vanna Pecoraro Engaged (Photos)

The second place went to Ashley Johnston, who lost 189 pounds, and finally, in third place is Daris George, who lost 168 pounds. Koli Palu was also one of the winners of the show, losing 188 pounds and taking home $100,000 for “The Biggest Loser” At Home prize.

Michael Ventrella The Biggest Loser Winner Video go on reading »

“The Biggest Loser” contestants Stephanie Anderson and Sam Poueu managed to lose a lot of weight on the show but most importantly they finally found love. Stephanie confessed it was particularly difficult for her to feel confident enough to be in a romantic relationship because she was always seen as “the fat girl”.

“I immediately knew Sam was a great guy,” she says. “He’s sweet, he’s funny, he’s a family man. I was thinking, ‘I wonder if he looks at me as a fat girl.’ Little did I know, he had a crush on me!”

“Steph was beautiful, period,” he tells In Touch. “She was magnetic. I just wanted to consume my day with getting to know her because the more I got to know her, the better it felt for me.”

Stephanie had never really experienced a real romance until Sam appeared in her life and fell in love with her at first sight. “Everyone always said, ‘You have such a pretty face,’ but I was the girl that didn’t get the guy because I was too heavy,” she said. Now they are happily in love and enjoying every moment. Congratulations!

[images courtesy of InTouch]

Former Biggest Loser contestant Rasha Spindel lost a couple of pounds on the show and finally found her true self as she left her husband Edwin Chapman after three years of marriage for her lesbian lover, Vanna Pecoraro (more pictures below).

Rasha told TMZ, “After 30 years, I finally realized I was gay. I have never been this happy as I am now as I am about to marry my best friend and soul mate who just happens to be the sexiest drag-king on the planet. I wish Edwin the best of luck and I hope he finds happiness.”

Rasha and Vanna are now happily together and engaged to be married. The couple has already set the wedding date – August 28. They want a small and private summer wedding. Congratulations!

Vanna Pecoraro & Rasha Spindel In Love Pictures go on reading »

This brand new season of the famous weight loss reality show, “The Biggest Loser”, brings the heaviest cast and toughest challenges ever. The 22 contestants, who compose eleven family teams of two members, will completely transform their lives to lose a record amount of weight under the supervision of trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper.

Trainer Jillian, who will have her own show titled “Losing It With Jillian”, confessed to be worried about the contestants being “too big” (some weighing in almost or more than 500lbs) but is happy to have “bigger” challenges every season. The new season hosted by Alison Sweeney will premiere on Tuesday (January 5).

The Biggest Loser Season 9 Contestant Bio, Pictures & Video Below go on reading »

“The Biggest Loser” season 8 winner is Danny Cahill beating fellow contestants Rudy Pauls and Amanda Arlauskas, who won a place in the top 3 via public vote, on the surprising big final show on Tuesday (December 8).

Biggest Loser Season 8 Top 3 Weight Loss Results:

• Amanda lost 87 lbs – from 250 lbs to 163 lbs ( 34.8% of her total body weight)
• Rudy lost 234 lbs – from 442 lbs to 208 lbs. ( 52.94% of his total body weight)
• Danny lost 239 lbs. — from 430 lbs to 191 lbs. (55.58 % of her total body weight)

Danny, who lost a whopping 239 lbs in seven months, took home a prize of $250,000, while, a previously eliminated contestant, Rebecca Meyer, who is dating Daniel Wright, earned the prize of $100,000 for the at-home weight loss (a total of 139 lbs).

The highlight of the night included a proposal – Antoine Dove went down on one knee to propose to fellow contestant Alexandra White and she said “YES!” (photo below). Congratulations to the Biggest Loser couple!!

The heaviest contestant ever in the weight loss reality show, Shay Sorrells, was invited to return to the show for next year’s finale and face the scale once again. Shay will earn $1000 for ever pound she loses during the next few months, courtesy of Subway (how ironic!).

Biggest Loser Finale: Danny Cahill Pictures Below go on reading »

Only three contestants can make it to ‘The Biggest Loser’ finale 2009. There were four contestants left (Danny Cahill, Rudy Pauls, Liz Young and Amanda Arlauskas), who returned to their hometown for 60 days to figure out how to maintain and continued to lose weight on their own.

Biggest Loser trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels announced the four of them would have to run a complete marathon, for which each got $10,000, before heading back to campus to weigh in before the big finale. So what happened when they finally had to face the dreadful scale?

Liz steps on the scale first. She left the ranch at 198 and has come back at 182. She’s lost 16 pounds, 8.08 percent. Amanda is next. She goes from 186 to 170, having lost 16 pounds at home, and 8.60 percent. Danny, who was 288 when he left the ranch, astonishingly goes down to 229 and has lost 59 pounds, 20.49 percent at home. Last to weigh in is Rudy, who left weighing 296. He’s now 253, down 43 pounds, 14.53 percent.

Congratulations to Danny and Rudy, the first two to take a spot in the big finale! Now it’s between Liz and Amanda! You have to vote here to choose the last contestant to make it to the big 2-hour Live Finale on Tuesday (December 8).

More On The Biggest Loser
The Biggest Loser Resort At Fitness Ridge (PHOTOS)
Jillian Michaels ‘Losing It With Jillian’ New Reality Show (Photos)
Abby Rike: Biggest Loser Elimination & Family Tragedy (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
Shay Sorrells: Biggest Loser Record Elimination (Photo, Videos)
Rebecca Meyer & Daniel Wright: Biggest Loser Elimination & Love (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Liz Young vs. Amanda Arlauskas Biggest Loser Pictures Below go on reading »

‘The Biggest Loser’ contestant Rebecca Meyer was eliminated on week 10 of the competition but she is already a winner. The 25 year-old student not only lost 100lbs but she also finally found love in fellow contestant Daniel Wright, a 20 year-old student (photos below).

Rebecca couldn’t stop crying during elimination because she knew she had to leave her lover to continue battling for a healthier lifestyle. They hadn’t officially announced their relationship, however, Daniel had promised to introduce friends to his “new girlfriend” at the episode’s finale.

Rebecca finally spilled the beans on Jay Leno on Tuesday (November 17) – watch video below. Rebecca said, “Daniel was my best friend, is my best friend and leaving the show we talked for like five, six hour conversations and then, you know, he told me he had feelings.”

Meyer added, “Daniel and I have gone through the same thing, I mean, he’s gone through an even more intense version of it and I fell in love with my best friend.”

Rebecca Meyer Biggest Loser Photos + Jay Leno Videos Below go on reading »