The Biggest Loser 2020 Premiere- 1/28

I’ve had a connection with the Biggest Loser for a long time. When I was at the height of my struggle with my weight, I didn’t want to watch the show. Watching people get their struggle in check and change their life made me feel bad about myself. It made me feel bad about myself because I frankly was too lazy to do it myself.

That connection changed over time. When I wanted to start my journey, I had a friend who wanted to get me on the show. After I went down a different path, I started to love the show. I loved it because I identified with the struggle of each contestant. I also loved it because I loved seeing people beat their struggle. I loved seeing that moment when they get it! When that light bulb goes off and they are truly changed as a person.

When I heard the Biggest Loser was coming back, I got excited. I got excited to watch a new group of people experience the journey and be successful.

Right out of the gate in this first episode I feel like this version of the Biggest Loser is going to be different. I feel like the people involved in the show aren’t doing it because it’s their job. They aren’t doing it to be famous. They are doing it because it’s their passion. They are doing it because they understand some of the struggles of the contestants.

Bob Harper was involved with every single season of first incarnation of the Biggest Loser. He’s now back as the host. I think it’s his passion to help people. It’s not about being a physical trainer. For Bob it’s about giving people the tools they need to change their lives. To believe in themselves again and to believe they can be a different person. Trainer Steve Willis brings an interesting perspective to the show also. Even though he’s always been in shape, he’s had his own struggles with food and had a very unhealthy relationship with it. He can understand a little bit of what these contestants go through and the struggle they’ll inevitably go through trying to change their perspective on food.

The biggest person that stood out to me on the staff is trainer Erica Lugo. I was honestly shocked when Erica shared that she had been where the contestants are. She had her own weight loss journey. Not only did she have a weight loss journey, but it was only 5 years ago so it’s still fresh in her mind. I absolutely love this! I love that they have a trainer on the show that not only wants to help but completely understands where all these contestants are and what it’s going to take. I think that gives Erica a perspective that no trainer has ever had before on the Biggest Loser. I think it will help her get more from the contestants. She’ll hopefully be able to use that knowledge and use those feelings that she felt herself not that long ago to inspire her team to believe in themselves. To inspire them to push themselves beyond the limits they think they have.

I’m not sure how long this version of the Biggest Loser will last but I hope this is the new way they operate. I hope they don’t just hire trainers. They hire trainers and coaches who can understand the struggles the contestants experience in a deep way.

One of the coolest parts of the show last night was when the contestants sat in a room with Bob to talk through their issues and work on their mind. Bob said to fix your body you have to fix your headfirst and he’s right. If you can’t get yourself into a good place mentally you won’t have long term success. Watching the contestants in this room was emotional and raw it was also powerful. Watching the reactions of the contestants as they were told they we so obese they had a 90% chance of dying from an obesity related illness. The reactions when they were told how bad their sleep apnea was and that they could have died from it. When stuff like that hits you in the face it’s hard to deal with. That’s was the moment of change for me.

A video of me sleeping me and gasping for air after appearing to not breathe for 50 seconds scared me to death. I knew I hadn’t been sleeping well for at least a year prior to that. That video made me realize why. Shortly thereafter I had a sleep study done in which they told me I stopped breathing 40 times every hour. I was in my late 20’s at the time and I could have died any night when I went to sleep. It’s a very scary thing to know that.

It’s scary but it’s important. It’s important to know how serious the fight of a weight loss journey is. The hope is this knowledge will inspire all these contestants to win this fight. Only time will tell. They all had a good first week but anyone who’s been on this journey knows it’s not about the first week. It’s about changing day after day. It’s about not giving up no matter how hard it is. Hopefully these contestants realize they can do this after their first week and don’t look back.

I look forward to watching the Biggest Loser each week. Watching the journey of each contestant. Watching them experience that moment where they light bulb goes off and they get it. Seeing that in other people inspires me to continue my own journey so I don’t ever go back to the place I used to be.

Welcome back Biggest Loser. Hope you stay around for a long time.