Thomas "TC" Pool was born in Salem, Oregon and grew up with a younger brother in Albany, Oregon, where he currently lives. He played basketball and stayed active in his younger years, but he says he started gaining weight at age 16 when fast food became a comfort as he dealt with depression, teasing and low self-esteem. Now 31 years old and weighing 376 pounds, TC is the married father of three children, ages two, three and six. A car accident in which his weight negatively affected his oldest son was the catalyst for deciding to lose the weight and change his life. He wants to be an active and healthy role model to his kids and the teenagers he coaches on the high school basketball team. TC says, "I can't wait to take the lessons I learn on the ranch and apply them to my coaching." TC also hopes his weight-loss journey will inspire his overweight family members to get healthy, too. Once he gets in shape, TC looks forward to cuddling with his wife, camping with his family and going on a long-awaited trip to Disneyland, which they've put off doing until he loses the weight.