The Biggest Loser Show Series on NBC: Kristin Steede Blog

Getting Ready for the Big Finale

2009-12-04T20:21:36Z

The contestants are all getting ready to head out to LA for the LIVE finale and I thought it would be fun to give you all a little glimpse into what happens behind the scenes before the live show. It is a very exciting time. For some of the contestantsd, it will be the first time they get to see each other since the taping of the show. When they arrive at the hotel there will be a lot of things they will need to do. They will go to wardrobe to get their finale outfit picked out. I thought this was a blast. They had two rooms filled with dresses, shoes, jewelry, etc. Trying on tons of clothes and working with the stylists to see what looked the best. They will also go to makeup to get their official NBC after-photos taken. At some point each contestant will get a spray tan. They say the lights on the studio stage are so bright each contestant needs a spray tan so they do not look washed out on TV. (These events are in no particular order.)

Then there is a trip to the doctor's office. They will go through a series of medical testing like a bone density scan, body composition test, urine, blood, etc. This way the results can be compared to their tests from when they started. The improvements are remarkable.

While all of this is taking place the four finalists will be sequestered from all of the other contestants. They will even stay at a completely different hotel so no one sees them before the live finale. The first time I saw Helen or Tara since the taping of the show was when they came busting through the paper on the stage towards the end of the finale. I was blown away by the transformations.

The day of the finale, all contestants will arrive at the studio super early. The at-home contestants will be held in a large holding area downstairs. They will do a quick run through of the show. They basically tell and show you where you need to go and when. There is a lot of pressure and little room for error since it is a live show. It is all very exciting. After the rehearsal, contestants will start to go through hair, make-up and wardrobe to get ready for the big moment.

Next thing you know, IT'S SHOW TIME! For our finale the girls were all held in one area backstage and the guys were held in another. They do this because of the quick wardrobe change into your weigh-in outfit. It's so weird when you are sitting backstage and the show has started. You can hear the crowd, the music, you can hear Allison Sweeney and the beeps of the scale. Before you know it... he finalists are being weighed in, the winner is determined and the confetti is falling. In the blink of an eye... it's over. Next thing you know you are sitting on a plane flying back home ready to face reality. Little do you know this is when the toughest Biggest Loser challenge begins.

The Final Four

2009-11-25T21:08:29Z

So here we are. We have our four finalists. I cannot believe how fast this season seemed to go by. It is so hard to fall below the yellow line when you are so close to going home. It's not like you can use the argument that you "need" to be there. When I fell below the yellow line last season I knew everyone was going home the next week. It was tough. It really came down to winning a game.

Thank you all so much for your comments on last week's blog regarding your predictions. I am so up in the air on who I think is going to win this. I do not think anyone expected Helen Phillips to win last year, yet she did. I would have thought Mike or Tara would have taken it. Helen proved to us all that anything is possible. You would think Rudy or Danny would have the best chance because of the amount of weight they have to lose but since this is based off of percentages, Liz and Amanda really have a good shot.

If this becomes a 50% game, which it very well could, these contests are all pretty neck-and-neck.

Rudy would need to have lost 75 lbs at home weighing in at 221 lbs at finale.

Danny would need to have lost 73 lbs at home weighing in at 215 lbs at finale.

Amanda would need to have lost 61 lbs at home weighing in at 125 lbs at finale.

Liz would need to have lost 64.5 lbs at home weighing in at 133.5 lbs at finale.

In my opinion the time frame between coming home from the ranch and before the finale is so difficult. Life is not normal. You come back to an old life as a new person. You have to figure out how to put all the pieces of the puzzle back together. The pressure is intense but we all know what happens to a piece of coal under a lot of pressure... it turns into a diamond. I cannot wait to see who this season's diamond is going to be!

Makeovers!

2009-11-19T17:58:42Z

Who doesn't love a good makeover? The Biggest Loser makeover episode has to be one of my all time favorite episodes. It is so fun to see how far everyone has come. Do you have any idea how good it feels to put normal clothes on after wearing a t-shirt, spandex and gym shoes for months?!?! Words cannot describe how fun it is to shop with Tim Gunn and get your hair done by celebrity stylist Tabatha Coffey. That is truly a Hollywood moment.

On the flip side of that I have to say for me it was a little hard to walk back into the Biggest Loser gym after the makeover. I felt as if the clock just struck midnight and my carriage just turned back into a pumpkin! I had to wipe off my makeup, put my new fancy clothes away and say goodbye to my husband. It was tough. I also knew that the makeover would not be possible if I didn't put in the time at the gym so I got over it pretty quick.

How about that argument between Rebecca and Rudy...WOW. I am telling you there is so much that happens behind the scenes that as viewers we never get to see. There is just not enough time. The next few weeks on the ranch are going to be so intense. I would have to say they are almost more difficult than the first few weeks. Physically you have to dig deeper than you ever have before in order to stay and for some, it doesn't matter how deep you dig because it still may not be enough to keep you in the game. Regardless of when you walk off the ranch you walk off a winner. When most contestants start off their Biggest Loser journey they want to win their lives back and for so many that is exactly what they get. This is going to get interesting. I would LOVE to hear your predictions. Who do you think is going to be a finalist and why? Who is going to win it all? POST HERE!

Records Are Meant to Be Broken

2009-11-12T17:08:54Z

To say the tension was high on the Biggest Loser ranch is an understatement! This week's episode of the Biggest Loser was intense. It is getting so close to the end and becoming a finalist is a real possibility. Everyone is on edge. You are running every scenario through your head. It's enough to drive you mad.

One scenario I am sure never went through Shay's head was losing 17lbs, breaking a weight loss record and still going home! How does that even happen? This game is so unpredictable. Shay crushed my record for the fastest 100lb weight loss by a woman on the ranch. She did it in nine weeks. That is absolutely amazing. I could not be happier for her. In my opinion records are meant to be broken.

One of my favorite moments in this episode came from Rebecca. She just walked out of the gym after getting her butt handed to her by Jillian and she is sitting in her room with Amanda. She is crying and telling Amanda how sometimes she just wants to quit. How she has to fight so hard to go and work out. I loved the honesty. I loved the reality in that moment. For me that was a glimpse into real life. Whether you are on the Biggest Loser ranch or sitting at home it can still be a battle. You still have to dig deep and fight hard to do the things you know you need to do.

Next week is one of my all time favorite Biggest Loser episodes... the MAKEOVER EPISODE! I cannot wait!

Catalyst for Change

2009-11-06T23:43:56Z

"The Biggest Loser" takes the nation's capital by storm! What a fun episode. Jillian stated in Tuesday's episode that "The Biggest Loser" is more than just a reality TV show. I could not agree more. When I think of the issue of obesity in our nation I think of three words I once read in a book. "Evolve or die." We are literally killing ourselves with food.

According to the Center for Disease Control, one-third of U.S. children between the ages of 4 to 19 have fast food for at least one of their meals. "The Biggest Loser" is trying to fight that.

It has been an amazing honor having been part of this show. I cannot begin to explain what it has been like to watch the number of lives this show affects. There have been people who have come up to me and said they have been inspired by the show to change. There are people in their lives, who may have never even watched the show, who were inspired to change. It is like a domino effect. "The Biggest Loser" is the catalyst this nation has needed for a long time.

It Is a Choice

2009-11-02T18:24:59Z

Was there a dry eye in America on Tuesday night? What an amazing episode of The Biggest Loser. The things Abby has been through in her life really puts things into perspective. Life is so short. It is so unpredictable. We all know that, but sometimes I think we forget.

There was a lot of talking about choices this week. Which reminded me of a moment I had this summer. I came across a picture of myself from last years 4th of July cookout. When I looked at that picture, I could not figure out what surprised me more, the fact that I had changed so quickly or the fact that I CHOSE to live my life like that for so many years. I do believe a healthy lifestyle is a choice. I am not saying it is an easy choice, but it is a choice. I choose to eat crap food. I choose to not exercise. I also choose to complain about not being able to lose weight and about trying "everything." Yet now looking back I am not sure how much I actually committed myself to the process.

The Biggest Loser taught me what it takes to live a healthy lifestyle. It takes commitment, sacrifice, strength, resilience, focus and much more. It does not come easy for me. I have to work for it every single day. If you are looking to make a change in your life remember this, "Successful people do what unsuccessful people don't."

Welcome Home!

2009-10-21T21:53:03Z

Coming home after being on the ranch is a very interesting thing to experience. There are temptations EVERYWHERE! I have said over and over again that it's easy to resist temptation when there is a camera in your face and you know millions of people will be watching. Take that camera away and it's not so easy anymore. When you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle you have to be strong. You have to find some way to tap into your willpower and resist temptation. The temptations will always be there, that will never change but the way you deal with them can change.

What's even more fascinating is that is while on the ranch you change so much and you feel like a whole new person only when you come home you find out that not much else has changed. Whether you are a Biggest Loser contestant or someone trying to change your life style at home we have to come to grips with the fact that we cannot always change the people around us. We have to realize that just because we have made the decision to change our lives for the better not everyone else will. I live by a motto of "For yourself by yourself". Don't get me wrong, it's great to have support from other people but you have to be prepared to keep going without any support at all. If you can do that then in my opinion you have a better chance at reaching your goals.

Hi ho hi ho off to teams they go!

2009-10-16T00:35:11Z

As a reality TV show watcher part of me this week was yelling, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!?" Why are you all so sad? You still have the ranch. You still have the gym. You can look to your right or look to your left and see your former teammates. I don't remember being that upset when my best friends in high school were in different classes than I was. What is the problem?

BUT... as a former Biggest Loser contestant my heart ached watching this episode. When we switched to blue and black in season 7, I was a basket case. I felt like a seven-year-old little girl who just found out there was no Santa. I was crushed.

Life on the ranch is so different. It is dramatic and blown way out of proportion. You are, for the most part, completely cut off from the outside world. There are no TVs, there is no Internet, and there are no phones. The relationships the contestants have with each other (and the trainers) are intensified and they are not normal.

I was an emotional wreck when I arrived on the ranch. I lived my life in denial, I numbed myself with food and I was completely oblivious to who I was and who I wanted to be. I was removed from my comfortable environment that I had created to accommodate my body and put into a completely different environment. It was scary and it was hard. The only thing we really had to comfort us was each other. This is why I feel the team splits are as dramatic as they appear to be. There is so much going on emotionally. If we were to look at the Biggest Loser experience and compare it to the cycle of life, I would have to say going to blue and black is like going through puberty!

Turning the Tables

2009-10-09T00:35:39Z

Boy, how the tables have turned. It is so amazing for me to sit back and watch Daniel compete in this season of The Biggest Loser. Last season, he was the heaviest contestant in Biggest Loser history. He was competing against people with athletic ability much greater than his own. What a difference a few months makes. He went from being an underdog last season to being a front-runner this season. He was the first one to cross the finish line in the one-mile race in the season premiere and won immunity this week. It is so amazing to watch and he really does send a great message. Despite your current circumstances, what you are up against, who you are today and who you were in the past, YOU CAN CHANGE! Daniel proves that to all of us.

I am really starting to get emotional watching this season. Not only because the players' stories are so fascinating but also because it brings up so many memories for me. Bob, Jillian, last-chance workouts, weigh-ins, eliminations. It all feels like a dream now. I felt like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and each person on the ranch was a character. Someone was the Scarecrow, The Cowardly Lion, The Tin Man and even the Wicked Witch of the West. Now that I have woken up I realize I have learned something special from each one of these characters.

Do we clap?

2009-10-01T22:16:20Z

WOW... actions speak louder than words. I think it is pretty clear how the contestants feel about Tracey. An 11-pound weight loss and no applause says a lot. After all of the moves and decisions Tracey made tonight one of my favorite moves actually came from Bob Harper and his, what I like to call, "Do We Clap?" move. If you go back and watch it you will totally laugh!

I can tell you this, life on the ranch is not "normal." You are completely submerged into a game and at times you feel like you are fighting for your life. Some temptations on the ranch are very tough especially when it comes to power. I personally do not feel like any Biggest Loser contestant steps foot on the ranch to solely win $250,000, they want to change their life. Unfortunately you are forced to play the game. There is no getting out of it or around it. If you do not play the game, the game will play you. Tracey made some pretty tough and interesting decisions, which are a perfect example of playing the game and getting played. They are all playing... some just do not know it yet.

Self-sacrifice, although a beautiful thing, I do not think it is always the best option and trust me, I am speaking from personal experience. My mom sacrificed herself so Aubrey could stay last season and the very next week Aubrey went home. If I am Sean or Antoine and I am sitting on my couch 5, 7 or 8 weeks from now and I watch Shay get eliminated, I would be kicking myself in the rear end. Do not get me wrong, I love Shay and she does deserve to be there. In Sean and Antoine's case, it was not the best move for them personally (in terms of the game). A lot of us make "self-sacrifice" which could relate to weight issues. We are always putting others in front of ourselves and not making enough time for our own needs. The harsh reality is that years from now Sean and Antoine, if they are lucky, will exchange the random phone call or text message with Shay. It's easy to get wrapped up in the game.

First Week

2009-09-16T22:50:48Z

This week we were able to tune in to watch 16 caterpillars make their way to the Biggest Loser ranch to spin their cocoons and begin their transformation. It's such a fascinating process. One I know all too well. Tuesday night really was a stroll down memory lane for me.

Physically these are some of the most difficult weeks for the contestants. They are feeling aches and pains in places they never knew existed. (I actually think I got a cramp in my armpit the first week on the ranch!) Their bodies are literally detoxing from all of the crap food they have been eating for years. They are tired, they are hungry, they are sore and they are missing home. Next week should be very interesting!

I would love to hear what you thought of the first week? Did you see anything different this season compared to previous seasons? Do you have any predictions that you would like to make? Will Abby be the next Tara? Will Daniel be viewed as a physical threat because he clearly stated he has been working out 4 hours a day prior to coming on the ranch? What will ranch life be like for Tracey since she is missing out on the very first days? Will it be harder for her to bond with the other contestants?

Answers to Your Questions

2009-09-14T23:05:04Z

Below are some answers to the questions that were posted on my blog .
-Kristin

QUESTION: pinkrattie asked "How did you curb your sugar cravings while on the ranch? I've tried going cold turkey before and the backlash was intense. It consumes me until I get something sweet."

ANSWER: Looking back I realized I curbed my sugar cravings with fruit smoothies. I would take frozen strawberries, put them in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds. I would then put them in the Biggest Loser Bullet Blender (http://www.biggestloser.com/2009/08/super-quick-multi-chopper-storage-system.php) along with some skim milk, a half a banana and a packet of Truvia sweetener. IT IS SO GOOD! You can also experiment with different fruits. Frozen mango is very good. Blaine would use frozen blueberries a lot.

QUESTION: DDMiller asked "Some contestants are portrayed in a very poor light on the show. Even though this is "reality" we all know there is a lot of creative editing that goes on. Are the contestants all portrayed pretty accurately... what we see is what we get? It seems strange that some of the bitterest enemies/rivals on the show end up seeming very friendly after the show. Give us the dirt! (So glad you will be blogging this season...I'll check in weekly... Love you!)"

ANSWER: Regarding the editing, what YOU see is A SIDE of the contestant. Take for instance Mandi Kramer. The Mandi I saw on the show cried A LOT. The Mandi I know in real life is fun, kindhearted, strong and determined. Tara was a fierce competitor but she is also sweet, thoughtful and very giving. Filipe was joking and laughing ALL THE TIME but he was also very deep, wise and spiritual. It is all very fascinating.

QUESTION: MandyLue posted "As a new runner and on my own weight-loss journey, I know there have to be times when the contestants suffer from things such as shin splints, pulled muscles, etc. While I wouldn't want the whole show to focus on such things, it would be nice to know how the contestants deal with the effects of their changing bodies. Thanks!"

ANSWER: I could not agree more MandyLue! It was VERY COMMON for all of the contestants to head right from the gym to the medic's office to ice their knees, their shins, their backs and anything else that needed iced. There were times that they had cameras in the medic's office capturing the process on tape. For some reason the footage has a hard time making it into the show.

QUESTION: MN_BLaddict asked "How much time do the contestants typically spend in the pool? Swimming is much better on your joints than running, although it burns less calories, and I would think that people who are overweight would be doing more swimming, at least initially, to lessen the pain on their joints."

ANSWER: I was in the pool ALL THE TIME at the ranch for that exact reason. It was a way for me to stay active and continue burning calories while taking some of the pounding and pressure off of my joints. I think the pool is a great way for anybody to exercise. The calorie burn for swimming can actually be very good.

Got Questions?

2009-09-10T21:40:34Z

What is it? Why are we so fascinated with the Biggest Loser? What is it about the show that evokes so much emotion? We laugh, we cry, sometimes we may even get angry. I think the Biggest Loser evoked so much emotion for me because I would watch the show and it was something I wanted so badly for myself. I wanted to know EVERYTHING I possibly could about the show. I would search the Internet, look at pictures, read the message boards, read the blogs just for more information about what it was really like on the ranch.

Do you have questions about the show? Do you have questions about the trainers or about the contestants? If so, ask them here! I will try to answer as many questions as I can before the show starts!

NBC Intro Blog

2009-09-03T20:36:56Z

Let the countdown begin! We are less than one month away from the season 8 premiere of The Biggest Loser. Did you see the preview? The show hasn't even started and I am crying already!

I am so excited to blog here on NBC.com for the new season. Tune in throughout the entire season as I share my opinions on the show as well as my everyday thoughts, struggles and triumphs as a past Biggest Loser contestant.
My experience on the Biggest Loser was amazing, life changing and full of valuable lessons. It is my mission to share what I have learned on the ranch with anyone who is willing to listen (or read in this case).

Millions tune into the Biggest Loser and are inspired to take action but I ask you this, why wait? Start NOW! Start TODAY!

Visit my website www.kristinsteede.com for details on how to participate in my fitness challenge. Take control of your life now. You will be so happy you did.

When you turn on your television on September 15th to watch the season 8 premiere of The Biggest Loser, you will already be weeks into your new healthy lifestyle. Use the show as a source of added motivation to keep you going.