The Biggest Loser Series on NBC: Dolvett's Blog

This week is one of my favorite occasions: makeover week on "The Biggest Loser." Makeover week gives the contestants a moment to celebrate and appreciate all their hard work, and to finally see it pay off! They walk out of this week with new hair, new clothes, a new body and a new life!

Despite being off the ranch for two weeks, the contestants still pulled huge numbers at the weigh-in. That's what it's all about! As a trainer, my goal is to influence people to encourage themselves, and to motivate themselves daily. If I can get them to believe in what they once thought was impossible, then I've done my job.

While they were visiting friends and family at home, the contestants also had to complete the challenge of leading their community in a fitness day. This is an important exercise for them, because you stretch everything you've learned just by passing it on to someone else. Reemphasize your knowledge and make it your own! It's like I always say: after being trained, become the trainer.

At this point in the competition, all of the contestants have gotten to a healthy mindset, and they're on the right track to success. That doesn't mean the trainers' work is done, though. My role remains the same until the last second of competition. I need to continue to motivate, inspire and encourage these contestants to understand that they have the power to be their own trainers.

This week, many of the contestants were stressed out and anxious, and they found it difficult to concentrate on working out. In actuality, working out is one of the best things you can do when you're feeling stressed. A work out is the healthiest choice to release stress, so the next time you have a tense day, go for a long run, or even try boxing! You'll be surprised by out much steam you can let out.

This week's challenge saw the contestants running and digging through mounds of sand on the beach. I use sand frequently in workouts. In fact, I use it in Dolvett's Dungeon on the show. Sand adds a resistance that forces you to work twice as hard to run, do burpees, or even jump. If you're working twice as hard, you're burning more in a shorter period of time!

Bob and I were forced to trust each other this week by demonstrating a ropes course trust exercise for the contestants. It's good that Bob and I had to experience trusting each other, and us going first demonstrated to the contestants that it can be done! Nothing says "Do" like doing it in front of those you teach. Actions speak louder than words, and I'm sure Bob agrees.

If there's one thing we've learned in 14 seasons of "The Biggest Loser," it's that getting healthy and losing weight is as much of a mental battle as it is a physical one. As a trainer, I realize that there is more weight on the mind of an obese person than on their body. My goal - my constant job - is to remind each person that they are good enough to take care of themselves. If and when they realize that and put it into practice, then I've done my job.

Many of the Biggest Loser contestants experience a weight-loss plateau at some point in the competition. They'll be dropping pounds like crazy for weeks at a time, and then suddenly their weigh-in numbers will drop or flatten out. When this happens, I try to remind contestants that the body can plateau, but the mind never does. Push yourself! After all, this is a lifestyle. Your body may not do what you want today, but it will react tomorrow! Just keep going.

This season, a few of our contestants are either former athletes or people who were very athletic in their pasts. As a trainer, sometimes it's hard to penetrate the mind of an athlete who has given up. They have been psychologically pushed to perfection, and to be honest, they're often tired of it. I have to find new ways to make the workout fun and exciting! This is the challenge in training people with an athletic history, because a person with a less active history, although fearful, is sometimes so unaware that they're easy to mold.

In this week's episode, Michael received a visit from his family. During the visit, I advised Michael's wife to join Michael on his weight-loss journey at home, and it's very important that, when someone is pursuing a life-changing goal, the people at home join the journey as well. We love the people we love, and they can influence us in one direction or another, sometimes without us even realizing it's happening! A family that sweats together gets together! Building healthy families across the nation is the only answer to American health.

This week brought with it another massive change on The Biggest Loser: the contestants went from teams to singles. When the show switches to singles, reality kicks in. The contestants are reminded very quickly that this journey is their own. They came by themselves, and they are leaving by themselves. It's the ultimate wake-up call! As a trainer, I'm always thinking about the individual and the whole with my team, so I keep that focus throughout.

This week, the contestants are learning how to eat healthy on a budget. Many people think that eating healthy is too expensive a habit to work into their regular routines, but if you buy your green veggies, proteins, nuts, etc. in bulk from a store like Costco or Sam's Club, you'll find that it's remarkably inexpensive to eat healthy and save money.

The contestants participated in a swimming challenge this week, which was uncomfortable for many of them. It's easy to avoid swimming and pool situations when you're living life concerned about your weight and appearance, but swimming is a great all-over body workout. Your core, legs and lungs are all strengthened from swimming, so get into a pool whenever possible!

Aside from the physical challenges that The Biggest Loser contestants face on a weekly basis, psychological issues can have a huge impact on health, fitness and the ability to push your body to the limit in order to affect positive change. Psychological factors are as much of a challenge to us trainers as they are to the contestants who are struggling with them, and it's tough to battle someone else's mind. I get frustrated sometimes and I yell at my people because I don't have a lot of time to waste, but while doing that I take a breath and encourage them that there's nothing they cannot do! Sometimes you have to destroy in order to rebuild.

So far, I've lost two members of my team, Cate and Lisa, to eliminations. Naturally, my first emotion when one of my team members is eliminated is "did they get all the lessons?" That said, I believe in both Cate and Lisa. They are warriors, and I just had to push them to believe again. Come finale time, you're going to see the strength in these women.

At this point in the game, the most important thing the Red Team needs to focus on is not getting easily distracted, focusing on their individual goals, tapping into the inner-warrior that's in all of us and - most importantly - being fearless!

Season 14 is my third season as a trainer on The Biggest Loser, and so far it's been a wild ride!

This season, we have three amazing young people on the show, and we're working with them to tackle America's child obesity epidemic, and hopefully inspire young people at home to lead more active and healthy lifestyles. Having kids on the show changes the energy. With kids, there's a sensitive and more in-depth meaning to taking care of yourself. It's tough to see these talented young people suffering, but that's what the trainers are here for: to help these great kids feel more comfortable in their own bodies, to encourage them to lead healthier lives, and to make sure they know that they can do absolutely anything they set their minds to.

On last week's episode, Bob, Jillian and I traveled to visit our Biggest Loser kids, so I was able to visit Lindsay and her family. We took Lindsay to participate in a cheerleading practice at her local high school. I got to play along a little, but overall I was just a cheerleader for Lindsay. I realize how important it is for her to succeed, and I'll use everything in my power to encourage her to believe in herself!

Meanwhile, our team members had to survive for a week without their trainers at the ranch. It was a tough challenge for them this early in the season. I honestly wasn't sure what would happen with the Red Team. In my mind, it could go either way. But I know my team is dialed in, and I feel that I'm giving them the tools they need to become healthy! They did a fantastic job last week, and I'm extremely proud of all of them.

Of everyone on the team, I didn't expect Jackson to step up and channel his inner-bald black guy!!! I'm impressed that he took charge, and it turned out to be great for the team and really great for Jackson himself.

The contestants also participated in a 5K run for last week's challenge. Many of them would never have dreamed that they could ever complete a 5K run, and I think all of the contestants amazed themselves last week and caught a glimpse of their tremendous potential.

Finally, some advice for any of you readers out there who are worried that you'll never be able to complete a 5K: if you practice a walk/jog every day, you will eventually be able to run effortlessly. Start simple, keep moving however you can, and build up your strength and skills. Put in the time to improve and your body will surprise you!