Ann Arbor's new 'Biggest Loser' contestant talks about motivation and why it's never too late to change
For anyone, these would be tremendous feats, but Lounds is 60 years old competing against people less than half her age.
“I just want to motivate people,” she said, “Let them know it’s never too late.”
“The Biggest Loser” is an NBC competition show in which overweight contestants are put on strict diets and endure grueling workouts in order to lose weight. The winner will receive $250,000. The season—which starts airing Tuesday—has already been taped, except for the live season finale.
This year, the show is set up as a “Battle of the Ages.” The 15 contestants are grouped in three age brackets, under 30, 30-49, and 50 and over. The groups will compete against one another, and whichever team has lost the least amount of weight will have to vote off a member of that team.
Unlike most competition shows, Lounds says her fellow competitors were “like a family.”
“However it turned out, we were all going to be big losers,” she said.
Lounds had auditioned three times before landing her spot on the show, each time getting progressively easier. The fourth time, she was contacted by the producers.
“Everything was in divine order,” Lounds said.
During her first pregnancy at age 22, Lounds gained 50 pounds. Three kids and six grandkids later, she still had not been able to lose the weight. In 2002, and weighing over 300, she tried gastric bypass surgery. She did lose weight, but ultimately gained part of the weight back. She weighed 239 when she started the show.
This time around, she is more focused than ever. Her biggest motivation to get on “The Biggest Loser” was to have access to the trainers, nutritionist and other experts who guide the contestants throughout the show. She was not disappointed.
“The trainers were phenomenal,” she said. “They have a vested interested in our succeeding.”
This season, tennis pro Anna Kournikova and fitness expert Dolvett Quince join Bob Harper as the trainers.
Asked if she was able to take away some new habits from the show, Lounds answered, “I never thought I would look forward to exercise.”
She now works out up to five times a week and believes that she will eventually get up to six times a week.
The goal to one day dance at her grandson’s wedding keeps her on track.
If she were to win the grand prize, Lounds said she would like to “build memories” with her family. She would take them to places like the Grand Canyon and help her kids out when they need it.
Track Lounds' progress on her page on the show's website. The new season of the “Biggest Loser” premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. on NBC.
Comments
Bear
Mon, Sep 19, 2011 : 7:33 a.m.
awesome!
LA
Sun, Sep 18, 2011 : 11:20 p.m.
I'm inspired just reading about you! Good Luck!