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Posted on Thu, Jul 15, 2010 : 7:30 p.m.

Local "Biggest Loser" Pete Thomas helps Ann Arbor area residents lose big with summer boot camp

By Pete Thomas

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Lose-BIG Boot Camp with Pete Thomas

Hi, I'm Pete Thomas from Ann Arbor, and I'm the At-Home Winner of Season 2 of NBC's "The Biggest Loser." For the next several weeks, I invite you to follow our weekly blog as we (my team of coaches, my students, and I) help Ann Arbor-area residents learn and apply principles for permanent weight loss.

Each week, you can expect a combination of inspiration and education. Each blog will focus on one key concept to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. I'll also bring you the personal experience of our students as they blog about their weight-loss journey. So are you ready to lose the weight once and for all? If so, let's get started with the first principle.

Get moving Often my students ask, "How do I begin an exercise program?" My answer is always the same: "Start moving with cardio."

The best cardiovascular exercise uses the largest muscles in the body to strengthen the heart muscle. These exercises include using machines that simulate stair climbing, running, bicycling, and rowing. Cardio can also be done without a machine—jumping jacks, mountain climbers, and high-steppers are some of the exercises I love to hate.

Move faster Remember that intensity is key. The harder you work, the more calories you'll burn. You want to work out at or above 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. (You can determine your maximum heart rate using our heart rate calculator. Ultimately, if you burn 500 more calories per day than you eat, you'll lose one pound per week. More than moving Having lost 185 pounds in nine months and having kept it off for more than five years, I fully understand the challenge of losing weight and I know what it takes. Whether you have 10-20 pounds to lose or 100 or more, my goal is to help you master your mind, manage your mouth, and multiply your muscles so that you can achieve and maintain your weight-loss goals.

It may be July, but your health and fitness goals for 2010 are still within your reach! Stay tuned and keep watching as we witness the creation of Ann Arbor's newest "Biggest Losers!"

And if you're in the area and up for the challenge, join us at our workouts at 8:00 a.m. Saturday at the track at Ypsilanti High School and at 8:00 p.m. Mondays at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor. To receive information about the workouts, send us a blank e-mail, or you can check out our events on Facebook. If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail me at questions@winningman.com.

Finally, it doesn't matter if you've tried to lose weight before and failed again and again. You can lose it fast and lose it forever. Take it from me, there's a Winner Within You!

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 at-home winner of NBC's "The Biggest Loser." He is a full-time motivational speaker, teacher, coach, and consultant. Learn more about Pete at www.WinningMan.com.