Bob Harper and the new “Biggest Loser” Season
Bob Harper recently gave a conference call interview where he shared his thoughts about being this season’s host. He gave some perspective to the show, having been on it since the beginning, for 17 seasons. For the first part of the interview, click here.
What does Jillian Michaels (former trainer who left the show) think of his becoming the the new host? “I’ve not been able to talk to her in a long time now, because we’ve both been so busy. I can ‘t wait to hear what she has to say about it. It’s been so difficult because we used to be so close and worked together every day, but our lives have gone in separate directions.”
About the “famous” contestants: “I wish people could see behind the scenes because everyone is treated the same. As great as the gym and house may look, it’s tough. You’ve got to cook for yourself, clean for yourself, you’re sleeping in these little beds. Nobody gets special treatment.
How did Richard Hatch (winner of the first “Survivor” and a contestant on this season’s BL) react to the lack of special treatment? “I think Richard was fine with it. It goes back to why you are on the show. It’s about peeling back the onion, when you want to get real with yourself and look at yourself in the mirror, literally and figuratively.”
Can you spot a winning contestant from the get-go? “The people who really stand out in the beginning are the ones who are going to put it all out there. The very first time I put them through a challenge, you see these guys on the treadmill and I’m tempting them with money, and it’s so dramatic. The people who did so well are the ones who are going to stand out. But there’s always that stealth person that discovers themselves a few weeks into it. Olivia Ward, I never thought she would go all the way until about halfway through the show.”
It never gets old to him: “After 17 seasons, I’ve been on the show since the beginning, and I’m a guy that works in the health field. I’m obsessed with diet, exercise and health. It’s the blogs I read, podcasts I listen to. I’m obsessed with it. I’m so fascinated by what triggers a person to go in either direction. It never gets old.”
To those who say they could lose weight if they had a trainer and all the “Biggest Loser” support: “I say that don’t use that as an excuse. I used to think a long time ago, I was speaking to the contestants. But I really believe our viewers now are the ones I speak to now, they’re the ones who get inspired.”
Also, “You can come on the show, work with the best trainers in the Biggest Loser bubble, but at the end of the day, nobody can live in that bubble. You need to take that information back with you. This season, I want to do everything I can to give them the tools. And it’s about taking responsibility for yourself.”
Past contestants who gained back the weight: “It’s about taking accountability, responsibility. The losing weight is the easiest part. But to keep it off you’ve got to change your habits. It’s boring, it’s tough, it’s challenging every single day. I tell people from the beginning, it’s not easy. If we have a 50 percent success rate we’re ahead of the curve.”
More BL stories:
Scott Mitchell’s book about his time on the show
Yes, Scott Mitchell is a Mormon https://chewandchat.com/2015/01/biggest-loser-yes-scott-mitchell-mormon.html
Interview with Damien Woody https://chewandchat.com/2014/12/biggest-loser-damien-woody-praises-fellow-contestants.html
Interview with Scott Mitchell and Lori Harrigan-Mack https://chewandchat.com/2015/01/biggest-loser-scott-lori-said.html
Jackson Carter’s surgery to remove excess skin: https://chewandchat.com/2014/09/biggest-loser-jackson-carter-raising-money-surgery.html
Matt Miller interview: https://chewandchat.com/2014/10/biggest-loser-interview-matt-miller.html
Deni Hill’s Mormon mission in Mongolia
Sarah Nitta’s weight loss tips.
Justin Pope’s weight loss tips.
Jackson Carter’s weight loss tips.
Jackson Carter’s behind-the-scenes info on what it’s REALLY like at “the ranch.”