How To Tell If You're Ready To Move In With Bae
How To Tell If You're Ready To Move In With Bae
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© The Biggest Loser The Biggest Loser's Megan Hoffman was a plus-size model before auditioning for the 2020 reboot of the competition show. Here's what motivated her to do it.
Contestant: Megan Hoffman
Age: 35Hometown: Simi Valley, California
Occupation: Operations and retention director at a gym franchise
'After Dropping Out Of School And Using Drugs, I Decided To Change My Life And Lost 124 Pounds'
"Weight loss is more of a mental battle than it is a physical one."
Starting weight: 290 pounds
I’ve auditioned for The Biggest Loser three times in hopes of jumpstarting my weight loss. Between the second and third times I tried out for the show, I was going through a major breakup. I thought that becoming successful in something like modeling would help me win back my ex, so I started to pursue plus-size modeling gigs. I got a campaign with Torrid, and it totally changed my outlook on my body.
© Megan Hoffman Megan Hoffman Was A Model Before 'Biggest Loser' Modeling helped me realize that being a certain weight doesn’t define me. I no longer assumed everyone around me was thinking something negative about me because of my size. In the past, I had often disqualified myself from opportunities without even attempting to try. When I was modeling, I realized that my weight wasn't the real reason that I didn’t fight for my dreams...it was fear. Modeling started as a way to try to make a guy love me, but I actually gained the love of somebody more valuable: myself.
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"That's just not true."
Watch Megan's audition video:
Still, even as I was beginning to embrace body positivity, I was working as an operations and retention director for a franchise of gyms, and being in the fitness industry, I knew my health was at risk. While I no longer looked at my weight as a reason I couldn't be loved or go after my goals in life, I could feel it holding me back from taking part in the physical activities I wanted to do.
I love working out and taking dance classes, but my weight means I can’t enjoy a lot of the sports I like. When I go hiking with my friends, for example, I can’t keep up. I once organized a trip to go stand-up paddle boarding, and I couldn’t even get on the board. When that stuff happens, I laugh at myself and make light of the situation. But inside, I’m upset that my weight—something I feel like I should be able to control—is stopping me from living my life.
© Megan Hoffman Megan Hoffman Was A Model Before 'Biggest Loser' I knew I had to get my mindless eating under control and stop putting other people’s wellbeing before my own. So I tried out for The Biggest Loser one more time. My goal this time around was no longer just to lose weight, but to win. Once I was selected, I quit my job to come on the show (a sacrifice many contestants have to make to be away from work for months). Modeling had helped me believe that if I put my whole heart into something, I was capable of becoming a champion.
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"I can keep up with my children, and I couldn’t do that before."
It’s interesting—all the women contestants on the show have one common thread through their stories: putting other people before themselves. When I was working at a gym, it was so easy for me to motivate, encourage and support clients’ health journeys. When I see the thing that’s holding them back, I think, “Pssh, you call that an obstacle? You’ve got that beat!” And yet, I couldn't make time for my own workouts or to prioritize healthy cooking. Like many women, I’ve gotten so caught up in helping other people that I’ve put myself on the back-burner.
It’s not like my life has been bad. But I feel like I’m speeding on the highway, with the windows down, music up, taking a joyride with my health. And at any moment a cop could pull me over and tell me, “You could hurt yourself if you keep doing this.”
I haven't seen a doctor in years. But before going on The Biggest Loser, I had to have extensive blood work and cardiac stress testing done. I was so afraid of what those results would reveal, but they weren't nearly as bad as I'd expected. Once I had more information about my health, I felt empowered to do something about it.
'I Passed Up Huge Opportunities Because I DIdn't Want People To See How Big I Was"
"I'm on 'The Biggest Loser' to start prioritizing myself."
The whole process of getting and being on the show has been about putting aside my fear and pride, allowing myself to be vulnerable, and asking for help when I need it. Now, a few weeks into filming, I already feel better for it.
© Megan HoffmanI don’t know what The Biggest Loser has in store for me, but if my story can show even one person that they deserve to take care of themselves and prioritize their health, then I’ll be happy. I want to be able to live the life I've dreamed about and inspire others to do the same. I’m putting myself out there on national TV at 290 pounds. If I can do that, anybody can start to live a healthier life at home. Coming on the show is taking a big risk and betting on myself; I haven’t done that in a very long time. It's time now.
The Biggest Loser will air on USA Network for its 18th season in January 2020.
Gallery: The most dramatic 'Biggest Loser' transformations of all time
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The Biggest Loser was known for having some seriously impressive transformations. Contestants shed hundreds of pounds-and even half their body weight, in some cases-in an attempt to change their lifestyle and win the $250,000 grand prize. In honor of the series coming back in 2020, we're sharing the most jaw-dropping results in the show's history.
'The Biggest Loser' is coming back. Here's what you need to know about the controversial weight-loss show.
The new season aims to focus more on lifestyle changes, rather than weight loss, according to press materials and host Bob Harper. Critics remain skeptical.The 30-week competition kicks off with a weigh-in to determine each contestant's starting weight. Then, the participants are divided into two teams, with red and blue uniforms. During the course of each episode, contestants participate in a variety of weight-loss activities, including a timed one-mile race, group therapy, and lessons on nutrition and food preparation.
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BEFORE: Rachel Frederickson
Rachel was 260 pounds when she joined the show. She made it clear from the start that she was there to work hard and change her life-and she did.
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AFTER: Rachel Frederickson
Fans were shocked when Rachel revealed at the finale that she was just 105 pounds. She had lost 60 percent of her body weight, and people were concerned it was too much. Rachel later said she lost the weight by eating 1,600 calories a day and working out. "I'm extremely proud of the way I lost the weight," she said during a media conference call, per the Los Angeles Times.
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BEFORE: Allen Smith
Allen, who started at 325 pounds, went on the show because his weight was impacting his career as a firefighter. He also said he was worried that he wouldn't pass his next physical at work.
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AFTER: Allen Smith
Allen didn't win season 8, but he definitely accomplished what he set out to do. He lost 116 pounds, or 35 percent of his body weight, on the show.
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BEFORE: Rebecca Meyer
Rebecca was 279 pounds when she started the show. She made it to the makeover portion of the show, but unfortunately didn't win the overall title.
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AFTER: Rebecca Meyer
By the end, Rebecca lost 139 pounds and nearly 50 percent of her starting body weight, which earned her the $100,000 prize for most weight lost by an eliminated player.
Everything You Probably Didn't Know About Bob Harper, The New Host Of ‘The Biggest Loser’
He was in a popular music video in the '90s, for one. Bob returns to TV this week on the revamped "Biggest Loser," which will emphasize wellness over extreme weight loss.Bob is no stranger to transformations himself. The personal trainer worked with celebrities in Los Angeles before joining the reality show in 2004, and after a near-fatal heart attack in 2017, Bob has been very open about his journey back to health. “Change is hard in any way or capacity,” he told Men’s Health.
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BEFORE: Bill Germanakos
Bill started the show at 334 pounds and competed alongside his twin brother, Jim. At the start, he admitted that he had a "body built by baklava." Steady weight loss, combined with a serious dose of grit, eventually helped him win season four.
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AFTER: Bill Germanakos
Bill didn't mess around: He lost 164 pounds-nearly 50 percent of his body weight. Bill later said that being around his family and kids helped keep him motivated. "The Biggest Loser Campus is a place of hope," he told People.
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BEFORE: Michelle Aguilar
Michelle started season 6 at 242 pounds and said that she worried her weight was holding her back in life. Michelle competed in the season alongside her mom, Renee.
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AFTER: Michelle Aguilar
Michelle ended up winning the title after losing 110 pounds. She later told Access Hollywood that she spent "hours, upon hours, upon hours" at the gym to lose the weight.
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BEFORE: Olivia Ward
Olivia started the show at 261 pounds, and competed alongside her sister Hannah. The opera singer said she joined the show because her weight and polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis meant she probably wouldn't be able to have children if she didn't lose a significant amount of weight.
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AFTER: Olivia Ward
Olivia ended up losing 129 pounds and took the title for the season. She's now a senior instructor at SoulCycle.
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BEFORE: Hannah Curlee
Olivia's younger sister, Hannah, also competed on the show. Hannah started out at 248 pounds, and made it to the final round.
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AFTER: Hannah Curlee
Hannah lost 120 pounds, which was 48 percent of her body weight. She didn't win the title, though-she was edged out by her big sister.
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BEFORE: Danny Cahill
Danny weighed 430 pounds when he started season 8. He said on the show that he wanted to lose the weight so he could be healthy for his wife and children.
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AFTER: Danny Cahill
Danny lost 239 pounds by the end-nearly 56 percent of his body weight-to claim the title. He's kept the weight off and currently runs TheDannyCahill.com, a self-help, motivational company.
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BEFORE: Abby Rike
Abby's reason for going on the show was truly heart-breaking: She gained weight after her husband and two children died in a car accident. She weighed in at 247 pounds when she started her journey.
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AFTER: Abby Rike
Abby ended up losing 100 pounds, which was 40 percent of her body weight. She's now a motivational speaker.
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BEFORE: Shay Sorrells
Shay started season 8 as the biggest contestant the show had ever seen. She was 476 pounds at the initial weigh-in.
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AFTER: Shay Sorrells
Shay ended up losing 172 pounds by the show's finale, which was 36 percent of her body weight. She was later challenged to try to lose even more weight by the end of season 9-and she dropped an additional 52 pounds.
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BEFORE: Heba Salama
When Heba joined the show, she was 294 pounds. She quickly won fans over with her outspoken nature.
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AFTER: Heba Salama
Heba ended up losing a whopping 156 pounds. She didn't win the overall title, but she was named the Biggest Loser of the eliminated contestants and won $100,000.
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BEFORE: Ryan Benson
Ryan was one of the original cast members of The Biggest Loser in season 1. He weighed 330 pounds at the beginning of the show.
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AFTER: Ryan Benson
Ryan lost 122 pounds-about 37 percent of his body weight-to become the show's first winner ever. Unfortunately, he gained the weight back, but he told Yahoo Health that he's on a new weight loss journey.
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BEFORE: Matt Hoover
Matt weighed 339 pounds when he first joined the show. He ended up meeting (and falling in love with) Suzy Preston during filming.
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AFTER: Matt Hoover
Matt lost an amazing 157 pounds, which was 46 percent of his body weight, to become the season 2 champ-and he ended up marrying Suzy. They now have two children together.
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BEFORE: Suzy Hoover
Speaking of Suzy, she weighed 227 pounds at the start of the show. Like her future husband, she also made it to the finale.
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AFTER: Suzy Hoover
Suzy's transformation was jaw-dropping. She lost 95 pounds to end up at 132 pounds by the end of her run on the show.
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BEFORE: Erik Chopin
The 35-year-old New Yorker was 407 pounds at the start of the show, making him the largest contestant the show had ever seen at that point. Given his size, many people didn't think he could win.
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AFTER: Erik Chopin
Erik proved everyone wrong: He lost 214 pounds, which was nearly 53 percent of his body weight. Erik later went on to become a motivational speaker.
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BEFORE: Ali Vincent
Ali, who competed alongside her mother in season 5, was 234 pounds at the start of the show. She worked hard and eventually made it to the finale.
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AFTER: Ali Vincent
Ali became the first-ever female winner of The Biggest Loser in 2008, losing 112 pounds. She went on to write a book about her experience called Believe It, Be It: How The Biggest Loser Won Me Back My Life.
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BEFORE: Helen Phillips
The Michigan native was 48 years old when the competition started. She weighed 258 pounds, with a BMI of 41.5.
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AFTER: Helen Phillips
Helen ended up losing 140 pounds, dropping down to 117 pounds at her final weigh-in. She also lost an impressive 54 percent of her body weight.
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BEFORE: Michael Ventrella
Michael appeared on season 9 of the show. At the start of the season he weighed 526 pounds, making him the heaviest person to compete on the show at that time.
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AFTER: Michael Ventrella
Michael lost an amazing 264 pounds, or half of his body weight. He ended up breaking Danny Cahill's previous record of 239 pounds lost at the finale.
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BEFORE: Jeremy Britt
Jeremy was just 22 when he joined the show. He weighed 389 pounds at the start and had a BMI of 59.1.
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AFTER: Jeremy Britt
Jeremy became the youngest-ever winner of the show, losing 199 pounds-more than half of his body weight.
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BEFORE: Toma Dobrosavljevic
The 36-year-old from Illinois was 336 pounds at the start of season 16. His BMI was 46.9.
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AFTER: Toma Dobrosavljevic
Toma lost 171 pounds to become the winner of The Biggest Loser. He beat runner-up Sonya Jones by just one pound, making it the closest percentage between the winner and runner-up in any season.
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How to Make Mayonnaise in Just 10 Minutes .
If buying the jarred stuff throws you off, here’s a tutorial on how to make mayonnaise at home with four very simple ingredients.
How To Tell If You're Ready To Move In With Bae 
"Weight loss is more of a mental battle than it is a physical one." 
"That's just not true." 
"I can keep up with my children, and I couldn’t do that before." 
"I'm on 'The Biggest Loser' to start prioritizing myself." 
The new season aims to focus more on lifestyle changes, rather than weight loss, according to press materials and host Bob Harper. Critics remain skeptical.The 30-week competition kicks off with a weigh-in to determine each contestant's starting weight. Then, the participants are divided into two teams, with red and blue uniforms. During the course of each episode, contestants participate in a variety of weight-loss activities, including a timed one-mile race, group therapy, and lessons on nutrition and food preparation. 
He was in a popular music video in the '90s, for one. Bob returns to TV this week on the revamped "Biggest Loser," which will emphasize wellness over extreme weight loss.Bob is no stranger to transformations himself. The personal trainer worked with celebrities in Los Angeles before joining the reality show in 2004, and after a near-fatal heart attack in 2017, Bob has been very open about his journey back to health. “Change is hard in any way or capacity,” he told Men’s Health. 
If buying the jarred stuff throws you off, here’s a tutorial on how to make mayonnaise at home with four very simple ingredients. 
