This Is What The Winners Of “The Biggest Loser” Look Like Today
In 2004 at the height of reality television, a competition show unlike anything viewers had ever seen debuted. The Biggest Loser followed six male and six female contestants as they trained, dieted, (and cried a lot) with the goal of losing as much weight as possible.
The show lasted 17 seasons and many speculate that the reason it eventually got canceled was that a National Institute of Health study showed many constants gained back all the weight. While some of them managed to keep the weight off and live a health-conscious life, some of them ended up heavier than they were before. Read on to see how the winners of every season have faired since their time on the show.
Ryan Benson
Benson was the first winner of The Biggest Loser in its inaugural season. At the start of the competition, he weighed over 300 pounds. Five months of grueling workouts and dieting later, he lost 122 pounds to weight in at 208.
Sadly, as soon as he left the show he slipped back into old habits. In five years' time, Benson weighed more than 350 pounds. In 2017 he started dieting again but in a sustainable way, and has taken up running and cycling.
Matt Hoover
Hoover was crowned the winner of the 2nd season of The Biggest Loser when he dropped 157 pounds. He took home the grand cash prize but he also took home a different prize: during his time on the show he and runner-up Suzy Preston fell in love.
The two left the show, got married, and now have two happy and healthy boys. He gained back most of the weight almost immediately after but today he is staying healthy in different ways and recently competed in the Iron Man Competition.
Suzy Preston
What about the wife and runner-up of season 2 winner Matt Hoover? Suzy Preston lost a total of 95 pounds on the show but after the two left the studios, she gained back nearly 40 pounds. For Suzy, none of that mattered because she'd found the love of her life. When talking about the connection years later, she said, "I saw him at his worst...and he saw me at my worst."
Today, despite gaining back the weight, Suzy loves to cycle, run, and cheer on her two sons at their hockey games.
Erik Chopin
Since winning the 3rd season of The Biggest Loser, Erik Chopin has continued to struggle with his weight. To win the season, he dropped an incredible 214 pounds. Then, within two years, Chopin said he had gained it all back plus another 25 pounds.
He went on to struggle re-losing the weight in the documentary Confessions of a Reality Show Loser. As of 2011, he's working as a spin instructor and has brought his weight down to 245 pounds.
Bill Germanakos
After losing 164 pounds to be crowned the winner of season 4, Bill Germanakos faced a similar challenge as the previous winners. He told Today that he felt like "a morbidly obese person in a fit body" and that he was "hungry all the time."
While he did regain some weight after leaving, he's worked to maintain a healthy size and now clocks in at around 215 pounds, which means he's managed to keep 120 pounds off successfully!
Ali Vincent
The first female winner of The Biggest Loser ended up losing 112 pounds from her start weight of 234 pounds. After the show, she was also one of the few successful contestants to keep the weight off. That is, until, 2015 when the weight started coming back.
Vincent revealed the sad story behind the weight gain on OWN's Where Are They Now. She explained that she had been sexually assaulted that year and used eating and drinking as a way to repress the ordeal. Since 2015, she's turned things around, runs a lifestyle blog, gotten married, and welcome twin boys.
Helen Phillips
Phillips, the female winner of season 7, not only lost 140 pounds but was the oldest person to ever win the competition. She said she was only expecting to lose 50 or 60 pounds and was shocked at what she actually shed.
Phillips has kept a pretty low profile since her major win by only posting the occasional selfie but she definitely appears to be living a healthy life after the show.
Danny Cahill
The winner of season 8 of The Biggest Loser shed an incredible 239 pounds to snag the title. He left the show feeling "like a million bucks" but by 2016, he admitted to having gained back nearly 100 pounds.
The reason? His metabolism basically shut down. To lose weight while on the show, Cahill was only eating 800 calories per day. When he left the show and returned to a normal diet and the pounds packed back on with ease. He's been slowly working the pounds back off while working as a motivational speaker.
Michael Ventrella
At the start of season 9, Ventrella was the heaviest person to ever compete on the show. He weighed 526 pounds and lost 262 of those. The dramatic change in weight also meant a dramatic change in lifestyle when he left The Biggest Loser.
Ventrella quickly packed on 20 pounds but decided to shift his focus from losing weight to bodybuilding. He now works for a weight loss product company and hits the gym frequently.
Patrick House
After losing 205 pounds to be crowned the season 10 winning of The Biggest Loser, Patrick House says that without the show he could be dead. House was more than 400 pounds when the show started. He did gain nearly 50 pounds back after the show but he blames it on himself.
In 2017, he confirmed that he's working on his diet, competing in marathons, and "continues to embrace an active lifestyle."
Olivia Ward
Ward premiered on the 11th season of The Biggest Loser weighing 261 pounds. By the end of it, she weighed a mere 132 pounds. Miraculously, she's one of the few winners who has managed to keep all her weight off and lose more!
Not only has Ward kept the weight off, but she now works as a senior SoulCycle instructor trying to help others achieve what she never thought she could do herself.
John Rhode
The winner of season 12, John Rhode, started the competition weighing 445 pounds. When he was crowned the winner, he weighed only 215 pounds. The change was dramatic but that left him to gain back 50 pounds when he left.
That weight gain didn't stop Rhode and in 2014, he became the owner of a CrossFit gym in Arizona. He now reportedly weighs between 225 and 230, depending on what training regimen he's following at the time.
Jeremy Britt
At the end of season 13, Jeremy Britt walked away 199 pounds lighter than when he started. After being crowned the winner, he was asked what steps he'd take to keep the weight off and he said he'd "do something that keeps me in the public eye, it just keeps me accountable."
Since the season though he'd dropped out of the public eye and seems to be busy raising his four children and working as a mortgage consultant.
Danni Allen
Starting her journey at 258 pounds and ending at 137, the season 14 winner Danni Allen has done an excellent job at staying happy and healthy after the show. She did end up gaining 10 pounds back but she attributes that to muscle, not fat.
She's the co-owner of a yoga and fitness studio and now spends her time encouraging others to get fit and change their life for the better.
Rachel Frederickson
The season 15 winner was one of the most controversial in the show's history. She went from 260 pounds to 105 pounds and many people thought she slimmed down too much. People even speculated an eating disorder but she's denied it all.
Since her time on the show, Frederickson has admitted she maybe got a little "too enthusiastic" with her workouts on the show but that she's been able to maintain a healthy weight.
Toma Dobrosavljevic
After being named the winner of season 16, Dobrosavljevic admitted that he still had "a hard time recognizing" himself. He started out the season at 366 pounds and lost more than 200 of that.
One year later, Dobrosavljevic admitted he was gaining some of the weight back so he started a diet bet. Since then, he hasn't spoken publicly about his weight but isn't afraid to share some photos from time to time.
Roberto Hernandez
Weighing in at 348 pounds at the start of the show, Hernandez became the 17th and final winner of The Biggest Loser. After dropping 160 pounds, he left the show and quickly jumped up another 40 pounds. Hernandez never seemed worried though, and attributed the weight to carbs and building muscle.
He disclosed that keeping the weight off was harder than shedding it in the first place, but that he's committed to the challenge and still hits up the gym.
Luis Hernandez
Luis came in as the runner up on the final season of The Biggest Loser. He competed alongside his twin brother Roberto. Unlike Roberto, who gained back much of the weight, Luis was awarded the at-home prize. The prize is given to the contestant who keeps off the most weight after the show.
Since the show, Luis admitted to gaining some weight back but focusing on food, fitness, and completing his first marathon has helped him succeed.
Michelle Aguilar
The season 6 winner of The Biggest Loser reportedly lost 45% of her body weight during the show. What happened after the show for Michelle Aguilar is a mystery though since she now chooses to measure her health through feelings rather than a number on the scale.
In 2019, she shared on Instagram that the hardest part was making the right choices. Since "a candy bar is just 99 cents away" that is "when the struggle really comes in." By the looks of it though she's happy and healthy.
Kai Hibbard
The runner-up on season 3 of The Biggest Loser impressed us all by losing 118 pounds over the course of the show. Kai Hibbard made waves after, however, when she revealed the show was all a lie.
Hibbard said that the "weekly results" were often longer than a week apart and that she would dehydrate before weigh-ins. Unsurprisingly, she gained back a fair share of the weight after the show but has shed it again in a more healthy way. Now, she works as an activist for physical and mental health.
Conda Britt
Conda Britt is the sister of season 13 winner Jeremy Britt. The two went on the show as a brother-sister team and both of them made it to the finale but Jeremy won out over her. She started the show at 285 pounds and lost 115 pounds over the course of the show.
Conda has done better than her brother at maintaining her weight loss and is staying active juggling motherhood, school, and a career.
Gina McDonald
Season 14 contestant Gina McDonald credits the support of her husband with her being able to lose the weight on the show and keep it off. When she arrived on The Biggest Loser, McDonald weighed 245 pounds. She didn't win the season but she won the At-Home Prize thanks to her ongoing fitness routine.
The busy lawyer says her husband's constant support and ability to keep the fridge stocked with healthy food is how she kept the weight off.
Tumi Oguntala
This season 15 winner postponed her wedding to be on The Biggest Loser and it paid off. When she joined the show she weighed 319 pounds and dropped 166 of those. She didn't win the season but her personal goals inspired her to keep the weight off after the show.
Oguntala said she wanted to have kids but didn't want to die early after starting a family. Years after the show, she's finally married and said the competitive side of fitness keeps her motivated. She now even runs marathons on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Jordan Alicandro
Alicandro was 31 years old and 323 pounds going into season 16 of The Biggest Loser. The former college baseball player had his dreams ripped away from him after an injury and then the subsequent weight gain. After losing 143 pounds, he even missed the birth of his newborn son to lose the weight.
The contestant is one of the few who has kept the weight off. Now a youth pastor and father of four, Alicandro hits the gym nearly every day.
Mike Messina
The winner of the At-Home Prize from season 13 has taken his love of fitness seriously since his time on the show. When Messina began The Biggest Loser he weighed 358 pounds. His final weigh-in was 198 pounds!
In recent years the scales have tipped upwards but it's all thanks to a high-protein diet and building muscle. Messina now works as a fitness trainer and cryptocurrency trader.
Jennifer Rumple
Rumple didn't win the 12th season of The Biggest Loser but she took home the $100,000 At-Home Prize by continuing her weight-loss journey after the show. After going from 330 pounds to 185, Rumple continues staying healthy by running with her dog, dancing, kite surfing, and bike riding.
Today, the television producer from California says that even though she didn't win The Biggest Loser, the journey completely changed her life.
Deni Hill
Over the course of season 11 on The Biggest Loser, Hill went from 256 pounds to 131 pounds and took home the $100,000 At-Home Prize. The Mormon missionary returned home and continued her fitness journey by running half marathons and becoming involved with local weight loss programs.
Hill said that her new body enabled her to take her Mormon missionary status to the next level. She was able to finally travel to other countries with rough terrain without worrying about her health.
Mark Pinhasovich
Pinhasovich is yet another Biggest Loser alumni who kept up a healthy lifestyle in order to be a better parent. He entered the competition at 421 pounds, left after losing 213 pounds and has continued to keep the weight off.
He spends most of his time now raising his baby girl, going to the gym, and running a lifestyle and apparel brand called Bare Fit Wear that sells both regular stock and custom orders.
Ashley Johnston Palu
The runner-up from season 9 of The Biggest Loser said that after leaving the show, the hardest thing to overcome was her mental roadblocks. Palu said that her insecurities were more difficult than counting calories or getting her onto the treadmill.
She ended up taking the At-Home Prize after keeping off the 215 pounds she shed. Since the show, she got married and is a self-described adventure seeker who is "addicted to self-improvement."
Rebecca Meyer Wright
The At-Home Prize winner of season 8 has embraced every aspect of fitness in her life since appearing on the show. She began her journey at 279 pounds and dropped down to 140 pounds. She began by working out 4-5 days at the gym and running outside.
Meyer Wright became the co-owner of FitnessWrightNow and is a personal trainer. Today, she is a mother and helps keep her husband healthy as he undergoes his own health issues.
Kelly Miner
Runner-up from Season 1 of Biggest Loser, Kelly Miner weighed 252 lbs when she appeared on in the first episode. By the finale, she had dropped down to 163 lbs. Although she didn't win Season 1, Kelly stayed committed to her health and fitness goals after the season ended.
She continued to lose weight after the show and reportedly weighs 140 lbs today which is quite an accomplishment since she first weighed in at 252 lbs!
Helen Phillips
Helen Phillips appeared on Season 7 of The Biggest Loser alongside her daughter, Shanon. Helen was the oldest contestant to ever appear on the show but she didn't let that get in her way.
Helen ended up breaking the record for the most weight lost on the show percentage-wise, at 140 lbs. After the show ended, she only ended up gaining back 18 lbs. Not only has she stuck to healthy habits, but Helen now works to help end childhood obesity.
Rachel Fredrickson
Rachel Fredrickson appeared on The Biggest Loser in Season 15 and worked hard to lose 155 lbs. That's 40% of her body weight! Some fans were even worried that Rachel had lost too much weight, standing at just 105 lbs for her last weigh-in.
Since the show ended, Rachel gained about 20 lbs back, but has otherwise kept it off! She won't be going back to her old bad habits anytime soon.
Charity Pierce Is Helping Her Daughter Set Weight-Loss Goals
During her episode on My 600-lb Life, Charity Pierce weighed in at almost 800 pounds. Thanks to Dr. Nowzaradan, Pierce was able to begin her long journey to a healthy lifestyle. After her weight-loss surgery, Pierce lost a whopping 400 pounds, setting her on a great path to a stable weight.
Today, Pierce is no longer alone on her journey. Since the end of her episode, she has been helping her daughter, Charly, conquer milestones, as she struggles with her weight, too. Together, the mother and daughter duo are making it their mission to keep the weight off with healthy eating and exercise.
Milla Clark Dropped The 600-Lbs From My 600-Lb Life
When viewers first met Milla Clark, she weighed in at a whopping 751 pounds. She was so unhealthy and out of shape that she was confined to her bed and needed her children to help her with basic daily hygiene. But after surgery, a double knee replacement, and mental perseverance, Clark set a record for the series, dropping 600 pounds!
Today, Clark is up, moving around, and fully embracing her role as a face for weight-loss success stories. She is very active on social media, updating her pages with her life and various workout routines– you go, girl!
Amber Rachdi Is An Internet Sensation
At the young age of 23, Amber Rachdi weighed 657.6 pounds. To put it mildly, she had a long weight-loss journey ahead of her. But it wasn't just the weight that was making a dent in her life, Rachdi also suffered from anxiety, something that caused her to binge-eat.
But the young woman was determined to overcome those obstacles. Today, she is a social media superstar, showing off her fantastic figure, makeup skills, and ridiculously cute hairstyles. With her newfound fame, the My 600-lb Life alumn is continuing to take care of herself and work out regularly.
Cillas Givens' Story Ended On A Rather High Note
Growing up lonely and depressed is what led Cillas Givens to find comfort in food. Unfortunately, for the young man, that comfort led him to weigh a total of 729 pounds. But with support from Dr. Nowzaradan as well as his girlfriend Jessica and her children, Givens was ready to make a lifestyle change.
By the end of his time on My 600-lb Life, Givens lost a staggering 388 pounds, an incredible feat. And, by the looks of his social media accounts and a GoFundMe page, he is continuing to make fantastic strides in his weight loss journey.
Paula Jones Has Become The Queen Of Selfies
Starting at 533 pounds, Paula Jones had a long way to go, both physically and mentally, to achieve her goals. If you're familiar with her story, then you know Jones had a very emotional episode in the second season of the series. Thankfully, her weight-loss journey has given her newfound confidence to overcome her inner demons.
Today, the mom of four is loving life and becoming a certified selfie queen. She isn’t afraid to show off her hard work, especially if it helps motivate other morbidly obese individuals. In a social media post, Jones said, "[obesity] is so senseless since it is preventable. It just isn’t easy."
Chay Guillory Is Finally Living In Her Own Skin
Chay Guillory had arguably one of the most intense transformations of anyone who has appeared on My 600-lb Life and for more than one reason. Starting at over 600 pounds, Guillory was determined to lose the extra weight and keep it off. But, ironically, losing over 500 pounds wasn't her most dramatic lifestyle change.
During her follow-up episode, Guillory revealed that she’s transgender and has been living life as a woman! In 2020, she married her boyfriend Patrick and is trying her hardest to get to her goal weight of 180 pounds so that she can qualify for gender confirmation surgery. Congrats!
Ashley Dunn Bratcher Is The Mother And Wife Her Family Deserves
Ashley Dunn Bratcher weighed in at 725 pounds during her time on My 600-lb Life. When viewers first met the mom of one, they saw someone who needed her son to help with simple chores around the house because of her limited mobility. Now, people see her as a happy mother who couldn't be more thrilled that she took the plunge to better her life.
Today, Bratcher can care for her son like she’s always wanted to. And, unlike a lot of TLC alumni, Bratcher’s husband couldn’t be more supportive or proud of his wife. According to Bratcher’s Facebook, the two celebrated their tenth anniversary in 2019!
David Bolton Is Engaged To His Longtime Girlfriend
David Bolton weighed in at 747 pounds during his time on My 600-lb Life. Unfortunately, for Bolton, he was so out of shape at the peak of his weight that he was unable to do a lot of things for himself, including holding a job.
But he decided to turn it all around. He dropped a staggering 420 pounds by the end of his time on the show. Today, he is continuing to improve his health, slimming down even more, according to a family member. Bolton also proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Carrie!
Laura Perez Enrolled In Beauty School
When Laura Perez was on My 600-lb Life, her peak weight was 594 pounds. She was so obese in adulthood that she stopped being able to care for herself, needed an oxygen tank, was wheelchair-bound, and required assistance from her then-husband Joey for everyday tasks. According to Dr. Nowzaradan, Perez was in one of the worst shapes she has ever seen.
Since the end of the show, Perez is down to 182 pounds. But with every milestone she conquered, more strain was placed on her relationship. Thankfully, Perez knows her worth, and decided independence, and following her beauty school dreams were more important than someone who wasn't willing to support her journey.
Bettie Jo Elmore Welcomed A Baby Boy
When viewers first met Bettie Jo Elmore, she weighed 654 pounds. It was apparent she was vastly out of shape and needed to commit to a life-changing weight-loss journey. With a whole lot of mental strength and perseverance, Elmore was able to shed the weight, but not without obstacles.
During her journey, she found out she had a mass growing at the base of her spine. Elmore could have undergone surgery, but she was pregnant, and the operation could harm the baby. So, she decided to face the consequences of not undergoing surgery. Thankfully, both mommy and baby are healthy and well! And Elmore was able to continue her weight-loss journey.
Melissa Morris Was Finally Able To Have Children
Melissa Morris was the first person to ever be on My 600-lb Life, and she had quite the story. If you're familiar with Morris’ tale, then you know that because of her weight, she had about a two percent chance of ever becoming pregnant, according to an interview she had with TLC.
Amazingly, after her time on the show and getting rid of a few hundred pounds of extra baggage, Morris became a mom! On May 1, 2010, Morris gave birth to her daughter, Allona. Since then, she has had two more children!
Nikki Webster Went Pants Shopping For The First Time In Ten Years
It was hard not to smile along with Nikki Webster during her segment of My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now? Since being on the lifechanging show and having an intervention with the infamous Dr. Nowzaradan, Webster has dropped 450 pounds, a huge accomplishment!
Now, she's nothing less than ecstatic about life. For the first time in ten years, the newly transformed woman went pants shopping, something she never thought was going to be possible. Even better, Webster tied the knot with the love of her life back in 2017. In a social media post, Webster wrote, "I’ve been able to experience a happiness I never thought possible."
Joe Wexler Finally Got His Fairytale Ending
Weighing in at 800 pounds during the third season of My 600-lb Life was Joe Wexler. It took some time, but with the help of Dr. Nowzaradan, exercise, diet, and a whole lot of mental strength, Wexler was able to drop 500 pounds — an amazing milestone if there ever was one.
Now, he's living a fairytale with the woman of his dreams. In My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now? Wexler revealed he met someone, a lady named Sarah, who just so happened to have a daughter. Things became serious, and the two married in 2016! Pretty much, Wexler got a family and a fairytale to highlight his journey.
Zsalynn Whitworth Is Now A Confident Woman
When Zsalynn Whitworth was on My 600-lb Life, she confessed to having multiple emotional issues. Mainly, she was struggling with depression and loneliness after her divorce from her unsupportive husband. But she was over letting her mental state dictate her life. Whitworth was ready to make a lifestyle change, starting with skin removal surgery.
From there, it was all uphill. Whitworth has a newfound confidence, most likely due to the promise she made to herself to be more active and to put herself out there. Now, if you look at Whitworth's social media accounts, you can see her with what looks like a new beau.
Brittani Fulfer Is GoingTo Concerts And Having Adventures
Since her episode of My 600-lb Life, Brittani Fulfer has dropped more than half her peak weight of 605 pounds. If you're familiar with the TLC alum’s story, then you know that Fulfer has battled with mental health issues, namely depression.
But after dropping the weight, going on adventures, and even seeing her favorite band in concert, Third Eye Blind, it’s safe to say Fulfer is living her life to the absolute fullest. And with the addition of a baby boy to her small family, her mental health is getting better every day.
Justin McSwain Is Getting Inked And Traveling The Country
At his peak weight, Justin McSwain was boasting a 688-pound body. McSwain is known for being one of the most agreeable patients on My 600-lb Life, so it's not surprising that he was able to shed the extra pounds rapidly. He literally dropped half of his body weight by the end of his episode!
Today, McSwain works as a graphic designer and continues to shed weight and live a healthy lifestyle. He’s also enjoyed his newfound health and freedom by taking the time to travel, exploring places like New Orleans. He’s also been getting tattoos, including with his father and other TLC alumni.
Tiffany Barker Is Crushing Personal Milestones
During her time on My 600-lb Life, Tiffany Barker went from having to rely on her boyfriend to crushing personal milestones. Starting at 673 pounds, Barker had a difficult time beginning her weight-loss journey. But she prevailed and was able to lose 250 pounds by the end of her time on the show.
Today, she is killing it. Barker continues to exercise and diet, so she never gets back to that dark place. Also, she hit overtime at work, leading to her boss to send her home! That's something she never thought she would physically be able to accomplish.
