'Biggest Loser': Where Are They Now?

One thing we know for certain is that life on "The Biggest Loser" ranch is not easy -- but how is life after the ranch? Once the cameras stop rolling, and the contestants leave the show behind, the most difficult challenge is still in front of them: real life. We caught up with "The Biggest Loser" winners to find out how they're doing with their newfound healthy lifestyles and the best lessons they took away from the ranch. Click through this slideshow to get updates on Michelle, Ali, Bill, Matt, Erik, and Ryan.Monday, September, 22, 2008, 9:22 PM

Wow! That is really the best way I can sum up my life since winning "The Biggest Loser" last season. I have had so many opportunities to travel and speak to men and women all over the U.S. I get to hear about people who struggle with weight loss but are inspired by the openness of my journey. And I hear from people who have never struggled with weight or food a day in their lives, but have been inspired to "lose" something else that they feel is holding them back. That, for me, is really the best surprise in all of this. We are all connected and I think it's in the struggle that we learn what we are all really, truly capable of. Losing weight and changing my thought process was hard, but thanks to those accomplishments, I have a greater appreciation for where I am now. If I had just woken up one morning thin, I would take it for granted. I cherish the journey I went through and am better because of all the tears. I want people to know that the success I have achieved is not just for me or for people on the show. Rather, it's for anyone who decides to change and is ready to work hard to get there. I promise it won't be easy, but I also promise it is worth it… you are worth it!!! I make a conscious effort every day to live the best life possible for me and with that I have allowed myself to fall in love. Letting go of the self-doubt was a huge hurdle, but a necessary one. I am now engaged and will be married in June. For me this was so much more than just losing weight, it was all about changing from the inside out. Wow! It's really all I can say.Monday, May, 4, 2009, 11:4 PM

Winning "The Biggest Loser" allowed me to regain the confidence to live the life I know I was meant to live! It changed my career; now I'm the spokesperson for 24 Hour Fitness and an ambassador for BiggestLoserClub.com which gives me the opportunity to continue to stay healthy and to interact face-to-face with people who fight the same battle I do every day. The best lesson I took away from the ranch was to stop acting like a child. From Bob, I learned how to stop stubbornly choosing only what would give me immediate gratification. From Jillian, I learned that I could own my greatness without taking anything away from someone else's light; that by actually believing in myself and voicing my goals, I could be even more capable of supporting others' journeys. The longest lasting changes I have made that really stuck are tracking my calories in/calories out, living consciously, and being more present in my day-to-day activities. I do monitor my weight by putting on my "skinny jeans" that I wore during the finale! I also pay attention to my energy level and know when it's time to check in with the scale. When I start to gain weight, the first thing I do is check my level of intensity (target heart rate) of exercise. If I'm eating the same way but gaining weight, I know it's time to step it up a notch at the gym so that my body is working for me at an optimum level.Monday, September, 22, 2008, 9:22 PM

Since "The Biggest Loser" ended, I am fortunate to have made health and wellness into a career, at least for now. I was hired by Quest Diagnostics as National Director of Corporate Wellness Initiatives and Chief Wellness Ambassador. I am also on the national speaking circuit, and I am a keynote/motivational speaker. In addition, my brother Jim and I created our own company, Weight Loss Twins LLC (weightlosstwins.com). The best lesson that I took away from the campus was that the journey I was on would involve making the right choices every time and sticking to the plan. Jillian always told me that it wouldn't matter how good a trainer she was or what amount of education I received if I didn't stay dedicated to the plan and DO THE WORK MYSELF. I barely ever step on the scale these days. The way I monitor my weight is whether or not I fit into my clothes. I am now at a weight/size that I arrived at about a month after the finale of my season, which means that I have maintained my weight/size for approximately nine months without too much difficulty. It is important to point out, however, that since I travel an average of three to four days per week, I find it almost impossible to find good, healthy, low-salt food on the road. Therefore, I often find myself sweating out the salt and excess fluids that I accumulate either through hot yoga or intense cardio the minute I arrive home from an extended road trip. The bottom line is that I am now much more in tune with my body, and am better equipped to act when I feel that I need to do some work to make it right. Monday, September, 22, 2008, 9:22 PM

I can't even begin to count the ways "The Biggest Loser" has changed my life! My first book, "Matt Hoover's Guide to Life, Love, and Losing Weight," is going to be released next week and I recently co-founded BestLifeDesign.com. And most importantly, I met my wife Suzy on the show and we now have two beautiful boys, Rex and Jax. I have the life today that I used to think you could only read about. I think the best lesson I took from the ranch is that it's never too late to make changes in your life. Healthy eating and daily exercise are routine for us now and we make exercise a family activity. Exercise doesn't have to be hours at the gym; it can be as simple as a walk around the block with your kids! We don't really monitor our weight anymore. We spent the whole year after the show obsessing about the scale. Today we stay active and help keep each other in check. As far as weight gain goes, I did have a spurt where I put some back on. I felt like it was OK because I had still kept off over 100 pounds. The problem with that type of thinking is that you may give yourself a false sense of security. Bells went off for me when I saw myself on an interview with Larry King. When I saw what I actually looked like on television I had a freak-out. I knew I had to get back to work. Gaining some weight isn't that big of a deal, but not addressing it immediately is when you run the risk of things getting out of hand. I also went out and got a personal trainer. I realized that I needed someone coaching me. Monday, September, 22, 2008, 9:22 PM

Thanks to his busy schedule -- which includes balancing a new job with a new baby AND a big move -- Erik wasn't able to talk to us, but we took a look at the book "The Biggest Loser Success Secrets" to get an update on this past winner. Here's what we found out from the book: Prior to joining the show, the Long Island deli owner was considering gastric bypass surgery, but it turns out Erik was able to transform himself from morbidly obese to fit and healthy through diet, exercise, and the help of "The Biggest Loser" experts. He not only lost 214 pounds, but also reversed his type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea, and brought his elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels down to healthy numbers. Although Erik admits losing the weight was the hardest thing he's ever done, he's proud of what he accomplished on "The Biggest Loser." Since leaving the show, Erik sold the deli and toured the country as a motivational speaker in order to help other Americans lose weight, be successful, and develop a winning attitude. He's also directed a lot of his efforts toward schools to help stem the epidemic of childhood and teenage obesity. Monday, September, 22, 2008, 9:22 PM

I definitely am not a good long term example of "The Biggest Loser" lifestyle, but I did learn the tools of being healthy. The best lesson I took away from the ranch was writing down everything I eat. I still need to lose weight, and when I write down everything I eat, I do much better. I do monitor my weight. I've watched it go UP since I left the ranch! As I have gained weight I have thought about the hard work I put in and the time I spent away from my loved ones. I still want to do all I can to be the healthiest I can be. It's tough to get away from body issues that you have had your whole life, though. I recently played the male lead in a film called "disFIGURED" (www.disfiguredmovie.com) which features different people with different body types and how these people deal with their individual body issues. We all have issues when it comes to our outward appearance, but how we deal with those issues is what sets us apart. Winning "The Biggest Loser" definitely changed my life. It helped me realize the great things I am capable of. The aftermath of being the original "Biggest Loser" has been a struggle for me though, for every pound I do gain I'm sure I beat myself up a little more than somebody else might. In the end it was a life experience I wouldn't trade for the world! Tuesday, September, 23, 2008, 10:23 PM

"The Biggest Loser" airs Tuesdays at 8pm ET on NBC.NBC/Trae Patton - Friday, August, 22, 2008, 8:22 PM