By: Linda Vongkhamchanh

Sep 29, 2009

Name: Antoine
Hometown: Dudley, NC 

Occupation: Health insurance provider contract analyst 

Favorite cheat food: Pizza or pasta  

Goal for 2010: Continuing the healthy lifestyle and spreading the healthy living "fever" to family and friends 

Starting weight: 367 

Elimination weight: 330

NSD: What was your big turning point—either during the show or before that made you realize you needed to lose the weight?
Honestly, I've always known that I needed to lose weight. I was just too lazy to do anything about it. I have been an overweight person all my life. I have to say though, my turning point came after my first workout with Bob and Jill. The first workout put my unhealthy habits in true perspective. It showed me how limited I was in true physical activity, which for a 23-year-old male is very uncommon. Also, when I took my physical before the show I was told that I was borderline of having high blood pressure. I had never been told that in my life! These were some serious eye-opening experiences that reassured me that I was making the right decision about my health and most importantly that I was very blessed to be selected to be on The Biggest Loser.

NSD: What is one thing you wish you had known before going on The Biggest Loser?
How much hard work it took to get off all this weight that I have stacked on for all these years. If I had known that a long time ago, I probably would have never needed to go on The Biggest Loser.

NSD: If you could have done one thing differently during the show, what would it be?
I would have never complained or said there was something I couldn't do because that was just me talking myself out of doing something I was more than capable of. The entire process starts with you believing in yourself.

NSD: What was the hardest thing to adapt to while being on the ranch?
The diet. It wasn't easy given up all the foods I have enjoyed all these years.

NSD: What is one thing that keeps you motivated?
 Knowing that I am increasing my life expectancy with each day that I am getting healthier, so that one day I can have a family of my own and can watch my children grow up and do great things.

NSD: What is your favorite workout?
I would have to say step and spin class. I love the movement with music! It's great and it burns a crazy amount if calories. Boxing class, also.

NSD: What's the best advice Bob or Jillian has given you?
To believe in myself and my abilities. I would always think that I couldn't do something, but after some yelling and screaming from Bob and Jill, I would always find out that I could run those few extra steps or pump that weight a few extra times. I just had to first believe in myself. You can't complete in this weight-loss journey if you don't believe in yourself first.

NSD: What happens behind the scenes of the show that no one would know from watching it?
All of the hard work that is put into this weight loss when the cameras aren't around. The show doesn't show us working out for extensive periods of time. It may at most show about 30 minutes of workout footage over the whole two-hour segment.

NSD: What did you do for fun while you were on the ranch?
I played basketball, walked the presidential mile, hiked and did nightly spin classes with loud roaring music.

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Watch The Biggest Loser on Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

 
 
More on The Biggest Loser:

• Alexandra and Antoine: A couple?
• Alexandra's post-show interview
• Follow Tara Costa as she trains for a marathon