Even though Tumi Oguntala didn’t win “The Biggest Loser” competition, she hasn’t stop losing. In fact, since leaving the ranch behind, she hasn’t had any problem shedding pounds. Tumi was the “At Home Winner” with the largest percentage of weight loss ever achieved in the show’s history. She lost 175 lbs which is 54.86% of her body weight!
But what is it that contestants like Tumi learn to help take their weight loss to the next level even after the camera stops rolling?
On The Show:
“In May 2013, frustrated with inconsistent results from my weight loss program, I decided to try out for ‘The Biggest Loser.’ I was cast on the show after attending an open casting call in May 2013. The program is an intense immersion into living the life of an athlete (exercising four or more hours per day) and eating clean (organic, hormone-free, low sodium, low fat, low sugar and few to no processed foods).
The competitive aspects of weight loss require contestants to adapt to an athlete’s life very rapidly or leave the ranch.
In my first few weeks I kept to a program of 4-6 hours per day and was able to stay competitive, but not break away from the pack. As my stamina increased, I began to approach life on the ranch like a full time job. I had left my family and career to work on my health, so I made it my first priority and treated it like a full time occupation. I was able to achieve 8-10 hour workout days, owing in large part to my preference for very early morning (5 am) workouts. This new level of effort combined with my clean eating enabled me to consistently lose between 6-10 pounds per week.
As a woman, there were weeks when I tended to carry more water and so it would slow my weight loss. Ultimately, the water weight is what led me to fall below the competitive range during my 11th week on the ranch when I was sent home.”
After The Show:
“At home, I joined my local YMCA and met everyday people who were marathoners, triathletes, and in amazing shape while holding full time jobs and/or caring for their families. I worked out with them in the early morning hours, and began running up to 13 miles before going to work. I also discovered that I enjoyed the competitive side of working out (competing to beat my personal best) as I began entering races from 5Ks to half marathons in efforts to beat my personal records. I soon embraced this lifestyle and began running 5Ks on Thanksgiving or Christmas instead of sitting around after a large meal.
READ: Take Your Weight Loss To The Next Level
This is the lifestyle I look forward to maintaining. Now that the competition is over, I am working to build muscle to ensure a more robust metabolism that will help me achieve the weight where I will be most comfortable and have balance between athletic challenges, and enjoying the healthy foods I love.”
Visit the BlackDoctor.org Healthy Weight Loss center for more.
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