As part of Extra’s “3pm Snackdown Challenge” (Pick up a pack, put down that snack!- love it) I was invited to get on a call with Bob Harper, celebrity trainer from The Biggest Loser.
I’ve been on these types of calls before. I fully anticipated being one of 97 bloggers packed on to the line, all vying for the chance to ask even one generic weight loss question at the mercy of an unenthusiastic moderator. So I was confused when I heard a man with a slight southern accent say, “Hey Nicole!”
Um… Hi Bob!
Since I had 40 fabulous minutes to myself with Bob (oo la la!) I had the chance to ask him questions about the types of things we discuss here on mscareergirl.com.
How Bob Harper’s Career Began
Bob Harper didn’t go to college and said it wasn’t even an option for him. He started his career working at a bank and feeling very out of place there. After realizing this career path wasn’t for him, Bob took the initiative to get certified as a personal trainer.
Bob knew if he wanted to make it big in personal training, he’d need to go to L.A. so he packed his car up and moved from Nashville to L.A. to become a celebrity fitness trainer. I asked him how people in his life reacted to this career shift. He said some people thought he was crazy but as soon as he started being a personal trainer he knew he found his life’s purpose. As Bob approaches his 10th season on The Biggest Loser, it’s apparent that ignoring the naysayers in his life was a great choice.
Fitness and Weight Loss
Of course we did talk about fitness and weight loss too. Although Bob has trained some of Hollywood’s finest, he said that he much prefers to train the average person rather than someone he needs to get from a size 2 to a size 0. He thinks of himself as their cheerleader and says he needs to “constantly ram positivity down their throats until they start to believe it themselves.”
I asked Bob if he thinks a lot of The Biggest Loser contestants have genetic issues contributing to their weight issues. He said, “Very, very rarely” and believes that most of the folks he sees have an unhealthy emotional relationship with food. I did confirm that contestants receive psychiatric evaluations before coming on the show, and have access to a therapist throughout.
And what about all the controversy surrounding life after the show?
Bob says that has been one of his biggest challenges over the years. He gets so close to the contestants while they are on the show and tries his hardest to stay in touch with all of them after. He said he thinks of himself as an ER Doctor and said, “I try to give them as many tools as I possibly can to get them back into their normal lives.” He feels that after the show it is the individual’s responsibility to take what they have learned and apply it each day.
One of the tools trainers like Bob suggest is Extra’s 3pm Snackdown challenge. Rather than reach for a snack when you feel hungry, chew sugar free Extra gum instead. Bob says it is a great way to avoid mega calories because it puts something in your mouth and gives you a little bit of sweetness. The calories you save really add up. It’s a trick they use a lot on the show apparently.
The major takeaways I got out of my conversation with Bob Harper are:
- Follow your passion no matter what anyone says.
- Weight loss is not rocket science, but it is a choice, a lifestyle and something you have to work at every single day.
- Replace snacks with Extra Sugar Free Gum.
Bob also asked that you all enter to win a trip to The Biggest Loser Resort in Utah along with a personal training session with him for you and a guest.
Now for the fun part!
Extra has sent me tons of gum to give away to you guys! I’m going to split the free gum up between 4 readers. Please comment on one of the 4 items below and I will randomly pick one winner from each and send them some Extra gum!
1. Have you made a new years resolution to lose weight or get healthy this year? If so, what have you done to stay on track? Be honest, it’s OK if you say “nothing”!
2. Did you have an aha moment that made you realize you were working in the wrong field? What did you do about it?
3. What other tools do you use to ward off cravings and hunger pangs? Have you ever tried the gum trick?
4. Have you ever thought about switching fields but been too afraid of what others may think?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Nicole, this is so awesome. I don’t always get to follow the Biggest Loser, but I catch it when I can. I’m a former athlete, and I kind of dream about going to these boot camps where you work really hard, do lots of growling, and come out feeling great. I know for me, being healthy is really important. There are a lot of medical issues that run in my family, so I have to keep them at bay. After lots of moves and job stress, I’m bringing my health back into focus. I’m going to be eating better (using Weight Watchers online, it’s awesome), and sticking with the swimming to get fit. I’m looking forward to giving healthy living my full attention.
Good for you about bringing health back into focus. It seems that the first thing that busy people do to save time or money is cut taking care of ourselves. This is ironic considering that without our health we have nothing.
I agree that working out can really help with overcoming and/or avoiding medical issues. I always tell my family that working out is mandatory for me because it is my natural meds I wouldn’t want to live without!
I always make a weight-related New Years resolution. Last year was the first year I actually kept it; it was lose five pounds. I’ve tried the whole “I’ll exercise more. I’ll eat better,” but I feel like I eventually give up on those things. There was a definite goal at the end of the 2009, and the goal was obtainable. I want to lose another five pounds in 2010. I tend to try different things during the year. Right now, I drink a green smoothie every morning for breakfast. I’m also trying to cut down my sugar intake (a lot harder than it sounds though). I also try to exercise with my Wii and hope to go outside once it gets warmer.
To ward off hunger, I try drinking water. I think a lot of the time I’m actually thirsty. If I’m still hungry, I have snacks that I bring to work. Not all of them are the healthiest, but I’d rather eat than starve myself.
Good for you. I think what you did differently this time was set a specific goal. Saying you want to lose a specific # of pounds makes it easier to work backwards and develop a plan tailored towards meeting that goal. Saying you just generally want to “get healthy” isn’t specific or measurable.
I just bought a thing of those green smoothies, I’ve been reading a lot about them lately. Do you make yours or buy them?
Agreed about the water, I have a huge thing of it on my desk at work all day along with gum which really does help me.
#4, Nicole, I have an office job where I sit behind a desk but I work retail part time. Every time I go into my retail job I am just happier, I am less stressed, I feel like I get some what more of a work out (walking laps around the store rather than sitting at my chair craving more snacks), I feel like I get to help others pick out outfits for important events and it makes me happy. However, when I tell people that I like my retail job over my other job sometimes I feel like people look down at me, as if retail is below most peoples standards. I’d love to make the switch but parts of me starts to wonder if I should be doing better for myself.
Funny you say that you love your part-time retail job because before I got so busy w/ this blog I was considering applying at Nordstrom and Coach just because I love people and I love making people feel great about themselves. I completley see why you prefer to work retail!
What field are you in by day? I bet you could combine your skills and what you love about retail in order to freelance and help solve others problems. This topic has been on my mind lately bc I’ve been reading about it on @ramit’s blog this month (http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com).
#4. Have you ever thought about switching fields but been too afraid of what others may think?
Yes, almost every day. I am a very successful lawyer at one of the top firms in the world. I do like what I do, and sometimes I even love it, but I am not passionate about it. I am passionate about helping other people and I work on that in my “free time” by volunteering and serving on local boards.
I often think about switching to the non-profit sector, but I know that everyone will think I am crazy for giving up the job that I have — a job that so many people would kill for. I go back and forth about it all the time – can I do more good by having a good paying job and being able to donate money, or can I do more good by being “on the ground” and helping people directly by serving in a leadership (paid!) capacity in a non-profit organization?
Ann:
#1. What attracted you to the field of law in the first place? What was the initial spark that got you through undergrad and law school?
#2. I think you could use your skills and talents in the legal field and channel it into helping others. You could be in-house counsel for a large non-profit, or an organization like CASA (http://www.casaforchildren.com).
#3. The experience you are gaining at your fab law firm is only going to help prepare you to serve your ideal clients and help others later on.
#4. Who the hell cares what anyone else thinks and who the hell cares that others would kill for your job if you don’t like it.
Nicole
was waiting for this post the entire day!! viola, here it is!
( we live in a different time zone, that’s why )
You’re very lucky!
What is a flexitarian?! A semi-vegitarian? Do tell!
Nicole, great job on this interview! I have comments for your first question. I did make a new year goal to add workout time to my schedule this year as well as a goal to eat healthier including more organic foods and less junk and fast foods. I actually have a Jillian Michaels DVD that I plan to start using again. I also did my first grocery visit of the year and stayed on track w my healthier grocery list. I know exercising and eating better gets easier the more and longer you do it so hopefully I can stick with these goals the rest of the yr!
Very cool! Are you doing morning or evening work outs? I agree you just have to get over that 1st month hump of hating every second of being healthy, then you start to crave working out and eating better.
What are your biggest junk food weaknesses? I like McDonald’s breakfast and Starbuck’s jumbo chocolate chip cookies- I have been free of both for 14 days which is honestly miraculous for me bc they became daily habits during the work week.
1. Have you made a new years resolution to lose weight or get healthy this year? If so, what have you done to stay on track? Be honest, it’s OK if you say “nothing”!
I usually have a laundry list of resolutions and yes my health was included this year! In the past year I have lost 20 pounds with healthy eating and exercise and I want to continue this lifestyle. After my morning workout I go to my day job armed with a healthy breakfast, lunch, snack and sometimes hazelnut flavored coffee to avoid temptation of those sugary lattes. I wanted some extra motivation so six of my friends and I created our own Biggest Loser group competition! It is great to have support from friends who share your goals.
WOW! CONGRATS! 20 lbs is a lot! I think you’re right, the trick is bringing your food for the day so you can control your portions and what you are putting into your body. I like that you sometimes do the hazelnut coffee to satisfy your sweetooth but not completely give into it.
Ok but most importantly: tell us about the biggest loser competition! That would be a great thing to share here in a guest post if you’re up for it!
thanks, would love to!
Hey Nicole- This is a great site! Way to go! To answer your Questions from Above…
1. Have you made a new years resolution to lose weight or get healthy this year? If so, what have you done to stay on track? Be honest, it’s OK if you say “nothing”!
I did make a resolution this year, and I plan to keep it… It is to take better care of myself mind, body, and spirit. I have been feeling lost spiritually, and I hadn’t foind a “home” church. I decided to try one that was like the one I grew up with, and I really enjoy it. I have gone every Sunday, and plan to make this church my “home.” I have gotten my mind ready to lose the weight that I have set to lose by the end of the year. My goal is to lose 40lbs by the end of August, and 60lbs by the end of the year. I have read many books, and thankfully all that I have read are pretty much on the same program. I have my first week of food figured out, and plan to get my second week ready this weekend. My husband and I are joining the park district fitness center this weekend, and plan to go m-f after work for sure, and then on the weekends (time permitting). This is really the first time that I have ever been this excited to lose weight, and get in shape.
2. Did you have an aha moment that made you realize you were working in the wrong field? What did you do about it?
I’m still not totally sure yet what I want to be “when I grow up,” so I can’t really say that I have had that moment.
3. What other tools do you use to ward off cravings and hunger pangs? Have you ever tried the gum trick?
When I have a sweets craving, I try to go for some fruit or some of those Crystal Lite To Go packages in water first. Then I wait a while before I try to think about the craving… Most of the time it works, but sometimes when you want something, that’s what you want. I have not tried the Gum trick, but I might just have to starting next week!
4. Have you ever thought about switching fields but been too afraid of what others may think?
I have thought about many different fields, but I just can’t make up my mind. That will come though soon enough, with prayers and God’s guidance, it will all work out!
All- Thanks for all of your awesome comments and questions. I just recieved the huge shipment of gum over the weekend from Extra. It is all watermellon flavored too- yum! I’ll be sending out an email to you guys for your address if you’d like a free box (each box has SEVERAL packs in it).
Nicole