Jillian Michaels doesn’t need to work out her relationship with The Biggest Loser.
Almost a month after Netflix released the documentary series *Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser*, featuring interviews with former contestants, Jillian Michaels, a well-known trainer from the show, stated she still believes in the show’s central idea.
“I’d agree that what I do might seem unrealistic,” the 51-year-old told *Women’s Health* in a recent interview. “But I don’t think it’s unhealthy, and I have research to prove it.”
The former reality TV star, who worked as a trainer on *The Biggest Loser* with Bob Harper from 2004 to 2014, emphasized that she genuinely connected with each contestant to support their weight loss journeys.
“Here’s the thing you have to remember: I was actually training those people,” she explained. “There just happened to be cameras.”
Although Jillian generally supported the show’s overall method, she disagreed with some specific instances, particularly the extreme weight loss of Rachel Frederickson on season 15. Rachel, then 35, won the prize after losing 155 pounds, which led Jillian to leave the series.
She explained that watching Rachel leave the show in 2014 was very upsetting, and it made her decide to leave as well. She felt the show couldn’t adapt to changing times and that she was losing control over how she was perceived on it.
Netflix’s August 15th documentary highlighted Jillian’s ten years with the show. In the documentary, some contestants claimed she used harsh training methods, limited their food intake, and gave them caffeine pills to speed up weight loss. She later told TMZ that these accusations were untrue.
Later that month, Jillian reflected on her choice not to participate in the documentary series.
She told Fox News Digital on August 25th that she has no regrets about her decision, explaining that participating would have only given weight to a blatant falsehood.
Jillian and some of the original show’s producers are considering making their own project to respond to the accusations, but plans haven’t been finalized.
She said she was considering it, and had heard it discussed. She might pursue that option instead of a lawsuit, as legal battles are costly and time-sensitive. She’s carefully choosing which fights to take on because she has many options.
Keep reading to see where The Biggest Loser contestants are at now…
Ryan Benson won the first season of *The Biggest Loser* in 2005, losing over 120 pounds. Unfortunately, he regained all the weight quickly—reporting a 25-30 pound increase in water weight within just three days of the finale, as he told *People* magazine in 2024. He later appeared on *The Big Fat Truth*, a spin-off show offering a second chance to former *Biggest Loser* contestants to lose weight.
He told *People* that people often feel bad about their past struggles and not maintaining the level of success they had on television, even years later. He explained that anyone who has dealt with weight issues carries those challenges with them.
The Lionsgate executive, based in Los Angeles, is happy that his three children, with his wife Mariah Yost Benson, are growing up in a more body-positive environment.
He explained that his children are growing up in a time where people are much more accepting of all body types and different ways of life. He noted this is a big difference from how things were when he was a kid.
Matt Hoover lost an impressive 157 pounds while competing on *The Biggest Loser* in 2005, but his journey resulted in far more than just weight loss.
Let me tell you, it’s so sweet to see love blossom from reality TV! I was thrilled when Matt and Suzy Preston, a fan favorite from the season, found each other on the show. They tied the knot back in September 2006, and now they’re raising two amazing boys. Their oldest, Rex, is following in his dad’s footsteps as a high school wrestler, and their younger son, Jax, is a lacrosse player. Matt is always so down-to-earth, and he recently joked on Instagram about how lucky he is – he said he “definitely married a hot girl way out of his league!” It just goes to show, you never know where you’ll find love, and it’s wonderful to see them thriving as a family.
Erik Chopin won the grand prize on the third season of a reality show in 2006 after losing over 200 pounds. Unfortunately, he later regained much of the weight. In 2010, the New Yorker, who has a son and daughter with his wife, appeared in the documentary *Confessions of a Reality Show Loser*, which chronicled his efforts to lose weight again.
Bill Germanakos lost 164 pounds in 2007 and has worked hard to maintain that loss. As a father to Luke and Hope, he’s especially focused on avoiding holiday weight gain – he even shared on X (formerly Twitter) in December 2019 that he’d lost an additional 53 pounds and was aiming to lose 7 more that month, inviting others to join him.
In 2016, eight years after winning *The Biggest Loser*, Ali Vincent shared that she had regained 200 pounds and was rejoining Weight Watchers, admitting she felt embarrassed to be starting her weight loss journey again.
Staying committed to her health has paid off for Ali Vincent, the former star of *Live Big With Ali Vincent*. She’s now happily living life with her wife, Jen, and their three children. She recently told Yahoo that she never imagined the show would have such a significant and positive effect on her life.
I was so inspired by Michelle Aguilar’s journey on the show! While she lost an incredible 110 pounds in 2008, what really touched me was the meaningful connection she made – that’s what she’s most thankful for, and honestly, it’s what I admire most about her story.
Michelle recently told TopMob News that she and her mother weren’t talking before appearing on a show together. While winning felt great – standing on stage with the confetti falling – she said the real reward was that *The Biggest Loser* helped them repair their relationship and start fresh.
I’ve been so inspired by her health journey! She really turned things around and built a ton of great, healthy habits. She always says Jillian Michaels completely changed her life, and she posted on Instagram back in August 2025 that Jillian was more than just a trainer – she was her motivator, her guide, and honestly, sometimes the tough love she needed to push herself!
She added that becoming friends with Jillian was a wonderful and unexpected blessing.
Helen Phillips, who lost 140 pounds back in 2009, generally avoids social media. However, she shared a photo of herself at a fitness event in March 2019, showing she remains in excellent physical condition. She also participated in an advertising video for StreetStrider.
Oh my gosh, it broke my heart when I read that *New York Times* article back in 2016! It had been over seven years since Danny Cahill won *The Biggest Loser*, and they said he’d gained back over 100 pounds! He was so honest though, telling them, ‘I won’t be victim to this. It’s the hand I’ve been dealt.’ It just shows how real he is, and honestly, I admire him even *more* for being so open about it. He’s still my champion!
He told ABC News that for the first few years after losing weight, he was able to maintain his new weight easily. He wondered why others struggled, as he was exercising for two hours each day and biking everywhere. But once he stopped that intense routine, he began to regain the weight.
A year after appearing on the show in 2010, Michael Ventrella spoke with *Chicago Magazine* about his life. He described it as a mix of good and bad, but ultimately positive. He was grateful to be living fully, both physically and emotionally, explaining that just a year prior he’d been isolated, spending his time alone in his basement bedroom with his computer.
These days, the Illinois resident is focused on his real estate career.
Six years after losing 181 pounds and being featured on the show in 2010, Patrick House said the series had a profoundly positive impact on his life.
The motivational speaker recently told *People* magazine that their weight gain has been directly linked to periods where they weren’t prioritizing diet and exercise. They emphasized personal responsibility, stating that maintaining weight is challenging but achievable. They explained that as long as you eat healthy, whole foods and don’t overeat, weight gain shouldn’t happen, because the body can’t create calories out of thin air—you have to consume them.
Olivia Ward won a weight loss competition in 2011 after losing 129 pounds, and went on to become a lead instructor at SoulCycle. She also teamed up with her sister, Hannah Curlee—who was also on the show—to create Counterbalance, an app offering healthy recipes, workout plans, and wellness advice.
She told *People* magazine in 2023 that while losing weight felt great, the most valuable part of the journey was being surrounded by experts and receiving their support. She realized she wanted to share what she’d learned with others.
She currently lives in Alabama with her husband, Ben Ward, and their two sons, Harper and Felix. She remains close friends with her trainer, Bob Harper. In an August 2025 Instagram post, she expressed her gratitude, saying, “You’ve always been there for me in ways I can’t repay, and I’m so glad you continue to share life’s journey with me.” She added that their friendship grows sweeter with time and she’s excited about the future.
John Rhode lost a significant amount of weight, dropping from 445 to 225 pounds in 2011, and decided to avoid social media. However, fans recognized the motivational speaker – who is married to Jill and has two sons, Daniel and Dimitri – in a CrossFit video that surfaced in 2012.
When his time on the show finished in 2012, Jeremy Britt emphasized that it wasn’t the end of his commitment to fitness. He explained to Michigan’s Daily News that the lessons learned meant there wasn’t a single finish line. Instead, maintaining his health became a lifelong goal – staying healthy for the rest of his life.
Since leaving the show in 2013, Danni Allen has become a certified yoga, cycling, and personal fitness instructor. She told TopMob News that she aims to exercise four to five times a week for 45 to 90 minutes, and prioritizes variety. “I get bored easily, so I mix things up – yoga one day, swimming the next,” she explained. “I try to do something different each time to keep it interesting.”
Oh my gosh, you guys, I’m still reeling! Remember David Pufundt? He’s married to the *amazing* marketing director from Planet Fitness near Chicago! They got married back in 2022, and then… little Luka arrived in January 2025! Seriously, the cutest baby ever. She was talking about her time on *The Biggest Loser* recently – it was in March 2025, I think – and she said it feels like forever ago, but she remembers everything so vividly. She’s just so happy! She said so much has changed, she’s grown so much, found so much love, and their family is just… bigger and better in every possible way. I’m obsessed!
Rachel Frederickson was heavily criticized after losing 155 pounds on a reality show in 2014. Later, she wrote about the experience for *Today*, emphasizing the importance of trusting yourself. She explained that while others will always offer opinions, it’s crucial to listen to your own inner voice. She ultimately found strength in the challenge and reaffirmed her commitment to trusting her own judgment.
Originally a voiceover artist, this Minnesota native started her own t-shirt business in 2015. After earning a degree in logistics and supply chain management from the University of Minnesota in 2020, she joined Land O’Lakes, where she now works as a consumer insights and analytics manager.
In January 2016, Toma Dobrosavljevic shared on Facebook that an injury was hindering his workouts. After competing in the “Glory Days” season with former athletes, he explained he was recovering from a calf injury he’d gotten a few months prior and was concerned about regaining weight. He admitted he was determined not to return to his previous unhealthy state.
He found something really special through the show – a relationship with Chelsea Arthurs, who was on season 15. They connected in online groups for former contestants and started talking. As Chelsea shared on *Live with Kelly and Mark* in 2021, he flew to visit her, and they’ve been together ever since.
Since winning the show in 2016, Roberto Hernandez has become a dedicated runner, participating in 5K races, half marathons, and triathlons, including the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The American Heart Association reports that Roberto has consistently worked to maintain a healthy weight, though he does enjoy indulging in his favorite foods. “I’m not going to pretend otherwise,” says the Chicago resident. “We’re Mexican, and we love our pozole just like my mom makes it!”
In a 2020 Instagram post about his 160-pound weight cut, he admitted that he and his brother, Luis Hernandez, who he often competed against, hadn’t quite reached their ideal weights, but they were both in much better shape than before.
The father of three, who is married to Rosie Hernandez, said the key to success is to tackle challenges directly and persevere.
After a four-year hiatus, Jim Dibattista won the first season by losing 144 pounds. At the 2020 finale, he credited his wife, Deb Dibattista, and their three sons as his motivation, explaining that they had sacrificed a lot for him and that he was proud to achieve this for them. He also shared that *The Biggest Loser* had transformed his life and that he would always be a devoted fan of the show.
He’s also proud of his own progress. In March 2022, the lacrosse coach shared before-and-after photos, admitting the later picture wasn’t about achieving perfection, but about being happy, living life, and being in better shape than ever before. He firmly stated he would never return to his previous condition.
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2025-10-14 20:48