For years, Katie Fanok struggled with depression and insomnia. Counselors labeled her “depressed” and prescribed her drugs, but after realizing the drugs merely amplified the depression, Katie set her sights on a workable solution.
For her, it was dance. And so she danced. But after surgery for an injured ankle rendered her more than reluctant to continue with her passion, Katie began to pack on the pounds. Fed up with her physical condition – and now more depressed than ever – Katie took a friend’s advice and auditioned for the TV dance/weight loss show Dance Your Ass Off.
DietsInReview.com had a chance to talk to Katie about her transformation experience on DYAO. Here is what this newly svelte dancer had to say about her reality show debut. (more…)
Even though Ruben was the big (or smaller) winner during last week’s Dance Your Ass Off season finale, all of the contestants came back for one last episode to show off their amazing weight loss since they had been eliminated from the series.
While everyone was truly transformed, no one underwent a metamorphosis like Miles. Losing 90 pounds since the beginning of the show to last night’s reunion, Miles started the show at 260 pounds and unveiled his amazing leaner bod at just 170 pounds. Miles’ elimination obviously did not deter him from his motivation to keep his weight loss journey thriving. (more…)
Today I interviewed Dance Your Ass Off winner Ruben and the show’s executive producer and creator Lisa Ann Walter. Here is a recap of this conversation, just one day following the season finale of this weight loss competition series.
DIR: How has the show changed your life?
Ruben: It sounds corny, but it changed my life and everyone else’s on the show. I was the oldest contestant by at least 11 years and I fully committed to what would happen. I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I committed to it. I took advantage of all the nutritionists, doctors and motivation and it paid off. I am still taking dance classes and I do it for myself because it’s fun, not for the competition aspect of it.
An exercise video is going to come out where people can learn the dances, have fun, sweat and lose the pounds all from their living room. (more…)
As the Oxygen network’s Dance Your Ass Off has been whittled down to just three contestants, I had the opportunity to field questions to DYAO host Marissa Jaret Winokur and contestant Alicia, who was just eliminated from episode nine.
From the calorie-burning benefits and learning dances like the Cha-Cha and Jive, to understanding how fun getting in shape can be, these two dancers shared with us some of their best-kept secrets and insights from being a part of this dance and weight loss competition series.
Here is the complete audio conversation of our candid chat with Marissa and Alicia.
It was semi-finals week on Dance Your Ass Off and the remaining four dance contestants received a va-va-va-voom makeover for a photo shoot with the magazine Life & Style.
As they were primped and prodded, each of the contestants saw firsthand how their sweaty moves have drastically altered not just their looks but their measurements as well as their confidence.
Their before and after images shocked even themselves. Shayla’s new-found pride in herself inspired her to vow that she would never again allow her weight to reach as high as it was when she first started the show. (more…)
In case you missed last night’s episode of Oxygen’s Dance Your Ass Off, here is your recap.
While the families of Ruben, Alicia, Shayla and Pinky surprised them in a motivating family reunion, the dancers continued to lose weight as they strutted their leaner selves to ballroom dances to the tunes of 80’s retro hits like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” and “Isn’t She Lovely.”
Alicia, the reigning biggest loser, lost almost 6 pounds this past week. Shayla lost 4.5 pounds. Pinky lost 3.7 pounds and Ruben shed a very respectable 5.4 pounds. (more…)
It’s week two at Dance Your Ass Off and the contestants are off and running, or rather dancing. This week was disco week, and we saw the contestants working hard in the gym this week to get them ready to hustle.
Last week the contestants lost a combined 85 pounds, and with this weeks’ combined loss, they’re up to a total loss of 121. Those are big numbers and they’re working to lose that weight in both the gym and on the dance floor. DYAO trainer Lee Wall tells us about the extra leg work he had them doing this week to prepare them for their ’70s dance moves.
One of the sassiest hits of the summer television season has finally hit the airwaves. Dance Your Ass Off premiered Monday night on the Oxygen network and was met with instant fan attraction.
The premise is simple – take one part Dancing With the Stars, one part Biggest Loser, add a Tony-award winning host, and just a dash of a $100,000 prize and you’ve got the recipe for a hit weight loss reality show. Twelve contestants were selected to do what many have done on DWTS, dance the weight off. They’ll also pair their training with fitness and nutrition guidance from the likes of Biggest Loser’s Dr. Huizenga.
Host Marissa Jaret Winokur, from “Hairspray,” said “you don’t have to starve yourself and be miserable to lose weight.” This is a principle that has made Biggest Loser’s weight loss program so approachable to millions. If you make healthy changes while doing what you love, then you’ll no doubt see your goals met.
Check out this premiere recap, then read below to learn more about Dance Your Ass Off.
We’ve heard about the incredible weight loss celebrities enjoy after a stint on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. Did any of them really ever have that much weight to lose? Well, now there’s a new dance-off show where people who do stand to lose some weight will have their chance. Monday, June 29, Dance Your Ass Off, or DYAO, will premiere on the Oxygen network, a high-energy show helping people achieve their dance floor dreams while fitting into a smaller dance uniform.
DYAO is hosted by Marissa Jaret Winokur, best known as Tracy Turnblad in Broadway’s hit musical Hairspray, who will serve as an energetic and positive leader for the 12 contestants ready to move it ’til they lose it.
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As the Oxygen network’s 
