Tag Archives: ruben studdard

Biggest Loser “Save” Goes Home Amid Controversy – We Talk to Craig

Last night on The Biggest Loser, the battered white team was dealt another blow when trainer Jillian Michaels was called out during the final weigh in for giving her team caffeine supplements last week without permission. The public chastising led to a ripple effect of consequences including a four-pound penalty for Jillian’s team and a reversal of last week’s events that gave immunity back to team blue and allowed the convenient return of fan favorite Ruben Studdard.

Unfortunately, the white team could not overcome Jillian’s penalty and Craig fell under the red line – for the second time.

We had a chance to speak with Craig about his elimination, his feelings toward Jillian now, and how he’s doing at home:

DIR: Your journey continued with a save from Jillian but ended because of it, how does that feel?

Craig: I know my leaving was premature but it was my time. The five weeks I had at the ranch were amazing and gave me motivation to do it on my own at home. I was actually excited go to back and see my wife and daughter.

DIR: How is your relationship with Jillian? Do you blame her for your exit?

Craig: My relationship with Jillian is great. Fear-wise she helped me through things I never would’ve been able to work through on my own. I’m using everything she taught me and I’m grateful.

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Posted on November 13, 2023 by Dani Stone

Jillian Michaels Cheated; Team Loses Big and Ruben Returns to the Biggest Loser Ranch

A shocking moment at last night’s Biggest Loser weigh-in left fans dismayed, confused, and some even celebrating.

Before the contestants stepped on the scale, trainer Jillian Michaels was confronted by Alison Sweeney about giving her team caffeine supplements. “Last week, Jillian broke the rules and gave caffeine supplements to each member of her team without [a] doctor’s permission,” said the host.

NBC responded with a statement this morning, telling us, “While caffeine is allowed in ‘The Biggest Loser’ house, Jillian did not ask permission to give it in supplement form. Because of this rules violation, the previous week’s weigh-in was thrown out.”

Michaels’ white team was penalized four pounds. Bob’s team regained the immunity they would have had last week. And Ruben’s elimination was void, allowing the former American Idol to return.

The trainer said she stands by her professional opinion and the decision she made to give her team caffeine supplements, calling the supplement “significantly healthier than unlimited amounts of coffee.” It should be noted that Michaels does not have formal dietetic training nor certification, but does have a nutrition and wellness consultant certificate with the American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA).

It’s been widely assumed that this sort of back room behavior takes place on the ranch; with accusations of juice fasting, diuretics, and the like swarming for years. One source told us that select players were known to get such caffeine supplements, but it wasn’t something open or available to all contestants. Another source who also requested anonymity, told us, “Everyone knows Jillian has been giving caffeine supplements to her contestants since the first season. And Dr. H prescribes supplements we never hear about.”

If this is fairly common practice on the ranch, a rarely enforced rule, why punish Jillian now? Our first source was shocked that they even aired and explained what happened. Our theory is that the producers needed a reason to get the Velvet Teddy Bear, who revealed a 104 pound total loss in last week’s elimination interview, back on the ranch. (more…)

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Natalie K

Ruben Studdard – 104 Pounds Lighter Since Biggest Loser Elimination

Ruben Studdard, the first celebrity to join The Biggest Loser cast, is now the newest eliminated member, and first person to leave Dolvett’s red team. As one of the heaviest men on the show this season, fans were shocked to see his dismal 5-pound weight loss this week, which quickly sent him under the dreaded yellow line.

Today, we interviewed the laid-back American Idol winner, who announced that he’s now 104 pounds lighter.

The Biggest Loser fan favorite may have only been on the ranch for four short weeks but he’s completely comfortable with the progress he made while he was there. “Look, even though I only lost 5 pounds that week, I worked with my team doing everything we were supposed to do,” he explained. “Before coming on the show I had watched a few seasons and I know certain bodies just respond differently.”

(more…)

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Dani Stone

8 Must-Know Facts and Teasers from Biggest Loser 15

When Biggest Loser returns for an epic 15th season tomorrow night, you can expect some same ‘ole same ‘ole where challenges, temptations, and weigh-ins go, but you’ll also be in for some exciting new treats. All three of our beloved trainers – Jillian Michaels, Bob Harper, and Dolvett Quince – are back in the gym. And of course, Alison Sweeney will keeping the whole lot in check from her post as host.

But what about the twists, turns, and surprises? Biggest Loser’s publicity team is very good at keeping a secret, but they’ve let out a few teasers that new and old fans need to know before starting this season.

1. One hour episodes. Many fans were growing tired of the two hour format Biggest Loser’s been known for for as long as we’ve been covering the show, which was season 5. Tuesday nights will only have 60 minutes of Biggest Loser now, with a few special two-hour episodes thrown in here and there.

2. Longer season! There are shorter episodes, but the fall season is longer. The BL15 finale will air February 4, 2024, just before the Olympics start. This will be the first time the season carries over in to the new year, and one of the few times a new season isn’t set to start right at the new year. (more…)

Posted on October 7, 2023 by Natalie K

Ruben Studdard’s Debut on Biggest Loser Helps Him Put Health Before Career

“I’ll be whatever my fans want to call me,” said Ruben Studdard about his Velvet Teddy Bear persona. Will the trimmed down star still use the name after his stint on this season of Biggest Loser? He won’t mind if you do!

Ruben checks in to the ranch at 462 pounds, making him the heaviest contestant this season, but that’s one title he’ll happily part ways with.

Once a well-known vegan, Ruben told us he no longer follows a meatless lifestyle. Because of his high protein needs on the ranch, he’s following the diet prescribed there by Cheryl Forberg, RD, the show’s dietitian who co-created its award-winning nutrition plan.

In recent years, the former American Idol has not been able to consistently manage a healthy weight. “The show gives me a second chance to live a healthy lifestyle. It gives me the opportunity to put me first, not put my career ahead of my health.”

For the past eleven years, he says his life has been an open book and available to the public eye, with the exception of his struggle with weight loss. He knew it would be a difficult decision to open himself up in this way, and admits the process was “a lot to think about.” So he looked at the opportunity in a different way – not to see it as a reality show, but instead for how it would impact his life in a positive way. (more…)

Posted on September 25, 2023 by Natalie K

Meet the Biggest Loser 15 Contestants, Including American Idol Ruben Studdard and Olympian Holley Mangold

“I deserve to live a happy and healthy life,” said The Biggest Loser season 15 contestant Tanya Winfield. Achieving a happy and healthy life is a big part of the upcoming season of The Biggest Loser. This year, it’s all about second chances. From a former American Idol to an Olympic athlete, season 15 of The Biggest Loser is providing its contestants with a second chance at the kind of life they want to live.

For these men and women, it’s going to be quite a change from what they are used to. “I came in thinking I was an athlete and realized that didn’t mean anything,” said contestant and Olympic weightlifter Holley Mangold.

Most contestants agreed that the most challenging part of being on The Biggest Loser is the workouts with the trainers. “The trainers are what they are. They are here to do a job. They are personable and want you to get in shape, but their main goal is to change our lives,” contestant and American Idol Ruben Studdard said. All three trainers, Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels, and Dolvett Quince, return this season to help the 15 men and women on their weight loss journeys.

“We have a really good group of people. We’ve got people that are really willing to see themselves for what they are at the very beginning, which is they don’t have the ability, but they have that drive, that want,” trainer Bob Harper said.

For the first time ever, the trainers helped select the contestants, but they will also get to save them. Each trainer has one “save” this season, where they can reverse an elimination and keep a contestant on the ranch who they think deserves it. It’s an exciting first for the show.

Trainer Jillian Michaels added that the contestants change more than their physical appearances. “You don’t just see a physical transformation; you see the emotional transformation; a completely different self-image, self-worth. That to me makes all the hardship worth it.” Season 15 of The Biggest Loser premieres on Tuesday, October 8 at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.

MEET THE BIGGEST LOSER 15 CONTESTANTS

Craig Arrington
Age: 30
Occupation: Warehouse Supervisor for Pharmaceutical Company
Hometown: Wilson, North Carolina (more…)

Posted on September 4, 2023 by Elizabeth

Ruben Studdard Joins Biggest Loser as First Celebrity Contestant

Prepare yourselves now “Velvet Teddy Bear” fans, singer Ruben Studdard is a contestant on the upcoming season of The Biggest Loser, marking the first time in show history to have a celebrity. Studdard is best known as the winner of American Idol’s second season when he topped runner-up Clay Aiken. He will be part of a yet-to-be-named cast of new contestants losing weight together in the show’s fifteenth season, set to debut Tuesday, October 8. ruben studdard biggest loser

It’s a later start than usual for the hit reality show, but no doubt the addition of Ruben will make it worth the wait. NBC is staying mum on pertinent details like Ruben’s starting weight, but we’ll surely see his story unfold as his journey begins alongside other men and women primed to change their own lives while inspiring others.

Essence Magazine reports that Ruben weighed upwards of 450 pounds in 2003 when his American Idol season debuted. Shortly after winning, he joined the Duke Diet where he lost 70 pounds, citing a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure as motivation. It was after that program that he became a vegetarian, and later a vegan, saying he doesn’t eat anything that has a parent. As best we can tell, Ruben remains a staunch vegetarian to this day, however, his health is still greatly at risk due to his obesity. (more…)

Posted on July 1, 2023 by Natalie K