Paulette Lambert Discusses Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition

An interview with the dietitian for ABC's new weight loss reality show.

Paulette Lambert, RD, CDE is the director of nutrition at the California Health and Longevity Institute. Soon, you'll know more about both as Paulette is also the dietitian for the participants of ABC's new weight loss reality show, Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. Created by JD Roth, the man behind Biggest Loser and several similar programs, the show will take on a different direction than any other. Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition will follow eight individuals, who are categorized as super obese, on a 365-day journey in an attempt to lose hundreds of pounds. Lambert told us about 10 percent of the U.S. population can be defined as super obese, a level of morbid obesity she says often leaves people "having a hard time functioning in society." This definition is given to those who are more than 200 pounds overweight. She worked with each individual to help them better understand nutrition, what and how to eat, and why. The balanced diet they follow while working with Lambert and Extreme Makeover has about 1400-1600 calories per day for women, and about 2000-2200 calories per day for the men. It's made up of "lean proteins, tons of fruits and vegetables, and adequate carbs," which Lambert defined as 5-6 servings of carbs/day for the women and 8/day for the men. They also had a small amount of fat, mostly to aid with satiation, and sourced this from omega-3s (which is also a great anti-inflammatory). As for fitness, these individuals worked with Chris Powell, and Lambert says they underwent about five hours of workouts each day. For those following the show at home who want to emulate the results displayed on Extreme Makeover, Lambert says there are two very key things you must do: 1. Stop Drinking Your Calories. She says to eliminate the tea, juice, and soda, and stick to water. Most people don't realize that some soda habits equate to consuming a five-pound bag of sugar each week. 2. Get Off Fast Food. She says you need to eat real food, instead of the calorie-concentrated, low-volume foods lacking fresh fruits and vegetables Americans are dependent upon. What she says we can expect to see on Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition are changes and transformations that "are phenomenal to watch." Tune-in to the premiere for the eight-episode season Monday, May 30 at 10/9 cst on ABC.