One of the biggest curiosities surrounding the Biggest Loser contestants is what happens when they go home. The recent story of season three winner Erik Chopin regaining his weight has raised concerns that this is common for most. However, the truth is, most contestants continue to manage their weight loss long after the confetti falls.

Dan Evans, season 5 contestant, tells us that the maintenance is the hardest part, and that two years after his season’s finale, he still has to “work hard to maintain.” That’s why he, joined by former teammate and mom Jackie Evans, have decided to spend a week at the Biggest Loser Resort. Set in the southwestern, picturesque town of Ivins, Utah, the resort offers a fitness getaway unlike any other and allows guests to focus on their health for a week at a time or more.

“It’s so awesome to me that there’s a place where people can go… and it’s as close to the experience as you can possibly get,” says Jackie about the Biggest Loser Resort. Saying that she and Dan were fortunate to be only two of 20 applicants selected for her season, out of 250,000, she’s glad that there’s an accessible place where others can reap all the benefits. Without the cameras!

Listen now as Jackie and Dan tell us about their week at the Biggest Loser Resort, including what a day is like, what surprises them and what they like.

In light of National Registered Dietitian Day, we welcome Emily Fonnesbeck to share some insights on ways to start living a healthier life. Emily is the Registered Dietitian for the Biggest Loser Resort.

January does not have to be the only time to create resolutions. I don’t think you ever need to wait until a calendar date to make changes. If you are really committed, you will start today. Here are some tips to kick-start a healthy lifestyle:

1.  Start small.  You may want to run a marathon eventually, but a 5K might be a better place to start. Make realistic goals that will be achievable in the short term. This will allow you to see results quickly and will keep you committed to long term goals.

2. Fit your goals to fit your lifestyle.  If you travel a lot, it might not be realistic to say you won’t eat out anymore. If you like ice cream, you probably won’t give it up. Be sure to take your lifestyle into account when making your goals.

Well, not being fat. But, eating certain fats is not only good, but necessary for optimal health. You should also realize that you don’t have to totally eliminate so-called “bad” fat, such as saturated and trans fats, from your diet; the key is to minimize. Once you do that, it’s time to recognize the fats that are beneficial to your health.

The good news of certain fats being healthy has been pretty well propagated in recent years. But, many people still don’t know it. Or, if you do know, you may not know which name they go by and where you can find them. Here’s the 4-1-1 on healthy fats:

Monounsaturated Fats

Monounsaturated fats have an amazing trait: they have the selective power of lowering LDL “bad” cholesterol, while increasing HDL “good” cholesterol. So, where do you get these wonder fats? Nuts like peanuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios are all good sources of monounsaturated fats. Other sources include avocado, canola oil, and olive oil. Monounsaturated fats have also been found to help with losing weight.

“Nothing changes until you do.” This is probably one of my favorite sayings. If you have ever complained about not eating healthy enough, working too much, not having enough time for exercise, or not taking care of yourself the way you should then you have probably spent some time wishing things could change. Here are five ideas to help get you started and make more productive use of your spring break.

1. Take time to plan. Without a plan, you’re stuck with good intentions that you can’t execute. If you have extra time over spring break, do some personal reflection and goal setting. Think about one behavior at a time. What would you like to change about nutrition? Write it down. Continue this until you have a list of changes that have been on your mind. Which few do you believe are the most important behaviors to change and easiest to change? Start there. Be consistent. Don’t think about how far you have to go, think about what you will do today to work on that change. Here are a couple examples: I will eat two whole fruits a day. I will not snack in front of the TV or computer.

Camp Shane is the world’s longest running weight-loss camp for children. In business for more than 40 years, Camp Shane provides a friendly and supportive environment that helps campers learn to eat healthfully and have fun doing it. “As someone who has seen thousands of parents struggle with how to continue their child’s weight loss at home, I’ve learned that cooking and eating with your kids at home is one of the simplest and most effective weight loss tools that parents can adopt,” said Ziporah Janowski, co-owner of Camp Shane.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to ask Ziporah a few questions about healthy habits to instill in our children. Read below for her answers, and check out the amazing smoothie recipes she’s shared with us – Banilla Shake, Blueberry-Orange Whirl, and my favorite, Very Berry Smoothie.  All are less than 175 calories and will help your kids achieve the recommended servings of fruit every day.

What do parents need to know about the basic nutrition needs of children? (i.e. RDA fruits/vegetables)