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. Read Full Post >
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. Read Full Post >
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. Read Full Post >
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.
As the Oxygen network’s 
