“Last mom standing!” proclaimed Biggest Loser 9’s Sherry Johnston in her post-elimination interview. In a season full of moms, six to be exact, Sherry made it the longest and left with her head held high, confident her daughter Ashley Johnston would continue to do well and 55 pounds left behind on the gym floor.

Sherry started at the ranch weighing 218 pounds and boasted a sunny disposition that she maintained throughout the competition. If anything, it only got brighter with each pound she lost. She says her elimination wasn’t really as a surprise. Speaking to concerns about ageism on the ranch, Sherry said that she and fellow contestant and mom Cheryl George (the two have become great friends) had discussed the topic and knew the younger players would stick together.

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Nicknamed “Little Mama” by trainer Jillian Michaels and “Mama Sherry” by her fellow black team members, Sherry stepped into a motherly role for many of those younger players who would eventually vote her off the ranch. When Stephanie and Sam began “dating” in week three, she said she offered friendly advice to not forget the reasons she was at the ranch and said that Stephanie was appreciative.

I had the great pleasure to sit down with superstar dietitian Cheryl Forberg, RD, who just so happens to be a professional chef and the nutrition expert behind the wildly successful weight loss on NBC’s The Biggest Loser! She talked with me about her latest book, The Biggest Loser: 6 Weeks to a Healthier You, which released yesterday. Plus, read on to see how you can win a copy for yourself!

Rebecca: Cheryl, you’ve authored several wonderful books for Biggest Loser so far and I was personally a big fan of Biggest Loser Simple Swaps, what makes The Biggest Loser: 6 Weeks to a Healthier You different than other books?

Cheryl: There are many books on the market catering to dieting and weight loss. One of the distinctions of The Biggest Loser eating plan is that the quality of the calories is as important as the quantity. Our eating plan has evolved since we began 10 seasons ago, and I’m happy to say that it’s continually improved in terms of including less and less processed food choices.

It’s National Nutrition Month and the second interview in our series will be a big help to anyone who has struggled with trying to find what’s “fact” and what’s “false” when it comes to nutrition information. I love the “information age,” don’t get me wrong, but for people who just want quick facts you can trust, it can be a total nightmare. You read one thing on one website and then something totally different on another.

In comes Elisa Zied, a New York-based dietitian and author of the resource book “Nutrition At Your Fingertips.” I call it a nutrition “survival guide.” You don’t need to read this book cover to cover (but you could if you wanted). It is designed to be used like a dictionary. Want to know about artificial sweeteners? Look it up and get the latest facts. Confused over food labels? Look that up. Same with topics such as glycemic index, food allergies, and healthy weight loss.

Listen to our interview then read on to win the book.

Win a copy of Nutrition At Your Fingertips. Leave a comment below to be eligible, either a nutrition question you’re not sure about or share your favorite “myth” that you were able to bust with reliable information. Winner will be selected 3/31/10.

March is National Nutrition Month and today, March 10, is Registered Dietitian Day. Even though we at DietsInReview.com focus on nutrition news, tips, and trends every day of the year, we wanted to take some time to bring some excellent content your way created by top dietitians.

Before I get to “the goods,” I want to explain why seeking advice from a dietitian is one of the best things you can do for your health. Dietitians are the health professionals that can help you make sensible changes to your eating habits. They can help you understand any medical-related nutritional changes you may need to make (from allergies to diabetes or a thyroid condition). Dietitians can help you finish your first 5K or Ironman competition and help you fuel for optimal performance. Dietitians can even help you shop and prepare healthy meals.

RDs complete a minimum of four years of study in food and nutrition, and many have advanced degrees all the way to PhDs and some are MDs and professional chefs as well. After college, RDs must compete for coveted internships that last about a year. Then, it’s a board exam. Basically, it’s a lot of work. I should know! I’m a career changer from the IT field… leaving a cushy desk job to become a food and nutrition expert was the hardest (and best) thing I have ever done. I love my job. The best way to find an RD is to look one up in your area. You can visit www.eatright.org.

Now, here are some of the best features and content on DietsInReview.com that comes from the food and nutrition experts – the registered dietitians!

She might have arrived at the Biggest Loser ranch appearing quiet and meek, but that side of Cheryl George didn’t last long. Only as long as it took trainer Jillian Michaels to get her in the gym and force her to face her inner demons. The result? A banshee-like scream from Cheryl asserting “I’m ready!”. She hasn’t backed down since, making her healthy new lifestyle a priority, especially now that she’s at home.

“I don’t think I’ll have any problem [maintaining at home]” says Cheryl, following her elimination in week eight. She says she knew it was going to be her week to go home, due to the alliances and relationships existing on the black team. But she was OK with it then and she’s OK with it now.

Listen now as Cheryl tells us how she manages in the real world, and how she seeks “enjoyment classes” at the gym.