Jillian Michaels

This Monday, September 14 marks the season premiere of the Rachael Ray Show. As she kicks off season four with Rach’s Big Block Party in Chi-town, she will also welcome fitness guru, Jillian Michaels and Biggest Loser winners Helen Phillips and Ali Vincent.

Tune in this Monday to watch Rachael boost her heart rate with Jillian as they bounce on a massive trampoline and also encourage the younger audience members to jump aboard and get in a workout. And listen to Helen and Ali as they share with Rachael how they are managing to keep their weight off and stay healthy.

Executive producer Mark Koops of Biggest Loser calls his trainers, Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, the “two best trainers in the world.” Few would argue, especially the 100-plus contestants who count themselves amongst the fortunate few who’ve trained with them in America’s most famous gym.

We had a chance to visit with Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels as they prepare for the September 15 premiere of Biggest Loser 8. While filming has wrapped, or is close to it, they’re able to reflect on what is about to be the newest Biggest Loser season.

Listen to a portion of the interview now, and then continue reading to hear more from Bob and Jillian.

UPDATE: This giveaway has ended. Renee and Jeff were chosen as the two winners! Congrats!

We promise we’re as anxious as all of you die-hard Biggest Loser fans for this season to get started. Between the fall and spring seasons, we only have to wait a couple of weeks. But after the confetti falls at the spring finale, we have all summer to wonder what awaits us, and the contestants, in that famous gym.

To prepare for Biggest Loser 8, we’re encouraging you to sign-up now for our Biggest Loser Newsletter. After this season’s premiere September 15, we’ll draw two newsletter subscribers to each win one of the following prize packs:

Prize One: Biggest Loser Cookbook, The Biggest Loser book, 10 packs of Extra sugar-free gum, and a Dan Evans CD (Biggest Loser 5). Total value $44.

Prize Two: Jillian Michaels Master Your Metabolism, Jillian Michaels Hot Bod in a Box, 10 packs of Extra sugar-free gum, and a Dan Evans CD (Biggest Loser 5). Total value $42.

What do you do for others that you do not do for yourself? Do you clean more deeply when visitors are coming? Even though most people enjoy the results of a put together home, many are a bit more lax when just the family will see the contents. Do you only use the soft towels when you have guests? Do you get something fast and less healthy when it is just you? Are you more likely to cook with the freshest ingredients when you have a dinner guest? How would your family dinner be different if Jillian Michaels was coming for a visit? Are you more likely to go to exercise every day when your high school reunion is approaching?

I thought travel season was pretty much over, now that school is back in session, but as we drove behind school buses on our way to the airport this morning, the friend who is driving my car home said that he was taking three other friends to the airport this week. My friends that travel for business seem to be booked for weeks. Even those with children in school have Labor Day weekend, fall break, and Thanksgiving for which they can plan. As I write this from above 10,000 feet, I thought it would be a great time to share some healthy airline travel tips.

• Walk instead of taking the moving sidewalk. Or for a really great workout, cut your time short and sprint to your gate with all your luggage. Trust me, that is a workout!

• Pack your own healthy snacks and pass on the salted peanuts and spiced cookies. A small baggie of trail mix can easily fit in a carry on. The airline will provide water (or coffee if you had to get up as early as I did). Do not give in to the bright colors and temptations of McDonald’s, Cinnabon, or Starbucks at every gate.