THE BIGGEST LOSER -- FALL PREVIEW

Preview of upcoming season!

THE HEAVIEST CONTESTANT EVER, SHAY SORRELLS, IS OUT TO BEAT HERSELF EACH WEEK

The Biggest Loser's heaviest contender ever, Shauntina "Shay" Sorrells, began her weight-loss journey on the show with high hopes. She revealed that although at the start of this journey she is wearing a size 32 dress, she brought with her a much smaller size 20.

"I brought a size 20 red dress because I think red dresses are hot," confided Sorrells. "I am a size 32, so that is pushing it: 12 sizes, a size a week. I am being realistic. I don't think I will be a size 10 or eight. I have a long journey ahead of me. I look at my partner and I know I have a long journey ahead of me, so I am trying not to be focused on a size, but on when I can run, when I can play on the playground with my kids, when I can wear a white dress and have the wedding that I didn't have. When I can do those things, I am good."

Sorrell's partner is 20-year-old Daniel Wright, a student from North Carolina -- who returns this season after beginning last year as the heaviest contestant in the history of the show. So when he picked Sorrells as his partner, it was essentially the prior heaviest contestant ever choosing the new heaviest contestant ever.

"It is amazing to see him running next to me on the treadmill and seeing my future," said Sorrells. "It is like seeing your future in boy form. He is at like a 15 incline, but looking at the fact that his footsteps are my path, it is amazing. There is nothing better. At first, I was, "Don't you want one of the small girls? I am probably not your best bet to get to the end." But in reality, I think he knows how far I can go. And he believes in me and that is huge.

Sorrells admits that The Biggest Loser show is a game -- but she considers that the way to play the game is to try to beat yourself each week.

"The game is beat yourself every week, like Tara," Sorrells explained. "She didn't worry about anybody else. She beat herself every week. When you beat yourself, you don't fall below the yellow line. People [need to] see that I have the longest journey and I am not a threat for the $250,000. The money isn't going to change my life; a 250-pound weight loss will change my life a lot. I hope to beat records, such as Ron's first weigh-in, the most weight lost by a woman … And maybe the most weight lost on the show."

The first episode of The Biggest Loser will air on September 15.

MORE FROM THE BIGGEST LOSER'S HEAVIEST CONTENDER

The Biggest Loser will this season have its heaviest contender ever, 29-year-old social worker Shauntina "Shay" Sorrells.

When Sorrells was asked what she believes is her greatest challenge, she told etonline, "I am my biggest challenge: All the "I can'ts." The "I may not be able to do it" that walked into the gym with me that first workout, but they beat it out of me. I walked out, I survived and I did things that I never thought I was going to be able to do, like an hour on the treadmill at 476 pounds. That seems insane. Some people at 476 pounds can't get out of their bed. So, I want to inspire them and get them out of bed."

Sorrells told et that the best advice she has received on The Biggest Loser ranch came from Jillian -- who told her simply, 'Don't quit.

As for her first workout, Sorrells described it as tremendously difficult. She explained, "I mean mentally, physically, so many levels. You are: Am I going to be able to take another step? Am I going to be able to lift my leg? Am I going to be able to do what they want me to do? There are so many expectations you feel from the trainers that you think, "I am never going to be able to do that. Am I going to be able to survive? Am I going to be able to do this tomorrow? Am I going to be able to crawl to the house? What is going to happen?" But you put one foot in front of the other.

"There was one moment when I gave up. I thought, "[Jillian] is crazy. She does not understand that I am 476 pounds and I can't climb this ladder. I walked out. I had already done it, but then she wanted me to do it again. I was, "I can't." I walked out and then I took two moments, and went, "What is your problem? You went this far to be here, what is going on?" I was talking to myself: "Are you doing it for her, because that is not going to get you very far? Are you doing it for the people at home because that is not going to get you very far?" I had to refocus and remember I was doing this for me and go back in there and do it again. That is what I did. People told me I would quit in the first five minutes with her, but I made it nine minutes!"

The first episode of "The Biggest Loser" will air on September 15th at 8 p.m.

THIS SEASON -- THE HEAVIEST CONTESTANT EVER

The heaviest contestant ever to walk onto the scales of "The Biggest Loser" tv show will be doing just that this season. A 29-year-old social worker from Newport Beach, CA, Shauntina "Shay" Sorrells begins her weight-loss journey at 476 pounds.

When asked how she thinks that she ever got to be so heavy, Sorrells told etonline, "There is a bunch of stuff. I will give you the lowdown version. My mom was a heroin addict for 29 years. I saw the destruction and the path of addiction. That is first and foremost. Secondly, there was a two-year period when we were homeless and there was a lack of food. When there is a lack of food, all you do is crave it more. You desire it, so it becomes second nature to have it whenever and as much of it as you can. That became a huge part of my subconscious."

Sorrells continued speaking, "Then at the age of five, I went into foster care and stayed there until I was 18, so a lot of emotional things. My mom was still struggling with her addiction, and when she wasn't there, food was. When she broke a promise, food didn't, so all those issues come into play. It just continued to grow.

For so long, I hid from it because I didn't want to face it. And when I did realize it, I didn't want to face it. I hid behind education. I thought it would be the most amazing thing if I could go to college, because 17 percent of kids in foster care go to college. I did that. Traveling, getting my master's degree, I felt like I was fixing everything, like I was putting the band-aids on it, masking it and making it better, but in reality, I was just continuing to get bigger."

"I was refusing to face that because I would have to face the addiction," Sorrells continued. "I would have to face my mom's shortcomings. It wasn't until she passed away -- she passed away about three years ago -- she was 48 years old, 300-plus pounds, so she, too, had an issue with weight. It made me realize I had a very short time to live if I continue. That was very scary for me, because I feel like I have so much to give and I wouldn't have much time."

When asked whether her mother's death actually was her "ah-ha moment," Sorrells agreed that it was one of those moments.

"That was the one that death was imminent," she said. "About a year and a half ago, I hiked a waterfall in Hawaii. It took me about four hours to do a mile-and-a-half. It was wet and rainy. It was the worst conditions you could think of to hike in, but I completed it, I got to the top and that was my ah-ha moment that I could do it. So there was the I should, I could and then there was the how, but I had no idea how.

"At 10 years old, I was in women's plus-size clothing. I had no reference point. I had no, this is what you feel like; this is how you do it. I had none of that. Last season, sitting on my couch seeing Daniel Wright doing it -- 454 pounds -- that is the how. Once the how clicked in, it was "do it." Get up and do it! Here I am. He is back and he is my partner."



Daniel Wright, a 20-year-old from Willow Spring, NC, was the heaviest contestant on the show last year, with a starting weight of 454 pounds. And in keeping with the show's theme of Second Chances, he is back again this season to continue his weight-loss campaign.

Both Sorrells and Wright are members of The Biggest Loser blue team.

CONTESTANTS ON THE BIGGEST LOSER

When The Biggest Loser premieres for the eighth season on Tuesday, September 15th, it will be all about turning lives around and getting second chances.

Abby, a 34-year-old high school teacher from Mabank, Texas, lost her husband, 5-year-old daughter and 2-week-old son in a fatal car crash. She is searching for a way to get back to a normal life, and after returning to college and graduating with a Master's of Education degree, she thinks that losing weight will allow her to do that.

Fans will recall 20-year-old Daniel, a student from Willow Spring, NC, who is returning after competing in last season's "Biggest Loser: Couples." He was the heaviest contestant in the history of the show, and while by the finale he had lost 142 pounds of his starting weight of 454, he is back to continue his weight-loss journey.

And Shay, a 29-year-old social worker from Newport Beach, CA, was in the foster care system from age five to 18. While she has been overweight for as long as she can remember, during the past 10 years she has found that stress, emotions and learned eating habits have contributed to even more weight gain. At 476 pounds and 5 ft 8, she is the heaviest contestant to appear on the show. As a social worker she wants to provide her clients with motivation and strength -- and feels that she needs to be an example for them.

Amanda, at 19-years-old the youngest of the group, is studying to become a Registered Nurse and feels that she wants to lose weight and become healthier so that she will not feel like a "hypocrite" when promoting health to others.

Liz, at 49-years-old is the oldest girl, lived on a farm cooked hearty meals for her family. She gained weight when she had her first child, and has never been able to keep weight off since -- even resorting to a tummy tuck to get rid of extra weight and skin. Today she wants to lose weight so that she will have the energy to play with her grandchildren.

A total of eight men and eight women will challenge themselves to lose weight this season. They range in age from 19 to 55-years old, and hail from as far West as California and as far East as Connecticut.

Alison Sweeney, who has hosted The Biggest Loser since Season 4 will return -- as will popular trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.

BIGGEST LOSER CONTESTANTS WED

Former “The Biggest Loser” contestants Nicole Brewer and Damien Gurganious no doubt had one of the happiest days of their lives when they are married on Sunday on Long Island – both wearing wedding garb significantly smaller than what they were wearing just a short time ago.

Last year Brewer had selected a wedding gown in a size 24, but when she actually walked down the aisle, it was in a lovely size 8 gown.

“I feel like a princess,” Brewer told nydailynews in an interview before the wedding. “Damien is going to flip out.”

As for the other half of this duo, Gurganious was originally expecting to wear a size 60 suit, but instead it was a smaller 42 suit.

“I can finally wear the clothes I always wanted to wear,” he also explained prior to the wedding. “A jacket couldn’t close on me like this before.”

Life has certainly changed for the couple, largely due to their appearance on The Biggest Loser television show – a show where competitors learn to change their life styles, meet challenges and try to lose the most weight.

“On The Biggest Loser, we learned it’s as simple as calories in versus calories out,” explained Brewer to nydailynews. “It took time, but now I know, for instance, that a small apple is 80 calories. And that is empowering to know.”

And Brewer explained that she has also learned to shop smartly. “You see how expensive fruits and vegetables are in the grocery store, but you can save money and get better quality at a farmer’s market. I can get a big head of lettuce here for just $1, and I get home and make yummy salads.”

The couple, who said that they began to date after “hitting it off” at a gym, camped out at Rockefeller Center in hopes of gaining a spot on The Biggest Loser show. At the time Brewer, who now weighs 145 pounds, weighed in at 269. And Gurganious, who weighs 241 pounds, was 381 pounds. Of course, they made it onto the show -- and completely turned their lives around.

While neither Brewer and Gurganious were ultimately crowned The Biggest Loser champion, there is no question but that they emerged from the show as winners. As Gurganious explained in his new tux, “This just feels so good!”

So their wedding day was likely be a day of dreams come true -- but the dreams come true were marrying each other and also looking as they had hoped to on this very special day in their lives!

SNEAK PREVIEW FOR THE BIGGEST LOSER - BEGINNING SEPT 15 ON NBC WITH A THEME OF "SECOND CHANCES"

BIGGEST LOSER AUSTRALIA LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT HOST

The Australian versions of two popular American reality shows are seeking replacement hosts. Replacements are being sought for both Ajay Rochester on The Biggest Loser and Kyle Sandilands on Australian Idol.

While sources have said that Australian Idol wants Paula Abdul on that show, the expectation is that she is likely wanted to sit on the judging panel and not hosting the show.

And there have been no rumors connecting Abdul to The Biggest Loser.

BIGGEST LOSER: ASIA

Who would have known -- that "The Biggest Loser" competition would become so popular that there is also a The Biggest Loser: Asia!

The Jakarta Post reports that at least 225 people from across the country who are battling obesity expect to begin efforts to win for the US$100,000 top prize.

The Indonesian competitions will apparently audition for the opportunity to represent Indonesia in the Biggest Loser Asia program.

Executive producer Riaz Mehta said that hopefuls came from various towns in the country.

"We are happy to see the public's enthusiasm for the program," said Mehta. "We have noticed a number of interesting participants who stand a great chance of winning."

While registering, the potential contestants were reportedly offered two choices of food -- healthy items such as fruits and junk foods such as donuts and crispy fried chicken. It was not reported which food group drew the greatest interest!

"BIGGEST" LOSER SEASON PREMIERE ON SEPTEMBER 15!

"The Biggest Loser" Season 8 premiere will air on Tuesday, September 15 at 8 p.m. ET.

As in prior three seasons, it will be shown in two-hour episodes -- but this time there will no longer be "couples."

"We're going back to singles and contemplating doing something really unique," said executive producer J. D. Roth. "We're going to study fattest cities in America, and we're going to try to cast in those cities and add things to those cities to help them change their ways and to get off that list."

Season 9 of The Biggest Loser will premiere early in 2010 and, to vary the routine a bit, will return to its family format.

TEAM BOB -- Trainer Bob Harper Talks About Second Chances

When "The Biggest Loser" returns in mid-September, the show will very much be about second chances, according to the show trainer Bob Harper.

"When you get to see one of our contestants from last season get back on the show," Harper told etonline, "get a second chance at the show, it is so great.

"There is a woman who lost her husband and both children. She is getting a second chance at life. We have the largest contestant we ever have had -- a 476 pound girl. On the first day, they had to run a mile, and one of the contestants was so unhealthy that she wasn't able to walk a mile -- and we didn't get work out of her for three weeks! She is doing great."

Harper said that the best part of the show is "getting them back in charge of their lives -- to save their lives. I love what I do, and I take it seriously. It is such a motivation, keeps me inspired and keeps my head in the game. That is my job -- to help as many people as I can. And that is why I like making these games. It helps spread the message that you can take charge, can get up off the sofa and find something more active that you like to do."