by Gina Scarpa

 

Tonight, a new group of contestants will hit the gym and the scale on season 9 premiere of The Biggest Loser.  Just a few short weeks ago, the season 8 winner, Danny Cahill, was crowned after going from 430 pounds to 191 pounds.  Not only did he walk away $250,000 richer, he broke the record for the most amount of weight ever lost by a Biggest Loser contestant.  Today, we caught up with Danny in an exclusive interview about life after the show, the newest season, The Biggest Loser workout DVDs, and his goals of pursuing music and inspirational speaking.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How would you describe life since the season 8 finale of The Biggest Loser?
A. Danny: It’s been a whirlwind.  It’s been busy.  It’s been a test because I’ve got to keep myself a priority and that’s hard when you’re very busy.  It’s coming back to me how it was before the show but that’s not the way it is now.  It’s time to find that motivation.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What have you been doing to maintain your weight?
A. Danny: The main thing I’ve got to do is watch what I eat and I have been.  I’ve been eating a few things I hadn’t been eating in the last 8 months.  In an hour or two, I’m getting ready to head to the gym and get a good workout in. 

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Have you run into any challenges along the way?
A. Danny: There’s plenty of challenges.  One of them is my schedule, allotting time to work out.  It’s just like it was before the show started and back then, I didn’t allot the time.  I was just sitting there saying I didn’t have the time but there were things I could’ve done to make the time.  Tonight, I’m going to watch The Biggest Loser season premiere but I’m going to watch it on the treadmill.  I’m making the time.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You started the show at over 400 pounds, as many contestants will this season.  What is going to be the toughest part for these new contestants in the beginning?
A. Danny: The toughest part is getting through that first workout and not giving up hope.  It does get better every week.  The weight comes off, you get better at the exercises, they get a little bit easer… they’re still hard but you go from being a couch potato to an athlete in 3 months.  That’s what’s going to be the biggest thing, getting through the first week and that first weigh in.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: In her interview with RealityWanted today, Shay said that it’s extremely important for the contestants this season to learn everything they can while at the ranch.  What’s the biggest lesson that you learned when you were there?
A. Danny: The biggest thing I learned at the ranch was how to eat.  I learned what kind of foods were good and bad.  They didn’t have chefs and feed us on plates.  They stocked the fridge with the right kinds of food.  We had to make and cook our own food.  I could’ve eaten 10,000 calories a day there if I wanted to.  That’s the biggest thing I brought home.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You’re featured on two new Biggest Loser workout DVDs, “Last Chance Workout” and “30 Day Jump Start”.  Tell us a little bit about them and what it was like to film them.
A. Danny: They were tough!  They’re not easy!  At the time, it was right before we came home.  It was right after the last weigh in on the ranch.  I was thinking I looked pretty good but I saw the cover and I was like, “I’m still 100 pounds overweight!”  They’ve got good cardio workouts.  I get emails from fans that they bought the DVDs and worked out with me.  That’s really nice.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What is your advice to people who want to audition for The Biggest Loser?
A. Danny: If you’re gonna try out of the show, show them who you are and give it your all.  Realize that you’ve had enough.  It’s time to make the change.  Don’t wait for the show, though!  Start right now.  Being on The Biggest Loser has changed my life and I loved it and it’s a great inspiration and tool to inspire others but those millions of people aren’t going to get on the show. It’s like counting on the lottery.  Start your journey on your own.  If you wanna try out, be yourself and do the best you can do.  Show them who you really are.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When we spoke last month, you said you were planning on pursuing music and inspirational speaking.  How are those two things going for you?
A. Danny: They are going great.  My website www.thedannycahill.com has links where you can buy the song I wrote on the ranch.  A portion of that goes to the Make A Wish Foundation.  I’m writing and recording new songs and I’m hoping to have a full length CD in a month or two.  The speaking is coming along and I have some dates lined up.  I’ve been doing a lot of charity work.  I’ll be running the Boston Marathon, I’m doing things with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, I’ll be playing with Harlem Globetrotters this month, and doing things with The Starlight Foundation.  My dreams are coming true.

 

The Biggest Loser Season 9 premieres tonight at 8pm ET on NBC.

 

(Image courtesy of NBC)

 

SEE ALSO
The Biggest Loser Season 9: Season Preview
The Biggest Loser 8: Exclusive Follow Up Interview with Shay Sorrells

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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