by Gina Scarpa

 

Victoria's journey on The Biggest Loser this season has certainly been full of twists and turns. She and her mother, Cherita, were sent home week 1 only to be brought in week 5 to compete for a second chance on the ranch. They were sent home again, after losing a weigh in but returned for a third time in week 11. This time, it was Victoria's lucky day as the contestants on the ranch voted her back into the competition. Three weeks later, when she fell below the yellow line at the weigh in, the turned around and sent her home once again. Despite the ups and downs, Victoria has stayed motivated and hasn't lost sight of her weight loss goal for the upcoming live finale. She spoke about that and more during her exclusive interview with RealityWanted this week.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Whose idea was is to try out for The Biggest Loser? What motivated you to try out?
A. Victoria: It was definitely my idea to try out for The Biggest Loser. As a matter of fact, it's quite a funny story! I begged my mom to come with me to the casting call and she would not. I stood in line for hours, excited! I get to the second round and they asked if my mother would want to be on the show, too. Funny! I wanted to change my life for a long time before the show started. I would wake up every morning and tell myself, "Today is the day," but I was getting fatter and fatter. I had lost my track scholarship because of my weight gain and with the lack of activity. I looked up and was a 358 pound, 22 year old!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Your journey on The Biggest Loser certainly had its up and downs this season. How did you deal with the stress and twists in the competition?
A. Victoria: Before I started this journey, I told myself, "No matter what, I have to
change my life for the better!" I knew, going in, that there were going to be many twists and that there would be obstacles to dodge. I had to learn how to take in the experience, process it and perform quickly. I kept telling myself that I was now the girl who was actually losing weight and not the chick that was living on a hope and prayer.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What did you learn from your time spent working out with Gabrielle Reece?
A. Victoria: Gabrielle showed me that the outdoors is great. You don't need a gym to get fit. I always believed that working out in the gym was great, but I have always been partial to getting a burn in other ways. I love the outdoors! It adds a totally different element to your workout and, in my opinion, it makes the experience that much more beautiful.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When you were first presented with the temptation challenge this week, what was your reaction?
A. Victoria: Oh boy, I'm definitely going to be hungry today! That was my first thought. I knew coming in that I was not going to gameplay. I was just going to work hard and do the best I could do. I was just so very grateful for the opportunity.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Were you surprised that Koli ate over 4,000 calories in order to have the power to send somebody home?
A. Victoria: You know what? I really didn't know who was going to go for it. Koli was not my first pick but I was not surprised to find out he did, especially after hearing his rationale, which was to keep Sam there.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You looked shocked when you saw that you only lost 1 pound this week. What do you think happened?
A. Victoria: Oh yeah, I definitely thought I was going to have at least a 7 or 8 pound loss that week. I was so caught off guard that I don't think I was able to process it in that moment, because I knew that what the scale showed didn't reflect my efforts.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Was it tougher to leave, knowing that one person sent you home? Would you rather have been voted out by the group?
A. Victoria: I was glad to only have to take one blow instead of seven, for sure. I knew that coming in when I did, I would be shaking things up. That would not sit well with some, but I also knew that if I ever fell below the yellow line, I was going to be the one going home.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Can you talk a little bit about the transition home from the ranch? Did you feel prepared to continue your journey?
A. Victoria: Because of the way my journey on the show has gone, I felt that I could juggle any situation. I knew that I would transition smoothly. I had done most of my work at home already.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What are you doing in preparation for the live finale? Do you have a goal?
A. Victoria: Hard work times ten! I am doing everything I can... no excuses to get to
where I wanna be. I want to be at 190lbs for the finale.

 

The Biggest Loser airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

 

(Image courtesy of NBC)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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