« All News

Search RealityWanted News

Loading

 

 

 

 


 



 


 

 

 

The Biggest Loser 13: Exclusive Interview with Emily Joy

Posted on 03/17/2012 by Gina in The Biggest Loser and Cast Interviews

| More

 Emily Joy from The Biggest Loser 13


by Gina Scarpa


Last week, the players of The Biggest Loser got rid of a perceived threat when they voted Cassandra off of the ranch. This week, the teams were broken apart and it became an individual competition. Emily put up a 5 on the scale - a decent number, but she needed 6 to stay above the yellow line. She went up against Kimmy for elimination and, seeing as how well she did when the contestants went home, her fellow competitors took her out of the running for the grand prize. Today, we talked for the former Olympic weightlifter in an exclusive interview about her Biggest Loser experience and how she's setting her sights on the at home prize.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was the turning point in your life that brought you to The Biggest Loser?
A. Emily: This whole process has been such a blessing and, dare I say, a perfect aligning of events! I've never had an experience where each step I took perfectly aligned me with exactly what I wanted! Amazing, right? But what got me to The Biggest Loser was what would get me to every holiday, every new year, every birthday, every cute outfit, every Monday morning, every new event coming up in my life, - a gut-wrenching desire to FINALLY, FINALLY get this weight off of me! Add the fact that the upcoming birthday of mine is the big 3-O. I knew something had to be shaken up, and drastic measures had to be taken. I no longer wanted to be spinning in the same circle, not creating change, not doing the things I wanted to do most - 29 years of that was more than enough. I was done. I was done with my current pattern, rhythm of living. And there Biggest Loser was - waiting patiently in a local advertisement for a casting call. Change was coming!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did it feel to be the only team that wasn't paired with a loved one? Did it make the competition easier or harder for you?
A. Emily: I was prepared from the get go to be accomplishing this journey on my own, so I knew was hard work was in store for me as far as missing loved ones and branching out completely alone. When I found out it was a couples season, I truly felt blessed that I made it onto the show and used that as a sign that it was meant for me - that everything was lining up the way it should be for my journey to begin. I mean come on! A couples season taking on two strangers as contestants - that's pretty darn cool and special, don't you think! At times, I did feel like not having a loved one made the competition easier on me because I didn't have to worry about anyone else but myself, where the other contestants had to constantly keep their loved one's well being and safety in mind, which is a natural thing to do and I would have done the same. So, yes at times, it was easier.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Tell us about your relationship with Bob and how you felt about him as your trainer.
A. Emily: Oh gosh, I could go on and on about this question! I absolutely adore Bob and was so unbelievably excited that I was able to make a connection with him on the very first day! The rest was history - I chose him as my trainer (best decision ever), and I just fell in love with him! Our connection through Olympic Weight Lifting was just one element of our bond! He's a funny guy - and I was surprised to see just how well we got along due to our sarcasm and wit! That was definitely a cool and unique part of this process that was totally unexpected! But on a serious note, we share a very similar outlook on life and have a respect for this process of weight loss. We both know it's a lot more than calories in/calories out, but rather a journey of getting to know yourself and starting to take care of your whole being, mind and body. He taught me to be more kind to myself - best advice ever.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When do you feel you started to pop up on other people's radars as a threat?
A. Emily: I popped up as a threat after having lost more than I had to for the at-home challenge of losing 5% of our body weight for immunity. Instead of losing 11 pounds (5%), I lost 17 pounds (8%)! I worked hard and it showed. I actually was not even shooting to go over by that much; it just happens when you bust your ass and have a goal! So, with that being said, people began to see that hard work translate on the scale and began to plan out the rest of the show, in other words, who they were going to be voting off next. I caught wind of the fact that I was a threat and would "do better at home, no problem, that I put too much stock into Bob's efforts, that I can surely do it on my own" - something along those silly lines was what I was told. So I had to be on edge for every weigh-in/elimination after that 17 pound loss.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you still have a passion for weightlifting?
A. Emily: I love weightlifting! It gives me an amazing feeling of power and strength! A certain swagger if you will! The new rage of CrossFit - mixing Olympic Weightlifting with Cardio is a perfect marriage for my post Biggest Loser experience! I absolutely have a passion of weightlifting and I can't wait to weave it back into my routines!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: We also saw one of your other passions - singing! What did it mean to have Olivia help you pursue that dream?
A. Emily: This was again, an amazing opportunity granted to me via Biggest Loser! This whole experience has been nothing but wonderful for me! I felt so special to have Olivia reach out and want to help me pursue my dream of singing. What an honor to sing for her and her super talented vocal coach! This experience will be something I'll never forget and I cannot express, enough how grateful I am to have such an amazing connection through Biggest Loser and Olivia. Love her!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What are you doing to prepare for the live finale? Do you have a weight loss goal?
A. Emily: I am working so hard to prove to myself that I can finish what I started and more than finish - I can WIN what I started! I am so driven and ready to own this dream that is coming true for me! And as for my weight loss goal, that's a surprise for finale! Stay tuned for fabulousness!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You are definitely a fan favorite this season! What do you have to say to everyone who has been supporting you?
A. Emily: Oh my gosh! All of this love and support is definitely not going unnoticed! I can't say enough about how much the support means to me! Just the sheer belief in me as a person fills my heart! I am overwhelmed with such great encouragement and love each and every day that it does nothing but fuel me and makes me want to do my best to make everyone proud! The support that people have shown is one of the best pieces of this journey and I will hold it close to my heart!

 

 

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

 

(Image courtesy of NBC)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa and "Like" her on Facebook!


  


Rate this article

  • Currently 5.00/5

Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast) (Log in to vote!)


blog comments powered by Disqus

Go back to the previous page