by Gina Scarpa

 

In Season 7 of The Biggest Loser, cousins Sione and Filipe Fa were forces to be reckoned with, each dropping over 130 pounds by finale night. Fast forward three years later and Sione has gone on to become a trainer at The Biggest Loser Resort. The story for Filipe, though, was quite different. He struggled to keep the weight off and ending up gaining it back plus some. The cousins decided to team back up to help Filipe get back on track. When The Biggest Loser and Walgreen's caught wind of it, they decided to turn it into a web series and we talked to the cousins today about that experience in our exclusive interview with them.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I want to talk a little bit about the transition back to your everyday lives after The Biggest Loser. There are no more cameras, there's no monetary prize on the line... what was that change like for you both?
A. Filipe: I think it was quite the change. We did some speaking tours and traveling around the country. It was definitely the career change that was different, but that was fun at the same time.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You had very different experiences at time went on. Sione became a trainer and Filipe, you ended up gaining the weight back. What the the disconnect for you?
A. Filipe: I think a lot of it, for me... when Sione got off the show, we were doing a whole lot of things together. Fast forward a couple years, he kept working out. Sione did put on 50 pounds, but then he lost 30. I let things get out of hand. It was nothing tragic, but it was just procrastination.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It's great that the two of you teamed up again, this time to get Filipe healthy again, for a Biggest Loser web series. How did that come about?
A. Sione: You know, like Filipe said, we all had our struggles after. It's about finding that routine that works. It's been four years since we were on the show. Aside from the web series, we're family and we talk every day. With Filipe's weight coming back on, I always talked to him about coming to The Biggest Loser Resort. When he finally made that decision to start it a second time, we were fortunate enough to team up with Walgreen's and The Biggest Loser to make this web series. Even though some people may think we wanted to do it for tv, that's really not the case. We started this journey back in October and Walgreen's and Biggest Loser caught wind of it in December and asked to document the journey. Filipe had already lost 30 pounds before we started the show. I think this showed though, that we're human beings, we can fall off track. Having this documented to show people there's a second chance and not to feel bad.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did switching roles from being teammates to trainer and trainee change your relationship at all?
A. Sione: Our relationship? No. We went through the same experience. We lost the weight the first time on the show. It was about me, as a trainer, and I took on that role for the web series. I was helping him remember what was important, his quality of life. I will have to say, being a trainer, you work for it and maintain where you're at but being a trainer was so much better than competing on the show!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Filipe, who was a tougher trainer, Sione or Bob and Jillian?
A. Filipe: By far, my cousin was easier and better.
A. Sione: By easier, he doesn't mean workouts!
A. Filipe: Yeah, in terms of getting along.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Casting is underway for Season 15 of The Biggest Loser right now. What advice do you have to people who want to be on the show?
A. Sione: I would say obviously, give it every shot you can. You have to decide whether you've made the show or not... they're in the last stages of the casting process... but whether you try out and don't hear back, just decide to do it. Know that The Biggest Loser show is not a miracle show. You have to work for it. Yeah, you get to spend most of your day and dedicate your time towards working out, I get that. At the same time, you have to dig deep and be motivated to work out. Just do it. If you really want that lifestyle, that change in your life to happen, you'll do it. If you wait around every season for an audition, you're putting off what you could already be doing.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Filipe, what's the biggest thing you're learning from this experience that could help people who find themselves in a similar situation as you did?
A. Filipe: One of the things that Sione really preaches around here is the recovery plan. That's recognizing the moment that you fell off track and not waiting until the next day to start again, but the next meal. You need to focus and recognize the moment you get off track and get back on track that very next meal.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What is happening with you guys now?
A. Sione: I've been a full time employee at The Biggest Loser Resort as a trainer. Filipe was hired full-time in October as well. We're ambassadors of The Biggest Loser and we travel around the country. Our Chicago location is opening in June, so we're excited about that. As far as the web series, we wanted people to know that you can do it again. If you've fallen off track, just get back on. It takes a few seconds to decide to stay consistent. We've been traveling around and sharing our story and that's our true passion. We want to help people!

 

 

Watch Filipe's comeback, with the help of Sione, on The Biggest Loser's site!

(Image courtesy of The Biggest Loser)

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa