Most of us have rarely, if ever, thought as much about our health as we have since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Thankfully, millions are hunkering down to help slow the spread of the illness. Still, there’s nothing like a worldwide viral outbreak to remind us that good health is something we should appreciate and nourish rather than take for granted.
The contestants on the new USA Network reboot of The Biggest Loser recognized this sooner than the rest of us. At some point, they all realized that their health and well-being were compromised and they took the courageous step of reaching out for help.
Erica Lugo, one of the show’s new trainers, is the perfect person to provide support.
“Six years ago, I weighed 322 pounds and now I’m half that size,” Lugo told Sling in a recent interview at Planet Fitness in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. Because of her own experience, Lugo knows the specific challenges that come with losing weight and she’s excited to help others on their own journey.
“I know every excuse in the book. I actually wrote the book for the longest time,” she says. “But also, I can empathize with them. Because I understand that burpie that they think they just can’t do any longer, that in fact…not only can they do it, they can keep getting stronger and better over time.”
Looking back, Erica says the contestants weren’t the only ones that underwent a powerful transformation.
“I never expected to learn so much about myself and what makes me tick and what makes me so passionate about things,” she said.
For more on working with the contestants, the biggest changes to the new version of the show, and much more, check out our full video interview with Erica below.
Tune-in to new episodes of The Biggest Loser Tuesday nights at 9pm ET on USA Network. Previous episodes are now available on Sling On-Demand.
