Originally published on?BroadwayWorld.com.
“Georgeanna” (Tulsa, OK) – For the past 20 years, 44 year-old Georgeanna has devoted her life to her husband, who is a local pastor, and their two daughters. Often referred to as “Martha Stewart” by her family and friends, for whom Georgeanna bakes, decorates, sews and crafts, she neglected taking care of herself and is now more than 150 pounds overweight. Georgeanna will take on?The Challengeof losing half her body weight during her year-long transformation on the hit series “Extreme Weight Loss,” airing TUESDAY, JULY 22 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET/PT) on the?ABC?Television Network.
Georgeanna was a competitive gymnast and cheerleader in high school who vowed to do a back handspring every year on her birthday until she turned 60. At her current weight of 315 pounds, however, that feat is impossible – Georgeanna is also a perfectionist who is terrified of being judged and falling short, no matter what the task or challenge. Now, with her grown daughters having moved out of the house, she wants to set a better example for herself and the people she counsels at church — so she wrote a letter to trainer and transformation specialist Chris Powell asking for help.
In this episode, Chris will spend 365 days helping Georgeanna get fit and regain her identity. For the past 20 years, she’s been either “mom” or “the pastor’s wife,” but she’s determined to figure out what it means to be “Georgeanna” again.
Chris’ wife, Heidi, a former gymnast herself, will also step in to help Georgeanna revive her gymnastic dreams and nail that back handspring. Chris and Heidi also enlist former Olympic champions Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton to train Georgeanna for a huge challenge: performing a balance beam and floor routine in front of dozens of people, judged by Olympic greats?Dominique Dawes, Bart Conner and Shannon Miller.
Celebrity chef?Rocco DiSpirito?also appears in the episode to teach Georgeanna how to satisfy her sweet tooth with healthy ice cream.
New in Season 4, in addition to working with Chris and Heidi Powell, each participant spends the first 90 days of his or her weight loss journey at the renowned University of Colorado’s Anschutz Health and Wellness Center (AHWC) in Aurora, CO. Chris and Heidi, along with AHWC’s medical director Holly Wyatt, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado, guide participants on their journeys to safely lose up to half their body weight, ultimately revealing an amazing metamorphosis. The Anschutz Health and Wellness Center offers some of the country’s most advanced research and science-based expertise, focusing on a comprehensive weight loss and weight loss management approach, including fitness, nutrition and wellness services.
“Extreme Weight Loss” is produced by Eyeworks USA. JD Roth, Todd A. Nelson, Matt Assmus and Brant Pinvidic are the executive producers.
