I cannot believe that after a year of hard work (or FIVE years, to be exact), many months of anticipation, and a heckuva lot of blood, sweat, and tears, season 5 of?Extreme?Weight Loss is officially a wrap. Ohhh man…this surely is bittersweet for me. So many incredible friends made and lives changed, and while it took a LOT out of Chris’ and my personal life to spend so much time with these wonderful peeps, I wouldn’t change it for anything.
With this season now in the bag, naturally I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting, not only on this last year, but on the past years/seasons as well. Chris and I both feel incredibly blessed, I must say. We got front row seats to some of the most incredible transformations I’ve ever seen, and are absolutely honored we got to be a part of each and every one of them.?I am so proud of our peeps’ individual journeys, as well as?all of the hard work and sacrifice they put into making their transformations of a lifetime?each with a unique story and background that makes their stories of triumph that much more inspirational.
A question we are often asked is, “How do you choose your?contestants for Extreme Weight Loss?” This may be one of our most frequently asked show-related questions, so?Chris and I decided it’s time to dish?on just what goes into the “I Choose You!” process. Check out the video below!!
For more videos like this, as well as more fun Powell Pack vids,?subscribe?to my YouTube channel?here!
Do you have a question about the show you would like to see answered? Leave it in the comments below!
Xoxo,
Heidi
42 Responses
Hello, I’m sure this will get lost in the muddle, but am writing more for my own accountability than anything. 🙂 if I don’t write it down, I won’t commit. 🙂 I have a handsome, one in a million husband who fell in love with me almost 25 years ago 40 pounds overweight. I have 3 truly wonderful children and have been a teacher for 25 years. I’m surrounded by wonderful in-laws and parents. I do know what my “issue” is pertaining to my weight gain and one day want to be able to share with the world that I have overcome my food trigger. I do have lots of health problems… An A1c as high as 11.5 and triglycerides as high at one point of 450. After 3 years of symptoms, I had one of my parathyroid removed last December. The tumor was 10 times the size of the gland. I am
thankful for the changes in my life immediately following the surgery. I am on the road to improvement in the other areas as well. But recently I was driving with my daughter and telling her how all my grandparents had passed by the time I was 10. I am 46 now and at that moment, my mortality sunk in of things don’t change. I am taking the first step… Putting it in writing to you. If I write I will do it. 🙂 I have a dear friend who had a song on the radio once about starting over. It’s going to be my theme song and he has actually challenged me to run Central Park with him in the spring. How incredible it would be to be able to make a video of that moment with that song and share it with the world. 🙂 I don’t know if anyone will see this and certainly don’t expect a reply. But as soon as I finish, it’s game on! Only 63 pounds to go! So keep up the inspiring work… It’s such an encouragement. Here we go……..
Hi Kris: Thank you so much for your comment! And congratulations on choosing to begin your transformation journey – you got this! 🙂
Amazing,Life Changing! The most kind,compassionate,giving,selfless people I have ever met is You; Chris & Heidi Powell. Holland Weathers, Ian,Ashley,Dax,Lauren,and how can I forget Matt Assmus,and Jason Kemp! So many others in production & filming that make everything come together in the end! I will never go a day without thanking the Lord for what you,Chris and Heidi have done for me! I tell everyone I meet that asks,because it’s the one question I’m always asked, Are Chris and Heidi really that amazing? Yes Yes And Yes! You are so much more, both of you! For me, you came into my life, taught me how to love myself enough to care about me, care about my health! You taught me how to work through all the emotions that caused me to keep turning to food. You taught me what a real workout was; about HIIT, and hitting that wall! I think of my time filming the show and I believe every aspect brought me the strength I needed to keep me working out and eating healthy to this day! I am thankful that I can travel to Arizona to hike your beautiful mountains and you welcome me like family? love love love you guys! Thank you for giving me my life! I now go on to pay it forward and inspire others to find Life Changing Weighs!
Hi, Heidi (also team Powell ?.)
I’ve read all the comments from team Powell saying y’all are unable to train anyone/take on a client at this time.
I’ve checked the website and casting is closed.
I desperately want to nominate my boyfriend Matt for your show. He deserves the very best after everything he has been through.
Growing up, he had a mother who was addicted to drugs and a father who was abusive and in and out of the picture his whole childhood. the only reason he never gained weight back then was because they didn’t always have food and on top of that, he was an amazing athlete, playing football, running track, and winning 2 state championships in basketball. I met him the summer between his 2nd and 3rd year in college. We soon fell in love, and he also fell in love with my daughter. Her real father has never been in the picture so Matt is her daddy. We soon moved in together and everything seemed to be going amazingly. Then we noticed some strange things about his sister. She lost about 125 pounds in 6 months and was never around. We discovered soon after that she was using meth even though she has two beautiful daughters, aged 10&12. Since they came from a broken family, Matt and I were the only family members willing to help in any way. We took in the girls until their mother could clean up her act even though they were half our age (We were 21&22 when we first brought the girls home) and even though he was still trying to finish his senior year of college. We actually just got official custody of the girls yesterday as their mother has not shown any interest in wanting to get them back or even seeing them.
Matthew has had a lot of stress especially in the past couple years, and despite that, he was still willing to be father to my child and father figure to our nieces in their hour of need. He has gained a lot of weight, and continues to binge eat even though he wants to lose weight. He will come to the gym with me sometimes, but not at a rate that would help him lose weight or gain muscle. He wants it, as you said in this video-everyone wants to lose weight. I’ve recorded and binge watched (the only good kind of binge?) this entire last season and it wasn’t until after I finished it that I thought “Matt really deserves Chris and Heidi.” He is an incredibly hard worker, busting his butt at two jobs to help support a house of five at the age of twenty three. I’m willing to do just about anything to get Chris and Heidi look at his story. A few years ago I lost 50 pounds, and I know first hand how much better you feel when you’re eating healthy and at your peak of strength and I want that more than anything for him. Please let me know what I can do for you to see his story. I want everything for him. I love him so much and I know if Heidi and Chris got to know him, they would too.
Thank you so much for your time, I know I got a little wordy. ?? 🙂
Hi Katie: Thank you for sharing Matt’s story with us. You guys have definitely been through a lot, and it’s so inspiring that you have taken in his nieces – they are lucky girls! As you mentioned, casting is currently closed, and ABC handles all initial applications. But Matt can begin his transformation today with the same program Chris and Heidi use on the show – carb cycling – and he can learn about the program basics here: https://heidipowell.net/9060. Their program will outline everything he needs to know and do to achieve his own transformation – he can do this!
Being a Grandma of 4 & one more on the way….i’ve been over weight ALL of my adult life. I would love to get trained by a professional that can try to reprogram me/if it’s still possible. I i looked into Anschutz Health & Wellness center OR something closer to my homestate of MI….but, I didn’t find anything that would m0be covered by heath insurance.
I bought both of your books and let them collect dust for a long time 🙁 Been a bad couple of years….BUT, I have dusted them off and as of tomorrow, it has been 5 weeks on the carb cycling program and down 14 LBS. I am sooooo proud of myself. I don’t have a lot of people that I go to keep me on track or route me on; but that is even more of a reason I am so proud of myself. I just feel connected to this book along with you and your family. POSITIVENESS WORKS! Thank you so much for all you do. I do have a question. My work-outs consist of walking / light jogging everyday (except Sunday) and I always get in 10,000 steps per day. Sometimes I get very hungry between meals. The more I work out, should I change my calorie? I keep my meals between 250-300 calories (1250-1500).
Hi Kimmie: Congratulations on those 14 pounds gone – that’s so exciting! The program is designed to take into account your calories burned through exercise, so you don’t want to up your calorie consumption. If you do get hungry in between meals, make sure you’re drinking all your water (sometimes thrist is masked as hunger pains), and here’s a post that might help too: https://heidipowell.net/9285/tip-of-the-day-curb-those-cravings/. And remember, you can change cycles at any time, so that might help too. Hope that helps!
I don’t suppose you would consider doing a season in Australia. It’s an awesome place, you’d love it.
Where can I get their Bode burn drinks now?
Hi Heidi. First I want to say I love your inspiration you have given me to want to get healthy.
I have a question. I was one of the dumb ones that had stomach surgery last November. What happens with this is they make your tummy smaller but they don’t fix your head. I am just now realizing I’m so addicted to food. I have no clue how to stop. It’s to the point I wake up 3-10 times every night and can’t get back to sleep until I eat. I feel so lost and can’t get on track. I have a life story that I could make millions if I wrote a book on my life but I can’t change what’s happened so I need to learn how to start with my addiction. I have my workouts in daily it’s just my food. I have gained 11 pounds in a week. How does one change this addiction?
Hi Rhonda: Since you said you need some help with the nutrition side of things, you might be interested in the nutrition part of Chris and Heidi’s carb cycling program, and you can learn about the basics here: https://heidipowell.net/2713. And with your recent surgery, please discuss their program with your healthcare team first, and then follow any modifications they recommend. And here’s another thing that might help, it’s Chris and Heidi’s #1 transformation tool, and you can learn all about it here: https://heidipowell.net/8679. Give it a try – it’s the first thing they do with every person they work with. You can do this!
Hello I faithfully watch your show every season it’s amazing to see how you touch these powerless live. Having said that I have a question I was told by my Dr I have to lose weight to stay alive and have any quality of life, I have tried all kinds of diets, diet pills, and I go to the gym. But I seriously need some help I lost 100 pounds the first year bit have stayed at that weight ever since. …still needing to lose 200 pounds. I’m really worried and not sure where to go from here. It’s hard to say but I need help. I’m on a very tight budget and have not been able to buy your book.i don’t want to lose my life over lack of knowledge to do this. I know you can’t take on every person I just need some help of some kind. ..please
People’s lives not powerless my phone has a mind of its own sorry
Hi Tina: Congratulations on losing 100 pounds already – that is awesome! You might be able to find Chris and Heidi’s book, “Choose More, Lose More for Life,” at your local library, and you can find the basics of their program in this post: https://heidipowell.net/9060. Be sure to follow all of the links, and their program will teach you everything you need to know and do to finish your transformation journey. You can do this!
About 2 yrs ago I started Choose More. I was committed & lost 30lbs. I felt great & really thought I was on my way. Then for whatever reason, I “fell off the band wagon.” I’ve still kept most the weight off, but I can’t get motivated to start again. Sometimes the struggles of life are too much. I don’t need to be on your show – though I absolutely love it – but I would love the opportunity to work with you. I need someone to believe in me because I don’t have that in my life right now & I can’t find it in myself to believe in me anymore either.
Hi Kimberly: While Heidi would love to work with everyone who needs her help, she’s not able to take on clients right now. I do hope you understand. But you can do this – you’ve lost 30 pounds before on carb cycling, which is awesome! Your first step to get back on that band wagon is to make and keep that first small, simple promise to yourself. Here’s a post with all the promise process information to get you started: https://heidipowell.net/8679. If it will help, report back and let me know how you did with your promise. You can do this – we believe in you!