Press.
June 15, 2008
Catch up with ‘losers’ at free event
By Penny Soldan, NewsOk.com TV Editor
Neill and Amanda Harmer from Bethany weren’t the winners on “The Biggest Loser” last season. Or were they?
The Harmers, who were eliminated three weeks into the fifth season of NBC’s popular weight-loss program, lost a combined 44 pounds during their time at the “Biggest Loser” camp in Calabasas, Calif. But when they returned for the live season finale of “The Biggest Loser” in April, their combined weight loss was 152 pounds.
Top prize for the fourth season of “The Biggest Loser” went to Bill Germanakos. His twin brother, Jim, claimed that season’s “Biggest At-Home Loser” title.
The Harmers and the Germanakos brothers will talk about their experiences at “Life After ‘The Biggest Loser,’” a free event 7 p.m. Tuesday inside the Cox Convention Center. To register, call the Integris Healthline at 951-2277.
The Harmers also will lead “Operation Boot Camp” beginning June 23.
June 13th, 2008
“Biggest Losers” to be Treated to Healthy Lunch: Oklahoma Style
Oklahoma Restaurant Association and the Coach House Shows “Biggest Losers” Oklahoma is Serious about Nutrition
NICHOLS HILLS-Flying across the country multiple times a month can be hard on a healthy lifestyle, even for those that dedicate their lives to helping others get fit for life. Thanks to some folks at the Oklahoma Restaurant Association that task will be much easier next week when a group of “Losers” make their way to the Sooner state to share their personal weight loss journey that began when they were selected to be contestants on NBC’s reality based weight loss show, “The Biggest Loser.”
“When we heard about the “Life after the Biggest Loser” event, we wanted to pitch in and show our guests that Oklahoma has healthy eating choices,” Jim Hopper, CEO of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association said. “We’ve teamed up with Chef Kurt Fleischfresser at the Coach House in Nichols Hills to provide these guys with a healthy lunch on the day of the event. The meal will feature Made in Oklahoma products and the entire lunch is less than 500 calories.”
The event, “Life After the Biggest Loser,” will feature Oklahoma City’s own, Neill and Amanda Harmer, contestants from season five of “Biggest Loser: Couples” and the winners of “Biggest Loser” season four, Weight Loss Twins Bill and Jim Germanakos. Combined, all four contestants have lost close to 600 pounds in just over a year. Since the show ended, all four “Losers” have committed to taking the health and fitness knowledge they learned and share it with others in hopes they inspire others to make a commitment to healthy living.
“There is something so very powerful about taking control of your life, making better choices and committing to a fitness program that realistically fits into your day-to-day life,” Amanda Harmer said. “We have worked hard in the past year and have learned a great deal and now its time to take what we have learned and pay it forward to other Oklahomans who are searching for those answers.”
The program, titled “Life After the Biggest Loser” is being sponsored by Integris Health, Quest Medical, Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma and KFOR. The event will feature a talk by Bill Germanakos, a question and answer session with all four contestants from the Biggest Loser and an autograph session. The luncheon earlier that day, featuring a variety of Made in Oklahoma healthy food choices, will take place at the Coach House in Nichols Hills and is being sponsored by the Oklahoma Restaurant Association.
“We are so excited to join forces with Bill and Jim from season four of the”Biggest Loser” to meet as many people as we can, share with them what has been going on in our lives since coming home from the ‘Biggest Loser,’ and hopefully inspire others to take control of their lives once and for all,” Neill Harmer said. “We are also excited to show Bill and Jim that Oklahoma is serious about getting healthy, and we know they will leave this state with a greater appreciation for Oklahoma’s commitment to helping our citizens lead healthy, fulfilled lives.”
June 10, 2008
After Nearly 200 Pounds Lost, Local Reality Stars Ready to Pay it Forward
Neill and Amanda Harmer from NBC’s “Biggest Loser: Couples” Now Lead Operation Boot Camp and Scheduled to Appear at “Life After the Biggest Loser” Tuesday June 17th, at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City
BETHANY, OKLAHOMA—You might think you know Neill and Amanda Harmer from NBC’s hit reality weight-loss show The Biggest Loser. But reality TV often times leaves a lot to the imagination and the Neill and Amanda you saw on the show simply isn’t the Neill and Amanda who exist today. The Bethany, Oklahoma couple was voted off the ranch in the third week of the show, and once they returned to Oklahoma City they emerged stronger, happier and more determined than ever to take control of their lives and shed the pounds that had “weighed” them down in the past. Now Oklahomans will have the opportunity to meet the “real” Neill and Amanda in person on Tuesday June 17th at 7 PM at an event called, “Life After the Biggest Loser” at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.
“When I saw those shows and saw myself, I was shocked! You never see yourself as other people do, but in this case I was able to see a different side of myself and it kicked me into gear as I was bound and determined to shed that Lazy Neill label,” Neill said.
“And shed it I have, but I still use it as fuel to continuously push myself to new limits never been before!”
Their journey began in October 2007 and between them they have lost nearly 200 pounds and gained a whole new perspective on life. Now with their new bodies and killer attitudes in tow, they are determined to take the lessons they learned from their TV trainer Jillian Michaels, their at-home trainer, Mike Cejka, and months of sweat equity and help other Oklahomans change their lives forever.
“Our time on the ranch was simply a stop on our journey and we will forever be grateful for that experience,” the Harmers said. “But now its time to shed the perception of meekness and fear that we were labeled with on the show and let all of Oklahoma know how we used that perception to change our lives and get fit for life.”
Neill and Amanda are not unlike any other Oklahoma family. They both work full-time jobs, have a child and struggle to find the time to work out, eat right and still have time to devote to their marriage. The difference is they now understand the power of taking care of themselves and understand their health is the platform that will determine the success they have for the rest of their lives.
“There is something so very powerful about taking control of your life, making better choices and committing to a fitness program that realistically fits into your day-to-day life,” Amanda said. “We have worked hard in the past year and have learned a great deal and now its time to take what we have learned and pay it forward to other Oklahomans who are searching for those answers.”
Neill and Amanda are now fitness instructors and starting June 23rd can be found sharing their tough-love-in-your-face-kick-your-butt approach to exercise at Eldon Lyon park in Bethany where they will lead Operation Boot Camp five days a week to help anyone who is brave enough to endure their beat downs and ready to make the decision to change their life and shed those unwanted pounds for good.
The Harmers will also join Bill and Jim Germanakos, twin brothers who took home the title of Biggest Loser and Biggest At-Home Loser during Season Four of “The Biggest Loser” on June 17th at 7 PM at the Cox Convention Center in Downtown Oklahoma City for “Life After the Biggest Loser.” They will be sharing their personal experience of going on a reality TV show to get healthy and how it has changed their lives forever.
“Through fitness and changing the way we approach food, we have gained a new lease of life—a life that all Oklahomans deserve to also lead,” they said. “We are excited to meet new people, kick their butts into shape and help them take control of their lives.
So come join us, the only thing you have to lose are the pounds that have been weighing you down for far too long!”
For more information on Operation Boot Camp or the June 17th event where Neill and Amanda will be joining Weight Loss Twins Bill and Jim Germanakos, you can visit their website at www.neillandamanda.com or email them at bookus@neillandamanda.com.
