EatingWell Interviews The Biggest Loser Dietician Cheryl Forberg

By Michelle Edelbaum, "Losing Big, Winning Bigger," January/February 2011

Weight loss secrets you can try at home.

You’ve likely never seen Cheryl Forberg, R.D., on NBC’s The Biggest Loser, but as the reality-TV show’s nutritionist she’s a key behind-the-scenes player on its team of medical experts and physical trainers. Forberg, a registered dietitian, James Beard Award winner and bestselling author of 11 books, has been with the show since it began in 2004. Here, she shares her weight-loss secrets.

What’s your weight-loss philosophy?
Focus on the quality of the calories and the quantity will take care of itself.

Is there a common trait among The Biggest Loser contestants who successfully lost weight?
They’ve put themselves first. Lisa Mosley from last season is a good example: she’s a single mom and prioritized her kids before her health. She realized she needed to change or she wouldn’t be around for her kids. In eight weeks at The Biggest Loser ranch she lost 54 pounds.

What’s your best weight-loss advice?
Start with small steps. After Anna Wright returned home last season, she couldn’t figure out how to fit in exercise. Anna started taking the stairs at work and organized co-workers to do it with her, creating her own support network.

Next: Find out what's the most underrated weight-loss food »