BIGGEST LOSER: Brett Hoebel is Shaping Up Chefs

Brett Hoebel, a past trainer on "The Biggest Loser," is shaping up chefs on a new Food Network series called "Fat Chef." The show  premieres Thursday, Jan. 26 at 10 p.m. Easters & Pacific time (check your local listing for the time in your area). 

The six-episode series gives viewers an inside look at the struggle chefs face when their love for food becomes overwhelming and affects their health. It follows 12 overweight culinary professionals from Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio on their four-month venture to overcome weight issues with the help of therapists, nutritionists, and trainers.

Each episode will include two chefs working with their health consultant, including Christine Avanti (nutritionist, author of Skinny Chicks Eat Real Food), Robert Brace (dubbed as one of New York’s “top fitness gurus”) and Brett Hoebel  as they look to defeat their abusive relationship with food and regain control of their lives. 

Hoebel was one of the two "unknown" trainers on Season 11 on "The Biggest Loser."  Deni Hill of Bountiful, Utah was the $100,000 at-home winner that season. She told me that after she was eliminated from the show, she still got regular calls of advice and support from Hoebel and the other 
"unknown" trainer, Cara Castronuova. 


Here's an interval training tip that Deni learned from Hoebel during her time on the ranch: “When you are on a stationery bike, pedal at a high wattage (high intensity) as fast as you can for 30 seconds, then pedal at a low wattage for 30 seconds. Repeat this 10 times, for a total of 10 minutes. Then bike at a normal pace for five minutes before repeating the 30-second intervals for ten more minutes.”