It seems like nobody expected Helen Phillips to be crowned “The Biggest Loser” on the NBC hit reality series that concluded its season this past Tuesday night. But Helen endured several obstacles–her age, for one, of 48, and a near-elimination a few weeks prior in which fierce competitor Kristin was sent home instead. Helen also joined this season with her daughter, Shannon, and while many viewers are still angry that Shannon was sent home early in the season instead of Helen, Helen proved to everyone that she had what it takes to win.
We had the chance to participate in a conference call with Helen on Wednesday, and learned a bit about how she trained at home and lost 32 pounds there, her plans for the future, and on how she flew just barely under everyone’s radar to stay in contention and then take home the $250K grand prize.
“I kept my mouth shut and flew low under the radar I guess,” said Helen. “I don’t know….maybe they just looked at me and said oh you know what, she’s 48, she’s not going to make it. And they never considered me a threat.”
That allowed Helen to quietly train like crazy, which she did for six hours a day back home in Lansing, Michigan with trainers at her son’s high school, and to beat the other two finalists–Tara, 24 and Mike, 18–both of whom are half her age or more.
“I was actually working them (trainers) out at the end,” added Helen. “My trainers couldn’t keep up with me. These are big football coaches, it was hilarious. And I was laughing and I’m like, I’d look at them as we were working out together and I’m like, ‘I’m going to win this thing.'”
This, even though Tara had never fallen below the yellow line, and had won a record twelve challenges on the ranch.
“I knew when I got home that I was working so hard and that I was so dedicated and so driven that I just – like something inside of me clicked,” she said. “And I thought to myself, there was a reason why I didn’t win anything else because I was meant to win the big one.”
Now, after relaxing a bit and not having to work out six hours a day, Helen plans to spend some quality time with her husband, and of course, with Shannon, who also factor’s into Helen’s career plans. “(I’m going to do some) motivational speaking and I’m hoping that my daughter and I can open up a spin/wellness center – spin cycle/wellness center in Michigan,” she said.
So 48-year-old Helen is the Biggest Loser, and 64-year-old Jerry won the $100K prize for losing the most weight at home. Congratulations to them both, as well as to everyone who took part in this season’s “Biggest Loser: Couples.” We’ll report more information about the next season of the show when we have it. Thanks for reading!
