Tuesday, November 22, 2011

‘Biggest Loser,’ ‘Days of Our Lives’ star Alison Sweeney balances life as host, actress, producer and mom 

Says she gets emotional as she gets to know the contestants on the NBC weight-loss competition

Contestant Joe Mitchell and host Alison Sweeney on “The Biggest Loser”

Given the amount of time she spends with the contestants, it should come as no surprise that “The Biggest Loser” host Alison Sweeney gets attached to some of the competitors.

She gets upset with them too, just like folks at home when they fail to reach their weight-loss goals.

“Yeah, it does get frustrating,” says Sweeney. “That comes from how much I care for them and their journey. I want them to succeed and want them to fight for it.”

Many of those who get on the game ended up overweight because they had some self-destructive tendencies, and occasionally have given up on themselves, she says.

“I spend a lot of time talking to people on the scales,” she says of the weigh-in segment on each show. “I’m there for the really emotional parts of what they go through; the scale is the emotional moment of their week.”

The show underwent several changes this season. Trainer Bob Harper and Sweeney are the ties to the past, with Anna Kournikova and fitness expert Dolvett Quince added to the team as trainers.

“There’s a different energy,” she says.

It still comes back to the contestants, though.

“I love the opportunity that I get to know the contestants and be part of such an important journey,” she says. “I get a lot of rewards just being part of it. I get inspired by them. I struggle with being healthy and staying fit. It inspires me and keeps me on track. As a storyteller and producer myself, I feel like I contribute to the success of the show.”

For Sweeney, “The Biggest Loser” is just one part of an intricate work puzzle, much of which will be on display this week.

Each weekday she stars in NBC’s soap “Days of Our Lives,” where she plays Sami Brady , a role she’s had for 17 years.

Tuesday’s “The Biggest Loser” will focus on Thanksgiving temptations and air at 8 p.m. on NBC.

There’s a look-back episode of “Biggest Loser” Wednesday at 9 p.m. where she chats with past fan favorites, while the trainers also talk about their best moments and bloopers.

And, on Sunday she and Ali Landry host “Hollywood Moms Night” at 8 p.m. on the TV Guide Channel, in which they look at gifts for the holidays.

She’s also the author of “The Mommy Diet,” which will be released in paperback in December, is active on Twitter and has a website offering tips and insight into her life.

Sweeney is also continuously expanding. She’s been directing some episodes of “Days of Our Lives” and is beefing up her producing work, too.

On top of the extensive workload, she’s a wife and mother of two.

“I have so much going on, I learned early on when I was in school, studying for finals, to focus my attention on what I’m doing and let the future wait for me,” she says. “I can feel overwhelmed at times. But I really try to take it one thing at a time.”

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com

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