FITNESS TRAINERS FROM NBC'S POPULAR 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' OFFER POST-HOLIDAY WEIGHT TIPS AS REALITY SERIES RETURNS ON JANUARY 4

FITNESS TRAINERS FROM NBC'S POPULAR 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' OFFER POST-HOLIDAY WEIGHT TIPS AS REALITY SERIES RETURNS ON JANUARY 4

FITNESS TRAINERS FROM NBC'S POPULAR 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' OFFER POST-HOLIDAY WEIGHT TIPS AS REALITY SERIES RETURNS ON JANUARY 4

"Live" Telecast of Series Finale Takes Place January 11

BURBANK -- December 30, 2004 -- As NBC's reality hit "The Biggest Loser" (Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m. ET) returns in the new year with new episodes beginning on January 4, fitness experts Jillian Michaels (known to viewers as the trainer for the "red" team) and Bob Harper (the trainer for the "blue" team) offer weight tips just as Americans return to their own reality of shedding extra holiday pounds.

The popular series, hosted by Caroline Rhea ("Sabrina the Teenage Witch"), challenges and encourages overweight contestants to undergo radical physical makeovers in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise.

In the January 4 episode -- after nine weeks of strenuous workouts at the hands of trainers Michaels and Harper -- it's payback time as the contestants turn the tables and showoff what they learned as they "train" the trainers. This episode is also the final weigh in at the ranch, preceded by the contestants reflecting on this journey that has changed their lives, and followed by a vote to trim the players' number down to three. Tearful goodbyes then accompany the trio as they prepare to take on the second phase of the competition and perhaps the ultimate test -- to go back to their regular lives without the support of their trainers for more than two months before returning for the "live" finale.

"The Biggest Loser's" 90-minute, live, season finale follows one week later on Tuesday, Jan. 11 (8-9:30 p.m. ET) followed by a bonus episode on Tuesday, Jan. 18 (8-9 p.m. ET).

"So the holidays are over and you indulged.....and indulged.....and indulged," said Harper. "That is no reason to throw in the towel. It was great fun so now it is time to get refocused. Get a membership at your closest gym and start making an appointment with yourself 5-6 days a week. It is time to put yourself at the top of your 'things to do list.' You will find that in no time your New Year will be your New Life."

One of Harper's tips takes a unique approach to a familiar year end ritual. "Whatever you do, don't make a New Year's Resolution to lose weight," he said. "Nothing gets broken faster than a New Year's Resolution. Re-strategize your workout routine; your options are boundless when it comes to 'mixing it up.' I am all about changing my workouts all the time, it keeps me interested and it keeps my body thinking and when your body has to think about something different than what you are throwing at it, you will get results. I guarantee you the best possible results with this tip. Get out there and enjoy your life and your city or town;.there is much to explore. Happy New Year!"

Michaels adds the following, "If you have gone overboard, try these tips to help you survive the post-holiday season. Move it! Don't let a day pass you by without taking a walk outside. Incorporate extra walking or activity in your daily routine whenever and wherever you are. Take the stairs, not the elevator. Walk to the store, don't drive. Step up your activity level in order to rev up your metabolism and burn off those holiday calories!"

Self-control is something rarely suggested in the American lifestyle, but Michaels also had some more pointers.

"Just because you ate too much at a party is no reason to allow yourself to do it from now on," said Michaels. "Willpower shouldn't just mean being able to successfully eliminate a laundry list of bad foods. Instead, we should see willpower as consisting of choice and responsibility -- and choosing to be healthy by seeking balance in our lives and our menus."

She adds, "Likewise, cutting alcohol and focusing on long-range goals can help more than people think."

Lastly, Michaels stresses that "Successful weight loss often boils down to good planning and more than any other time of the year, planning is paramount to rebound from the holiday season. Sit down and think what to do when you're offered foods that you'd prefer not to eat. If you have a plan, you will not be caught off-guard. Write down your plan of attack in your weight-loss journal. The more concrete your plan is to you, the more likely you are to stick to it!"

"The Biggest Loser" is a production of Reveille, 25/7 Productions, 3 Ball Productions and NBC Universal Television Studio. Ben Silverman (NBC's "The Restaurant," "The Office: An American Workplace"), Dave Broome ("Jingle Ball Rock"), J.D. Roth ("NBC's "For Love or Money," "Endurance"), John Foy ("For Love or Money," "Endurance") and Todd A. Nelson ("For Love or Money," "Endurance") are the executive producers.