Michael Ventrella came in as the largest contestant ever – 526 lbs.

I think I’d be lying if I said I thought he’d make it all the way through the competition.

At 6’3″ and only 30 years old, Mike was definitely headed to an early grave. There were several times watching him struggle through a workout or coming to grips with who he was and who he wanted to be, that I questioned whether or not he would succumb to the overwhelming “journey” that was ahead of him. In order for him to get to a healthy weight, he needed to lose somewhere near 290 lbs. That’s two average sized people!

The Biggest Loser - Season 9

Week #4 gave Mike quite a bit of a wake-up call. His mother was sent home and during the weigh-in other players questioned Mike’s commitment to learning and working toward achieving a healthier lifestyle. It was during this week that all of the contestants began to show what The Biggest Loser was really all about. At the weigh-in, Michael had lost 15 lbs.

Week #5 presented a challenge where the contestants had an opportunity to win a much coveted prize: immunity. Each team selected one player to participate in the challenge. Mike barely beat out Sam and won the immunity. After winning the challenge, big Mike just rested on the blocking pad that he’d just pushed 1,000 times and cried calling out to his mother that he’d done it. He’d won the challenge. He’d won immunity. More importantly, he faced the challenge head on and finished it.

It was pretty much at that point that you could almost see the lightbulb go off over his head about what the other contestants were saying to him about re-evaluating his commitment to the journey. He realized that instead of facing the weekly challenges and workouts as obstacles, it would benefit him more to face them as opportunities. With each opportunity he could focus on what he was doing and he could bust his ass doing his best. With that kind of focus and with a new determination, Mike fought just as hard as the other contestants and appreciated every pound lost and every achievement, no matter how small. During the following weeks Sam, Koli, Daris and Mike all found themselves part of an incredible life-changing experience and introduced a new concept – comradery. Ashley (the pink team) followed suit, as well as Sunshine and Oneal (the yellow team). For them this was no longer a competition to win $250,000 – it was about traveling together along this road to healthier living and rather than psych each other out they chose to work together and support each other.

These were truly the best weeks to watch.

Before - Mike Ventrella - 526 lbs.

Then we get to week #17. Almost 4 weeks on the ranch and the gang gets to have their makeovers. This is normally a very exciting time for the contestants because they now have an opportunity to shop for clothes for their new bodies. Mike, however, didn’t see any difference in his body. BAM! Brick wall. Even after losing 183 lbs., Mike still had to shop for his new 343 lb. frame at a big and tall shop while everyone else was able to shop at regular stores. Having allowed his disappointment to consume him, he fought with Bob in the gym when asked, “What’s going on?” All Mike could see was that here we are at week #17 and, even though he’d already lost 183lbs., he was still obese. That’s all he saw of himself. Completely lost sight of what he’d accomplished. Bob allowed Mike to have his vent and allowed him to be angry and disappointed. Once Mike calmed down, Bob reinforced what Mike had accomplished in all these weeks and that yes, his journey would continue and that he was going to face other disappointments. With a calm reassuring voice, Bob reminded Mike to again focus on each achievement, no matter how small – they all add up. Mike finished the workout and let the disappointment drain from his body and mind, rather than let the disappointment continue to stress him out and lose what he’d worked so hard for.

After - Mike Ventrella - 264 lbs.

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