New Trainers of Biggest Loser Explain Why They're Perfect for the Job

Helping others make lifestyle changes aren't new to the pair: both offer online nutrition coaching and training. Lugo went through her own weight loss journey and lost 160 pounds after weighing 322 pounds. She believes this puts her in a unique position to not only empathize with contestants but also allows here to hold others accountable for their goals.

"I know every excuse in the book because Ive tried them and Ive used them on myself for the past five years," she tells Men's Health.

Lugo began her journey in 2013 after she didn't have the energy to play with her three-year-old son.

"Id rather have sat on the couch and eat snacks," she remembers.

Within the next few days, Lugo signed up for a gym membership and walked for an hour on the treadmill every morning. Instead of changing her diet, Lugo decreased portions.

They were delayed but I was so motivated. I said I want to sign up. She said the closest one that is open is 25 minutes away. I was like, Fine,Im going to do it. I said if you wont open for two weeks, Ill drive 25 minutes each way. Thats what I did. I just started by waking up before my son and ex husbandI woke up at 4:30 in the morning. I got on the treadmill for an hour, maybe pick up some weights for 10 minutes and drove back home.

"If we had pizza, I would have one piece instead of a whole large pizza," she says. "I slowly started getting better with cooking. I just started with the basics," she explains.

In 2017, Lugo was diagnosed with chronic Epstein Barr Virus and Addison's Disease, which required tweaking her diet and exercise plan.

"I got so sick that what I was doing with my workouts and nutrition was no longer working for me," she says.

Then in 2018, Lugo was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent surgery and radiation to treat the disease. But these hurdles helped her realize the importance of doing what's best for your body.

"I fell on my face 50 million times," she says. "You have to keep going and tweak things and figure it out."

Cook's path to The Biggest Loser is vastly different from Lugo's. the 34-year-old grew up in a fitness-minded family.

"If I wanted to watch TV as a kid I had to do push ups during commercials," he remembers.

Cook played college football and went onto competing in Mr. Olympia and served as the spokesperson for bodybuilding.com before launching his online coaching business.

Admittedly, Cook can't imagine the anxiety that comes with a large weight loss goal. But the trainer believes his own struggle with body image will help him relate to contestants.

"I know what its like to not be happy with who I am," he tells Men's Health.

Cook says physique competitions left him in a perpetual feast or famine mindset.

"If I wasnt prepping my body for a show, I didnt know how to eat," he explains. "It was either that I was weighing out my food or I was binge eating."

Cook believes his own experience will help him coach others to find value outside of their weight.

"If you put your own self worth on how you look youre always going to be unhappy," he says.

Although the show is still a weight loss competition, both coaches say their main priority is to enable people to accomplish their fitness or health goals.

"Five or six years ago I was 322 pounds, and now here I am a trainer on Americas number one weight loss TV show," says Lugo. "There is no one who can stop you if you want to do this."