In November, 2005, Pete Thomas walked away from the finale of NBC's The Biggest Loser a winner - and a loser. The prize he won was $100,000 for losing the most weight of all the contestants that season. What he lost was 185 pounds in only nine short months ... and with it an unhealthy lifestyle that Pete, armed with knowledge about nutrition and exercise, has truly pu ...t behind him. The new Pete Thomas walks around with a body fat percentage near the single digits, compared to the 51% body fat he dragged around in his 400+ pound pre-Biggest Loser days. As a child, Pete never learned about nutrition and exercise due to his transient lifestyle - a result of his mother's serious mental illness. Several times as a young child, he was left alone or with his younger sister, Melay, for weeks at a time, forced to find food wherever he could. Although an avid reader, Pete missed major portions of elementary school as he was in and out of multiple foster homes. Still, he managed to graduate with honors from Detroit Kettering High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and Who's Who Among American High School Students. After attending the University of Michigan, Pete worked to build a successful career. That's when years of poor eating habits began to catch up with him. Over the course of 14 years, he gained 10 pounds per year, despite following a number of fad diets. "Being on The Biggest Loser really saved my life," Pete says. The knowledge he gained revolutionized the way he eats and exercises, so that now, nearly four years after being voted off the show, he has successfully kept the weight off. Based on personal experience and solid science Pete has developed and now teaches a 10 week weight loss program, 'Lose It Fast Lose It Forever', that is helping the obese achieve a new lease on life. He has appeared on ABC's The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runners World, TV Guide, The Detroit Free Press, inTouch Weekly and Real Health. As a full time teacher and motivational speaker Pete now travels and spreads his "Winning Principles" to sales organizations, businesses and groups nationwide. "There's a Winner Within You!" (less)