Columbia nurse, mother and former beauty queen is competing on ‘The Biggest Loser’
A Columbia woman is one of 12 contestants on a revamped version of the hit reality TV show “The Biggest Loser” this spring.
Teri Aguiar, 47, a flight nurse and former Miss Illinois Teen USA and Miss Missouri, began the contest at 256 pounds. She’s prohibited from revealing how much weight she lost until after the last episode of the season is broadcast on March 31.
“Overall, the experience was amazing,” Aguiar said in a phone interview. “It’s definitely something that changes you, and it’s going to be a continuing journey. It’s very much a lifestyle change. It’s a choice to live healthy.”
“The Biggest Loser” helps overweight people shed pounds with a boot-camp-like experience led by professional trainers. Beyond exercise, contestants learn how to prepare and eat healthy food and undergo group therapy to overcome obstacles.
The person who loses the highest percentage of his or her initial weight wins $100,000.
The show is broadcast at 8 p.m. Tuesdays on the USA network. The 10-episode season of “The Biggest Loser” started Jan. 28 with host Bob Harper. Filming took place last fall.
“We took over a camp, which we call ‘The Biggest Loser’ campus, in Santa Fe, New Mexico,” said Jaycee Medina, spokesman for the production company, Endemol Shine North America.
Student in Dupo and St. Louis
Aguiar grew up in rural Dupo and graduated from Dupo High School in 1990. She studied biology at University of Illinois and earned a nursing degree at St. Louis University. She was a competitive swimmer in school and even participated in triathlons.
Aguiar worked for St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City before becoming a flight nurse who helped transport patients in helicopters and airplanes.
Aguiar blames her dramatic weight gain on poor eating habits and a failure to get back in shape after two pregnancies. Last summer, she auditioned to appear on “The Biggest Loser” with encouragement from a friend who knew its California casting agent.
“For me, it was not being able to be active, not being able to keep up with my kids, getting winded going up a flight of stairs, just the day-to-day things that you take for granted,” Aguiar said.
Working in the limited space of a helicopter also had become challenging.
Aguiar resigned from her nursing job in August to spend four months filming off and on at the New Mexico camp and her Columbia home. That was after making sure it was OK with her children, Lexi, 15, and Colton, 12.
“I was surprised at the amount of support (the kids) gave me,” said Aguiar, who is divorced. “They weren’t worried about how long I might be gone. They were worried about me getting healthy again. They were pretty selfless about it.”
Bonding with other ‘Biggest Loser’ contestants
Contestants on “The Biggest Loser” come from all over the United States and represent a variety of ages, occupations, backgrounds and personalities.
Katarina Bouton is a nurse, like Aguiar. There is an attorney, tour guide, football coach, sales manager, school counselor and gym operator.
Aguiar found commonality with Kyle Yeo, a Kansas City Chiefs fan. Her ex-husband, Louie Aguiar, was an NFL punter who played with the Chiefs from 1994 to 1998.
“Being together (with contestants) day in and day out at the gym and preparing meals and missing home ... We just all bonded really well,” Aguiar said. “We were going through many of the same struggles.”
Today, Aguiar reports feeling “100 percent better” — without revealing whether she reached her goal of losing half her body weight. She continues to exercise and eat healthier. She’s applying for nursing positions so she can get back to work.
Aguiar goes to Monroe County YMCA in Columbia almost every day to swim, run or take classes in yoga and core training. So far, no one has recognized her from TV.
“I had no idea,” said front-desk clerk Paige Bangel, when told that a YMCA regular is a contestant on “The Biggest Loser.” “That is so exciting.”
This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
