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FEATURE When it comes to diet and fitness, big success stories result from little choices, one day at a time. by Jessie Jones livia Ward may have walked away from NBC’s The Biggest Loser as the winner, with a $250,000 prize in tow, but it was the 129 pounds she left behind that gave her the victory and a new outlook on life. Olivia earned the title of “Biggest Loser” over her younger sister, Hannah Curlee, who finished in second place after losing 120 pounds. While there was friendly sibling rivalry between the two University of Alabama graduates, there were more support and love than anything else. Olivia recalled, “When we made the final four, and then found out we were in the final three, it just felt like we had already won. The rest became about finishing strong.” When Olivia, ’99, and Hannah, ’03, decided they wanted to compete on season 11 of the popu- thought about being on the show. She lar reality series, which features people competing hadn’t, but it sounded like a good oppor- to win a cash prize by losing the highest percent- tunity. With her husband, Ben, she left age of weight, they knew they’d have the chance for Chicago to take part in the casting to change their lives. What they didn’t know was call, where they were both interviewed that they would change their entire family’s lives as and shared photos from their daily lives. well. “It’s funny, because when we first got on the Among the family shots, the team saw show, we were so desperate for change,” Hannah something that interested them. said. “We had been trying to get our parents to lose “Olivia and I are so close, so I was in weight for years. Looking at our family, we were all a lot of the pictures,” Hannah said. When at our heaviest.” the casting crew asked about Hannah, It all started with a single phone call. Olivia Olivia phoned her sister. “They called me was living in New York City, working as an opera and I said, ‘No way, José. No way am I Olivia Ward singer, when someone saw her picture through a ever going to get on TV in a sports bra and Hannah Curlee friend’s Facebook page. It turned out that person hot pants,’” said Hannah, referring to the was on the casting team for The Biggest Loser. spandex workout clothes typically worn Olivia received a phone call asking if she’d ever by contestants during televised workouts 4 • Alabama Alumni Magazine Fall 2011 • 5 difference in the Curlee family is easy While the TV show was in production, to see. Since that holiday meeting, their Ward’s husband, Ben, worked to lose 113 dad and mom, Keith and Betsy Curlee, pounds on his own. have lost 75 pounds and 60 pounds, respectively. And their youngest sister can really get control of your mind, the and fellow Alabama alumna, Norah, rest is just science. Calories in, calories ’07, has shed 90 pounds. “This show— out. Once I was able to trust myself, the this experience—changed our entire weight just came right off.” family,” Hannah said. For Hannah, the weight loss journey It will change their future as well. changed everything. “I’m a different For Olivia, earning a clean bill of health person,” she said. “It’s phenomenal how at the end of the show was one of the your life can turn out when you are most exciting results. At 35, she was dedicated to change. Before, my daily motivated to lose weight in large part by life was, ‘Get up, her desire to start her own family with go to work, eat Ben. Now, she’s where she wants to be. behind my desk, “I’m such a better version of myself,” come home.’ I she said. “Not only am I going to be kind of became healthier, but I feel like I have these a homebody things I can pass on to my kids. I because I was so know that The Biggest Loser will ashamed of who be a huge part of not just my I was.” Her Big- life, but my children’s lives and gest Loser experience led to the exact my children’s children’s lives.” opposite outlook. “Now, Olivia and I And there’s been yet another are all over the place, with magazines positive result. Although Ben and TV shows, and I work with HCA’s and weigh-ins. with a friend or even a spouse, but a wasn’t chosen to appear on go to Guthrie’s.” [Hospital Corporation of America’s] Olivia and Ben poked sibling—if you have a sister, you the show after their casting One of the best ways wellness division, H2U. I’m promot- and prodded, and finally have a best friend for life,” call, he nonetheless lost to begin is to do some ing our website now, and it’s kind of convinced her to join Olivia said. “I’m so glad she 113 pounds in an effort to research on your surround- funny—if I had used this before, I might them in Chicago for did it with me.” They were support his wife during the ings, and find a gym. Don’t not have had to go on the show.” the weekend. “It’s two of 100 contestants competition. even worry about food that Hannah is quick to point out that one thing to do it who reported to Cali- Since the show ended day, Olivia recommended. asking for help is one of the best things fornia, and they made on May 24, 2011, Olivia “Over a few weeks, if you it through to the final 22 and Hannah have turned their make small choices, you’re in a in order to take part in the attention to helping others turn full-fledged healthy lifestyle and filming. their lives around. They are quick you’re losing weight.” Olivia and Hannah were a to point out that the desire to The mental battle is one of the little different from the other change and the smallest of starts most important, she continued. “I contestants right from the start. can catapult anyone into their own always defeated myself mentally “We were two of the only people fitness journey. “It just takes one small before I got started. I thought ‘I’ll who weren’t uber fans of the choice to get you started. Just one,” do this diet. It’s not going to work, show,” Olivia said. “Right before Sisters Ward and Curlee lost a total of 249 Olivia said. “You don’t have to decide but I’ll do it.’ And then I’d wonder the first weigh-in, everyone else pounds competing on The Biggest Loser. you’re going to lose 129 pounds; that’s why I got on the scale and nothing was water-loading and eating fast not what it’s about. If you try to do had happened.” A person’s mind food. We didn’t really know how environment in addition to themselves. that, you’ll be so overwhelmed plays a huge part in how their body to play the game at first, but we Hannah and Olivia took the advice by lunchtime, you’ll quit and responds, she explained. “Once you wound up winning.” to heart. Over the show’s two-week Both women learned quickly. Christmas break, Hannah had a long Out at the Biggest Loser Ranch, discussion with their parents. “It was “Whatever you’re trying to do, it’s important to ask for help and Bob Harper, one of the show’s very hard, but it was the best thing I ever ask for support. And making the decision to start your journey trainers, talked to contest- did,” she said. “My parents got active. is the most important thing.” —Hannah Curlee ants about changing their Everybody is really transforming.” The 6 • Alabama Alumni Magazine Fall 2011 • 7 Stubbs with her husband, Troy, and children Elsa, 6, Lucas, 3, and Isaac, 9 ing with a health magazine at Memphis Health and Fitness. A career change for Troy, from business to coaching, took the couple to Louisville, Ky., where Jenny worked with Kentuckiana Health- Fitness magazine. In 2010, they moved again, this time to Jenny’s hometown of Wetumpka, Ala. That’s when the idea for her own magazine began to take shape. “Once I got here, I was surprised that there were no free and accessible health and fitness publications,” she said. “I quickly learned that Montgomery and the River Region were polled by Gallup and found to be the most obese city. That’s what really propelled me forward with this idea.” As it turned out, the River Region had quickly made strides to change after being labeled as the nation’s weightiest. The area had always been a popular location for health races, but the number of events has almost doubled in recent years. There are now to do. “Whatever you’re trying to do, Olivia and Hannah aren’t the only close to 40 races taking place annu- it’s important to ask for help and ask UA graduates using new platforms to ally. “Recognizing that need helped me encourage healthy living. Jenny Enslen decide to establish the magazine, but for support,” she said. “And making JULY/AUGUST 2011 Volume 1, Issue 1 • free the decision to start your journey is the Stubbs, ’01, has combined her com- PREMIERE I also wanted to feed a want,” Stubbs most important thing.” munications degree with her interest The River ISSUE said.

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