The next time America sees Lynn and Jenni Westphal, who were the first team voted off NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” on Tuesday night, they hope there will be a lot less of them to see.

 “I want to walk across the stage at 250,” said Lynn Westphal. “I might even wear leather pants, if I can pull it off.”

For those who didn’t tune in Tuesday, Lynn, 60, a native of North Ridgeville, and his 31-year-old daughter, Jenni, who now lives in Lakewood, were among 10 teams that started the weight loss show in sunny southern California with dreams of losing big for the show’s fifth season.

But after running up a mountain to pick a team trainer — fitness coach Bob Harper — and being put to the test in a balloon race, the pair soon learned that collectively losing 26 pounds was not enough to keep them from the bottom of the list.

And, before America got too used to the Westphals, they were sent back to Lorain County to continue their weight loss without the eyes of millions of watchers. Here, no one can see Jenni confront her father about his work ethic when it comes to hitting the gym, something she did on the show prior to the elimination round.

“Oh, but when we go back, we are still going to look great. I guarantee that,” Jenni Westphal said Tuesday. “I would have loved to stay on the show to really show what we can do. I don’t want to go back looking like I didn’t work.”

Until the reunion show airs in April, where all 20 contestants will reveal their new looks and the eliminated contestants vie for $100,000, Jenni and Lynn are on their own.

The fire and desire to lose is still there, thanks to the show’s kick start.

“There are no short cuts,” said Jenni, who admits to now spending four to five hours a day every day at her local Fitworks. “(Biggest Loser) inspired me. I know it sounds shocking, but that’s what you got to do to look amazing.”

While the team obviously won’t win the $250,000 grand prize, they are still winners if you ask them.

The show not only started their weight loss, but also sparked changes in their lifestyles.

Calorie counting, exercise, and healthy eating in moderation are all now a part of everyday life. Even Lynn, who works as a travel agent, has learned to forgo lavish meals when on business trips and hits the gym at EMH Fitness Center in Avon at least twice a week.

“You have to just pick and choose what you eat,” he said. “When I go back, it won’t matter if I lose the money by even one percentage point because I will feel good about myself.”

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

 

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