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What the Future Holds for Carla and Joelle of The Biggest Loser Couples
by Troy Rogers
 There's no denying that losing weight, becoming healthy, staying active, and making the necessary changes to revamp unhealthy habits is hard work. But when you finally decide to give in to the process of becoming healthy and changing both your eating and physical habits, you have to turn yourself over to the fact that it's not going to be an easy road. No one can blink an eye and all of a sudden lose 200 pounds in one afternoon. Losing weight and becoming physically fit is all about pushing yourself beyond your limits both mentally and physically. There's no time for excuses. And when you turn yourself over to the fact that losing weight "is" hard work, it often eliminates the need for the weighty drama and theatrics of having to do something you wouldn't otherwise do if you were on the couch watching The Biggest Loser Couples with a bucket of KFC by your side. Trust me, I've lost 30 pounds in the past year and I still have dreams of the Colonel. Luckily, after seeing results, I'd rather put in the hard work.
So what does all of that mean?
The latest episode of The Biggest Loser Couples was filled with high drama as competitors Joelle and Carla found themselves on two different sides of the weight loss coin ... again. It was clear most of the competitors, including Carla, had an issue with Joelle's work ethic and how much she put in to succeed on The Biggest Loser Couples. But Joelle saw it different since she was also in the thick things at the ranch.
When we caught up with Carla and Joelle the next day on a conference call with other outlets, we got the opportunity to let the girls clear the air with a few questions of our own.
THE DEADBOLT: What was your biggest hurdle when following Bob’s instructions?
 JOELLE: You know, it was not hard following Bob’s instructions. When I saw some of the feedback - and you all got to see it before I did - to me I think it was a bit of the editing. The first and second week when Bob had that incident, it was more of a mental thing. I remember that specifically. When he was saying that I was not doing the 20, you know, the 30-second intervals, I had an ankle with a plate inside, tense. When 9/11 happened I had not been running, had not been athletic, and in my mind I’m a fat woman. And if an emergency happens, I could not save myself. And here I was facing that, that kind of negative mindset, and this man is telling me to run. That was the mental block I had to do.
Now his methods, I think, were excessive and it was not the best for me. But I did not stop. At that point I was humiliated. I wanted to suspend myself, I wanted to cry, I wanted to walk out, but I knew it wasn’t just for me and I had to remember what’s the goal. I had figure out what I needed to do to make it through. And even though people saw I was trying to be weak, or people didn’t think I was defending myself enough, I persevered to make sure I stayed on that treadmill and pushed just not for me, but for Carla and for everything that I wanted because I had this opportunity.
A lot of people when they talk with me about that moment, they laughed, ‘Oh, that was funny.’ Bob even texted me when that show aired, ‘Wasn’t that good TV?’ That was one of the most humiliating points of my life. But the fact that I stayed on, I was never rude to anyone, nor Bob. I consider that a victory.
THE DEADBOLT: What actually motivated the both of you to sign up for the show?
JOELLE: For me, during season three there was a gentleman that was on - I was sitting down eating a "Double Filet of Fish" combo and an apple pie, and it was a gentleman that I dated from college and he looked fantastic. He dropped 95 pounds and I contacted him and we talked, and I was really motivated because that year I had really been considering gastric bypass surgery. So I started researching it and it really seemed like it was the answer. Then I asked Carla to one audition and she couldn’t make it, then the third audition and she could make it, and they loved her sparkle and shine and we got an immediate response.
THE DEADBOLT: What does your routine consist of now that you’re out of the ranch and back home?
 CARLA: Actually, I work out between six to eight hours a day. Actually, I’m working out now as I talk to you guys, because I have to keep moving, and pretty much just cardio and weight training. And I’m doing that before once I found out I was on the show. I had to be sure I took care of what, to have the time off of work. Since I still have that time available, I’m going to utilize it until I go back.
JOELLE: For me it’s a combination of not only the cardio and weight training, but I’ve been doing kickboxing, which I love. It helps in getting rid of a lot of stress. Pilates, yoga, I’m going to a gym that offers spinning classes, swimming, so I’m really doing a good mix of it. And doing that with the toning and the cardio has really helped me with some muscle. I think not so much weight loss has gone, but it’s really helped me with toning up and inches coming off.
THE DEADBOLT: Carla, how do you think you would’ve done if you had stayed at the ranch instead?
CARLA: Had I stayed at the ranch, I know when I set my mind to something I’m determined to do it, and I think I would’ve had a much better weight loss progress than what the silver team had before. But, you know, I came home and showed America that you can still do it at home.
THE DEADBOLT: Now that both of you are off of the show and back in the real world, how is your friendship holding up?
CARLA: I still consider Joelle a friend, I’ve reached out to her many times. But I’m not sure how she feels, so I guess she would have to answer that for you.
JOELLE: Well, as I said again, Carla and I were more acquaintances than friends, and we really didn’t know how well we would sync together. For me, personally, when I’m working with an ally or a friend, I support them very much, publically, and I know that her approach may be different. She may be more passionate and bold. For me, I have a non-profit [approach], I’m very respectful, try to be respectful of the community.
I knew I wasn’t on the Flava Flav show and I did not want to do drama. So I was trying to keep it toned down and there were some things that were said publically that were hurtful. But, you know what? Sometimes relationships are rocky like that. We had our ups and downs because we were going through a lot of changes but the end result is that we benefitted so much.
You know, it would be one thing if we didn’t lose any weight. We’ve gotten rid of high blood pressure, diabetes, there are victories here. So it depends on how you want to have your outlook. A lot of people couldn’t accept that, ‘Oh, is she that positive?’ I am, and if you can’t be a cheerleader for yourself or your teammate, it’s a hard road. We had a hard road but we made it.
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