'Biggest Loser' adds professional trainer from Princeton

Trae Patton/NBCThe Biggest Loser has added Princeton-native Brett Hoebel to the reality television weight loss show.

Brett Hoebel was shopping with his mother at the Princeton Army & Navy store when an adult made a comment about the teen’s weight.

“He said ‘If he wasn’t so chubby, that jacket would fit better,’” he remembered.

His mother, Cynthia, a prominent pianist and organist who performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, “let him have it,” he said.

Hoebel, however, gently told his mom that he could defend himself, and instead asked for help with getting in shape. His mother gave him all kinds of great advice, and by his sophomore year at Princeton High School, Hoebel dropped 50 pounds and excelled in three varsity sports: football, wrestling and lacrosse.

Hoebel, the founder of Hoebel Fitness and an international fitness expert, never forgot what it was like to be an overweight teen. Now, as one of the most sought-after weight loss, nutritionist and lifestyle coaches in New York City, Hoebel has landed a dream job as a new celebrity trainer on one of the most inspirational weight-loss shows on television: “The Biggest Loser,” now in its 11th season.

Hoebel, along with newbie Cara Castronuova, has joined Biggest Loser gurus Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper in the task of helping overweight contestants shed pounds and regain control of their lives in the weekly show, which airs through May.

With his brains, brawn, and hunky good looks, Hoebel is already making a splash on the program. For the first week, the show posted the most weight loss in the show's history.
His own personal journey to television stardom began in academia, which Hoebel said gives him nutritional insight into weight loss from a scientific perspective.

Hoebel, the son of retiring Princeton University psychology professor Bart Hoebel, graduated Princeton High School in 1989, with a goal of following in his father’s footsteps. He majored in pre-medical studies at Claremont McKenna College, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a dual major in psychology and biology. Hoebel continued his education at Rutgers University with graduate classes in biomedical sciences, and eventually found work in neurology labs.

When Hoebel moved back to New York for a job as a lab technician, he lacked the funds to afford a gym membership. A friend suggested he try for a job at New York Sports Club, which hired Hoebel as a boxing instructor in 1995.

“I was hired to teach a class,” he said, explaining that it was primarily group fitness.

Still, Hoebel found himself missing science. He applied for certification as a personal trainer, and was happy to learn that his scientific background could be utilized in the area of weight loss. After a few years of hard work as a fitness professional, Hoebel began to gain a good reputation around New York City. Soon, he was employed by a clientele that included Victoria’s Secret models, A-list actors, actresses, musicians, and fashion designers.

Michaels came in contact with Hoebel because she wanted to learn capoeria, a form of martial arts that incorporates music and dance. Hoebel trained Michaels and her friends.
"We formed a great friendship," he said, adding that Michaels became very good at capoeria.

Hoebel is thrilled to join “The Biggest Loser,” which is already proving to be the most challenging season in the show’s history.

“This is the biggest group they’ve ever had on the show, and the most unhealthy,” he said, noting that some contestants began the show weighing 500 pounds.

It is an especially big challenge for Hoebel, who has never trained obese clients. He does, however, see hope in this group, including Olympian Gold Medalist Rulon Gardner, who wrestled in the 200s but is now 474, and is hoping that his background in science will bring positive results.

Hoebel said the greatest thing about his involvement on the show is “changing people’s lives,” for instance, “when you get a girl who never dated before, with no confidence, and then all of a sudden you see this huge smile.”

Hoebel is ready to continue on with the show after Michaels departs, he said.
He is also ready to join the ranks of P90X home workout trainer Tony Horton with the release of his own motivational workout DVD, RevAbs.

“It’s going to hit the airwaves in May, right around the time of the season finale, so it’s great timing,” he said.

Although Hoebel splits his time between taping in Los Angeles with training clients in New York and Brazil, he said he misses New Jersey.

“New Jersey gets a bad rap, but people don’t realize how beautiful it is,” he said. “Princeton is such a beautiful neighborhood, and in the spring and summer I love driving around with the windows down and the smell of fresh grass and corn. I miss the high school, and Princeton University is so beautiful, and Princeton has so much history with the American Revolution and once being the state capital. There is a lot of character in New Jersey.”

And now, New Jersey has another television star.

“The Biggest Loser” airs on NBC 8 p.m. Tuesday nights.