Bob Harper talks about new season of ‘Biggest Loser’

PHOTO: Bob Harper (center) will be the host, with Downers Grove’s Jen Widerstrom and Dolvett Quince as the trainers, when “The Biggest Loser” returns to NBC on Jan. 4.

When you think about it, what better person than Bob Harper to play a pivotal role in the makeover of “The Biggest Loser”?

After all, the uber trainer has been with the show since day one. (I love the first show footage that shows the now highly-tatted Harper with nary a visible tattoo.) That makes 16 seasons over 11 years, with the 17th debuting from 8-10 p.m. CT Jan. 4.

Bob Harper

He’s coming into his role as the weight-loss competition show’s new — and third — host like someone taking ownership of the traditional family home. He’s been there all along and knows just what needs to be tweaked to modernize the whole scene.

Everything down to the show’s logo has been changed up. The gym — split into two quarters, one for Dolvett Quince’s team, the other for Jen Widerstrom’s — has new equipment as well as monitors on the walls that will be tracking contestant’s heart rates and number of calories burned as they work out.

To bring a fresh burst of excitement to the weigh-ins, contestants from opposing team will step onto side-by-side scales. And the house — which long-time viewers know was starting to look a little frayed — has been updated as well.

“It looks different, feels different; everything’s new, but [the show] still has the same feel of what ‘Biggest Loser’ is all about, “ Harper explained during a telephone conference call earlier this week.

The Nashville native says he’s always seen “BL” as a rehab center of sorts. Because of that, one of his goals is to help the contestants figure out why they’ve gotten to the weights they now carry. From the very first show, he promises the conversation will be “very emotional, very eye-opening.”

While the majority of the pairs are made up of family members or best friends (always my favorite seasons!), season 17 also has one team of strangers. Well, strangers to one another, but well-known to many TV viewers. They are Richard Hatch, the original “Survivor” winner, and Erin Willett, semi-finalist on the second season of “The Voice.” They didn’t expect any special treatment, according to Harper, but it’s not like they would have gotten it even if they’d asked.

“It’s tough,” said Harper. “You gotta cook for yourself; clean, sleep in those little beds. … Our show is the one you want to go on when you want to really look at yourself.”

This season’s theme is “Temptation,” and viewers will notice the contestants spending more time off the ranch. That’ll help prepare them for the reality of life back home once their time on “The Biggest Loser” is over.

All of us, even Harper, have to combat things that tempt us to stray from eating well and moving our bodies. “My work schedule is very busy,” said Harper, and there are days when he thinks — just like you or I — maybe it’s OK to skip today. And there are times when he, too, thinks maybe he could eat “something more comforting” instead of his regular diet. Then he has to give himself a talking to, to “keep myself on track.”

Because here’s the sad reality of weight loss and the more difficult challenge, keeping the pounds lost off. “It’s boring, challenging,” Harper said. “You’ve got to change your habits, lifestyle. … You’ve gotta think of it as [this is] for the rest of your life.”

He says that’s the formula for everybody, even those who’ve won big and done great on “The Biggest Loser.” The contestants who’ve “been more successful “ keeping the weight off after their season is over “change their environment,” according to Harper.

And for those who haven’t done as well, Harper, like the rest of us, would be more than happy to see a “BL” season of “Second Chances” with past contestants returning.