In Love With Two of "The Biggest Losers"
Alexandra White and Antoine Dove might not have lost the most weight on season eight of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” but they gained the ultimate prize – life partners. Losing nearly 250 pounds between the two of them, both say they were instantly attracted to each other despite their weight.
“Although we met when we considered ourselves at our worst, it was love at first sight,” Dove says. “When I met Alexandra, I didn’t see her weight – I just saw this gorgeous
woman, and after getting to know her, I discovered how amazing she is inside and out.”
The couple says that while they were a little nervous about revealing their “jiggly parts” to the world, they weren’t uncomfortable around each other because they met under the same conditions.
“We already knew that we were overweight, but we also knew that was all about to change,” Dove says. “We were there to change our lives and learn how to become healthy, and we are just blessed to have found each other in that setting.”
White and Dove struggled with obesity from early ages, and they agree that being overweight played a role in their dating lives.
Dove says that lacking confidence and enduring a lot of rejection in his younger years made it more difficult to approach girls as he got older. “Girls couldn’t see past the weight and they always wanted to just be friends. No girl wants to date the fat guy.”
According to White, it wasn’t until she met Dove that she realized how many “bad boys” she’d dated. “I’ve always been told I have a pretty face, but before losing the weight and meeting Antoine, I didn’t know my self worth,” she says. “Antoine was the first person I opened up to on the show – he was such a sweet, positive and motivating man who made me realize there are great men out there.”
On the show’s Dec. 8, 2009 finale, Dove shocked viewers and White when he popped the question on national television. The couple now lives in Atlanta, Ga., and is planning a wedding amidst their busy lives. Dove works fulltime for Humana as a provider contractor and White is a senior at Pace University in New York, completing her online BBA degree in marketing.
Perhaps you caught White on the new series “Bridalplasty.” Hosted by former Miss America Shanna Moakler, the E! show gives 12 brides the chance to win a $100,000 wedding and head-to-toe plastic surgery. White, who lost 95 pounds on “The Biggest Loser,” has a goal of losing 30-40 more pounds, but says it was the wedding and not the surgery that inspired her to audition.
“Lipo can take away a few pounds; however, at the end of the day, I know the only way to keep the weight off is to work hard by dieting and exercising, and that’s what I’m practicing everyday,” she says. “With or without losing the additional weight, I still have extra skin on my thighs and tummy that I’d like to lose.”
While she knows some viewers consider the show’s concept controversial, White says Dove supports her desire to get plastic surgery.
“I know how much she would love to have plastic surgery, especially a tummy tuck after losing so much weight,” he says. “I fell in love with Alexandra the way she is. With or without the extra skin, I will always love her the way she is.”
Since their run on “The Biggest Loser” ended, the couple has developed a regular fitness plan that averages one to two workouts per day, five days per week. Workouts include a combination of cardio (treadmill, elliptical, stair step) and strength training. White and Dove are also members of BLAST900, an interval-based program that allows participants to burn 900 calories in just 60 minutes. The circuit workout involves alternating between treadmill and strength-training rounds, spending a total of 30 minutes on each. White enjoys the high intensity workout because it is “results-driven.”
In addition to working out, White and Dove plan, train and compete together in 5Ks, 10Ks and triathlons.
“There is no one better than the person you love to hold you accountable,” Dove says.
White and Dove also support each other through diet and nutritional research. Working with physicians and engineers from The Georgia Institute of Technology, they recently launched www.usablehealth.com, a free service that offers realistic and health-based food swaps. Simply type in what you like to eat and the site pulls up healthier alternatives.
The pair has developed a love for cooking and experimenting with new, healthy recipes at home. Their strategy: eat three meals and two snacks a day that incorporate egg whites, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, Greek yogurt, Kashi cereal and Ezekiel bread. Their guilty pleasure: a home-cooked, weekend breakfast of whole wheat pancakes or muffins, eggs and bacon.
Losing weight can be daunting, and personal at that, but White and Dove have embraced the opportunity they were given, and they have proven to people around the world that it can be done. White says that all of the media attention has helped to keep her motivated and to inspire others. “Everyone needs that extra push to stay healthy,” she says.
The couple is so committed to health and wellness awareness that outside of work and school, they find time to speak to others about the importance of healthy lifestyles.
Undoubtedly, the show has changed their lives dramatically, but now Dove and White are the motivators behind their vigorous journey. With their strong support system, they make it look easy.
“It all starts with believing,” White says. “Now, more than ever, I believe anything is achievable.”
Photo courtesy of Alexandra White and Antoine Dove
