What 'Biggest Loser' contestant takes home is better than money

• Rambo

Lisa Rambo of Hudson lost a total of 108 pounds since she started as one of 18 Biggest Loser contestants.
• Cheers

Friends and family gathered Monday night, March 18, 2013, to watch Lisa Rambo of Hudson on the live finale of “The Biggest Loser.” On hand are, front from left, Kendra Waldroff, Katie Heil, Jenny Grass and Leslie Rose; back, Lisa’s sister Tracy Prescott, Anna Johnson, Danielle Olson and Leaha Merchak.

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HUDSON -- During the live finale of “The Biggest Loser,” Hudson area resident Lisa Rambo looked trim and confident as she walked out on stage. Rambo, who was a contestant this season, was eliminated at week six. She continued to work out after returning home. When she stood on the scale one last time, during Monday night’s final episode it revealed that she had lost a total of 108 pounds.

All of the eliminated contestants returned and the one that had lost the greatest percentage of their original body weight was eligible to win $100,000. Rambo lost that contest by a 2.23 percent. Her weight loss was 43.90 percent of her original weight, which was 246 pounds.

Gina McDonald, who lost 113 pounds or 46.12 percent of her weight, took home the $100,000. Her original weight was 245 pounds.

Watching in the crowd was Lisa’s lifelong friend Kendra Waldroff.

“Lisa and I have watched (the show) for years,” Waldroff said. “I am so crazy proud of her. She has a heart of gold. The best part is she is going to turn it around and help others. She is a rock star as far as I’m concerned.”

Tracy Prescott, Lisa’s sister, organized a gathering to watch finale.

“It has been amazing for her,” said Prescott. “She hasn’t had a bad thing happen. It really has been all positive for her. She will be happy no matter what happens.”

Persistence paid off for Rambo who has tried twice, the first time at an open casting call at the Minnesota State Fair, before to become a contestant on the NBC hit reality television show.

Rambo, who is a special education assistant at Hudson High School, was one of 18 contestants who were chosen for season 14 of the show.

According to her husband Tony, 900 people turned out for an open casting call in Chicago for a chance to be on the popular reality TV show. In addition the show held 15 casting calls in cities all over the country.

“We did not know if she was selected until she went out for the first episode,” said Tony. “At 5 a.m. the next day it started. She handed me her cell phone and I did not hear her voice again for six weeks until she was eliminated. We sent letters to her but I am not sure when she received them.”

Lisa, who is the mother of four, adopted the motto “Doing it to get strong -- not skinny.”

For Lisa the six weeks were hard but amazing. Her hard work continued after she returned to Hudson right up until she left for Los Angeles and the Biggest Loser Ranch last week.

Hudson High School students created and sold 700 Team Lisa T-shirts, raising $2,500 dollars for the American Heart Association during February, National Heart Month. It was a SADD activity.

“I don’t think she would have been as successful without all the support,” said Stacey Tiedemann, a secretary at the school, who also happens to be Lisa’s aunt.

Rambo helped inspire other family members. Rambo’s husband Tony lost 70 pounds.

“All of my siblings started a weight loss challenge,” said Tiedemann.

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