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Published on 5/15/08
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The last time we talked to Bernie Salazar, he was at Matilda in Lakeview enjoying a fabulously unhealthy spread of Halloween cookies, brownies, beer and deep-dish pizza. Salazar, a West Town resident who recently completed his master’s in education at UIC, was enjoying his final days of freedom (and gluttony) before heading off to California for NBC’s reality show The Biggest Loser: Couples. Fast-forward about six months: Bernie is back in Chicago and…wow. Things. Have. Changed. He feels great—healthy, energetic—and based on his jaw-droppingly vigorous workout routine, we’re betting he’s melted off at least a few dozen more pounds after losing 88 on the show. He competes against the other ousted contestants for a $100,000 prize in the season finale on Tuesday 15 at 7pm. Here’s his typical day:
6:30am Makes breakfast, usually an egg, two slices of turkey bacon and a piece of Ezekiel bread with two sprays of I Can’t Believe it’s not Butter. “I’ll eat at a café down the street once every two weeks or so—they make me an egg-white omelet with veggies and barely any olive oil. If any butter sneaks in, I have all day to work it off.”
7:30–9am Hits the West Loop Athletic Club (1380 W Randolph St, 312-850-4667) for an hour and a half boot camp–style group fitness class. “It’s motivating to work out in a group setting.”
9–10am Gets on the treadmill for about 60 minutes of cardio. “I watch TV and I have my little iPod Shuffle to keep me going.”
11am Showers and makes a snack, usually a Granny Smith apple with half a tablespoon of organic peanut butter. “The first thing I did when I got home was go grocery shopping. I got rid of everything that was in my house and went to Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s for more nutritious stuff.”
Noon Rests and runs errands.
1pm Makes lunch, usually about four to six ounces of chopped fish or grilled chicken on top of romaine lettuce, with sliced tomato, a slice of avocado and some balsamic vinegar. “I weigh myself once a week now. [If you do it too much,] it’s one of those things where it can be your best friend or worst enemy.”
3–5pm Weight lifting with his trainer, Angela at WAC. “Angela is a mini-Jillian! We even use some of the info from Jillian’s book [Making the Cut, Three Rivers Press].”
5:30pm Another snack, usually three to four ounces of yogurt with half a teaspoon of xylitol (a natural sweetener) and one cup of chopped strawberries.
6pm More cardio, usually about 45 minutes of spinning.
7:30pm Dinner is another salad. “I absolutely love this dressing called Galeos; it’s fat-free with only 14 calories per tablespoon”
9pm If hunger strikes, a snack of eight to ten roasted, unsalted almonds before going to bed at 10pm.
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