Biggest Loser: Families
Eliminated September 30: Jerry Skeabeck

What did you think when you found out only one team member - you or your daughter Coleen - would be going home this week?

That was kind of crazy. We concentrate so hard on making the team effort and when that popped up, it was a total surprise. It was highly stressful to make that decision. I was kind of in the mindset that she needed to stay more than I did. She was living her dream - she's a "BL" junkie. But she was hell-bent on me staying there. So we had some discussion, big time. The crazy thing about this is that I have a son who's a marine and he's overseas. It breaks your heart when one of your kids is away from you. To have to leave your kid? Believe me, as a dad, it was real tough.

You had gained two pounds at the last weigh-in, even though you stayed under your calorie allotment and you exercised as much as you could. What was your reaction?
It was complete shock. A lot of things were explained to me afterwards about how the weight gain occurred. When I tore my hamstring, a lot of blood ran down into my leg, which caused me to retain water weight. My right leg had swollen over three inches larger than my left leg. It took quite a while for it to heal, to the point where I'm running today.

What did you learn about your daughter from sharing this experience with her?

I learned that she doesn't make her bed every day like I trained her. But other than that, you know something? I knew going in there and I know this with all my kids, they're great kids. God has really blessed me good. Any parent listening knows, you can lead a horse to water but you can't always make it drink. I got pretty lucky. Being out there with Coleen, watching what she did on her challenges, how intense she was with her workout, it was a tenacity I knew she always had.

Were you able to get updates on her after you left?

Not really. I was pretty much in the dark, for the most part. Every so often, I had a phone call with Dr. Huizenga and he would just say, "Your daughter's amazing." And I would just say, "Give her my love, doc."

Did you have any doubt that you'd be okay at home, without the support?

It's an issue, but it's not an issue, because it's like this: you're going to get your health back. It's like a war: you've got to win it. Failure was not an option.

What's the biggest difference in your body?

I noticed that when I got on my motorcycle, it didn't say "one at a time." The physical capabilities I have now, I haven't had for 20 years. I went out there on four blood pressure medicines. I'm medicine-free now. The sleep apnea caused a heart arrythmia over the years, and I don't have any of that anymore. I just wake up and look at this good-looking guy in the mirror every day and smile.

How much have you lost?

I started at 380 pounds and I'm at 298 now. I'm going day by day, and whatever it brings me, that's what we're working at. The doctors and trainers are looking at between 220 and 240.