Former 'Biggest Loser' Gomez going for goal: 200 pounds or bust

Julio Gomez is down and out.

But in this case, that's just fine for the Algonquin man.

Although Gomez, 40, was ousted from "The Biggest Loser" Tuesday, he has slimmed down to 280 pounds, thanks to the show, continued dieting and his ongoing workout routine. That's 127 pounds shy of when he started the show in mid-May at 407.

"To me, the best part of the experience (on the show) was finding myself," he said Thursday, just before his afternoon workout at Fitness 19 in Algonquin. "Once you have that, the weight loss is just a side effect."

Gomez, a loan officer with a wife and two daughters, still keeps in touch with several cast members and said he left the show holding his head high, knowing he never threw anyone under the bus to get ahead.

He isn't allowed to discuss what transpired on the show after his exit, but he is willing to address his portrayal as a slacker.

"Everything you see happened, but it doesn't happen the way you see it," he said. "Don't judge anybody too horribly one way or the other."

The show helped Gomez has change his modus operandi, when it comes to diet and exercise.

He said cheeseburgers were his drug of choice but now rotisserie chicken from Jewel is a treat. He says he hasn't cheated on his diet once.

Gomez also works out twice a day Monday through Friday, scheduling one- to two-hour sessions with his personal trainer, Tony Wuebker of Huntley.

"I'm tough on him, I push him," Wuebker said. "To me, he's just another one of the clients, but with all the publicity."

That publicity includes endless text messages, people approaching Gomez on the street, Facebook friend requests, voice mails and e-mails.

Gomez is using his newfound fame to inspire others, including Arianna Fontana, a West Dundee woman who has tried out for "The Biggest Loser" three times and recently connected with him through Facebook.

On Thursday, she became a member of Fitness 19 in hopes of working out with Gomez and his trainer.

"With him being a hometown hero ... that's inspiring itself and now I have the advantage of picking his brain," said Fontana, 31, who will try out for the show again this winter.

Gomez, meanwhile, is setting his sights on weighing 200 pounds by the show's live finale in December.

The first 12 people eliminated from the show are vying to win a $100,000 prize, and the person with the biggest percentage of weight loss wins.

But even if he doesn't return $100,000 richer, Gomez comes away with making good on getting healthy by 40 - a promise he made to his family.

"The day I got the call that I'd be on the show is the day I decided there's no turning back," Gomez said. "I quit my whole life cold turkey. Once you change your mind, the rest of your body follows."

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