Julio Effect hits Algonquin, inspires others to slim down
Julio Gomez, 40, who was eliminated from "The Biggest Loser" last week, works out at Fitness 19 in his hometown of Algonquin.
And the gym has seen a surge in membership since he began appearing on the show, with between 10 and 25 people joining every week, said manager Bill Hanrahan.
These people are saying they specifically joining that gym because Gomez exercises there.
"I've been in this industry for a while, and this has never happened," Hanrahan said. "I think 'The Biggest Loser' just draws a lot of people."
It is Gomez's story of weight loss that's inspired many people to sign up, Hanrahan said.
Gomez, who lost 43 pounds during his four weeks on the show, said he uses his newfound celebrity to encourage other overweight people to tone up.
"I tend to butt into conversations when I see somebody who's a little heavier," he said.
Gomez started the show, which began taping in mid-May, weighing 407 pounds.
Today, he has dropped more than 120 pounds and now fits comfortably into movie theater seats - something he couldn't do at his old weight.
As proof of the man he used to be, the black, size 6x shirt he wore on the show is now framed and hanging up on the health club's wall.
"That's my pride and joy right there," Gomez said, pointing to the shirt, which Bob Harper, a trainer on the show, autographed.
Gomez, a mortgage loan officer in Elgin, is trying to slim down to 200 pounds in time for the show's live finale in December - the eliminated contestant who loses the biggest percentage of their starting weight wins $100,000.
To reach this goal, he's busting his butt at the gym 10 days a week - his trainer Tony Wuebker says the last 100 pounds will be a lot more difficult to shed than the first and is working on increasing Gomez's metabolism by adding muscle mass.
If he succeeds, Gomez will be thinner than when he met his wife of 13 years, Deanna.
"He's totally got this in the bag," said Arianna Fontana, the West Dundee woman who has tried out for "The Biggest Loser" three times and recently friended Gomez on Facebook. She recently joined Fitness 19 in hopes of working out with the "hometown hero."
If you're interested in seeing whether Gomez wins, you can check out the live finale of "The Biggest Loser."
It airs Dec. 8 on NBC television.
• Lenore T. Adkins covers Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Pingree Grove, McHenry County College, Cary and Fox River Grove. To reach her, call (847) 608-2725 or send an e-mail to ladkins@dailyherald.com