Bob Harper lets us in on the secret behaviors of people who not only lose weight but keep the pounds off for good—and make it look easy.
In Bob Harper’s #1 New York Times bestselling book The Skinny Rules, the trusted trainer and coach of NBC’s The Biggest Loser laid out the twenty nonnegotiable eating rules for getting thin.
In the process of helping countless men and women reach their weight loss goals, Harper has noticed six fundamental patterns in the lifestyle choices of those who succeed long-term—from the unique way they plan ahead to how they organize their environment and social calendars to even the way they dress. With his signature authority, colorful stories, and real-world solutions, Harper draws on the most up-to-date research related to habit formation, neuroplasticity, and cognitive behavioral psychology to show how feeding your brain—“the muscle between your ears”—can wield as much control over your weight as what you put in your mouth.
With anecdotes about his clients, guided steps for adopting your new practices, and tips for integrating them into your own daily routine, Skinny Habits has everything you need to shape your body and your life!
BOB HARPER BIO (FROM BIOGRAPHY.COM)
Born on August 18, 1965, in Nashville, Tennessee, Bob Harper was raised on a cattle farm before he discovered his passion for fitness after college, and moved to Los Angeles. There, Harper trained such celebrities as Ben Stiller and Ellen DeGeneres. In 2004, he started working on the television weight-loss competition The Biggest Loser. The hit show has made Harper one of the country's most famous fitness experts.
Early Life
Television personality, fitness trainer and author Robert "Bob" Harper was born on August 18, 1965, in Nashville, Tennessee. One of America's most famous fitness experts, Harper has been the coach for countless contestants on the hit reality competition The Biggest Loser, which began in 2004. While he's now known for his expertise in health and exercise, Harper wasn't always interested in physical fitness. As a child, Harper grew up on a cattle farm in Nashville. He found his current career path after college, becoming a certified fitness instructor.
Moving to Los Angeles in the early 1990s, Harper soon developed a celebrity clientele. Actress Jennifer Jason Leigh was one of his first famous clients. He met comedienne Ellen DeGeneres at a party, and began working with her as well. Harper was then asked to audition for a makeover show called The Swan (2004), but he refused, saying later that he didn't like its emphasis on plastic surgery as a means of personal transformation.
In 2004, Harper became a national fitness personality after landing a job on a new show called The Biggest Loser. He and Jillian Michaels served as coaches for a group of extremely overweight individuals seeking to turn their lives around. While Michaels took more of a hard-line approach with her trainees, Harper had a gentler demeanor with his contestants.
Harper kept his enthusiasm for what he does as a trainer, even after spending more than 15 seasons on the reality series. "Every single season... is ever changing. Contestants are coming in for the very first time and you're embarking on this journey." The show's contestants respond well to his friendly manner and his "inside-out" exercise philosophy, with Harper striving to help each trainee achieve mind, body and spiritual fitness.
Through his work on The Biggest Loser, Harper has become a celebrity in his own right. He has written several books, including 2008's Are You Ready!: Take Charge, Lose Weight, Get in Shape, and Change, and produced numerous work-out DVDs. In 2011, Harper also launched a line of nutritional supplements. He released his second book, The Skinny Rules, in 2012, followed by Jumpstart to Skinny in 2013.
In 2013, during season 15 of The Biggest Loser, Harper revealed to contestant Bobby Saleem that he was gay, the first mention of his sexual orientation to the public. The conversation was prompted by Saleem's struggle with coming out to his family, particularly his father. Harper opened up to the participant, sharing his experience of coming out to his family when he was 17 years old. "Being gay doesn't mean being weak and being gay doesn't mean you're less than anybody else," Harper said. "It's just who you are."
Harper lives in Los Angeles with his dog Karl. Despite his hectic schedule, he still finds time to teach exercise classes in the area.