Biggest Loser's Dan Addresses Shocking Weight Gain

On Tuesday’s episode of The Biggest Loser, homesick Dan Evans opened up about the death of his son and his willingness to “fall on the sword” for his fellow competitors. “If I was above the yellow line, and they would let me, I would take someone else’s place and let them stay,” he told trainers Bob and Jillian. But at the weigh-in, Dan and his twin brother Don both fell below the yellow line with a shocking weight gain of 9 lbs. each. Now at home, the police captain, 54, has lost more than 70 lbs. since he arrived at the Ranch. He spoke to reporters about what went wrong, why he wanted to leave and his weight-loss goals.

How did you gain 9 lbs. in a week on the Ranch?
It is difficult to imagine how [my brother and I] could have made a sufficient number of mistakes … whether it’s hydration or food or whatever to negate whatever weight loss we had plus add nine pounds – it would equate to lots of food and gallons of water. I’m not sure. What I can tell you is that we … took full responsibility.

Why did it seem like you just wanted to walk out?
The question implies that I selfishly squandered an opportunity to be on The Biggest Loser and in doing so I prohibited someone else from developing an active, healthy lifestyle. I don’t feel like I kept anybody from achieving their goals just because I achieved mine.

One of the last things you said to Jillian was "we’ll fix it." What have you done at home to fix it?
Since I got home I am averaging a minimum of 3 to 4 pounds [lost] a week because I’ve got everything tuned in. I do the nutrition exactly like Dr. Cheryl [Forberg] said. I do the workouts exactly like Bob and Jillian said. I follow the instructions from my trainer here in Oklahoma. So I’ve managed to develop a process, integrating it in to my personal life that takes The Biggest Loser experience and makes it successful.

You shared your grief of losing your son to drugs. What has the reaction been like?
Everyone has been so supportive. I’ve talked to parents who have lost children and who have similar feelings that I have. It’s part of what motivated me to go on The Biggest Loser and become successful. It remains part of that motivation. I am actually very pleased with the results and I think that my son would be pleased too.

How is being with your family, including your daughter Maddie, helping you with your weight loss?
Being around her has created even more motivation than being on the Ranch. I work out two hours in the morning before I go to work. And for at least half an hour of that, Maddie is there with me. I come home in the afternoons and do at least a partial workout then and before she goes to bed at night I do another partial workout. I’ve been going to cage fitness classes three days a week and she has actually done some of those classes with me.

Do you have a goal weight you want to reach?
What would really make me happy would be to the winner of the at-home [weight loss] competition. For me it’s not a question of winning the cash prize, I want to prove to any of the naysayers that I can be a success.

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