Being a contestant on the NBC’s hit reality television show “The Biggest Loser 3” transformed Selbyville Middle School history teacher and Coach Tim Clausen. He shed 114 pounds from his compact frame and now is as active as ever.
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‘The Biggest Loser 3’ contestant and Selbyville Middle School history teacher Tim Clausen lost 114 pounds for the show and recently won a pair of national racquetball tournaments.
In addition to running “about 50 miles a week,” before most people are even awake in the morning, Clausen has continued to play racquetball since leaving “The Biggest Loser 3.” He began the sport as apart of his weight loss program on the television show but it has rekindled a competitive edge as his skill-level improved.
During the last week of May, Clausen won a pair of national racquetball titles in Houston, Texas, after qualifying for the event by winning two state championships back in February. He was seeded 11th and 13th, and finished the tournament with an undefeated record of 15-0, including beating the No. 1 seed in the best-of-three championship match in only two games, by the scores of 15-0 and 15-5.
And in a sport where opposing players smash a rubbery ball at lightning speeds in a small square room, it appears that Clausen is a natural due to his height — or, rather, the lack there of — and a regained sense of quickness.
“Racquetball is made for me,” Clausen said. “I’ve got my quickness back since losing the weight, and it works out because I’m short and quick.”
Since returning from “The Biggest Loser 3,” Clausen said, most people ask him how much weight he has gained since leaving the show. He admitted that his biggest fear was gaining the weight back, so he has remained diligent in his workout and diet. He jogs a couple miles during lunch breaks and has cut out the wing-eating contests in favor of a well-balanced diet.
When he left for California for the show’s final weigh-in, Clausen said he was 172 pounds. He then had four days to drop as much weight as possible for a chance to win $50,000. He had a one-in-three shot to take home the cash, so he went through a work-out marathon and eventually dropped down to 154 pounds, which he said was mostly water weight.
He didn’t win the cash but he did gain something that is more important than money: his health.
Now, he weighs 167 pounds and couldn’t be happier.
“This is great,” Clausen said. “It’s a new lifestyle. I don’t want to be controlled by food ever again.”