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Chatting With 'Biggest Loser' Chef Devin Alexander

Feb 18, 2015 09:10PM ● By Mb News Staff

Celebrity Chef Devin Alexander with some of her Devinly Delites™.

Devin Alexander may not be a household name but if you're familiar with the hit TV show "The Biggest Loser," you've certainly seen her work. 

Since 2006 when she first demonstrated some of her "Biggest Loser" recipes on the show, the Manhattan Beach resident has written the show's 5 cookbooks, sold "Biggest Loser" cookware on QVC, hosted finale reunion dinners for previous contestants and continued her winning ways with weight loss.

Indeed, for the past 10 years, the perky, fashionable young chef who's maintained a 70-pound weight loss some 20 years, has helped others transform their lives via healthy eating. Her mantra? "You don’t have to deprive yourself to be fit and healthy."

To know Devin is to know she's a busy person whose effusive energy infuses every endeavor she undertakes. In addition to her "Biggest Loser" work, she's hosted PBS' "America’s Chefs on Tour,” hosted "Healthy Decadence" on Discovery Health and Fit TV from 2007-2011, written 8 cookbooks, been featured in countless publications and on TV shows, and is working on her Devinly Delites™ line.

As with most of Devin's "decadent" recipes, the Devinly Decadence menu features comfort food favorites that "cut the calories and fat but keep all the big flavor you love, all under 500 calories each." Her version of McDonald's Big Mac is a tasty delight at just 386 calories with 26 grams of protein and her many dishes, including desserts, are a force to be reckoned with.

Manhattan Beach residents and other fortunate folk got to experience her recipes at Shade Hotel during a special two-week event that laid the foundation for her latest endeavor: Devinly Decadence on the Quantum Class menu on Royal Caribbean International cruises

Devin is quick to give thanks to those who've helped her along the way. "This New Year's Eve marked my 10-year anniversary of my consistently living my own dream: My first major live national TV appearance was on New Year's Eve 2004 when I appeared on "Good Morning America" for the first time. 

"In honor of that, I wanted to do something special both as a celebration for myself and also because there are so many people who I owe a huge debt of gratitude to. Some of whom, MB locals like JD Roth and Todd Nelson of 3 Ball, who’ve been hugely supportive (first in putting me on 'Biggest Loser'), Shannon Hunt who booked me on 'The Doctors' and Mike Zislis who I partnered with for Devinly Decadence™ at zinc @ Shade Hotel (the first iteration of what is now my restaurant on Royal Caribbean Cruise line). When I realized that 10 years was approaching for me, I decided I had to pay it forward. And Dropping with Devin™ was born!"

"Dropping with Devin: Cory's Story," is an inside, firsthand look at Cory Johnson's true weight loss effort. 

Says Devin, "I met Cory in the line at a 'Biggest Loser' casting event. He was desperate to lose weight and thought the show could help him achieve that goal. He wasn’t picked but started to lose weight himself. Months later, Cory was down 60 pounds when he hit a plateau.  

"Cory’s dad reached out to me -- he knew his son just needed a little encouragement from the right person. I asked my Facebook friends and followers to show Cory a little love and inspiration, and he woke up to TONS of strangers’ posts telling him that they were proud of him!  

"I started helping him on a very loose basis. So when I decided I wanted to coach someone publicly for the first time, Cory was the obvious choice – he’d already lost 100 pounds…and embraced my previous suggestions. Plus, he is brave enough to post his 'life' for everyone to see.  

"Cory and I have had many long talks about his dreams: what he wants for his life and why he is worth achieving them! I believe that extra weight can prevent you from getting what you want in many aspects of life (even if it’s just because you are setting yourself up for risk of disease)."  

As part of her work with Cory, Devin took him to "The Biggest Loser" season finale a few weeks ago. "Cory was my +1 for The Biggest Loser Finale because he earned it," she says. "Having worked with the show for so many years, I know how insanely motivating it can be to sit in that studio. He was doing AMAZINGLY well. I thought it would be the perfect environment to motivate and inspire him to continue pursuing his goals."

Through her coaching, Devin has helped others lose 220, 170 and 140 pounds, and doing so brings her a great sense of pride. "Watching people transform is my favorite part of my job," she says. "It’s just so fulfilling and it makes me giddy to see someone shift!"


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