Couple Lost A Lot, but Not Enough to Win

Stint on TV Show to Shed Pounds Yields Lifestyle Gains

After tipping the scale with a combined weight of 561 pounds, Gainesville couple Stacey and Adam Capers said they knew it was time to change their unhealthful habits. When diets and sporadic trips to the gym failed, they turned to TV, appearing on NBC's "The Biggest Loser."

"I've been overweight all my life, and it took being on the show to crack the code to weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle," said Stacey Capers, 33. "We incorporate exercise into our life every day now and feel so much better for it."

The couple debuted on the show Tuesday when season six kicked off at "The Biggest Loser" ranch in California. Although they were voted off after week one, they said it was an experience they will never forget.

"I've got no regrets and am proud of everything we've accomplished," Adam Capers said. "I feel better, my health is better than ever, and my wife said I stopped snoring, too. So that's a good change."

A twin, Adam Capers said that growing up he was always dubbed the "heavy one." Although the 39-year-old managed to get in better shape during his teenage years, the weight crept back as he grew older.

"My lifestyle changed for the worse over the years," he said. "I wanted to do this to lose weight in a healthy manner and learn techniques to maintain that weight loss."

With a sweet tooth and a knack for cooking, Stacey Capers said she, too, has struggled with her weight over the years.

"I would make cookies at the drop of a dime, and I have a great recipe for butter cream icing," she said. "I also love to cook, which is both a blessing and a curse. I didn't care what I put into dishes as long as it tasted good."

Raising two children younger than 8 and commuting to Vienna for work in federal contracting left them little time to figure out how to beat their weight problems.

"The Capers had tremendous heart," Executive Producer Mark Koops said about selecting them for the show.

"They are very relatable because they are trying to live the American dream but have lost their way a little bit. You can't help but fall in love with them."

Koops, who selected four couples and four child-parent teams for this season's show, said he casts people who want to participate not for superficial reasons but for health reasons or to be role models to others.