As hit TV show The Biggest Loser’s 2013 contestants start to put their hard-earned weight loss tactics and knowledge into practice after finale celebrations last week – The Biggest Loser Retreat by Golden Door Australia is only just getting started.

And leading the way is Red Team personal trainer and program manager Andrea Baker.

The fit and feisty pocket rocket is making it her mission to help all Australians, whether they want to lose 5 or 50kgs, to develop a tailored weight loss regime that will ultimately lead to a healthier more active life.

Andrea is a well-known face at The Golden Door Retreat, which will undergo a complete transformation to become Australia’s first ever The Biggest Loser Retreat at the end of this month. In operation for 20 years, the Golden Door is renowned for helping guests achieve optimal health and wellness, including addressing their weight loss goals focusing on diet, nutrition, exercise, education and psychology that compliment a healthy, balanced lifestyle approach.

“The Biggest Loser Retreat offers an all-encompassing package. When guests start our program they don’t have to think about anything except their weight loss journey, breaking down the barriers, changing their mindset and achieving their goals,” says Andrea.

“We did that strategically so our visitors get more than just a weight loss program. The program is developed by experienced medical professionals who have tailored The Golden Door’s famous, successful program to focus on weight loss while ensuring mental, physical and spiritual wellness is also achieved. Our chef, David Hunter has developed the eating plan which focuses on clean, wholesome and nutritious cuisine to fuel the body and nurture the soul. And we have leading specialists on hand conducting weight loss specific seminars on cooking and shopping to ensure guests can learn to plan for their future outside of The Biggest Loser Retreat when it comes to diet and exercise.

“While we will have similarities to the TV show, we are our own entity and our programs and regimes are unique to the Golden Door’s proven core philosophies for health and wellbeing.”

Set to officially open on June 30, The Biggest Loser Retreat by Golden Door Australia is set among 86 hectares of pristine native bushland at the foothills of Mount Wongawallen in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

The facilities include two heated swimming pools; a lap pool; deep water running pool; beach volleyball court; bushwalking tracks; The Hangar (main gym); The H.I.T. Gym (High Intensity Training); Fit ’n’ Fierce Gym; Combat Zone; tennis court; sauna/steam room; The Golden Door Spa; The Boutique gift shop and recreation room.

Andrea brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the specialist retreat. The mother of three has been involved in the health, fitness and wellbeing industry for 15 years and is known for her limitless “energy and fun”. She will preside over the H.I.T. Gym – a key component of The Biggest Loser Retreat operated by Golden Door Australia.

“We are all a work in progress, with self-belief and support, you can do anything,” says Andrea, who emphasises fun must be at the core of any exercise regime.

“If you’re not having fun, why are you doing it?” she says. “Of course, it’s going to be hard sometimes but if you’re going to do the hard yards, then it has to be enjoyable too.”

The Biggest Loser Retreat will also enable guests to reward themselves with nurturing spa treatments and massage aimed to aid in relaxation, rejuvenation and recovery.
Andrea’s Top 5 Tips for Weight Loss

Eat clean – Eat foods such as fruit and veg and anything that is free from preservatives. Make sure it is wholesome and fresh and your body gets all the nutrients it needs.
Eat regularly – that will keep that metabolism going. Eating the right foods will help your body stay in optimum health.
2 “huffy puffy” sessions a week – That’s high-intensity training. It will help increase energy, improve health and reduce stress. Andrea’s top exercises for weight loss include circuit training, walking hills, squats, dead lifts and lunges.
3 moderate exercise sessions a week – It’s important to be active and just move. It can be fun to discover new ways to exercise.
Be consistent – Develop healthy habits, make better choices and be committed to positive results – and just keep doing that.

Team trainers Michael and Duncan

Trainer Michael Kirby has also be in the fitness world for about 15 years. Known affectionately as Mick, the qualified personal trainer’s also adds gym manager, group and aqua fitness instructor, wellness coach and bad joke specialist to his resume. Mick specialises in strength training, circuit style training, boot camp and will be in charge of the outdoor Combat Zone at The Biggest Loser Retreat operated by Golden Door Australia.

While trainer Duncan MacDonald has helped thousands of people with his tailored programs from 20 years in the industry and as a Personal Trainer at The Golden Door Health Retreat Queensland. Qualified in physical education and personal training, Duncan will be hanging out in Fit’n’Fierce Gym and prides himself on introducing unstable cable training at the International Fitness Convention almost a decade ago to his fitness industry peers, an incredibly popular training tool today.

People can register their interest to attend now, while bookings for The Biggest Loser Retreat by Golden Door Australia can be made online from June.