Local contender loses out on $100,000 on TV show

Algonquin's Julio Gomez, a former contestant on "The Biggest Loser," lost a $100,000 prize Tuesday night by the skin of his teeth.

Gomez, 40, was voted off the show in October, but as one of 13 contestants eliminated, he had a chance to win $100,000 as part of the show's at-home contest - if he lost the biggest percentage of weight among the other ousted cast members.

He spent the past few months sweating it out at Fitness 19 in Algonquin with a trainer and running in local 5Ks.

He ultimately slimmed down to 227 pounds - he started the show weighing in at 407 pounds and his goal was to reach 200 pounds by December.

"It means my driver's license is honest now," Gomez joked.

On the show's live finale broadcast from Hollywood, Gomez looked dapper in a suit, slicked-down hairdo, new mustache and beard.

And he gently unbuttoned his jacket to show off his new physique, while the studio audience yelled their approval.

Gomez lost 44.23 percent of his original weight, but two other ex-contestants bested him - in the end, the $100,000 prize went to Rebecca Meyer, who lost 49.82 percent of her original weight.

And Danny Cahill was declared the show's "biggest loser" and $250,000 richer after shedding 55.58 percent of his original body weight.

Gomez, a married father of two, who works as a mortgage loan officer in Elgin, said he joined the show as part of a pledge he made to his family to get fit by 40.

And now?

"I kept my promise - I can go out and play with the kids," he said. "It's a new me."