Retired Peoria firefighter Jerry Lisenby is looking to become Peoria's latest biggest loser. Lisenby is competing on NBC's "The Biggest Loser" reality TV show.

The opening episode Tuesday night introduced Lisenby and the 17 other people vying for the title of "Biggest Loser", by reducing their weight by the largest percentage.
Also with the weight loss comes a $250,000 grand prize.
Lisenby, the oldest competitor ever on the show...began the episode by winning a foot race and becoming one of two team captains.
He initially weighed–in at 297 pounds.
But Lisenby lost 31 pounds at the first weigh-in, which also makes him the biggest loser after the first episode in the show's history.

One Peoria family knows all too well what Jerry Lisenby is doing.
The Senti family of Peoria Heights was the winner of last year's program.

In June of last year, there was the Today show...celebrating the family's weight loss and the 50–thousand dollars in prize money that came along with the championship.
These days, it's back to business at the family's Maid–Rite Diner in the Metro Center....
Scott Senti working in the kitchen... Wife Tammy working the register...
IF Jerry Lisenby had called them before the show started...Scott Senti would have given him this advice..

"Exercise three times a day. That's what you have to do. Especially when it comes to the end of the competition, the more exercise the more you're going to lose," said Scott Senti.

It's advice Scott still follows himself.
But, they say the competition to lose weight is also about pushing yourself through pain and doubts and reaching back for strength.

"You've got to have discipline to lose the amount of weight we lost in five months. You've got to want to lose the weight...but not the competition," said Tammy Senti.

Losing the weight .and regaining a healthy lifestyle is obviously a major objective....
But Scott Senti says there is bonus is coming in first...and it's not about the money.

"When you're on that stage and they say you've actually won, it's amazing. It's a high that just goes on forever.
We've tried to keep it going.
You know, it's just an unbelievable process".