Valenti is a retired baker who weighed in at 295 pounds on his 5-foot, 9-inch frame. His goal is to look good in July when he walks down the aisle with his daughter at her wedding.

Valenti has high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, giving a particular challenge to his trainer, Push Fitness co-owner Mark Trapp.

Valenti has been using his family's basement treadmill, hoping to build up his stamina for the upcoming three-month workout program.

The Fittest Loser competition came to Vitullo just as she was celebrating her 50th birthday. She had a revelation when she found herself watching TV's "Biggest Loser" while sitting on the couch rather than walking on the treadmill, as she had done in previous seasons of the show.

"I need to be 50 and fabulous, not 50 and fat," Vitullo said. "I work from home and have the time to dedicate to myself. I just need a big fat push."

Vitullo weighed in at 232 pounds, the lightest of the competitors. Her trainer is Ryan LeBreux.

Kreiser has three small children and wants to be able to participate fully in their lives, but feels limited by her weight, which was measured at 337 pounds.

"I feel like I'm cheating my children and husband," Kreiser said in her application.

At the meeting with her trainer, Michelle Amsden, Kreiser admitted she is uncertain whether she can see the process through.

"I wonder if I can give it my all," said Kreiser, who is 5 feet, 9 inches. "I know it is going to hurt."

Mirabelli, who has a daughter with Down syndrome, wants to run a 5K to benefit GiGi's Playhouse, a resource center in Hoffman Estates and McHenry for families affected by the disorder.

She also earned her master's degree in special education, but in the process of changing her life, she gained weight. The 5-foot-9-inch Mirabelli was measured at 236 pounds.

Mirabelli said she has received support from her friends, including one who told her that she was an inspiration. "I said, 'Me? You are my inspiration.'"

Anderson recently graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in business management, but worries that he will be discriminated against in his search for a full-time job because of his size.

Anderson, who is 6 feet, 5 inches tall, weighed in at 378 pounds. He says he put on a lot of weight in the five years since high school graduation and topped out at 410 pounds before a recent bout of mononucleosis caused him to lose weight.

Anderson has tried weight-loss programs before, but was never able to sustain the effort necessary to succeed. This time, he has trainer Joshua Steckler, a co-owner of Push Fitness, to help him.