The Biggest Loser
Dina Mercado Press Conference
by Sammi-T

Dina Mercado totally stired up the fans of NBC's The Biggest Loser.  Fans had no gray areas for Dina, it was either black or white and a long ways beween to two.  Our jounalist Sammi-T attended Dina's press conference and has brought you back the transcript.  It is a good read.

Coordinator: Hello and welcome to the Biggest Loser conference call. At the request of NBC this call is being recorded for instant replay purposes. A transcript of the call is also being made.

With us on today’s call is Dina Mercado, also the call is Jill Carmen of NBC.

Jill Carmen: Thank you everybody for joining us today. And if you could please just limit yourself to two questions each until everybody had a chance to ask Dina their questions that would be great. And she’s ready to take your questions now.

Coordinator: Thank you. If you would like to ask a question throughout today’s call press star 1.

 The first question is from (Melanie Chew) of People. (Melanie) your line is open please check your mute button.

(Melanie Chew): Okay. Hi Dina.

Dina Mercado: Hello.

(Melanie Chew): How are you?

Dina Mercado: Hi, I’m doing just fine. Thank you.

(Melanie Chew): Good, good to hear. Okay, well first could I just confirm your current weight with you?

Dina Mercado: My current weight at this time?

(Melanie Chew): Yes.

Dina Mercado: I am 178.

(Melanie Chew): Okay great. And my question for you is I know that you have a son and I mean he’s absolutely adorable, so how does he help you stay in shape? And how do you - do you incorporate him into your workouts now?

Dina Mercado: Yes I do incorporate him into my workouts. We recently went - or, actually when I came back home we went and bought several different things so that way we can do lots of things together. We went and bought roller blades and we roller blade together.

 I go to the beach quite a bit and do beach workouts sometimes with my trainer. And he also comes along and we just - we do a lot of outdoor activities I guess you could say too. That way I can still spend my time with him and still get a decent amount of time working out in.

(Melanie Chew): Okay.

Dina Mercado: Several times I do go to the gym alone while he’s at school right when I get of the work. So I am able to hit the gym you know, alone on my own for a few hours at a time also.

(Melanie Chew): Okay that sounds - that sounds great. And my second question is, what is the best thing that you can do now that you weren’t able to do before you went to the ranch? I mean what makes you most excited?

Dina Mercado: Oh the best thing is being able to just participate with my son in whatever he does. He’s very affiliated with his sports programs. And I love the fact that I can just - not just watch anymore, no more bleachers for me.

 It’s - I’m out there and I get very involved and I’m running and playing, and just not being tired. Being able to keep up with a 9 1/2 year old is just amazing and I’m loving it.

(Melanie Chew): Thank you so much Dina.

Coordinator: (Jennifer Lynn Howard), In Touch Weekly.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Hi Dina how are you?

Dina Mercado: I’m fine. Thank you.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Good. I wanted to know you seemed - when you went home for the week you seemed a little frustrated that people were continuing to order things that were unhealthy when you went out to eat.

 Is that something that they still do, and have you adjusted better to that? Or, have they (unintelligible) your habit.

Dina Mercado: You know honestly it’s a big struggle. That is a huge struggle because I am trying to so hard to get my family to join on board. And it is a struggle still.

 One of my sisters - one of them is doing great. And she is actually in the gym also has lost oh, I think like 27 pounds since I’ve been home.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Great.

Dina Mercado: And that’s been a lot of support for me. The other has - it’s still difficult with my dad, my other sister. And it’s just - it’s difficult to visit and to constantly still have these foods that I can’t eat. Because it is tempting still, you know, it is a struggle. But you know, unfortunately I can’t say everybody is on board.

 It’s just like you know, that somebody has joined in and hopped on.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Mm-hm. Oh, great about your sister. And also regarding Daniel having gained weight, did you kind of sense that you would still be the one to go home when they voted you out. Even though he had gained a pound, and that sort of seems like the fair person to send home would be him I guess?

Dina Mercado: Right, that’s initially what I was hoping for and I wasn’t surprised. I have to say I wasn’t too surprised. Ultimately the way I feel is my team chose to stick with friendship rather than keeping the team strong and you know, that’s pretty much all I can say about that.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: I wished for the (unintelligible) twice and kept the blessing strong but instead they went with Frenchman bonds. And you know, I wasn’t too surprised.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Okay. All right, great, thanks. And congratulations on the stool, getting up on that step, I was so excited about that.

Dina Mercado: Thank you so much.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Thanks.

Coordinator: (Leslie Bruce), US Weekly.

(Leslie Bruce): Hi Dina. So I know that you - you know, in last night’s episode you expressed some nerves about doing this you know, doing this program on your own. What have been the struggles that you have faced, and how have you overcome them?

Dina Mercado: The struggles about doing it on my own you’re saying?

(Leslie Bruce): Yes, since you’ve been home.

Dina Mercado: You know, there has been struggles I mean I’m not going to lie. This is not an easy process.

 But I do have to say that you know, I have come so far and learned so much for myself and really learned how to counter myself. Even with the struggles that I do have as far as - probably my toughest struggles is really eating. Because - getting to the gym I have a very strict and tight schedule that I just follow every single day.

 Honestly I don’t even watch Loser on Tuesday night. I make sure I TiVo it and watch it later because I need to stick to my schedule because that’s the only way I’m going to be successful.

(Leslie Bruce): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: So my biggest struggle is probably eating - and not so much eating because I do well but it’s being tempted. Being tempted to eat.

(Leslie Bruce): Right.

Dina Mercado: And but because I’ve come so far and because I - just become the stronger person physically and mentally and just spiritually and just everything. I think I’m able to cope with it and handle it very well.

 And I think that being a part and having to separate from my close - my closest friends and my partner ultimately Rudy really - it’s something that had to be done for myself. And it was really - it ended up being a blessing in disguise in a lot of ways.

(Leslie Bruce): Right. And also how has your weight loss you know, benefited your marriage? And what has your husband’s reaction been?

Dina Mercado: My husband, for the most part is just completely shocked. And I don’t really think he ever thought it wouldn’t - I would look like this. He’s very proud, very proud of everything that I’ve done thus far.

(Leslie Bruce): Perfect. Well thank you so much.

Coordinator: (Robin Ross), TV Guide.Com.

(Robin Ross): Hi thanks for doing the call. Dina do you think things would have been different had the blue team gone home for the week?

Dina Mercado: As far as - as far as - (what)?

(Robin Ross): To what I guess the weigh in and who would have won what would have happened.

Dina Mercado: You know I think things would have been a lot different. I think those would have been a lot different had the blue team gone home. I think the black team ultimately would have won the weigh in.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: You see how well we did last night. And I don’t know I think that - I don’t know, I do think things could have been different.

(Robin Ross): And how do you feel about being chosen to be on Jillian’s Team when the - everyone was split up? Did you prefer one trainer over the other?

Dina Mercado: You know ultimately I went to Biggest Loser wanting Jillian, and only Jillian.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: Once I got there I realized that they are both two great trainers. And that point it wasn’t a matter of Jillian or Bob. I knew that they were both going to do a wonderful fantastic job. But my biggest struggle was having to separate from my partner at that time.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: So I was willing to give up Jillian to hopefully stick by Rudy - to stick with Rudy but it didn’t happen that way. And you know, I was, I was fine with going to Jillian’s Team I just didn’t like I guess the - all the people on my team.

 It’s not like that I didn’t like them I guess I said that wrong. I just - I had better bonds with the people on the team.

(Robin Ross): Yes. Did you have negative feelings for Tracey for splitting you and Rudy up?

Dina Mercado: Tracey is definitely the game player. She played it well.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: Going into that whole situation I pretty much knew she was going to split us, because of the fact that she has played the game from day one.

 So going down there I didn’t have any weird feelings at that time. I have to say that I did get pretty upset when she - when she made the comments that she was you know, choosing these teams with her heart.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: I just felt like I said that day as well as her heart for myself and Liz the people have been by her side. And at that point I did get angry and upset.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: You know with that.

(Robin Ross): Okay thanks so much.

Coordinator: (Alex Davies), FlashNews.

(Alex Davies): Hi Dina thanks so much for doing the call today. So what I’m wondering I see that your son is helping you out so much at the gym. Now how does he compare to Bob and Jillian in terms of getting you motivated?

Dina Mercado: Oh my gosh this is so funny because he just like them. He is always pushing me, and pushing me, and pushing me. If he sees me take a bite of something that I shouldn’t have - I have a (Sim) at home and he’s like up on the (Sim) Bike 10 minutes you know. Or, whatever minutes.

 And then you know, he wants to turn up you know all the - all the resistance and put his foot.

 I mean he just - he’s just like them. And he is very proud and wants me to as successful as possible. And you know, he’s just like them he tries to be just like them. He tries to yell at me, and so I have to remind him that you know, he is my son.

 But for the most part he definitely pushes me. And he just - he inspires me. He inspires me just because of - just how proud he is. And I just want to - I want to make him proud. You know he wants to make me proud and I in return want to make him proud also.

(Alex Davies): Mm-hm. Now do you see him taking on those footsteps maybe in the future becoming a trainer himself?

Dina Mercado: You know possibly. It’s funny because like I said when we go workout my trainer on the back of his shirt it says Real Big Trainer. And it’s funny because one day he came up to me brought me a piece of paper and had me write Trainer in Training on the back.

 And he taped it to the back of his shirt while he trained me. And I think he - I see a lot of good positive things coming out of this for him.

 Ultimately it was very difficult when I got home because he went through a lot of mental and emotional things. And he didn’t want to eat anything, everything he ate made him sick.

 And I had to - it took him a while to get him to understand that you know, he just said I think it was greasy, I think it was this. And I had to explain to him you know, the broccoli is not greasy because it was steamed. And you know, several different things.

 And everything he ate he was sick and just felt like he was going to vomit. And we had to go over it and I told him that eating food is not bad, it’s picking and choosing.

 And we had several discussions about this because he had such a hard time with not knowing exactly what was going to make him sick. He had a - you know it was a lot of mental things for him.

(Alex Davies): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: He’s doing well now. We talked and talked and I educated him quite a bit on it and he understood a lot. And I do possibly see him maybe going to somewhat of that field.

(Alex Davies): Awesome. Great, well thanks so much and good luck.

Dina Mercado: Thank you very much.

Coordinator: (Randy Coxey), dietsinreview.com.

(Randy Coxey): Good afternoon Dina.

Dina Mercado: Good afternoon.

(Randy Coxey): You had mentioned a moment ago though one of the things you’re really struggling with the most at home is just the temptation for the eating.

 What are you doing to over those temptations because I know that’s not an issue that’s exclusive to you, a lot of dieters face that.

Dina Mercado: You know I find that when I - like I said I’m on a tight schedule. When I stick to that schedule that I’m on, and I just go from A to B to C to D to bed and then waking up and doing it all again. I do really well with it.

 When I kind of cut off the schedule and go visit is when I have the harder time. So what I tried to do is - I try to take everything that I think of that I might want to maybe possibly eat or snack on with me that is healthy for me.

 Because when I go to let’s say my brothers house and he’s having you know, whatever. While they’re eating their chicken dip you know, I can pull out my you know, who knows carrots or my almonds or just a couple of things like that.

 So, just so that I can feel - one thing that I love to eat is popcorn. And it’s not all that bad for you buy the you know, the really good organic, no butter, no salt popcorn.

 And so when they’re all sitting their snacking you know, I can feel like I can still snack with them. But just not on everything that they’re eating.

 And a lot of times I have to say I do avoid going to places because I know I will be tempted. And because it is such a struggle, I try to just kind of avoid it honestly.

(Randy Coxey): Great, that’s great advice. And then the where are they now last night you - it said that you had just completed a half marathon. What was that experience like and how do you prepare for it?

Dina Mercado: I’ve actually completed two (half) marathons now.

(Randy Coxey): How many?

Dina Mercado: Two.

(Randy Coxey): Oh congratulations.

((Crosstalk))

Dina Mercado: I’ve done two now. And I’m sorry what was your question?

(Randy Coxey): I guess what was that experience like and what did you do to prepare for it?

Dina Mercado: Wow that experience was amazing. It was a great, great, great accomplishment. I have never been a runner I have always hated running. I’ve been in sports, and even though I’ve done every sport you can think of, I’ve always hated running. And that’s why I never did soccer.

 It was - it was a great feeling it was actually Disney’s Half Marathon. And it was a funny thing as you had to finish that marathon in a certain time limit. Because if you didn’t a big bus came to pick you up.

 And I told everybody if I see that bus I’m going to run. I’m going to run from it, because you know, I want to finish this, I want to complete it.

 And it was just the greatest experience to run 13.1 miles. And I didn’t stop once. I grabbed a pace, a kept it the entire time. And I actually finished in 2 hours and 53 minutes.

 And I - ultimately I had to be done with it in 3 hours 30. Or else you would have took that bus ride, and my goal in my mind was to just finish under three hours and I did. And it was the greatest feeling in world.

 One thing I heard somebody say was we have to hurry who are going to run this next mile for. And I thought about it, and I said oh, that’s really nice I should be running miles for people.

 And then I thought to myself you know what, no. You’re going to run this one for you - all 13 of them. And when you finish you’re going to know you did it for yourself.

 And that was the best feeling in the world I actually got pretty emotional with each mile that I passed it was an emotional experience. And it was a great accomplishment for me I was very proud of myself when I got to the end.

(Randy Coxey): Well you just gave me chills - so. Congratulations Dina and we look forward to seeing you at the finale.

Dina Mercado: Thank you so much.

Coordinator: (Sammi Turano), TV Grapevine.

(Sammi Turano): Hi good morning how are you Dina?

Dina Mercado: I’m fine. Thank you so much.

(Sammi Turano): Good. My first question, do you and your family work together to make health and fitness a priority?

Dina Mercado: Do me and my family work together?

(Sammi Turano): Yes. Like you and your son and your husband like that.

Dina Mercado: Yes we do work together. I have to say coming home my husband had a little bit difficult time, he’s gotten on board now. He is trying really hard to stick with everything that I pretty much been doing myself.

 Like I mentioned earlier he is very proud of me and he wants to - he’s ready to do it he started and he’s come quite a ways. You see him now today compared to what you saw last night, you can tell that he has - he’s lost some weight and he’s looking good.

(Sammi Turano): Good, good. And also I know you said - you mentioned that like your Mexican food you have alternative recipes for your favorites now?

Dina Mercado: Ultimately I’m on such a strict regimen as far as eating. There are a few things that I have which (unintelligible) as far as you know, possibly eating a tortilla here or there.

 At this point and time I am not eating a whole lot of carbs so I can’t really say I switched a whole lot.

 But I do eat like beans and before we’d throw all kinds of bad things in there like refried beans and the lard and the salt. And you know, I have learned how to make beans without all the salt. And be able to put other different kinds of powders and onion powder and different ways to flavor them up.

 But ultimately I haven’t really lifted a research. I do plan on doing that after that show. But right now it’s just - it’s not something that I want to take time to do. We don’t have a lot of time in our day because you know my schedule is very busy.

 But you know, I do plan on you know, testing that - testing those waters I guess you would say.

(Sammi Turano): Sounds good. Well you look great and congratulations on all your success.

Dina Mercado: Thank you so much.

(Sammi Turano): Thank you for talking to us.

Dina Mercado: You’re welcome.

Coordinator: Delaina Dixon, delainadixon.Com.

Delaina Dixon: Hi how are you?

Dina Mercado: Fine. Thank you so much.

Delaina Dixon: You know what really touched me last night watching the show is the first time your son saw you run. And just him saying that he had never seen that his mom could run so fast. Did you see that for the first time yesterday and what was your reaction to that?

Dina Mercado: I did, I saw it for the first time yesterday. And it makes me feel good, it makes me feel good because ultimately you know, I’m glad that I can inspire people out there. It’s nice to get these messages on Facebook and everything.

 But you know that little man is ultimately the person that I live for. And to hear him say those things really touched me. It brought tears to my eyes.

 And it so nice to know that he’s proud of me. I think one thing I had mentioned before going to the show is, I felt like a failure when he came up to me and asked me about why didn’t he have siblings like his cousins.

 And it - that affected me in that way and just hearing him say and be proud of all these positives is just - it definitely touched me.

Delaina Dixon: Well that’s wonderful and who knows maybe you’ll give him a new sibling soon. Who knows maybe.

Dina Mercado: Who knows.

Delaina Dixon: And I also wanted to ask and we know you finally jumped up on the box. How long did it take you once you left the show to actually master that? And what went through your mind the first time you got up there?

Dina Mercado: Okay that’s a pretty good question. Well I have to admit that I came home, I found a trainer right away and that one was one of the first things I mentioned to my trainer was I couldn’t jump on this box.

 And I - and he wanted me to, and said no you know, I wasn’t ready yet. And I kind of put the box off. And he was just like how about this weekend? You know I just kind of put it off.

 And then it was time I had to face - I had to face the box I wanted it so bad. And so ultimately I didn’t rush home and try to do it right away. I kind of put in like on a timeout. But I had to face it and I wanted it so bad.

 And I told myself I had to get it, and I was going to. So, we worked on it really hard. And actually he had me jumping about 3 to 4 inches higher than the box.

 But when I came to the box I still couldn’t do the box for probably a couple of weeks. And I was - he was like Dina you’re jumping higher than the box. And you know, we were just going over and over. Finally he mentioned that I had to commit. And he said every time you jump on this other - some mats that he had stacked. He said every time you jump on these mats you commit. You go over there, you know you’re going to do it, and you commit to it and you do it. And every time you come to this box you have no commitment to yourself, and everything that you want to do.

 And that big word commit stood in my head and I said you know, what he’s right I’m not committing to this box. And I’m not committing to myself. And I’m not - you know, why am I choosing not to make this commitment. And a lot of things ran through my head.

 And ultimately when I did get up on the box I committed - I committed to it and it was - it was kind of like me committing to you know, my future and committing to myself that anything was possible and that I can do anything. And that I can be unstoppable as long as I commit. And that was awesome.

Delaina Dixon: That is awesome. Well congratulations and you do look amazing.

Dina Mercado: Thank you, thank you so much.

Coordinator: And I show no further questions at this time.

Jill Carmen: Well thank you everyone for joining us today. And thank you Dina for taking the time to do the call today.

 Have a good day.

Dina Mercado: Thank you (everyone).

Jill Carmen: Bye-bye.

Dina Mercado: Bye-bye.

END

GE GIS

Moderator: Marsha Rickett
October 21, 2009
1:00 pm CT

Coordinator: Hello and welcome to the Biggest Loser conference call. At the request of NBC this call is being recorded for instant replay purposes. A transcript of the call is also being made.

 With us on today’s call is Dina Mercado, also the call is Jill Carmen of NBC.

Jill Carmen: Thank you everybody for joining us today. And if you could please just limit yourself to two questions each until everybody had a chance to ask Dina their questions that would be great. And she’s ready to take your questions now.

Coordinator: Thank you. If you would like to ask a question throughout today’s call press star 1.

 The first question is from (Melanie Chew) of People. (Melanie) your line is open please check your mute button.

(Melanie Chew): Okay. Hi Dina.

Dina Mercado: Hello.

(Melanie Chew): How are you?

Dina Mercado: Hi, I’m doing just fine. Thank you.

(Melanie Chew): Good, good to hear. Okay, well first could I just confirm your current weight with you?

Dina Mercado: My current weight at this time?

(Melanie Chew): Yes.

Dina Mercado: I am 178.

(Melanie Chew): Okay great. And my question for you is I know that you have a son and I mean he’s absolutely adorable, so how does he help you stay in shape? And how do you - do you incorporate him into your workouts now?

Dina Mercado: Yes I do incorporate him into my workouts. We recently went - or, actually when I came back home we went and bought several different things so that way we can do lots of things together. We went and bought roller blades and we roller blade together.

 I go to the beach quite a bit and do beach workouts sometimes with my trainer. And he also comes along and we just - we do a lot of outdoor activities I guess you could say too. That way I can still spend my time with him and still get a decent amount of time working out in.

(Melanie Chew): Okay.

Dina Mercado: Several times I do go to the gym alone while he’s at school right when I get of the work. So I am able to hit the gym you know, alone on my own for a few hours at a time also.

(Melanie Chew): Okay that sounds - that sounds great. And my second question is, what is the best thing that you can do now that you weren’t able to do before you went to the ranch? I mean what makes you most excited?

Dina Mercado: Oh the best thing is being able to just participate with my son in whatever he does. He’s very affiliated with his sports programs. And I love the fact that I can just - not just watch anymore, no more bleachers for me.

 It’s - I’m out there and I get very involved and I’m running and playing, and just not being tired. Being able to keep up with a 9 1/2 year old is just amazing and I’m loving it.

(Melanie Chew): Thank you so much Dina.

Coordinator: (Jennifer Lynn Howard), In Touch Weekly.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Hi Dina how are you?

Dina Mercado: I’m fine. Thank you.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Good. I wanted to know you seemed - when you went home for the week you seemed a little frustrated that people were continuing to order things that were unhealthy when you went out to eat.

 Is that something that they still do, and have you adjusted better to that? Or, have they (unintelligible) your habit.

Dina Mercado: You know honestly it’s a big struggle. That is a huge struggle because I am trying to so hard to get my family to join on board. And it is a struggle still.

 One of my sisters - one of them is doing great. And she is actually in the gym also has lost oh, I think like 27 pounds since I’ve been home.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Great.

Dina Mercado: And that’s been a lot of support for me. The other has - it’s still difficult with my dad, my other sister. And it’s just - it’s difficult to visit and to constantly still have these foods that I can’t eat. Because it is tempting still, you know, it is a struggle. But you know, unfortunately I can’t say everybody is on board.

 It’s just like you know, that somebody has joined in and hopped on.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Mm-hm. Oh, great about your sister. And also regarding Daniel having gained weight, did you kind of sense that you would still be the one to go home when they voted you out. Even though he had gained a pound, and that sort of seems like the fair person to send home would be him I guess?

Dina Mercado: Right, that’s initially what I was hoping for and I wasn’t surprised. I have to say I wasn’t too surprised. Ultimately the way I feel is my team chose to stick with friendship rather than keeping the team strong and you know, that’s pretty much all I can say about that.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: I wished for the (unintelligible) twice and kept the blessing strong but instead they went with Frenchman bonds. And you know, I wasn’t too surprised.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Okay. All right, great, thanks. And congratulations on the stool, getting up on that step, I was so excited about that.

Dina Mercado: Thank you so much.

(Jennifer Lynn Howard): Thanks.

Coordinator: (Leslie Bruce), US Weekly.

(Leslie Bruce): Hi Dina. So I know that you - you know, in last night’s episode you expressed some nerves about doing this you know, doing this program on your own. What have been the struggles that you have faced, and how have you overcome them?

Dina Mercado: The struggles about doing it on my own you’re saying?

(Leslie Bruce): Yes, since you’ve been home.

Dina Mercado: You know, there has been struggles I mean I’m not going to lie. This is not an easy process.

 But I do have to say that you know, I have come so far and learned so much for myself and really learned how to counter myself. Even with the struggles that I do have as far as - probably my toughest struggles is really eating. Because - getting to the gym I have a very strict and tight schedule that I just follow every single day.

 Honestly I don’t even watch Loser on Tuesday night. I make sure I TiVo it and watch it later because I need to stick to my schedule because that’s the only way I’m going to be successful.

(Leslie Bruce): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: So my biggest struggle is probably eating - and not so much eating because I do well but it’s being tempted. Being tempted to eat.

(Leslie Bruce): Right.

Dina Mercado: And but because I’ve come so far and because I - just become the stronger person physically and mentally and just spiritually and just everything. I think I’m able to cope with it and handle it very well.

 And I think that being a part and having to separate from my close - my closest friends and my partner ultimately Rudy really - it’s something that had to be done for myself. And it was really - it ended up being a blessing in disguise in a lot of ways.

(Leslie Bruce): Right. And also how has your weight loss you know, benefited your marriage? And what has your husband’s reaction been?

Dina Mercado: My husband, for the most part is just completely shocked. And I don’t really think he ever thought it wouldn’t - I would look like this. He’s very proud, very proud of everything that I’ve done thus far.

(Leslie Bruce): Perfect. Well thank you so much.

Coordinator: (Robin Ross), TV Guide.Com.

(Robin Ross): Hi thanks for doing the call. Dina do you think things would have been different had the blue team gone home for the week?

Dina Mercado: As far as - as far as - (what)?

(Robin Ross): To what I guess the weigh in and who would have won what would have happened.

Dina Mercado: You know I think things would have been a lot different. I think those would have been a lot different had the blue team gone home. I think the black team ultimately would have won the weigh in.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: You see how well we did last night. And I don’t know I think that - I don’t know, I do think things could have been different.

(Robin Ross): And how do you feel about being chosen to be on Jillian’s Team when the - everyone was split up? Did you prefer one trainer over the other?

Dina Mercado: You know ultimately I went to Biggest Loser wanting Jillian, and only Jillian.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: Once I got there I realized that they are both two great trainers. And that point it wasn’t a matter of Jillian or Bob. I knew that they were both going to do a wonderful fantastic job. But my biggest struggle was having to separate from my partner at that time.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: So I was willing to give up Jillian to hopefully stick by Rudy - to stick with Rudy but it didn’t happen that way. And you know, I was, I was fine with going to Jillian’s Team I just didn’t like I guess the - all the people on my team.

 It’s not like that I didn’t like them I guess I said that wrong. I just - I had better bonds with the people on the team.

(Robin Ross): Yes. Did you have negative feelings for Tracey for splitting you and Rudy up?

Dina Mercado: Tracey is definitely the game player. She played it well.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: Going into that whole situation I pretty much knew she was going to split us, because of the fact that she has played the game from day one.

 So going down there I didn’t have any weird feelings at that time. I have to say that I did get pretty upset when she - when she made the comments that she was you know, choosing these teams with her heart.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: I just felt like I said that day as well as her heart for myself and Liz the people have been by her side. And at that point I did get angry and upset.

(Robin Ross): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: You know with that.

(Robin Ross): Okay thanks so much.

Coordinator: (Alex Davies), FlashNews.

(Alex Davies): Hi Dina thanks so much for doing the call today. So what I’m wondering I see that your son is helping you out so much at the gym. Now how does he compare to Bob and Jillian in terms of getting you motivated?

Dina Mercado: Oh my gosh this is so funny because he just like them. He is always pushing me, and pushing me, and pushing me. If he sees me take a bite of something that I shouldn’t have - I have a (Sim) at home and he’s like up on the (Sim) Bike 10 minutes you know. Or, whatever minutes.

 And then you know, he wants to turn up you know all the - all the resistance and put his foot.

 I mean he just - he’s just like them. And he is very proud and wants me to as successful as possible. And you know, he’s just like them he tries to be just like them. He tries to yell at me, and so I have to remind him that you know, he is my son.

 But for the most part he definitely pushes me. And he just - he inspires me. He inspires me just because of - just how proud he is. And I just want to - I want to make him proud. You know he wants to make me proud and I in return want to make him proud also.

(Alex Davies): Mm-hm. Now do you see him taking on those footsteps maybe in the future becoming a trainer himself?

Dina Mercado: You know possibly. It’s funny because like I said when we go workout my trainer on the back of his shirt it says Real Big Trainer. And it’s funny because one day he came up to me brought me a piece of paper and had me write Trainer in Training on the back.

 And he taped it to the back of his shirt while he trained me. And I think he - I see a lot of good positive things coming out of this for him.

 Ultimately it was very difficult when I got home because he went through a lot of mental and emotional things. And he didn’t want to eat anything, everything he ate made him sick.

 And I had to - it took him a while to get him to understand that you know, he just said I think it was greasy, I think it was this. And I had to explain to him you know, the broccoli is not greasy because it was steamed. And you know, several different things.

 And everything he ate he was sick and just felt like he was going to vomit. And we had to go over it and I told him that eating food is not bad, it’s picking and choosing.

 And we had several discussions about this because he had such a hard time with not knowing exactly what was going to make him sick. He had a - you know it was a lot of mental things for him.

(Alex Davies): Mm-hm.

Dina Mercado: He’s doing well now. We talked and talked and I educated him quite a bit on it and he understood a lot. And I do possibly see him maybe going to somewhat of that field.

(Alex Davies): Awesome. Great, well thanks so much and good luck.

Dina Mercado: Thank you very much.

Coordinator: (Randy Coxey), dietsinreview.com.

(Randy Coxey): Good afternoon Dina.

Dina Mercado: Good afternoon.

(Randy Coxey): You had mentioned a moment ago though one of the things you’re really struggling with the most at home is just the temptation for the eating.

 What are you doing to over those temptations because I know that’s not an issue that’s exclusive to you, a lot of dieters face that.

Dina Mercado: You know I find that when I - like I said I’m on a tight schedule. When I stick to that schedule that I’m on, and I just go from A to B to C to D to bed and then waking up and doing it all again. I do really well with it.

 When I kind of cut off the schedule and go visit is when I have the harder time. So what I tried to do is - I try to take everything that I think of that I might want to maybe possibly eat or snack on with me that is healthy for me.

 Because when I go to let’s say my brothers house and he’s having you know, whatever. While they’re eating their chicken dip you know, I can pull out my you know, who knows carrots or my almonds or just a couple of things like that.

 So, just so that I can feel - one thing that I love to eat is popcorn. And it’s not all that bad for you buy the you know, the really good organic, no butter, no salt popcorn.

 And so when they’re all sitting their snacking you know, I can feel like I can still snack with them. But just not on everything that they’re eating.

 And a lot of times I have to say I do avoid going to places because I know I will be tempted. And because it is such a struggle, I try to just kind of avoid it honestly.

(Randy Coxey): Great, that’s great advice. And then the where are they now last night you - it said that you had just completed a half marathon. What was that experience like and how do you prepare for it?

Dina Mercado: I’ve actually completed two (half) marathons now.

(Randy Coxey): How many?

Dina Mercado: Two.

(Randy Coxey): Oh congratulations.

((Crosstalk))

Dina Mercado: I’ve done two now. And I’m sorry what was your question?

(Randy Coxey): I guess what was that experience like and what did you do to prepare for it?

Dina Mercado: Wow that experience was amazing. It was a great, great, great accomplishment. I have never been a runner I have always hated running. I’ve been in sports, and even though I’ve done every sport you can think of, I’ve always hated running. And that’s why I never did soccer.

 It was - it was a great feeling it was actually Disney’s Half Marathon. And it was a funny thing as you had to finish that marathon in a certain time limit. Because if you didn’t a big bus came to pick you up.

 And I told everybody if I see that bus I’m going to run. I’m going to run from it, because you know, I want to finish this, I want to complete it.

 And it was just the greatest experience to run 13.1 miles. And I didn’t stop once. I grabbed a pace, a kept it the entire time. And I actually finished in 2 hours and 53 minutes.

 And I - ultimately I had to be done with it in 3 hours 30. Or else you would have took that bus ride, and my goal in my mind was to just finish under three hours and I did. And it was the greatest feeling in world.

 One thing I heard somebody say was we have to hurry who are going to run this next mile for. And I thought about it, and I said oh, that’s really nice I should be running miles for people.

 And then I thought to myself you know what, no. You’re going to run this one for you - all 13 of them. And when you finish you’re going to know you did it for yourself.

 And that was the best feeling in the world I actually got pretty emotional with each mile that I passed it was an emotional experience. And it was a great accomplishment for me I was very proud of myself when I got to the end.

(Randy Coxey): Well you just gave me chills - so. Congratulations Dina and we look forward to seeing you at the finale.

Dina Mercado: Thank you so much.

Coordinator: (Sammi Turano), TV Grapevine.

(Sammi Turano): Hi good morning how are you Dina?

Dina Mercado: I’m fine. Thank you so much.

(Sammi Turano): Good. My first question, do you and your family work together to make health and fitness a priority?

Dina Mercado: Do me and my family work together?

(Sammi Turano): Yes. Like you and your son and your husband like that.

Dina Mercado: Yes we do work together. I have to say coming home my husband had a little bit difficult time, he’s gotten on board now. He is trying really hard to stick with everything that I pretty much been doing myself.

 Like I mentioned earlier he is very proud of me and he wants to - he’s ready to do it he started and he’s come quite a ways. You see him now today compared to what you saw last night, you can tell that he has - he’s lost some weight and he’s looking good.

(Sammi Turano): Good, good. And also I know you said - you mentioned that like your Mexican food you have alternative recipes for your favorites now?

Dina Mercado: Ultimately I’m on such a strict regimen as far as eating. There are a few things that I have which (unintelligible) as far as you know, possibly eating a tortilla here or there.

 At this point and time I am not eating a whole lot of carbs so I can’t really say I switched a whole lot.

 But I do eat like beans and before we’d throw all kinds of bad things in there like refried beans and the lard and the salt. And you know, I have learned how to make beans without all the salt. And be able to put other different kinds of powders and onion powder and different ways to flavor them up.

 But ultimately I haven’t really lifted a research. I do plan on doing that after that show. But right now it’s just - it’s not something that I want to take time to do. We don’t have a lot of time in our day because you know my schedule is very busy.

 But you know, I do plan on you know, testing that - testing those waters I guess you would say.

(Sammi Turano): Sounds good. Well you look great and congratulations on all your success.

Dina Mercado: Thank you so much.

(Sammi Turano): Thank you for talking to us.

Dina Mercado: You’re welcome.

Coordinator: Delaina Dixon, delainadixon.Com.

Delaina Dixon: Hi how are you?

Dina Mercado: Fine. Thank you so much.

Delaina Dixon: You know what really touched me last night watching the show is the first time your son saw you run. And just him saying that he had never seen that his mom could run so fast. Did you see that for the first time yesterday and what was your reaction to that?

Dina Mercado: I did, I saw it for the first time yesterday. And it makes me feel good, it makes me feel good because ultimately you know, I’m glad that I can inspire people out there. It’s nice to get these messages on Facebook and everything.

 But you know that little man is ultimately the person that I live for. And to hear him say those things really touched me. It brought tears to my eyes.

 And it so nice to know that he’s proud of me. I think one thing I had mentioned before going to the show is, I felt like a failure when he came up to me and asked me about why didn’t he have siblings like his cousins.

 And it - that affected me in that way and just hearing him say and be proud of all these positives is just - it definitely touched me.

Delaina Dixon: Well that’s wonderful and who knows maybe you’ll give him a new sibling soon. Who knows maybe.

Dina Mercado: Who knows.

Delaina Dixon: And I also wanted to ask and we know you finally jumped up on the box. How long did it take you once you left the show to actually master that? And what went through your mind the first time you got up there?

Dina Mercado: Okay that’s a pretty good question. Well I have to admit that I came home, I found a trainer right away and that one was one of the first things I mentioned to my trainer was I couldn’t jump on this box.

 And I - and he wanted me to, and said no you know, I wasn’t ready yet. And I kind of put the box off. And he was just like how about this weekend? You know I just kind of put it off.

 And then it was time I had to face - I had to face the box I wanted it so bad. And so ultimately I didn’t rush home and try to do it right away. I kind of put in like on a timeout. But I had to face it and I wanted it so bad.

 And I told myself I had to get it, and I was going to. So, we worked on it really hard. And actually he had me jumping about 3 to 4 inches higher than the box.

 But when I came to the box I still couldn’t do the box for probably a couple of weeks. And I was - he was like Dina you’re jumping higher than the box. And you know, we were just going over and over. Finally he mentioned that I had to commit. And he said every time you jump on this other - some mats that he had stacked. He said every time you jump on these mats you commit. You go over there, you know you’re going to do it, and you commit to it and you do it. And every time you come to this box you have no commitment to yourself, and everything that you want to do.

 And that big word commit stood in my head and I said you know, what he’s right I’m not committing to this box. And I’m not committing to myself. And I’m not - you know, why am I choosing not to make this commitment. And a lot of things ran through my head.

 And ultimately when I did get up on the box I committed - I committed to it and it was - it was kind of like me committing to you know, my future and committing to myself that anything was possible and that I can do anything. And that I can be unstoppable as long as I commit. And that was awesome.

Delaina Dixon: That is awesome. Well congratulations and you do look amazing.

Dina Mercado: Thank you, thank you so much.

Coordinator: And I show no further questions at this time.

Jill Carmen: Well thank you everyone for joining us today. And thank you Dina for taking the time to do the call today.

 Have a good day.

Dina Mercado: Thank you (everyone).

Jill Carmen: Bye-bye.

Dina Mercado: Bye-bye.

END

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