'Extreme Makeover' Couple Shares How They Keep Off the Pounds

Despite all of the attention and praise, Jason Cornellier said he doesn't think they were exceptionally inspiring. 

"Honestly, I think if we can do it then anybody could. It’s really just a matter of carving out time to do it. If I can take four hours a day to work out and work full time and spend time with family, then anybody can," he said.

The husband-and-wife team trained at Northville's Hines Park CrossFit gym for the show and still do. The show focuses on the numbers, he said, so they were expected to work out three to four hours each day. Now, the couple visits the gym three to four times a week. 

"The Hines Park trails behind Hines Park CrossFit we use a lot for running or biking," he said.

Cornellier said owner and head coach Dave Finlay, a Plymouth resident, and the other trainers helped him and his wife get to where they are today.

"The trainer from the show can’t be everywhere," he said. "They kind of work together, so Dave is the one that makes sure it gets done."

Finlay, who coached the couple in Northville and at Plymouth CrossFit, said he was pleased with the crew from the show and said it wasn't like other shows where participants are voted off and forgotten about.

"The great thing about this particular show, they really commit to the people that they choose for the television show," he said.

The South Lyon couple unveiled their transformation in downtown Plymouth to a crowd of family and friends. Cornellier said Melissa Corriveau-Sullivan, who owns Northville's Salon Moulin Rouge, primped and primed them for the big day. Cornellier said he and Rachel are now probably five or 10 pounds heavier than their final weigh-in from the show.

"It’s sort of like your wedding day. You try to get down to the lowest numer possible," he said.

Finlay, who has been a coach for 20 years, said there aren't many people who set out to accomplish these large weight loss goals and succeed.

"They’re putting a lot of trust in the people they choose for the show and the coaches they choose to get these people to go where they’re going," he said. 

He said he wishes the show gave more insight into the technical side of the process, like details on how the couple was trained and motivated and what they ate. 

The Cornellier couple watched the show together when it aired last week. 

"I think we were both surprised at the amount of footage they didn’t show," he said.

Cornellier had the same idea as Finlay, so he and his wife are putting together everything the show left out, like diet and nutrition, on their Facebook page and website to let people learn from their experience. 

Now, the couple focuses on strength training to build muscle rather than only lose weight, he said. Follow their progress andcheck out their tips for success.