NBCTwenty-two days after Rachel Frederickson won The Biggest Loser—and courted controversy in the process—the L.A.-based voiceover actress defended her weight loss journey on Today Wednesday.
Looking healthier than she did on the Feb. 4 finale, the 24-year-old said she was confused when her big reveal made some people question whether she suffered from an eating disorder. "I did work so hard for the finale and for finding myself again. I felt amazing on the stage. I felt like I shined in my dress. I got off the stage and Twitter was all abuzz," she said. "There was just so much chatter about it."
Frederickson told co-anchor Savannah Guthrie she has no regrets. "I felt so proud of everything I had accomplished," she said. "My journey was my own. I loved it. I lived it. I felt really proud of what I did."
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Now 155 lbs. lighter, Frederickson insisted that she followed an "absolutely healthy" weight loss plan. "I appreciate all the concern and I can see where it comes from, and there is movie magic," said the reality winner, who is a size 0-2. "It's almost seven months, almost a year of my life, losing the weight."
According to Frederickson, who regularly practices Pilates, "I'm the happiest, most alive I've ever felt."
Frederickson isn't trying to lose any more weight, but she's wary of succumbing to bad habits. "I'm in maintenance mode, which is just as hard as losing the weight, I think," she said. "It's a big balance."
"What I've learned is that I have an inner strength, I have a voice and I can trust myself," she added.
(E!, Today and The Biggest Loser are all part of the NBCUniversal family.)