Some say "fat" should be an unspoken three-letter word, but Steve Pfiester signed up as a trainer on ABC's new reality show "Fat March" in hopes that the f-word in the title will start a helpful dialogue.

"It provokes a lot of talking and it catches attention - like 'Ugly Betty,'" Pfiester said. "I do think [using the word in conversation] is a little politically incorrect but to call the show that, I think it's prudent."

"Fat March" premieres tonight on ABC at 9, and features 12 overweight contestants who will travel 575 miles, through nine states, in 10 weeks - on foot.

Pfiester, a fitness-club and spa owner, trainer and kickboxing instructor, along with Lorrie Henry, a trainer and national-level figure competitor, work together to help the marchers reach their fitness potential.

"We started off at a snail's pace," said Pfiester. "But every day the miles get longer and the time limits get shorter. Eventually, we got so in shape that the crew couldn't even keep up with us."

But audiences won't see anyone picking up the pace for a few weeks, said Pfiester. In fact, in the first episode, the group of 12 will become 10 because it becomes too much for two contestants to handle, physically for one and mentally for the other.

"The determining factor of [whether] someone's going to be successful in anything they do is they have to have the will," said Pfiester. "I was under the assumption these 12 people were cast because they really wanted to make a life change, that they were going to be willing to do whatever we asked them to do if we could promise them a healthier lifestyle."

But, when the contestants found out they'd be walking their way to weight loss and camping, factors they weren't told of before, one participant opted out. In "Fat March's" case, that's a bad thing for the final cash prize.

The original pot starts out at $1.2 million to be doled out evenly to the 12 contestants if they all finish. Every time someone leaves the competition or is voted off (which happens when contestants feel someone won't finish within the time limit and cause them all to fall behind), they lose $10,000 apiece. As a result, everyone is working together as a team instead of against one another.

"The more people we can keep on the show, the better it's going to be for everybody," said Pfiester. "And for Laurie and I, it's more lives we can change."

 

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