'Biggest Loser' Contestants Have Abilene Roots
By: Morgan Bond
Updated: January 5, 2012
It all started with a letter to the producers of "The Biggest Loser", asking to be on the show.
"It said, we are a father and son team and we need some help. We've been watching 'The Biggest Loser' from the start," said Harold Cornelison, whose son and grandson were selected to the show's newest season.
Mark and Chism Cornelison are now working out with some of the best trainers in the world. They're from Magnolia, Texas, near Houston. Mark grew up in Abilene, and his parents still live here.
"To see how hard they are working. I think, this is my son, and my grandson, how do they do this?" said Mary Cornelison, Mark's mother.
Mary and Harold Cornelison said they were shocked to hear the two were going to be on the show, and excited to hear they are going to get healthy.
"It's a health issue, especially for Chism. He needs this badly," Mary said.
Chism is a 19-year-old student. He weighed in for the show at 361 pounds. His father, Mark, is a 43-year-old youth pastor and weighed in at 291 pounds. Harold says they have been in communication with the two since they left for the ranch, by sending letters back and forth.
"I had a birthday in December and Mark and Chism obviously couldn't be there, so I got a letter from them for that," Harold said.
They say while it is excited to see their son and grandson on TV, their more excited to see them get healthy, and do it together.
"We believe God has his hand in everything. If he wants Mark to come home early, he will, if God wants him to be in the final, he will. Same with Chism," Harold said.
"It said, we are a father and son team and we need some help. We've been watching 'The Biggest Loser' from the start," said Harold Cornelison, whose son and grandson were selected to the show's newest season.
Mark and Chism Cornelison are now working out with some of the best trainers in the world. They're from Magnolia, Texas, near Houston. Mark grew up in Abilene, and his parents still live here.
"To see how hard they are working. I think, this is my son, and my grandson, how do they do this?" said Mary Cornelison, Mark's mother.
Mary and Harold Cornelison said they were shocked to hear the two were going to be on the show, and excited to hear they are going to get healthy.
"It's a health issue, especially for Chism. He needs this badly," Mary said.
Chism is a 19-year-old student. He weighed in for the show at 361 pounds. His father, Mark, is a 43-year-old youth pastor and weighed in at 291 pounds. Harold says they have been in communication with the two since they left for the ranch, by sending letters back and forth.
"I had a birthday in December and Mark and Chism obviously couldn't be there, so I got a letter from them for that," Harold said.
They say while it is excited to see their son and grandson on TV, their more excited to see them get healthy, and do it together.
"We believe God has his hand in everything. If he wants Mark to come home early, he will, if God wants him to be in the final, he will. Same with Chism," Harold said.
