The airing of the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy featuring Clint Griess and Juice Joint Coaching was a success on many levels, but it also left audiences with a lot of questions. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, you can download the single episode from iTunes. (Search for ‘Queer Eye’ and then select the episode titled “Todd Easton”.) There is so much that you will not see, and if you knew what was going on behind the scenes, you would have a greater appreciation for what it takes to transform someone’s life. 

Many people expressed excitement about seeing a personal coach join the Fab Five because they thought it was the piece that had been missing all along. “How can you really expect to create longstanding change if you simply rearrange the superficial aspects of someone’s life?” This comment is typical of many who really want the best for the straight guys who are brave enough to come on the show.  

Mixed Feelings the Morning of the Race  

It was perfect weather that morning in June on Long Island Sound at the site of Todd’s first ever triathlon. It had been two months since we talked last, and it was clear that Todd was not happy to see me. We were coaching together on the phone every week until he stopped calling me without an explanation. My presence there must have been strange for Todd. On one hand, I was there clearly supporting him in this big event, but he must have also felt guilty for dropping off from our coaching calls.

I noticed he had dropped some weight, and I greeted him while he was getting ready. I offered him my support and wished him the best in the race. It was truly inspiring to watch Todd cross the finish line. Yes, he failed many times along the way, but this is exactly what happens when you take on a big challenge. His personal triumph that day will feed him for years to come.

Powerful Beginnings Five Months Earlier

Our first meeting was in midtown Manhattan in the middle of winter, and we got off to a great start! Todd shared an idea he had of helping overweight children. He said he wanted to use his success on the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy show to launch a project he called “Todd’s Team”. By showing kids what it took for him to lose so much wait, he hoped to reach children early and get them to take care of themselves. As his coach I was thrilled because, as we both saw, it was going to take a really powerful motivation to get him through the next five months.

Breakdown and Breakthrough  

It wasn’t long before Todd missed his first weekly call with me. He was clearly struggling and promised to show up each week as we had originally agreed. I heard from the producer that he was not showing up for his training sessions, and the Fab Five were starting to worry about Todd’s progress. For the show to go the way it was planned, Todd needed to complete the triathlon in June.

On our next call, we got right down to it. Todd admitted that he had been resentful of the show’s producers and the Fab Five because he said he never agreed to do the triathlon. “They’re making me do this, and I never said I wanted to,” he complained. “So, you don’t feel like you have a choice?”, I ventured. “Yeah. I don’t want to do it.” But, I also learned he wasn’t telling anybody about these feelings and instead was just not showing up.

I acknowledged the difficulty of what he was being asked to do. To lose 80 pounds while training for a triathlon, start a new career, and get financially independent of his parents! Then, I reminded him of his dream to help children at risk of obesity. When he talked about “Todd’s Team”, it brought him alive. His life really mattered! “Would you be willing to go to all that trouble (the training, the dieting, etc.) for the sake of those kids?” Without hesitation, he firmly said “yes”. Then, he chose it. He chose to finish the race and to do whatever it took. 

Now, the only remaining thing was his communication with the Fab Five and the producers. It was clear to us that he needed to get back on track with his support team. He needed to tell them what was going on with him. I asked him to come clean with everyone. He agreed to tell them that he had been holding a secret resentment and was now choosing to do the triathlon for his own personal reasons.

Queer Eye Really Starts to Worry

All the same, Todd continued to flake on his commitments. He missed his next call with me. The producers were asking me if I thought he’d even show up to the triathlon. Then, I learned that Todd’s show was part of Queer Eye’s last season. (This explained why Jae and Carson both rated their satisfaction with their careers pretty low on the Wheel of Life in February.) They had invested so much expense in filming the episode, and they were afraid there would be no story to work with. At this point, everyone on the team spent time trying to figure Todd out. Some were furious with Todd, some made excuses for him, and some had simply given up and were looking forward to it all being over soon.

When Todd and I finally spoke again, he told me he never did come clean with his support team. When I inquired further and asked how he was feeling, Todd said he didn’t want to talk about his feelings. Coaching without talking about feelings?!? Though we worked out a plan that would work for both of us, Todd stopped calling and did not respond to my emails.

A Personal Triumph Nonetheless

Todd finished that triathlon, and no one can take the achievement away from him. He put his body through experiences that it had never come close to experiencing before. No matter what anyone says about the show, Todd’s motivations, or his unique way of doing things, his body will never be the same. And niether will be his spirit!

Everyone was inspired, too! Despite the many hours of work and frustration and despite the many gifts and support that went unused, anyone who watched Todd’s progress, from the swim to the cycling and finally the run, was moved by his extraordinary accomplishment. I also believe that a great number of kids who happened to catch the show on TV watched while Todd battled his weight and his reluctance. They must have been touched by his personal triumph.

Thank You

Antonia Russo for image consulting (www.antoniarusso.com)
Liz Lenkeit and Chuck Roppel for video recording
Lynn Heatherton, Annalise Evanson, Valerie Clark, Heidi Korngut for care and feeding