The people who lined up outside FELT nightclub yesterday morning came with something to lose: weight and lots of it.
"They call us BMWs - big Maine women," joked Rachel Downs, who had left her Sabattus, Maine, home at 2 a.m. to drive four hours to Boston.
After trying everything from fad diets to surgery to lose the extra 100 pounds on her frame, the 32-year-old mother of one was in Boston yesterday for what she viewed as the chance of a lifetime: trying out for a spot on "The Biggest Loser."
"I want to be able to model a healthy life for my daughter," she said.
Downs was joined by about 250 like-bodied people, many of whom waited hours to audition. By 10 a.m., the line of would-be losers stretched down Washington Street and around the corner.
"I've watched every season," said Laurie Bianco, 32, of Cranston, R.I., who tried out with her husband, David. "I love that they teach people how to eat, exercise; it changes their lifestyle."
The reality show, which is airing its fifth season, features overweight people battling to lose the largest percentage of their body weight for a $250,000 prize. Cameras catch it all as the spandex-clad contestants struggle through physical challenges and are weighed on a giant digital scale.
One of the top-rated programs on TV, the NBC show has sparked spinoffs in at least nine other countries and even an online club. For many who tried out yesterday for one of next season's 20 spots, the show represents a rare opportunity - the chance to leave everyday life behind for 16 weeks and focus solely on losing weight.
"You will work your butt off - literally," Season One contestant David Fioravanti told one group. "You think you know how hard it is? Multiply that by 10."
For many, the chance to jet away from temptation and day-to-day responsibilities combined with the motivation of a competition sounds like a magic spell.
"It would be all about me," said Christine Smith, 34, of Tyngsborough.
A mother of two who works full-time, Smith said it's hard to find time to focus on shedding the 130 extra pounds she carries around. "There wouldn't be any outside influences, no worrying about getting the kids to day care, to school," she said.
The real challenge comes after the show is over, said Fioravanti, now the general manager at Mooo restaurant on Beacon Hill.
"When you leave the show, it's not a controlled environment," he said. "You have to work hard to make sure you don't go back to your old habits."
For many, the cash prize is secondary to the prospective freedom offered by losing weight. Most of the people who come to the casting calls simply want to buy pants without elastic waists, or go on an amusement park ride with their children.
"If I keep going like this, I'm not going to live to see my [3-year-old] daughter graduate from high school," said Al Costello, 45, of Everett, who owns Al's State Street Café in Boston.
Once a body-builder with a 32-inch waist, Costello now tips the scales at 285 pounds.
"I hate being like this," he said.
After filling out a short form, the hopefuls were ushered to the second floor of FELT for a 10-minute group interview. Casting directors had them introduce themselves and asked questions like "Is America overweight?" and "What's the first thing you would do after you lost the weight?"
"I'm looking for that one person I can root for," casting director Jodi Thomas said.
Would-be contestants talked about how the excess weight was ruining their relationships, their careers, and their health.
"I've tried on my own for so long now," said Bob Brown, 47, of Merrimac.
At 5 feet 9 inches tall and 375 pounds, Brown suffers from diabetes, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure. "I've really got a lot of anxiety about this," he said of the auditions. "This is something I need to do. . . I wish I could pay them to go for a month."
With the US Department of Health and Human Resources estimating that 64 percent of Americans are obese or overweight, it may come as no surprise that NBC gets hundreds of thousands of people auditioning for "The Biggest Loser" each season.
But despite the small odds of securing a spot on the show, New Englanders have traditionally had good representation. In addition to Fioravanti, there were two Boston-area contestants in the first season. Last season, Neil Tejwani of Marbelhead lost more than 200 pounds on the show, and this season features brothers Jay and Mark Kruger from Bedford and Dartmouth.
"They love our accents," Fioravanti said.
Tania deLuzuriaga can be reached at deluzuriaga@globe.com.
