Jessie Pavelka (born September 26, 1982) is an American fitness expert and television host, specialising in extreme weight loss. In the United Kingdom, he was the presenter of Obese: A Year to Save My Life on Sky1 and Fat: The Fight of My Life on Sky Living HD. He joined the 16th season of The Biggest Loser as a new trainer in the fall of 2014.

Biographie

Pavelka was educated at Calallen High School in northwest Corpus Christi, Texas (1997–2001) and the University of North Texas (2001–2003). At UNT, he studied business and was certified as a trainer.

Pavelka had been involved in athletics from an early age; his mother took him to the track from 4th grade and he played football in both his senior year and at college, although he later gave this up after sixteen years devoted to the sport. This choice allowed him to put more effort into health and fitness.

Pavelka states that Ed Conners gave him his first break in the industry, encouraging him to enter his first bodybuilding competition at the age of 20, where he came in fourth.

He frequently flew to Los Angeles from this point on, to continue bodybuilding/shoots and started a personal training business. Having become disenchanted with a bodybuilding lifestyle, Pavelka gave it up and worked for a commercial construction company in Texas for about a year.

On July 7, 2007, Pavelka decided to move to California, citing a "spiritual experience"—spurred on to write a five and ten year career plan. He eventually moved to Long Beach, California on September 2, 2007, where he has since emphasized promoting a holistic healthy lifestyle.

Since then, he has appeared in numerous fitness magazines, and, by October 2008, had appeared as a cover model on three titles in the space of only six months.

In October 2013, Pavelka launched his Pavelka Health Revolution brand with his UK publicist Jill Tipping. The company delivers well-being workshops and seminars throughout the UK.

Pavelka has several tattoos: a Japanese character on his left shoulder, a cross on his right arm, an inscription for 'Tomb Digger' in Chinese characters on his stomach, the words 'For My Brother' on his side, the Greek letters alpha and omega on his wrist, a cross ring on his left ring finger, and flame patterns on his back by his shoulders.

Pavelka is married to Canadian film and television actress Sitara Hewitt. They have a son, Rowan, who was born in 2010. Pavelka's parents are divorced; his mother lives in Corpus Christi and his father in Denton. He is a cousin of television personality and former The Bachelor participant Jake Pavelka.