OFFBEAT: 'Biggest Loser' star daughter from Valpo launching Frozen Yogurt Shop

It was a year ago the Region and the world watched Valparaiso residents Marci and Courtney Crozier shed pounds for big money and better health.

A year later, the mother and daughter duo is still making headlines, while also expanding business ventures.

The NBC reality series "The Biggest Loser" might promise a grand prize of $250,000, but Courtney, 23, thinks she's hit on her own personal jackpot, with the help of family and friends.

On Thursday, she unveiled her new frozen yogurt business in Valparaiso called Yo Amazing Yogurt Shoppe, at 2620 LaPorte Ave., which she'll be running as a major investor, along with co-partner Kevin Coppinger, another investor and the man who has run Dari-Dip in Portage since 1996.

"This is something I've always wanted to do," Courtney told me Wednesday, when I attended a private party to tour the business and celebrate the launch.

"We're now open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and this entire concept is original. We are NOT part of a franchise."

Featuring healthy options with calories and nutritional information clearly posted for customers, the soft serve frozen yogurt is served up in dishes (and by later spring, also cone options) with a wide selection of toppings. And best of all, it's all a self-serve operation. A dish loaded to the brim sells for around $3, once weighed.

With more than 70 flavor varieties to be rotated, the opening week selection includes strawberry, blueberry, mango, banana, white cake batter, chocolate, apple pie, peanut butter and a host of others.

As for her favorite toppings, Courtney, who began the reality TV show a year ago at 323 pounds and lost 92 pounds during her 14 weeks on the series, says she leans towards fresh fruit, which is one of the reasons she has maintained her weight-loss.

Her favorite topping is a recently discovered exotic option that has also been a hit with customers, called "Boba balls," also known as a fresh, water-filled, thin tapioca pearl, harvested and preserved fresh rather than the rubbery variety found in puddings and "Thai Bubble Tea Smoothies."

As Times readers might recall, Courtney's father Kevin owns a Dairy Queen franchise, while mom Marci (who started the show at 238 pounds and is now 162) is regional director of marketing and sales for Franciscan Omni Health and Fitness in Schererville.

Marci also hinted about exciting plans for a big "official" grand opening planned this spring for Courtney's frozen yogurt shop, which will likely include some of the contestants who appeared with the duo on "The Biggest Loser," also flying in for the fun.

And in March, Marci said Brett Hoebel, one of the hot new trainers featured with them on the series, will also be flying in for an open house event at Omni.

Also new to Valparaiso, and at Courtney's side as a co-manager to run her new frozen yogurt biz, is another reality star.

Alex Respess, 23, from Georgia, is Courtney's boyfriend and also the star of last year's ABC hit show "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition." Alex lost an amazing 216 pounds, nearly half of his 459 pound weight, in just 12 months.

For more information about Yo Amazing, visit yoamazing.com or call (219) 462-YOYO (9696).

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or (219) 852-4327.