'Biggest Loser' Tara Costa of Bethpage

In a conversation with Costa the other day, she gives us a jump-start:

I am very good. I accomplished a goal, competing in the Ironman World Championships [in October] in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and I did much better than I thought I would -- 13 hours, 56 minutes, 46 seconds . . . I finished just the way I wanted to, with a smile on my face.

It wasn't bad . . . it was out on eastern Long Island, in Greenport, in August, and doing one of my last long rides, and [the driver] decided to blow a red light. It was one of those things where you always have to be careful and on alert, and I was wondering if she was going to slow down . . . like anything, you get upset and then learn to get over it.

It's called Inspire Change, and the whole goal was a way for me to give back. I can't help everybody who reaches out to me, but I feel that from the show I have been blessed and I got this amazing opportunity and it's only right for others to change and feel better about themselves. So it's about people embracing the right lifestyles.

I'm getting a masters in physical education from Hofstra -- done within the next year and a half -- and it's helped me realize I'm not going back into corporate finance. Also, I'm spokesperson for Ilovekickboxing.com and Anytime Fitness. Kickboxing has a certain kind of energy to it that can't be faked . . . I'm doing weight-loss coaching, too, but I'd really like to get involved with Long Island companies, and say, "Try and get everyone active."

I'm still happily single and want to make sure I accomplish my goals before I settle down.

I'm maintaining a weight of 120-125 pounds.