The Experts

Paul Plakas

For five seasons, Paul Plakas has been assessing and analyzing the fitness of participants on X-Weighted. Plakas has been a personal trainer for 19 years, working with all levels of fitness, from the totally sedentary to the professional athlete. Plakas is co-founder of Custom Fit, an Edmonton based team of fitness professionals, and creator of The i3 Workout exercise video.

Plakas earned his degree in physical fitness from the University of Alberta, and is certified as both a Health and Fitness Instructor and a Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Plakas says that watching participants on X-Weighted achieve their own goals gives him great personal satisfaction. “When somebody is a prisoner in their own body and never had a chance to experience what life has to offer them, being lighter and fitter opens them up to things they never thought they could do before,” he says. 

To watch Paul's Intro Video, click here.

Dr David A Macklin

As one of Canada’s leading physicians in the field of lifestyle medicine, Dr David A Macklin brings a wealth of experience to X-Weighted. He has committed his career to helping others change their behaviour, develop a healthy lifestyle and manage their weight.

He is board certified in Family Medicine by the Canadian College of Family Physicians, a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the college of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Medical Association.

Macklin says that one of the most interesting parts of X-Weighted is that he is able to go in to participants’ homes. “That way I can better identify the obstacles they face” he says. Macklin founded the Weightcare Clinic in Toronto in 2005, where he teaches people to lose weight permanently. 

To watch Dr David Macklin's Intro Video, click here.

Fred Connors

Back for the fifth season of X-Weighted: Families, Fred Connors takes on the role of Self-Esteem expert to participants. Connors very much enjoyed his role, loving that he in some way helped many people to realize their true potential. “Being part of X-Weighted meant that I got to meet people that I would never usually have had contact with,” he says, “and some of those people I am still in very close to.”

Connors is well known as an entrepreneur in Halifax, NS, where his salon, restaurant and gallery, FRED, is located. Since entering the fashion industry at age 18, Connors has been a bright star in the Canadian style scene. He has been a successful fashion designer, stylist and make-up artist, and has recently launched his own line of luxury beauty products, called FRED.face which echo his belief is that beauty is uncomplicated and accessible to everyone.