Is there anything more emotional than the first Loser weigh-in?
Watching the Couples step on the scales last night was very confronting. It took me back to when I weighed in over a year ago as part of Series 3… I remember the vibe in the house – everyone was very stressed, and not just because we were about to reveal ourselves (in our bike shorts!) on national TV.
Like Nathan, many of us had kept our weight a well-kept secret. Until then, nobody – not even my husband – knew how much I really weighed (I even used to cut off the tags from my clothes so no-one knew what size I was).
So, you can’t underestimate how extremely emotional it is – for me, for the Couples, for members at home – to step on the scales and see a number that’s totally out of control.
But it’s also a unique experience, a gift of sorts. It was the first time I truly acknowledged and fully accepted that I had a weight issue. It was also a turning point in my life as, despite feeling the fear, I knew that my weight would never, ever be that bad again.
As the Couples will discover, from this point onwards you take control of your life. Up until then, weight had been controlling my life for far too long.
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Alison before
While I loved hearing the stories and watching each and every weigh-in, I could really relate to what Tiffany shared about the effects being overweight has on your relationship and on intimacy. When you’re overweight and don’t like your body, you don’t even want your husband to see you. I remember thinking back then, ‘How on earth can anyone else love me if I don’t love myself?’
Probably the best gift I got from last night’s weigh-in was the reminder that being overweight is a prison. When you’re in that prison, you’re not living, you’re just existing. But once you’ve tasted ‘freedom’ like I and so many other members have, you never, ever want to go back.
I wish I could find the words to describe to the Couples how amazing it feels to reclaim control and truly turn your life around. Like yours and mine, their journey is tough one… but the rewards far outweigh the discomfort and the sacrifice.
Speaking of discomfort, looks like the Couples are in for their first workout with Shannan and Michelle tonight – they have no idea what’s about to hit them! Make sure you tune in at 7PM on TEN and check your inbox tomorrow morning for my daily update.
Episode 2 highlights
If you missed the Couples' first weigh-in, you can watch the entire episode at The Biggest Loser TV show website. In the meantime, below is the bit I mentioned above where Tiffany and Bob weigh-in (it's about half-way through the video).