Chronological age 18; biological age 39 – Mel was +21. Chronological age 28; biological age 47 – +19 years for Teresa. Chronological age 32; biological age 52 – poor Sharif at +24 years!
Watching the contestants have their real ages assessed I was totally floored. When you’re overweight, you know it can’t be good for you but you never truly imagine (or accept) that it could be ageing you prematurely or subtracting decades from your life.
Andrew, who was 23 going on 34, says he feels like he’s lost 11 years of his life and I understand because before Loser, it honestly felt like I had lost 15 years of my life to being fat. When I entered the house, I was 34 going on 50.
I think it’s good for the couples to have this little wake-up call. It’s a reminder that their health is very precious and they’re going to have to work hard and be disciplined to reverse the years of damage.
That’s the up-side in this situation. As Shannan said, the contestants’ biological ages are ‘totally reversible’. By continuing to improve their diet and exercise, they’ll be able to bring their biological ages back in line with their chronological ages.
I am testament to this fact. At 35, I am fitter, healthier and stronger than I was as a teenager aged 16. Inside, my body is working and functioning better than ever before and that’s because I nourish it with really healthy food and maintain the exercise habits I learnt in the house.
I don’t get sick (I used to regularly get colds and chest infections); I no longer rely on my asthma medication which has been a daily part of my life for the last 20 years. I have an average heart rate of 52 – which is pretty impressive I’m told!
One question people love to ask is: Do I have any excess skin? The answer is no, I don’t. My body has been sucked back in nicely thanks to diet and exercise.
Although it feels like 15 years of my life are definitely missing, my weight-loss experience has made me appreciate life so much more. Now that I’m 35, feeling 35, I’ll jump at the chance to do anything. I have an inner self-belief which was so elusive to me before – I know that if I set my mind to it, there’s nothing I cannot do...
And that includes drinking egg whites! What a shocker of a Warehouse choice Teresa and Sharif were presented with – Raw vs Straw. I think they made the right decision, though, but I have a feeling the other contestants won’t let them forget about it.
Tonight's episode will have to be seen to be believed: a 3000-calorie temptation? I wouldn’t be game to be tempted! Be sure to tune in at 7PM on TEN and then check your inbox in the morning for my daily update.
If you missed last night's show, you can watch the full episode at The Biggest Loser TV show website.
To see all of the contestants biological ages, take a look at the segment below – the analysis starts about 3 minutes into the video.
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Alison Braun is one of the most-loved contestants in Biggest Loser history. Since losing over 55kg during Series 3, she has kept the weight off with the help of The Biggest Loser Club and, more recently, The Biggest Loser Club Meal Replacement Program.