Are you enjoying the new series of The Biggest Loser Couples? Here at The Club, we love it and are impressed with how the new couples are facing their personal demons and tackling the daily emotional and physical challenges head-on.
During their time at Camp Biggest Loser, the contestants follow a strict diet and tough exercise regime to ensure they achieve maximum weight loss. As previous series have shown, the results are nothing short of incredible.
But what happens after the show is over and the contestants go home? How well do they handle life outside the house and how hard is it to maintain their new lifestyles? We caught up with some of the most successful Biggest Loser contestants and asked them to share their secrets about the biggest challenge of all – keeping the weight off.
Click to enlarge photos
Sammy lost 46.1kg
Sharif lost 75.5kg
Sam lost 71.7kg
Alison lost 55.2kg
Sammy Fisher, 21 (Series 4)
After shedding 46.1kg during her time on The Biggest Loser, Series 4 runner-up Sammy Fisher has successfully maintained her new shape and has even gone on to lose another 1.5kg, exceeding her goal weight.
Tip #1: take your measurements
Sammy says she's had to adjust her routine significantly since she's been at home as it was impossible for her to maintain the routine and structure of the Biggest Loser house.
She now takes regular body measurements, so even if her numbers increase on the scales – as they did when she began weight training – she has proof that her body is getting smaller.
Tip #2: be positive
Sammy's motto is “don't risk something that tastes good, for something that feels good”. She admits the key to keeping her weight in check is a combination of making sure she eats well and exercises, and continues to see herself in a positive light. “That keeps me motivated to achieve my goals.” Sammy credits her continued success to the people around her. “I have such an amazing support group and I’m just so happy and content in my life.”
Tip #3: honesty is the best policy
Sammy's advice to others facing a similar challenge in maintaining their weight is, “be honest with yourself and remember what it is that you want to achieve. Nothing beats being comfortable in your own skin; not a cupcake, not a potato bake. NOTHING!”
Sharif Deen, 33 (Series 4)
Sharif shed 72.5kg on Series 4 of the show and the dramatic transformation continues to inform his life. He has established a new career as a personal trainer and is dedicated to healthy living.
Tip #1: be committed
Sharif's number one tip for weight maintenance is commitment. “The first thing I advise people to do is remove the word ‘trying’ from the sentence,” says the 33-year-old. “Saying that you are trying gives you the option of not succeeding [but] when you say you are committed, you don't leave yourself a way out.”
And when the going gets tough, he relies on his mental strength to get him through. “The thought of tapping out and not finishing a workout has come into my head a number of times, but finishing the session rather than stopping, regardless of how slow, is another battle won... I choose to be the person that I want to be; the person that perseveres and vows never to give up.”
Tip #2: love what you do
Sharif is a big fan of CrossFit training, “it's not a chore – it's good, clean, healthy fun. I keep myself motivated by enjoying what I am doing for my training and setting myself new goals.”
Tip #3: weigh and measure
Sharif has also remained vigilant about his dietary intake by weighing and measuring his food as much as possible, and trying to maintain “a good healthy balance of carbs, protein and essential fats.”
Sam Rouen, 21 (Series 3)
Sam Rouen won Series 3 with his stunning 71.7kg weight loss, the equivalent of 46.38 percent of his body weight.
Tip #1: moderation
Sam believes maintenance is all about moderation and he enjoys a balanced lifestyle, consisting of healthy eating and regular exercise. “I allow myself to have little treats to keep myself sane, but always in moderation.”
Tip #2: food is not the answer
After constant contact with a personal trainer in The Biggest Loser house, Sam discovered that he prefers to exercise alone. And if he’s finding it hard to get motivated, he takes time to look back on how far he’s come, and reminds himself that food isn't going to help him in the long term.
“I guess, like Newton's Law, 'every action has an equal and opposite reaction'. Thinking like this keeps me on track and reminds me of how to keep a balance.”
Tip #3: support
Sam, like Sammy, also believes that a strong support network is “one of the key ingredients to weight maintenance.
“Take advantage of friends and family to keep you motivated and on track.”
Alison Braun, 36 (Series 3)
Mum-of-three, Alison Braun, lost 55.2kg on the show and is now an ambassador for The Biggest Loser Club. Since her amazing makeover, Alison has experienced some ups and downs with her weight, but has managed to maintain her weight loss over the long term.
Tip #1: routine
Alison has found that having an established routine has helped her control her weight since leaving the house. “If I went back to my old lifestyle I was going to get my old body back, so it was a case of having to change. I think for most of the contestants the challenge really does come for us when we get home. Putting it all into perspective in the real world... can be very hard.”
Tip #2: be realistic
Alison admits that she has also learned to adjust her expectations regarding her weight loss, after realising that losing the big numbers she was used to in the house might not be so easy on the outside.
“When I came home I truly thought I was able to lose 3kg in a week in time for a photo shoot - not the case at all! The house was a truly unique experience and I came to realise this, so I now have very realistic weight-loss goals of 500g to 1kg per week.”
Tip #3: take control
If you’re finding it hard to maintain your weight, Alison’s advice is to take control. “Write a list of what you want in your life – if you can’t see it you can’t achieve it. Get organised and remove temptation, and forget the excuses. Believe in yourself!”
To maintain their success, all these successful contestants had to make sacrifices. This week we're challenging you to make a sacrifice that will help you reach your weight-loss goals.