When he switched from being an active sports player to an avid sports watcher 20 years ago, Russell Watson began to slowly crank up the kilos. But after just 10 weeks with The Biggest Loser Club, he’s dropped an incredible 20kg, stopped taking medication for high blood pressure and has a whole new lease on life.
Russell says that two things prompted him to make his big life changes. “I had recently been prescribed medication to lower my high blood pressure. Around the same time, I was flicking through some photographs that my wife Heather had taken and I was horrified when I saw myself; my neck was huge and fat and I thought I looked gross,” he says.
Loser fans
Both Russell and Heather were big fans of The Biggest Loser Couples and during the break in one of the episodes, his wife called him over to catch the end of a commercial for The Biggest Loser Club Shakes. “I thought that I would give it a go,” says Russell, “and I was particularly drawn by the Weight Loss Analyser tool voiced by The Commando (I used to be in the army, too).
“When I put my statistics into the computer the Commando said, "we need to talk." Then I saw my name on a tombstone and that was it for me.”
Russell immediately bought his first pack of The Biggest Loser Club Shakes. He started to replace breakfast and lunch with a Shake and ate fruit between meals. “I found this easy to do and I didn’t feel hungry,” he says.
Click to enlarge photos
Russell before
Russell after
Russell at 82kg
Motivating others
Joining the program
Using the free passes that come with the boxes of Biggest Loser Club Shakes, Russell began to get to know the Club website, where he says he uncovered a whole wealth of information. “I started to cook the kind of dinners that were suggested on the site and both Heather and I began to eat a lot less meat and lots and lots more vegies and fruit. All the dishes were cooked with little or no fat, but were big on flavour, which is just the way I like it.
“Beginning to cook in healthier ways was a bit of a training process for me, but one that I really enjoyed. However the tool that I have to give 10 out of 10 to is the online diary,” says Russell. “It taught me where I had been going wrong fast – my food choices and my oversized portions were the culprits.
“I loved using the graphs and charts – it was so motivating to see the images of my weight and shape changing so fast.”
Along with a healthier approach to food and nutrition, Russell has become more active. He spends half an hour every day on his treadmill and pushes himself to exercise as strenuously as he can.
The biggest benefits
Russell has shrunk his original 102kg frame to 82kg and he absolutely loves the way that it makes him feel. “There are so many ways that I feel better about myself,” he says. “Simple things like being able to shop for clothes that are in size large or medium, instead of XXXL. Before, I couldn’t walk into a store and buy something that I liked. I would only buy what was big enough.
“I also returned to the doctor for a check up and she found that my blood pressure was actually on the low side and told me I no longer needed to take the tablets. In fact, the doctor said that I was a shining example of how to get healthy and she was so impressed that she took down the details of The Biggest Loser Club.”
All in the family
Russell has been motivating others closer to home to get fitter too. He explains, “Heather began her own Biggest Loser Club program and she has already lost 10kg. She has a little more to lose and I know that she will do it.
“As for me, I feel younger and happier. Here at The Club you really can do it too – just believe in yourself, stay focused and results will come. Whatever you do, don’t cheat – you will only be fooling yourself.”
Russell and Heather plan a trip to Europe in May to catch up with some relatives and do some sightseeing. He says, “I'm really looking forward to sunbathing and not having to be covered up with a big towel. I want to live life to the fullest.”