With a weight loss of 34.6kg (which equates to 29.3% of her starting weight), Kate Smith and her buddy Ben Powell have won
The 2010 Biggest Loser Club Second Chance Challenge,
walking away with a new healthy lifestyle and boasting rights. Looking at her before photo and comparing it with her photo at The Biggest Loser Finale 2009, Kate finally feels proud!
Inwardly, Kate hoped she and Ben might be in with a chance of winning the Second Chance Challenge, but knows that it was a hard fought battle. Kate explains, “I have always been tough on myself as I felt I was never good enough, so I really wanted to win the Second Chance Challenge. I had never won anything in my life! I know just how much Ben has put into it and I was worried that I would hold him back, but instead of dwelling on the negatives, I decided to just get on with it. So for the last few months I've stuck religiously to The Biggest Loser Club Meal Replacement Program – there has been zero alcohol, no ‘bad’ food and lots of exercise. I have to say that I am really proud of what both Ben and I have achieved.”
Click to enlarge photos
Kate before
Kate before
Kate boxing
Kate at Finale
Then and now
“I was always pretty fit. I did a 20km hike with my husband, Mark, just before starting the Second Chance Challenge, but I was always heavy too because I ate. I ate because I was happy or sad and I ate because I love food. Now I know that regular meals are a must for me. I used to miss meals causing my blood sugar to get low, which would send me reaching for the biscuits, cheese, lollies and cakes – I would finish the whole packet!
“Throughout the Second Chance Challenge I have learnt quite a lot about myself. The journey has awoken me to the fact that I always made excuses. I was too old to change. It’s more difficult for a girl. I am just not built that way. It was easy for my husband but harder for me. I don’t know why.
“Now I see things in a different way. The excuses have been given the boot. I can actually do a chin up. OK, it’s only one but I can do it! I never knew before, but I actually have willpower. Doing my online diary has helped me to learn about what’s in everything I eat. It’s all about consequences. I know that if I have that one biscuit I will have to walk for a certain number of minutes just to burn it off. I have come to the conclusion that it’s just not worth it.”
As well using The Club website, Kate loved the variety of the Meal Replacement range. Her favourite is the Vanilla Shake which she blends up with a banana. She also makes sure that she eats a protein source with each meal, such as fish or red meat, chicken or kangaroo meat.
Looking to the future
Kate’s journey is set to continue as she focuses on losing another 9kg. “It’s not a difficult thing to do as I now have a different attitude, which is much more positive." Kate also feels that doing this outside of Camp Biggest Loserhas put her in good stead. She says, “Making such big changes while living a ‘normal’ life at home means that I have dealt with day-to-day temptations and real-life situations.”
Having a supportive husband has also been key to Kate's success and future weight loss. “Mark has been really amazed at how much I have changed. He looks at me and sometimes says he can’t quite believe it. Sometimes I need a bit more encouragement to really live that healthy lifestyle. Some mornings Mark has to have his foot in my back to get me going, literally! Even if he has been out for a run, he finds the energy to encourage me and comes out with me even though he might be really tired. Who could ask for more?
Now that Kate and Ben have won the Second Chance Challenge, Kate says that she will be paying off Mark’s credit card (which she admits she contributed to with a few shopping trips for new clothes!). Kate would also love to celebrate with a second honeymoon overseas, but the best prize of all would be a new baby. Having lost so many kilos, Kate is now hopeful that she’ll get some great news very soon!