Blake lost 37.2kg

“There is no better feeling than finally finding the skinny person within”

Blake stats

Start weight	122.4kg
Current weight	97.5kg
Weight loss	24.9kg
% weight lost	20.34%

 

 

Twenty-four-year-old Blake Hattch, a heavy vehicle fitter from Parkes, NSW, reveals that emotional eating had contributed to his weight gain in the past and that he didn't fully understand how foods affect the body or how to choose the best foods for him. But that was before he discovered The Biggest Loser Club Meal Replacement Program.

Blake says, “When I was younger I could eat whatever I wanted, because I was active so I would burn off the excess calories. Now I work most of the time, so it has been difficult to find the time to eat right. I often ate chips and then crashed in front of a movie each evening.”

Click to enlarge photos

Blake before

Blake after losing 24.9kg

Blake at Finale

Blake at goal weight

Starting the journey

Together with his challenge partner Sam, Blake applied for The Biggest Loser Couples series in 2008. They were both devastated that they weren’t selected, but decided to give the Second Chance Challenge a real go. As well as following the Meal Replacement Program, Blake got to grips with The Biggest Loser Club so he could start to eat right and exercise again.

Blake says, “I just like food generally. I knew I needed to get a handle on portion sizes and the Meal Replacement Program was excellent for this. Before I would often skip meals, so on a typical day I didn’t have breakfast and would end up famished and ready to grab anything I could. Now I always have a quick and convenient Shake for breakfast, usually the Choc Mint or Vanilla flavour."

Going in the right direction

Although Blake’s weight was generally going down, his weekly results varied. “I thought I would be going the right way and then weigh-in to find not much had changed, but I told myself that I was going in the right direction. My clothes were becoming looser and my shape was changing as I started to build muscle and this helped to keep me motivated.

“I can’t say it was easy, but I found the strength I needed to keep going. I am a ‘doer’: if something needs to be done, I generally get out there and do it. I look at everything in the same sort of way, really. If you’re not going to do your best, why bother starting it in the first place?"

Finale and beyond

By the time Finale came around in April 2009, Blake had shaved 25kg from his starting weight of 122.4kg and weighed 97.4kg. But he didn’t stop there. He’s proud to say he continued on with his healthier lifestyle and now weighs 85.2kg – this equates to a total weight loss of 37.2kg, or 30.4 percent of his body weight.

Blake says, “Life is just great right now. I don’t want to weigh any less and I am finding it pretty easy to maintain my weight too. I will always focus on eating right and I am enjoying my food.

Since losing weight, Blake’s whole focus has changed. “The gym is a part of my everyday life now; my major focus is weight training because I want to get into the right proportions for my body and put on a bit more muscle. I manage an hour or two at the gym, three to seven days per week."

Blake also reveals that his healthy ways are even rubbing off on those around him. “My mum wants to lose 10kg and she has been inspired by my example. We went out together the other day and she rode her bike and I ran alongside. Dad also needs to lose weight and I know that slowly we can all do it — we can all get healthy. I think that the time was not right before, but the support from The Biggest Loser Club was a great factor in helping me succeed."

Reaching his goal weight has also helped Blake realise that he can do it for himself. He says, “I feel that it was probably better to lose weight from home as opposed to on the show. The Biggest Loser Club Meal Replacement Program has been a great way to get to my prize. The last few months have been fantastic. There is no better feeling than finally finding the skinny person within.

A new outlook on life

Blake says that he has started 2010 the way he intends to live life every year – feeling well, fabulously fit and very positive. He has lots more energy these days and he no longer spends his evenings scoffing fast food in front of the television. “I feel like nothing is holding me back at all. I have a good job with good prospects. So, all-in-all, I didn’t need to make a New Year’s resolution this year – I’m just living the dream."

However, he reveals his journey hasn't been without its hurdles. “There is no doubt that there have been many emotional ups and downs in my life, but my focus now is to keep pushing through. Yes, I am human and I will have chocolate now and then, but instead of letting everything unravel, I will jump back on track."

Looking back over the duration of his weight-los journey, Blake clearly puts things into perspective. “I think that if you want something badly enough, you will go and get it. If you don’t, you’ll just make excuses. The last few months of hard work have been a great exchange for what I've gained: 10 years of good health!”