The Biggest Loser, How does it feel to be crowned the winner of The Biggest Loser? It feels amazing. Winning is the icing on the cake after training very hard in the house for a long time. While in Camp Biggest Loser, you don’t have any access to the outside world. I’ve never been to jail, but that’s what it feels like. But it needed to be that way so we could concentrate on the job at hand, which is to lose weight and change who you are.
How have you celebrated your win so far?
It’s been very low key. I went out and had a few drinks with friends after the final last night. Brenda came too – we had a great night with both our families and friends. From my time in the house, Brenda will be the one that I stick with. We’ve formed a very good friendship and a tight bond. Both Bek and Brenda have played key roles in my success.
What about your trainer Michelle Bridges?
We’ll definitely keep in touch. Michelle really got a lot out of me and pushed me to the limits. She was as deserving of this win as I was so she will always be a friend of mine.
What is your exercise plan for the near future?
I’m being trained by Sharif [Deen], who was a Biggest Loser contestant [in 2009] but is now involved with CrossFit. I want to drop another 5kg and tone up, so I’ll be training five to six days a week. It’s not something I have to do, I want to.
Did you ever think you’d win the competition?
When we came back from Switzerland, I found that self-belief. I started to think: ‘Yeah, I can take this out if I work hard.’
Who else did you think could have been a likely winner?
I thought Alex would be the toughest one to beat. He’s a weight loss machine and was mentally the strongest in the house. At the beginning, I thought Lyds could possibly take out the title, but as time went on and I got fitter, I realised that we both had a chance.
How does it feel looking back at photos of yourself before The Biggest Loser?
I still struggle to look at myself before the Biggest Loser. I carried that weight around for seven years – that’s a long time. I really let myself go and didn’t treat myself right. I try and focus on the pictures I’ve got of me now and think about where I want to be in the future.
Do you get recognised while out in public?
I got mobbed at the shops recently and had to call my sister to rescue me. People stop me when I’m running, pull their cars over when I’m trying to cross at lights, yell out and beep their horn. The response has been amazing. That support contributed to my success because thinking of it helped me put my shoes to train on every morning in the build-up to finale.
Do you think that you played the Biggest Loser game?
Everyone did, because part of the game was to lose weight and win challenges. I tried to win the challenges and lose weight every week so that I’d stay above the yellow line. It was imperative for me to stay for as long as I could. It was never about the money, it was about losing weight and being happy. If that meant playing the game, then that’s what I did.
Obviously the focus of The Biggest Loser this year was on ‘singles’. Have you had any romantic interest since filming finished?
There’s a bit of interest there. (Pauses and smiles) I’ve met someone special but it’s early days, so let’s just see how it all pans out. We’ll just wait and see.
What was it like to watch Hamish and Michelle and Simon and Lisa falling in love in Camp Biggest Loser?
It was quite entertaining! It took the focus off me and allowed me to do what I needed to do. When you’re in the spotlight all the time it’s hard to get things done, so them forming relationships in there was a good distraction.
Do you think both those couples will last?
It’s hard to say whether they’ve got bright futures. We were in Camp Biggest Loser 24/7 and were with each other 24/7. When you get taken out of that environment and placed in everyday situations, things can change. I hope that they all work out, because everyone wants to be loved and everyone wants to be happy.
Do you have exciting plans for your prize money?
I’ve got a couple of bills and a big mortgage, so it will be a relief for me financially.
What are your hopes for the future?
I want to continue on this journey of self-discovery. I want to keep fit, appreciate every day and hopefully one day I’ll find that special someone... which I may have, it’s early stages. I don’t have any temptations in the real world when it comes to food. I’m now living life and enjoying my friends and family and that is the most important thing.
How have you celebrated your win so far?
It’s been very low key. I went out and had a few drinks with friends after the final last night. Brenda came too – we had a great night with both our families and friends. From my time in the house, Brenda will be the one that I stick with. We’ve formed a very good friendship and a tight bond. Both Bek and Brenda have played key roles in my success.
What about your trainer Michelle Bridges?
We’ll definitely keep in touch. Michelle really got a lot out of me and pushed me to the limits. She was as deserving of this win as I was so she will always be a friend of mine.
What is your exercise plan for the near future?
I’m being trained by Sharif [Deen], who was a Biggest Loser contestant [in 2009] but is now involved with CrossFit. I want to drop another 5kg and tone up, so I’ll be training five to six days a week. It’s not something I have to do, I want to.
Did you ever think you’d win the competition?
When we came back from Switzerland, I found that self-belief. I started to think: ‘Yeah, I can take this out if I work hard.’
Who else did you think could have been a likely winner?
I thought Alex would be the toughest one to beat. He’s a weight loss machine and was mentally the strongest in the house. At the beginning, I thought Lyds could possibly take out the title, but as time went on and I got fitter, I realised that we both had a chance.
How does it feel looking back at photos of yourself before The Biggest Loser?
I still struggle to look at myself before the Biggest Loser. I carried that weight around for seven years – that’s a long time. I really let myself go and didn’t treat myself right. I try and focus on the pictures I’ve got of me now and think about where I want to be in the future.
Do you get recognised while out in public?
I got mobbed at the shops recently and had to call my sister to rescue me. People stop me when I’m running, pull their cars over when I’m trying to cross at lights, yell out and beep their horn. The response has been amazing. That support contributed to my success because thinking of it helped me put my shoes to train on every morning in the build-up to finale.
Do you think that you played the Biggest Loser game?
Everyone did, because part of the game was to lose weight and win challenges. I tried to win the challenges and lose weight every week so that I’d stay above the yellow line. It was imperative for me to stay for as long as I could. It was never about the money, it was about losing weight and being happy. If that meant playing the game, then that’s what I did.
Obviously the focus of The Biggest Loser this year was on ‘singles’. Have you had any romantic interest since filming finished?
There’s a bit of interest there. (Pauses and smiles) I’ve met someone special but it’s early days, so let’s just see how it all pans out. We’ll just wait and see.
What was it like to watch Hamish and Michelle and Simon and Lisa falling in love in Camp Biggest Loser?
It was quite entertaining! It took the focus off me and allowed me to do what I needed to do. When you’re in the spotlight all the time it’s hard to get things done, so them forming relationships in there was a good distraction.
Do you think both those couples will last?
It’s hard to say whether they’ve got bright futures. We were in Camp Biggest Loser 24/7 and were with each other 24/7. When you get taken out of that environment and placed in everyday situations, things can change. I hope that they all work out, because everyone wants to be loved and everyone wants to be happy.
Do you have exciting plans for your prize money?
I’ve got a couple of bills and a big mortgage, so it will be a relief for me financially.
What are your hopes for the future?
I want to continue on this journey of self-discovery. I want to keep fit, appreciate every day and hopefully one day I’ll find that special someone... which I may have, it’s early stages. I don’t have any temptations in the real world when it comes to food. I’m now living life and enjoying my friends and family and that is the most important thing.