Damien – life is good!

Damien joined Season 2 with the dubious accolade of being the heaviest contestant to ever appear of The Biggest Loser worldwide, tipping the scales at just over 216kg.

When asked what advice he could offer the Season 3 contestants, Damien says, "Having lived it, I know just what the contestants are going through in their journey. Things are pretty full-on in the house right now; the focus is totally on diet, exercise and lots of education – not to mention the competition! You look good and feel great afterwards but it is a shock after the finale to stop living the intensive kind of life that you've lived for several months. But, most people don't have that to begin with. Once the show stops filming, and, although contestants still have the guidance and support of The Biggest Loser Club, motivation really has to come from within."

He continues, "Falling off the wagon is normal, too, at least for some of the time or at some point. After the finale, all of us [the Season 2 contestants] went on a two-week ‘bender' around Australia; we partied hard as a group. Every one of us put on weight – I put on 10kg and it took me 10 weeks to get it off!"

While Damien wouldn't recommend full-on partying as a good move for contestants after they leave the House, he remains positively philosophical saying, "The first few weeks back home can be tough. There are always going to be times when the focus slips a little. Nobody is perfect all of the time. Just think about the fact that you've come so far. The really important thing is not to let a set-back take over and destroy your plans – stick at it. Everyone's journey has ups and downs – that's normal."

Damien continues, "I know that I still have a bit of weight to lose but I'm on track; I train three to four times a week and I'm careful with what I eat. At the moment, I weigh around 154kg and I want to get down to 100kg. However, I have been doing a lot of weight training, so some of this weight might well be muscle. All in all, I am healthier and fitter and I'm enjoying life! The Biggest Loser was the kick-start that I needed – a year on and I am still 65kg lighter than I was 14 months ago. I'm still a member of The Biggest Loser Club – I look at the site and the forums to find out what's going on and sometimes, I have a chat with Club members, too. All in all," concludes Damien, "life has been pretty good to me!"

Pati – still going strong!

Pati's unflinching determination made her one of the most successful and popular women of The Biggest Loser Season 2. But is Pati still on track almost a year after leaving the show?

"Life is great right now; 2008 started off brilliantly," says Pati. "I'm still working full time, but make the time to head to the gym at least five days a week; now I'm finding it easier to balance this with a great social life as well. I have a couple of holidays planned this year one of which will be to Vanuatu. I suppose I'm just trying to be true to what I wanted out of the whole Biggest Loser experience, and that was to be able to live life the way I want to and to make the most of life's opportunities. I really do miss the gang from Season 2, but I manage to keep in regular contact with a few of them. You go through this amazing, stressful, life changing experience with these people, so it makes sense that you miss and think about them.

"I don't know how the rest of the year will unfold, but I know that I will be tackling its challenges head-on and making time to enjoy myself. For the first time in a long time, I feel excited about the future and what it may hold for me!"
When it comes to weighing in, Pati has always preferred to focus on her measurements rather than the scales. She says, "I suppose I'm lucky in that I really enjoy exercise now. Not only does it give me an instant sense of accomplishment and wellbeing, but it's also made it easy to maintain my weight. I still watch what I eat, but I work out so I can enjoy the foods I like. I don't think twice about having a serving of pasta for lunch...but I accept that I'll need to work it off in the afternoon. It is important to realise that actions have consequences and that you need to commit to dealing with those consequences. I weigh about the same as when I left the White House (give or take 2kg) which is why I prefer to keep track of my measurements!"

Asked what advice Pati could offer the Season 3 contestants, she says, "Remember that the experience of The Biggest Loser is a gift. You have to run with it completely, give it all you have so you have no regrets. The stress, the heartache, the mind games and, of course, the results – all of it! When you view it as a gift, it'll be hard for you to slip back into your old ways. Once you've left the White House, use the tools at The Biggest Loser Club to stay on track and focused on the finale.

"The Biggest Loser affects every contestant in different ways. But, hopefully, the greatest thing each one will gain is a sense of being in control – of thoughts, actions and the best ways to approach different situations. It may seem a bit scary to know that the same old excuses of yesterday won't ever be used again but it has to be this way! Your health and your weight really are your responsibility – no-one else's. Don't be afraid of this, embrace it and you'll feel so much more confident."

Marty – working hard at it!

During Season 2 of The Biggest Loser, Marty transformed from a complete cynic about weight loss to an inspiration for others. With his unique blend of honesty and enthusiasm, Marty gives us an insight into life post the show...
"It was great to be part of The Biggest Loser, but it was a tough gig. After the series finished, I partied a bit too hard (as did the other contestants) and put on 6-7kg. But, I wasn't too worried about that; I knew I could get back on track. Losing weight and feeling great really inspired me, so I took a personal training course. But, there was a bit of a delay in starting my new career – I had four or five major abdominal hernias which meant that I was laid up for four months and couldn't exercise. My weight crept up to nearly 124kg! I'm still very motivated, though, and was able to apply what I learned in White House and get back to 106kg which is a comfortable weight for me – my finale weight of 90kg now seems too light!"

Now that he's recovered from his hernia operation, Marty is enjoying the rewards of personal training. Marty says, "One of my clients has achieved a really great weight loss; he was over 148kg and he's now 106kg. I encouraged him sign up to The Biggest Loser Club, too. What I like about The Club is that it's not a quick fix but a lifetime change. I teach that it's not hard to lose weight and get fitter, you just have to want to do it and if you really want it, nothing will stop you. I think my clients appreciate having someone to talk to who has been through it all; not many trainers have been morbidly obese like I have. I've learned so much about the body and about exercise – hey, I can give a person a workout in half an hour that would take them two hours at the gym!"

Marty reckons that his time in the House didn't change him – only his waistline! He explains, "I'm still the same person I used to be but the transformation in my weight was great – it was worth doing and it gets easier. I've got my health and a longer life ahead of me."
It seems there are some added benefits to being a success in The Biggest Loser, too. Marty explains, "A lot of girls ask me for my phone number now, which is always a bit flattering. Of course, I don't take them as I'm seeing [Season 2 contestant] Sam!"