Losers, we salute you!

TV shows can really milk a theme until it runs dry. Monday's The Biggest Loser SA TV show was billed as the final episode in Dish Magazine and I was looking forward to seeing who the ultimate Biggest Loser would be.

But no - instead of seeing Asander, or Sharon, or John, taking the prize, we were fobbed off with a reunion of those contestants who had been voted off in preceding weeks, spent a lonely week in the X-tra house and ultimately sent home to continue losing weight on their own.

Surely their final weigh-in could have formed the first part of the programme, with the second half devoted to awarding the ultimate prize?

Going it alone
So how did the 11 contestants do on their own? Some produced modest results, while others achieved amazing losses. It’s human nature that some people will do better with weight loss when deprived of the support supplied by a team of trainers and watchdogs, than others.

Adil, who started with a weight of 152.3 kg (one of the highest initial weights on the show), and was voted out in the second week, only managed to lose 11.5, or 7.55% of his body weight. I feel for this young man burdened with such a massive amount of weight. I doubt if he can lose large amounts of weight on his own, or even with the support of a team. Adil is probably a candidate for bariatric surgery and, if his health continues to deteriorate, then having an operation to restrict his food intake is probably the best option.

Sometimes conventional methods are not enough
This makes us realise that there are some individuals who are so obese that they cannot actually lose weight with conventional methods. Doing exercise is practically impossible when you weigh over 140 kg and are not very tall. So my advice to Adil would be to seek help in bariatric surgery so that he too can be liberated from the prison of his overweight and "be in control of his life again", as he so dearly wants to be.

Timing
One of the most striking features of last night's show was the trend that participants voted out of the show early lost less weight than those exposed to the constant encouragement (some would say 'slave driving'!) of the trainers and behind-the-scenes dietician backup. Khanyi, Adil and Noori were voted out in weeks one, two and three, and these were the three contestants who lost the least weight. The other seven, who were badgered and bullied for longer, all seem to have had the messages of weight loss imprinted on their subconscious and every one of them lost more than 25 kg.

Some, like Phoebe, who looked like a film star at the reunion, managed to lose in excess of 40 kg even though they’d been voted off the show. Now this takes some doing and I salute each and every one – Phoebe who lost 44.4 kg, Sarah who shed 43 kg, Louis who is 49,8 kg lighter, Gerna who rid herself of 46.9 kg and Shakeel who not only lost 49.5 kg, but also discovered that he is now fit and slim enough to take on the Argus cycle race. Imagine being able to cycle 109 km and finish a race of this calibre - that's what losing nearly 50 kg can do for you, and your dreams and aspirations.

Reunion Winner
The moment Jacques walked onto the stage, I just knew that he was going to win the prize as the Biggest Loser at the Reunion. He was scarcely recognisable. This handsome, slender young man with the smart hairstyle and clothes was so far removed from his original image that he just had to win. And win he did! Jacques lost 59.9 kg or 40,7% of his weight. Well done! Jacques you are a bright, shining star - an inspiration to all South Africans who want, or need, to lose weight.

Perhaps his youth had something to do with Jacques' staggering loss, but age does not make a difference if you have the determination to persevere. Take Shakeel, who was the oldest contestant and also managed to lose 49,5 kg. The final arbiter of how much weight you will lose is your own mind. Jacques' promise to himself was, "Not to give up on anything in life again!" This is a powerful message to all would-be weight losers – set your mind to what you want to achieve, keep this goal in mind and don't let everyday ups and downs deflect you from your path. "Aanhou wen!" as they say in Afrikaans.

Belief and determination
Attempting to lose masses of weight is one of the most demanding situations you will ever find yourself in. It is going to take stacks of self-control and self-motivation, a firm belief in yourself and an iron determination to succeed. But we have seen that it is possible to lose vast amounts of weight successfully and to emerge like a butterfly from the chrysalis of fat.

Jacques, you and the other Biggest Losers SA are a shining example to South Africans who want to lose weight and we salute you!

As regards my threatened nervous breakdown if we don't at last get to hear who is the winner of this TV show next Monday – well it's still on hold – but don't be surprised if I write my final article cloistered in a nerve clinic! The producers have much to answer for!

What do you think about the Topic "The Biggest Loser SA - The Reunion - Jacques' Triumph"? If you have any diet queries, post a question or message ask DietDoc I am here to assist you with your Diet and Food Choices, so let's interact. Remember, I really care about you.

(Dr I V van Heerden, April 2008)