A former Biggest Loser Australia contestant has revealed behind-the-scenes secrets about the controversial reality show.
Sam Rouen was just 19 when he appeared on the 2008 season of the reality program, and he is perhaps the most popular winner after shedding a whopping 71kg.
The firefighter, who has managed to keep the weight off since appearing on the show, has now revealed the methods contestants would use to lose weight.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, Sam revealed each contestant had a food plan designed to suit them, which would range from 1200 to 1600 calories.
‘We did have nutritional support, so we had a nutritionist who was involved and would review it,’ he explained.
‘We had to document and fill out what we were eating each day so we could count and measure our calories.’
Former Biggest Loser Australia star Sam Rouen has revealed behind-the-scenes secrets about the controversial reality show
Sam was just 19 when he appeared on the 2008 season of the reality program and he is perhaps the most popular winner
Sam said once the contestants were given their food plans, they were ‘left on their own devices’ and would place a weekly grocery order.
‘There were concerns for me at one point because I am a picky eater. I didn’t have a lot I was comfortable eating, so early on I was eating on the lower side of things,’ he admitted.
‘It took me a while to find the foods that fit into the healthy eating plan and worked.’
The contestants also did blood tests and ECG (electrocardiogram) checks each week.
However, Sam revealed some contestants would use dangerous methods before the weekly weigh-ins.
‘In the early stages, a lot of us would kind of restrict water intake on those last days, especially with the volume of training, but you need to be replenishing your body,’ he admitted.
Sam also detailed the intense training schedule they had to follow, which saw them work out for three hours a day.
‘We have the trainers for about an hour a day and that would be really intense, elaborate workouts,’ he said.
The firefighter, who has managed to keep the weight off since appearing on the show, has now revealed the methods contestants would use to lose weight
‘I know some people felt generally traumatised from their experience and I try to have empathy but mine was all positive,’ Sam said
‘You would also do an hour before and an hour after production, so we worked out for three hours a day. Two hours were low intensity.
‘There was no production on Saturday, but trainer Shannon [Ponton] would come in sometimes, and we would do a spin class or body attack class so the weekends could be up to six hours.’
He also revealed that the contestants would return home for five weeks before the finale and there ‘wasn’t much monitoring’.
‘During the finale, it made it look like we returned to the white house and the next day was the finale but you go home for a five-week period so you can continue to lose weight,’ he explained.
‘I know some people felt generally traumatised from their experience, and I try to have empathy, but mine was all positive.
‘I hated the idea of standing in bike shorts and the weigh-ins each week, but it was great being able to have the opportunity to change my life and reset my direction.’
Sam’s comments come as Netflix’s new docuseries, titled Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser, has recently shone a light on the controversial show.
The doco ‘takes a look behind the scenes, exploring its cultural relevance and complicated legacy’ – and as part of that, previous contestants in the US spoke on camera about some of the dangerous habits they practised in a bid to lose the most weight, and scoop the $250,000 prize.
Those practices included fasting for 10 days, and surviving on minimal calories while undergoing intense exercise regimes, among others.
According to Netflix: ‘On their weight loss journeys, contestants were separated into teams and created workout and nutrition plans with trainers.
The teams would compete in various challenges for prizes – like physical competitions or willpower tests – such as “temptations,” in which contestants were tempted by high-calorie food or drinks.’
The contestant who lost the highest percentage relative to their starting weight won the series.
